Cowboys in Paradise

New Documentary Capture’s Kuta Cowboys’ Gigolo Lifestyles

And the result: Bali raids nab 28 ‘beach gigolos’

Testosterone At Work

Aren’t you glad our members of parliament are more civil?

All photos from The Times. Refer to article for more!

And if you would like to see it in video here.

Cowboys & Indians

I was watching Al-Rai  TV the other night and one of the ads for Danette, a pudding produced by Al-Safi Danone, caught my eye. I can’t find it online to prove it so you’ll just have to take my word.

The scenario involved a “Cowboy and Indians” theme of the children fighting with the father over the Danette puddings while I think the mother looks benevolently on in the background somewhere. If memory serves me correctly, Dad is the Cowboy and kids are the Indians.

Now I wonder:

1)  Why are men (father figures)  in some commercials often portrayed as “little big boys” with voracious appetites, competing with kids over food, and mainly junk food?

2)  What does the game of Cowboys and Indians have to do with Middle Eastern culture? Is this another sign of Globalization? I mean, what happened to barouey etc…? Is it considered cute?

3) Do people still play Cowboys and Indians? Isn’t this a sensitive issue for Native Americans and considered racist? Or is it just regarded as part of the American cultural legacy?

Wives who sleep all day

“Do you need tomatoes?“  the man behind me said. I cast a look behind to find two thirty-something Lebanese men in the local supermarket doing the shopping.

He wasn’t talking to me but on the mobile probably to his wife.  He went on to ask her what else she needed and after a pause he admonished:

“Yalla now, get up and fix us some lunch!”

I cast a look behind as he went on grumbling in a loud voice: “Eih wallah, I  work hard all day and she’s still sleeping and there’s nothing to eat!”

I couldn’t resist a silent chortle. It was after 2 pm.

Now why should I be preoccupied with other people’s lives? Maybe she has morning sickness. Maybe she works the night shift. Maybe he kept her up all night, you know. In that case, he should be bringing home a special lunch.

Aliens: Are you prepared?

Professor Stephen Hawking warns against trying to contact aliens lest earth be subject to an invasion and suffer catastrophic results.

Red Hot Riding Hood

more about “Red Hot Riding Hood“, posted with vodpod

sensual harvest

Will I

at eighty-five

begin remembering your face

more clearly?

And

will I

relive the lust we shared

more deeply

more meaningfully

than I did during

reckless encounters

and sensual harvesting of

ripe pears?

Perhaps memories too

will crumble into meaningless

smithereens

and you will be lost even more completely into infinity.

the finality of scissors snapping endings into unraveling stories

don’t

whisper my name into any dark veils or call it, aloud, during the prayers you repeat, asking for atonement,

don’t

begin begging for me to salvage your wounded slab of soul or to darn those holes in your seemingly wholesome presence

I alone know the extent of the damage

and

I choose to turn my head

Like you.

uniforms don’t fit

…my Garden is slowly growing into that Dream Place where there are single swings hanging from solid trees; where I can sit and thrust myself up into January blue skies or through dusty realms of desert kingdoms in far off plains above my head that rise out of an underworked imagination; my Garden in the fantasy that we shared where butterflies flicker purple, red and turquoise and dragonflies dart into the prisms of light that shine off your eyes; I roam about that Place alone and it is as silent as when new snow touches upon the ponds in our Garden; when surreal snowflakes drop into shimmery green still water, they melt soundlessly, and I stand too in silence, looking out of glass windows that rise into the  infinity of my unevolved imagination; yet, in the farthest reaches of my senses, I hear nightingales or some ornith-creature less sonorous, less heart-twitching than the ones you made speak during a February, light years away. I keep track of time by association, like a child who matches geometrical shapes to the colors on the blocks. So simple that you unraveled the threads of my robe after only a few months. Now, I fly on transparent wings, encased in photovoltaic robes, waiting for the Sun.

Family Lunch

It’s a family lunch gathering and everyone brings a dish. Not an empty one of course. It’s like a potluck although I hate that term.

What does one like to eat on a dusty day, I wonder? Traditional Kuwaiti food? Exotic? Mishmash?

Should I cook? Should I delegate the task? Should I order from a restaurant? Should I just go back to bed?

Rough Pearl iii

I drove the short distance home, my head full of thoughts about the chance encounter. Had I being duped? I didn’t linger on those insecure thoughts though. I was full of warmth and wondered if I should have offered more like inviting them to our home.

When I drove up into our garage, I was surprised by a man seemingly appearing  out of nowhere, who stood by the gate waiting to speak to me.

He spoke in Arabic. “Mama, I want a job. Anything. Cutting hedges. Gardening. Sweeping. I worked for a company but now there is no work and no salary. No money.”

He wore brown trousers and a rumpled turmeric-coloured shirt that was done up to the very last top button.

He spoke softly. “I’m Bangladeshi.”

“I don’t need a gardener and I have no job for you now,” I said.

“Anything.  A meal,” he tried again.

I was already turning around and plunging my hand into my purse for the second time in less than 10 minutes.

Two separate situations of people in need, in relatively empty areas at that time of the afternoon had approached me directly, asking for assistance.

====

Showing gratitude and sharing what we have with others is not something to boast about or to even mention in public. Whatever one does in charity, one does freely, without feelings of regret,  and certainly not driven by guilt but by a desire to give and extend goodwill between people.

Certainly there are people who exploit the goodwill of others and beg for a livelihood and this is the dilemma that many people encounter when asked for charity.

Although I do occationally give assistance like today, I would not normally consider that as a long term solution to the problems such people have. However, I am forever grateful to those kind souls who have extended goodwill to me or my family and such actions is only a small way of returning the thanks for people who have an immediate need in a time of crisis of any scale.

Rough Pearl ii

I had a chance today to make up for my lack of resourcefulness yesterday. As I left the Co-Op, the assistant who had deliberately packed my purchases into more than a dozen plastic bags, pushed the trolley without questioning whether or not I needed assistance. So I walked along to the parking lot and gave my car a zap with the remote control and the trunk opened.

I was wary of a car driven by a young man slowing down deliberately to allow us to pass. All details were surmised through peripheral vision as it would be asking for unwanted attention if I actually looked at the occupant of the car.

When he parked next to my car, my defenses naturally went up. I thank and tipped the assistant and turned to get into my car when the man spoke to me. My back stiffened immediately and I was ready to turn around and snap.

But he was polite and spoke gently to me in English. His car was old and it was not running very well as I could tell by the fumes coming out of the exhaust pipes.

I turned to face him and noticed he was with a woman in the car and she had a toddler in her lap. Like me, the woman used her peripheral vision and never once looked at me. Her face was half turned away to the other side as she sat shyly.

The man was dressed in a traditional camel-coloured Punjabi salwar kameez. He was explaining that he and his family had come from Oman to visit relatives in Kuwait and to look for a job. His car, which had an Omani license plate, was full of luggage in the back.

“I had some mechanical problems with my car but alhamdullilah now it is fixed. We are heading back to Oman but we need help, sister. I am out of money. Here is my Omani ID,” He pulled out his ID card which I gave only a cursory look.

I didn’t think twice. I returned to my car and  took money from my handbag.  As I turned to the car again, the little girl in her mother’s lap looked up to me and smiled. On her small wrists I noticed she was wearing silver bangles with unusual charms. I reached out to touch them and compliment her on their beauty. The little girl  gave me a wide grin and the young mother, still silent and eyes downcast, showed recognition in her shy smile.

The mother’s hair was loosely covered with a scarf and she was quite fair while her husband was more of a mocha colour.

“Where are you from?” I asked

“Kashmir,” he replied.

Suddenly from the mounds of luggage in the back, sprang an impish little girl slightly older than the one in the front seat. She was smiling widely, her dark eyes trusting and clear. I put the money in her little hand and told her to give it to her Baba.

He thanked me and we exchanged goodbyes.

Rough Pearl

The man who helped me carry out my purchases placed them in my car boot and left reluctantly as I muttered a sheepish “thank you”. I didn’t have any notes smaller than 10 K.D. and no change more than 100 fils. So I thought a smile and an expression of gratitude would do this time. As I turned the ignition, I noticed he was still standing expectantly, waiting for his tip. I rummaged fruitlessly in the change compartments and came away with nothing. I gestured to him in explanation but couldn’t help driving away with a feeling of disappointment.

Normally, I offer tips and regard it not only in return for service but also as part of my daily almsgiving and my chance to give thanks in a direct manner to others. So yesterday’s encounter left me part unhappy and part defensive: I couldn’t very well give him 10 K.D. now for carrying two heavy bags to my car could I?

As I write this post, I am thinking of the mountains of change I have at home, stacked in various jars. If I could sort one dinar amounts into little zip-lock bags, then I would have tips in the car ready to dispense without searching for notes or counting change every time, as I mostly use my debit card.

I already feel better with this little idea.

Earth Day 2010

Earth Day.

It’s not about handing out awards and meaningless ceremonies.

It’s about each of us doing something to raise awareness on a local level about environmental issues and to actually try to practice what we preach.

Recycle.

Isn’t it about time we seriously consider recycling in Kuwait?

According to Al-Qabas newspaper, Kuwait produces 3,ooo tons of refuse a day, of which 52% is biodegradable. Kuwait also spends 25 million KD annually ONLY on collecting refuse with no recycling involved. (Source)

1.4 KG of waste per day per person. (Source)

Consume less. Purchase intelligently. Recycle what you can.

Those Italians!

“The new advertising campaign by fashion photographer Mariano Vivanco for Dolce & Gabbana underwear line Calcio honours 5 of the most representative Italian football players: Antonio Di Natale, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Claudio Marchisio, Federico Marchetti and Domenico Criscito.” Source

The video for the Italian swimmers was more sensual.

Vajazzled & Bedazzled

Vajazzling is the placement of tiny Swarovski crystals on the waxed area of a woman’s mons pubis – in other words, crystal decoration of the waxed pubic area. It lasts for about 5 days.

It’s nothing new. All kinds of stick on body art decoration have  been on the market for a long time but the term “vajazzled” is new and comes from the vagina’s pet name “vajayjay” and it’s probably a good business venture for some salons.

Here is a video of the process.

The equivalent of vajazzling for men is penazzling but I am not particularly impressed with what I have seen.

Dark Horse

I love the moment at 0:46 when there is a shot of the horse’s tail in slow motion.  That shot and the sullen, dark looks of Prince Abdullah bin Meteb of Saudi Arabia, a professional rider, add resonant sensuality to this ad for Saudi telecommunications company Mobily.

the Bold & the Bawdy

Here we go again. Fun with the Arab Times. Bare [sic] with me. Chortle, chortle.

Housemaid and Arab man caught in act

KUWAIT CITY, March 24 : Security operatives rushed to a Kuwaiti home and arrested a housemaid who was caught having sex with an Arab man inside her room.
Security sources said driver of the Kuwaiti sponsor heard strange noise coming from the maid’s room and alerted the man, who went inside the room and found the culprits in a compromising situation. He went on to inform securitymen, and the culprits were referred to Qairawan police station. A case was registered against them.

It sounds like the driver was jealous. Someone else had taken his place that night so he ratted on the maid.

Rai shop found selling male genital toys

KUWAIT CITY, March 10: Acting on information and armed with a search and arrest warrant issued by the Public Prosecution, personnel from the Consumers Protection Department of the Kuwait Municipality raided a shop selling women’s garments in Al-Rai area and seized a large number of male genital toys, reports Al-Shahed daily.
During interrogation the salesman said he was selling each toy for KD 100.
The owner of the shop has been summoned for interrogation.

How can adult women control horniness? No extramarital relationships and sex are allowed.

At least “male genital toys”  offer a form of safe and discrete sexual satisfaction. Also, I want to know what happened to those large number of dildos.

Expat caught showering after sex with maid

Police arrested an Arab expatriate and a housemaid who were caught having sex inside her sponsor’s house in Rumaithiya. Sponsor of the maid reportedly called police, after he noticed the Arab expatriate having a shower in one of the bathrooms, and later went inside the maid’s room.
The two were found in a compromising position when securitymen arrived in the house, whereas the Arab expatriate tried to resist arrest. The two culprits were referred to Rumaithiya police station, and the case was registered.

This just leaves me thinking: “Hmmm…”

Lovers Caught “Busy” in the Garden

KUWAIT CITY, April 13: Police have arrested an Asian couple for engaging in immoral acts in the garden of the woman’s Kuwaiti sponsor in Jahra.
According to the sponsor, he woke up in the middle of the night Monday and noticed that the housemaid was not around. He then searched for her until he found her in the garden with an Asian man. He immediately reported the incident to police who rushed to the scene and arrested the couple.

If you ask me, the sponsor waking up in the middle of the night looking for the housemaid sounds a bit strange; horny even.

The hussy sounds like she’s got all the men chasing her.

Sex in the ‘loo’

KUWAIT CITY, March 20: Security forces apprehended a housemaid and a driver working for the same Kuwaiti sponsor in Saad Al-Abdullah area, after they were caught having sex inside the bathroom of their sponsor’s diwaniya, reports Al-Rai daily.
The sponsor is said to have heard the two lovers giggling inside the bathroom and decided to find out what was happening, where he caught them in the act. He went ahead to call the police, who arrived at the place and took the culprits into custody. The two lovers have since been referred to the concerned authority.

So many Maid & Driver incidents! I think this is fodder for a new Jewaira Mini-series “The Erotic Adventures of Hapless Housemaids & Horny Drivers”

Girl ‘unpaid’ for sex reports youth to police

KUWAIT CITY, April 18: An unidentified girl filed a case with police officers in Hawalli against a youth who allegedly took KD 50 from her by force.
According to security sources the youth confirmed the girl asked him to pay KD 50 in exchange for sex, and added the girl went ahead to file a report when he refused to pay the money.

Now in light of all the other poor lovers caught in the act and spending time in jail, here is a bold woman – um, girl – who actually filed a case against a guy for not paying her for sex? Is prostitution legal or what?

It’s almost as bad as the 17 year old girl in custody who seduced a police officer and had sex with him in the women’s toilet in the police station. (Source)

This new series will be called “The Bold & the Bawdy”.

Certainly a world of contradictions we live in!

I feel the Earth Move

“Many women who dress inappropriately … cause youths to go astray, taint their chastity and incite extramarital sex in society, which increases earthquakes,” Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi told worshippers at Tehran Friday prayer.

Source

Off with their Hair!!

“Youths’ heads shaved: Securitymen arrested 31 youths for reckless driving, harassing girls and endangering the lives of others by performing stunts on the Restaurants’ Street in Salmiya.
The youths were detained for 24 hours and their heads were shaved, say sources, adding “the aim was to punish these youths and make them aware of the danger they pose to others.”
Securitymen will continue to take action against all those who don’t follow rules and regulations, added the source.”

Source