Here There and Everywhere

Expat wanderer

Hawally Monster in Custody?

Today’s Kuwait Times, page 2, under National News/Crime:

Children Report Kidnapper
Children on spotting a police patrol asked for help after informing them that two Arabs tried to kidnap them. Police chased the expats and arrested them, and referred them to the relevant authorities. After conducting initial investigations and taking their blood samples, the blood group of one of the men matched that of the Hawally monster.

That’s not exactly a DNA match, but it does help narrow the field. Does the man look like the Hawally victim’s descriptions of their attacker?

Three other things – one, police were patrolling a neighborhood. That’s very cool. Second, the children trust the policement enough to ask for their help. That is also very cool. Third, BIG Hoorah for the parents of the children who reported these two losers and got them off the streets, for teaching their children well.

And meanwhile, even if the Hawally monster is caught, there seem to be a lot of other creeps out there who feel entitled to force sex upon the weak, the small, and the unwilling. Keep your eyes open out there.

March 3, 2007 Posted by | Crime, Cross Cultural, Customer Service, ExPat Life, Family Issues, Kuwait, Living Conditions, News, Social Issues, Uncategorized, Women's Issues | Leave a comment

ALASKAN Smoked Salmon

For a girl who grew up in Alaska, smoked salmon is as good as it gets. I’m not talking about the refined kind of smoked salmon that they farm in Scotland and serve in cold slices in posh restaurants. I am talking about the kind of salmon that used to be smoked in everyone’s backyard in Alaska. Each family had it’s own smokehouse, and excess fish was heavily smoked to eat through the long winters. And so far, salmon is thought to be very good for your health.

We didn’t have a smokehouse. But our neighbors on both sides did. πŸ™‚

When a friend told me the Sultan Center (no, I am not taking money from them, but really, they SHOULD pay me!) was carrying Alaskan Smoked Salmon, I could scarce believe it. She was right! My heart is full!

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These packets actually hold much more than a can of smoked salmon, which is about the size of a can of tuna. So you can make BOTH of the recipes below, and have some left over for Smoked Salmon Fettucine!

Warning: Alaska smoked salmon has a very strong flavor. Not everyone likes it. Maybe you have to grow up eating it, but most of my friends love these two (very very easy) recipes below:

Smoked Salmon Spread

Sometimes one small can of smoked salmon has to go a long way. This helps, and is one of the all-star recipes. Another one that after you have made it a few times, you don’t have to look at the recipe any more – it is all guesswork!

1 can smoked salmon
2 8 oz. packages cream cheese
2 green onions, chopped (white and green parts)
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 Tablespoon pickle relish
Salt
pepper
optional: a couple chopped capers

Mix all together and serve with crackers.

Smoked Salmon Mousse

1 can tomato soup
1 8 ounce package cream cheese
2 envelopes Knox Gelatine
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup (or one can) smoked salmon
1/4 cup cold water

Heat soup and add cream cheese, stir until it becomes all smooth and creamy. Remove from heat. Dissolve Knox Geletine in 1/4 cup cold water, add to soup and cream cheese mix. Let cool and add mayonnaise, onion, celery and shrimp. Pour into 1 1/2 quart mold and chill in refrigerator until firm. (I use two smaller molds) Unmold and serve with crackers.

March 2, 2007 Posted by | Alaska, Cooking, Cross Cultural, Eating Out, ExPat Life, Health Issues, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Lumix, Photos, Recipes, Shopping, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Jet Escort

Less than a minute ago, outside my window, a plane departed Kuwait with a THREE jet escort. Who could that be?

February 28, 2007 Posted by | Adventure, Counter-terrorism, ExPat Life, Kuwait, Middle East, News, Random Musings | 4 Comments

On a Lighter Note: Exhibitionist Held

God bless the reporters of crime news in the Kuwait Times, in the midst of all that horror, they occasionally find an article that is almost purely hilarious:

Exhibitionist Held
Farwaniya police arrested an Arab expatriate after he put on an artificial male organ on his own to seduce female passers-by. The organ, which was too huge to be true, drew shocked gasps, not only from females but also from all around. The expat however shrank when he saw the police and was subdued after a hot chase.

My comment: *Dying laughing.* From beginning to end. The title. *Gasping for breath* he “shrank” *howling* and was subdued after a “hot” chase. Kill me now! This reporter is too funny!

February 28, 2007 Posted by | Crime, ExPat Life, Humor, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Middle East, News, Social Issues | 7 Comments

Isn’t Sodomy Considered Perversion?

Two articles from the Kuwait Times crime pages, but a daily occurrence:

February 27, 2007
Kuwaiti boy Sodomized
A Kuwaiti living in the Jaber Al-Ali area recently filed a complaint that a man offered his younger brother a lift while he was walking in the Mubarak Al-Kabeer area. He said the man then drove into the desert where he sodomized the boy after threatening him with a knife and also shot nude pictures of him.

February 28, 2007
Bedoons, Kuwaitis scuffle over attempted ‘sodomy’
Kuwait: Two bedoons travelling in a car in Riqqa spotten an eleven-year-old Kuwaiti boy standing in front of his house, and decided to kidnap and sodomize him. One of them alighted and tried to force the boy to get inside the car, but the boy started screaming; alerting other boys in the neighborhood who wrestled with the bedoons and managed to pin them down until the police arrived. However, the boy’s father when informed on the situation along with his relatives rushed to the police station where they encountered the bedoons’ relatives. Both groups were then involved in a scuffle. The boy’s father then stabbed one of the bedoons several times. The victim had to be admitted to the intensive care unit at Adan hospital. Police arrested the boy’s father and referred him to the relevant authorities.

My comment and question: In our holy book, Jesus says that the very worst punishment in the afterlife is for anyone who harms one of the little ones, one of the “innocents,” who damages that innocence in any way. I am betting the Qu’ran says something similar. (I welcome your feedback on this, because I would like to know the sura’a.)

And aren’t Bedoon’s MORE religiously conservative than other Kuwaitis? How does this track?

In western culture, men who ‘bugger’ other men are considered less than manly. Is this not also true in Islam?

Is sodomy not considered a perversion in Islam?

What is the penalty for sodomy in Kuwait, and how is the penalty enforced?

February 28, 2007 Posted by | Cross Cultural, ExPat Life, Family Issues, Health Issues, Hygiene, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Middle East, Social Issues, Spiritual | 10 Comments

Indian Maid “Falls” from House Roof

This is from yesterday’s Kuwait Times (27 February 2007) and by the way, the Kuwait Times has a new, more attractive and easier to use web-page.

Hanan Al Saadoun, the reporter for this column, does a great job with crime reporting. Even when forced to be oblique, he gets the gist across.

Kuwait: Sabah Hospital investigators recently referred to the police the medical report of a woman who was admitted to the hospital with several injuries on her chin, jaw, lower lip, broken teeth and pelvic bone fractures. The lady was in a coma and was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital. They said after a while, the brother of her sponsor (who had reportedly been out of the country) brought in her passport, and informed the hospital that she was an Indian maid and had fallen from the roof of her sponsor’s house. Further investigations have been stalled until after her recovery from the coma.

My comment: Injuries on her chin, jaw, lower lip, broken teeth . . . . and a “fall” from the roof? Too outrageous for words.

February 28, 2007 Posted by | Cross Cultural, ExPat Life, Family Issues, Kuwait, Lies, Living Conditions, Middle East, News, Women's Issues | 2 Comments

Facets of Oman 4

The pit loom weaver spins his threads:
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The Batinah potter; one of the last who handmakes clay water pots:

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Muscat Souk on a rainy night:

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Indian Mosque near Muscat Souk:

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February 28, 2007 Posted by | Adventure, Arts & Handicrafts, ExPat Life, Geography / Maps, Living Conditions, Lumix, Middle East, Oman, Photos, Travel | 3 Comments

Facets of Oman 3

Nizwa mosque shot from Nizwa fortress – even more gorgeous in person. This isn’t the best photo, but I like the bird in it:

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The desert weaver had cuffs she had embroidered herself. Cuffs everywhere were a work of art:

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The women welcomed photos – this desert woman was the mother-in-law of the weaver. She was delightful.

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February 27, 2007 Posted by | Adventure, Arts & Handicrafts, Cross Cultural, ExPat Life, Geography / Maps, Lumix, Oman, Photos, Shopping, Travel, Women's Issues | 5 Comments

Kuwait, al Qaeda Hit List, and Hala February?

Kuwait Times, Monday, February 26, top right front page:

Kuwait on top of Al-Qaeda hit-list

Arab security officials disclosed that a closed door session was held in Iraq between intelligence personnel of a neighboring state and officials of Al-Qaeda in order to execute a threat that was announced by Al-Qaeda recently of attacking Gulf States. The officials warned that Kuwait was on top of their hit-list of states to be attacked, adding that the attack would be executed by Arabs who visit Kuwait with the cooperation of extremist groups existing and operating in Kuwait.

The attackers, they said, would target pivotal and sensitive installations as well as international institutions in Kuwait. Al-Rai daily questioned a senior official on the alleged threat, who confirmed that they had received it, adding that Kuwaiti authorities always take any intelligence reports seriously. He said that the authorities had already executed all security actions to be taken during the last few days in coordination with allied states in addition to scrutinising all visitors arriving in Kuwait.

My comments: Top front page and atrocious reporting.

1. What Arab security officials? Just give us a clue – like from what country?
2. Intelligence personnel of a state neighboring Iraq. . . hmmmm. . . Syria? Iran? Jordan? Kuwait?
3. Which Kuwaiti senior official? From a relevant ministry?

This is supposed to be NEWS. That means there should be verifiable facts. As it stands, it could be just another attack on the bargain hunters at Hala February.

February 26, 2007 Posted by | Bureaucracy, Communication, Counter-terrorism, Customer Service, ExPat Life, Geography / Maps, Humor, Kuwait, Language, Living Conditions, Middle East, Political Issues, Rants | 6 Comments

Facets of Oman 2

The Mountain Weaver’s Brother, Jebel Shams:00mountainweaversbrother.JPG

The Indigo Grower:

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The Nizwa Fort at night:

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February 26, 2007 Posted by | Adventure, Arts & Handicrafts, ExPat Life, Holiday, Lumix, Oman, Photos, Travel | Leave a comment