More Than A Middle East Road Trip!

With 3 KD of gas put in the Jeep the Kuwait roads were pretty much free from traffic. Being Friday, a portion of the country was celebrating their religion. We took the 30th to 6th Ring Road, passing the Kuwait National Football Field on the right. Seeing this stadium it was clear that this was a country moving forward. The stadium so huge, proud and filled with the football dreams of many a young Kuwait child was just one example of this.

As we drove forward a large tent city approached on the left. Rows and rows of tents covered the desert landscape. We passed the Doha Port and marveled at the blimp that hung in the air over the water gateway to Kuwait. Soon on the right was the Kuwait Olympic Shooting Gallery and just ahead of that was a sign warning drivers to be cautious sand drifts.

When we saw a road sign that  read desert and had an arrow pointing right we knew we were close to the exit for Jaha Spur Desert. Being on the road to Iraq it was no surprise that we saw rows and rows of flatbed trucks filled with desert war vehicles. As the utility trucks passed by we turned onto the 70 and were now heading towards Saudi Arabia.

A golden mosque stuck out light a ray of light or a beacon of hope. The traffic in the right lane was backed up for miles as men in cars patiently waited to enter the Jaha graveyard. In muslim culture people need to be buried within 24 hours of when they die.

We soon reached the first check point and were waved on. We drove passed the Ali Al-Saleam Air Base and at the second check point the Kuwait solder, with a cigarette in hand, waved and gave us the thumbs up sign. We drove a short distance and then pulled over. Seeing nothing more then giant sand dunes one had to wonder if perhaps all the history of the vehicle grave yard had been cleaned away and the sand had hidden the rest.

You can’t live your life wondering what is over the sand dune so we began to climb!  You listen when told to walk in the car or camel tracks because if anything was under the ground and it didn’t hurt a camel or a car you should be okay.

As my eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight and we walked forward I was amazed to see rusting wrecks from the Highway of Death sticking out of the desert sand. It was like the winds of time did not want  this vehicle “graveyard”, this piece of Kuwait history to be forgotten. It struck that less then three weeks ago I was watching the Egyptians painstakingly dig up their history and here I was watching another culture try to forget the painful past.

As I walk through the wreckage the controversy, the death and the destruction that surrounds this place is not lost on me. However I now live, work and for the most part enjoy the country of Kuwait. A country that wouldn’t be here without great sacrifices by many brave men and women to keep this country free.

Part of the spiritual experience is coming to terms with the society in which you live.
Sometimes this can be quite difficult; one feels changed, different, and it is hard to communicate this experience to others.
but in the end, we are individuals living in a collective group; associations are paramount.
One skill that is easily developed is empathy; a deep understanding of what someone else is feeling.
Compassion goes hand in hand with empathy.
As we journey further and further, we recognise our unique differences, but also the huge amounts of common ground that we have;
we can become good with people, and share our experiences.

The joy of spirit shines in us all.
-100 Musical Footsteps-

Jan 10, 2009 | Categories: Kuwait | Tags: adventure, Highway of Death, Kuwait, Middle East, Peace, Travel, vehicle graveyard | Leave A Comment »