Here There and Everywhere

Expat wanderer

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:
00mnemba1

Here is a scene I found here in Kuwait:
00fishpen

Here is another shot from Kuwait . . . well there is surf . . .
00fehaheelfishermen

Here is a shot from another favorite place I visit, Oman, near Sur:
00ssoman

Here is a shot taken in Seattle:
00ssseattle

And here is a shot from the Oregon beaches with a little bit of everything – sand, surf, sunset and even a dancing dog:
00oregonbeachsssunset

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.

somedayredsandandsurf

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?

onlookersandandsurf

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:

teagirl1

teagirl2

teagirl3

teagirl4

teagirl51

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!
q8geek1

q8geek2

q8geek3

q8geek4

q8geek5

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

The Great Kuwait Sand and Surf Challenge

OK, so here it is, the new photo challenge. You will have three weeks. All your photos must be in to me or posted on your blog and linked to me by Saturday, November 22. The poll will go up then, and voting will continue to November 29, when the polls will close and new winners will be announced.

Sand and Surf can be anything related to beach activities – tidal pools, boating . . . this contest is open to Kuwaitis, residents of Kuwait, and people who have an attachment to Kuwait. We don’t require that the scene be recognizably Kuwait, because well, sand is sand and surf is surf. The photos do not have to be Kuwait, but we want them to be entered by someone remotely Kuwait-related.

Ready on the right!
Ready on the left!
Photographers, take your target!
Fire!

Off topic but related – on the top floor of the Al Rayya Shopping Center (attached to the Marriott Hotel near Dasman Circle) is a really intriguing photo exhibit. It looks to me like all Kuwaiti, and some of the photos are purely spectacular. Some are very moving. I don’t want to give too much away, but if you enjoy photography, this exhibit is worth a visit.

November 1, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, Blogging, Community, Cross Cultural, ExPat Life, Family Issues, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Photos | | 4 Comments

Not-Your-Kuwait-Sunset

Blogger Someday (Red) sent me a not-your-Kuwait-sunset to post now that the Great Kuwait Sunset Challenge is officially over:

How incredibly beautiful is that? Does anyone recognize where it is?

October 26, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, Blogging, Photos | 11 Comments

Winners! Great Kuwait Sunset Challenge

As promised, here are the winners of the Great Kuwait Sunset Challenge, in the order of the votes received:

Mathai
Bu Yousef
Teagirl
AbdulAziz

Congratulations to all! I think everyone who got to see your stunning photos were also winners.

Thank you all for participating, thank you for submitting your photos, and thank you, too, for voting. This was a lot of fun.

Next Saturday, we will introduce the new challenge. 🙂

October 25, 2008 Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, Beauty, Blogging, Community, ExPat Life, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Photos | 16 Comments