Tag Archives: shop

The corner sweet shop

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A quick trip to the little shop round the corner from my office for “breakfast” is an option each day during a break in work but it was only yesterday that I noticed the “colour” on offer.
These pictures were taken as I waited for my order of “samosas” to be prepared. The incredibly busy place has this, and more, with sweet and savory delights from across the Sub-continent available.
And this is not the only one. In Bahrain, one is never far away from anything “Indian”, with Indian owned shops, businesses and establishments everywhere, making sure we are never away from “home”.
That said, a standard Indian breakfast here is not only very filling, it is also good value for money, at a dollar, or less, per person.
Pictured are the several kinds of traditional Indian sweets and savoury snacks available, apart from, of course, the breakfast!

 

Superman’s Bahraini, is it?

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Superman
“Not only am I awesome, I’m Bahraini too” says a sticker outside this curio shop tucked away in the by-lanes of Old Muharraq Town. And, of course, one cannot help but notice a larger than life-size model of Superman, wearing the traditional Bahraini headgear. Maybe, the sticker should’ve read: “Not only am I awesome, I’m Superman – and Bahraini.”

The little pakora shop

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Cafe Cafe 1 Cafe 3I have been to this shop several times. The pakoras (fritters) this gentleman makes are awesome, particularly for those hungry souls in nearby offices as well as for starved passers-by. And this place is forever crowded.
Strangely, for a short while that I was there this morning, there wasn’t a soul in sight – but for this gentleman who was busy frying away.
He makes all kinds of fritters as well as samosas, some traditional, some ordinary everyday stuff.
Coming from the Southern Indian state of Kerala, most of his offerings have the Malayali taste but no one seems to complain.
A full breakfast here (two pieces of bread, a two-egg omelet and a glass of piping hot tea) costs a dollar and that’s enough to last any working man several hours. No wonder, then, it’s such a popular place.
This gentleman told me he starts frying at 6 am – every day, including the weekends – and stops for a meal at 11 am. He starts again at 11.15 and carries on until well past 2 pm.
After a 30 minute lunch break, he is again on the job until late in the evening (or until customers keep trickling in).
Such is the life of hundreds of thousands of expatriates in this country. These people, mainly from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, have left their families behind and travelled half way across the globe to earn so that their folks back home live in relative comfort and luxury.
I wonder, sometimes, why we complain about the smallest possible things. We don’t seem to like so many things we have and always want more – and something different, never to be satisfied.
Look at this man, and the thousands like him. He is STANDING at work 14 to 15 hours a day and still smiles – has a kind word for every customer and never raises his voice.
These are the heroes who make us run and  work! For, if not for these hard-working souls, we would be without fuel.
Food for thought, isn’t it?

At the Fishmonger’s

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DSC_7204We visit the fishmongers in Manama once a month. And this gentleman, from Bangladesh, keeps the choicest catch ready, cleaned and packed for use as we reach.
He is also up to date with technology, liberally using WhatsApp and Instagram for marketing, sending out messages and pictures to customers, who can then decide what they want.
The best part, however, is we can pick up the ‘consignment’ as we pass the shop, not bothering to find a parking spot in the normally congested lanes.
How times have changed!