Libyan Pastimes
You gotta hand it to them, in a country with no bars, pubs or clubs and only 1 pool hall, 1 cinema and 1 bowling alley to entertain 5 million Libyans; it's not easy for these guys to entertain themselves but they do, and they do it in style.
Today I can exclusively reveal.....
THE TOP 5 HOBBIES - LIBYA vs THE WORLD:
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5) Fast food, but not as you know it:
Aside from a couple Egyptian fast food places (which can take half an hour to make your food), fast food comes in the form of a bowl of cous-cous and half a chicken. It arrives in seconds but has been cooking for days!
Libyans 1 - Rest of World 0 (It may not be the best of dishes but at least it's 100% meat!)
4) Coffee:
It's the Libyan equivalent of beer and as in the UK, is similarly drunk by large groups of loud young men who drink so much they go a bit loopy.
Libyans 2 - Rest of World 0 (Like alcohol but without the morning after effects!)
3) Fireworks:
A relatively new one in Tripoli. Libyans haven't really got the hang of this one - morning noon or night they entertain themselves with exploding cheap, dodgey small-scale explosives.I should think the Tripoli burns unit would be completely overwhelmed with casualties every Friday night ... if they ever build one, that is!
Libyans 2 - Rest of World 1 (PLEASE, PLEASE don't do it! Especially at 2 in the morning!)
2) Cars:
They sit in them and chat. They race them down the narrow main roads. There's even a spot in Tripoli where guys do stunts like drive on 2 wheels or get out while there car is in a spin, and then jump back in! The other day, I spotted a brand new car craze - follow the leader. Literally, 50-odd cars following eachother round the city in a long convoy as fast and as close as they can! Who needs television (!)
Libya 2 - Rest of World 2 (OK, it may look quite cool but not when you're trying to drive home!)
...AND FINALLY...
1) Street corners:
If there is a corner to hang around, there's a Libyan or 15 there. You can imagine them walking miles to find an available corner and when one is finally spotted, they celebrate by .. doing-absolutley-nothing.
Libya 2 - Rest of World 2 (It may be dull but it beats being stuck in front of the TV - draw)
So, if you're reading this and thinking how there's nothing on telly tonight, how crap the films are at the cinema, how that entertainment multiplex they built in town last year is a waste of money. Think of the poor Libyans stuck on their steet corners with a paper cup full of coffee discussing the latest modifications to their aging 1.4 litre Daewoo!
Today I can exclusively reveal.....
THE TOP 5 HOBBIES - LIBYA vs THE WORLD:
---------------------------------
5) Fast food, but not as you know it:
Aside from a couple Egyptian fast food places (which can take half an hour to make your food), fast food comes in the form of a bowl of cous-cous and half a chicken. It arrives in seconds but has been cooking for days!
Libyans 1 - Rest of World 0 (It may not be the best of dishes but at least it's 100% meat!)
4) Coffee:
It's the Libyan equivalent of beer and as in the UK, is similarly drunk by large groups of loud young men who drink so much they go a bit loopy.
Libyans 2 - Rest of World 0 (Like alcohol but without the morning after effects!)
3) Fireworks:
A relatively new one in Tripoli. Libyans haven't really got the hang of this one - morning noon or night they entertain themselves with exploding cheap, dodgey small-scale explosives.I should think the Tripoli burns unit would be completely overwhelmed with casualties every Friday night ... if they ever build one, that is!
Libyans 2 - Rest of World 1 (PLEASE, PLEASE don't do it! Especially at 2 in the morning!)
2) Cars:
They sit in them and chat. They race them down the narrow main roads. There's even a spot in Tripoli where guys do stunts like drive on 2 wheels or get out while there car is in a spin, and then jump back in! The other day, I spotted a brand new car craze - follow the leader. Literally, 50-odd cars following eachother round the city in a long convoy as fast and as close as they can! Who needs television (!)
Libya 2 - Rest of World 2 (OK, it may look quite cool but not when you're trying to drive home!)
...AND FINALLY...
1) Street corners:
If there is a corner to hang around, there's a Libyan or 15 there. You can imagine them walking miles to find an available corner and when one is finally spotted, they celebrate by .. doing-absolutley-nothing.
Libya 2 - Rest of World 2 (It may be dull but it beats being stuck in front of the TV - draw)
So, if you're reading this and thinking how there's nothing on telly tonight, how crap the films are at the cinema, how that entertainment multiplex they built in town last year is a waste of money. Think of the poor Libyans stuck on their steet corners with a paper cup full of coffee discussing the latest modifications to their aging 1.4 litre Daewoo!
4 Comments:
obviously you never heard of the fire that was started by fireworks in Tripoli back in the 70s and caused many deaths and which led to the authorities there banning fireworks.
try to be a bit more sensitive, Libya is not that bad. at least its not as boring as good old England, is it?
1) Let me get this straight I can't talk about fireworks because some peole were killed by them? I guess I shouldn't talk about cars, guns, prescription drugs or cutlery! All of which are harmless unless you put them in the wrong hands.
2) If fireworks are banned, why do I lie in bed many nights listening to the cacophony of pyrotechnics?
3) Whilst many of my posts are 'tongue in cheek' I would suggest that a country with thousands of cinemas, theatres, museums, pubs, clubs, concert venues, sport venues and other communal leisure facilities IS slightly less boring.
Thanks for your comments by the way.
I only meant that fireworks are not as available as other countries because of the ban, what you get is probably illegal fireworks.
I didnt mean any offence, all i meant that any country that is not your can become boring but we carry on, yes England has all of that but still it can be boring & very lonely at times especially in the summer, Libya is boring but at least you have miles and miles of beautiful beaches and other activities plus the fact that most people are friendly and non offensive which I am sure you do like.
I like England but I cant wait to finish and go back home.
Have a good life and try to enjoy your time there :)
fire cracker, don't get me wrong, Libya can be a great place at times. Unfortunately, talking about lying on beautiful beaches does not make for an interesting blog ;-)
When the sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful, cloudless blue, I do think how lucky I am to have the chance to live here!
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