Kuwaiti adventurers tour the world to assert themselves
Defying risks to slip from the grasp of daily routine
KUWAIT: Driven by the desire to break routine and explore the world, several Kuwaitis set out on journeys around the globe to gain experience, defy risks and assert themselves. As Paulo Coelho, a world-renowned Brazilian lyricist and novelist, puts it: “If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal,” the main motive of the Kuwaiti adventures is to slip from the grasp of daily routine. Some adventurers were interviewed for information on their respective experiences and motives; some of them were so enthusiastic that they suggested launching a travel agency specialized in organizing adventures and build the capacity of adventurers.
Abdullah Al-Shahin, a parachutist and motorcyclist, said his father implanted in him the love for wildlife, nature, geography and geology. “To satisfy my curiosity, I toured the scenic areas, islands, beaches, forests and countryside of Spain and the Philippines with my motorcycle,” he said. “There is much to be gained from adventures. My trips in Spain and the Philippines helped me know a lot about the peoples, the cultures and areas of both countries. “These tours also enhanced my patience and endurance,” Shahin asserted. “Curiosity is inherent in man; it motivates people to explore new areas of the universe and help them to be self-reliant,” he added.
Training center
He expressed hope that a government agency would help finance the initiative to launch a center for training the young adventurers on various kinds of adventures including endurance sports and mountaineering.
Abdullah AlGattan, a mountaineer and diver, said he climbed Jebel Shams - the highest mountain in Oman and the Gulf region, twice, and Mount Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa. He spoke also about his diving experiences in various seas and oceans around the globe.
During his adventures, Gattan took a lot of photos that tell about the peculiarities of nature and the marine life over the 14 years. He plans to visit The Galapagos Islands in the Republic of Ecuador and climb the mountains of Costa Rica and Peru.
Kuwaiti youths
Fatima Matar, a tour organizer, said she organized adventures for groups of Kuwaiti youths to Iguassu Falls in Argentina, Patagonia - a rocky region, called “the end of the world” between Argentina and Chile, Jebel Shams in Oman and Mount Everest.
Over the last five years, she took advantage of social media to network with adventurers and organize trips for young people who have the a great zest for discovering the world and get in contact with people with different cultures. Matar added that she organized trips twice a year and takes stock of all possible risks adventurers could face in the various parts of the world in order to ensure their safety.
Suleiman Al-Roudhan said he joined a group of youth adventurers in trips to Madagascar, Senegal, Portugal and Iceland. He plans to set out on a journey by train from northernmost to the southernmost of India and another journey to the North Pole. In this connection, spokesman of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs Nasser Al-Afraj said the Ministry is keen on fostering the skills of talented youth particularly the adventurers.
Call for center to train young adventurers