Navigators in the desert - Kuwait

At the edge of Mesopotamia - one of the cradles of civilization over 4,000 years ago to establish a nation that would become one of the first who chose the sea to facilitate trade.

Their connection but endless blue stretches deeper into the mists of time - the time when, 7,000 years ago, the first boats in the world, built of reeds, crossed the Persian Gulf.

Millennia later, the site of a fishing village, was born in Kuwait found that while a strategic point on the main transit route between India and Middle East.

In the early twentieth century, attracted by its commercial importance, the British Empire annexed Kuwait under the guise of a "protectorate". Fresh discovery of huge oil reserves but also drew strong investors in the United States, resulting in a devastating war.

Over, the night Kuwaiti territory, deep darkness desert is rarely pierced by the dim light of a few urban settlements, the windings highways nearly full moon illuminated red-yellow flames and the oil wells.

Scorching sun and dry heat are ready to engulf us when we leave the hotel cool, but we are saved by the air conditioning buses often makes us think more northern latitudes.

With so much oil in underground fuel price is symbolic, and traffic jams are common due to the increased number of cars - Ford's and GMC's, real mini "tank" on wheels.

Local streets but rarely meet Indians and Filipinos are everywhere. But our dilemma is explained: all businesses are owned by government, but by birth residents are entitled to free education (including scholarships through this abroad), nursing, a house and a job in the government system. Therefore, Indians are employed to solve the daily labor dues and Filipino nannies take care of children. These benefits have not yet made ​​to look traditional oriental hospitality.

Learning that we used transport buses, and the locals seem surprised by our choice tear lines like "Why do not you take a taxi? We never use buses only expats use them "and are invited to take a ride with them to discover the city.

Their recommendations regarding places to visit consist of shopping malls.

"- To build a new mall, worth it to visit!
- But something through the historic center? Any mosque? Bazaar?
- Mmmm ... no, but we have another mall, luxurious ... "

At our insistence, the old town begins to unfolds. Old Souq Al-Hareem - core old Oriental bazaar broken stories in Bedouin women selling their goods quiet colors, contrasts sharply with additional skyscrapers that soar to the sky high.

Two steps, Safety Palace - the seat of government, its lazy stretches buildings built like small fortresses guarded by palm crown old, secular port device being Souk Sharq through menacing barbed wire fence which insulate the past like the present.
In the shadow of all modern buildings with dozens of floors, old harbor crowded with fishing boats, their lives may last moments in modern pressing furiously ignoring the past.