National Day Crazies
How was I to know?
Where was I last year on Liberation Day?
Yesterday, I was finishing up a project around 6 and heading to my next appointment when I turned onto Gulf road. Big mistake. I should have taken my clue from the barriers guarding entry to the left on Gulf road, but as I was turning right, I didn’t give it more than a second thought.
Big mistake. Suddenly I am caught in semi-gridlock, and the worst kind, gridlock with gangs of adolescents wandering the sidewalks on both sides of the car, gridlock with main routes being barred, gridlock with people in adjacent cars spraying each other with high arching streams of foam – it’s like suddenly being in the middle of a nightmare.
Except this is a very contained nightmare. These people are having a lot of fun. Although we are inching along, children are hanging out of windows, I suddenly realize – yes, their parents know where they are – their parents are driving.
No one sprays foam at me. There seem to be rules; the only spray I see exchanged is between people foaming at each other; they leave me alone. As we inch along, horns start the beep-beep beep-beep-beep of weddings and soccer cup wins,
and people seem to be relaxed, not anxious, not speeding and aggressive. Although it takes me about half an hour to make my turn on to the expressway (the turn lane is blocked by celebrants) I eventually get through.
Later, I get a desperate call from AdventureMan.
“The roads are blocked! I can’t get through! I have to get over to the right turn lane and I don’t think I can get through all these cars! It’s gridlock!”
He is in a different part of the city, but same problem.
Where were we last year on National Day/Liberation Day? We don’t remember the traffic being so heavy, so gridlocked! And at the same time, it is fun seeing everyone having such a great time.
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[…] BadGalsRadio ~ I-riginal 100%GalBassed RooticalTruth wrote an interesting post today on National Day CraziesHere’s a quick excerpt How was I to know? Where was I last year on Liberation Day? Yesterday, I was finishing up a project around 6 and heading to my next appointment when I turned onto Gulf road. Big mistake. I should have taken my clue from the barriers guarding entry to the left on Gulf road, but as I was turning right, I didn’t give it more than a second thought. Big mistake. Suddenly I am caught in semi-gridlock, and the worst kind, gridlock with gangs of adolescents wandering the sidewalks on both sides o […]
Pingback by Soccer » National Day Crazies | February 26, 2008 |
Yes it was contained very much, unlike the previous years , the cops of were more strict and ‘gangs of adolescents’ quite deciplined than last year, hope it gets more civil next year
I hope all the policemen get a holiday when this is over. The are everywhere! I am betting they would rather be home celebrating with their families. It’s a sacrifice, and I am thankful they are maintaining the order.
Its better to stay home on those days.
It was fun going out and experiencing a little bit of the craziness, Purg.
BTW: Today’s Kuwait Times says:
“The interior and health ministries mobilized for the occasion, which has become an annual event, as dozens of police cars and abmulances lined the Gulf and Subhan roads to maintain law and order. The interior ministry has cancelled all vacations for officers and policemen, especially for the occasion which in previous years has seen some fatal incidents and serious injuries.”
Looks to me like their policy is successful. Bravo, police and medical personnel.
I know why I stayed at home 😉
[…] course not everyone is happy with what happens during such celebrations. intlxpatr describes what happened to her when she went out. Yesterday, I was finishing up a project around 6 […]
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