Why I love Sharq...

& Photo: Nazar Thekkath

Sunday, March 25, 2012

The term ‘Sharq’ in Arabic means ‘east’. What makes Sharq so attractive? Sharq has been in my mind since the beginning of my life in Kuwait. I always like to stay at Sharq. While walking through the streets of Sharq, I used to enjoy the attractive spots there. It is nostalgic to watch the abandoned buildings there. These buildings may not be there tomorrow. Whenever I am free after my work, I used to walk through the Gulf Street enjoying the calm sea on one side and the scenery on the other side. Moreover, I keep my camera enabled mobile phone with me to capture all the interesting scenes. So, now I got thousands of beautiful pictures from every corner of Kuwait. My hobby is to watch the bike riders who raise the bike in the air. Sometimes, I feel that they are not happy with the performance of their bikes. They are expecting the bike to do the duty of an aircraft. Then, what is this aircraft made for? That is costly. That means they want flying bikes and flying cars instead of running ones. And they are checking whether these will fly or not. The same trick that Wright brothers applied. Maybe, in the future, we will hear a Kuwaiti invented a flying bike or a flying car.

Sharq is a place where many important spots are located. These include Masjid Al Kabeer, Parliament, Babtain Library, Seif Palace, Maritime Museum, Souk Sharq, Kuwait Tower, Al Hamra Tower, Dasman Palace etc;

Masjid Al Kabeer otherwise called Grand Mosque, the biggest masjid in Kuwait, is embedded with largest pillars and a one and only tall minaret. Its underground is allocated for parking. Its Ground floor contains three Halls of which two halls always closed except for prayer time and the outside hall inside the boundary of Masjid, is always open for all. During the last nights of the holy month of Ramdan, this masjid and its surroundings seem to be fully crowded. Al Babtain Library for Arab literature is located nearby this Masjid. Whenever I walk nearby this library, the memories of my childhood stories especially Arabian Nights used to return to my mind. One thousand and One nights or otherwise called Arabian Nights is still remaining as the best and it never gets substituted by any other stories.

Souk Sharq is just after Masjid Al Kabeer. Souk in Arabic means market and thereby this term means Sharq Market. Here, Shopping is interesting here if we have enough money in our pocket. According to our team, what we pay here is not for products but for the brands. Boat service is available in Souk Sharq lounge. Many are hiring the boats and spending hours in the mid sea. A pedestrian bridge on the other side of Souk Sharq, is taking us little bit inside the sea and providing us the opportunity to fish easily and restfully.

Maritime museum, which is located just opposite to Souk Sharq, is the next attraction. Even though the entrance is free, I didn’t find enough time to enter the museum until now. Still, I had some snaps to fill my ‘Kuwait album’. Some dhows (boats) are displayed outside the museum. There is a ground nearby this museum where our Indian brothers play Cricket. Hearing their ‘howzat’ and ‘well done’, my friend asked me whether they came on Cricket Visa or working visa. Some old Kuwaitis used to stare at them because of not knowing what they are playing. They murmur that these Indians are fools playing with hands instead of legs and using small balls instead of big balls and they struggle to control their laughter.

Leaving Souk Sharq behind, I walk towards Kuwait Tower where on the way I find many old buildings which take me to the olden days of Kuwait. Everything is having an old look. I am entering to Dasman Palace area after passing Ameeri Hospital. The area is very calm, cool and attractive. If the climate is all right, walking in this street in an early morning or evening returns a good relaxation. If the climate is not ok, walking anywhere in Kuwait is difficult or adventurous.

Long view of Kuwait Tower is very amazing and we would wonder that we have entered a milk way. That is the nice attraction in Kuwait and like you know, Kuwait Tower was once attacked by Iraqi army during the invasion. I had hundreds of photos in and around Kuwait Tower and I had been trying to capture from all the angles. These twin Towers seem to be sparkling in the sun. The plates on the globes of the Towers make the Towers so. This article is not enough to explain about Kuwait Tower. So, just have a trip there and experience the joy of viewing these Towers. Al Hamra Tower, the tallest building in Kuwait, is fully visible from the frontage of Kuwait Tower. This building is very attractive and it has got different looks from different angles. By seeing the photos, you will come to know how it is.

In addition to these, there are many other attractions at Sharq. Whoever used to travel by this way and whoever staying here may have already seen all these. East Kuwait is calling you. Come, spend some hours and know how Kuwait was in its olden days.


Written by - Nazar Thekkath

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