Search: “kuwait”

I just got the following in my email from a passenger on a Kuwait Airways flight who’s currently stuck at the Cairo Airport. This incident just happened awhile ago:

Hey Mark –

I wanted to contact you for a [potentially] new post you might want to write. First off, what I’m gonna write about isn’t in the news yet but it will almost definitely be in the morning, so you get the insights before they do.

I was on Kuwait Airways flight 542 from Cairo to Kuwait today with my family. Basically, after the plane left the gates and was on the runway, we stopped and the crews opened up the doors claiming there was an apparently major technical problem with one of the engines. About a half hour later, they said it was fine and we could be on our way. Plane taxis once again, but I noticed that the ride was strangely bumpy.

We took off, and about 20 seconds after take off with the plane going up rapidly, the right engine exploded. The plane shook hard, another explosion went off with another hard shake, and then one final boom and the plane dipped. Passengers in the back started screaming that fire was coming out of the engine and the plane began to lose altitude freakishly quickly. People were screaming, panicking, praying and getting out of their seats. I was flying first, but even from there, I managed to see flames and smoke billowing out of the engine. Mix all that together, and voilà, a scene from Hell. I thought it was all over, and clearly, so did the 200+ others on that nightmare flight.

Lucky for us, after thirty minutes or so spinning around in the air, the pilot managed to stabilize the plane and we made an emergency landing at Cairo International again, complete with fire trucks and ambulances. The plane stops just off the runway, they offload everyone and the airline offered to set us up in a hotel. Things got a bit messy on the ground when a passenger blacked out and collapsed on the runway, but I hope he’ll be fine.

Definitely adds to Kuwait Airways’ stellar reputation lately, don’t you think?

I’m on the next Kuwait Airways flight out of Cairo in an hour or so. Wish me luck.

I hope to hear back from you.

– Khaled

Thats really freaky, I am never going to fly Kuwait Airways again. I just checked the Kuwait Airport website and it’s showing the plane as currently being delayed. This is crazy!

Update: I couldn’t find a mention of this incident in the Arab Times but the Kuwait Times have written about it. [Link]

Don’t know when this match took place but it was between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Pretty messed up but I’m an Ice Hockey fan so I find fights in sports entertaining. [YouTube]

I didn’t know the new Challenger was already in Kuwait but it looks like its here (imported) and someone is selling it on q8car. Asking price… KD19,500. It costs around KD12,000 on eBay so if you’re interested just import one yourself and save a few thousand dinars. [Link]

Interesting fact, did you know that the Kuwait National Assembly was designed by the internationally known architect of the Sydney Opera House, Jørn Utzon? Jørn Utzon sadly passed away late last month on November 29th at the age of 90.

I just found out that Office Depot is going to be opening up in Kuwait at the Avenues. Alshaya will be bringing the brand over which is great but I think there are more important things to get first like Wendy’s, Cheese Cake Factory, Best Buy or even a Costco!

A friend of mine is building the coolest thing in his basement, his own LEGO world! Its still under construction and he still has along way to go but its already looking really cool. I need to find a way to convince Nat to let me do the same thing…

This is pretty messed up. The video shows a guy who seems to be drunk holding a police officer as hostage with a riffle. Does anyone know if this was a recent incident? [YouTube]

Update: Video has been removed for some reason, did anyone manage to copy it?

This looks like an interesting yet strange and cheesy B-rated wrestling event. I don’t recognize any of the wrestlers and I doubt many people will but they do seem more entertaining than the pro wrestlers on tv. Here is some info about the event:

For the first time ever in Kuwait, wrestlers from different parts of the world are coming together to compete for the East Wrestling Championship Belt; 16 wrestlers, 11 nationalities, 1 title: East Wrestling Champion.

What?
EWC, East Wrestling Championship
16 wrestlers, 11 countries, competing for 1 belt, 1 title EAST WRESTLING CHAMPION

Why?
To host the first EWC Champion on Kuwaiti soil and bring back excitement and entertainment.

When?
1st, 2nd, & 3rd day of Eid Al-Adha (Dec 7,8,9)
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm (3 hour show per day)

Where?
Venue – Kazma Stadium

Who?
EWC CHAMPS:
1. Bambi Killer (Austria)
2. Gangrel (USA)
3. Micheal Kovac (Austira)
4. The Hawk (Lebanon)
5. The Sledgehammer (canada)
6. Joe E. Legend (Germany)
7. Alofa the Wild Samon (Samoa)
8. El Mariachi (Mexico)
9. The Arabian Giant (Palestine)
10. Nour Loubnan (Lebanon)
11. Kurgan (Canada)
12. Bruiser Bradley (USA)
13. Jean-Pierre Lafitte (Canada)
14. The Ring Unbreakable (Lebanon)
15. Gama Singh Jr. (India)
16. Fahad Al-Khaleej (Arabian Gulf Region)
17. Shak Khan (Pakistan)

EWC TICKETS:
Starting from ONLY KD3.000. Customer may purchase a single day pass or a Championship Ticket for ALL 3 days.

Ticket Prices:
KD 3.000
KD 5.000
KD 7.000
KD 10.000
KD 12.000
KD 25.000

EWC TICKET OUTLETS:
ONLINE: https://www.ewc.com.kw
VIRGIN MEGA STORE
PLATINUM GYMS
24 hrs CALL CENTER: 22986666

I personally will be rooting for Nour Loubnan (Lebanon’s Light) who is pictured above and my second favorite I think will be Jean-Pierre since he looks funny with the face painting.

Thanks Komsomol

Does anyone know who the composer was for the Kuwaiti National Anthem? I just tried finding out with Google but couldn’t find anything.

update: Never mind found this…

The Kuwaiti national anthem is by poet Ahmad Meshari Al-Adwani, Ibrahim Al-Soula composed the music and Ahmad Ali arranged the composition. [Source]

According to the video uploader this commercial was aired on Monday. So just a quick poll, how many people said WTF?! after watching it? [YouTube]

Looks like the G1 phone is starting to trickle into Kuwait. Blasha is getting hers tomorrow and she’ll review it once she does. Personally I am curious to try out the keyboard on it but I highly doubt I would replace my iPhone with the G1. [Link]

A blog reader that goes by the nickname Komsomol posted the following observation in the forum:

I find it hilarious that there is catch phrase words used by Kuwait newspapers and journalists. The result is usually hilarious hyperbolic headlines.

Any criticism for example is always “slammed”:
MP slams government
Kuwait slams Israel’s inhuman practices
MP Dr Ali Al-Hajri slammed the government’s silence towards the statements made by the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ahmed Baqer
Al-Harbi slams commerce minister
Iranian paper slams MoI’s Farsi language channel plan
Clerics slam German magazine
MP slams govt’s incapability
Officials slammed for frequently traveling on ministry’s expense
MP slams govt over disorganized food distribution for Kuwaitis
MP slams education minister
MP Al-Mulaifi slams premier
MP slams Al-Sabeeh

Anything great is always either “hailed”, “praised” or deemed a ‘success’:
Al-Sabeeh meeting hailed
Kuwait reform process hailed
Eight-digit phone system ‘success‘
WHO praises Kuwait for its efforts to combat smoking
Kuwait praises women’s role

In the cabinet and parliament they only ‘grill’:
Al-Sabeeh may resign if grilled in parliament
Al-Sabeeh grilling proposal
Move to grill premier
Call for grilling
Al-Hajji among ministers expected to be grilled

Any Country ties are always “deep tied” or “deeply rooted”:
Kuwait-Yemen ties ‘deeply rooted,’ says ambassador
Kuwait, Turkey affirm deep ties
Kuwait, Bahrain affirm deep-rooted relations

I think the grilling ones sound hilarious! [Link]

I just got an email from a reader called Nawaf saying that The Cheesecake Factory will be opening up at The Avenues phase III. The owners will be both a Kuwaiti and a Saudi, the Saudi being the same owner as The Cheesecake Factory in Saudi Arabia. I hope this turns out to be true although I doubt it since according to The Cheesecake Factory website:

Franchise Information
Thank you for your interest in The Cheesecake Factory. Our full-service restaurants are Company owned and operated. We currently do not offer franchises or joint venture opportunities and have no plans to do so in the future.

Also under locations on the website it doesn’t list Saudi Arabia although. I am guessing because the Saudi branch isn’t a “full-service” restaurant but just an outlet that sells only cheesecakes its not listed on their website? Here is a picture of one of the Saudi Branches. [Picture]

Update: I emailed The Cheesecake Factory asking about their Saudi and Kuwait branch and I got the following generic response:

Thank you for your interest in The Cheesecake Factory.

We are flattered that you feel that our brand would be a success in Kuwait. Our plan at this time however, is to focus on growing our brand within the continental United States and Hawaii, rather than other markets. We wish you the best of luck with your endeavors and hope that you will have an opportunity to dine with us again sometime soon!

Thank you for contacting us and have a wonderful day!

Reporters without Borders just released the 2008 Worldwide Press Freedom Index and Kuwait came first among Arab countries ahead of both Lebanon and UAE. It isn’t really a surprise since the top spot is usually always a fight between Kuwait and Lebanon but when Kuwait wins it always feels more impressive. [Link]

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Found this short film on YouTube, skip to the second minute since thats when the movie actually starts. The clip above is [Part 1], here is the link to [Part 2] and [Part 3]. Kinda makes me want to film my own B-rated horror with a cheesy title like Escape from Salmiya or The Shawerma Zombie. Anyone want to help me with the script?