Salmiya

Unexpectedly, Tehran presented itself in early November this year more than charming. The air was clear and sun shining every day while temperatures were very comfortable at 22 centigrade. An obligatory visit of the Carpet Museum at the north western corner of Lahle Park with its small but selected collection and exhibition of pieces mainly from the 18th and 19th century would prevent me from buying more carpets in Tehran’s bazaar. The nearby Museum of Contemporary Art is also interesting. Besides displaying paintings, sculptures and very interesting installations by local artists, the fine collection includes works from Picasso, Max Ernst, Magritte, Miro, Edward Hopper, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, even Francis Bacon. Our hosts took much care of us so that we were guided, on a special tour, also through the Archaeological Museum (part of the National Museum of Iran), Golestan Park, and the incredible National Jewels Museum which is located in what can be called a walk-in bank saf...

Tehran , November 2007

Certainly not! Kuwait University has still a strong vision and enormous capabilities and facilities for developing and maintaining its status of a real frontrunner institution in the academic world of the Gulf States. Founded already some 40 years ago, there are now about 20’000 students who are taught in 13 Faculties. A new project is the University City which is located in Al Shadadiyah, about 30 km south of the Capital in what is so far desert. There will be also a University Hospital which is urgently needed since the old Mubarak Hospital in Jabriya with its limited space and facilities is not very suitable for the growing numbers of Medical students in Kuwait. Working at Kuwait University as a teacher with a Western academic background may be a challenge. It has led to mixed if not ambiguous emotions. The exotic place cannot be compared with highly effective and productive Academia in, for example, the USA or Europe, where teaching is well-organized, standardized, streamlined, an...

Oil will inevitably come to an end in the region. How will the small emirate in the corner of the Arabian Gulf look in, say 30 years? As compared to Bahrain and Qatar, not to mention Dubai, Kuwait has definitely fallen behind as regards to developing alternatives. Endeavors are, however, considerable. Never having really been a touristic hub, Kuwait now tries hard to catch up. The Waterfront Project has considerably beautified the seaside to the East and South of the Kuwait Towers, Bneid Al Qar, Sha’ab, East Hawalli, and Salmiya, but also to the North and West, up to Shuwaikh. The Corniche now roughly stretches between the famous Kuwaiti Towers and the Scientific Center in Salmiya, some ten km. Ninety percent of all expats of Kuwait are living in booming Salmiya. Salam Al Mubarak St., Kuwait's buzzing, but still somewhat cozy, main shopping street, is (and it is not a joke) called by many The Sultan Center St., since the city's main grocery store is located here. Besides typica...

Most of Kuwait Bay is lined by extended mudflats. The Bubiyan island in the Northeast is also mainly formed of mud. It is connected with the mainland by an impressive bridge but still public traffic is not permitted. The Arabian (indeed, the Persian) Gulf has only one major fresh water source, the Shatt Al Arab. Together with great heat in summer and, therefore, enormous evaporation, water is very salty, even more in enclosed bays or in intertidal pools. Nevertheless, life is abundant, and fishing may still be an important source for food. Typical Hadra traps are found in the mudflats, complicated maze of sticks in shallow waters. Fish will not be able to find a way out and will be picked by the fishermen at low tide. Another trap is Gargoor which is portable. The principle is generally the same. Fish will swim into the trap through a funnel but certainly are not intelligent enough of finding a way out. Near the Bubiyan bridge the remains of the Iraqi invasion, ruins and vessel wreck...

Being located in the heart of the old capital of the Seljuks, Esfahan’s Masjed-e Jomeh belongs to the most wonderful Islamic buildings in the world. More than 1300 years of Persian history may be studied in its architecture. It is the biggest mosque in Iran. Under the supervision of vizier Nizam al Molk the famous Persian mathematician Omar Khayyam, who lived at that time in Esfahan, planned and constructed parts of the complex. Kufic calligraphy and a more sturdy architecture make Esfahan’s Masjed-e Jomeh so special. It is a mosque like a museum with different parts from eras as far ago as Sasanid Zoroastrians. It is said that the first mosque here was built in the early 8th century which was later enlarged by Abbasid Khalifs. The Seljuks rebuilt the mosque in the 11th century. The two domes over the northern and southern iwans have survived Mongolian storms and time. On the portal of the northwestern iwan of Esfahan's Friday Mosque girih tiles can be found, which have been descr...