Our anniversary fell in the middle of the week. We went for dinner but decided to continue our celebration by spending the day at Failaka Island. I looked up on line to find information about the island and the ferry to get over there. Check out this site. Seems like a really neat place to visit for the day……doesn't it??http://www.failakaheritagevillage.com
Here we go………
I also found out some of the history …….this is what I read…”The Island of Failaka is one of the most beautiful and most famous islands of Kuwait. It combines the ancient history of Kuwait, dating back to the early Stone Age and the modern history of Kuwait.” and it continues….”Failaka Island is located in the northern part of the Persian Gulf. Springtime on Failaka Island is regarded as particularly special by Kuwaitis. Failaka has quite a different ecosystem to mainland Kuwait, and its budding flowers and changing temperatures are much appreciated. Although the island's infrastructure remains poor, Failaka is beginning to develop a local tourist industry; it provides fishing, boating, swimming, sailing and water sports
We rented this little dune buggy to see the sights
The few remaining local residents are mostly those Failakawans who lived with their families on the island prior to the Iraqi Invasion of 1990. Most Failakawans have their own boats and some are involved in tourism, but many are reticent about letting tourism detract from the quiet island life.”
(We think we know what Gilligan felt landing on a deserted island.) Not much going on here….but good to see there is a gas station with an ATM…..just in case……
The more we saw, the stranger it got….and these signs just say it all
“When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 Iraqi forces expelled the civilian population and mined the beaches. After Iraq was expelled from Kuwait in 1991, the Kuwaiti government resettled the island's population on on the mainland and compensated islanders for their property. The island has been cleared of mines, and it has been used for military exercises. “
OHHHHHHH !!
A special treat at the latest Kuwait Textile Arts Association! We had the opportunity to meet a prolific artist and fashion designer from Sri Lanka. Sonali Dharmawardane spoke to us about the ancient art of Batik becoming firmly established in Sri Lanka. Batik is done using the wax resist method. She personally draws every design in charcoal, which is later waxed and then put into a dye vat. Sonali is an artist who “married into a family which had batik in their lifeblood”. Her father in law, Vipula Dharmawardane used batik as a statement in art, decor and many other things. He has taken his work to museums, conventions and conferences. including the Smithsonian Museum. Sonali is a consultant designer for a lingerie manufacturer in Colombo. Her work with batik has led her to do innovative and original work specializing in undergarments. Her brand is called acushla; offers one of a kind batik design on sarees and other women's apparel. "I never repeat anything and each piece is special and unique." Her country of Sri Lanka has become a hub for garment manufacturing. She told us "some of you may be wearing clothes which are manufactured there, but not even know it...today. Sri Lanka is known around the world as the underwear capital of the world....Victoria Secret was mentioned as a company featuring batiks.
It was awesome to meet Sonali and learn of her art and love of batiks, of the humble revival of this heritage work and to hear her passion for woman in her country. She runs her own business and employs only women. “My pet project is with women. Most of the women who work with me are either single mums whose husbands have died in the war or they have been left alone.” She says “Sri Lankan women are responsible in a big way for their economy.”
