Buzberry

Uncrate’s younger sibling Gallivant is a blog that specializes in Travel. I assume travel is the most interesting topic that attracts everyone unlike, sports, gadgets, and fashion.

Check it out.

Alvaro

In two years time, Basra City – Iraq will be ready to host the Gulf Cup. Now it remains to be confirmed whether Iraq will host (will be awarded) the next Gulf Cup. The sport complex development in Basra is already underway and the progress made so far is impressive.

The project is developed by 360 Architecture and the renderings already look gorgeous. Check them out!

If it were to happen, would you cross the borders (for the first time most of you) to support the national team? I’m eager to see Iraq, specifically Basra. I wouldn’t mind going.

Alvaro

Over the weekend around 20 people including me headed west towards the Saudi desert for camping. The weather was perfect since it was warmer compared to a couple of weeks back. So we started our trip from Fintas, Kuwait around 4:30 am on Thursday heading to the northern Saudi desert, precisely 40 KM away from Samouda village.

The Route

Almost towards the end of the 6th ring road, right after Jahra, we turned on road 70 which ends at Al Salmy borders after around 100KM. By that time, the sun just came out. Refuel, and off we go towards Hafer Al Baten City. Civilization still had its marks on that road, a concrete building or strucuture every few kilometers. Passing through Hafer Al Baten, we now have only 70 KM to the end of civilization. We refuel one last time and enter rural territories. Now we’re around 130 KM away from our final destination. As we turn on road 6262, there is no clean fuel supply, and water supply is very scarce – one baqala in more than 100KM of asphalt. At a certain point we stop, take a right into the desert and drive around the sand dunes looking for a decent place to camp. We found it. Route from Fintas (including stops) was somewhere around 7 hours.

Camping

The camp set-up did not take forever, we were 20 guys and 4 out 5 tents were Coleman tents so that wasn’t hard. After the camp was erected some fell asleep others sat on hill tops while food was prepared. We ate, we sat. Night came along, and the party started. Bonfire, coffee, tea, and snacks all night long and the topics discussed were everything you’d ever imagine. There was no other human beings around us for at least 10 KM in every direction; no limits. Next morning after breakfast, I went with a friend to find some water. On the way back we had the ultimate off-roading experience: sand dunes like you’ve never seen. I didn’t even tell him how much I was in fear, instead acted normal!

The Return

Friday afternoon was a bit dusty and sand covered the camp, so I thought I might as well return and spend a day at home (in bed) before work. Therefore, I decided to drive back by Friday evening with two friends, meanwhile the others stayed back until Saturday. The drive back home wasn’t bad. Thankfully no traffic, fog, or dust caught us on the way back. We stopped again at Hafer Al Baten for a meal, this time it was Mandy, and headed back straight away to Fintas again. Return trip was again around 6 hours with stops.

Next time around we’ll hopfully be better equipped and stay even longer. Although you’re in no-man’s land, but there are many things you can do there you’ll be occupied all day long. I have to admit that I slept in the car that night it was a really comfortable sleep!

Alvaro

The place to be is Australia or Canada, because seven out of the top ten most livable cities in the world are either in Canada or Australia.

This is not list made by Google or Wiki; rather it was a study conducted by The Economist’s EIU by measuring stability, health care, culture & environment, education, and infrastructure.

Only did the top 10 and bottom 10 list are out as this report is usually sold by the EIU. Melbourne tops the list, meanwhile Bangladesh’s Dhaka ranks 140th. Top 10 lists here.

I’m not sure if anyone would want to spend his vacation in a place where political tension has erupted. Unless you are my friend Bu Qasim, you might find this as a joke – but it is for real.

My other friend Bom7 was kind enough to share this with me. Political Tours is nothing of a fake tour to educate people; it’s more of a “in-action” tour for enthusiasts who care about nothing in life but politics and current affairs, or Bu Qasim our friend again.

Check it out yourself and if you’re interested you can join a team of correspondents and diplomats in North Korea – DPRK, Bosnia & Serbia, Turkey: Erdogan & The Anatolian Tigers, Greece & The Euro, Libya – After the Revolution, US Elections 2012, Kosovo Tour, Georgia Tour, Northern Ireland, Turkey & The Kurds.

Enjoy and don’t forget to bring your helmet!

Alvaro

Next time I visit the states I’ll make sure I go to Seattle. Gum Wall is simply what it’s called. A landmark in Seattle since 1993. Though of it is disgusting (most germ infected attraction) but it actually looks cool.

Alvaro

LA’s organic coffee company, Urth Cafe,  will be coming to K-town very soon. Last month I was at one of Urth’s branches with a friend of mine who happens to know one of the owners (precisely the owner’s wife). So I stood there while he greeted her, she told him that her husband (co-owner) is currently in Kuwait discussing terms with a potential franchisee.

Now a couple of weeks later, I also overheard in a dewaniya here that ’so and so’will be opening up Urth Cafe in Kuwait. Don’t worry I’m sure it wasn’t Al Shaya’s name I heard (you won’t be having one in your basement). And you have to try their PBJ – world’s best!

Alvaro

The City Hall Subway station in New York is supposedly shutdown for a long time now, unless you stayed on the 6 train for long enough. The station which I just knew was 100+ years old was under-construction to be restored as a pass-through museum still didn’t see light.

It took me a couple of days to understand how the NYC Subway system works. I do recall once getting on the 6 train by mistake and got to the Brooklyn Bridge which is presumably the last station on the 6 line. Well not quite the last one. If you stay on that train, what happens is that it goes for a U-turn around City Hall station and back at Brooklyn Bridge as the first station on the journey.

Try it next time you’re there! Link

Alvaro

More Apps for you for travel season. Those are the ones I use most. Simply wherever you go, make sure you download a metro/subway app that calculates and plans routes for trains and subway lines. SBB is the one you need in Switzerland, Tube Deluxe for the London underground, and NYC Subway for exactly what it’s called. If you are looking  for a hotel, booking a ticket and everything beyond that then you should have Kayak. If you want better hotel picks then you should be on Jetsetter or Quintessentially City Guides.

We’ve all been to places for a dozens of times, but every time we go again we discover something new. Cut it short, and download a city guide to be on the safe side. Blackbook offer a couple of city guides around the world, the same goes with Wallpaper magazine. If you find yourself in NYC, then no one knows the city better than NYT (and my friend Bomh)  via their New York based app – the scoop. I’ve already recommended the British Airways app if you’re flying on BA, Lufthansa the same, and Ettihad.

Bon Voyage!

Alvaro

If you’re about to travel on BA or already abroad and flying on BA, then you have to download this App and start using it. I don’t know how long has this app been on the store, I loved everything about it. I’ve only tried the Lufthansa app this year while traveling, but BA’s is just your personal travel agent!

You can of course book through this app, but after you’ve booked your tickets, just log-in with your Executive Club membership (sign-up for free) and you’ll have all your flight details and notifications on when the checking is open, gate details, and flight status. What made the experience even sweeter is the ability to sync your iPhone calender with those dates. So while I was out for dinner, I get a notification that check-in and seat selection is now open, within 3 minutes I check-in, choose my seat, and get my boarding pass.

Very sweet.

Alvaro

It’s summer time, or travel time. With Ramadan getting closer to mid-summer this year many people have decided to take an early summer vacation. Some prefer sunny destinations to enjoy the beach, while others opt for cooler climates. Each category of the mentioned escape to a destination they think they have just discovered; only to find friends and relatives at that same hotel and sometimes flight. Let’s here out your preferences.

Alvaro