Traveler Bilen shares why a trip to Kuwait City was a pleasant surprise. 
Travel Noire: Why did you decide to visit Kuwait City? 
Bilen: I decided to visit Kuwait mainly because my parents just moved there and I have always loved to travel. I have visited Dubai numerous times and thought it was a great opportunity to widen my horizons when it comes to the Middle East.
Travel Noire: Where did you stay? 
Bilen: I stayed at my parent’s house while in Kuwait, but I would recommend The Symphony Hotel in Kuwait City. It’s beautiful and most of the interior was designed by the fashion brand Missoni. I love it!
Travel Noire: What was your favorite thing to do?
Bilen: My favorite place to visit was Mubarakiya which is a traditional Kuwaiti outdoor market which also is where one of my favorite places to eat was located. Mubarakiya is one of those places that help you get immersed in the local culture where one can shop and eat Kuwaiti style!
Travel Noire: What surprised you the most about Kuwait City? 
Bilen: The one thing that surprised me the most was how clean and safe the whole country is! Kuwait City, though not nearly as big as a conventional capital city, is so beautiful and well kept.
Travel Noire: What did you love the most about the location?  
Bilen: I loved visiting the numerous museums they have as such as the Tareq Rajab Museum for ancient calligraphy and the Sadu House for Arabic textiles and weaving.
Another favorite destination was The Avenues Mall, which had everything from H&M to high-end restaurants like Katsuya. It is one of the biggest malls I have ever been to and it has every retail shop you can think of!
Travel Noire: Did you feel comfortable in Kuwait City as a black traveler? 
Bilen: I felt very comfortable and welcome as a black traveler because there are a lot of black Kuwaitis and I did not experience any racism in that aspect. The fact that a lot of domestic workers in Kuwait are of Ethiopian origin meant that I faced some minor discrimination as a result.