Category: Travel

Leaving back to Beirut in a couple of hours, not looking forward to the traffic which I think has become as bad as Cairo if not worse.

Just got to Beirut around an hour ago (midnight Beirut time). I am here for work and only staying for 5 nights. The airport in Kuwait was packed, the airport in Lebanon was packed, I hate traveling during the summer.

I was supposed to post this once I got back from Amsterdam but totally forgot about it. This is just a follow up to my Archos 7 review which I posted awhile back. I used the Archos extensively on my way to and from Amsterdam on the plane. Its a 6 hour trip and I spent the whole time watching movies and shows on my Archos. The screen is 7inches which is pretty big so with the help of a headphone splitter Nat was able to comfortably watch whatever I was watching on my Archos.

One feature that drove me towards the Archos 7 was the advertised 10 hour battery life. I figured I would get around 8 which is enough for long flights except I managed to get nearly 11 hours worth on a single charge! After watching videos on my Archos for the whole trip back from Amsterdam, once I got to Kuwait I managed to watch a few more episodes of Battlestar Galactica before the low battery warning came on. Thats simply incredible.

I also want to mention that I didn’t face any kind of issues with the Archos on the trip. My flickering back light issue seemed to have fixed itself and I didn’t encounter any crashes or freezes. So I can now confidently recommend this device to anyone who is looking for the perfect travel companion.

160GB Archos 7 is for $272. [Amazon Link]
320GB Archos 7 is for $412. [Amazon Link]

By the way there is also a smaller version called the Archos 5 which sells for $280. Its the same as the Archos 7 in every way except the screen is a 5inch and the battery lasts around 5 hours. [Amazon Link]

Just spotted an ad for British Airways on the BBC website. They’ve got a sale on business class tickets and they’re the lowest I’ve seen them. Tickets to London are for KD453 while tickets to Europe go for KD503 and tickets to North America for KD766. [Link]

I tried the McKroket today after reading somebody’s comments. I didn’t ask what it was I just ordered it and even after I tried it I still have no clue what a kroket is. I am too lazy to google it at the moment but it tasted mostly of Dijon mustered mustard with something that might have been cheese, meat, fish, chicken, mashed vegetables or tofu… I couldn’t figure it out.

During Queens Day while we were stuck in the crowd I looked up and spotted this sign. You probably think he was joking but when you realize the only other option is the public urinals (pictured below) 5 euros sounds like a good deal for a real bathroom.

The sun goes down around 10PM here in Amsterdam so it always feels like its still early. The picture above was taken at 9:33PM.

We took the train to the Hague in the morning so we could get there at noon when all the shops open up (its Sunday). Once there we decided to pass by the seaside towards the pier where there is a bungee jumping place. Nat ended up bungee jumping and I am trying to upload the video online but the connection here is pretty slow. It was a beautiful sunny day but it was FREEZING cold.

Lots of munchies here in Amsterdam and Chipsy King is one of my favorite places. They just serve fries with the topping of your choice. I always go with ketchup but mayonnaise seems to be the popular sauce here.

Update: Added more pictures!

During the Queens Day celebration I spotted a group of Hare Krishna. I’ve never seen them live before and they are just as colorful and musical as they were in the original Grand Theft Auto. [YouTube]

FEBO is a Dutch fast-food restaurant that has automats built into the wall. An automat is kinda like a food vending machine, you put some coins in and you can take a burger, or whatever from the machine. I’m addicted to their chicken and hamburgers, every time my pocket fills up with change I just pass by a FEBO and pick up a sandwich.

It was soo packed everywhere that we could barely walk. And thing is it wasn’t just one square or one street that was packed, it was all of Amsterdam, EVERY single street! [YouTube]

I am going to Amsterdam with Nat at the end of the week and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on things to do and places to visit. I am going to be there on Queens Day which is cool and I already have an idea of some cafe’s I want to pass by (thank you Cannabis Cup 2008), and maybe go bungee jumping or take a wetland safari but what else can I do or see? No museums please!

McDonalds here in Madrid have something called McFlurry Fusion. Basically its like the normal McFlurry we have in Kuwait except they also had chocolate sauce before they mix it up. I tried the Oreo McFlurry Fusion and it was amazing! I am coming back to Kuwait tomorrow (a day early) so the food posts “should” end and everything should get back to normal here. I actually have a few Kuwait related posts pending which I will get around to once I am back.

Tried paella today for the first time at a place that was recommended called La Paella Real. It was delicious! Someone needs to open up a Spanish restaurant in Kuwait if there isn’t one already, they’ve got some amazing dishes here…