‘Kuwait has the most soul and character among Gulf cities,’ Nadir On The Go tells Kuwait Times

Bangladeshi travel filmmaker and content creator Nadir Nibras, popularly known as ‘Nadir On The Go’, has described Kuwait as the Gulf country with the most “soul and character” after visiting the country to document its extreme summer heat.

In an interview with Kuwait Times, Nadir said his initial plan to make a documentary about life in a city exposed to extreme temperatures turned into an unexpected cultural experience, as he discovered the country's food, coffee culture and welcoming people.

“I came to Kuwait mainly to film a documentary about the extreme summer heatwaves and what it’s like to live in a city under those conditions,” he told Kuwait Times.

Despite the intense temperatures, Nadir said he enjoyed his stay, adding that Kuwait stood out among the Gulf cities he had previously visited.

“I’ve visited several other cities along the Arabian Gulf before, but Kuwait felt like the one with the most soul and character,” he said.

Among the things that surprised him was Kuwait's vibrant coffee culture. He recalled spending time in cafés with locals well past midnight, drinking coffee and socialising.

“I hadn’t expected how important coffee culture is in Kuwait. I found myself sitting in cafés with people well past midnight on multiple occasions, just drinking coffee and socialising,” he said.

Nadir also praised the country's diverse food scene and said his interactions with Kuwaitis challenged some of his preconceptions about the country.

He described the people as easygoing and relaxed, saying he had discovered a laid-back side of Kuwaiti culture that he had not anticipated before arriving.

From engineering to travelling the world

Nadir's journey into travel filmmaking began far from the world of content creation. He initially pursued engineering and mathematics and never imagined that travelling and documenting his experiences could become a full-time profession.

“When I was growing up, being a travel content creator wasn’t even a career option anyone had heard of,” he said.

Even when he started making videos as a hobby, he did not expect to earn a living from them.

However, as his early videos began reaching wider audiences and going viral, he recognised an opportunity to turn his passion into a profession.

“That’s when I decided I had to at least give it a serious shot before giving up on the idea,” he said.

Nadir said he initially created videos primarily for himself, his friends and family rather than pursuing international recognition or a massive audience.

The challenges behind a life of constant travel

Although travelling across countries may appear glamorous, Nadir said maintaining such a lifestyle for years can become physically and mentally exhausting.

The lack of a consistent routine, familiar surroundings and regular social connections can take a toll on long-term travellers, he explained.

“Not having a consistent routine, the same group of friends to see regularly, a familiar gym, or even the same pillow to sleep on can become exhausting,” he told Kuwait Times.

He added that constantly packing and unpacking his belongings before moving to another destination can eventually become tiring.

“Constantly packing and unpacking your entire life into two bags, then moving to a new place or city over 30 times a year, can eventually take a real toll,” he said.

Nadir believes people considering long-term travel need a deeper purpose to sustain the lifestyle, as the excitement of visiting new destinations can gradually fade.

What travelling taught him about happiness

Beyond discovering new destinations, Nadir said his travels have changed how he understands happiness and the things people need to live fulfilling lives.

He particularly highlighted his experiences in smaller island communities across Southeast Asia, Hawaii and the Caribbean, where he observed people finding contentment without depending heavily on material possessions.

“One thing I’ve come to appreciate through my travels, especially from spending time in smaller tropical island communities around the world, is how little people sometimes need to be happy,” he said.

According to Nadir, having a comfortable home, enough food for the family, basic necessities and good friends can often be sufficient for a satisfying life.

He contrasted this with the pressures of metropolitan living, where the pursuit of professional and material success can overshadow simpler sources of happiness.

Reflecting on his years of travelling, Nadir said experiencing life in different countries has helped him understand where he feels most comfortable and where he might belong.

However, he also acknowledged that growing older has contributed to his changing outlook.

“I think much of that clarity probably just comes with age. I just happened to see more of the world as I got older,” he said.