Monday, December 31, 2007

Do you need a Taxi?

These 3 gentlemen are taxi drivers. While waiting the customers, they alwasy sit in this street chair near the road. Passerby, Tourists, Taxi Drivers alwasy sit here for a break and wacthing the busy road of Manama. One of them looked at me and said " Do you need a taxi?"

Anyway, we are at the end of the year 2007, I wish you all Happy New Year!!! All the best for the coming year! A peaceful, prosperous and meaningful 2008!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Manama's Gold City

This is Gold City, one of the busiest shopping center in Bahrain where you could buy Gold Jewelry. That is how it gets its name. Beside gold, you could also find other precious stones and the famous Bahraini Pearl.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Costa Coffee Corner

Coffee is one of the favorite drink in Middle East. That brings another cafe chain to Bahrain, The Costa Coffee! What most interesting fact about Costa coffee is that ... They have they own roastery (that is what I read from Wikipedia heheh I should ask next time if I go there :P wink)


As what I said on my earlier posting about Haagen Dazs, This place also has its own chosiness, the lay-out, the colouring, wah even after drinking the coffee, I was still feeling sleepy LOL.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Haagen Dazs Corner

If you ever ever visiting Bahrain and Dana Mall particularly, you should go to Haagen Dazs, Their famous ice cream is well known for their high quality and finest ingredients and they are here now in Bahrain!

hmm yummy! My favorite Belgian Chocolate!
The place is located on the second floor of Dana Mall, very conveniently it is the first cafe you will see when you get up there through the lift or the elevator. I like the chosiness of the athmosphere there. Besides, the ladies there are very friendly and attentive. Wah!!!!! For further info about Haagen Dasz, please go here.

Do you like Ice Cream? Frankly speaking, I can not say "No" to Haagen Dazs!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Silver Shop

This is Rudolph J. Vivier aka Rudi, a colleaque chef who is trying to find a silver jewelry set for his mom. He is originally from South Africa. He is leaving tonight and we are doing last minute shopping with him. Goodbye my good friend! One day we might hang out again as you still owe me some Braai and Biltong.


TOTSIENS MY VRIEND,
ALLES VAN DIE BESTE VIR DIE TOEKOMS !!
(Moenie Te Veel Drink Nie My Pal)

Sunday, December 23, 2007

My 100th Posting!!

Durrat al Bahrain
Today is my 100th posting and I find it rather difficult to choose the theme for today photo, It must be something special, something which will be remembered by readers or anyone about Bahrain. Then I remember about Durrat al Bahrain. It was just earlier this month the launching brand event was held at the resort where I am working. I have posted a photo of the event's flower decoration here. the picture above and the following below are the impression of Durrat al Bahrain by the artist. Durrat al Bahrain is an artificial island project in Bahrain in a shape of Pearl Necklace. It is the largest planned luxury mixed-use residential, commercial and resort development in the Gulf region. Here is another impression by an artist;

The new brand launching was held at Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort Al Areen here in 2nd December 2007 (early this month) and it was a spectacular event. For the news covers, please go here.

This is me, smiling ear to ear with the event set up at the background

The Beautiful Bay

Do you need to see more, please go here!


Saturday, December 22, 2007

Friday, December 21, 2007

Arabic Perfume

On visiting the malls here at Dana Mall or other malls, I always notice the predominance overpowering scent everywhere. Here I managed to take a shot of Perfume Stall at Dana Mall. Though I was stopped after taking the shot by a lady and she told me about no taking pictures policy, well she might be the attendant. I said I am sorry that I was not aware of it. After all there is no sign and left. LOL look at the picture, it is worth it!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Eid al Adha Holiday

This a shot of customers at Geant Mall, at one of the elevator going up to the second floor. It is the second day of Eid al Adha Holiday now in Bahrain which means that all Malls are fully packed and even traffic jam as more numbers of people are in Bahrain now due to the coming of visitors from the neigbourhood; Saudis, Kuwaitis, Qataris and Omanis. I will try to get a better picture asap as this one is abit blur and unfocused. LOL

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Celebration ... Come On!

This 10 storey building which belongs to Civil Service Bureau has a huge poster of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the celebration of the King's acession to the throne. I should take closer shot later on and I believe it is going to look a lot nicer.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

The Famous Three

Here are the posters of the ruling reign of Bahrain; The King and Emir of Bahrain (HM Hamad bin Isa AL Khalifah), The Crown Prince (HRH Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifah) and the Prime Minister (Sheikh Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifah; the one further left) that are found all around the city. Please click the link for further deatil of each person.
I will be posting more of the posters in the next posting.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Happy National Day Mamlakat Al-Bahrayn

Today, December 16th Bahrain celebrates its 36th National Day and Accesion to the throne. Since the beginning of the month, there are national flags everywhere and posters of the King (HM Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah), the Crown Prince (HRH Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa) and the Prime Minister (Shaikh Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifah) all around the city. Along the way to work, I saw that there are more posters and flags. I hope I could get the poster photo of the king riding an Arab horse. It is so grand and eye catching (hey I am doing a good homework for all the names, I hope they are all correct).
I am really looking forward to see the fireworks tonight but I am not sure if I could make it as I do not even know where it is going to be held. LOL.
So if you are interested to know a bit of Bahrain and its rich history, you can go here and if you want to see and find out more about the handsome and charismatic Bahrain's King HM Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah, please go here and here for his speech on addressing the National day and Accesion to the throne.

Lunch at Manama Alley Restaurant

Hmm grilled fish ... I love them!
Bon Appetite!!!

During the last trip in Manama, My friend and I had a quick stop at one of the street restaurant. I have no idea what it is called as it is located in one of the alley at Manama. It is exactly located in an empty space between two building. It is typically local in design as they have local settee arrangement and they serve various type fo dishes such as Indians, Iranian and Middle Eastern which I find them very strong and rich. Since it is located nearby the offices, many people are coming for lunch and vary in nationality (look there is one Sheikh is having a lunch right behind the two beautiful ladies).

Friday, December 14, 2007

Do you want your shoes to be fixed?

For a 500 fills till 1 dinar, you could have your shoes fix by this handyman. I used to watch a neighbour to fix my brother's shoes and It is an amazing task.
Are there handyman like them working along the road in your town?

Thursday, December 13, 2007

The Souq of Manama


Bab Al Bahrain

This is a shot of Bab Al Bahrain which means the Gate of Bahrain. It is located at Manama's central bussiness district (CBD). It was built by the Bristish in 1940's. Bab Al Bahrain once stood at the water's edge. Due to extensive land reclamation in the later years, nowadays it needs to walk more than 10 minutes to get to the sea. Further info about this building you can go here.

The Crowd of Faces


This is another shot taken from Manama downtown, exactly located near by the famous Bab Al Bahrain which is one of the significant landmark in Manama. When you go there, you will see a lot of people hanging around, socializing, meeting friends and shopping (especially in Friday as what I explained on my earlier posting). When taking the shots, I got several stares, smiling faces and even a question what the pictures are for. Wah !

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Today's Trivia; The BFH Building

I have posted this building before and it looks completely different from this posting. I am wondering fi anyone could tell the different about this shot. The shot itself was taken at the near sunset and you could see the yellow spurt of the sun trying to peep in the frame. :P
Any idea what it is so ?
I will reveal the secret about this building later this week.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Deep in Conversation

I do not know what these 2 beautiful ladies were talking about as they were so engrossed in the conversation meanwhile the busy city life passing by around them. I am lucky to have this privilege to immortalize them in Sanabis DP. I wish I was standing a little further on the left side where I took this shot, so that I could see both ladies expressions. Well I will be posting more about people on my next postings.
Please come and visit again!
Anyway, it is a beautiful day today :P
Happy Tuesday All !

Monday, December 10, 2007

Hanging Out in Bahrain!

This shot was taken at down town at Manama on Friday. It is located near round-about Bab al Bahrain, exactly at on left side of it. On Friday there are always a lot of people in this area. Many of us do not know that in the Gulf areas and most Arab countries (please correct me if I am wrong) that the weekend is on Friday instead of Sunday (as in the western countries). This means that it is a day off for most foreign workers here in Bahrai. The offices, firms and banks are closed (unfortunately, hotel is always open all week. Poor me!). These full crowd consist of mostly foreign workers from India and its sub-continent; Pakistan, Bangladesh (my Nepalese friend, Naresh told me so LOL). They might be working in the offices, shops, constructions, restaurants, taylor etc. I guess I would do my further research later. the immigrant and foreign worker in Bahrain are big thing here.
Hows things in your country?
HAPPY MONDAY ALL!

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Sunrise...Sunrise

Just another shot of sunrise at 6.19 AM at Sanabis. When I looked outside the window, I saw these constructions and realized at how rapid the development in my neighbourhood. Up todate there are 5 new apartments surrounding my building. Soon my beautiful view for both sunrise and sunset will be gone, blocked by the new building. Anyway, the future of living in Sanabis would be not really nice anymore but let's see as there is no certainty in everything. Hah!
Have a nice day all!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Morning Has Broken

It's still early in the morning, slightly feeling better and way too wide awake since my Fajr pray, I opened the window and looked out at the sunrise. It's still amazed me at how beautiful sunrise will be, no matter where you are watching it. I love watching the sunrise rising up as it always gives me a new energy to start the new day. This also brings me to start humming Cat Stevens's Morning Has Broken. LOL though I was not born yet when it became famous, but I find the song is very inspiring, I feel that I can relate to Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) at how wonderful a morning and a sunrise is .


Just for a refreshing, here is the lyric again.


MORNING HAS BROKEN


Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Thursday, November 29, 2007

I Believe I Can Fly !!

fly.....fly Arthe!

Here comes the thropy for a grab!

The winning team and the fans!
PS : the photos are from my Archives (Geez need to go out soon and bring my camera along). The event was the monthly sport competition held by the resort for the associate.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

La Belle Au Bois Dourmant

Sleeping Beauty fair,
Black like the night in your hair,
Lips that shame the red, red rose,
Dreaming of true love in slumber repose
One day he will come,
Riding over the dawn,
When you awaken to love's first kiss,
Till then, Sleeping Beauty, sleep on
One day you'll awaken to love's first kiss,
Till then, Sleeping Beauty, sleep on.
(adapted from the original by Tom Adair & George Bruns, Sleeping Beauty Movie circa 1959)
(This is a shot of my friend, Dian Putri Kustanti aka Uthie. After along day at work, I caught her offguard with my camera in such a serene deep sleep at the sofa. Look at how her lips curl and the innocence expression in her face. She is going to kill me if she find out this posting but how I can not share this beautiful shot to the world, she'll understand)

Monday, November 26, 2007

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Talmud's Pottery


The Artifacts of Talmud's



Colourful Robe

Another shot for a Bahraini traditional Robe from a high rank woman. I am also clueless for detail name on each item. I need to ask Yaqoob for details, will update it ASAP.
Have a nice day all!

Friday, November 23, 2007

Winter's Flower

Winter is coming now in Bahrain Hooorayyyyy! Please do not get me wrong!!!!! Winter in Bahrain means a cooler weather, lots of rain (I am still not sure about this year, but last year it was very wet :P so let see then!) and I can go out taking pictures all day long without worry much of the the hot desert sun Halah!Here is my first posting of flowers commonly found in Bahrain! Dunno the name but its nice , is not it? Anyway, here is a poem I found from one of the book here published in Bahrain, Any of you know about him?
The bee-through many a garden roves,
And hums his lay of courtship o'er,
But when he finds the flower he loves,
He settles there, and hums no more
Thomas Moore 1779-1852

(LOL the bees escaped when I was trying to shot them, perhaps next time I'd be one lucky photographer)

Bahraini's Wedding

This is one nice shot depicting a traditional Bahraini's wedding. I do not really have any information now but I will do a further research with my Bahraini friends and update this page later on.
Have a nice day then!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Besht, The Golden Robe

Here is a shot from my last trip to Bahrain National Museum. In this display, you could see the full set of a traditional Bahraini Dress for a man belong to a deceased man from a high rank
(must be one of the famous Al Khalifas wink!!)
on the left side is the traditional dagger (the Khanjar) and on the right side is the head garment (the Agal) and the shawl (the Ghetra)
and at the far bottom right are the leather slippers (the Ena'al).