Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Not to Forget: the Kuwaiti Museum of Saddam Hussain Regime Crimes]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/30/not-to-forget-the-kuwaiti-museum-of-saddam-hussain-regime-crime/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/30/not-to-forget-the-kuwaiti-museum-of-saddam-hussain-regime-crime/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/30/not-to-forget-the-kuwaiti-museum-of-saddam-hussain-regime-crime/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Not to Forget: the Kuwaiti Museum of Saddam Hussain Regime CrimesWalk past the miniature brick house with a Smart Car-sized bomb sticking out of it, stroll right by the gift shop selling t-shirts of WWE wrestlers and Pocahantas, and plop yourself down in the sofa-lined reception hall of the Memorial Museum. Here a docent will eventually arrive and encourage you to relax a bit, have a smoke and, oh by the way, would you like a cup of tea?

This isn't any normal museum in any normal city. This is Kuwait City, capital of the wealthy diminutive desert state that most Americans know thanks to the first Gulf War in 1991, in which the US-led team reversed Saddam Hussain's invasion of the country.

Which is the topic of the Memorial Museum, a name the belies the not-so-subtle message. The sign at the front is less innocuous: Not to Forget Museum: Saddam Hussain Regime Crimes.

You might be wondering: So? (to summarize former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney when recently reminded that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq--thus killing any original justification for the 2003 war). Ask the docent why you shouldn't forget the Not to Forget Museum and you'll likely be told there are a couple good reasons: Kuwait is currently celebrating two major anniversaries. The 50th year of independence (from the British) and the 20th year since the end of Iraq's short occupation of their country. The previous day from the "lookout sphere" atop the Kuwaiti Tower, a photo exhibition showed some of the Iraqi-led destruction of the area. One photo of some concrete rubble was captioned: "Even the air conditioning control center was harmed by the barbaric invaders." When you're attacking a country in 120-degree heat, the first thing you apparently attempt to take out is the air conditioning.

Continue reading Not to Forget: the Kuwaiti Museum of Saddam Hussain Regime Crimes

Not to Forget: the Kuwaiti Museum of Saddam Hussain Regime Crimes originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Search for Kuwaiti Cuisine ... in Kuwait]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/29/the-search-for-kuwaiti-cuisine-in-kuwait/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/29/the-search-for-kuwaiti-cuisine-in-kuwait/http://www.gadling.com/2011/09/29/the-search-for-kuwaiti-cuisine-in-kuwait/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Search for Kuwaiti Cuisine ... in KuwaitPeople don't come to Kuwait to drink alcohol. Nor do they come to eat pork. They also don't arrive expecting to see pitbulls, to smoke marijuana, to watch Michael's Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, or to look at any sort of pornography. It's all banned in Kuwait (with harsh penalties for lawbreakers).

For tourists who hate being around other tourists, this desert country is an oasis: there are no tourists traps because, well, there really are no tourists here. Every place is an off-the-radar local spot.

It's not surprise, then, that another aspect that's not pulling people to Kuwait is the food. That's because if you ask a local, as I did during a recent visit to this conservative and diminutive Middle Eastern state on the Gulf of Arabia, your question about the local cuisine will be greeted with a shrug. That is, until a Lebanese friend who lives in Kuwait City (one of the initial shruggers) called her boyfriend who called another friend who recommended one of the small handful of Kuwaiti restaurants in town.

In most countries, there are ethnic restaurants and then there are restaurants serving the default local cuisine. Here in Kuwait, however, it's the other way around. One has to seek out a Kuwaiti restaurant; otherwise, you end up at a Lebanese place (which is the best of the best when it comes to eating in the Middle East), as I did at the excellent at Burj Al Hamam or Italian or Spanish (I had very good versions of both at the in-house restaurants in the new Hotel Missoni). Or perhaps one of the many unfortunate American chain restaurants (Applbee's, TGI Friday's, Ruby Tuesday) that have set up shop here.

Continue reading The Search for Kuwaiti Cuisine ... in Kuwait

The Search for Kuwaiti Cuisine ... in Kuwait originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foodkuwaitThu, 29 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New luxury hotel to open in Kuwait]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/24/new-luxury-hotel-to-open-in-kuwait/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/24/new-luxury-hotel-to-open-in-kuwait/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/24/new-luxury-hotel-to-open-in-kuwait/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hotel Missoni announced it will launch its newest luxury property in Kuwait this fall. The hotel, set to open September 2010, will be succeeded by Hotel Missoni openings in South Africa (2011), Brazil (2012) and Oman (2012).

The Hotel Missoni Kuwait is the second property and the first resort to be launched under the new hotel brand. Hotel Missoni is part of the designer-turned-hotelier trend we've witnessed in the industry. The hotel group focuses on the style of the iconic fashion and interiors label, spearheaded by Hotel Missoni Creative Director Rosita Missoni.

The new Kuwait hotel will be located near the main shopping area of Kuwait City, overlooking the Arabian Sea. The hotel is part of a new development that also houses a large shopping mall, apartments and offices.

Hotel Missoni Kuwait will have a total of 169 rooms and suites, all of which have sea views. Each guest room has an in-suite bathroom complete with custom-scented Missoni bath amenities. The 63 suites range from 805 square feet to the 2,260-square-foot Presidential Suite, which also boasts a 970-square-foot outdoor terrace.

The Hotel Missoni Kuwait will also host a swimming pool with mosaic floor in a signature Missoni stripe; 13,000-square-foot Six Senses Spa; Rosita Missoni's family recipes at Cucina restaurant; 18th floor bar with Arabian Sea views and private access to a mixed-use luxury retail development, which will include a Missoni boutique.

New luxury hotel to open in Kuwait originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arabian seaArabianSeahotelhotel missoniHotelMissonikuwaitluxuryThu, 24 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel Recommendations for The Office]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/16/travel-recommendations-for-the-office/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/16/travel-recommendations-for-the-office/http://www.gadling.com/2010/06/16/travel-recommendations-for-the-office/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Back in the olden days, long before the Internet was born, there was this thing called a travel agent--typically semi-self-aware, middle-aged ladies who helped you pick out a nice vacation destination, find a hotel that was "so you" and then book your plane tickets printed on carbon paper, folded and then stuffed into fancy airline covers. The whole process was about inside relationships, consumerist trust and catering to personal tastes. Sadly, travel agents went out of style along with high-top shoes and dual tape decks, or rather, we all became travel agents and the ones who got paid to do it lost their jobs.

As an empowered, self-proclaimed Internet travel agent, I'm offering my services gratis to the folks that need it the most: those overworked, underpaid, Vitamin-D deficient fun bunch of NBC's The Office, If they're like most Americans out there, the employees of Dunder-Mifflin get only 10-15 days of vacation a year and should be using every bit of it (along with a few sick days) to get the hell out of Scranton, PA. Assuming the medicinal and therapeutic properties of travel, and summoning the travel agents' lost art of matching personality to destination, I offer the following recommendations:

Michael Scott spent Christmas at a Sandals in Jamaica with girlfriend/boss Jan Levinson. So wrong. This was clearly a blatant case of cheesy product placement and failed to take Michael to that place where he belongs, which is on a safari in Tanzania's Serengeti. Yes, the boss man would be just as happy at some wildlife park in Florida, but for the full range of Michael antics, you'd need him to actually be in Africa, mimicking African accents and getting a royal kick out of all the massive animals. Fast-forward to the zebra carpet on his office floor, Masai shields hanging on his wall and his new moniker "Chief."

Continue reading Travel Recommendations for The Office

Travel Recommendations for The Office originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andy BernardAndyBernardangela martinAngelaMartinBerlinbuenos airesBuenosAirescreed brattonCreedBrattoncruisedaryl philbinDarylPhilbindublinfeaturefeaturedistanbuljim halpertKelly KapoorKellyKapoorkevin maloneKevinMalonemacaomeredith palmerMeredithPalmermichael scottMichaelScottNBCpam beesleyrecommendationsRyan HowardRyanHowardscotlandSerengetiTanzaniaThe OfficeTheOfficeToby FlendersonTobyFlendersontravel agentsTravelAgentsWed, 16 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Iraqi Airways shuts down after dispute with Kuwait over aircraft theft]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/26/iraqi-airways-shuts-down-after-dispute-with-kuwait-over-aircraft/http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/26/iraqi-airways-shuts-down-after-dispute-with-kuwait-over-aircraft/http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/26/iraqi-airways-shuts-down-after-dispute-with-kuwait-over-aircraft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

State owned Iraqi airlines has been forced to declare bankruptcy. The airline had been around for decades, and when they tried to restart operations with regular Baghdad-London operations, they ran into a nasty reminder of their past.

Upon landing at London's Gatwick airport, the airline was confronted by lawyers representing the state of Kuwait. Apparently, the Iraqi's had helped themselves to aircraft and aircraft parts during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

With a bill of over $1.2 billion, Iraqi airlines had no other option than to declare bankruptcy.

Because Iraqi airlines chartered its planes from other air carriers, the Kuwaiti authorities were not able to confiscate them. In the coming days, the airline will cease all flights. The Iraqi government calls the claims by Kuwait "harassment", but they don't seem to be denying the claims of theft from 20 years ago.

(Image: Getty Images/AFP)



Iraqi Airways shuts down after dispute with Kuwait over aircraft theft originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 26 May 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gatwickGatwick AirportGatwickAirportiraqiraqiiraqi airwaysIraqi warIraqiAirwaysiraqisIraqiWarIraqWarkuwaitKuwaitiWed, 26 May 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kuwaiti airline still pushing for $1.3b]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/27/kuwaiti-airline-still-pushing-for-1-3b/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/27/kuwaiti-airline-still-pushing-for-1-3b/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/27/kuwaiti-airline-still-pushing-for-1-3b/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Iraqi government is going to write a $300 million check to Kuwait Airways. So, the airline believes there's only another $1 billion to go. The cash is related to damages caused by Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of its wealthy neighbor.

A spokesman for the Iraq Cabinet, Ali al-Dabbagh says that the approved settlement was "final and comprehensive." The country's Justice Ministry will make sure the payments are sent to Kuwait Airways.

Where there are two sides, of course, there are two opinions. Kuwait Airways has stated that the settlement is definitely not final. There's another billion dollars at play, not to mention nearly two decades of accumulated interest.

It's a good thing the Iraqi government is nice and stable ... and that there isn't a war to get in the way of these payments ...

Maybe you can help Iraq pay its tab to Kuwait Airways. Take a trip to Baghdad, and put some money into the local economy!

[Via USA Today]

[Thanks, Brian Sayler, for the galleries and photo of Saddam's palace above and the gallery below]

Gallery: On the ground in Iraq

Iraqi sunsetSome corners are untouched by warA dry riverbedAn abandoned mosqueBarriers matter in Iraq

Kuwaiti airline still pushing for $1.3b originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iraqkuwaitsaddamsaddam husseinSaddamHusseinTue, 27 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kuwait's Budget Airline]]>http://www.gadling.com/2005/09/22/kuwaits-budget-airline/http://www.gadling.com/2005/09/22/kuwaits-budget-airline/http://www.gadling.com/2005/09/22/kuwaits-budget-airline/#commentsFiled under: , ,

jazeeraNot all the airlines are reorganizing and consolidating. Here's a brand spanking new one, and a first for the Middle East - the Online Travel Review reports that the first privately owned airline in the region, Jazeera Airways, will begin flying on November 16 from Kuwait City. Passengers will be able to book online for flights to Dubai, Lebanon, Damascus, Amman and Bahrain. There are plans to expand to India, Egypt and South East Asia in the future, eventually managing approximately 75 flights per week at below market prices. You can read more here:

Jazeera Airways Cleared for Takeoff
Kuwait's Private Air Jazeera to Fly

Kuwait's Budget Airline originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 22 Sep 2005 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 22 Sep 2005 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Kuwait Hotel]]>http://www.gadling.com/2005/09/03/kuwait-hotel/http://www.gadling.com/2005/09/03/kuwait-hotel/http://www.gadling.com/2005/09/03/kuwait-hotel/#commentsFiled under: ,

Here's a unique concept hotel opening later this year in Kuwait. Going simply by the Kuwait Hotel, Kuwait Hoteldesigners over at Syabrite are hoping to create something of a real life desert garden oasis. Sunk below sand level, the hotel will be watered by sprinkler jets skirting off the top of the crater to assist in creating an illusory effect of rainbow colors both inside and out. Full details aren't available yet for guests who can't wait to stay at the Kuwait Hotel, but a sampling of the design can be found at Syabrite.

In the mean time, Daily Candy has a superb list of 'Artful Lodges' including the soon to be talk of the biz desert hot spot.

Kuwait Hotel originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 03 Sep 2005 22:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sat, 03 Sep 2005 22:34:00 EST