Tag Archives: People

It’s hot out there but not for them

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The blistering summer is upon us in Bahrain – in all its fury.
Temperatures are touching an average of 45C (113F) in the sun, making everyone broil – literally.
However, these remarkable animals – camels – the ships of the desert – seem to be the only ones not affected by heaven’s fury, out in the heat and grazing away on dried grass.
Nature has its own way – and has made each living being differently – camels being among one of the most unique.
There was a time – not any more, of course, when the camel was man’s best friend in this part of the world – giving the locals meat and milk, as well as acting as a beast of burden, tilling land and carrying loads.
But, more than anything else, the camel was the only transport available to the ancient Arabs. Of course, motor vehicles were there as well but few and far between. It were only these rather unstable looking beings that that could often mean the difference between life and death.
These days, however, they are only used for their milk and meat and that, too, not very often. There are only as many camel farms in this country because the numbers of those involved in this trade are fast dwindling.
Sadly, these majestic creatures are now also mostly of interest to the tourists who want to see the “ship of the desert” in the desert!
Just for the record, camel milk and milk products, as well as camel meat, are quite expensive – and could cost four times as much as cow milk and beef!
That’s rather exclusive!

 

The spice of life is not in tradition any more

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Bahrain’s Spice Market may not hold charm for the local population any more but, tucked away in the lanes of the Old Suq in the capital, Manama, it is a must visit for tourists and visitors.
The conventional ways of shopping have, in any case, taken a beating in the last few years with the advent of supermarkets and suq’s (traditional markets) have been among the first to fall victim.
However, as I have often discovered, the real charm of shopping in the “good old days” was when one picked up a jute (or cane) basket and went to the neighbourhood bazaar to pick up the day’s groceries.
As expected, Bahrain’s Spice Market was deserted when I went there for a walk last weekend. Hardly any customers, but for a few very ‘touristy’ people, were seen actually shopping while most who were there preferred to busy themselves with devouring the food on offer at the several eating joints.
The pungent smell of spices and the very friendly, mostly Asian, traders were welcoming and eager to sell their wares but were equally at ease with me preferring to take pictures instead. Yes, one of them said, most visitors are more interested in taking pictures but they didn’t mind. He admitted many of them end up purchasing some as well.
The same is the story of the rest of the suq – be it clothes, electronics, toys, utensils and the like. People – most people – just don’t go there any more, thanks to the ease and the air conditioned comfort of shopping in the supermarket.
Clearly, the spice of life in tradition does not exist any more!
A pity, really!

Bahrain’s watermelon man

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This is Bahrain’s Watermelon man.
Zakareya Al Kadhem is the Chairman of Bahrain’s Sickle Cell Anemia Society and a sufferer himself. And, like any other sickle cell anemia patient, he requires frequent hospitalization to manage his condition.
But, over time, this tireless patient rights’ campaigner become so engrossed in what his “subjects”, and he himself, suffer from, that he constantly devises new plans to alleviate their suffering.
“The summer is a great time for some very effective therapy,” he says. “Since the one sure way to get relief from sickle cell disease symptoms is to stay hydrated, what better way than to eat, and ‘drink’ watermelons,” he says.
“This is the watermelon season and plenty of these are easily available and are very affordable as well.
“I encourage everyone to have as much watermelon as possible in any form whatsoever and this, over the last few years, has helped. There are now fewer hospital referrals for us patients and, certainly, fewer fatalities.
“I am not saying this is a cure but, yes, it is something that reduces the symptoms considerably.
“After all, how much water can one have and for how long. With watermelons, there is no such issue. Anyone is up for a sweet watermelon at any time.”
His campaign has now come to such a pass that he always gives watermelons as gifts, and receives watermelons at his home at all times from his friends and admirers. Recently when he himself was hospitalised, he received scores of watermelons as opposed to flowers and sweets along with Get Well Soon messages.
“We even have real watermelon chunks as ‘cake’ at children’s birthdays. It’s a win-win situation for everybody and we’re all happy.”
May his tribe prosper!

 

Moods on the weekend

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A trip to Bahrain’s Old Manama Suq can be exhausting if you are not able to stand crowds, the heat and the grime and the noise. But this is exactly what I did last evening. While I expected to catch some pictures of the old buildings and the stalls selling a variety of stuff, it was virtually impossible to do that in the pushing and the jostling that made it very difficult to stand in one place. I finally found a corner and stood relatively still for nearly an hour to catch the “moods”, thanks to the zoom lens.
The myriad expressions and the emotions are clearly visible on people’s faces as they go about their business.

This, too, is life

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When I took these pictures, all I had in mind were portraits. But when I looked at them later, I could “see” a lot more. The pain, the longing, the forlorn looks, the emptiness, the hope and, perhaps, the hunger.
These two men are among the countless millions around the world who are not only homeless, but perhaps have no family and haven’t had a good meal in a while.
It is appalling how much misery there is in this world and it is beyond me how we, being in so much comfort ourselves, can allow this to happen.
Not that my writing these few paragraphs would make a difference; I would also, in a few hours, forget this and carry on with my life, but, at some point (and soon), I would wish to dedicate myself to feeding the hungry, contributing to looking after those who need care and trying to be useful in a society that sees a lot of pain, anguish, greed, violence and a just plain simple “how do I care” attitude.
Taking care of the elderly, working in palliative care and educating children whose parents are unable to send them to school are some of the other thoughts that come to mind.
This is a “bucket list” of things I wish to do. And, the sooner the better because one never knows what tomorrow brings. And, that “tomorrow” can come at any time!