wgaw

What is the difference between China and Saudi Arabia?

2012-01-06T12:37:00.000+03:00

Very silly. Sent from a Saudi friend.

In China this is how they stand…

In Saudi this is how they stand

Silversmithing

2011-11-17T18:55:00.000+03:00

A Bahraini silversmith with more than half a century of experience has voiced concerns that the craft he loves is on the verge of dying out.
Abdul Razaq Al Roomy plies his trade in the Bab Al Bahrain area of Manama suq, having opened his shop in 1963.

However, the 79-year-old father-of-five warned that a lack of interest in the silver industry, the introduction of machinery and a drop in business over the past decade were threatening the craft’s survival.
“The craft will not be preserved as today’s youth choose to take easy jobs,” he told the GDN.
“They are not interested in a silver-making career, but they will also get bored as we don’t get a lot of customers. No one will take my place after I am gone as my only son is an academic doctor.”

Mr Al Roomy, who is originally from Iraq, said the introduction of machinery had a major impact on the profession – directly affecting the income of highly skilled silversmiths.

“We didn’t have machines back then like they do now, hence it was difficult to create a piece of jewellery and took some time,” he said.
He explained that meant the work of silversmiths was becoming less and less
appreciated.
“In the past, customers appreciated handmade work and used to pay me more if they liked a piece,” he recalled.
“Today, customers don’t value the handiwork and ask me to reduce the price of jewellery.”

Mr Al Roomy, who was trained in the silversmith craft by his father and uncle from the age of 15, described how he used to work 19-hour days to create the perfect handcrafted pieces.
“It’s the only profession I ever had,” he said.
“I used to work from 4am until 11pm and only stopped for my lunch break. But for the last 10 years I work for two hours a day because of my health, age and mostly the number of customers, which dropped dramatically.”

He first came to Bahrain as a 10-year-old and described how he would sometimes spend days creating complicated pieces, carving decorations such as palm trees and calligraphy onto silver jewellery. To this day he continues to use the same tools he learnt to use as a teenager, such as iron scissors and a hammer, to create jewellery and ornaments such as dhows.

“In the first years of opening the shop, we carved jewellery with black silver – which made us the first to come up with such jewellery at that time,” recalled Mr Al Roomy.

“I’d carve palm trees and writings on rings, some of which I still keep as memories,” he said.

Taken from the GULF DAILY NEWS

Attitudes to work

2011-11-16T17:36:00.000+03:00

Sent from a Saudi friend who thought it highly amusing to describe his work ethic thus:

Japanese attitude for work
"If one can do it, I can do it.
If no one can do it, I must do it."

Middle Eastern attitude for work
"Wal-la-hi if someone can do it, let him do it.
If no one can do it, ya-habibi how can I do it?"

Qunicy Jones makes Arabic Charity Record with Badr Jafar

2011-11-12T00:49:00.000+03:00

Rabat, Morocco (CNN) -- Quincy Jones has joined some of the biggest names in Arab music to produce a charity single aimed at helping a new generation of artists and musicians.

Artists involved include Lebanese star Majida El Roumi, who wrote the lyrics; Moroccan-born Grammy-winning producer RedOne, who co-produced the track with Jones; Kadim Al Sahir, from Iraq; Saber El Rebai from Tunisia; Amr Diab, from Egypt and Asma Lmnawar, from Morocco.

Jones, who first toured the Middle East and North Africa in 1953 with the jazz musician Lionel Hampton, said: "I have long been a vocal proponent of music and the arts being a great asset in building bridges between people and cultures."

The money raised will help finance educational arts and culture scholarships and projects for children in the Middle East and North Africa.

The Arabic lyrics, written by Roumi, are aimed to provide a beacon of solidarity and hope for the region, the organizers said.

Think Pink HOG ride, Bahrain, 2011

2011-10-29T13:56:00.000+03:00

Here's video footage of the Think Pink, HOG ride in Bahrain last week. Uploaded here not only to promote the boys, but because there's some decent footage of the roads and buildings here in Bahrain. Well done and Keep it up boys:

Saudi Princess Interview with Piers Morgan

2011-09-25T16:40:00.000+03:00

HH Princess Ameerah Al Taweel being interviewed on women's rights in Saudi Arabia by Piers Morgan on CNN:

Saudi Weekend Drivers

2011-07-05T19:07:00.001+03:00

When people tell me the driving on the M25 is terrible/ terrifying/ impossible I can't quite work out what they're worried about. How about this? Pretty impressive by all accounts ...

Dance Dabke

2011-05-14T00:25:00.000+03:00

Image taken from FLICKER

Dabke (also spelt dabka and dabkeh, pronouced dab-k’ mening, ‘stamping of the feet’) is the national dance of Lebanon, but also is popular in Iraq, Palestine and Syria. It's a folk dance which is usually performed in lines

Photo taken from FLICKR

Here's the flash mob Beirut airport version:

Khobis Flattened Bread

2011-04-28T13:00:00.001+03:00

Flat unleavened bread or Khobiz/ Khobis [co-bis] is one of the masters or key staples of a Gulf diet. Here's a YouTube which explains how it's made and how to eat it:

Shisha Sleep

2011-04-25T14:34:00.002+03:00

Time to sleep:

Islam from Another Perspective

2011-04-19T00:50:00.002+03:00

Here's a Pakistani praying outside the White House and the hastle he receives because of his choice of prayer ground:

Key cross cultural point: nothing you respect should be thrown to the ground, it becomes dirty and indicates a lack of repsect for the item touching the ground. Hense the shoe throwing at President Bush {see wgaw: PRESIDENT BUSH and SHOE THROWING} being such an insult.

Making Sense of Bahrain

2011-04-06T11:55:00.000+03:00

A direct copy and paste, SUHAIL ALGOSAIBI writes below about trying to make sense of all the hate and the madness in Bahrain following the crisis which took place in March

"I recently had dinner with a CNN crew, who had just finished interviewing me and a few others about the so-called “Arab Spring”, and the role social media played in it.

They had been to Tunisia and Egypt before coming to Bahrain, and they told me how different Bahrain was from those two countries. They seemed genuinely confused. I think this was the first conflict they covered where there was no obvious victim and no obvious villain. They asked me lots and lots of questions during the dinner, and I tried to answer as best I could – and as fairly as I could.

Since that dinner I’ve been reflecting more on the recent crisis. And was trying to make sense of some of the events, and more importantly, I was trying to understand all this hate that I keep seeing online. Some of which was aggressively directed at me – from both sides!

The Dictionary Definition of Polarisation
I think Bahrain’s indomitable Foreign Minister, Sh. Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, described it best when he said people are polarised. Here’s the dictionary definition of “Polarise” from my Mac: “[verb] divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.” I like the “two sharply contrasting” bit. Basically, it’s “either you’re with me, or against me.” There can be no in between. If you’re not fully on my side I will hate you, slander you and personally attack you. And if you’re with me, I’ll love you, support you and protect you.

Rather sad, don’t you think?

Honestly, this is not the Bahrain I know and grew up in. Though I don’t condone the polarisation and extremism, I try very hard to understand where it’s coming from. I try not to judge and not to force my opinions on others.

Anyway, today’s post is about trying to understand and explain some of this polarisation and hate that we see today. And as I’ve said many times before, I don’t claim to fully know all the facts, nor to understand this crisis 100% (frankly I don’t think anyone does).

Where The Protestors’ Frustration/Anger/Hate is Coming From
There is a not insignificant Shia section of society that – rightly or wrongly – feel marginalised in our society. They feel victimised, and have been feeling like this for a long time – for generations.

They feel that they are not given their full rights as Bahraini citizens. Not only that, but they feel they are being intentionally marginalised. Also, they feel discriminated against and disrespected by the Interior Ministry. They feel their human rights are not met, and they also feel like the government is trying to dilute their numbers through the “sunnification” of the population, by giving Sunni Arabs and Asians Bahraini citizenship.

It is my belief that for a small portion of this section of society, this perception has morphed into loathing and blind rage (possibly caused/encouraged/fuelled/endorsed by outside interference). The object of this blind rage was the government and the ruling family, who they perceive as being responsible for the supposed mess they are in.

And for these people, the end justified the means. And the means included exaggerating, lying, fabricating, attacking, and doing whatever else helped their cause, and the rest of the population be damned! They wanted nothing but the total removal of the current regime, and some even wanted nothing but a Royal blood bath. But it is my contention that not all protestors wanted this, and that not all protestors were rioters. But admittedly, the lines were vague. Who can untangle that web?

The hate of the extremists spilled over into hating all those who supported the government, and did not see things from their perspective. When the recent crackdown started, they felt even more victimised and saw it as the government’s excuse to commit further alleged crimes against them. Which of course lead to more hate, and more polarisation. They just could not comprehend how someone could not see things from their perspective.

Where the pro-government Frustration/Anger/Hate Is Coming From
I think the views of most Sunnis (wallahu A’lam) can be summarised as follows; they also had some frustrations with the government, but they don’t believe in getting it through protests and blatant disrespect for the law. I think most believed that a person’s rights should be sought through the current system, and not by replacing it completely. (Arguably though, they are not suffering as much as the people in the other camp).

When they look at their Shia brethren, they see that members of their society are among the wealthiest in the country, and that they have reached the highest echelons in the government and the private sector. They wonder why they feel victimised. They also wonder why (supposedly) so many poor Shia men marry several wives and have lots of children, and then complain about their lot in life. Many Sunnis are bewildered by what they perceive as the Shia “Culture of Victimhood”.

Many Sunnis were afraid for their safety during the protests. They seethed while they saw the rioters running amuck. They hated their king and the ruling family being openly insulted like this. They could not understand the perceived duality of the protesters (peaceful yet violent).

The extreme Sunnis hated the protestors and their leaders. And that hate spilled over into hating virtually all Shias. And the fact that the Opposition leaders did not condemn the violent acts, nor try to rein them in, only made matters worse.

They perceived them as ungrateful, disloyal, Iran-loving traitors, who should be punished severely. And they hated everyone who even showed a tiny shred of support or sympathy for them. They genuinely could not understand how anyone could not see things from their perspective.

They hated the perceived arrogance of the opposition leaders, and they couldn’t wait for revenge.

And boy did they get it!

Welcome to The Mother Of All Crackdowns
You know the story, the government lost patience with the protestors/rioters. When they realised that this was more than just a peaceful request for reform, and saw Iran’s fingerprints all over the movement, they cracked down with all their might. Everyone and anyone who showed support for the protestors was a suspect. And the spate of arrests started.

Now the extreme Sunnis rejoiced. It was party time! “Take that you evil traitors!” was the theme. And that! And that! …

The conflict became personal with the rioters on one side, and security forces and the army on the other. While the protesters brazenly defied law and order, attacked people, fabricated attacks against themselves at the same time acted like victims, the government forces seethed (Remember that several of the opposition leaders have received multiple Royal pardons in the past). The protestors won the first round, but the second was won by the government forces, by knock out! Some reportedly enjoyed releasing their frustrations at road check points.

Meanwhile, the moderates cried.

Their voices were mostly unheard, and they had hoped that this could be resolved peacefully. They kept waiting for wise men to prevail. And they still wait.

Some Personal Reflections…
The other day an anti-government acquaintance told me how he was mistreated by the security personnel at a checkpoint. He said “where did all this hate and rudeness come from?” I resisted the temptation of reminding him of the “down with Al-Khalifa” placards at the Pearl roundabout, and the loathing that came from the rioters. Loathing begets loathing. It should never have, but the conflict became personal. Very personal.

My point is that crack downs by definition are brutal. Who’s ever heard of a gentle crack down? When national security is threatened, security forces are not too concerned with constitutional rights. Especially with rioters who were this cunning.

Let me give you an example. A Bahraini friend told me this story many years ago. He was walking down a street in Paris, when suddenly a police van stopped next to him. Several policemen grabbed him violently, and threw him into the van. As I recall, he was beaten and taken to the police station. Poor man was totally confused and wondering what was going on. Later he learnt that a “Moroccan looking” man was suspected of planting a bomb in a Metro Station on the street he was walking along.

Many hours later the police realised they had the wrong man, and let him go. Without a even a hint of an apology! I don’t relay this story to justify anyone’s behaviour, but I do want to point out that when national security is threatened, security forces see red. There are more examples of this in the West, most notably in the US after 9/11, where stories of constitutional/human rights abuses are plentiful.

Do Shias Have More Loyalty To Iran Than to Bahrain?
No, absolutely not! There are a few things I want to say about this. First, if you had asked me at the start of this crisis whether I thought Iran was involved I would have laughed. Today I am convinced that Iran is involved. But I’d be lying if I said I know exactly how. The prevalent theory is that Iran had some sort of long-term sinister plot in Bahrain, which they tried to bring forward when the protests happened. Also, it is said that some of the opposition leaders have very close ties to Iran and/or Hezbollah. I don’t usually believe in conspiracies, but as I mentioned in a previous blog post, I do think Iran is involved.

Having said that however, I think the vast majority of protestors did not know of the Iran involvement. And I think that few of them actually felt more loyal to Iran than to Bahrain.

As for the general Shia population, I know they have no loyalty or affinity to Iran. Besides, why would a multi-generational Arab feel any loyalty to a country who’s language he doesn’t even speak? I think it’s cruel to paint all our Shia brethren with the same, broad brush.

Why I Refuse to Hate
Look, like many others during this crisis I got angry. I was angry at the rioters for making me feel unsafe, and making me worry about my family. I was angry that my business got affected and that I make heavy losses since the crisis began. I can go on an on.

But I refuse to hate.

What’s the point? It’s in the past now, the government won and the rioters were exposed. Will me hating really add value? Let the extremists and haters hate, I will have none of it. I’d rather work on rebuilding our country.

So What’s All This Talk of Forgiveness?
I think my last couple of blog posts confused some people. So maybe some clarification is in order. Personally, not only do I not hate the protesters/rioters, I choose to forgive them.

But as I explained in my last blog post, forgiveness does not mean I condone the actions of the rioters that broke the law. Nor does it mean that they should not receive their just punishment – quite the contrary, I think they should. Justice should prevail, and the law should be applied to everyone who broke it during the crisis.

Forgiveness is about making peace within yourself, and not letting the actions of others affect you and the way you think and behave. I’d rather focus on the future, not the past.

And I humbly ask you to do the same."

Will adding more hate really help matters? What kind of country do you want our children to live in? I keep hearing from both sides how “we will never forget…”, you don’t have to forget, but you can choose to forgive and let go. Forgiving does not mean forgetting. It means moving on.

Misunderstanding Islam

2011-03-18T15:31:00.003+03:00

Here are various people contemplating the thought, "What do you think people misunderstand most about Islam?" Answers seem to be realistic and non-inflamatory:

Nothing is mentioned in the youtube above to the obvious next question, "How can this misconception be overcome?" This appears to be dealt with on a small scale wishlist in the following youtube:

Unfortunately it seems to me both miss the most important question of all, given the current cirucumstances in Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and Jordan:
"What can Muslims do to remove misunderstanding between the different sects, groups and/or beliefs within Islam?"

Both youtube videsos have been taken from the website: MUSLIM VOICES

Bahrain Unite

2011-03-14T22:41:00.001+03:00

Bahraini rappers, DJ Outlaw, The Mystro, Flipperachi and May Alqasim have joined together to produce a unity track with a single called “Bahrain Unite”.

As it says on the website, AMMARO the song aims to bring people from all over the island together. It, "doesn't matter if you're Sunni, Shiaa, Christian, Indian, Arab, English, man, woman, boy or girl, whoever you are or wherever you are from, we all make up one Bahrain."

Vocals by: Flipp, May AlQasim, Mohammed Janahi, Rashid Hanthal, Hamad AlFardan
Oud by: Ahmed AlHermi
Bass by: Yasser AlBanna
Track Arranged & Produced by: DJ Outlaw
Video Filmed & Directed by: Ammaro Productions
Additional Footage by: Fardan Raffii
Video Editing by: Elements Productions

Bahrain Burial Mounds

2011-03-13T17:20:00.000+03:00

A'ali is located in the middle of Bahrain island, south of Isa town and north of Riffa [Latitude: 26.149011N Longitude: 50.511364E] and is famous for its burial mounds. These are considered to make up the largest prehistoric graveyard in the world (suggested numbers range from betweej 70,000 and 180,000) and date from between 3000 BC and AD 600.

The burial chamber in A'ali cemeteries consists of two rooms, one directly on top of the other. Built of dried adobe, plastered on the inside, and clad with limestone. The walls of the lower room were perpendicular, while those of the upper room were somewhat inclined near the ceiling.

Occasionally, the aisle would extend along the grave outside the northern and southern walls. The size of the grave would range from small to large. One specific grave was 40 feet long, 6 feet wide and 18 feet high.

The burial grounds are surrounded on the outside by a wall of large rocks located several yards from the base of the mounds.

Here's Mahmood {see MAHAMOODS DEN} explaining what they mean to him:

Wadah Khafar and the Middle Eastern Change Process

2011-03-03T13:57:00.000+03:00

Palestinian, Wadah Khanfar, the head of Al Jazeera, talks on TED about the changes currently going on in the Arab world, states his views:

Hilter & the Bahrain Grand Prix 2011

2011-02-26T18:07:00.001+03:00

A parody and hopefully some light relief in a very stuck situation (the youbtube does contain swearing).

BTW, would someone please tell me why the international media still continue to call the Pearl Roundabout 'Pearl Square'? Sounds like some international conspiracy ...

Bahrain Protests

2011-02-18T03:12:00.001+03:00

For days I have wanted to write something about what is happening in Bahrain, but am finding it impossible to put my feelings of sadness into words.

Right now, like many others I am watching, waiting and wondering what on earth will happen next.

Dear Universe,
Please bless Bahrain with good energy, to bring healing and balance to this beautiful Island and its special people, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Thank You.
Amen x

What is the Difference Between Arabs and Iranians?

2011-01-23T16:01:00.001+03:00

Maz Jobrani is an Iranian-born, American comedian {see: MAZ JOBRANI} and forms part of the comedy group, 'Axis of Evil' {see: AXIS OF EVIL}

Jobrani's jokes focus on race, while outwardly poking fun at his own ethnic group, Iranians.

Here he explains the differences which exist between Arabs and Iranians, from his point of view:

Mecca's Metro MM

2011-01-21T09:54:00.003+03:00

The city of Mecca has installed a rail system, known as 'Metro Mecca', using Chinese built trains with the aim of easing crowding for the approximately 2.5 million Hajj pilgrims who visit each year (the world's largest annual gathering of people).

During its first phase, Mecca Metro will link Mecca to Mina, Mount Arafat, and Muzdalifa, the holy sites visited by pilgrims retracing the steps of the Prophet Muhammad and Abraham {see wgaw: WHAT ARE THE OBLIGATIONS OF HAJJ?}

One of the 12 lime green trains built to ease congestion of the 2.5 million pilgrims

According to the Associated Press the 18 km railway is currently only open to GCC nationals. Later in 2011, when the system becomes fully operational, non-GCC nationals will be able to ride the trains.

Men ride the newly opened Mecca Metro, November 2010

The US$2 billion rail system is currently operating at around 35 percent capacity; there are around 12 lime green trains, each of which can carry approx. 3,000 people. It is thought when the system is fully operational, later in 2011 around 500,000 pilgrims will be transported around Mecca using Metro Mecca.

Information and photos taken from the National Geographic, November 17, 2010

Saffron, Zaffron

2011-01-11T16:39:00.000+03:00

"Your lips drop sweetness like honeycomb, my bride,

syrup and milk are under your tongue,

and your dress had the scent of Lebanon.

Your cheeks are an orchard of pomegranates,

an orchard full of rare fruits,

spikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon."

Song of Solomon

Saffron [saf-fron] the spice used in oh-so-many Arabic dishes, originates from the saffron crocus, a plant which bears just three stigmas.

Described as tasting like metallic honey with grassy or hay-like notes, fresh saffron stamens are vivid crimson in colour, contain a slight moistness and elasticity. The stamens are picked and once dried are added to food and textiles to produce a rich luminous yellow-orange colour:

Cost
Saffron has long been the world's most expensive spice and is sold by weight. Saffron prices range from around US$1,100 /kg (wholesale) to US$11,000 /kg (retail), equvialent to £5,500 or €7,500 per kilogram. Saffron costs £3.80 for a ½ gram in one UK supermarket, which translates into £7,600 per kilo

"A man who is stingy with saffron is capable of seducing his own grandmother."

Norman Douglas,

English Writer (1868-1952)

Picking Saffron
Half a kilo of dry saffron requires the picking of 50,000 to 75,000 flowers (about the size of a football field)

and is said to take around 20 hours. Stigmas are picked, dried and then stored in airtight containers.

Saffron is graded by crocin (colour), picrocrocin (taste), and safranal (fragrance). Additional extras such as, 'floral waste content' and inorganic material for example, 'ash' also dertmine the grade.

Grading standards are set by the International Organization for Standardization, with ISO 3632 being used only to describe saffron's colour intensity.

Location
Most saffron is grown in an area of land which streches from the Mediterranean to Kashmir. Around 300 tonnes of saffron are produced worldwide each year, with Iran having the largest harvest (94 percent of world production).

America, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Greece, Azerbaijan, India and China all produce saffron too, see map below:

N.B. the darker the colour red, the more saffron is grown (pink indicates very small quantities)

Saffron in Food
Saffron is widely used to flavour rice and meat dishes in Iranian (Persian), Arab, Central Asian, Pakistani, Indian and Turkish food, with various methods being used to extract the colour and flavour:

1 - toast; dry roast the saffron and then soak in warmed milk for about half an hour, but this can be extended to two hours. Infusion is then added to the dish
2 - soak; add saffron to warm water for about half an hour and then tip the entire contents into the food/dish
3 - add the stamens to the food directly.

"I must have saffron to colour the warden pies;

mace; dates? none, that's out of my note;

nutmegs, seven; a race or two of ginger,

but that I may beg;

four pound of prunes, and as many of raisins o' the sun."

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Act IV, scene III, 'The Winter's Tale'

Saffron Rice
2 cups basmati rice
1 teaspoon saffron threads + 3 tablespoons boiling water
6 tablespoons butter
several cinnamon sticks
1 cup finely chopped onion (fried until golden)
2 teaspoons salt
6 - 8 cardamoms, cracked open

Place the saffron in a small bowl and cover with 3 tablespoons of boiling water. Soak for 30 minutes.

Wash rice until the water runs clear {see wgaw: COOKING RICE CAN TAKE SOME TIME}, put in boiling water and wait until the rice is just past al-dente.

While the rice is cooking, saute the onions until they turn slightly brown (golden)

Boil the rice until it is almost soft, but has a slightly hard bit in the middle. Remove the rice from the ring and put in a sieve. Wash the rice with cold water to stop it cooking

Dry the saucepan and add butter, ghee or margarine to the bottom of the pan and put on the ring to warm. Add the cardamons, cinamon and the saffron and its soaking water

When the fat is melted, put the rice in the pan and warm on a low heat for an hour or so

Fluff and serve hot.

Saffron Tea
Tea is brewed as normal; tea is placed in a tea pot, however the smallest ammount of saffron is infused with the tea leaves. Brew for upto 20 minutes and pour into small glass tea cups, with sugar being added to taste. Leave the saffron threads in the liquid.

Storing Saffron
Because saffron is sensitive to light and moisture it should be stored in a container away from sunlight. Saffron easily absorbs other flavors and odours - be sure to clean any container before you use it to store saffron.

Historical Uses of Saffron
Saffron-based pigments were used as dyes and have been found in 50,000 year-old cave paintings in in Iran and Iraq. Saffron has also been used as a fabric dye; Buddhist monks in India adopted saffron-coloured robes. However, the robes were not dyed with costly saffron but turmeric, a less expensive dye, or jackfruit.

Saffron threads would be scattered across beds and mixed into hot teas as a curative for bouts of melancholy. Historically, saffron's use as a drugging agent and aphrodisiac were feared.

During his Asian campaigns, Alexander the Great used saffron in his baths as a curative for battle wounds. Alexander's troops imitated the practice
Medicinally saffron has long been part of the traditional healing tradition; Sumerians used saffron in their remedies and magical potions.

Apparently modern medicine uses saffron as both an anticarcinogenic (cancer-suppressing) agent, as well as an anti-mutagenic (mutation-preventing). Early studies show that saffron may protect the eyes from retinal stress and slow down macular degeneration.

Saffron Translated
Arabic 'Zaferan'
Farsi 'Zefrun' (in Persian,'zarparan' means a flower with a stigma which has a value equvialent to gold)
French 'Safrane'
Indian 'Zuffron'
Italian 'Zaferano'
Spanish 'Azafran'
Tamil 'Gnaazhal poo'
Turkish 'Zefrun'

Hajj 1953 - around Jeddah

2011-01-06T18:30:00.001+03:00

Here is the final set of photographs from the July 1953 edition of the National Geographic magazine, showing areas of Jeddah during the Hajj

Hajj 1953 - Praying

2011-01-02T17:32:00.001+03:00

Again, more images from the National Geographic from 1953. This time the photos show images of pilgrims praying in Mecca. I've also included a National Geographic video from YouTube which explains what happens when a person goes on the Hajj {see wgaw: HAJJ}.

A Muslim man who has completed the obligatory Hajj is known as Hajji [Haj-jee] whilst a Muslim woman is known as Hajjia [haj-jee-ah]

Hajj 1953 - Pilgrims

2010-12-26T15:07:00.000+03:00

Here are some more photos from the 1953, courtesy of the National Geographic Magazine. This time they focus on the pilgrims:

Hajj 1953 - transportation

2010-12-23T17:18:00.001+03:00

The following photos, depicting the Hajj, are supposed to have been published in the National Geographic Magazine during 1953.

There's quite a few of them, so I've seperated them into various different topics and will post over the next week or so. This post deals with transportation:

The Koran, from a Western Perspective

2010-12-20T19:49:00.001+03:00

Lesley Hazleton is a British-American writer whose work focuses on the politics, religion, and history of the Middle East.

Here are her thoughts on the Quran or Koran:

Hazleton was born in England, and became a United States citizen in 1994. She was based in Jerusalem from 1966 to 1979 and in New York City from 1979 to 1992, when she moved to her current home in Seattle WA.

She has described herself as, "a Jew who once seriously considered becoming a rabbi, a former convent schoolgirl who daydreamed about being a nun, an agnostic with a deep sense of religious mystery though no affinity for organized religion".

She blogst at: THE ACCIDENTAL THELOLOGIST and is currently working on a new biography of Muhammad, to be published by Riverhead/Viking in 2012.

We no Speak Americano ...

2010-12-03T23:29:00.002+03:00

Here are some Saudi men dancing a dance known as Ar-dahh:

Wives of the Prophet Mohammed

2010-10-14T22:25:00.003+03:00

For many years I had heard the Prophet Muhamed had several wives, but I was never sure how many and was very unaware of the details surrounding this fact.

Having recently posted: MASS WEDDINGS in which the speaker (see 1:05) suggests the Prophet Mohammed married Aisha when she was 6 and consumated the marriage when she was aged 9, I thought I would check this out further (it appears to be true).

However discussing his marriage to Aisha is not the purpose of this posting - the aim is to simply list the names of the Prophet's wives - for those of us who are unsure about whom he married and in which order:

1 -Khadija bint Khawilad (aged 40, twice widowed before)

2 - Sauda bint Zama (aged 50, widow)

3 - Aisha bint Abu Bakr (aged 9)

4 - Hafsa bint Umar bin Khattab (aged 22, widow)

5 - Zainab bint Khuzaima (aged 30?)

5 - Umm-I-Salma bint Abu Umayia (aged 26, widow)

6 - Zainab Bint Jahash (aged 38, widow)

7 - Juwaeria Bint Harith (aged 20, widow)

8 - Umm-I-Habiba bint Abu Sufyan (aged 36, widow)

9 - Marya Qibtiya bint Shamun (aged 17, Egyptian)

10 - Safia bint Hayi bin Akhtab (aged 17, widow)

11 - Raihana bint Umru bin Hanafa (no details given)

12 - Maimuna bint Harith (aged 36, widow)

Here are some relevant Koranic quotes regarding marriage:

4:3
"And if you be apprehensive that you will not be able to do justice to the orphans, you may marry two or three or four women whom you choose. But if you apprehend that you might not be able to do justice to them, then marry only one wife, or marry those who have fallen in your possession."

33:52
"It is not lawful for thee (to marry more) women after this, nor to change them for (other) wives, even though their beauty attract thee, except any thy right hand should possess (as hand maidens) and Allah doth watch over all things."

33:53
"Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy God's Apostle, or that ye should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in God's sight an enormity."

Ben Affleck Defends Arabs

2010-09-25T15:18:00.002+03:00

Interesting to see Ben getting so animated ...

Driving in Saudi - Ladies and Gents Lane

2010-09-22T15:30:00.002+03:00

The Key Difference Between Europe and the Arab World

2010-09-20T08:07:00.003+03:00

Syrian poet, Adonis explains from his point of view the key differences between Arab and European thinking. Posted because it's an interesting viewpoint and there appear to be very few Arab public thoughts on this subject.

Basboosa - Semolina Cake

2010-09-13T00:23:00.002+03:00

Basboosa [bas-boo-sa] or semolina cake is a classic sweet found across the Arab world. This particular recipe is based upon one taken from the recently published, 'Sweets of Arabia', by Egyptian sweet maker Osama El Sayed and which is published by E L Sage Associates, in VL, USA (ISBN: 9780615384184).

I've changed the recipe given by Osama into my own version of this classic Middle-Eastern sweet (indicated by the words, 'suggest' or 'rather than'). I've also changed the quantities for the ingredients into metric as the American cup system didn't seem to make any sense (I had no idea what a cup was/is, in quantity terms).

Ingredients
butter for greasing cake pan
168g [6oz, or 3/4 cup] milk (suggest substituting milk for coconut milk, according to taste)
61 g [2.15 oz, or 1/4 cup] plain yogurt
350g [12.25 oz, or 1 3/4 cups] sugar (suggest substituting some for vanilla sugar)
400g semolina [15 oz, or 2 1/2 cups] semolina flour (suggest using semolina grains for texture)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla essence (rather than the 1/2 teaspoon suggested)
100g [11 oz, or 1/3 cup] melted, clarfied butter/ghee (rather than the 1/2 cup suggested)
1 1/2 cups candided fruit (suggest adding orange zest too if making the orange flavoured version)
31g [1.1 oz, or 1/3 cup] shredded coconut (suggest using desiccated coconut for texture)

As an Alternative
1 - suggest slivered almonds and apricots for topping
2 - suggest using orange flavouring, instead of vanilla
3 - suggest adding a tiny ammount of turmeric or saffron to colour the cake
4 - a savory Indian version can be made of the cake using grated carrots, peas, green beans, grated ginger, cumin seeds, mustard seeds and sesame seeds

Methodology
Preheat the oven to 180 deg C or 350 deg F. Grease a cake pan of choice (8"x12" or individual mini-muffin cups. Warm the ghee in a saucepan so it melts, but doesn't boil.

In a large bowl combine the milk and sugar, stir together to disolve the sugar completely (suggest using an electric mixer). In another bowl, mix the yogurt and baking soda together and leave until the yogurt has doubled in size.

Add the semolina flour and vanilla to the milk and sugar mix and stir until well combined (again, suggest using an electric mixer). Stir in the melted clarified butter/ghee and mix until smooth.

Add the yogurt and baking soda mix to the semolina, milk and sugar mix and combine. Then add the candied fruits and cocount and mix well.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, ensuring the top surface is smooth. (suggest the depth of the batter is no more than 1" thick - the traditional way).

If using the 8x12 pan bake for 35 mins, if making mini muffins bake for 20 mins or until golden brown.

remove cake pans from oven and cool. Do not remove cake from tin until cool. If using the 8"x12" tin, cut in to diamond shapes. Remove from pan, place on plate and place slivered almonds and or apricots on top. If making the orange version, suggest placing slivered candided oranges on top.

This particular recipe tastes far better on day 2 or 3, rather than being eaten hot straight from the oven.

Arabic Shortbread

2010-08-24T20:45:00.000+03:00

Nochodchi [no-cho-chee] is chickpea flour made into something very similar to Scottish shortbread. So, Arabic Shortbread if you will.

You'll need chickpea flour,

and icing sugar,

as well as cardamon to taste, butter to bind and split pistachios for texture and colour. Mix all four ingredients together

and then roll up into a long sausage and put it in the fridge for up to six hours:

After it has rested find the cookie cutter,

unwrap the cold sausage of chickpea flour,

and make your cookies:

Bake them in a preheated oven 160 deg C for 30 mins and et voila, chickpea shortbread:

Trifle, with Arabic Influences 2.0

2010-08-20T08:46:00.002+03:00

Following last week's Ramadan trifle recipe which wasn't a wonderful success {see wgaw archive: TRIFLE WITH ARABIC INFLUENCES}, I decided to make a different version of the trifle, 2.0.

This week it's with lemon jelly, so a sweet and a not-so-sweet combination. I'm still not completely happy with this version, but it was definately edible and come back for more. Will update later with version 2.1.

I used lemon jelly and dream whip

I soaked the vermicilli in rose syrup and made the pieces of vermicilli smaller with a potato masher,

then I mixed crushed lychees with lemon peel and layered them on top of the lemon jelly,

Then I added the dream whip and covered the trifle with pistach and saffron,

Ramadan Kareem

2010-08-18T13:24:00.002+03:00

Here's a picture of the sun setting, as we're going to the family house for iftar [if-tar] {see wgaw archive: IFTAR}. Iftar is the meal which is eaten to break the day-long fast during Ramadan {see wgaw archives: RAMADAN}.

Mass Weddings

2010-08-16T08:50:00.005+03:00

Not from the GCC, but the Arab world. Mass weddings in Gaza with adult men and child brides,

Somehow the video somehow didn't ring true ... this is what HOAX SLAYER says about the video:

Claims that 450 pre-pubescent girls were married in a mass wedding sponsored by Hamas are untrue
Messages like the example included above are currently circulating via email and have also been posted to a great many blogs, online forums and social networks around the world, where they have generated a flood of often vitriolic anti-Islamic sentiment and very heated debate.

The messages claim that hundreds of pre-pubescent girls were forced to marry adult grooms in a recent mass wedding ceremony in Gaza organized by Palestinian Islamic organization, Hamas. According to the messages, 450 brides, most of whom were under ten years old, were married to 450 grooms most of whom were in their mid to late twenties. The messages accuse Hamas of actively and willfully promoting pedophilia and condemn the act as "bizarre & shameful".

Support for these claims is centered around several photographs supposedly showing tiny "brides" dressed all in white and holding the hands of their much taller, grown-up "grooms". However, while a mass wedding did indeed take place in Gaza in July 2009, the claim that the photographed children were actually the brides in the ceremony is untrue.

These photographs represent virtually the entire "body of evidence" that supports the claims in these indignant protest messages. However, this supposed photographic "evidence" is in fact meaningless because they do not actually depict child brides at all. Instead, they show young family members of either the bride or the groom. At such Muslim wedding ceremonies, it is a tradition for young girls to dress up and play a role in the celebrations in a way similar to how flower girls are used in Western wedding ceremonies. Although these young girls do look like little brides, they are certainly not the ones getting married.

Hamas has vehemently denied that any children were married at the event. In fact, a Hamas official told WorldNetDaily that the youngest girl married at the ceremony was 16 years old while most were over 18 years of age.

These scurrilous and inflammatory reports began circulating soon after the Hamas sponsored mass-wedding took place. A 30 July 2009 AFP news article notes:
Nearly a thousand Palestinians celebrated marriage on Thursday night in a ceremony organized by Hamas in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas dignitaries including Mahmud Zahar, one of the militant group's top leaders, were on hand to congratulate 450 grooms who took part in the carefully stage-managed event.

"We are saying to the world and to America that you cannot deny us joy and happiness," Zahar told the men, all of whom were dressed in identical black suits and hailed from the nearby Jabalia refugee camp.

Each groom received a present of $500 from Hamas, which said its workers had also contributed five per cent of their monthly salaries to add to the wedding gift.

Much has been made of the fact that no photographs of the real brides have made it into news reports about the event. This seeming omission has been seized upon by many commentators as more evidence that the children in the photographs really are the brides in spite of denials by Hamas and others.

However, the absence of the brides is in fact just a reflection of how Muslim public ceremonies are conducted. News reports indicate that "the 450 brides shared none of the glamour, taking seats among the audience" while their grooms actively participated in event ceremonies.

And a SkyNews video report about the mass wedding notes in reference to the brides that "The women are elsewhere". Tim Marshall, the journalist who presented the SkyNews video, was actually there at the mass wedding ceremony. In a blog post about his attendance, Marshall reiterates that the brides were elsewhere, noting that some of them were among the guests. He also writes:

The men and women are sitting, Most ignore the speeches, some even ignore the prayers. Then the fireworks explode, the cheering begins, and in march the Hamas scouts, bashing drums, looking every inch the future Hamas fighters many will be. Then the grooms, aged about 18 to about 28. They are holding hands with their young nieces and cousins, little girls aged from about 3 to 8, made up to the nines, wearing white wedding dresses.

Up they all go to the stage, the cheering and music grows ever louder. The girls were having the time of their lives, but, getting a little bored after a while, came down off the stage to dance with each other and play games.

Our report on this put it into context saying that it took place just a mile from the Israeli border and was a message from Hamas about its strength confidence and future fighters. Oh and that the brides were elsewhere. Pretty straightforward. It never struck me for a moment that the little girls might later be described in the bloggersphere as the brides! How naive I am.

Moreover, the 2009 mass-wedding is not at all unprecedented. An October 2008 New York Times article reporting on a Hamas sponsored mass wedding held in that year, notes that it was the tenth such event held in Gaza. The article also mirrors reports about the 2009 event, noting:

The 300 grooms were dressed in black pants, white shirts and colorful ties but no jackets, because of recent budget cuts. The brides, sitting separately among the women, wore head scarves and black robes over their evening dresses but were easily spotted by their heavy makeup. The couples had all signed marriage contracts before the event.

Ironically, reports about the 2008 event also featured photographs of young girls clad in white bride-like dresses. The New York Times article shows such youngsters dancing in front of the grooms. Apparently, the poison-pen denizens of the blogosphere saw no reason to conclude that the children in photographs of the 2008 mass wedding were actually the brides, so one wonders why they have so rabidly done so in 2009.

Perhaps the 2009 images are a little more compelling and it is, I suppose, at least possible that whoever first perpetrated these inflammatory falsehoods did so out of genuine misunderstanding. What is less forgivable - "bizarre & shameful" even - is that many hundreds of bloggers have gleefully perpetrated such errant nonsense in their publications without taking the few minutes required to check the veracity of its claims.

While free speech is (or should be) a fundamental human right, perhaps even home-based citizen journalists should take at least some responsibility in ensuring that the information they publish is factual and accurate

Trifle, with Arabic Influences

2010-08-15T08:19:00.001+03:00

I had decided a while back I wanted to make a Trifle with an Arabic twist. This is a work in progress and having made Version 1.0 which wasn't fantastic, there are various other options in my head now waiting to be made (with custard, with fresh mangoes, with cardamons, etc., etc.).

The Bottom Layer
I cut lots of legimart {see wgaw archive: legimart} into small pieces, using scissors and soaked them in date syrup,

Once the legimart had soaked up the juices for half an hour or so, they were put in the trifle serving bowl and covered with strawberry jelly. This was put in the fridge to harden, and then covered with tinned fruit.

The Top Layer
The strawberry jelly mixture was covered with saffron-flavoured creme caramel,

When the creme caramel was hardened, pistash and saffron were sprinkled on top. The finished trifle looked like this,

Pakistan Appeal

2010-08-12T10:01:00.003+03:00

Dear Friends,

We are trying to ship used clothes (good condition only) from Bahrain to Pakistan for flood victims.

Gulf Air has graciously accepted to provide free cargo service from Bahrain to Islamabad. We have arranged the collection and distribution in the area worst affected by the recent floods.

In this regard we require the following:

· Ladies Shalwar Kameez
· Ladies Dupata and Chaddar
· Gents Shalwar Kameez
· Children clothes both girls and boys
· Shawls
· Bed Sheets (single and double)
· Utensils only plastic, melamine or aluminum

Due to limitation of time and to save time in sorting ,we will appreciate the following:

· Only above mentioned items are donated;
· The clothes are packed and folded in plastic bags clearly mentioning the clothes in above categories
· Please also provide hard board cartons if clothes are in large quantities
· The clothes can be dropped at the following address from Thursday 12 August 2010 to Sunday 15 August 2010 (Please note the items will be shipped by 17th August 2010):

· House Number 649,Road 1720, Sar 0517. Contact (Mansoora 39266286, Faiqa 17793898)
· Villa Number 5 & 8- Noor Garden Barbar Contact (Tehmina 39188094, Madiha 37774880)
· House Number 1161,Road 6025,Block 360, Zinj (Shaima 39669798)

For any information or clarification, please contact the following:

· Mohammed Haroon 39453561
· Hussain Lalani 39440314
· Rehan Ashraf -39935581
· Saad Asghar Ali - 39441626

Please spread the word and contribute generously for this humane effort.

Legimart

2010-08-09T12:19:00.002+03:00

I first had legimart [legg-ee-maart] several years ago whilst driving through a village, two weeks before RAMADAN [ram-a-dan].

It was Nasfat Shaaban [nass-fat sha'AH baan] (direct translation: middle of month eight) and villagers lined the middle of the road, all holding the most enormous oblong plates covered with what looked like doughnut holes. All drivers were being stopped and asked to wind down their windows so the occupants could be given one of these little round balls,

I put one in my mouth and was blown away by the taste. It was the first time I'd ever had date syrup and here it was hot, covering deep-fried, doughy bits. Divine. We drove along slowly through the village and by the time we'd gotten to the end of the village I was asking my husband to return to the village for more.

I've been buying date syrup ever since and now use it with all sorts of food: salad dressings, ice cream toppings, in cakes instead of black treacle, on pancakes, etc. etc.

Sofas? Banned for Women

2010-07-23T12:25:00.003+03:00

Just sent to my inbox this morning ...

The latest FATWA: women are not allowed to sit on sofa because they get relaxed and they may open their legs while relaxing and this will seduce the male in the room…..

28th July - update
this was written by a woman

اخر فتاوي :الجلوس على الكرسي حرام

الى اي مستوى قد ينزل التفكير ؟؟ والى اي مستوى نصل بالدين الى حد الأضحوكة
كان الرسول الاكرم وصحابته الكرام يجلسون على المنبر

فتوى (تحريم الجلوس على الكراسي) التي أصدرتها الدَّاعية أم أنس، على موقعها الإليكتروني، بعنوان (تنبيه إلى حرمة الكراسي وما أشبهها من مقاعد وأرائك، والله أكبر) وإليكم نص الفتوى:
"إن من أخطر المفاسد التي بُليت بها أمتنا العظيمة ما يُسمَّى بالكرسي، وما يشبهه من الكنبات وخلافها، ممَّا هو شرٌّ عظيم يخرج من الملة كما يخرج السَّهم من الرَّمية . و إن السَّلف الصالح وأوائل هذه الأمَّة، وهم خير خلق الله، كانوا يجلسون على الأرض، ولم يستخدموا الكراسي، ولم يجلسوا عليها، ولو فيها خير لفعله حبيبي، وقرة قلبي، وروح فؤادي، المصطفى عليه الصلاة والسَّلام ومن تبعه بإحسان. و إن هذه الكراسي وما شابهها صناعة غربيَّة، وفي استخدامها والإعجاب بها ما يوحي بالإعجاب بصانعها وهم الغرب، وهذا، والعياذ بالله، يهدم ركناً عظيماً من الإسلام وهو الولاء والبراء، نسأل اللــــه العافية . الأمر جلل يا أمَّة الإسلام، فكيف نرضى بالغرب ونعجب بهم وهم العدو . و ما يجلبه الكرسي أو الأريكة من راحة تجعل الجَّالس يسترخي، والمرأة تفتح رجليها، وفي هذا مدعاة للفتنة والتبرُّج، فالمرأة بهذا العمل، تمكن الرَّجل من نفسها لينكحها، وقد يكون الرَّجل من الجّنّ أو الإنس، والغالب أن الجّن ينكحون النساء وهنَّ على الكراسي. وكم من مرَّة شعرت المرأة بالهيجان والشَّبق الجّنسي المحرَّم، وذلك بعد جلوسها على الكرسي. ولكَمْ من مرَّة وجدت المرأة روائح قذرة في فرجها كما خبرت وكما حدثتني بذلك بعض الصَّالحات، التائبات من الجُّلوس على الكراسي، لذلك فالجُّلوس على الكرسي رذيلة وزنا لا شبهة فيه . و الجلوس على الأرض يُذكر المسلم بخالق الأرض وهذا يزيد في التعبُّد، والتهجُّد، والإقرار بعظمته سبحانه "

Fat Arabs: it's official

2010-07-17T10:39:00.002+03:00

When I last visited America I was amazed at how slim everyone seemed to be. At the time I put it down to being in San Fransico and being surrounded by a city of people who were simply healthy. But then I got to Florida and it was the same.

I couldn't imagine, from everything I'd read and heard about America, the people I saw in the street were slimmer on average than the people I saw in the street in the Gulf. Basically I didn't believe what I was seeing.

Turns out I was right; many Americans are slimmer, on average, than Gulfies.

Each year the Economist publishes figures which include the percentage spending of GDP on health care, average figures for literacy and clean water supplies, as well as a list of the levels of obesity.

Scarily, of the top 9 places in this particular award, 4 members of the GCC make an appearance. Only Oman and the UAE are not mentioned. Thanks to LONDONGIRL for highlighting this idea.

The cartoon below highlights changes in dress sizes before and after marriage:

Places were given as follows:

10th Place: Cyprus

Joint 8th: Bahrain
About 1 million people live in Bahrain, of which it is said 23.3% of men are obese and 34.1% of women. Overall it is thought 28.7% of the adult population is obese.

Joint 8th: Kuwait
With a population of around 4 million, it is said 28.7% of Kuwaitis are obese. 29.9% of all women have a BMI of 30 or more, compared with 27.5% of men.

7th Place: Albania

6th Place: Mexico

5th Place: Panama

4th Place: USA

3rd Place: Saudi Arabia
Population is estimated to be around 25 million people. Of these, 35.2% of adults are obese; 26.4% men and 44% women.

2nd Place: Lebanon

1st Place: Qatar
Qatar's estimated 1.5 million citizens very large indeed; 39.95% of adults are obese. 34.6% of men have a BMI of over 30 and nearly half of all women; 45.3% are obese.

How loud can you Shout?

2010-07-08T04:35:00.001+03:00

We're in the middle of nowhere in Thailand and ahead of us are two men shouting into a public phone.

Seriously, they would have given a vuvuzela a run for its money. I turned to my husband and said, "They must be Arabs" . As we came up close enough to the two gentlemen to work out where they were from, it turned out they were Arabs.

After 25 years of observation, the theory with shouting appears to be, 'the louder I shout the more likely it is I'm going to get my own way. If the person being shouted out does not give me what I want I will shout louder and louder, and louder and louder, in a cresending noise until the other person bows to my wishes'.

At times it's like being sprayed with verbal paint stripper. And hense the vuvuzela on the phone outside this rural 7-11 coldstore.

Sure enough, as we walked up to the two men ahead of us we could translate the almost visible wall of screams. The Bahraini wanted the bank to send him, immediately, now, not tomorrow, not yesterday, but NOW, "arr-baa-a wa kham-seen alf dollar".

Dressed for the World Cup?

2010-07-03T06:19:00.001+03:00

Not sure if this is photoshop or for real, but in honour of the world cup, these three photos are doing the rounds:

Gift Giving

2010-07-01T17:03:00.001+03:00

Gift giving can be a cross cultural nightmare; in the Arab world gifts are generous, large and given as often as possible.

Basic Overview
Gifts are always given when you go to someone's house, or visit someone in hospital. Sensible things to bring with you are flowers and/or chocolates and generiosity is the order of the day. Gifts are never given at weddings, but on return from honeymoon women will be expected to go around to the bride's house and present her with jewellery, gold preferably.

When a gift is given, the receiver will thank the giver but will never unwrap it in front of them.

Personal Recollection
My friend was at a loss as to how he could get visas for his holiday, the embassy was in a different country and getting them there with DHL was possible, but lots of hassle. I offered to take them with me as I was visiting the country three days later.

Having taken the passports with me and deposited them at the embassy, I arrived at work the next day to find the biggest gift I have ever seen on my desk.
When I mentioned how large it was my friend said,
“You saved me lots of time and trouble and money, it’s a small gift for your house to thank you for all your trouble.”

I asked if I could open the present there and then, and he said, “You must”. Before I could start removing the wrapping paper he was tearing at it himself, helping me to undo the parcel. Inside were 12 wine goblets, and this was from a man who doesn’t drink.

In this case all the rules were broken, but it was a very unusual situation.

Always & Forever: The Downside - Divorce [ta-laQ]

2010-06-23T22:15:00.002+03:00

Talaq [taa-laQ] is the Islamic term for divorce and can be used by a man to end a marriage, but not by a woman. All the man needs to do to end a marriage is to say the word, "TalaQ" three times to his wife, with either no witnesses present (Sunni), or with two witnesses present (Shi'ite, Shia).

The woman has no come back and can not use the triple TalaQ should she wish to divorce {see wgaw: THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU MARRY and THINKING ABOUT DIVORCE} However I did read in the paper once of a woman who swore her husband said the triple TalaQ whilst he was asleep and they were forced to divorce.

Please note, if you marry with a Muttah there is no such thing as a divorce settlement, simply because it is not thought of as a 'real' marriage in the first place {see wgaw: MUTTA}

Getting Divorced
In the Islamic world there are two main formats when getting divorced; one for Shia's and another for Sunnis {see wgaw: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SUNNI & SHIITE}

Shia
For Shia's the divorce is publically announced after which the couple can reconcile if they wish, (it's expected they attempt to reconcile within three months of the divorce annoucement). once the three month waiting period is completed the divorce is completed, as long as two witnesses agree.

Sunni
The couple divorces the moment the husband declares a triple Ta-laQ. Islamic tradition maintains a waiting period of three months, or three menstrual cycles to ensure the ex-wife is not pregnant.

Once the divorce is finalised the couple may remarry up to three times. After the third divorce the wife must marry and then divorce another man before the couple can marry for a fourth time.

Minnie Mouse

2010-06-16T14:12:00.003+03:00

Arabic Make-up [mac-kee-arge]

2010-06-15T09:25:00.002+03:00

This round robin is entitled,
'Now I know why they Mention on the Wedding Invitation, No Children Allowed'
In addition to it being a bit over the top with the photoshop, it's difficult to imagine anyone not being invited to an Arabic Wedding (esp. children).

It's the lip liner I find most strange.

ماسألتم أ نفسكم في يوم من الأيام لماذا يكتبون في بطاقات دعوات الزواج
ممنوع اصطحاب الاطفال؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟
انا بصراحه الآن عرفت السبب انزل تحت وبتعرف السبب

هي حلوة شوي نص مصيبة

يع يع يع

يعني ما بيكفي علبة الألوان اللي زارعتها في عيونها

Why is the Weather so hot?

2010-06-11T09:41:00.004+03:00

This was recently sent this from a friend in Yemen; is the weather hot and humid because of the weather reporter?

مهم جداً ............ قارن بين المنطقة العربية و الاجنبية

جوه تجيب المطر وكل الخير والبركة على البلاد والعباد وتخليك تتابع نشرة الاحوال الجوية ؟؟؟

لهذه ألأسباب موجود خير وبركه بوجوههم

وشوف تحت الوجه ببلادنا مقدمين النشره

ووجوه تجيب الغبار؟ والرطوبه؟ والسخونة ؟ وانفلونزا الحمير؟؟؟

Death by Driving

2010-06-01T19:49:00.002+03:00

With just about everyone I know having lost someone in a road accident in Saudi Arabia (and we live in Bahrain) it comes as no surprise to find out Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of road accident deaths in the world.

However, Saudi Arabia is not the only GCC country with high death rates; Oman, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain have rates which are almost as high. Bahrain, for example, a country with just 1 million inhabitants looses one person every other day through road accidents. These are the only places in the world I've seen barriers installed across pavements as a matter of course to prevent people driving on them.

Someone once suggested the hideously bad driving might improve if it were labelled, 'A Jewish Plot to Kill Arabs'

Here's a great video which explains just how many thousands of people die each year on the roads in Saudi. Thank you and congratulations to Ala’a al-Maktoum for making such a thought provoking piece and to SAUDI JEANS for bringing it to my attention:

Bahrain's first sex shop owner appears in court

2010-05-29T13:06:00.003+03:00

The female owner of Bahrain’s first sex shop has appeared in court accused of insulting a Customs officer during an argument over the import of sex aids and games.

Khadija Ahmed denied the charge at Lower Criminal Court on Monday and the case was adjourned to September 15, according to a report in the Gulf Daily News.

The mother-of-three told the paper her shop is a legitimate business that also helps save marriages by putting excitement back into couple’s lives

I established the store to help married couples, because the issue most Bahraini couples suffer from is the lack of interest in their intimate relationship,” she told the paper.

Ahmed opened Khadija Fashion House in 2008 selling lingerie, sex aids and games to a loyal and increasing customer base.

She has faced issues with Customs officials over some of the products she tried to import that they said were not authorised.

"The products I sell don't go against Islam. There is nothing that prohibits married couples from enjoying their sex lives, or preventing them from having a happy marriage," she told the paper.

"Customs staff confiscated some of my products, even though some are widely available in pharmacies and other stores.”

For the actual articles see:
arabianbusiness
maktoob.com

Kamaradeen & Apricots

2010-05-14T01:23:00.002+03:00

Apricots [mish-mish] are a classic Middle Eastern taste and packets of dried apricots are sold like this,

Kamaradine [cam-a-rra-deen]
Another way of eating apricots is is an apricot juice drunk in Ramadan. Around Ramadan time you’ll see bright orange flat packets with pictures of apricots on the front in supermarkets. This is how you buy kamaradine. Once you get the paste home you break of a piece and put it in hot water so it dilutes with the water. Once it has collapsed it is mixed with your hands until the liquid is smooth. Kamaradine is only drunk in Ramadan, although you can buy the pulp in supermarkets throughout the year and is delicious eaten raw, as a sweet.

I make this recipe with apricots and then add it to plain yogurt or breakfast cereal:

250g dried apricots
2 cups peach juice, or cocktail juice
6 cardamoms
4 pieces of cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
6-8 cloves
4 stamens of saffron

All items are put into a saucepan and cooked on a very low heat for one or two hours, or until the dried apricots are softened. Remove from the heat, put in a container and add to dishes as you wish.

Habaytak Bisayf

2010-01-31T22:20:00.001+03:00

Fayrooz, possibly the most famous Lebanese singer of all time, singing her most famous song, Habaytak Bisayf [ha-bay-tik bee-safe]:

When she played in Bahrain two years ago the tickets sold out in 5 minutes.

Oh to Visit Bahrain, now that Winter's here

2010-01-26T20:52:00.000+03:00

Today's blog posting is taken directly from Saturday's Gulf Daily News, the English language newspaper in Bahrain:

"Royal Caribbean International, a leading company in cruise tourism, has expressed dissatisfaction as its largest cruise ship, Brilliance of the Seas, docked at the Khalifa bin Salman Port yesterday.

Royal Caribbean officials said there was a big melee as taxi drivers rushed madly upon tourists as they reached the port's main gate. They demanded exorbitant fares ranging between $300 and $400 ~it takes 10 minutes~ to take them to Manama for shopping, reports Akhbar Al Khaleej.

Company administrative director Abdulaziz Al Oshban said more than 50 tourists went back to the ship and refused to visit Manama for fear of being exploited.

Bahrain-based company agent Ali Al Qaidi said the incident had created a bad impression about Bahrain, particularly after the captain and crew were denied entry to Bahrain like tourists, a common practice in all Gulf countries the ship had visited.

What made things worse was the way Culture and Information Ministry's Tourism Sector Under-Secretary Ahmed Al Nawakhida welcomed the management of the world's largest cruise tourism company, dressed casually in jeans and T-shirt, reflecting carelessness and indifference, adds Akhbar Al Khaleej.

Nothing to pay on the Phone Bill this Month

2010-01-24T10:37:00.001+03:00

This month, January 2010, it seems there will be no telephone bills issued in Saudi Arabia. The government had removed the previous IT co-ordinating company and apparently before they left a bug was planted in to the system.

People whose bills were normally about US$ 50 a month received bills of US$ 800 and those with bills of US$ 800 recieved bills for US$ 50. This applies to an entire country with 20 million mobile lines, (2007 figures); and 3 million land lines, (2002 figures).

To sort out the mess, no telephone bills will be issued for January 2010 and apparently the entire nation is sending each other endless video text messages for free.

Multiple Marriages

2010-01-22T11:54:00.002+03:00

Islam permits a man to marry up to four wives. This custom still occurs and (as a generalisation) many families will have at least one man who has two or more wives.

This practice is endorsed by the Koran (4:2 & 4:3) which says,
“Give orphans the property which belongs to them. Do not exchange their valuables of worthless things or cheat them of their possessions; for this would surely be a great sin. If you fear that you cannot treat orphan (girls) with fairness, then you may marry other women who seem good to you; two, three or four of them. But if you fear that you cannot maintain equality among them, marry one only or any slave-girls you may own. This will make it easier for you to avoid injustice.”

I remember watching one man who had two wives being shuttled between the two houses and feeling sorry for him; I couldn't imagine what it must be like to have no where he could call his own home. That was my European perspective on his situation, he seemed genuinely happy with the situation ...

Example
The following poetry quote is about the difficulty of taking more than one wife and comes from, ‘The Perfumed Garden’. This is an Arabic erotic book which is thought to have been written in the 1500’s and translated into English by the explorer Richard Burton in the late 1800’s.

“By reason of my ignorance I have married two wives - and why do you complain, O husband of two wives? I said to myself, I shall be like a lamb between them; I shall take my pleasure upon the bosoms of my two sheep, and I have become like a ram between two female jackals, days follow upon days, and nights upon nights, and their yoke bears me down during both days and nights. If I am kind to one, the other gets vexed. And so I cannot escape from these two furies. If you want to live well and with a free heart, and with your hands unclenched, then do not marry. If you must wed, then marry one wife only: One alone is enough to satisfy two armies.”

Urban Legend
Two Saudi women married to the same man and living in the same house, lived next door to another couple and had become friends with the wife. When next door neighbour died the woman begged their husband to marry the neighbour’s widow. After some discussion and thought their husband agreed and so did the widow next door and now all three live together in one house.

How to Find a Marriage Partner

2010-01-15T10:28:00.001+03:00

Within the Arab world there are at least five different methods of finding a marriage partner; arranged, search, dial-a-bride, hourly and love.

Having written about the hourly /daily/weekly/monthly marriages in an earlier post {see wgaw blog archive: misiyar} this post describes four other ways of finding a partner.

1. Arranged Marriages
An arranged marriage occurs when the parents of the bride and groom decide their offspring are old enough to get married. With this system the children have no say in the process what-so-ever and it is precisely this lack of choice which makes it an arranged marriage.

Should the bride or groom be asked what they want, or who they want, then it’s no longer an arranged marriage. The Arabic saying [as s-qoot al-a-mat al il-red-ha] translates as, ‘your silence is a symbol of your acceptance’ comes from the expectation a girl will remain quiet if she decides she wants to marry the man offered to her by her family.

2. Search Marriages
Search marriages occur when someone decides they want to get married and enlist the help of their parents, or a matchmaking friend, to help search for a suitable partner.

The person wanting to get married announces they are ready to get married and are looking for someone. This is quite a common place event and I’ve often been asked if I know of anyone. It is at this point that the matchmakers start looking in earnest for a suitable person.

The matchmakers all have a network of people they use to find a possible match and this will include relatives and friends, their friend’s friends, and their friend’s friend’s friends. Once someone suitable has been found the couple start to get to know each, often over the telephone and this part serves as a useful catch all, even if the person is approved by all, it allows for a ‘spark’ to occur.

Whilst the couple are getting to know each other each family will be asking lots of questions about the other person’s family, the person themselves, their job and their aims and objectives in life. In many cases the person wanting to get married will reject three or four candidates before an acceptable mate is found.

3 – Dial-a-Bride
The dial-a-bride service is a recent innovation to the Gulf and started in Saudi a couple of years ago. It seems to be growing in popularity and this example below outlines the process someone goes through if they choose to take up dial-a-bride services;

“A new dial-a-bride service has been launched for the first time in Bahrain. It allows couples to find their match over the telephone. The service, called Marriage Line, will be supervised by Shari’a judges and clergymen. Users will be given a choice of partners - either a, b or c - and a meeting will be arranged by a committee. If the couple gets along they will be married according to normal procedures.

"This service will allow us to use new technology while abiding by Islamic rules and regulations. Everyone has the right to leave if not satisfied with their choice when they meet. No-one is forced to marry."

4. Love Marriages
Love marriages, those things we think of as marriage in the west, usually happen through the bride and groom meeting at work, or through studies at university.

Urban Legend
Two Saudi women married to the same man and living in the same house, lived next door to another couple and had become friends with the wife. When next door neighbour died the woman begged their husband to marry the neighbour’s widow. After some discussion and thought their husband agreed and so did the widow next door and now all three live together in one house.

Mr Smooth

2010-01-12T10:49:00.002+03:00

Meet Gulzar, the infamous traffic attendant at Bahrain City Centre. Previously a member of the Pakistani army, he now directs traffic with a, 'Gulzar Bow' and a smile:

Update: 18th January, 2010
Having just returned from visiting Japan and China, Gulzar's bows now seem a wee bit tame. We saw various policemen and women, at many of the large junctions, carrying out what could only be described as a, 'dance form' whilst directing the traffic.

Hussain al Jasmi

2010-01-09T10:02:00.003+03:00

Hussain al Jasmi, a Saudi national, often releases singles and at discos when his songs come on, the dance floor always fills up.

Love, love, love this:

These are the Camels That Sunbathe

2010-01-06T10:00:00.002+03:00

all say "aahhh"

Old Bahrain

2010-01-03T10:01:00.002+03:00

Here are some more photos of old Bahrain:

F1 & an Aeroplane

2010-01-01T10:58:00.001+03:00

This feels like a great Youtube video for the start of a new year:

'Alf Lyala wa Layla' or 1001 Nights

2009-12-27T10:41:00.006+03:00

Image taken from: this website
(if you click on the link you'll be able to hear the music from the film)

Today's post is simply a story: the start of the 1001 nights and a recalling of events which happened in Syria and Egypt between 1260 and 1517

It's thought the original stories were written in Sanskit about 1,000 years ago and were translated into Persian between 1100 and 1400 AD and then into Arabic. They were only translated into English about 120 years ago (Andrew Lang, 1898; Edward Lane, 1841 and Malcolm Lyons, 2008).

A full explanation of the history, translation and relevance can be found here For me it's simply the experience of reading and imagining or listening to someone telling a story which makes them so enchanting.

Image taken from: this website

1,001 Nights
In the chronicles of the ancient dynasty of the Sassanidae [sass-san-nee-day], who reigned for about four hundred years, from Persia to the borders of China, beyond the great river Ganges itself, we read the praises of one of the kings of this race, who was said to be the best monarch of his time.

His subjects loved him, and his neighbors feared him, and when he died he left his kingdom in a more prosperous and powerful condition than any king had done before him.

The two sons who survived him loved each other tenderly, and it was a real grief to the elder, Schahriar, [scar-ah-ha- ree-arr] that the laws of the empire forbade him to share his dominions with his brother Schahzeman [scar-haa-zee-man].

Indeed, after ten years, during which this state of things had not ceased to trouble him, Schahriar cut off the country of Great Tartary from the Persian Empire and made his brother king.

Now the Sultan Schahriar had a wife whom he loved more than all the world, and his greatest happiness was to surround her with splendour, and to give her the finest dresses and the most beautiful jewels.

It was therefore with the deepest shame and sorrow that he accidentally discovered, after several years, that she had deceived him completely, and her whole conduct turned out to have been so bad, that he felt himself obliged to carry out the law of the land, and order the grand-vizir to put her to death.

The blow was so heavy that his mind almost gave way, and he declared that he was quite sure that at bottom all women were as wicked as the sultana, if you could only find them out, and that the fewer the world contained the better.

Image taken from: this website

So every evening he married a fresh wife and had her strangled the following morning before the grand-vizir, whose duty it was to provide these unhappy brides for the Sultan. The poor man fulfilled his task with reluctance, but there was no escape, and every day saw a girl married and a wife dead.

This behaviour caused the greatest horror in the town, where nothing was heard but cries and lamentations. In one house was a father weeping for the loss of his daughter, in another perhaps a mother trembling for the fate of her child; and instead of the blessings that had formerly been heaped on the Sultan’s head, the air was now full of curses.

The grand-vizir himself was the father of two daughters, of whom the elder was called Scheherazade [sh-har-er-ree-zad], and the younger Dinarzade [dee-na-ra-zad].

Dinarzade had no particular gifts to distinguish her from other girls, but her sister was clever and courageous in the highest degree. Her father had given her the best masters in philosophy, medicine, history and the fine arts, and besides all this, her beauty excelled that of any girl in the kingdom of Persia.

Image taken from: this website

One day, when the grand-vizir was talking to his eldest daughter, who was his delight and pride, Scheherazade said to him,
“Father, I have a favour to ask of you. Will you grant it to me?”

“I can refuse you nothing,” replied he, “that is just and reasonable.”

“Then listen,” said Scheherazade.
“I am determined to stop this barbarous practice of the Sultan’s, and to deliver the girls and mothers from the awful fate that hangs over them.”

“It would be an excellent thing to do,” returned the grand-vizir,
“but how do you propose to accomplish it?”

“My father,” answered Scheherazade,
“it is you who have to provide the Sultan daily with a fresh wife, and I implore you, by all the affection you bear me, to allow the honour to fall upon me.”

“Have you lost your senses?” cried the grand-vizir, starting back in horror.
“What has put such a thing into your head? You ought to know by this time what it means to be the sultan’s bride!”

Image taken from: this website

“Yes, my father, I know it well,” replied she,
“and I am not afraid to think of it. If I fail, my death will be a glorious one, and if I succeed I shall have done a great service to my country.”

“It is of no use,” said the grand-vizir,
“I shall never consent. If the Sultan was to order me to plunge a dagger in your heart, I should have to obey. What a task for a father! Ah, if you do not fear death, fear at any rate the anguish you would cause me.”

“Once again, my father,” said Scheherazade,
“will you grant me what I ask?"

“What, are you still so obstinate?” exclaimed the grand-vizir.
“Why are you so resolved upon your own ruin?”

Image taken from: this website

But the maiden absolutely refused to attend to her father’s words, and at length, in despair, the grand-vizir was obliged to give way, and went sadly to the palace to tell the Sultan that the following evening he would bring him Scheherazade.

The Sultan received this news with the greatest astonishment.

“How have you made up your mind,” he asked,
“to sacrifice your own daughter to me?”

“Sire,” answered the grand-vizir,
“it is her own wish. Even the sad fate that awaits her could not hold her back.”

“Let there be no mistake, vizir,” said the Sultan.
“Remember you will have to take her life yourself. If you refuse, I swear that your head shall pay forfeit.”

“Sire,” returned the vizir.
“Whatever the cost, I will obey you. Though a father, I am also your subject.”

So the Sultan told the grand-vizir he might bring his daughter as soon as he liked.

The vizir took back this news to Scheherazade, who received it as if it had been the most pleasant thing in the world. She thanked her father warmly for yielding to her wishes, and, seeing him still bowed down with grief, told him that she hoped he would never repent having allowed her to marry the Sultan.

Then she went to prepare herself for the marriage, and begged that her sister Dinarzade should be sent for to speak to her.

Image taken from: this website

When they were alone, Scheherazade addressed her thus:

“My dear sister; I want your help in a very important affair. My father is going to take me to the palace to celebrate my marriage with the Sultan. When his Highness receives me, I shall beg him, as a last favour, to let you sleep in our chamber, so that I may have your company during the last night I am alive. If, as I hope, he grants me my wish, be sure that you wake me an hour before the dawn, and speak to me in these words:

“My sister, if you are not asleep, I beg you, before the sun rises, to tell me one of your charming stories. Then I shall begin, and I hope by this means to deliver the people from the terror that reigns over them.”

Dinarzade replied that she would do with pleasure what her sister wished.

When the usual hour arrived the grand-vizir conducted Scheherazade to the palace, and left her alone with the Sultan, who bade her raise her veil and was amazed at her beauty. But seeing her eyes full of tears, he asked what was the matter.

“Sire,” replied Scheherazade,
“I have a sister who loves me as tenderly as I love her. Grant me the favour of allowing her to sleep this night in the same room, as it is the last we shall be together.”

Schahriar consented to Scheherazade’s petition and Dinarzade was sent for.

Image taken from: this blog

An hour before daybreak Dinarzade awoke, and exclaimed, as she had promised,
“My dear sister, if you are not asleep, tell me I pray you, before the sun rises, one of your charming stories. It is the last time that I shall have the pleasure of hearing you.”

Scheherazade did not answer her sister, but turned to the Sultan.
“Will your highness permit me to do as my sister asks?” said she.

“Willingly,” he answered. So Scheherazade began ...

Lies and Damn Lies

2009-12-25T04:32:00.006+03:00

I think this one speaks for itself ....

Old Bahrain

2009-12-20T22:57:00.001+03:00

Camel Chocolate

2009-12-17T23:50:00.000+03:00

Before I ate this stuff I thought it sounded quite revolting. It turns out to be quite delicous.

Traditionally it is said that drinking camel milk increases your sex drive and with two camel dairy farms in the UAE, Al Nassma has launched a range of camel milk chocolate in 5 different flavored bars; Arabia (flavored with local spices) Dates, Macadamia Nut & Orange, 70% Cocoa and Whole Milk.

We've been lucky enough to try all the 5 flavours as well as the camel shaped chocolates:

and the small little squares:

Arabic - English Loan Words: T - Z

2009-12-15T10:53:00.002+03:00

Today completes the mini-series of words whose roots come from Arabia and which at one stage are said to have been borrowed, or loaned from Arabic.

All words in the list below start with the letters 'T', 'U', 'W' and 'Z'. Previous posts include 'A', 'B and C' 'D-G' 'H-M', 'N-R' and 'S' and all can be found under the subject/label 'English loan words (from Arabic) '

The words have been listed in alphabetical order and are followed by the root word in Arabic [xxx] and the Arabic meaning. On the line below is the meaning in English.

If I did need help with the English definition I used: 'The Oxford English Reference Dictionary' ISBN: 0-19-860046-1

T

Tabbouleh
An Arab vegetable salad made with cracked wheat

Tabby
al attabiya; the quarter in Baghdad where tabby was made
A kind of watered silk, a plain weave

Tahini
tahana; crush
The paste made from crushed sesame seeds

Talc
talk; talcum powder

Taliban
talib; student
Group of fundamental Muslim rebels subscribing to the Wahibi school of Islam

Tamarind
tamar-hindi; Indian date
Tropical tree which produced fruit of which the acid pulp is used as food and in making drinks

Tambour
tabour; a drum

Tambourine
A small tambour, from tabour

Tarboosh
tar-bus; head cover
A cap like a fez, sometimes worn by Muslim men as part of a turban

Tare
tarha; that which is rejected
An allowance made for the weight of the packing or wrapping around goods

Tariff
ta’rif; notify
A table of fixed charges

Tarragon
tarkhun;
a bushy aromatic herb, with leaves used to flavour salads, stuffing, vinegar, etc

Tell (mound)
tall; hillock
An artificial mound in the Middle East, formed by the accumulated remains of ancient settlements

Typhoon
tuphon; whirlwind
A tropical cyclone in eastern Asian sea

U

Ujamaa
jama; family, community
A system of self-help village cooperatives established by President Nyerere in Tanzania in the 1960’s

Ulema
ulima, plural of alama; learned
A body of Muslim doctors of sacred law and theology

V

Vega
al nasr al wqi; the falling vulture
The fifth brightest star in the sky, and the brightest in the constellation Lyra, overhead in summer to observers in the northern hemisphere

W

wazir
minister
A high official in some Muslim countries

Wadi
wadi; dry river
A rocky watercourse, dry except in the rainy season, many of which can be found in Oman

Z

Zenith
samt; path overhead
The part of the celestial sphere directly above an observer, the highest point in one’s fortune

Zero
sifr; zero
The figure nought

Zircon
A mineral from which the metal zirconium is extracted

Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf 2009 – 2010

2009-12-14T14:57:00.000+03:00

A survey on 'Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf 2009 – 2010' has just been released and can be read in full, here.

So, what can you expect will happen salary-wise, if you're still in work, in the Gulf?

*Around 12% of professionals in Bahrain have been made redundant this year
*Almost two-thirds of professionals in the Gulf did not get a pay rise this year
*Average pay rises in Bahrain dropped to 6.7% in 2009, from 10.5% last year
*Salaries in Bahrain are forecast to rise 6.4% in 2010
*Audit professionals enjoyed the highest average pay rise across the region.

It's Official; the World's Friendliest Country is Bahrain

2009-12-10T05:28:00.043+03:00

Oh my goodness. Bahrain is officially the world friendliest country according to this article published at the beginning of December 2009 by Forbes magazine.

World's Friendliest Countries
"The Middle East has long had a reputation for being one of the world's perennial trouble spots. But for expatriates, the tiny Persian Gulf county, Bahrain ranks as one of the most welcoming places to work.

That's the surprising result of a new survey of 3,100 expatriates conducted by HSBC Bank. Bahrain ranked first in one key measure of how easy it is for expatriates to set up a new life for their families. It received high marks from expats who like the country's easy access to modern health care, decent and affordable housing, and network of social groups that expatriates can join.

Canada, which ranked first in a similar survey last year, fell to second place on HSBC's integration score, which measures how easily foreigners and their families can settle into a new country. Australia, Thailand and Malaysia rounded out the top five. Foreign workers in these countries found it easy to make local friends and said they enjoyed a higher quality of life than in their native countries.

Rank	Country	Making Friends	Making Local Friends	Joining Community Groups	Organizing School For My Children	Organizing My Finances	Organizing My Health Care	Finding Somewhere To Live	Setting Up Utilities
1	Bahrain	5	20	1	5	3	1	2	4
2	Canada	11	2	3	6	7	8	5	2
3	Australia	10	6	9	7	1	7	11	5
4	Thailand	1	16	18	4	11	2	1	9
5	Malaysia	4	14	19	1	3	3	4	13
6	South Africa	6	2	8	3	14	6	3	14
7	Hong Kong	3	17	12	17	2	5	8	3
8	Singapore	7	18	24	13	6	4	13	1
9	Spain	12	8	13	18	10	9	7	8
10	United States	15	7	4	12	20	24	10

Behind the Numbers
HSBC's Expat Explorer survey was conducted between February and April 2009. Survey respondents were from the U.S., Europe and elsewhere and lived in more than two dozen countries and on four continents. They ranked their new homes based on 23 factors, including food, entertainment, health care, commute and education. Of those measures, HSBC selected eight to create its so-called "integration score," a snapshot of which countries are most welcoming to expats.

It is possible that Bahrain's first-place finish is a fluke. Only 31 expats working in Bahrain participated in the survey, vs. more than 450 respondents from the United Kingdom. Bahrain ranked as the best country to join local community groups and coordinate health care. Respondents found it less easy to make local friends and learn the languages (Arabic, Farsi and Urdu), but the country ranked in the top five when it came to finding a home, setting up finances, and finding good schools.

And the Winner of the Wooden Spoon is
The United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom received some of the poorest scores on the integration scale. Expats in the Emirates reported finding it difficult to join local community groups; only 39% of respondents made local friends compared to 76% of respondents living in other countries. Foreign workers in England complained about the challenges of finding affordable housing.

Methodology
The Expat Explorer survey was commissioned by HSBC Bank International and conducted by the research company FreshMinds. More than 3,100 expatriates were surveyed between February and April 2009. The respondents were asked to rate 23 factors related to their quality of life, including food, entertainment, transportation, health care, finances, education and their ability to make friends.

Each criterion is equally weighted to arrive at a score. The overall ranking is based on the average score for a country across the criteria.

Eight measures were also selected to comprise the integration score: organizing school for my children; organizing my finances; organizing my health care; finding somewhere to live; making friends; making local friends; setting up utilities; and joining local community groups. The integration score was used to determine the friendliest countries.

Two Dualing Ouds

2009-12-07T07:46:00.000+03:00

More oud today - somehow it seems to go with the downpours we're having here. For your listening pleasure Iraqi father (deceased) and son, Munir [mon-neer] and Omar [oh-marr] Bashir:

Some Pretty Good Oud

2009-12-05T08:27:00.002+03:00

It's been too long since I posted some Arabic music, so here's Abadi al Jawher [ah-baa-dee al jow-her] playing the oud.

He's a Yemeni-Saudi who was popular throughout the Gulf in the late 70s and early 80s:

Desert Rain: Floods in Jeddah

2009-12-02T11:04:00.006+03:00

Last week saw lots of rain in the Gulf and floods in Jeddah. Someone was kind enough to send me these photos. Can't quite believe this is what Jeddah looked like after the rain. Here's a full news article

When I was a kid I was fascinated when I was informed most people died in the desert from the rain. Now maybe I now know where or why that happens. This place is usually full of sand and doesn't see rain from one year to the next.

Update, Saturday 5th Dec:
113 people have died in Jeddah, as a direct result of the rains last week. The Saudi media writes about it here

If you are in Jeddah and can help out with home suplies, food, school supplies, clothing, home appliances and/or money please call Miss Rasha Hifzi: 054 163 9486.

They also need people with 4 wheel drives to help deliver the items. If you can help with this please call Miss Sumaya: 050 551 7277.

Red and Yellow and Pink and Green

2009-12-01T06:31:00.000+03:00

Abu Ali al-Hussain Ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina (980 - 1037), also known as Avicenna, a Persian physician and a disciple of Aristotle, connected the usage of colours and the ability to diagnose and treat patients a thousand years ago.

In his book the ‘Canon of Medicine’ which he wrote in Arabic (and which is thought to be the first ever encyclopaedia of medicine), he stated colour is an observable symptom of disease. With this thought in mind he developed a chart which related colour to temperament and the physical condition of the body.

Image taken from: this website

Avicenna also advocated the use of colour in medical treatments and insisted red moved the blood, blue or white cooled and yellow reduced pain and inflammation.

He prescribed potions of red flowers to cure blood disorders, yellow flowers and morning sunlight to cure disorders of the biliary system.

Image taken from: this website

Avicenna also warned of the possible dangers of colour in treatment. He observed that a person with a nosebleed, for example, should not gaze on anything of a brilliant red or be exposed to red light, as this would stimulate greater blood flow, whereas blue would soothe it by reducing blood flow.”

Avicenna didn't limit his knowledge to colour and is also thought to have discoved the contagious nature of tuberculosis and the spreading of diseases through water and soil and the idea that

Contemporary Meanings Behind Colours

Blue
masculine noun [az-rag]; feminine noun [zeer-ga]
In the Gulf there are two types of buildings which are always painted blue: the first one is the kabaz [ca-baz] or traditional unleavened bread shop and the second one is the sentry boxes, located outside important buildings, which are painted with blue and white stripes.

Image taken from: this blog

Navy Blue
masculine noun, [kuh-hul]; feminine noun, [khu-hul-lee-yah]
The Arabic world for navy blue comes from the word kohl, the eye-liner.

Black
masculine noun, [as-wad]; feminine noun, [soo-da]
Black is an ubiqutous colour in the gulf, with most local women choosing to wear black outer garments.

Brown
masculine noun, [bun-nee]; feminine noun, [bun-nee-yah]
Bunni comes from the word 'bunn' which means coffee beans.

Image taken from: this website

Gold
masculine noun, [DH-hab]; feminine noun, [DH-ha-bee]

Green
masculine noun, [ack-THarr]; feminine noun, Kh-Theer]
See {WGAW blog entry green}

Grey
masculine noun, [aa-marr-dee]; feminine noun, [ra-maa-dee-yah]

Orange
masculine noun, [boor-ta-gaa-lee]; feminine noun, [boor-ta-gaa-lee-yah]
This word comes from the word boor-taa-gaal which means orange (edible fruit).

Pink
masculine noun, [war-dee]; feminine noun, [war-dee-yah]

Purple
masculine noun, [ban-nuff-see-jee-y]; feminine noun, [ban-nuff-see-jee-ya]
The word for purple comes from the Arabic word meaning aubergine.

Rainbow
In Arabic a rainbow is called qasquza [kas-cu-za] with the direct translation being, ‘a bow made by the rain God Quza’. In pre-Islamic Arabia, Quza was known as the God of rain.

Image taken from: this blog

Red
masculine noun, [aH-marr]; feminine noun, [ha-marr]
As well as the word red, there are various words in Arabic which describe the differing grades or depths of red. They are in ascending order: ahmar, ashqar, aqshar, ashkal, sharq, madammay, madamah

In Arabic, tea without milk is known as red tea, not black tea [chi ah-marr]

Image taken from: this website

Silver
masculine noun, [fid-Dee]; feminine noun, [fid-Dee-yah]
Silver has an important role in the Arab world because the Prophet Mohammed, whilst holding gold in one hand and silk in the other, said, “These two are banned for men of my tribe.”

Turquoise
In Iran [fay-rooz] is the name of a turquoise stone mined. It's also the name of a (or the most) famous Lebanese singer, Fayrooz

Image taken from: this website

White
masculine noun, [aa-bee-Tha]; feminine noun, [aa-bee-Yad]
There are seven grades of white which begin at "discernable white" and continue to pure white'. abyad, yaqaq, lahq, wadih, nasi', hijan, khalis.

Arabic nouns which are white often have different names from simply the formulaic noun + name system of describing something, e.g. car red, house big. A white rose is known as a not as a war-dah bathe-tha. A white mountain is (not jeb-bel aa-bee-Yad) while a white stone is yarma. Likewise, for minerals, trees, fruit and animals, there are separate names when they are white. In addition a happy face is known as a white face.

Yellow
masculine noun, [As-faarr]; feminine noun, feminine noun, [si-farr-rrah]

Image taken from: this blog

More Saudi Driving

2009-11-29T05:41:00.000+03:00

What to say except watch this You Tube video ...

Vilence Against Women

2009-11-26T18:16:00.000+03:00

This landed in my in-box today:

Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) launch: Bahraini Civil Network to Combat Violence Against Women (BCNCVAW)

A PETITION urging authorities to introduce a family law and a labour law to stop violence against women and protect expatriate workers was launched by a Bahrain human rights group today.

More than 100 people have already signed the BHRWS petition, which specifically requests the protection of women and children.

The petition was launched by the BHRWS' Respect Movement on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Signatures will be collected until the end of the month and the petition will be presented to the UN, in Geneva. It will also be sent to the UN Human Rights Commission and international organisations.

BHRWS Regional and International Relations Director and (BCNCVAW) Director Samira Al Sada said urgent action was needed from the Bahrain authorities because people were suffering.
"There are more than 72,000 expat domestic workers whose wages are around BD45 per month and who work more than 12 hours a day with no rest," she said.

"Many who are running from abuse still have cases in court, but Bahrain joined the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2001."

"There are many cases to address, for example there are many Bahraini women married to expats or expats women married to GCC men like Rebecca Jones and her son Adam who are still waiting for their children to get citizenship and some are in a bad situation. And she said that the news and HOPES that a Adam mother would be temporarily reunited with her ten-year-old son today, who was allegedly kidnapped in Qatar almost two months ago, appeared dashed last night was particularly upsetting considering that today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

"Although this isn't physical violence, it is a typical example of the sort of treatment that women can suffer in the region," she added

And she saied today BHRWS launch: Bahraini Civil Network to Combat Violence Against Women (BCNCVAW) As BHRWS launch this Civil Network, BHRWS call all everywhere to join us. Break the silence. When you witness violence against women and girls, do not sit back. Act. Advocate. Unite to change the practices and attitudes that incite, perpetrate and condone this violence.

BHRWS secretary-general, Faisal Fulad said efforts from all sectors were needed to ensure that women, children and domestic workers had the rights they deserve.

Gender-based violence, he said, was a form of discrimination that seriously curbs women's ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men.

"We have to take appropriate measures, especially in the field of education and legislation, to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women and to eliminate prejudices, customary practices and other practices based on the idea of the inferiority or superiority of either of the sexes and on stereotyped roles for men and women."

The petition was welcomed by female victims of abuse and they were the first to sign the petition.

"This law will ensure the basic rights of all mothers and their children and grant them dignity and respect in the society that they live in,' they said.
'It is important to include domestic workers under the labour law so they can also be assured of their basic rights."

To electronically sign the petition, which remains open until the end of the month, go to www.bhrws.org.

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me ...

2009-11-24T08:32:00.003+03:00

Today, White Girl, Arab World is one year old (if you're European/Western) or two (if you're Arab), which makes Tuesday 24th November, 2009, my offical blogging birthday [eed mee-laa-dee].

I want to say a very big "Thank You" to everyone who's visited over the past 12 months: 65 followers and 43,000+ visits from 142 coutries is a lot of you and a very happy me. Over the past year, as I've watched visitors arrive from totally-exotic-sounding locations such as Nunavut Territory, Terruco and Thimphu, I've started to realise how small the world really is. "Salam" and "Shukran" for visiting.

I'd also like to say a special thank you to bloggers Angie and Christine, both of whom I've met online and who have been there when the going got tough (although Angie perhaps didn't realise it ...)

Finally, to everyone who reads this blog, thank you for visiting and I do hope you'll continue to visit during the next year.

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You ...

2009-11-24T08:30:00.001+03:00

The west gets it wrong again. Image taken from: here

Age Numbering System
In the western world when you're born, you're aged 0 and become 1 on your first birthday, whilst in the Arab world a baby is born aged 1 and becomes 2 a year later. It seemed strange until I realised it's just a different way to label the same thing; an additional year is given in one of two places, the beginning or the end, depending on which system you're using.

Date of Birth
Because births went unrecorded until about 70 or 80 years ago, many older Arabs don't know when they were born and can only guess at their age and date of birth. Not so with the younger ones and anyone who is about 60 years old or younger knows which day they were born on, even if they don’t celebrate it.

Date of Birth on the Passport
GCC passports (or at the very least Bahraini passports) state the holder's date of birth as being on the first of January, of which ever year you think you were born. For example, 01-01-28. Husband knows his date of birth, but in his passport it's stated as being January 1st or 01-01, the same day as everyone else who was born in that particular year, in Bahrain.

Image taken from: here

Birthday Celebrations
I remember a headline in a British newspaper in March 2007 saying, "Bin Laden celebrates his birthday today" even Reuters, who should know better, said more or less the same thing here.

WRONG.

Birthdays in the Arab world are not celebrated in the same way as they are in the west. In Islamic terms, birthdays are not celebrated because it's thought the only thing that should be celebrated is God.

However, with the advent of greater worldwide communication and travel, children’s birthdays are being celebrated more and more often. Parents will often buy a cake, invite the family and friends over and give presents to the child/ren. In Gulf countries where Christmas decorations are sold {see wgaw blog post: banned} these will be bought and put up, either in the house or in the garden. Happy Birthday is sung in English and the child/ren will blow out the candles on their birthday cake.

If it is decided not to hold the birthday party in the house then a party is often arranged at a local fast food restaurant.

English - Arabic, Loan Words: S

2009-11-23T13:10:00.000+03:00

Safari
safara to travel
Hunting or scientific expedition, esp. in East Africa

Safflower
saffiore from asfar
An orange flower thistle like plant whose seeds yield edible oil

Saffron
zafaran
orange flavouring and food colouring made from the dried stigmas of a crocus

Safranine
from zafaran
Any of a large group of mainly red dyes used in biological staining etc.

Sahara
sahara desert
A vast desert in North Africa

Sahib
sahib friend, lord
A form of address, often placed after the name of European men

Salep
kusa l-at-lab foxes testicles
A starchy preparation of the dried tubers of various orchids, used in cookery and formerly medicinally

Saluki
saluki
A tall swift slender breed of dog wit a silky coat, large drooping ears and fringed feet

Saracen
sarki eastern
An Arab or Muslim at the time of the crusades

Sash
sas muslin, turban
A long strip or loop of cloth worn over one shoulder or round the waist

Satin
probably zaytuni from the Chinese city Zaytun
A fabric of silk or various man-made fibres, with a glossy surface on one side

Scallion
Ascalonia a town in ancient Palestine
A shallot or spring onion

Senna
sana
a laxative prepared from the dried pods of the cassia tree

Sequin
sikka a die
A circular spangle for attaching to clothing as an ornament

Shari’a
saria
the scared law of Islam

Sheikh
saykh old man
Chief or head of an Arab tribe, family or village

Sherbet
sharba drink
A flavoured, sweet, effervescent powder or drink

Shi’ite
Adherent of the Shia branch of Islam

Shrub
surb to drink
A cordial made of sweetened fruit juice and spirits, esp. rum

Sirocco
saluq east wind
A hot, oppressive and often dusty or rainy wind blowing from North Africa, across the Mediterranean to southern Europe

Sine
From the Latin sinus, which is a mistranslation of the Arabic jayb bosom, fold of a garment
The trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the side opposite a given angle to the hypotenuse

Soda
suda split
Any of several compounds of sodium in common use eg washing soda, caustic soda

Sofa
suffra seating area
A long upholstered seat with a back and arms, for two or more people

Spinach
sabana
A green leafy garden vegetable

Sudd
sudd obstruction
An area of floating vegetation impeding the navigation of the White Nile

Sufi
suf wool
From the woollen garment worn - a Muslim ascetic and mystic

Sugar
sukkar

Sultan
sultan power, ruler
A Muslim sovereign

Sultana
The mother, wife, concubine or daughter of a sultan

Sultanate
A territory subject to a sultan, the office, position or period of rule of a sultan

Sumac
summak
A shrub or small southern European tree having reddish cone shaped fruits used as a spice in cooking

Sunna
sunna form, way, course
The body of traditional customs and practices based on Mohammed’s words and acts, accepted with the Koran as authoritative by Muslims and followed particularly by Sunni Muslims

Sunni
The most populus of the two main branches of Islam

Suq
suq marketplace

Sura
surah
chapter or section of the Koran

Syrup
sarab beverage
A thick sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in boiling water

How to Drive a Chair

2009-11-21T08:35:00.000+03:00

Far sillier than it looks at first ...

Adam Disapears

2009-11-18T15:09:00.001+03:00

Over the past couple of weeks a British expatriate mother, Rebecca Jones, has been interviewed by many of the Gulf-based English language newspapers. She is fighting to have her son, Adam, who is half English and half Qatari, returned to her family home.

The following local Gulf newspapers give detailed overviews on what is happening in the Adam case at: Gulf News and at the Gulf Daily News: here and here

Divorce
In general when parents split, the choice of where the children live differs between Muslim and western cultures. In general, in Muslim cultures children are given to the father and in western cultures the children are given to the mother.

For more information on what happens when divorce or death occurs in a mixed marriage, have a look at this {wgaw: divorce} or this {wgaw: pre-nuptual agreements}

If you're interested in reading more about Adam's case, there's an extended debate about the case and the court ruling, with lots of cross-cultural information (and very little ranting) at qatar living

Also
Adam's mother and step-father have put information about what has happened to their family on Bahrain Human Rights website Facebook and YouTube:

An Arab Cross-Cultural Overview

2009-11-16T16:00:00.000+03:00

So it's theory day today. If you combine all the three Western cross-cultural experts together; Hall {see wgaw blog archive; Hall} Hofsteede {see wgaw blog archive; Hofsteede} and Trompenhaar {see wgaw blog archive: Trompenhaar} it seems Arab culture can be described in the following ways by westerners:

1
Time - Polychoronic or Monochroninc:
Polychronic

2
Communication - high or low context:
high context

3
Collectivism - groups or individuals:
high collectivism/ groups

4
Power Distance - vertical or horizontal:
vertical

5
Male/female - patriarchal or matriarchal:
patriarchal

6
Risk Avoidance - high or low:
high

7
Age - youth or experience:
experience

8
Time orientation - short-term or long-term:
short-term

9
One theory for all - particularism or universal:
universal

10
Feelings - affective or neutral:
both affective & neutral

11
Social Status - achievement or ascription:
ascription

Combining all these 11 factors together means in an Arab culture the following is likely to happen regularly. Please remember these are generalisations:

* groups of people operate/ think/ act as a tribal group, not as individuals: group think rather than moving above self-actualisation
* use of auditory and visual skills, not just visual
* highly emotional reactions
* enjoyment of family life and children
* expect high powder distances between workers and rulers (or bosses and employees)
* strong usage of oral traditions
* will do only one thing at a time, very little multi-tasking
* fludity of plans - plans can change often and easily
* operate in the, 'here and now' rather than planning ahead for the future
* generous with time, things, money, help
* take a long time to let people into the inner circle, and then never let them go
* want control other people and situations, all the time
* expect to work in win-loose or loose-loose situations. win-win is often not an option
* are high-context and already have information
* have low spatial intelligence
* expect things to be done through contacts {see wgaw wosta}
* stop everything to speak to someone they know
* think ‘more is more’

Flying Under Bridges

2009-11-15T08:37:00.000+03:00

Welcome to Bahrain ...

How to Read & Write Arabic: Laam

2009-11-12T17:15:00.000+03:00

Writing Laam
The letter laam is one of the easiest Arabic letters to write as all four forms look very similar and there are very few changes:

independent

initial

medial

final

Speaking Laam
This week's letter, 'Laam' is an easy letter to speak and to read as it has a sound which is similar to the English letter, 'L'. However, not all English L’s sound similar to the Arabic 'Laam'!

Say the English word 'light' and think about where your tongue is when you pronounce the L. It should be behind your top front teeth, touching the roof of your mouth. This is exactly the place where you need to place your tongue when you say the Arabic letter 'Laam'. If this sounds a little confusing, compare the positioning of your tongue when you say the sound 'L' in the English word, 'feel', your tounge is now at the bottom of your mouth. 'Laam' is always pronounced with the tongue at the top of the mouth.

In the photos below you'll find laams highlighted. Try to review the previous letters you've learnt whilst you're thinking about the laams

Initial

Final

Independent

Hide & Seek
Now try and find the laams in the photos below:

Life ...

2009-11-10T12:19:00.001+03:00

Today's post doesn't really fit into the Arab cross cutlural slant of this particular blog, but it did arrive at my email: shirley at act3associates dot com from an Arab who'd obviously thought the sentements expressed in the photo were relevant:

Rhythm of the Drums

2009-11-09T08:49:00.000+03:00

Classic stuff ...

Beautiful Birds: Cormoronts Flying

2009-11-07T08:36:00.000+03:00

We've seen these birds whilst we were crossing the Bahrain-Saudi causeway and did manage to film them, but this video's far better ...

English - Arabic Loan Words: N-R

2009-11-02T10:18:00.001+03:00

Today's posting follows on from various wgaw blog archives {see wgaw blog archieves: loan words} and continues the list of English words whose roots are said to have been borrowed, or loaned from the Arabic.

Words in the list below start with the letters 'N' to 'R' and are listed in alphabetical order. The English word is followed by the root word in Arabic [xxx] and then the Arabic meaning. On the line below is the meaning in English.

If I needed help with the English definition I used: 'The Oxford English Reference Dictionary' ISBN: 0-19-860046-1

N

Nabob
A Muslim
official or governor under the mogul empire

Nacre
Mother of pearl from any shelled mollusc

Nadir
[na-zir as-sam-t'] opposite to the zenith
The part of the celestial sphere directly below the observer. The lowest point in one’s fortunes

Natron
[nat-run]
a mineral form of sodium salts found in dried lake bed

O

Oasis

Open sesame
[if-ta il sim sim-mah]
A means of acquiring or achieving what is normally unattainable (from the magic words used by Ali Baba in the Arabian nights)

Ottoman
utmani of Othman
Concerning the dynasty of Osman I

P
Pia mater
[al umm al ra-ki-kah] tender mother
The delicate innermost membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord

Popinjay
[baba-ga]
A conceited person, historically a figure of a parrot on a pole as a mark to shoot at

Q
Qur'an
The Islamic holy book, also spelt Koran

R
Racket
[ra-ha] palm of the hand
A bat with a round or oval frame strung with nylon used in tennis squash, etc

Ramadan
possibly [ra-ma-da], be hot
The ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset

Realgar
[rehj al ghar] dust of the cave
A mineral of arsenic sulphide used as a pigment and in fireworks

Ream
[riz-ma] bundle
500 sheets of paper

Rebec
[rebab]
three stringed musical instrument played with a bow

Rigel
[ri-jil] foot
The seventh brightest star in the sky and the brightest in the constellation of Orion. It is a blue super giant nearly sixty thousand times as luminous as our sun

Rook
[rukh] original sense uncertain
Chess piece with its top in the shape of a battlement

Cooking Rice can Take some Time

2009-10-31T10:15:00.002+03:00

Cooking rice seems to be an art form in the Arab world. Rice is eaten everyday, it's cooked with care and attention and enjoyed in a way we can only aim for in the west.

Which might explain why many Arabs take rice with them when they go on holiday. If you've flown out of the Middle East on a Middle Eastern carrier to a long-haul destination when you waitin for your luggage at baggage arrivals, you'll come across endless rice sacks being extracted from the aircraft hold.

Years ago I remember trying to explain to an English woman how rice was cooked in my husband's family house. We were being listened to by a Gulf Arab and after a while he could contain himself no longer. He had to disagree with me, long and loud and was completely passionate about how to cook rice, in a manner which was different from mine.

I also remember a trip to Pakistan where the air hostesses couldn't give away the food because there was no rice in the main course.

The Recipe for Rice:
To make rice like an Arab you'll need to follow the directions below:

1. Put the water for the rice on to boil and switch on the ring so it warms up
2. Measure out the rice you will need into a large saucepan and add cold water
3. Agitate the rice with your hand(s) to release the carbohydrates, when the water becomes cloudy drain off the water. Do this as many times as it takes for the starch to disappear, usually it will take about three washes to remove the clouds of carbohydrates
4. Once the water runs clear add the boiling water to the rice and put the rice on the ring to boil
5. Boil the rice until it is almost soft, but has a slightly hard bit in the middle. Remove the rice from the ring and put in a sieve. Wash the rice with cold water to stop it cooking

6. Dry the saucepan and add butter, ghee or margarine to the bottom of the pan and put on the ring to warm

7. When the fat is melted, put the rice in the pan and warm on a low heat for an hour or so

8. Once the rice is cooked the pan can be taken from the heat and then turned upside down. You’ll find your rice will come out together, a bit like a sponge cake. On the top of the rice you’ll have a crispy, fatty circle of rice called the telfa [tel-fah] a Persian word which children (and adults) fight over.

Variations:

When melting the fat, fry a couple of chopped onions until brown and leave them in the saucepan. Add the rice on top and cook for an hour

Once the rice is in the pan, add 5 cardamoms, saffron water (saffron infused in hot water for half an hour) and three sticks of cinnamon. Cook for an hour and eat.

Eating Rice and Bread at the Same Time
I once read a book by Anthony Bourdain, an American who appeared to have no cultural understanding of what happened outside America. He opened a restaurant in Japan and got really mad with the Japanese chefs because they would continually serve rice and potatoes together. I remember reading it and thinking, well they do that here in the Middle East too.

I contemplated his thoughts one day during a meal where in front of me were four carbohydrates; rice, potatoes, bread and spaghetti. All four were being served at the same time, at the same meal. In the Middle East it is the eater, not the chef, who decides which and how many carbohydrates they want to eat with their meat.

Other Types of Rice
Various meat dishes have specific rice dishes to go with them. Fish is always eaten with rice which has dill mixed through it. Another classic way to cook rice is to add lentils. Whilst a classic dish for Ramadan is kushery [cush-er-ree] a mixture of rice, pasta and lentils.

Rice Pudding
In the Gulf the rice for rice pudding is ground until it becomes a rough flour texture. This is then cooked with milk, saffron and cinnamon, put into individual bowls, chilled and served cold.

He did What?

2009-10-29T10:01:00.000+03:00

Donkeys are still used for transportation in the GCC and most days I'll pass one or two on my way to work. Here's one who isn't going very far:

Brown Outs

2009-10-27T08:59:00.000+03:00

I met a woman last who'd travelled from Dubai to Bahrain.

Whilst she'd been at Dubai airport waiting to check in all the lights had gone out and were out for 10 minutes.

She wandered over to the security guard to ask what was happening and was greeted with the question,
"Yes, it's a bit worrying isn't it?"

Image taken from : blogger: coolsciencenews

Changes: Some Positive, Some Negative

2009-10-25T08:58:00.002+03:00

I feel quite positive about many of the changes which are occuring in the Gulf right now.

Image taken from: http://www.islammonitor.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1355&Itemid=63

Having said that, as westerners we often expect change to happen fast, although that's something that's open to interpretation. Women were banned from voting in Switzerland until 1971 (and in the area of, 'Appenzell Inner Rhoden' until 1991), whilst the last witch trial was held in England in 1944. Helen Duncan was convicted and served nine months in jail.

But I digress. If we accept changes occur in the Middle East at a Middle Eastern pace, because it is the Middle East, then things are moving very quickly indeed.

Two years ago Saudi newspapers were noticable empty of women; not a single woman would be pictured, ever. It was as if only one sex existed. Last week I counted 10 photos of women in the Friday newspaper, with one of those photos covering half a page, in full colour, with the woman's arms and head hair on display. In local terms that is F1 speed.

Some Positive
So, why all the positivity? Last week it was announced

1.
Kuwaiti women would no longer need a Mahram {see wgaw blog archive: divorce}, which leaves just Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan {see wgaw blog archive: rape} the only places in the world in which a woman is legally not allowed to leave the house without a male escort.

2.
Mixed education can now take place, up to the age of 9, in private schools in Saudi Arabia. See this article

Some Negative
However, on the negative side, the Sudanese fundie group, 'al shabab' [al sha-bab] (the boys) announced this week in addition to women being banned from wearing trousers, they could no longer wear bras. It seems they check if a bra is being worn by forcing the women to shake her breasts.

I shouldn't joke, in general sarcasm is not used or understood in the Gulf, but what article of clothing is next I wonder?

Image taken from: http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?p=376468

You know You've Lived in the Middle East for too Long when….

2009-10-24T09:42:00.000+03:00

This has definately been done before, but it arrived in my email today and I thought I'd post it anyway:

You enjoy camping in the sand

You are not surprised to see a goat in the passenger seat

You serve coffee in a thimble

You expect confirmation on your airline reservation to be “inshallah”

You think everyone’s first name is “Al”

You need a sweater when it’s 80 degrees Fahrenheit

Your idea of housework is leaving a note for the houseboy

You understand “no problem” means follow up

You think skis were developed for use on sand dunes

You believe speed limits are only advisory

You expect to see tractors driving at 40 kmp on a super highway

You expect police to drive BMW’s

You know whether you are within missile range of Iraq

You think black is appropriate day wear

You think it’s normal to play golf on the sand and putt on the brown

You refuse to go swimming in the Gulf unless the water is in the mid 90’s F

You wear a jacket inside and take it off when you go outside

You think shopping malls are covered souqs

You expect your office to call you at home on Fridays

You can judge a perfect “10” by the ankle

You think carpets belong on the wall

You know which end of the sharwma to unwrap first

You think the further you inch into the middle of the intersection the faster the light will turn green

You believe that the definition of “nanosecond’ is the time interval between the time the light turns green

and the time that the guy behind you begins to blow his horn

You believe it’s normal to buy a car without first taking it for a test drive

You give directions by landmarks instead of road names

You think all gas stations are made of marble

You can receive every television station except the local station

You get used to using the cold water tap to get hot water during the summer

You think being liberated means sitting in the family section

You think a red light means run it

You can’t buy anything without asking for a discount

You have more carpets than floor space

You expect all stores to stay open till midnight

You understand that “wadi bashing” isn’t a criminal act

You make left turns from the far right lane

You think Pepsi begins with a “B”

You send friends a map instead of your address

You think Kleenex belongs on the dinner table

You think the biggest event of the year is the camel races

You think water only comes in bottles

'Coz Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

2009-10-21T13:03:00.000+03:00

When Arab women marry they will always receive a shabka [shab-ca] or a set of jewellery (ring, earrings, a bracelet and a necklace, recently expanded to a tiara) from their husband-to-be, or their husband-to-be family.

Arab women usually wear sets of jewellery in everyday situations, but what makes the shabka different from other jewellery sets is the addition of the bracelet.

Traditionally Arab brides go shopping in the gold suq with their mothers and sisters or friends and choose the shabka themselves; it has to be something they like. The husband will then visit the shop at a later date and pay for it.

Image: shabka holder at a wedding. unfortunately i was too slow with the camera and the bride had put on the shabka before I could take a photo of it :-(

In the Arab world jewellery is not just about being decorated, it's also a way of saving. Jewellery given to a woman becomes hers absolutely and as a consequence women can act as the families' bankers. Women are given jewellery as children and will continue to collect throughout their life, with many women receiving jewellery (on the whole wedding presents consist of jewellery to the bride, rather than the Western tradition of household items) when they marry.

Women in the Gulf have traditionally bought and sold: as new fashions arrive the jewellery tends to go back to the goldsmith to be melted down and reworked, making old pieces quite rare.

Why 22 Carat?
Gold in the Gulf is always 21 or 22 carat which gives it the deep dark mustard yellow colour. The 9 carat jewellery found in England is described by jewellers here as being, “Not really gold at all, is it?”

When I first arrived in the Gulf and visited the gold suq I thought the gold shab-ka sets must be fakes, they were just so big and there were so many of them. I could not believe all that gold was for real.

I found out many years later one of the reasons for the jewellery being so big and so pure was simple. Originally the wearer would be sitting in a dark tent and small jewellery just wouldn't reflect any light, whilst the 22 carat purity would mean the colour of the reflected light was soft and orange, not hard and yellow.