The bus ride to the location, just 13Kms away from Kuwait’s northern border with Iraq, took us about an hour and 25 minutes from Salmiya. The moderate sun and a light cool breeze made for perfect weather, and a perfect day was surely in store for the AAK ladies & their families.
An entry charge of KD 2/- in the form of coupons could be used for any of the farm’s activities - strawberry picking, purchase of flowers, vegetables, food, & not to forget delicious & lip-smacking sugarcane juice from cane grown on the farm! A little lake with ducks and geese, a colorful play area & an animal corner kept the little ones entertained & amused.
Strawberry picking was certainly the highlight of the day. Armed with a box & a pair of scissors (provided by the farm staff), each member of the group happily snipped the strawberries of their choice.
Each one was entitled to 250 gms of the succulent and delicious strawberries; any extra so picked & desired, attracted an additional fee. For many in the group, this was a first-time hands-on experience.
Fields of cabbage, broccoli & mustard & the flower beds were a feast for the eyes. Fresh flowers and seeds were available for purchase. A variety of farm produce was also available for purchase at the farm market - honey, a wide range of herbal tea, fresh herbs & vegetables.
The sugarcane field was yet another fascinating spot on the farm. Diwaniya style seating arrangements in between sugarcane stalks made for ideal picnic conditions. Freshly extracted sugarcane juice laced with lime brought back memories of Light House Hill & Mangalore!
A tent booked earlier ensured privacy for a lunch of Chicken Biryani & Rita, a game of Bingo & even a quick post-lunch snooze for some!
The group headed home at 6:00 PM. Indeed a day well spent!