Al Q8. Review on Kuwait, General

At the outset, let me tell you this - Kuwait is not too inclined to receive tourists and leisure travelers. Before the Gulf War Kuwait absolutely did not issue tourist visas. If you are feeling disappointed, don’t. For, even for the lucky ones who manage to get a tourist visa here, there is hardly anything to see!

Kuwait shares borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia. To the southeast lies the Persian Gulf. A desert landscape gives way to a slightly fertile coastal belt on which Kuwait’s main cities are located

The best time to travel to Kuwait is November-April, when it's a little cooler and rainier (desert wildflowers bloom October-March). In the winter months you will need some warm clothes.

To obtain a tourist visa - : Citizens of the U.S. and Canada need passports (with six months' validity remaining) and visas. Some hotels can serve as sponsors and arrange visitor visas (with the understanding that you will stay at the property). Persons carrying documents indicating recent or planned travel to Israel may be denied entry to Kuwait.

Transportation - Taxis are the best ways to get around Kuwait City. If you are adventurous, and want to save your dinars, you can try and board the local busses. There are currently two bus service operators in Kuwait – KPTC (public) and CityBus (private). I recommend that you always take a City Bus as drivers are helpful and courteous. Like I said, you have to be really adventurous though, to travel by bus because unless you know exactly where to get down, you are going to be totally lost. If you know Arabic or Hindi, you will find it coming in handy in such situations : ). My advice is, if you are a visitor, stick to a taxi service. Its expensive, but you won’t get lost. American visitors can rent cars easily, as the American driver’s license is valid in Kuwait.

Kuwait has a beautiful coast line and good infrastructure. The architecture is good (the Kuwait Towers which we all saw in newscasts during the Gulf War are the most popular tourist destination in Kuwait). Far better, though less visited is the Liberation Tower, which is the 5th tallest structure in the world, taller than the Eiffel Tower. Incidentally, I work in a building just beside the Liberation Tower. Besides this, visit the sea, the desert, drive to one of the ports, drive to Wafra to see the farms which cultivate Kuwait’s local produce, and you are about done! So in a maximum of 4 days, you can see most of Kuwait.

Dining - Eating out is a favorite pass time of both locals and expats in Q8. So you have a great choice of - Indian, Chinese, French and Arabic. The local food is generally spicy and quite delicious. Try the khubus (pita bread), prawns, yogurt, fish dishes and harees (a yogurt, meat and rice dish). Do visit the Arabic joints you see in every street and enjoy the falafel and shawarma rolls. They are really good! You could also drop in at Bombay Chowpatty or Thakkers (both in Salmiya) for some tasty Indian chaat and snacks.

Shopping - Kuwait is not really famous for its shopping. Huge malls dot the country, with shops offering a variety of goods. The up market malls house famous western designer stores. Do visit the souks (marketplaces) found in every city. The oldest souk is located in the heart of Kuwait city. You will find many imported items, local handicrafts etc. To the best of my knowledge, you don’t bargain in Kuwait unless you are in the Friday Market which is something that you could go and visit in Shuwaik if you are there on a Friday. My advice is keep your eyes open, and look around a bit before you decide on buying something you like. And oh, do keep an eye open for beautiful locally-made table cloths. They are beautiful, but they can cost you quite a few dinars.

Official name: The State of Kuwait

Area: 17,818 sq km (6880 sq miles).

Population: 2,189,668 (official estimate 2000).

Population Density: 122.9 per sq km.

Capital: Kuwait City.

Population: 28,859 (1995).