Today was jam-packed full of adventure. It's a shame I forgot the camera attachment to the iPad; I have so many beautiful pictures I want to share with you. When I get home, I have a feeling I'll be reposting with added pictures. For now, I only have what I took with my iPhone, which should give you an idea of the flavor of Bahrain.
This morning our tour guide and driver ( what a luxury! Takes all the anxiety out of traveling to a new country) took us to the Souk. Many fabrics and clothing for sale, with sales people calling out to you as you walk by. Bags of spices and vegetables line the shops. All of the men bought custom made, three piece suits from a local tailor for the equivalent of $110 USD. It was such a great deal that some of the ladies also ordered jackets.
Some of us even got to try on the traditional clothing! They make a nice looking family, don't you think?
We stopped and had Arabic coffee which is not coffee at all, but more of a rose-water tea boiled with cardamom. We tried Arabic chai, which is a strong tea with plenty of milk and sugar.
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| My new boyfriend. |
While we were lingering over our tea on a street corner, a local man dressed in full traditional clothing (long white robe with red checkered headress) asked to take a picture with me. When I wasn't looking, he kissed me on the cheek! Very friendly, indeed.
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| Bahrain Fort. |
We stopped by Bahrain Fort, a 250 year old landmark. The fort is bordering on the sea as well as the city, and the juxtaposition of the different styles was very cool to see.
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| Knuffle loves Rock n Roll. |
The end of the evening took us to an Osiris concert, a local Bahraini rock band with some 80s and techno flair. They described themselves as a "digital symphony" which had a traditional ensemble of drums and clapping in the mix. A very unique sound.
In many ways, Bahrain is extremely westernized. American chain restaurants are everywhere; TGIFridays, Krispy Creme, and Starbucks to name a few. Everyone speaks English, and many do not speak Arabic due to a large immigrant population from South East Asia. People drive hybrid vehicles, and there are many tall, skyscraper-type buildings down town. On the other hand, it isn't uncommon to see most of the women in the abbeyah (the long black robe with headscarf) and the men in white robes. The call to prayer can be heard several times a day through the city. While a very modern city, the culture keeps many traditional and religious customs.
(some photos are courtesy of our stage manager, Brandon)
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| Our billboards on the side of the highway |
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