Celebrating Cultures – Kuwait!
From today’s Al Watan:

This photo is so gorgeous, it almost makes me weep! Woo HOOO on you, Christopher Sanan; you showed the beautiful face of Kuwait to the world!
Canon Middle East announces Kuwaiti one of the 13 winners of ”Celebrating Cultures”
KUWAIT: Canon Middle East, the worldـleading innovator and provider of imaging products and solutions, has announced the winners of its regional photography competition titled “Celebrating Cultures ـ How Do You See Your World?” With more than 42 entries from Kuwait, Christopher Sanan was announced as one of the 13 winners for his photograph titled ”Drought”.
The Canon photography competition encouraged photographers of all ability to submit a cultural, historical or heritageـinspired photograph of their country for a chance to win a state of the art DSLR Canon camera ـ the EOS 1000 D.
“We were impressed with the overall high standard of photography across the region, especially Kuwait, and were amazed at the depth of talent that exists. The inaugural Canon “Celebrating Cultures ـ How Do You See Your World?” competition was very well received and has created a platform for the region”s talented photographers to showcase their work. Many of the images captured the diversity, beauty and spirit of the region. Winning entries are currently being exhibited at GPP 2009, for all photography enthusiasts to see,” said Hendrik Verbrugghe, CCI Marketing Manager, Canon Middle East.
The quality of entries from across the region made the judging process difficult for the independent onـline panel of experts which consisted of well known photo editors, photographers and a representative from Canon Middle East.
“Canon Middle East is committed to supporting photography in the region and making it accessible to all. The Canon Photography Competition is an ideal platform to nurture and recognise local talent. The tremendous response to the Canon Celebrating Cultures ـ photo competition is a testament to the region”s exceptional photographic talent,” concluded Hendrik Verbrugghe.
To view the winning entries visit the Canon stand at GPP or visit the Canon micro site on http://www.gulfphotoplus.com/canoncompetition/winners.php
Canon is a worldـleading innovator and provider of imaging and information technology solutions for individuals and businesses. Canon provides both individual products and complete networked technology solutions for information input, management and output. Its product range is divided between Business Solutions (developing IT products, solutions and services for both the office and professional print environments) and Consumer Imaging (photography, video and digital camera, Laser and Inkjet printers). Canon Middle East is the operational headquarters for Canon in this region, and is based in Dubai, UAE. Further information about Canon Middle East is available at: http://www.canonـme.com
Last updated on Thursday 9/4/2009
Weather – or Not?
This morning, Weather Underground (you can go see for yourself by clicking on the temperature widget over at the right) says it is “clear”.

I don’t know what “clear” looks like in your neck of the woods, but here is “clear” from our vantage Point:
The “clear” sunrise

“clear” over the water

First, do you see that thin layer of yellow? Usually we see that about a couple of kilometers out, but this morning, it is barely 200 meters off the shore and approaching. Second, the thick – and thickening – haze is white today, not yellow or red. It may be dust, but it may also be air pollution of some kind.
Yesterday I had a weird headache. Not a killing headache, but a persistent low grade headache that would not go away, not until the sun went down. I took aspirin, it did not go away. I was fine until this morning, felt fine when I woke up, but once I had been up for about an hour, this persistent low-grade headache is back. I think it is weather related. I think this is SMOG. I never have headaches!
Bah! humbug!
Final Entry Bu Yousef: The Great Kuwait National Holiday Challenge
Just one entry from Bu Yousef, but oh, what a great one! Thank you, Bu Yousef and Umm Yousef! 🙂

You know, I think I am going to skip the voting. The photos are all so different, and all so good. Thank you, all, for your participation. You had some truly spectacular photos.
Wild Blue Yonder
Today was the Kuwait show of military might. No sandstorm, thanks be to God. Somehow, I had thought yesterday was Wednesday and thought how sad it was it would have had to be cancelled. When I woke up today and realized it was Wednesday, I could hardly wait.
Just the sound of the roaring jets gives me a grin. I once lived near a huge airbase, and we lived with the sound day and night. It never bothered me. I always knew these were men and women who sacrificed their lives to serve their country in a profession that looks a lot more glamorous than it is. Flying can be exciting, but it can also be very tedious. You are away from your family for long hours. It gets old. They persevere.
The young men and women chosen to fly these fighter planes have to have superior physical condition and reflexes. Think about you and the car your daddy gave you – it may be expensive, but it didn’t cost billions. These planes do. It’s an amazing responsibility, a privilege and an honor to be selected.
Bu Yousef, tell your friend he was supposed to waggle his wings when he flew by so I would know which one he was! 😉
Macaholic, it was a little hazy, but the attack helicopters are for you. 🙂






Kuwait Celebrates Women with Massive FlyBy
Be still my little heart! This morning, I was, by the grace of God, in the right place at the right time. Did not have the right camera, but I did have a camera as Kuwait honored International Women’s Day with a massive fly-by. At one point, twenty jet planes roared over the Gulf in a humungous group. I’ve seen a lot of air shows, but I cannot remember ever having seen twenty jets flyby in one movement.
WOOO HOOO Kuwait! You really know how to honor women!


They even had three cargo planes fly over the Gulf as a unit . . .

Wooo HOOOO! My heart is still fluttering! Adrenelin high! I am guessing the cost of aviation fuel is so much less in Kuwait that the Air Force can go out and have a little fun occasionally. You made my day.
(It MIGHT not have been in honor of International Women’s Day. If anyone knows why this enormous display took place, please sign in now!)
WooHOO Mathai, Newest Entrant in The Great Kuwait National Holiday Challenge
Wow. Mathai, you captured the magic of the holiday lights, and the sheer joy of being outside in this wonderful weather of Kuwait-in-“winter”.






Gorgeous!
Sheer Bliss: The Great Kuwait National Holiday Challenge
Q8Dutchie gave permission to add this one National Day Holiday Challenge photo, which in my heart I call Sheer Bliss. Grown-ups think the foam thing is awful. Children think the foam thing is wonderful (unless they get some in they eyes, or some jerk is spraying insecticide, or hair removal creme, or . . .)
OOps! Not the time and place for my soapbox! Especially with the joy in this photo!

I love the way she captured the action going in the background while, for one instant, this one little girl stands still. 🙂 Well done, Q8Dutchie!
Woo HOOO, Q8Dutchie: The Great Kuwait National Holiday Challenge
Don’t you love it? All these different view, what the eyes are seeing? People around the world who have never been here are catching a glimpse of the two day – and in this case, because it was added on to a week-end, a four-day extravaganza of a holiday, for Kuwait National Day and Kuwait Liberation Day.
Thank you, Q8Dutchie, for sharing your eyes with us!





The best photo of all I can’t share – Q8Dutchie’s child, covered head to toe with foam, eyes gleaming and grinning from ear to ear/ 🙂
Mubarakiyya Glimpses and Public Art
Every time I go to Mubarakiyya, I see something I haven’t seen before. We found some scenes in the meat market – see if you can find them.












