Peace, Paint and Play
“We do not quit playing because we grow old,
we grow old because we quit playing.”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes-
Yesterday I sat with a paint brush in my hands again. I listened to a creative artist share about how instead of “taking” a single picture she had painted her way across countries. I turned backwards, upside down and sideways as I listen to an inspired women connect the practice of yoga to the way we live and play.
So wonderful to sit and learn. Amazing to see how play can inspire your everyday.
Today the plane tickets and hotel got booked for an amazing city, with plenty of incredible places to play!
Start spreading the news. I’m leaving today ( Well August! )
I want to be a part of it – New York, New York
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray!
Right through the very heart of it – New York, New York
I wanna wake up in a city, that doesn’t sleep.
-Frank Sinatra-
The Weekend Update!
The Weekend Update!
How nice it has been to have a full wonderful weekend of adventure and creativity! It began with me fully understanding the wonders of shopping for movies at home. My fingers are crossed that the DVD fairy will one day arrive with the latest episodes of Young and the Restless!
It seems that everyone I have met here knows how to seriously cook, which is wonderful! On Friday I was blessed by the fact that I didn’t have to cook at all! From a wonderful breakfast, with great coffee cake, to a great home made pasta lunch to a Mexican Fitour put on by the high school staff it was a lovely day!
Today I was in serious need of a creative paint and play day. So I went to Salmiya to Color Me Mine, www.kuwait.colormemine.com, the paint-it-yourself Ceramic Studio. Jaci and I went to a similar studio in Las Vegas and I was missing my hand painted coffee mug from that adventure! After picking out the perfect mug I started my creation.
I was feeling up for an art challenge and the urge to paint palm trees and camels was overwhelming. Camels aren’t the easiest picture I could have chosen to paint but with plenty of books to look at I think that pre-firing they looked respectable. The Ceramic Studio will fire and glaze my mug and I can retun in a week to pick-up my art.
After sitting and painting I went for a fantastic walk along the Salmiya Marina waterfront! I honestly still can’t fully believe that when it gets a little cooler here I will be able to take my roller blades and skate along the coast. There is a great path and perfect pavement, perfect flat and lovely pavement! The other fact that still amazing me is that I can skate all year long, at no point will there be rain and snow to end the skating season!
Today I passed yet another Starbucks in this country I thought about how nice it would be to sit and have a cold coffee drink by the water. Like most of the other stores at that time of day the Starbucks was closed as it is on Ramadan hours. I do think that the small challenges for a new to Kuwait Western person will make me appreciate all that this city has to offer when Ramadan ends!
I also am happy to report that I now have a fully functional kitchen sink, with both hot and cold running water! Next step a land based telephone line or some type of internet at home, Inshallah.
Kuwait City, KUWAIT
Christine Oastler is a freelance travel writer, teacher and artist, currently living in Mahboula, Kuwait. Born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Christine obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Trent University and her Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Currently traveling around the Middle East she finds herself riding the odd camel and embracing a new culture!