Ghader Al-Bula

We have accomplished millions of tasks yesterday. :) Friends know that both ExploreMan and I are task oriented people. We hope we will become more relaxed like Arabs and more people oriented.  We went to a photo studio in Ahmadi town (where ExplorMan’s company is located) in the morning for ID photos taking, and then we went to ExploreMan's company (Social Affairs/ Immigration Traffic Department) for our permanent residence visa application. After these this major task, ExploreMan offered options for lunch, and we screened out western style fast food in a mall. Then ExploreMan drove us to a Syrian restaurant called Ghader Al-Bustan where the photo studio was close by. From outside, the restaurant does not have English signs, but has some attractive pictures of the food plates. The interior decoration looks like a typical Muslim restaurant that I have been in Xin Jiang province, China. The waiter suggested us to order the 5 K.D. ($17.5 CAN) huge Family Grill Meal (Small size) after he saw that we were struggling to figure out what is what on the menu and what we should order. Soon he brought a huge basket with about 20 thin soft pita breads to us! Then a plate of pickled olives and hot green pepper! 2 cans of Pepsi and 2 bottles of water cost about $2 CAN. When the grilled plate was brought to us, we were stunned how big it was! It had lamb, beef, chicken, meat breads, roasted tomatoes and onions, and Syrian French Fries!  They are so delicious! Of course we only finished 60% of the plate, and asked the waiter to pack the rest for dinner.

Welcome to Kuwait!

After nine and a half hours flying from Calgary to Frankfurt and five hours from Frankfurt to Kuwait on June 26th and 27th, we arrived in Kuwait Airport with twelve checked-in luggage and six carry-on luggage. There are so many things that I want to write to you my dear friends, but I would like to share some stories about the first couple of Kuwait people I have met.

The first Kuwaiti I’ve ever met in my entire life was a young beautiful lady. I went to the washroom by gate C4 at Frankfurt Airport when we were about to board flight KU172 The washroom was a tiny little one that has a tiny little sink. I excused myself to the tab and a pretty young woman with a black head scarf smiled to me and asked me if I was from Japan and was going to Kuwait. Telling her that I was from Canada and was moving to Kuwait for good, she was so excited that she offered me her mobile phone number. I was not used to being offered with a cell phone number by a stranger before, so I did not know what to say and responded with my name , “nice meeting you” and a huge smile. She told me if I needed any help in Kuwait, I should call her any time! I was so moved by her words and beautiful eyes that I did not know if I should give out my contacts. In the end I did not; I truly hope she is not offended by my action. I will remember her forever, as she represented Kuwaitis in my eyes.

The second Kuwaiti I met was a gentleman who sat beside me in the business cabin on the flight from Frankfurt to Kuwait. I was worried in the beginning with my sleeveless dress skirt (I had a long sleeve shirt that I had planned to wear once I got off the plane), so I was quite nervous that he being offended (Some books suggested that some Middle East men do feel offended). But we started a great one-hour conversation ranging from teenager problems comparison in North American and Middle East countries, traveling in Middle East countries, Iraqi invasion consequences, housing in Kuwait, government issues, sea food, family values, last names of Kuwaitis and etc.. Of course I asked about how foreign women should dress as well. He ensured that what I was wearing was absolutely appropriate. He also gave his business class gift to my children and offered his business card to help our family’s settling in. When the countless meals were offered to us, he explained all the food for my selection. At the moment the plane touched down on the strip of Kuwait Airport, he looked into my eyes and said, “Welcome to Kuwait! Hope you enjoy living here!”

I found that Kuwaiti people like to help anyone who needs assistance. When they talk, they look into your eyes with honest and warm words; and huge smiles.  Friendship means huge for them.  They like you when you smile, especially with the typical Canadian smile.

Canmore

M and I drove to Canmore town (100 km west of Calgary) for touring and shopping. I bought a Phasha journal book (hand made camel hide cover and 100 percent cotton paper – made ion India!) for my future adventure in Kuwait. Later we went to Jason’s photograph studio and I bought a framed picture of two polar bears hugging together and another framed one with a polar bear mom and two cubs. They will look great in my Kuwait home. Then we had a lunch at Harvest recommanded by the studio clerk. Our final destination was the quilt shop called Pine Lake, that has unique Japanese desinge fabric. Since I no longer work, spending needs to be watched! Canmore is such a great town to live and its breath taking senery made me feel sad to leave.

Orchid in the Valley

It was pouring yesterday morning in Calgary; one of the ladies gave up for the hiking plan. MS picked me up at 10 o’clock and I took both my purse and backpack. We shrugged our shoulders, “Well, if it rains, we go to Canmore (105 km west of Calgary) for a quilt shopping and tea; if it doesn’t, we hike in Kananaskis.”

From Calgary, driving 84 km west on Highway 1 towards Canmore/Banff, we saw the blue sky and white cotton clouds above the dark clouds’ edge! With no doubt we exited to Highway 40 and drove south into Kananaskis Country. The trailhead is 14.7 km south at the Baldy Pass trailhead parking lot (across the highway). The light spring green is so fresh after the shower with the bright blue sky and white clouds!

Baldy Pass - South Approach Hiking Trail

Distance: 7.4 km return. Elevation gain: 570 meters. Time: 4.5 hours return. Difficulty Rating: Medium.

Description: A short, scenic climb through a valley providing exceptional views of the foothills once you reach the pass.

Once we got into the trail, we felt that the trees were too dense. I regretted immediately that I did not bring the bear’s spray and the bell. Oh well, we discussed what we would do if we saw a bear. M’s husband is a Calgarian, so she repeated the second-hand training on-site to me. If it is a grizzly bear, walk backwards quietly; if it is a black bear, make huge noise. I said climbing the tree is a smart idea, but M asked me to give a try. We talked about bears loudly for a while, before M found the beautiful Fairy’s Orchid! I totally forgot about the bears (I did not think M was afraid of bears; she was just being cautious.) We started to look down instead of looking around for wired noises.  Then we found more and more orchids.

Fairy Slipper (Other names are Venus Slipper and Calypso Orchid.)

Thank you M!!

 

White Globe Flower (very similar to the Spring Beauty) Thank you M!

Early Blue Violet (The book says it is supposed to have an 'exquisite fragrance' but we didn't get that low to smell them.)

Bearberry - the flower

Bearberry - the berry (The Indian name kinnikinnick means "something to smoke" because they used the dried leaves as tobacco or mixed with it.)

Don't know what kind of animal left the feet print! M says this is definitely not a bear's; that is comforting. But it does not look like a deer’s in my eyes… I was tired, breathless and stopped talking for a while; M reminded me not to stop talking, then I started o make weird noises between my quick breathes. I concluded that a person has to be talkative to join the lone hike!

Joan said later that this is a bear's foot print!!  Phew!!

(new note) Karl and Annette told me it is indeed a wolf's foot print!!  Ahhh.....

The upper part of the trail was full of snow and we almost gave up three times, however we persevered and reached to the top! It was cold and windy; soon we put all layers on and I started to shiver by the end of the lunch. I had only a bag of left over pop corn and a carton of berry juice for my lunch; and we hided behind some huge rocks. The sky was grey and the wind was howling, but I felt it was like heaven.

Nakiska Ski Resort, where the 88' Olympic was held.  Funny I felt that the ski slope should be open!

Rough-Fruited Fairybell (Thank you M!)

M knows all the names of the wild flowers in the Rockies.  She is going to email me the names of these flowers.  She told me when we hiked, but I forgot.

Blue Clematis (Thank you M!!)

Thank you Lord, we did not see a bear!

 

Rocky Mountain Lady Slipper (taken in 2007 at Yoho National Park, B.C.)