Tatiana's Delights
  • Blog
  • About
  • Press
  • Shop My Closet
  • Contact

Keeping up with the Kuwaitis - Part 2: Day 3

11/18/2013

0 Comments

 

Day 3: Science & Symbols

Picture
Dress: French Connection / Top: H&M / Bag: Modalu England / Shoes: Vintage 
Sunglasses: Amazon UK / Earrings: Azuni London 

Most Kuwaiti women I've seen so far wear an abeyya, or at least jeans or trousers with a tunic and a headscarf, so I was a bit unsure whether it was OK to wear a dress that didn't cover my lower legs (the Lonely Planet said I could), but after seeing a few expats wearing capri jeans or a dress I decided to go for it. Turns out nobody really cares, not with American or European people anyway. The only mildly disapproving looks I got were actually from women wearing abeyyas themselves, while the men didn't even seem to notice, or at least they couldn't care less. Pfew, that's a relief. Otherwise I couldn't have worn half of the outfits I packed :/
Picture
Joeri and I heard the Kuwait Scientific Center was quite a big deal. It contains a children's discovery place, a harbour with historic wooden dhow boats and the largest aquarium of the Middle East. So off we went....

When we got there we discovered the Scientific Center apparently is one of the main attractions for all the (mainly Filipino) nannies to take the Kuwaiti children they are taking care of during the day. The Center even has three different ticket categories: adult, child and nanny (which is the cheapest ticket btw). I must say though, the aquarium is indeed pretty amazing! Definitely something to visit when in Kuwait ;-)

After our visit to the Kuwait Aquarium we lunched at the Pizza Hut. 

Picture
On that note, something I definitely didn't expect when arriving here: Kuwait has probably more American fastfood chains than the U.S. have themselves. Or big ass gas-guzzling cars for that matter. It just amazes me how much the Kuwaitis want to have everything that is American (or European, but mostly American really). Kuwaiti social life happens in one of the many shopping malls in town, and all those malls are completely full with Taco Bells, Burger Kings, Starbucks Coffees, Chili's, Pinkberry's, Dunkin' Donuts, Elevation Burgers etc. It is actually almost impossible to find anything remotely healthy to eat. This day we were forced to eat breakfast at Starbucks, lunch at Pizza Hut and dinner at Elevation Burger. The fact that around 70% of the Kuwaiti population is overweight keeps making more and more sense....

To make our next fastfood meal a bit more bearable, Joeri and I decided to enjoy a virgin Mojito and Shirley Temple with our pizza. Pizza Hut in Kuwait is classy that way :'-) 
Picture
After our lunch we took a stroll along the beach, where we came across this sign: no swimming, no fishing, no BBQing and NO water pipe smoking. Just so you know, in case you were planning to dust of that water pipe before going to the beach...
Picture
Last stop this day were the Kuwait Towers, a famous landmark and symbol of modern Kuwait. Unfortunately, it turned out the towers are closed for renovation and when we asked a security guard at the gate when they would be opened again, he answered: "Maybe next year". Well, that's a symbol of modern Kuwait for you...

As we arrived there around sundown I was able to take some pictures of the towers during the process, and I must say, they are really pretty, with some sort of blue / green mosaic on the globes. Too bad we couldn't see the view from up there or eat something in the restaurant, but it was a nice way to conclude our day anyway!
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Keeping up with the Kuwaitis - Part 1: Day 1 + 2

11/17/2013

3 Comments

 

Day 1: Traveling

Picture
A few months ago my friend Joeri and I decided to go on a holiday to Kuwait. Since then the only question I kept hearing from my friends and family was: "Why?!" And the answer to that is: "Because the plane tickets were so cheap." €175 for a return ticket and we thought: "What the heck". 

Since then I've found out that apparently we are the only ones who think that. I think that about 95% of all visits to Kuwait are business related. This makes it quite difficult to find some decent tourist information.  Luckily, both Joeri and me like a challenge, so off we went...
Picture
Jacket: Tatiana's Delights on Etsy / Sweater: H&M / Trousers: H&M / Scarf: Alice by Temperley 
Bag: Longchamp / Bag: Ebay / Loafers: Zara / Earrings: Designs by Noa on Etsy

To get to Kuwait City, we had to take the train to Dusseldorf Airport in Germany, and then two 4-hour flights, with a transfer in Istanbul, Turkey. Unfortunately, the plane pictured on the right wasn't out plane, but it would have been so awesome if it was. Those Germans know how to paint their planes! ;-)
Picture
Picture
I learned by now that the key to travelling comfortably is layers, so for my travelling outfit I went with a pair of black stretchy skinny jeans, a pair of black loafers (comfortable to walk in and easy to slip off once you're seated in the plane), a white top and a white knitted V-neck sweater and a lightweight jacket. Also, I always take a scarf with me, because the airconditioning always gives me goosebumps. Plus, it can make a nice little pillow to nap on ;-) This scarf by Temperley I got on sale last month at Zalando for only € 30! I just love the print! (I believe Pippa Middleton wore a pair of trousers with the same print a few months ago). 

Luckily, the journey was without any delays or other hiccups, so we arrived on schedule in Kuwait at 2 am. Unfortunately, we then had to get our visa. 
Most nationalities have to get a visa on arrival in Kuwait. When we found this out we thought it would be the same as when visiting Turkey, where you have to go to a counter to pay a few bucks and then get a cachet in your passport. Boy, were we wrong... 

Apparently, in Kuwait they love to make things as difficult as possible. 
You first need to go to a counter to get a copy of your passport and a number. After that you need to get some sort of stamps worth of 3 Kuwaiti Dinar from a large vending machine. This means you first need to go to the nearest ATM machine to get Kuwaiti Dinar. Unfortunately it turns out this ATM machine doesn't take debet cards or any of the most regularly used credit cards. Luckily, you still have some Euros in your wallet that you can change at the adjacent bank counter. After having stood in line for a while you finally reach the vending machine, only to find out it only takes exactly 3 Dinar, which means you need to change the money you got again for smaller notes. After having annoyed the bank employee once again, and after having to stand in line once again, you finally reach the vending machine and get your stamps. Great! You're almost done! Now you only have to wait for an hour until your number called! 

Luckily, that was the worst part. Once my number was called I only had some difficulty pronouncing my name to the Kuwaiti desk employee who had to write down my name phonetically in Arabic. After that I got my visa and it was a pretty swift ride from the airport to our hotel, Ibis Sharq. But by then it was already 5 am. The only thing on my mind was taking a shower and sleep for a loooooong time, so that's what I did. 

Day 1: Exploring

Picture
Having slept past noon meant my first 'full'  day in Kuwait was quite a short one, but that didn't stop me from exploring the neighbourhood a bit. The first thing I noticed is that Kuwait has all these tall skyscrapers, but where tall buildings usually are built due to a lack of space, the buildings in Kuwait are pretty far apart and apparently only built for show. (For those who don't know: Kuwait is a rich oil state.) 

We first walked to the beach (pretty rocky) and got ourselves some ice-cream (pretty over the top). Apparently "a strawberry ice-cream" means "strawberry ice-cream with strawberry milkshake and strawberry sauce,  topped with strawberry cake and fresh strawberries". No wonder we passed the Kuwaiti Diabetic Centre on our way over here... 
After this sugar bomb we went to watch the sundown over the yacht harbour and visit دبنهامز (Debenhams in Arabic) in the Souq Sharq shopping mall. 
Picture
Because I wasn't quite sure yet what was suitable to wear, I went with a pair of skinny jeans again, a white t-shirt and a sheer white tunic. It is said Kate bought this tunic from Warehouse for her honeymoon, but she has never been pictured in it since. It is a great versatile piece so I can imagine she bought it to take with her on holiday! 

Just around the corner of our hotel is the Al-Hamra tower, the tallest building in Kuwait, which has a luxury shopping mall on the bottom six floors. Alcohol is prohibited in Kuwait, so there are no bars or clubs. Kuwaiti social lives entirely takes places in the many shopping malls around town, so Joeri and me decided to grab a bite there. 
For the occasion I wore a red maxi dress, camel peplum jacket and my favourite Stuart Weitzman wedges. I bought my new grey bag on Ebay as a replikate of Kate's Tod's D-bag. The colour is a bit more cream than the original, but apart from that I think it is a best replikate of it I have found so far. Would definitely recommend. For $ 32 for a real leather bag, you can't really go wrong. 

So that's my Kuwaiti adventure so far. Can't wait to discover more. Will keep you all posted!
Picture
Top: Warehouse / Jeans: H&M / 
Flip flops: Havaianas / Bag: Ebay / 
Earrings: Cristalina / Sunglasses: Amazon UK

Picture
Jacket: Tatiana's Delights on Etsy / Dress: H&M / Belt: H&M / Bag: Ebay 
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Earrings: Designs by Noa on Etsy

Picture
Picture
3 Comments

Water under the bridge

11/14/2013

3 Comments

 
Picture
Jacket: H&M / Jeans: H&M / Shirt: H&M / Scarf: Aquascutum / Shoes: Mint Velvet 
Bag: Longchamp / Earrings: Ebay

I love the 'Dutch-ness'  of this bridge and the landscape in the background. It is part of my old hometown, and I thought it would be a nice background for some outfit pictures, as I was visiting my parents last week. 

This outfit really is a combination of different items inspired by Kate's casual style. Nothing special, but I think it is a great outfit to relax in :)
Picture
Picture
3 Comments

The Royal Blues + the winner of the hat giveaway!

11/4/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
Jacket: Zara / Jeans: H&M / Loafers: Zara / Bag: Vintage / Blouse: H&M / Earrings: Ebay / Necklace: Cristalina

Ever since I saw Pippa leaving the Goring Hotel the day after the Royal Wedding I wanted a cobalt blue blazer. Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to find the right one. Until last month, when I got my hands on the same style Zara blazer she wore, and I felt it was just right for me. I really like the faux double-breasted style and the navy and white crested buttons. 
Picture
Picture
What I love about a cobalt blazer is that it adds a pop of colour to every outfit, whether it is a summer, or winter outfit. It is also easy to accessorise. 

Since it is autumn now, I went with a pair of black skinny jeans, black velvet loafers and a black leather bag. The OCD-er in me decided to bring back the colour blue in the collar of my blouse, my earrings, and my necklace. I am a firm believer in ' matchy-matchy'  outfits!
Picture

And the lucky winner is.....

Christine from the What Would Kate Do blog! Congratulations on winning the 'St. Patrick's Day' replikate hat made by GirlFabulosity!  Don't forget to send us a picture of your own twist to this gorgeous hat ;-)
Picture
Unfortunately I can't send a hat to everyone who participated (however much I'd like to), but I really would like to thank you all for following GirlFabulosity's and Tatiana's Delights' shenanigans on Facebook, Etsy and Bloglovin! Lots of new items and updates are coming up!
Picture
2 Comments

His Royal Fluffypaws

11/1/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Between all the replikate collages and outfit posts, I thought I'd dedicate a small post to someone that always gives me unconditional love: my sweet cat Taiyo (so to the cat-haters: this is your cue to turn away now!). 

I got Taiyo as a kitten in May 2012, two days after I got my other cat Vashti. A few months before that I moved to my first apartment, after having lived four years in a student house where I wasn't allowed to have any pets. I grew up always having cats around, so I felt having no cats around made the house very empty. Getting cats will definitely be one of the best decisions of my life :)

Taiyo is a blue tabby point Ragdoll. I called him Taiyo after the Japanese word for 'Sun', because he was completely white when I got him, but now that he got some colour he looks more like a tiny lion/tiger hybrid to me. He always quietly follows me around the house and then always finds the laziest spot in the room to take a five-hour long nap. Occasionally however, he feels the need to go on this sort of roaring rampage. I have absolutely NO idea why, but apparently he then thinks he is Spidercat, and obviously a Spidercat does whatever a Spidercat needs to do, which is to climb into the door posts and then slowly glide down again. Well, you know Taiyo, you gotta do what you gotta do...

Apart from that he is a real sucker for anything with feathers and fur, and unlike any other normal feline, his favourite food isn't chicken, or salmon, or turkey. No, no, he is sure that what I like most he likes most too, so I always have to make sure all the cake, nougat or cupcake frosting is under lock and key at all times. Based on this, I do believe I qualify as a 'crazy cat' lady ;-) 

Anyway, this post is just my way of saying that we should never take the presence of our 'furry kids' for granted :)  I love you Taiyo! Don't ever stop being weird and wonderful!
Picture
"You silly girl! I'm too fabulous for a manicure!"

Picture
"Might that be a cupcake you have there?"

Picture
"What are you doing?! That's my ear! Stop!"

Picture
0 Comments

    - ABOUT TATIANA - 

    Picture
    Hi there! I am a fashion and travel enthusiast living in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Tatiana's Delights is your online resource for preppy and minimalist fashion, travel tips, affordable home decor and adorable cat photos. You can find out more about Tatiana's Delights here. 

    - LET'S CONNECT - 

    Follow

     - INSTAGRAM - 
    @tatianasdelights


    FASHION BLOGGER FOR

    Picture

    Visit Tatiana's Delights's profile on Pinterest.

    - CATEGORIES - 

    All
    Cats
    Etsy Shop
    Fashion
    Giveaways
    Home Decorating
    Other
    Personal Outfits
    Reviews
    Rotterdam
    Shopping
    Travel


    - ARCHIVES - 

    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2012


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • About
  • Press
  • Shop My Closet
  • Contact