Probably one of the most noticable things upon arriving in Bahrain, and in fact most middle eastern countries, is the style of dress worn by the local people.

There are two distinct types of women’s clothing in the region: one for locals, the other for expatriates. Outside the home, most Arab women dress according to religious custom, which means that they must cover most of the body, from head to foot. The traditional black overgarment (abaya) is ankle length with long sleeves and a high neckline, and the hair is covered with a scarf or Hijab. Some Arab women are totally covered, including their face and hands. There are many different styles of abayas, and they usually are paired with matching hijabs or headscarf. In addition to a hijab some women wear niqab which is a piece that covers the face, but not eyes. Some of the abayas are stunning to look at - beautifully embroidered around the sleeves and neckline.

The men wear a long white robe that in Oman is called a dishdasha. Headgear seems to vary with men in Bahrain mostly wearing a cloth head cover and the men in Oman wore a small fitting hat, often beautifully embroidered.

I was fascinated by the beautiful henna painted hands of the women.  One of the checkout operaters at the local supermarket had had her hands painted and it made the visit and the handing over of money that much more intetresting when I could watch the lovely patterns as she counted out the change!

Expats wear western clothes, there is no expectation for women to wear headscarves, but it is expected that women dress modestly.  And if entering a mosque traditional dress must be worn.

The mosques were beautiful inside and out. I think that my background as a patchworker and quilter has heightened my awareness of patterns we see around us and Oman and Bahrain had an abundance of islamic art in everyday life, especially in their buildings.

I went into two mosques, one in Bahrain where we were given appropriate clothing to wear, and one in Oman where we provided our own headscarf but were refused entry if we were not considered to be dressed appropriately. In both situations we were welcomed warmly and given a very informative tour of the building.

Bahrain

Many years ago, in 1969, my friend and I travelled from London to Khatmandu - by bus.  A ten thousand mile journey that took a couple of months. We travelled across Europe, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.  From Khatmandu we flew to Singapore via Calcutta. We then went by train up to Bangkok, and train to Chieng Mai., flew to Cambodia - Phnom Pen, and Siem Reap, then to Hong Kong. I ran out of money there and came on back to NZ. 

Since that trip overseas where I was away for a total of just over two years, we have made brief forays to the UK, Europe, Australia, and apart from a 12 week stay in America with a very ill daughter, our trips have been of the travelling kind rather than staying put for any length of time.

And so I returned to the Middle East, this time to stay put for a month, which was then extended another two weeks, we arrived back home last weekend.

Our daughter and son in law live in Bahrain and their first child was due to be born there. We rented a small one bedroomed villa just a few hundred yards up the road from them which was just ideal. Staying with them, with a new born baby to manage as first time parents, was not an option! So we became residents of the floating city, at Amwaj.

Bahrain is a large cigar shaped island adjacent to Saudi Arabia, in the Persian Gulf, and joined to Saudi by a causeway. Amwaj is right at the tip of the island and is a group of small islands, joined by causeways and bridges and much of it is land reclaimed from the sea. Part of Amwaj consists of an area called the floating city, there are several canals with villas built alongside them. Most people have their boat moored at the bottom of their front garden.

The first two photos are taken from the balcony of our apartment, the third is the walk down to our daughters place with the skyline of Manama silhouetted, and the last photo is the back of our apartment - we were upstairs.                                            ......to be contd.

I'm Back Again

We have been away overseas in Bahrain and Oman for the last seven weeks. What an adventure! Our fifth Grandchild - our third Granddaughter, was born in Bahrain on 20 January.

It has been a privilege to be able to spend time in these countries and to learn about and observe a culture so different from our own.

Some interesting photos yet to come.