Earthquake in Kuwait

Earthquake in Kuwait

Well, apparently..I didn't feel a thing, to think that I was already up that time (7:32 local time)..I just came to know about it because some of my friends in Facebook were talking about it this morning..the above link confirmed its true, I can just hope and pray that there won't be any repeat....I mean, Kuwait is not known to be in an earthquake zone (or so I thought), so even if I am in the construction industry myself, I am not quite sure about the structures of most of the buildings here.

Store calls for graffiti artists

Al Maha.com published a call for graffiti artists in Kuwait to go visit Pink Moon and do their thing on the store's side walls. I think its a welcome opportunity for these "underground" artists and I wonder how they will respond to this.

The call comes with a small warning though, saying the store is not responsible for the wall so if  the government decides to repaint it, they can do it.

Contact: info@mypinkmoon.com
Photo courtesy of Al Maha.com

SEEN: It's More Fun in the Philippines....in Kuwait.

In observance of the Philippine Independence Day, a popular hypermarket chain here in Kuwait decorates its store with the Philippine national colors and "It's More Fun in the Philippines" posters..they been doing that every year and not only for the Philippine, but also for other countries' National Days, like the US, UK, Thailand, India among others. I guess its a simple tribute to all its loyal customers and staff... they're the only ones doing that here in Kuwait, and I gave them props for that..

D-days are here again, Kuwait

After continuous dust storm for the last ten days, it's good to finally have clear skies again today. But knowing the weather here in Kuwait,  it won't be long before the dreaded dust makes a comeback..

For now, we will just enjoy the good weather while it lasts.

Food Trip: Jollibee in Kuwait

Finally, I took a bite of the Bee.

Three days after it opened, Jollibee Kuwait is still overflowing with enthusiastic Pinoys waiting in line for hours, wanting to have a taste of home away from home.

Last night, I became part of that mob.

As soon as I arrived home from work yesterday, I asked my wife if she wants to try our luck tonight, she said okay. My daughter must have overheard us and said "Daddy, teacher asked us if we've been to Jollibee already and everybody said Yes, I am the only one No." Okay, so it only means we have to go..lol.

As expected, when we reached the store there's still a queue outside. So we decided to go and do other matters then just come back later.

And come back we did. It was already past 9 by then, about an hour and a half since we first passed by. There were still people in line outside, but at least fewer than the previous days so I thought this should not take long.

I joined the line. When I was standing there, I felt a sort of embarrassment to myself... like I was telling how these people could stand hours of waiting just to have a burger and chicken...like I told before I would wait for the madness to settle down maybe in a months time before  I bring my family here...and yet, here I am, standing outside, waiting patiently for my burger and chicken..LOL!

Inch by inch the line moved until I found myself already inside the store..weee! I am just a few minutes away from the counter. But those minutes quickly turned to hour and yet I felt we are not moving any closer. Darn, this waiting is taking forever and the smell of freshly cooked chicken is killing me. I watched as one by one, customers make their order and as they happily collect their bags of goodness and turned away from the counter with a sigh of relief and desperation. I heard one said, " Sa wakas (At last), after 3 hours!"..I also watched in amazement how one lady ordered just one burger meal for take out..She was there from 7 pm and she ordered just that? Oh well..

Closing time is coming and I can sense an increased feeling of anxiety with my fellow customers. Add to this,  some items are already being sold out! Like what the..**!, you waited long enough only to be told "Sorry, Sir..Sorry Ma'am, sold out na po." 

Anyway, my turn came so I made my order.. and I made sure I have all I wanted..I mean, if you waited that long, better make it sure it's worth the wait..hah!

We drove back home, tired and hungry and cold.. By close to midnight, we had our dinner...on bed!..just so tired to have a meal on the dining table...I finished my burger within minutes and Mommy finished half of hers before we turned our attention to the chicken meal..my girls are also delighted with their spaghetti meal, and in fact, even alternately taking a bite from our burgers!..in less than 10 minutes, we're done...

So was it worth all that?.Definitely!...seeing the smiles..and the spaghetti sauce...on my girl's face..It's definitely yes.

Will I do it again? No..not that soon..I will come back there again after a month's time, after all these madness has settled down...

Or until I crave for another burger..

Jollibee opens in Kuwait

The bee is in Kuwait. Again.

There were some rumors already swirling around a few months ago that a store will open here soon. That rumor turned out to be a fact. And everyone- at least the Filipino community- becomes excited about it. 

Today, February 25, it becomes a reality.

Labor Attache David Des Dicang and franchise owner Yacqoub Al Hajery cuts the ribbon to formally open the store in Kuwait City, February 25.

Fr. Ben Barrameda officiates the blessing of the store with selected guests.

The large crowd that turns out for the event waits outside the store despite the rain and cold wind.

Philippine fast food giant, Jollibee, "re-opened" its doors to its loyal customers here in Kuwait. Yes, I wrote "re-opened" because there used to be one store here when I first arrived "few" years ago. They closed down for still unknown reasons but anyway, it's not my story.

What is important is it's here. The "langhap-sarap" goodness every Filipino-young or old- comes to love and made this brand one of the most recognizable name in the Philippines, is here. 

My kids are already too excited  about our first visit but that's not gonna happen anytime soon. We'll just have to wait until all these excitement dies down a bit. I'd prefer to have a good seat while enjoying a bite of the Champ with my wife :)

Argh. I can't wait.

The store is located in downtown Kuwait, behind the Main Post Office, the same building as Caesar's Restaurant and Kodak.

Credits:
Jollibee Kuwait Facebook page
Photos by Jobz Torres and Tin de los Santos.

Convoy of Ferraris in Kuwait

A large convoy of Ferraris head to Marina Crescent in Salmiya, Kuwait to take part in a parade marking the birthday of Enzo Ferrari, one of the side events of Concours d'Elegance 2012.



Video credits: q8engineer
Related post: 248am

The Rise of the Parking Sheds

There's a large open piece of land in front of our building which is being used as a free parking lot for residents/guests of the apartments around it, and even by worshipers at the nearby mosque.

Sometime this year, a parking shed (right, photo below) was constructed by a resident obviously for his own use. A few months later, another shed (left, photo below) followed just a few meters from the first one.

Just a couple of days ago, another resident built his own in between the first two.

Photo taken Sept. 15, 5:50  pm

Photo taken Sept.16, 7:20 am

 I won't be surprised if more parking sheds appear soon.

UPDATE: When I came home today from work....voila!..there's goes another one...

Photo taken Sept.17, 5:37 pm

and I haven't even finished writing this blog!........


This practice has been happening not only in my area but also in other parts of Kuwait...people claiming a piece of public land for their own selfish motives as if they paid for it..

Or did they?

I don't think so.

I remember one incident that happened last month. It was past 1 am and most of us were already sleeping when we were awakened by a noise coming from outside. Apparently, the "owner" of the leftmost shed arrived to find another car parked in her "territory". So she (yes, she's a woman) was deliberately blowing her horn (without any regard for her neighbors) continously for almost 30 minutes hoping to alarm the "invader". A patrol car came, probably alerted by one irate neighbor. At about the same time, another lady from the building across came rushing. She was the driver of the other car. After a short discussion and gesturing, the "invader" moved her car, the original "owner" reclaimed her "territory" and the police left the scene, without even bothering why there's a parking structure there in the first place!

Maybe it's not my business but I mean, come on...the last time I checked that lot is a government-owned piece of land and I believe whatever structure built there, even if temporary, is definitely illegal...

Or is there any exemptions to local regulations that I am not aware of?