My New Best Friend

Trying to locate an address in Kuwait City can be almost impossible (at least to me). Most often navigation is done according to landmarks such as the big hotels and the huge Western-style malls but when it comes to finding a private address it gets tough...

Briefly explained, each area (covering a couple of blocks) has a name like 'Surra Area' or 'Rumaithyia Area'. Once the area has been identified (which can be tough enough - and it's not included on Google Maps) each area has a number of blocks (Block 1, Block 14 etc. - also not on Google Maps but posted on signs in Arabic when the particular area is entered - see pic below) and then each block has a number of streets (Street 1, Street 8, Street 99).


(Sign of block numbers at the entrance of an area)

While there is some logic to it, try checking out what it looked like when I tried to locate a cultural center where I went yesterday (you can click on the image to enlarge it if it's not already confusing enough):



Or a place I'm going to next week - I can give you a hint: the address to look for is Block 9, Street 99 (on the corner of Street 96), House 1:



Let me know if you find it because I haven't :-) And these are places that actually HAVE addresses - once you go out of Kuwait city, many places are not even listed with an address. Post is anyway not delivered to home addresses but sent either to a company address or to a P.O. Box somewhere.

This is where Mr. Hameed enters the picture. A gentleman from India who has been driving taxis in Kuwait City for the past 25 years to earn a living for himself and his 3 kids back in India and who seems to know every corner of the city - including where we live (which I have also still not been able to find on a map despite knowing the area). In addition to his own taxi he is in charge of another 20 or so drivers that he calls to assist when he needs them - so far I had the pleasure of driving with someone from India, someone from Sri Lanka (who feels he has the most dangerous but only available job since the Kuwaitis drive like crazy) and someone from Pakistan.

I have a feeling I may be paying a bit more than the market price but for a reliable service that I can always call to come pick me up, that has drivers that seem to have no death-wish (unlike other taxi drivers), that has seat belts in the back seat where I as a woman am supposed to sit (seat belts are quite uncommon in taxis run by local companies) and that I know will do their best to bring me home safely, I am more than happy to pay the price!