Trip to Bahrain

My colleague and new best friend Peter T and I went on an adventure to Bahrain today.  I was getting a little stir crazy here on camp so it was time to see something new.  We rented a taxi to take us across the causeway and it was a series of tollbooths and very crazy lines that move along very slowly.  Once across we headed to the north end of the island to see the Grand mosque and National Museum.  Unfortunately my initial entrance into the mosque wasn't very smooth because I went in to the general worship area dressed inappropriately (short pants) and I created a little bit of a stir for a small group of Muslims who were practicing the call to prayer at the feet of the ranking caller.  They ushered me out of the room and asked that I wear a Thaub (thoobe), it was cool.  We learned about how prayers are delivered, how to enter and position yourself and other worship formalities.  It was a beautiful building that incorporated building materials from all over the world (Marble from Italy, teak wood from India, glass globes from France, stained windows from Iran.  The current value of the mosque is estimated at 100 million.  It also contains the 2nd largest dome found in mosques around the world.  I left with a greater understanding and respect of their house of worship.

From there we went to the national museum.  It was filled with some very interesting exhibits and a very cool tile floor that served as a huge map of the island.  We had to hurry through this though because our taxi driver's friend was having problems and our guy needed to meet him.  So he dropped us off at the nearest mall and sped way.  Peter and I kicked around the mall for a minute and then decided it was time to introduce ourselves to a burger and fries.

All in all a great day filled with amazing experiences.  I look forward to going back there when the rest of the family arrives.

Happy Father's Day. I love you. Love Alex & fam

A lot to learn from the length of the hem

I was taught a pretty important aspect of Saudi dress and it's statement about a person's religious approach.  For instance, the distance from the floor to the hem of their pant legs or Thobe (the white robe the men wear) will determine how conservative they are.  If the distance is great, similar to what we would consider "Floods" then this individual is saying that he is devout.  The idea is that this prevents them from tracking in any unclean thing to their place of prayer.  I was also told that a longer beard sends out the same message.  Pretty important to know this as I try not to come across as the insensitive American.

Bowling night

Every Sunday we have mutual with the Youngwoman (that's right there's only one) and Youngmens (the AP out number the YW by 2x1).  Tonight we went bowling for the activity.  It really put a strain on our budget, the shoes were .75 per person (they were new) and each game cost .35.  So the whole event set us back $6.50 - we each bowled 2 games.  I felt pretty good about my game due to learning how to roll/spin the ball and proceeded to have a few spares and a couple of strikes.  President Chandler put on quite a show, I think he rolled the game of his life.

 

Haircut

I just got my first haircut in KSA.  My new stylist (a nice Pakistani) slapped on the #4 attachment, took a few swipes, shaved my neck with an articulating blade and within 5 mins I walked out looking like a new recruit.  All for $4.  I need to have a word with Jayone.

Lunar Eclipse

June 15th. 
Last night was a very important event for the local community due to the Lunar eclipse.  I was told that Islam interprets an eclipse as a manifestation of their God's power to control parts of the universe and they go to special lengths to recognize it and align their worship activities around it.  For example, the normal evening calls to prayer were altered to hold special gatherings.  It was a bit eerie to hear the mosques call the faithful, and not see the usual collection of cars in the parking lot last night because of this special celestial occurrence. 

To celebrate it our own way, David and I had a boy's night out due to both of our better halves being state side.  We went grocery shopping and then to eat and finally back to camp to watch the eclipse.  We found a nice spot on the camp's golf course (#4 tee), which by the way is all sand - no grass.

 In the middle of all of this, a very surreal tone settled in.  Here I was in the middle East, just had pan fried noodles and watching the moon being swallowed up by God's natural order of things - Boy could I use a Dr. Pepper right now!

Day out of the community

 

In the pharmacy, Boys=blue room Girls=pink room

If you go to town with a woman or your family, you have to sit in the family section of the restaurant, but you are a single man, or in a group with no females, you sit in the single section.

Even the women on the advertising on the products in the stores need to wear abayas, so the Saudis do some coloring. Mom is roasting in the inflatable swimming pool. Where is my spf 90?