Chris Saul's Blog

Sunday May 17, 2009

Ripped

On every trip I do, I always take along at least a pair of chinos and some 'backup' jeans in case I need them.

On this week's trip to Jordan I didn't bother with the jeans, for some silly reason. Climbing out of the taxi this evening was a bit problematic, as I had to have my suitcase with me on the back seat, as the cab's boot wasn't working. Whilst trying to clamber up and out, case in hand, I suddenly head a ripping sound - my rather old chinos had decided to use that moment to give up the coast and rip in a rather embarrassing location.

I now have three days with nothing but a pair of suit trousers to wear. Bother.

The moral of the story seems to be to have what you never need with you at all times - that way you'll never need it. If you don't bring that spare pair of trousers, shirt, cufflinks, toothbrush, etc, etc, you're bound to regret it!

Kuwaiti ladies elected to parliament

An interesting article here from the BBC.

It's not all burkha clad women shut up at home in the Middle East, despite the general impression people have in Europe - an impression which a good PR company should be hired to counter.

In Kuwait, which is one of the stricter Gulf states in terms of not allowing alcohol, pork or much in the way of public entertainment, you can often see female Kuwaiti nationals dressed in Western clothes, walking around unveiled.

Perhaps the biggest surprise when you first arrive in Kuwait, slightly nervous about your trip to somewhere 'exotic' that you've only ever heard about on the news, is what you see when you come out from passport control. A visitor from the US might think he'd landed back home - Burger King, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and other cultural icons await you. After you've had a quick burger you then usually jump into a Crown Victoria, or similar beached whale simulating American car, to head off to your hotel.

Ambassadors

The Pakistan Boys' Under 15 football team were walking around Dubai airport this morning - nice lads, smartly dressed in blazers and chinos, neat hair, behaving themselves.

I wonder what impression the England boys' team give on their travels?