Photo credit: (here)
Today in the Kuwait Times: Decent Beachwear Required On Public Beaches
Are there really expats or visitors to Kuwait who don't realize that this is a conservative Islamic country and that wearing a bikini on a public beach is not allowed? Not only could you get attacked but you might also get arrested.
* We are in the middle of a Kuwait dust storm and I am trapped inside my house. In case you wondered why so many posts...
I would think that anyone who would swim on public beach in Kuwait, even considering the pollution levels, must be mad. The attention you would get firstly and the danger you would place yourself in, I wouldn't even swim at a hotel here@#$%
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think I glow in the dark from swimming at the Kuwait Hilton beach. ;)
DeleteI don't consider Kuwait to be a conservative Muslim country, nor do most people I have spoken to in the GCC.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Even non-Muslims are arrested if caught drinking water, eating, smoking or chewing gum in public during the holy months fasting hours. All books, magazines (long live the black marker) and music are censored in Kuwait. There is no alcohol even in 5 star hotels for business travelers. The list goes on and on...
DeleteNothing wrong with Kuwait being what they want to be. We expats should respect their laws while living here.
Calm down, let me explain. The Kuwaitis themselves are not viewed as conservative muslims in the GCC. Actually the UAE and Qatar are far more conservative than this country and both these countries have some sort of legalized liquor. Have you seen some of the Kuwaitis as they get off the plane in Dubai? The laws are conservative, as for Ramadan, really ask your Kuwaiti friends if they fast, most of them don't. If a UAE woman would leave the house without the black garb, she would be repremanded by her family as dishonorable, just look at some of these Kuwaiti women in Dubai, they are scoffed at by GCC women. Kuwait is all a facade - I never met a Kuwaiti who doesn't drink - they are not conservative and how they behave is how this country will be viewed, not by the legal systems. I just wish that they would come out of the closet and legalize liquor in some form, because anyone in the GCC would not be surprised if they did.
DeleteDon't judge us by only seeing the bad fruit..
DeleteI've been in UAE, and I've seen loads of things such as prostitution and all, they actually approach you "How're you? :)" and I've seen so many other things..
But I never said anything about UAE such as what you said about Kuwait. Because I know that MOST of them are conservative and because they are conservative, I wouldn't see them doing such stuff.
Same here, yes some people are not that conservative. But you can't just go "I haven't seen a Kuwaiti who doesn't drink" and "They don't really fast."
We don't drink, nor do we ignore fasting.
But people only notice the bad seeds, and that is human nature. If something is NOT wrong.. none would notice it. If something is wrong it would be the theme.
And at least..
We know that it is shameful to talk about the women of countries.. :) We respect.
I agree Ahmed, we can't say all people are the same and judge them solely on our experiences or hearsay.
DeleteI think the UAE is confusing...You hear about people getting arrested for a kiss on the cheek in public but there are tons of nightclubs full of prostitutes selling sex. Prostitution is everywhere in the world but in the UAE it's tolerated and one of the major reasons for tourism. I know two good looking American guys who hate going to Dubai. Why? They would never need to pay for it and when they go to Dubai they can't find many women at bars or clubs that aren't for sale. At least that is what they told me.
I know for a fact that a lot of Kuwaiti's do not drink alcohol. My ex never touched a drop in his life. He also never stepped foot in "me love you longtime countries" and Diwaniya didn't interest him. Everyone isn't the same. :)
http://www.jumeirah.com/en/Hotels-and-Resorts/Destinations/Dubai/Jumeirah-Zabeel-Saray/Talise-Ottoman-Spa/Health--Wellbeing-/
ReplyDeleteYou said that you are bored at home, so I am sending you a link to the newest 'J' hotel in Dubai. This spa is one of the most beautiful spa's I have ever seen. It has a Moroccan theme - I love Morocco, so I enjoyed the spa. You did a piece on a spa in Kuwait, so I thought you might enjoy scrolling/dreaming through this site. This hotel is one of the new additions to Palm Jumeriah, in stead of going right to the Atlantis, you go left and travel to the end of the frond.
I LOVE Morocco! My dream would be to have a Riad style house on the water. Any hotel by Jumeriah is going to be fabulous for sure. Thanks for the tip! :)
DeleteThere is a Moroccan hammam in this hotel, but a traditional Moroccan hammam that I go to in Dubai in the one in the One&Only. Check out the new Four Seasons hotel near the Atlas Mountains (that is where the real sorcerers are, I can take a piece of your hair to one of those Berber women and your life will become miserable - just a hint if someone really pisses you off) But the hammam in the One&Only is a traditional Moroccan spa with strong Moroccan women who scrub you until you are squeaky clean - I love that spa! Morocco is a special place. I love all the colors and the food is amazing. I want to take a cooking class next time and travel to the seaside resort of Essaouira which is famous for the art and pottery. This is where Jimmy Hendrix hung out back in the 70's. Morocco is so mysterious and cool - just love the place. But when I asked why middle-eastern families don't go there, the response was that the women fear that their husbands will go under some spell and run off with a Moroccan woman, what a shame that they never go to this country because the people do speak Arabic and the hotels/riads are beautiful. I saw many French families there. When I drove from Casablanca to Marrakech (about 5 hours drive) they had truck stops and I thought the roads were better than Kuwait.
DeleteI went to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and toured the Berber caves. I have photographs on this blog of my Moroccan trip and you can actually see the darling little Berber woman on the post. One of my favorite trips and memories.
DeleteI think a lot of Gulf men visit Morocco and there are many married to the local women in secret. I don't think the women there need a spell to catch a man. You may call it magic but I call it Sex Appeal. ;)
Now you're making me wanna go there again on vacation. :P I miss the beauty, shopping and delicious food. Thanks for your comments that sent me down Morocco memory lane.
I honestly have to agree with Anonymous but disagree with Ahmed weird...Yes it's true a lot of Kuwaiti's do drink and don't pray most even convert religion to etc etc but a lot of them people put on a show a few i could hand out oscar awards for best actors some portray themselves as the most conservative people in Kuwait behind closed doors comes out the Bottle of JD..No i can't say all Kuwaiti's are westernized and i can't say all are conservative but comparing to what it was after the Gulf war its opened up a bit..My comment to Ahmed i don't consider Kuwaitis who don't pray or who drink as "bad seeds" but i do however consider the ones who drink drive and put others in danger as "Bad seeds" however the driving in Kuwait is dangerous whether you were under the influence or you weren't if a Kuwaiti is born into a family same as anyone who's born into a family you immediately follow the same religion as your parents or the same views etc except with the West most of the time children are given freedom to think for themselves and lead their own lives but in Kuwait were sadly limited with choices of freedom therefore acting takes places i was reading an article a few weeks back about a few Kuwaiti men who were gay and never came out publicly about it for fear of being branded as trash now i understand why,people fear being judged to be branded by others such as yourself, you say you don't see them doing such things!! of course you wouldn't everything's behind doors and hush hush we have to butt out of people's life choices so long is a person's lifestyle or daily activities does not harm people around them
ReplyDeleteWell it is important to understand that not all Kuwaitis are the same. But I agree with Anonymous, people in Kuwait are far from their beliefs. If you don't believe me .... well check twitter carefully. Prostitution is on a rise in Kuwait daily and yes it is all behind close doors with many girls owning their own private apartments that their sex buddy pays for (yeah I know what goes on). As for the post, you will find many women in bikini's at the chalets and private resorts in Kuwait. The only difference between Kuwait and the rest of the GCC is that you will most likely get harrassed a lot.
ReplyDeleteThe worst thing though is that the women here enjoy it and have become worse than the men which is unbelievable (check WhosHere for more research)
I beg to differ. Have you ever been to Kubbar Island on a Friday afternoon? ... and it's NOT the foreign women wearing the bikinis.
ReplyDeleteAlthough those same women would never wear a bikini on mainland beaches (unless at hotels/clubs), fer sure.
The islands are a whole different story! Anything and everything goes. I still wouldn't get off the boat unless I was covered for my own safety.
Deletei dont like the cover up swim suit :P unless i wasnt to go diving :P
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't like it either. Can u imagine the tan lines and heat? I just never go to public beaches. The 5 Star hotels have the best beach and pools in town.
DeleteI have to admit though that its so much more fun to go swimming wearing a bikini. I own both the "conservative" swimsuit and the "normal" ones and I only get to wear the bikini when I go swimming at the ladies indoor pool here in Ahmadi. I respect the Kuwaiti culture but all I'm saying is, man I miss going to the beach wearing whatever I want and not having to worry about maniacs. :S
ReplyDeleteMe 2! You can wear anything you want at the Kuwait hotels. They upped their entrance fees for the local guys so now you don't see many single guys. It's mostly families and even the little kids have bikini's on. You feel like you're out of Kuwait and nobody bothers you.
DeleteIt's the summer season! Time to dust off the mankini :p
ReplyDeleteAhahahaha! Please don't! :p
DeleteDear all,
ReplyDeleteI will go to kuwait in april with my family. Is it possible to swim any beaches there?
I suggest you visit a Western hotel that has a private beach. You can pay for the day but sometimes it's cheaper to just rent a room when you have a family.
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