Kuwait Road watch

This photo is taken from car crash photos . This accident happened in feb 2007 in kuwait.


Kuwait has very good roads network although it needs repairs every year due to some reasons beyond my understanding.During rainy season and after small pieces of flying stones as soon as hit your wind screen chips car screens.I don’t know about others but it has happened to mine twice in couple of years. Driving in Kuwait is like going over the Islamic bridge (jassar al saraat or pul saraat) which is very thin like corona wire and sharper than razor blade.Accident happens every day and it is usual thing and mostly lethal. Many people killed in road accidents. When first time I came to Kuwait most roads had very small signs on the roads with quranic verses. Which were usually installed by relatives of person being killed in road accidents.It was every where on roads in Kuwait but now I think government removed itMany deaths could be avoided just by not using mobile phone while you are driving and by coming out few minutes earlier for your job than speeding to kill someone.Whenever you drive please put in mind if i drive more than legal speed limits it could kill someone this time and next time its going to be me.Please learn to respect other road user which could one way contribute to reduce accident rate in kuwait.please share your views comments and experiences on Kuwaiti roads

1-2-2010

It is usual thing in Kuwait to post advertisements on traffic Road sign. This sign is on Romaithia- Road junction


police station Rumaithia

Road leading to Romaithia car park. Puddle or swimming pool



Environmental friendly police station Rumaithia with vegetable patch in fron garden





this picture is courtsy of bob and his wife both british police officers


newly built roads in aqeelah needs repair

Kuwait Food Watch

Insect inffected dates
According to lable it is best Iranian Zahidi dates with packiaging date and expirey dates with telephone number of Importer or packaging company. Anyway Iam using these dates since long times not this company but packed by different companies and from saudi arabia.
Since long time i was thinking to write about the problem these dates have is more than 50 percent are with insects.These insects eat from inside and makes powdery shit inside.Anyway i tried to photograph it but not very clear.If you look broken dates it is white from inside and some part is brown.Brown part is eaten and isect shit is there.I will talk to this company post you about their point of view.Also if any side effects of eating insect shit.

Dates with sand
This is packet of dates i bought three of them from coop in kuwait.
could you believe it or not I found sand mixed in it ?
I tried to approach the owner of braka dates and made apointment to visit him. They are based in shweikh industrial in dates market.
I asked him do you have any complaint about your dates because i found sand in your dates. he said no. he has never ever has any complaint. I told him that i found sand in your dates .He said i could exchange it. it was his kindness to change the packets and gave me another . But when i came home i tried to eat it i found out it was same as before.
If you want to sell dates please don't mix harmful stuff in food. There are ways to sell just sand separately . People out there selling sand even Kuwait imports sand as well


These are two boxes are fake tea i think? no colour no taste
although both says one of the best Black Tea and Orange Pekoe With bad Taste I usually bring my pg tips tea bags from the UK. If i run out of it i usually use brooks bonds red label or yellow label from lipton. This time i bought few tea boxes which are not tea at all i think. Although it says on the box one of the best pure ceylon tea.Believe me it is horrible here are pictures of two packings.Now how to load pictures? I totally forgot? Oh i manage to download pictures of tea boxes. now how to bring it down?

Fish with full of oil slick being sold by sultan centre Kuwait

Surprising to know that there is Regional organisation for protection of marine life.

I have spoken to Dr.Thunda Raja? last week and he has told me they will look into this matter.

Today i have approached them and talked to Dr. peter in this organisation and he asked me to send the link of pictures. well done Dr. peter.



If I was in your place I could have gone to sultan centre and bought some fishes for further observations. Is this protection you are offering to marine life in Kuwait? Dear Dr. peter please note my point that marine life in Kuwaiti shores are on decline . If you have any chance to visit any beaches you could find less shells than previous years

It is not only marine life Iam talking about what about people who eat fish? For your information lots of people are suffering from cancer related diseases. this contaminated fish with full of oil slick is one of the cause of cancer in local population

Dr. peter found here fish photographs atlast and took his valuable time to reply me by email.
Interesting to know that according to him his organisations remote sensors have detected no any considerable leak or spill.
Now another mystery to me from where this oil slick came inside fish.
other thing he suggested to report this matter to health department or other government offices to report this incident.
Dr. peter it is very easy to suggest to report to government offices but in practice it is beyond practice. Do you know why?
first of all i have no civil id (Iam visitor) which is first requirement for complaint.
secondly If you go to Kuwaiti government offices you have to waste lot of time waiting to let officials finish their telephone conversation, reading magzine chating and drinking tea or even out busy in shopping etc.

DR. peter you know these government offices or bodies that you suggested me to report now my question is are you willing to take time to report?
Now is there any Kuwaiti government official have read this or seen these pictures? if so please report it to concerned department for further action to safe guard local marine life, birds and local population.

2-2-2010
Today I visited sultan centre mangaf and found out they had no fish in question.
Another thing I found out in one of their freezers all ice cream was liquidy. Are they going to throw it away? no I dont think so because in kuwait there is no any concept of keeping frozen things frozen.If there is any concept it might be be just in the governments concerned offices.
People who deals in frozen food should be traind and given knowledge about frozen food and why it should be kept under certain temperature.
Due to harsh weather in kuwait especialy in summer frozen food left out of freezer at delivery point to enter the shop freezers, thats why most ice lolies are in irregular shapes etc. When next time you buy any frozen food make sure that food is frozen just once in the factory and not defrozen and frozen till it arrives in your freezer.















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Visa on demand at Kuwait Airport

I arrived on Kuwait airport and headed for visa desk. It was empty without visa seekers.This visa service desk is run by company "Salam". As soon as i arrived i approached to their desk and handed over them the passport and visa application. It is usual thing with me that they delay my application due to my place of birth and name. while I was waiting for this process I thought I better talk to visa officers sitting next to these salam company typists.I approached the desk with smile one officer was on the phone and while he was talking on the phone he took out one paper out of desk sign. This paper was very important for some and not for others.I noticed that paper I was looking for it. I asked that officer don’t you offer this service any more? He pretended that he didn’t understand me. I told him I am waiting here since 15 minutes and he took my passport and left there.He came to the typist table and asked him then he said he is waiting for his response. He told me that please sit and wait. I waited another 15 minutes and still no response. Anyway after long wait they got print out and got my visa paper for another three months.Now what was that important paper?Paper was saying
Visa processing fee KD 3
this service is optional.
After I got my visa i asked that officer that although this service is optional for example if I come straight to you without going through these counters, would you issue me a visa? He said yesNext time i will look for him.Last time i tried this option and took my visa application without these salam people.I approached the counter and i asked the officer on duty, he took my passport and application form and gave it to salam again and said it is ok.Another rip off of these private counters have started new service
Fast track visa service For KD 10
which is unfair, too expensive and injustice to other people in the queue.I wonder why these visa officers couldn’t do direct visa issuing like Bahrain. Are these officers are too busy? Anyway I will try next time to pass these salaam typists and keeps you updated.Do you have any experience with visa counter please share with us.

Head office Kuwait Post

After a long struggle I managed to find head office of Kuwait post. I have asked most post offices about their head office but all of them denied by saying they doesn’t know where there head office. Do you believe it? I wouldn’t because they receive communication and instructions from their head office and these are displayed on most post offices of Kuwait. I noted the telephone number from one of the letter and tried to ring which was unavailable.Most post offices have complaint boxes like other government offices but never emptied to see what is happening on the counters.Anyway i found the head office which is housed in coop Mishref complex. Post office mishref is also housed in the same office on ground floor. Head office of Kuwait post is on the first floor.I don’t know exactly whether it is real head office or just semi head office. Head of this office wasn’t present at the time of my visit on Monday 21 of December 2009 about 9 Am but I managed to speak his secretary and told him i am writing a report about Kuwait postal system and would like to have answers of some of my questions. After few questions he took my telephone number and told me he will put me in touch with right person. Till now there is no response from head office. I will keep you updated for further information about my meeting with head office if there will be one.

post office Rowdha

Passing through Rowdha and found out they have shiffted now in new building near coop

Post office Mishraf

This post office is housed in this coop complex and also postal sector head office is on first floor.
31 january 2010
So i arrived here and strange to know they have totally different price list than other post offices and had no clue about prices what i was talking. If they dont have clue then why they dont get it? Yes they are very busy in their services. During argument their inspector came and started to put his nose as well. The way he was talking was like i have committed a crime to get a right published postal rate.
Anyway i decided to post my packet at letter rate. I am going to see him and his boss upstair who was absent from his office upon my second visit. Now took his telephone number from his secretary's office.

Post office fahaheel

According to this letter box out side fahaheel post office they empty 12 times a day. I posted one leter to holland in this box few years ago which never arrived in holland.

Post office qussor & grain

Post office Jabbar al ali

covered letter box at jaber al post office
I have never visited this post office inside but this post has kuwaiti flag out side and letter box covered with blue sack which shows they have no time to empty letter box

Khaldiah post office

Schweikh (industrial) post office

Yesterday I have been to this post office. I arrived bit earlier than their opening hours. There was no post office sign at the building because it is newly refurbished.
I entered in the post office at 8 am .There was only one person sitting on the counter busy in reading newspaper. I was bit guilty to disturb him but I asked him "Is it post office". He replied "yes"
Then I have asked him if I can post some small packets. He replied "mai Aseer". Then I asked him why? He said we only accept letters here and if you want to post it go to keifan. I started arguing and got annoyed by this silly answer "mai asser". At the end he said come after 15 minutes because nobody is here yet. I waited in the car half an hour and went in the post office again. Thanks god some people were there. I asked the same question and same thing , same answer "Mai aseer" and go to keifan. I told him you are sitting here to work and you are telling me go to keifan. Why? I should go to keifaan? to listen same answer? Anyway after half an hour of arguments he agreed to accept it. I arrived at the post office At 7.30 and finished posting at 9.15Am. What a good performance and waste of resources by kwait post offices funded by kuwaiti government. By the way he refused to accept one of this letter which is bubble envelope and print on the back. this is photo of bubble envelope.

Post office GPO kuwait (Keifaan)

Today I have visited this office at 7.30am and surprised to know that post office opens at 7.30am.
Now i think this office serve as a kuwait GPO due to Gpo building repairs which is on Fahad al salam street.
Anyway i had very big success in getting official postal price list after years of struggle. This gentleman was really honest and nice of him starting work at 7.30am.
After posting of letters i asked him if he could give me official price list and he happily stamped it to make official.
I would like to tell you that about two years ago i have visited main GPO on Fahad al salam street and asked them to post as small packet but that lady denied this.THen i asked her to ask her manager but manager after seeing my copy of postal prices said these are old prices. Surprising to know that this price list given to me today is starting from 1st of January 1986
I have now very serious questions for head of postal sector department of communication if he has sometime to spare.
I would like to ask him if he ask all post offices to display price lists on their counter and staff should wear id with name on it. If you ask anyone at the post office they refuse to give you their name after lieing

Sabah al salam post office

shamiyah post office

Rumaithia Post office

Rumaithia post office is located in coop complex of Rumaithia.

I have visited this post office once to buy stamps and second time to post two packets which were refused by safat shamiah and they accepted it without any questions.

I will check again and see wether they offer cheap rates for small parcels upto one kilo.

I will post comments regarding this matter

do you have any experience good or bad please share with us.

1-2-2010

I have visited this post office and asked the counter clerk if she could provide me copy of price list but she said they dont have go to Ras Salmiya post office.
Funny thing with kuwait post offices is they try to send to other offices and you ends up with nothing

Safat (Mirghab) post office

Fintas post office

This post office is located near fintas coop and I think has Kuwaiti made letter box outside. Most offices have Royal mail letter boxes which were installed when Kuwait was under British Indian government.This office is not main post office and doesn’t like to accept small packets of post although seems over staffed with non skilled staff. Some time if you walk in gives impression of party time of ladies.Few years ago I had chance to visit this post office and requested post master to give me post box. He opened the register and told me there is one person already in waiting list. After that is your number. He took my telephone number and told me he will ring me as soon as one box is available. Till now he didn’t ring and even he is not there since couple of years.I have tried twice to contact the post master by telephone. They didn’t answer the phone or he was absent like other offices.One day I have decided to go their and ask some questions about services provided by his office.I asked him if he could supply me postage rates but he has no idea.Second question I have asked him if he could give me telephone number or address of Kuwait post head office but he said he doesn’t know.Third question I have asked him about posting small packets which he said only letters and if you want to post a small packet you must go to Fahaheel or Ahmadi.Fourth question was why don’t you accept small packets? Do you have lots of work he smiled.This was last conversation i had with him and i will keep posting for further developments.Do you have any experience with this office good or bad please share with us.

Ras Salmiya Post office

Since few years Iam visitor of this post office .This post office is housed in building with tower located near salmiya coop and police station. I will load photograph soon about this post office.
I was using small packet service from this office and near Christmas when i went there to post 7 packets as soon as that counter clerk saw these packets she said no more small packet service.
If you want to send it you must sent it by letter post. i said OK show me written something written from ministry. She said go to manager but unfortunately manager wasn't there as usual.
I had no option that day because Christmas was already quiet close. I have decided to take this forced option .
I counted money from my pocket but not enough so i posted some packets and then went to gulf bank to change money Brit pounds to kd. I came back to post office and posted the rest.

I have longgggggg list of complaints about most post offices. this post office is i think one of the best in Kuwait i should admit. There are few members of staff they are really nice and helpful.

Next day i tried to contact post master of Ras salmiya but he wasn't available. two days latter i tried to contact him again by the phone and lucky me he was available. I got connected to him and i have asked him why his staff refused to give me small packet service. He said ministry changed it . There is no small packet service available. I said OK could you show me notification from the ministry about this big change. He said no because they told by phone. waow interesting answer and never knew that post master could lie as well. Anyway he told me if you want to talk further come here. I asked him what is your name? He answered he is not going to give his name because Iam going to publish it. I told him Iam not going to publish your name but he refused. He should know there is only one ras salmiya post office and there is only one postmaster.
HE should know rules of Kuwait officials must wear their id with name on it.

Anyway telephone conversation with him i started my fact finding mission postal pricing and made trip to head post master of Kuwait which is based in mishraf coop. He was absent from his office at the time of my visit. His secretary took my number and said someone will be in touch with me.
I found price list of postal services in Kuwait in pocket guide of Kuwait. I have rang them and asked them is there any recent changes in postal prices. they said no as far as since few months.
When i looked in there website they had price list but i asked them if they could confirm it.
Thanks to the Kuwait pocket guide staff for her help to find the facts. She confirmed it that this is the right and recent price list which has prices of small packets.

What are your comments regarding this price list updated on Kuwait pocket guide Mr. post master of Ras salmiya post office. You could check on their hard copy or from their website.

here is a link of kuwait pocket guide where could find prices pleas copy it and post it in yout post offices.You must display price list on your counters .

http://www.kuwaitpocketguide.com/amenitiesinfra.asp#POSTAL%20SERVICES


DO YOU NEED WASTA TO POST 17 January 2010

surprising to know you need wasta too in post offices. I took wasta and same lady who refused to take my packets since november 2009 got scared a bit and took my four packets without any question. Prior to this she was insisting that post office stopped small packet service and you have to post it as a letter post.Post master of this office has confirmed her statement to me over the phone by lieing that ministry has stopped small packet service(but before giving this false statement he should know that small packet serverice is provided Internationaly not only by his office. When I asked him if he could show me notification then he said that no they told me over the phone.

Again they refused to refuse small packet 31 january 2010
I arrived to the post office this morning and they refused to give me small packet rates. After long arguments they gave me name of their inspector in mishraf.
Strange thing is they are thinking that iam looking for favour.It is not my problem you doesnt like to serve people the way it should be.
So i left this post office to see their inspector in mishraf.
I will update

Salmiya Post office