Here There and Everywhere

Expat wanderer

Trinity Collection in Pensacola

We were talking about low sales-resistance . . . this is not about being in Kuwait. This is about my lack of resistance to buying beautiful jewelry!

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As we were driving around in Pensacola, I spotted The Trinity Collection. There is a lot of very mediocre jewelry out there, but I had seen the Trinity ads earlier, and they had caught my eye.

“AdventureMan! Pull over! Pull over! It’s the Trinity Collection!” and I’m fighting him for the wheel so he can turn right and park and I can run into the store.

VERY smart store. So many beautiful things, AND a seating area for guys like AdventureMan.

I can’t blame Kuwait. I have found beautiful pieces in Kuwait. (Hint to any blogging friends who want to honor me with jewelry – look in your grandmother’s old collections! I love the old stuff, and the original Gulf pearls, and those tiny tiny pearls and gem pieces that the Qatteris are buying up for their museums.)

(Just kidding, by the way. DO NOT bring me jewelry! I can’t accept it!)

Anyway, I also found wonderful pieces in this beautiful shop, full of gems, and employing several original jewelers, who specialize particularly in religious jewelry, but also other beautiful pieces.

If you get to Pensacola – this shop has a lot of variety, in goods and in prices, and many exquisitely crafted jewelry pieces. This shop is worth a special trip.

December 5, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, Florida, Living Conditions, Shopping, Spiritual | | 6 Comments

December Great Kuwait Holiday Challenge

Yes, I know, we are not even totally finished with the Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge, but the holidays are coming – this year for many of us at the same time, with the big Eid and Christmas both falling in December.

If you are celebrating, be sure to have your cameras with you. This next challenge is more inclusive – The Great Kuwait Holiday Challenge is coming up next!

November 25, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, Community, Cross Cultural, ExPat Life, Family Issues, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Photos, Relationships | | 10 Comments

The Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Contest: Your Turn to Vote!

The deadline is here! The Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Contest is closed, and here are the entrants:

Ansam!

Q8Dutchie!

Q8Geek!

Teagirl!

MacaholicQ8!

Onlooker!

Someday/Red!

Check out their Sand and Surf photos, and then – you choose which photographer wins this round of the Great Kuwait Challenges.

November 22, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, Blogging, Community, Entertainment, ExPat Life, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Photos | | 17 Comments

GKS&S Challenge: You Can Do Better!

See, it’s my challenge, I make up the rules, and wow. I am so glad I did. The first challenge came because I truly could not find a decent sunset photo, and you showed me they exist, and you showed me they could be totally WOW.

The second challenge, Sand and Surf, is because I love Sand and Surf, and I am so glad I cannot compete (it’s my contest, remember? Like it would be dirty pool for me to compete, and how would you know if I won fair and square, or if I used wasta with myself?

So just to encourage you, I am going to show some of my favorite sand and surf photos, but now that I have seen yours, I know that these are not particularly good, I just like them. YOU can do better. It’s OK with me. 🙂

Here is sand and surf and everything I love on Mnemba Island, a CCAfrica camp, off the coast of Zanzibar:
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Here is a scene I found here in Kuwait:
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Here is another shot from Kuwait . . . well there is surf . . .
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Here is a shot from another favorite place I visit, Oman, near Sur:
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Here is a shot taken in Seattle:
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And here is a shot from the Oregon beaches with a little bit of everything – sand, surf, sunset and even a dancing dog:
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Have a great weekend, Kuwait.

You still have time to get your photos in. The contest will close this coming Saturday, and the poll will go up, insh’allah, the same day. (Are you thinking of ideas for the next one? I am! 🙂 )

November 20, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, Blogging, Community, Cross Cultural, ExPat Life, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Oman, Photos, Seattle, Zanzibar | | 8 Comments

Someday(Red) Challenges the Pros! Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge

Just when I thought nothing more was going to happen – Someday(Red) sends in this total WOW and asks if it is appropriate for the Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge.

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Appropriate? Readers, what do you think? Remember, in this round, it does not have to be taken in Kuwait (remember the last one it was a CHALLENGE to find a great sunset in Kuwait) but it has to be taken by someone connected in some way to Kuwait. Or living here. Or Kuwaiti. Or someone who lived here and is now away at school. It’s a little looser this time.

As for me, it just totally knocks my socks off. I feel like I am THERE. Someday(Red), where is this taken? I can hear the waves!

November 16, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, Community, Holiday, Photos | | 7 Comments

The Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge: Onlooker

Onlooker says this is Goa – and while there is sand and surf, he also throws in a sunset for free – is it not gorgeous?

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There is so much going on, it is easy to forget that The Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge continues! You have but one week! The challenge closes next Saturday, when all contestants will go up for a ballot on who wins the Sand and Surf challenge.

It is perfect Sand and Surf weather. There is even surf! Go forth and photograph!

Meanwhile – HHOOOOAAAHHHhhhhhhh! Onlooker!

November 14, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, ExPat Life, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Photos | | 7 Comments

Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge: Teagirl

Wooo HOOOOO Teagirl, and her very disciplined, very artistic sand and surf entries, each more beautiful than the last:

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What do you think, Kuwait? Soulful? Beautiful? 🙂 YOU have two more weeks to get those Sand and Surf photos in before the voting begins!

November 7, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, ExPat Life, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Photos | | 9 Comments

Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge: Q8Geek

Wait until you see these entries in the Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge. The Q8Geek RULES! These are going to take your breath away.

Look at the gleam on sand and log!
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Oh! Oh! Well done, Q8Geek!

November 4, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, ExPat Life, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Photos | | 9 Comments

GQSSC – Hot on Her Heels – Q8Dutchie!

I don’t know why I find these photos so moving . . . so poignant . . . but I do! New contestant Q8Dutchie is close on the heels of our first entrant, Ansam, with these great sand and surf photos:

What I don’t understand, and what I marvel at, is why when we know the footprints are indented, do they look the opposite, as if they are coming out of the sand? It must be a trick of the shadows. Woo Hooo, Q8Dutchie!

November 2, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, Community, ExPat Life, Family Issues, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Photos | | 1 Comment

Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge – Our First Entry: Ansam

Mere minutes after the Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge was launched, we had an entry.

Wooo HOOOO, Ansam, our very first entrant! And what a day at the beach this was. Can you guess my very favorite?

Ansam, you truly capture the joy of a day in sand and surf! (I LOVE the first photo!)

November 2, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, ExPat Life, Family Issues, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Photos | | 12 Comments