No matter where you go in this world it seems like in every community there is this ritual ... a BBQ ... so we were really excited when our host, Mohammed Boushahri, invited us to join him and a few of his friends for an evening around the fire.
The Boushahri Chalet is to the south of Kuwait and is a beachfront property. Now to us as South Africans the word "chalet" has a complete different meaning to what we saw here. The chalet is a luxurious complex on the beachfront and the facilities can easily accommodate around 20 people for accommodation and the social are can handle a hundred people without taking strain.
On our arrival most of the guests were already there and they were sitting in the pool lounge, watching TV. After introductions we were showed a room where we could get into our swimsuits and then we went for a swim. As a native of Zululand I have a healthy respect for the sea at night because that is when the big sharks hunt close inshore. So it was with a shiver that I followed our host into the luke warm waters of the Arabian gulf. What an experience, we waded around 100 meters into the sea and it was still just around shoulder deep. What was most obvious to me was the lack of waves, just a gentle rise and fall of the smooth surface. We spent around an hour in the water and it was something that I will remember for a long time, well, most probably for the rest of my life. How can one loose memory of such a special occasion.
We came out of the sea and dived into the huge pool to get rid of all the salt, the Gulf is very salty compared to what we are used to. For another 30 minutes or so we floated around in the pool, a very comfortable place when compared to the high 40's of that afternoon.
Here is a selection of shots that will give you a small peephole into one of the most memorable evenings of our trip. I obviously tweaked the shots a bit, who wants to look at pictures of a BBQ in the cold harsh light of an electronic flash.
A view of the chalet over the magnificent clean edge pool.
Preparing what I know as Persian Kebabs. Sort of like a sausage without
a skin, moulded around a metal spike.
Another type of kebab. Note the two stakes with vegetables on it.
One with 4 tomatoes and one with 4 onions. Men will be men, no matter
where ... meat and bread and we are happy. At the end of the night
most of the onions and tomatoes were still on the table.
Dig in!
Our gracious host.
... and don't forget the deserts.
One last look at the pool.
Going home ... the end of a wonderful BBQ.This was a wonderful experience and we met a lot of great guys. What was most noteworthy for us as South Africans is the fact this great evening unfolded with zero alcohol present.
Once again a great big thank you to our host and we hope that someday we can return the favour.
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