The WH Smith – That Al-Salasil in the Airport
http://taltybaptistchurch.org/events/list/?eventDisplay=past By danderma | June 10, 2013
Last May I was in Kuwait International Airport for the first time in many months, perhaps since October 2012, when I noticed a familiar white W and H on a blue background near passport control. I had to blink, for I thought I saw WH Smith’s logo on a bookshop in the airport and then it registered: it is WH Smith! It used to be That Al-Salasil bookshop only, but now its WH Smith as well. Read more »
In my never ending search for a Mexican restaurant with great tasting Mexican food, I stumbled one cold winter night into Cantina Laredo, a US-Chain Mexican restaurant sporting the slogan “Gourmet Mexican Food” with menu prices to match that slogan. The restaurant was very busy, softly lit and buzzing with diner’s chatter and Read more »
Over the years and after every visit to a doctor when I get ill, or simply a visit to Boots in the UK, I’ve acquired a great and big collection of different forms of medicine. Tablets, capsules, syrups, drops, ointments, bandages, antiseptics, vitamins, antibiotics, etc. As a result I now have an actual handbag filled to the brim with my pharmaceutical loot and use them within realistic limits of their expiration date. I won’t be throwing out a good antibiotic just Read more »
The earliest memory I have of chocolate was in some family party in the early 80’s. In the party they were distributing small bags of Macintosh, otherwise officially known as “Quality Street” and I remember myself with one of those bags. I even have a picture of Read more »
One of my favorite spots in London has to be Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden. Its a little secluded courtyard accessible by a narrow alley with only a barrel on top of the entrance to guide you in. Read more »
It was a cold afternoon in London, we’ve been walking for hours on end, shopping and taking pictures, when we finally reached Covent Garden and decided to stop there for some lunch. We were heading in the direction of Read more »
A while back I was contacted by Ann Morgan, a journalist from the UK who working on a project to read a book from differnt countries in around the world in one year. Her project attracted attention from CNN, two newspapers in the UK, and made it to the UNESCO’s list of list of initiatives for World Book Day. Her book reading journey is document on her website www.aYearofReadingtheWorld.com
Guess what book she read and featured from Kuwait? My humble Dathra’s book! Let me tell you this, having my little book read in a worldwide reading project and actually making a good impression was -and still is- a bit surreal. I still cannot believe it but I think it this calls for a little celebration. What a nice way to end 2012 and start 2013!
You can read Ann Morgan’s quest in tracking down a Kuwaiti book written in English to include in her book and her thoughts regarding my book here (link). I’m typing this with a big stupid grin on my face and if you are a Dathra fan, you might feel a nice tingling sensation in your heart as you read Ann Morgan’s words too and see Kuwait featured in the list. Also, I’m interested in the other book from around the world that were read and featured in the project, a nice way to add a few more international books to my shelves.
Thank you Ann Morgan, you totally made my day and the rest of 2012 for me, I’m glad to have been of service. Much obliged 
Shraykom?
One of the places I enjoy shopping at in London is a small creaky shop in Covent Garden called “The Tea House”. Read more »
For the past decade or so, I’ve made sure that I am in London during Xmas time. I personally believe its the best time to visit London: Decorated shops and streets, lights everywhere, amazing new merchandise to buy, happy -often disgrunted- shoppers milling around, gift wrapping mania, and Read more »
When I was in London last month I woke up one morning a bit disoriented. Stumbling in my wake, I went to the fridge and pulled out the ingredients for a breakfast I was craving since the day before: ready made Read more »
Kuwait’s climate is that of a desert. This means we have the hottest summers and the most intense winters. We never really feel the transition between the Read more »
There is this quirky little shop in London I frequent whenever I’m there called the Cinema Store. From its name you’d know what its all about: stocking everything Read more »
Continuing from Part One of the post (post), when you are finally done with the outdoors Harry Potter set, you walk into the makeup room where you see masks used in Read more »
Last year I was walking in Carnaby Street during Xmas day when I saw the “Lomography Gallery Store” which intrigued me and I wrote about the lomographic effect being a growing trend (post). I didn’t have the chance to actually visit the store again until last month when Read more »
Some might argue that Monmouth Coffee sells the best coffee in London but I believe that’s hard to establish given that people’s tastes differ all the time. What I’m sure of is that you cannot walk through the Read more »
I’ve always had a thing for greeting cards and stationary stores. One of my sheer joys when going abroad is spending an hour or so in stationary stores, looking at different quirky greeting cards and gift wrapping supplies. I always stock up when Read more »
I’ve just returned home from a trip to the UK and in my bags were a multitude of new and old Cadbury’s chocolate bars. There are three new Cadbury’s Dairy Milk flavors and they are all very Read more »
I’ve been away from my beloved blog so long I feel like I’m about to dust cobwebs off the wordpress panel. I am putting together this post now while watching Halloween III and with the rain pounding on the window. The mood couldn’t have been any creepier I suppose so Read more »
If you are going to be in London before the 30th of September then you are in for a treat, for Selfridges department store had transformed its roof into the “Daylesford Organic Cafe & Golf”. A perfect place to hideout Read more »
When I was in London last month TV ads about the new biscuit moments by Kellogg’s kept popping up on TV so I looked around for it and I found it in Read more »
Whenever I’m abroad specifically in London I try to purchase a few magnets bearing the signs of my favorite streets. I hang them everywhere, my fridge, my work cubicle cupboards, my home office. What I enjoy most is the little reality break they provide for me. I’d be immersed in my work and suddenly I’d lift my eyes and I’d see the street sign magnet and right there and then I’m transferred there in an instant.
Today it happened, I was working at home and suddenly I saw the Carnaby street sign. I was momentarily back in the hustling and bustling street, just stepped out from Liberty to be hit with a croissant smell from Pret on my right, the sound of the guitar playing on my left from the street performers, and the lights dancing in the distance from all the decoration while people are milling below and all along the street. I so wish to be there right now.
So I grabbed my camera and took a shot of this street sign, capturing the essence of my wish. Whenever I look at it I remember my day dream and wish for an escape. I can’t wait to be back there.
If you, at this moment, can be wherever you want to be in the world. Where would you be?
Yesterday we hosted the first Ramadan ghabga in our new apartment and we had so much fun! There is nothing better than a cosey home gathering with good food, good company, and laughter. The best thing is that it didn’t take much effort at all, just place Read more »
Video: The Kuwaiti Section in King Fahad Academy During the 1990 Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait
By danderma | July 26, 2012
Given that today is the 26th of February which coincides with the 22nd anniversary of the Liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion, I thought I would share with you this documentary shot in London during the 1990 Iraqi invasion on Kuwait of the Kuwaiti School Section in King Fahad’s Academy.
This is a rare video and many of the students and the teachers appear in the video. I hope you guys, whether you were in London, Kuwait, or students in the Academy, like it… Enjoy and 3ashat el Kuwait 7urra Abya!
One of the things I love about the summers of my childhood I spent in the UK were the Milk Bottles. The moment we arrive my father would arrange for us to have two fresh milk bottles placed on our doorstep every morning. I love the milkman, and those curved glass bottles of cold,creamy, impossibly white milk. A big fan of milk myself, imagine that milk used for your cereal, or in bechamel sauce, or infused with cardamom for breakfast? Lipsmacking.
Of course in Kuwait we have no milkman. Or good milk for that matter. That was the case until last year Alban Dairy came into the picture and began producing quality dairy products. Their milk is almost as good as milk you’d drink abroad. The other day I was in the newly opened Alban Dairy cafe (post) when I saw these milk bottles and began fantasizing about having our very own milkman in Kuwait leaving us delicious milk in glass bottles as are those every morning. Why not? We can dream, everything is possible, mo?
One thing I can find in Switzerland and I cannot find in the UK is their super fresh salad platters. Salads in the UK are usually a bit meh in comparison. One of my favorite restaurants in Switzerland is Read more »
