Scary local animals

Oh, I'd love to be writing about local spiders, deadly scorpions and poisonous snakes (actually not, since it would mean I had met them outside the reassuring glass box of a zoo!). But I'm only talking about panthers. Well, the smaller species. They're also named cats. 

For some reason, for the second time (a small thought for Gatito the Brazilian garbage eater), a kitten found my porch a nice place to live. Well, technically, this time the kitten's mum found my porch a nice place to give birth. So the new mum and her baby kitten have lived in the corner of the house's entrance porch for a couple of days now. (Which grants me the blessing of seeing a black cat every morning as I go out - no regrettable consequences so far) Anyway, as I went out this morning the baby kitten was on its own, looking very sweet, so I thought I'd just take a picture when I'd get back. But that was without allowing for its overprotective mum!

These pictures were taken with zoom, a good 5 meters away from the panther cat. No animal was hurt during the photo shoot, so please don't call the WSPA.

My friend Carole used to say that her black cat Fifi was a panther; today I finally understood why.
Beware of cats, they're hiding a wild panther within!

I don't know if I can use my front door now, I'm actually scared that Overprotective Mum might jump at my face for just looking at her baby kitten...

In Kuwait this weekend, there was...

... a system breakdown at the border, causing quite a long wait

... a first-class Japanese restaurant on an artificial island

...  a modern tower being built to watch a yacht marina 

... traditional boats in a traditional harbour

... dull buildings under construction

... German shoppers

... some date harvesting going on near a huge mall

... a birthday celebrated on a boat

... a mosque under construction in the dusty desert

... an ice-cream seller along the highway

... lots of camels looking to cross the border illegally

Where are you spending the weekend, and what is there around there? 

Roasting on low heat

Here's the weather forecast for the next 10 days in Ad Dammam (the largest city in the Eastern Province, about 40 minutes from where we live):

(The windy part is actually worse: it's like when you receive a current of hot air in the face in the sauna)

Let's try and look at the positive side of such a weather:

You jump straight into the pool without even thinking about it: it will feel nice and warm, whatever the time of day (or night!)  

Downside: the water can get so hot it won't even feel nice

You never need to check the weather outside to know how to dress in the morning.

Downside: you still have to think before getting dressed: are you going to a cold air-conditioned place? Will you have to keep your abaya on? (if so, you usually dress very lightly underneath, but then if you go to a Saudi friend and have to take it off, you have to make sure you're properly dressed!)

You don't need to wait outside the shower until the water gets warm: even the cold water is already warm as it comes out of the tap. 

Downside: it also comes warm out of the kitchen tap, so if you want to clean vegetables or unfreeze fish, it will start cooking!

It's very easy to follow the doctors' recommendations and drink 3 liters of water a day (sometimes I even drink 4 without even noticing). 

Downside: this water has got to come out somehow!

When working out at the gym, you sweat so much it makes you feel good about your effort. 

Downside: it's just an illusion!

See, nothing's perfect! Wherever you are, try and enjoy the weather, may it be cold or hot, rainy or sunny, cause one of these days you might just end up missing it! (although I don't miss the rain of my native Vendée yet!)

Living in the 15th century...

... of the Hijri calendar! As many Muslim countries, Saudi Arabia uses the Islamic calendar. Unlike our Gregorian calendar, it is a lunar calendar which has twelve months of 29 to 30 days, which add up 354 or 355 days per year. Since the lunar year is 11 or 12 days shorter than our seasonal calendar, the months don't correspond to the seasons, which is why the month of Ramadan is not always the same period of the year. This year is especially bad: it will fall in August, the hottest period of the year! 

We're currently in the year 1432 of the Hijri calendar. Luckily, in most places and on most papers, the date is indicated as per the Gregorian calendar, since that's the system used for business. And most families have a dual calendar at home, like this one (click on the picture to enlarge it): 

A dual calendar of this year: Gregorian and Hijri calendar

A Kuwaiti newspaper indicating the date according to both calendars

Ma'a salaama

The Arabic semester is officially over... until September incha' allah! We had a beautiful "graduation" morning, which took place in a fully redecorated classroom with carpets on the floor, nice cushions everywhere, and of course, coffee pots and dates! Our teachers made us a small presentation on Saudi Arabia, showing us pictures of the different regions in the country as well as their local dishes (which we would then have the privilege to taste!). Then we were all called one by one to receive our certificate and a small gift from the school, while the rest of the students applauded and congratulated. Our arabic teacher was also there, and she gave every one of her students an Arabic book to keep learning over the summer, accompanied with a very nice note of encouragement. 

This is yet another demonstration of how hospitable and generous Saudis are; they're always happy to see you are interested in their country and culture. One Saudi friend once told me: "You'd be surprised at how much we know about the Western culture here; it's a shame you can't say the same about us..."

And I'd like to thank my Malaysian student friends for their generosity and congeniality. As the semester passed by, I discovered very nice persons, great cooks (!), crazy photographers, open-minded and curious, great companions! 

They also know far more about us than we do about them: they know some words in French and Spanish, (watch Latin-American telenovelas back home and love Rosalinda!), some have travelled to Europe... Of course we can't travel everywhere either, but still it feels a bit embarrassing to be that ignorant about some countries. 

Graduation gifts and a nice batik dress given to me by a fellow student from Malaysia

Our Arabic learning group

And for those who'd wonder why I'd want to learn Arabic: I love the challenge! 

My madeleines

02/06/2011 - 22:15 - Bushido, Manama, Bahrain

Sitting on a beautiful terrace next to an artificial pond, enjoying how the cool breeze is making its way through the hot, humid night, I watch how a black-dressed waiter comes my way. He's holding a tray in his left hand; and on this tray there's a glass, and in this glass there's chilled Chardonnay!

Sipping my first glass of white wine in months, lovely memories come back to my mind: family dinners back home, toasts of homemade foie gras, blushing cheeks, laughters, delightful moments, delighted tastebuds.

03/06/2011 - 13:25 - Margarita Mexicana, Manama, Bahrain

Guacamole al molcajete prepared by a Mexican chef, made from Hass avocados imported from Mexico, fresh tomato, white onion and coriander. To me, the real taste of Mexico!

Have a great weekend, and enjoy the guacamole and/or white wine while you can!