A day at the planetarium is a day well spent

Over the weekend we decided to check out the planetarium among other adventures planned for the day.

We started out with a Grand mosque tour, followed by visiting the Kuwait National Museum and planetarium and then a visit to the stables.

The Planetarium is inside the Kuwait National Museum. Another great part of the museum was the heritage section, really really interesting to see how Kuwaiti’s lived, the herbalist, grocer, bridal room, weavers, etc.

But back to the planetarium- we got there when an arabic show was on, so we watched a little just to get a feel, and needed to leave shortly thereafter- I got a copy of the schedule so that I can arrange to go back more often. Is is a great indoor activity for this heat, one that can be enjoyed by kids as well as parents, and entry is free!

The exact timings listed here for the English shows are:

Mondays: 9:30 am – Our Sky

11:30 am- Paper rocket

6:30 pm- Origins of life

Tuesdays: 10:30 am – Origins of life

12:00 pm – Infinity Express

5:00 pm – Paper rocket

6:30 pm – Stars of Pharoahs

Wednesdays: 10:30 am – Paper Rocket

12:00 pm – Stars

6:30 pm – Infinity Express

Thursdays: 9:30 am – Our sky

12:00 pm – Origins of life

5:45 pm – Infinity express

Fridays: 5:45 pm – Origins of life

Saturdays: 9:30 am – Stars of pharoahs

5:00 pm – Paper rocket

6:30 pm – stars

 

Have fun 🙂

 

Fire in Kuwait City

As I made my way into Kuwait city at around 4pm this afternoon, I noticed a huge plume of smoke blowing in the wind.

And there it was. A fire in a building that was being constructed.

This image was taken when I just got here, blocks away from the scene, and 10 minutes later 3 storeys were wilting away as I watched pieces of material (steel or wood) plunge from the top.

I have no idea whatever happened to the construction workers on site, I think they must have all been rescued and the fire trucks from various stations were in full force.

I’d like to say, based on my own account of what I had noticed, was that the fire was well contained even as the winds blew strong. Within the next hour and a half there was only just a thread of smoke that I witnessed from my home, a slight distance away.

Since the villagio fire in Doha a few weeks ago, fires have a new meaning to me, a new fear instilled, a sense of alertness and precaution. I assume that this heat is a great player in aiding and fuelling fires in this region as temperatures rapidly increase from 30’s to 40’s going on 50’s

Does anyone else have any more info on this fire today?

Stay safe and be cautious wherever you are.

What do you do with your plastic bottles?

 

Here in the middle east, I find that I have more trash to throw out, mostly from packaged food items, and loads of bottles from bottled water. We are not too comfortable drinking out of the tap, even with the filters- we have been advised not to.

So for a while I kept feeling guilty as I drank a bottle and tossed it into the trash- to the point where I cut down on my water consumption in the hope of sparing a few more bottles.

Together with using the recycling companies that are making some difference, we have found our own alternative at home.

We cut the gallon bottles open, drill holes in the bottom for drainage and began planting.

    

So far we have basil- that made a delicious pesto, mint that is thriving- any ideas what to do with it? Because it’s just growing wild. Anyone want some for replanting give me a buzz. We also have aloe which is a great Medicine. After the summer we plan to start some tomatoes, carrots and more.

We are also experimenting with other sorts of planters and composting- more posts to follow depending on how we journey along.

I am so thrilled that we decided to utilize the bottles now towards a good purpose- and a new hobby has sprung 🙂 It started out as my need to grow organic, pesticide free herbs and veggies and is evolving into a great family past time- one that curly tops’ dad is loving too….shhhhh (he might just realize it and change his mind) 🙂

If you have more ideas on how you recycle some of your waste in creative ways please let me know…until then I hope that I have planted a seed for you as an idea to use your bottles.

Happy recycling

 

 

Smoothie-to-go

Had an early morning start today, so I needed to get going early.

I soaked my greens the minute I woke up and hit the shower, by then the greens had been well soaked and ready for the blender.

I chucked in an orange, 2 bananas becoming over ripe, an apple and a mango

Then i added my greens, I had some spinach, beet leaves and coriander.

whizzed it up with flax seed oil and bee pollen

and I was ready to go

I made extra for me to take with coz I tend to feel hungry quickly, packed oats and fruit for curly tops, she doesn’t always fancy the greens in the smoothie and hubby doesn’t like the taste of banana- so more for me! At least that’s what I had thought.

Grrrr, curly tops helped herself to my one bottle, and her dad to the other. So I was left to have sips here and there. I could have packed more had I known but so thrilled that they chose and wanted to have mine.

Less for me but the smoothie fever seems to be catching on

grateful for an airconditioner in this HEAT

I was out early this morning and can not believe this heat already. Curly tops decided she was in the mood to wear her winter boots for some reason and refuses to take them off- I’ve decided to let her be and learn through her own experiential learning, although I did keep some back up sandals with me for when realization dawns on her.

Thankful for a car that takes me places, and en route keeps me cool and comfortable and made it possible for her to survive the boots in the scorch of summer.

My heart goes out to all those who have no private cars and need to walk from place to place, use the buses and are working all day in the sun and heat. Those guys at the petrol/ gas stations, the street cleaners, construction workers just to name a few. They are the ones who should be allowed to complain. I cannot go out much in this heat and do feel rather stuck at times, but at least I have the privilege of staying cool indoors.

Thumbs up to all who need to brave the heat, hoping that you find ways of staying hydrated and cool within your circumstances. Perhaps the best I can do is keep some cold water with me to pass on to people I see.

Your thoughts? Ideas to make a small difference?

 

Rescued kitten denied access to help

Just over a week ago a friend of mine found an abandoned kitten in a box. She spent the afternoon waiting with it in the hope of finding its mother but the mom didn’t show up. It appears that the kitten must have been a domestic one, and the owners must have abandoned it, that’s how it landed up in a box on the street, left to die.

She is a true animal lover and wild life ranger, and the only that that felt morally right for her to do was to rescue the kitten, who couldn’t have been older that 3 days.

She syringe fed it, tried to keep it warm and provide as much love to it as she could, in the hope of saving a life. Unfortunately her building policy is “NO PETS”. The manager found out the she had this kitten and demanded she put the kitten back in the street where she found it. She had a day to get rid of it before she would be kicked out of the building and/or pay a heavy fine. As my friend explained that she knew the rules, and didn’t however go out to buy a new cat, she just wanted to help it live until she could find a new home for it, the manager was in no means negotiable. Sad reality that animal lives, are so easily disregarded. Now I understand the problem here of many stray cats, etc and that sometimes perhaps it makes sense to put them down. But when looking at each individual case can we not have some compassion?

Sadly, during her quest to save the kitten, rehome her with a foster cat and deal with the manager of her building the kitten stopped breathing after a week 😦 I do feel that it is better off now, considering the challenges this poor thing faced. I am so proud of my friend still who, in her desire to save a little life, definitely extended the kittens life to a week more than it would have lived and provided it with the love it didn’t have.

Kudos to all you animal, earth and peace lovers. It takes one person to make change, whether it is in the life of an animal, to advocate on vulnerable people in unfortunate circumstances or to demonstrate love.

Another green smoothie start to our day

When my husband first saw this he was grossed out, I’m sure like many of you. I would be too. Although I must add that it definitely tastes far better than it looks. And yes it be made to actually taste pleasant.

So I urged my hubby just to taste it. One small sip and if he doesn’t like it, he doesn’t have to have more. And he did!! From making disgusted faces at the sight of it he started asking me to make more. And since then we have been making smoothies every morning, and he even takes a bottle with him to work as part of his “detox”.

While curly tops is still not willing to try, understanding her preferences I made her a papaya smoothie this morning with coconut water, flax seed oil and bee pollen. She loved it! And I am thrilled that all those nutrients got into her system to kick start her day too.

Go on, try it. Dare yourself and you wont be sorry

Befriending a lion cub

South Africa, I miss you!!!!

Friday souk- Amber

Im in love with amber, these here are a variety of amber beads used as prayer beads. The the variety in colour, there are white ones, orange ones, burnt orange an brown ones. The prices were very reasonable compared to a place in the city where they were very overpriced.

Amber has great healing properties, it works wonders for babies born with jaundice, great for pain relief, especially for teething babies and they look beautiful. When the amber beads are rubbed, it gives off a slight scent. When it mixes with the oils on ur skin it’s substance penetrates and the healing begins.

Amber, from what I have been told is well sought after here in Kuwait, you will notice many men carrying them in their hands.

I used my amber misbah ( prayer beads) as a necklace for curly tops when she was teething. I removed the string and replaced it with a transparent elastic. She now uses it when she feels like as part of her growing collection of beads and necklaces.

Id love to know more about amber in the Arab culture. Also about the turquoise blue feroze stone. Do tell me more 🙂

Friday souk- birds

We ventured out on Saturday to the Friday souk (souk Al Jummah) just to wander around and see what bargains we could find.

We started at the animal section- an incredible experience, I’m not sure if I was fascinated, shocked, scared or squirmish. But whatever it was I needed to contain myself as I didn’t want to model a fear of animals to my daughter. Although I am not really scared of animals I was squirmish as we entered each of the tiny shops that were filled with more birds than such a tiny space could handle and all the tweeting in this confined area was a bit hard on the ear.

Also just seeing so many animals, kept in cages smaller than they were was heartbreaking, rather disturbing.

A family member is a pigeon racer back home, he has more than 100 pigeons that he races every now and then. How it works is the pigeons are transported to a distant place and then they all fly back to their own homes and are timed to see how long they take. I took these pictures to send home because even he might never have seen such a variety of pigeons.

Last night curly tops made a special prayer, asking that God protect all the animals, everywhere.