We were already planning on visiting Bahrain for the 50th Anniversary Bahrain Hash House Harriers Intergulf event, so we decided to tack on Kuwait for a day. A single day in Kuwait is all you need, as we found ourselves walking everywhere to bide the time. However, we were delightfully surprised how friendly the Kuwaitis were, as well as how similar it felt to Abu Dhabi. The Gulf countries all seem to have a similar history: tribes flourished during the pearling industry, followed by a massive influx of money when oil was discovered. At the same time, they all seem to have their own unique style for similar cultural traditions.
Pre-trip Notes
Visas:
Kuwait: Apparently, "visa on arrival" does not mean the same thing for all customs officers. We were met in Kuwait with "Why did you not fill this out online? This will take me 30 minutes!" We proceeded to another officer who processed both of us in five minutes :P
Bahrain: As an American, it was straight forward. We paid for visa on arrival at customs while getting our passports stamped.
Dress: Bahrain was a non-issue, but we weren't sure how conservatively ladies need to dress in Kuwait. After a bit of research, we found that as long as legs and arms are loosely covered, we'd be fine. No need for a hijab. We saw one woman wearing a spaghetti-strap top, though she was getting some looks.
What We Did
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy: This museum is AMAZING! Only 2 KD for adults (~$6.50), and we easily spent an hour here. There is a beautiful collection of Qurans, decorative pottery, weaponry, as well as a few Kiswas (Kaaba cloth covering).
Al Shaheed Park: As mentioned above, we did a lot of walking. Along our path we ran into this refreshingly expansive green space which included a musical fountain show!
Souq Al Kuwait: Most of what was being sold here were hand-me-down clothes and trinkets (not many of them unique to Kuwait), but it was an interesting experience to walk through while we drank our karak.
Kuwait National Museum: Free to visit and a good way to learn about the Kuwaiti culture. There were only two exhibits open, so we spent about an hour here.
Kuwait Towers: The iconic buildings of Kuwait City! We saw them from afar throughout the day, but it's best to see them lit up at night.
Mirror House: We were only able to see the outside of this, as you need to make a reservation 24 hours in advance. Cool to walk by to pass the time!
Manama, Bahrain
Pearling Path Visitor and Experience Center: A really interesting relic of the pearling industry of Bahrain. We walked the ancient walls of what was once a bustling trade center while they were beginning to set up for a textile art exhibit.
Bahrain National Museum: We didn't have much time to spend here, but we really enjoyed the underwater wildlife photography, as well as the outdoor sculptures.
Food
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Title: REALLY good, highly recommend!
Manama, Bahrain
Trios: We were so hungry at the time, so quality was not necessarily high on the list. But, this place was decent!
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