KUWAIT CITY, Jun 16, 2009 (AFP) - A blinding dust storm hit Kuwait on Tuesday, forcing a halt in oil exports and closure of the Gulf emirate's three ports as well as disrupting air traffic, officials said.
Winds of up to 80 kilometres an hour (50 mph) reduced visibility to less than 150 metres (yards) at Kuwait airport and to almost zero at ports.
A spokesman for Kuwait National Petroleum Co (KNPC) said oil exports were completely halted and would resume when weather conditions improve.
OPEC's fourth-largest producer pumps around 2.2 million barrels of crude oil daily through KNPC export facilities in oil-rich southern Kuwait.
Issam al-Zamel, head of operations at the civil aviation authority, told the official KUNA news agency that a number of aircraft scheduled to land in Kuwait were being diverted to neighbouring Gulf countries.
Kuwait has had virtually no rain for the third winter in a row, making the desert sand loose and easily carried aloft by strong northwesterly winds.
Dust storms are rare in winter but common in summer when the temperature hits 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).
Showing posts with label Kuwait. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kuwait. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Map of Area/Apartment
This should give you an idea of where I live and work. (Click on the picture to make it bigger)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Kuwait Report 6/13/09
My time in Kuwait has been going along quickly. On 15 June 2009 I will have been gone for 1 month. Three weeks in Kuwait. Despite working 10 hour days -- 6 days a week it hasn't been that bad.
The food has been real good. Every day I eat in the DFAC (Dining Facility) for lunch. We have had things like Cornish game hens, Roast Beef, Prime Rib, Bar-B-Que ribs, Steak and Lobster and Shrimp. Not too bad -- I like the deserts too. They have pecan and cherry pie every day. I usually try to eat a big lunch and a light breakfast and dinner.
Sunday's -- my only day off -- we go to the DFAC for a brunch. You can get eggs and way you want them, biscuits and gravy and any other breakfast food you can imagine. Needless to say I don't eat anything else the rest of the day. They don't have pork here in Kuwait so if you want it you have to get it at the DFAC.
I found a place that I can get a pedicure (spa on base), so I have been saved. I got a pedicure and hair cut today. So I am set for another month. I was worried I would have to go a year without a pedicure.
Gayla is sending me a care package with things I can't get over here. It takes about a week to get mail Sometimes less.
My CALIBRE employer took everyone out to dinner on Wednesday evening. He took us to Jonny Carlinos. A nice Italian restaurant. I was stuffed when I left. They took our maids too and they were very appreciative for the gesture. They couldn't get over how much the meal cost. They all got steaks and took 2/3 of it home to eat the next day.
Who knows there may be an opportunity to work for one of the companies that I am employed with after the year is up. The pay is great and the working conditions aren't that bad -- other than the heat (112-115 daily). Needless to say I don't go out much.
I would like to take some pictures and post them on my blog but the new camera I got -- the cable to the computer doesn't match my computer so I need to find a different cable.
The food has been real good. Every day I eat in the DFAC (Dining Facility) for lunch. We have had things like Cornish game hens, Roast Beef, Prime Rib, Bar-B-Que ribs, Steak and Lobster and Shrimp. Not too bad -- I like the deserts too. They have pecan and cherry pie every day. I usually try to eat a big lunch and a light breakfast and dinner.
Sunday's -- my only day off -- we go to the DFAC for a brunch. You can get eggs and way you want them, biscuits and gravy and any other breakfast food you can imagine. Needless to say I don't eat anything else the rest of the day. They don't have pork here in Kuwait so if you want it you have to get it at the DFAC.
I found a place that I can get a pedicure (spa on base), so I have been saved. I got a pedicure and hair cut today. So I am set for another month. I was worried I would have to go a year without a pedicure.
Gayla is sending me a care package with things I can't get over here. It takes about a week to get mail Sometimes less.
My CALIBRE employer took everyone out to dinner on Wednesday evening. He took us to Jonny Carlinos. A nice Italian restaurant. I was stuffed when I left. They took our maids too and they were very appreciative for the gesture. They couldn't get over how much the meal cost. They all got steaks and took 2/3 of it home to eat the next day.
Who knows there may be an opportunity to work for one of the companies that I am employed with after the year is up. The pay is great and the working conditions aren't that bad -- other than the heat (112-115 daily). Needless to say I don't go out much.
I would like to take some pictures and post them on my blog but the new camera I got -- the cable to the computer doesn't match my computer so I need to find a different cable.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
I'm Back! (online that is)
I have tried to update my blog but found all the buttons to update it are in Arabic, so I am asking Stephanie to update it for me from an email to her.
The weather here is HOT!!!!!!! It gets up to 115 degrees every day and only drops to the mid-80s at night. They say it isn't hot here until it's still triple digits at night too.
Work days are long -- usually 10-12 hours long but seems to go quickly. My commute takes about 30 minutes and it takes about 30 minutes to get through security on post.
I work behind a barbed wire fence with razor wire. There is added security there as well.
I like what I am doing and will aid in reducing the cost of the war. I will be working on the costs for the LOGCAP contract that people hear a lot about.
The apartment I live in is nice. The maid keeps everything real nice and clean and my clothes are laundered daily. I've never had my jeans pressed before. They are Filipino women that are working as our maids.
The Vice-President of CALIBRE Corp. The prime contractor I work for flew in yesterday and he is taking the entire group of Contractors/Sub-Contractors out to dinner tomorrow.
I usually go out to dinner a few times a week and eat in my apartment the other nights. There is a furnished kitchen in our apartment.
I am really grateful that I was not sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. That is where I was originally supposed to go. I have been out among the Kuwaitis and feel safe here. I took a shopping trip with some other guys the other day and bought a cell phone that works over here -- has a SIM card.
The drivers are nuts over here. There are accidents every day. We count our selves lucky if we get home without getting in an accident.
My room mate has a Filipino girl friend. He is not married. I understand other people have not been able to live with him. He is kind of set in his ways. I'll see how it works out.
I may need to ask Gayla to send me a care package to send me things they don't have over here. The PX has a few things and the grocery stores here are a little expensive. Plus they are in Arabic/English so it's hard to read some things. May have to learn Arabic before I leave.
The weather here is HOT!!!!!!! It gets up to 115 degrees every day and only drops to the mid-80s at night. They say it isn't hot here until it's still triple digits at night too.
Work days are long -- usually 10-12 hours long but seems to go quickly. My commute takes about 30 minutes and it takes about 30 minutes to get through security on post.
I work behind a barbed wire fence with razor wire. There is added security there as well.
I like what I am doing and will aid in reducing the cost of the war. I will be working on the costs for the LOGCAP contract that people hear a lot about.
The apartment I live in is nice. The maid keeps everything real nice and clean and my clothes are laundered daily. I've never had my jeans pressed before. They are Filipino women that are working as our maids.
The Vice-President of CALIBRE Corp. The prime contractor I work for flew in yesterday and he is taking the entire group of Contractors/Sub-Contractors out to dinner tomorrow.
I usually go out to dinner a few times a week and eat in my apartment the other nights. There is a furnished kitchen in our apartment.
I am really grateful that I was not sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. That is where I was originally supposed to go. I have been out among the Kuwaitis and feel safe here. I took a shopping trip with some other guys the other day and bought a cell phone that works over here -- has a SIM card.
The drivers are nuts over here. There are accidents every day. We count our selves lucky if we get home without getting in an accident.
My room mate has a Filipino girl friend. He is not married. I understand other people have not been able to live with him. He is kind of set in his ways. I'll see how it works out.
I may need to ask Gayla to send me a care package to send me things they don't have over here. The PX has a few things and the grocery stores here are a little expensive. Plus they are in Arabic/English so it's hard to read some things. May have to learn Arabic before I leave.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Life in Kuwait
Life in Kuwait is very interesting. The homes are all stucco, and mortor, with a boxy look, and a flat roof. They are all some form of sand color. I'll try to take some pictures and up-load them.
I was without air conditioning the first night here. The air conditioner in my room was broken. I couldn't sleep so I went out and slept on the couch in the living room. The apartment has three bedrooms with two guys in each apartment -- so we have one room open for transients. It gets about 85-87 degrees here at night down from 115-122 (50 degrees celcius) they say it isn't warm here yet -- not until it's triple digits temperature at night. The humidity here is about 4-5%. The apartment is on a scale somewhere between a motel 6 and holiday inn.
There is very little grass here -- mostly sand and trash. A few trees that they plant along the highways etc.
When I went to the Airbase Ali Al Salem (1 hr away) this morning it was blowing and drifting sand across the road. We took a guy (my roommate) up there that was flying to Iraq.
I eat lunch on base with the troops/other employees. I guess I could eat breakfast and dinner there if I wanted. They pay me $71 a day for per diem (food/etc). I went shopping the other day for groceries -- most of the shopping etc is in two languages (arabic and english).
I've been out to eat at night quite a bit. Tried some Indian food last night. Little too much curry for my taste.
My roommate is kind of quiet. He is from Maryland. He doesn't like AC that much so he wears a coat a lot. So he wears his coat out in 100 degree weather -- kind of nutty. My boss and his roomate are from VA, so I have a lot in common with them.
I was without internet in my home till last night -- wasn't working. I also couldn't log on my computer at work until I got all my clearances/badges etc. Took till Friday. So basically incognito -- Everyone probably thought I had dropped off the edge of the earth. I am going to try to get a cell phone today so I can call. Requies a cell phone with a sim card here not just a serial number.
We are building up a group of contractors to do cost analyst work for the Army. Basically justifying costs/budgets etc.
Both the Prime and Sub-Contractor that I work for said they may have work for me when I get back from Kuwait. Hope so, the pay is sweet.
Where I work on Camp Arifjan is bascially a converted warehouse. But they have fixed it up. At least there is AC. It is in a secure area behind a fence with barbed wire. Takes about 30 minutes to get on post and into my office because of all the security.
The maid service is great. They wash and iron your clothes daily and put them in your drawer. They even iron my jeans -- unbelieveable. It is so dusty here they have the security guys wash the cars daily for about $10 Dinar monthly ($34.50), basically a little over a $1 a day.
I was without air conditioning the first night here. The air conditioner in my room was broken. I couldn't sleep so I went out and slept on the couch in the living room. The apartment has three bedrooms with two guys in each apartment -- so we have one room open for transients. It gets about 85-87 degrees here at night down from 115-122 (50 degrees celcius) they say it isn't warm here yet -- not until it's triple digits temperature at night. The humidity here is about 4-5%. The apartment is on a scale somewhere between a motel 6 and holiday inn.
There is very little grass here -- mostly sand and trash. A few trees that they plant along the highways etc.
When I went to the Airbase Ali Al Salem (1 hr away) this morning it was blowing and drifting sand across the road. We took a guy (my roommate) up there that was flying to Iraq.
I eat lunch on base with the troops/other employees. I guess I could eat breakfast and dinner there if I wanted. They pay me $71 a day for per diem (food/etc). I went shopping the other day for groceries -- most of the shopping etc is in two languages (arabic and english).
I've been out to eat at night quite a bit. Tried some Indian food last night. Little too much curry for my taste.
My roommate is kind of quiet. He is from Maryland. He doesn't like AC that much so he wears a coat a lot. So he wears his coat out in 100 degree weather -- kind of nutty. My boss and his roomate are from VA, so I have a lot in common with them.
I was without internet in my home till last night -- wasn't working. I also couldn't log on my computer at work until I got all my clearances/badges etc. Took till Friday. So basically incognito -- Everyone probably thought I had dropped off the edge of the earth. I am going to try to get a cell phone today so I can call. Requies a cell phone with a sim card here not just a serial number.
We are building up a group of contractors to do cost analyst work for the Army. Basically justifying costs/budgets etc.
Both the Prime and Sub-Contractor that I work for said they may have work for me when I get back from Kuwait. Hope so, the pay is sweet.
Where I work on Camp Arifjan is bascially a converted warehouse. But they have fixed it up. At least there is AC. It is in a secure area behind a fence with barbed wire. Takes about 30 minutes to get on post and into my office because of all the security.
The maid service is great. They wash and iron your clothes daily and put them in your drawer. They even iron my jeans -- unbelieveable. It is so dusty here they have the security guys wash the cars daily for about $10 Dinar monthly ($34.50), basically a little over a $1 a day.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
I've Arrived in Kuwait
Arrived in Kuwait at 5 pm local time (10 hrs ahead of Pacific Time), Monday, 25 May 2009. It was a 12 and 1/2 hr flight. Had to go through medical screening for swine flu (H1N1). Then get a Visa. That was an experience -- Organized Chaos. Then went through customs. One and 1/2 hours later went to the other side of security and my boss was waiting for me. He took me to my apartment where I settled in. I live in a high rise apartment overlooking the Persian Gulf. The company I work for rents the apartment and it has maid service and a car. They wash our clothes and iron them daily and wash the car daily.
I work about 30 minutes south at Camp Arifjan. It is very interesting getting through all the security -- takes about 30 minutes to get on post. Work from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (10 hrs). Get home around 6/6:30 pm.
The only thing dangerous around here is the Kuwaitee drivers. They drive anyway they want. On the freeway -- miss an exit -- no problem. Stop and back up. Needless to say there are a lot of accidents around here.
I am driving up north to take my room mate to catch a helecopter to Iraq. So I will be without a roommate for 3 days.
I understand there are LDS services at 4:30 pm at the Zone 1 Chapel. Will try to get there if I can today. Have tried to get in touch with the Branch President/Bishop. Haven't connected yet.
The currency here in Kuwait is the Dinar (3.45 US Dolars). More later got to go.
I work about 30 minutes south at Camp Arifjan. It is very interesting getting through all the security -- takes about 30 minutes to get on post. Work from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (10 hrs). Get home around 6/6:30 pm.
The only thing dangerous around here is the Kuwaitee drivers. They drive anyway they want. On the freeway -- miss an exit -- no problem. Stop and back up. Needless to say there are a lot of accidents around here.
I am driving up north to take my room mate to catch a helecopter to Iraq. So I will be without a roommate for 3 days.
I understand there are LDS services at 4:30 pm at the Zone 1 Chapel. Will try to get there if I can today. Have tried to get in touch with the Branch President/Bishop. Haven't connected yet.
The currency here in Kuwait is the Dinar (3.45 US Dolars). More later got to go.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Weather in Kuwait
Just checked the weather in Kuwait City, Kuwait. The average high for the next 10 days in 109-113 degrees and the average low is 87 degrees. Its a dry heat I ubderstand -- hopefully!
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