I'm beginning to wonder just how many different designs there are! When I saw the Liberation Tower I knew there had to be a mini Kuwait Tower somewhere!
I'm not entirely certain what this is but I found it in a supermarket car park opposite a mosque. Perhaps it is a mini mosque?
This one is obvious, plenty of these around Kuwait.
This one is outside someone's house. I think it's quite pretty with those flowers. Unlike Dubai there aren't so many decorative gardens here. In fact, many of the huge houses have very little space between them (sometimes only a matter of a few feet) so gardens don't seem to be considered important. Likewise, I've rarely seen people sitting on their balconies although every house has them.
This was within the boundaries of a house so I asked permission to take this (I'm not quite sure but the owner looked as if he was having his shoes polished in the garden!)
I had a double take when I first saw this one. It's just down the road from us and I pass it every day but it's partially hidden behind the tree. It's a well, with the bucket just visible through the branches.
And a shiny new jug. Again a common one but not normally in such good condition!
Nita asked me to write more about who uses these and how are they filled. Actually, I'm not too sure, I can only tell you what I see! I've never seen a Kuwaiti use one, they are usually used by the many construction workers, road workers, street sweepers etc. Basically, like Dubai, Kuwait relies on cheap labour from counties like India and Bangladesh and these men will spend many hours outdoors working in the sweltering heat. They are usually dropped off in lorries and buses early in the morning and collected again during the day or evening. In Dubai we would see them sleeping off their lunch on the little patch of grass outside our complex. They would carry small metal containers of food and gather together for lunch. Occasionally they would knock on the door if they ran out of water. (I can't remember seeing any water dispensers there, but I can't say I looked either).
Mark tells me he has seen the water tanks being replaced. Maybe that is why some of them are locked up, to prevent the bottles being taken?
Nita is the lovely lady who encouraged me to blog and I'm sure I wouldn't have given these dispensers a thought if I hadn't been looking for photos to take. We've lived in Kuwait for nearly five years and I'm so glad I've started blogging before we leave (whenever that may be) as it has really opened my eyes! Last week I took a detour to a place I know has a street of very old buildings - an example of how Kuwaitis used to live - but found it had recently been bulldozed. Kuwait is rapidly changing but I hadn't realized just how fast until then.
7 comments:
They're truly amazing. I've never seen anything quite like them. Mind you, England's hardly the place for them - we need umbrella dispensers. It was interesting to hear about the workers and the other side of life in Dubai/Kuwait. There was a programme on the beeb last week about life for ex pats in Dubai - I'm afraid it horrified me, and reminded me of one of your earlier posts - the one where you had a "rant" This particular week it was about an ex pat magazine choosing the top 20 socialites and, I'm afraid, made me squirm with embarrassment. Can life really be that shallow?
Fraid so! Funnily enough I was watching a beeb programme about high rise buildings presented by Alan Yentob. He finished in Dubai and his closing words were 'and now back to reality' which pretty much sums up Dubai. Unreal, fake even, but it seems to turn people's heads. Thankfully Kuwait is nowhere near as bad! Kuwait is gritty reality compared!
Umbrella dispensers - that's a brilliant idea Annabel!
Felicity, this is fascinating! Not only do we get to enjoy your art on your blog, but we get to see those interesting small details about life in another place.
I thought that the water was for washing prior to prayer -?
When I was working in Jakarta I was amazed at how bloc-like the houses were, with no flowers or anything. Then I was invited to homes, where I found an atrium or a courtyard inside, with water and pots of plants or even some ground planted up.
By the way, there are umbrella dispensers in some underground stations in London.
These photos are so fascinating. Someone could write a book on the styles, history, uses of these dispensers. Or fill a sketchbook with them--what a publication!
Thanks so much!
Like many of your readers I too have only seen the glam unreal life of expats on tv, through magazines etc. You live there, you have an eye and a camera - the opportunity to present some of daily life's little gems and curiosities - do make sure you always have that camera with you!I have a tiny one, deliberately small enough to be in my handbag or fanny pack a lot of the time. And, even when we return home to Perth Aus, I know I will continue the habit - there's alot out there, wherever you live. Thanks for sharing - MORE PLEASE!
PS I meant to say "the unreal life of middle eastern expat life on tv"
I too am living an expat life here in Uruguay. But it is not glamorous, we are not in foreign company circles, nor diplomatic circles, and our social contacts and daily doings are mich like we would be doing at home with real friends,both local and expat. Like you I could fill my days with busy frivolous stuff and have a maid to take care of absolutely everything at home, but couldn't contemplate the invasion of our privacy - so only have a few hours a week cleaning lady. And yes, I too have occasionally been aware that I don't offer juicy enough 'contacts' to be cultivated....
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