Al-Hammar

الحمّار, originally uploaded by malyousif.

It is quite surprising that some people in the various villages of Bahrain still depend on donkeys for their transport and work them too. This man is collecting the grass-cuttings off the local park presumably to use as donkey/cow feed.

Have a nice Friday… I’m just chillin’ today waiting for 6pm to watch the first of the two decisive matches in the World Cup!

New office: view from my desk

New office: view from my desk, originally uploaded by malyousif.

We moved into a new office last Friday, it’s now almost complete, we’re just waiting for the internet to be connected.

The paintings on the wall are done by my dad (rest his soul).

This is the view from my desk.

Saeed Mosque

Saeed Mosque, originally uploaded by malyousif.

I visited the old neighbourhood this morning on the way to pay my respects to the Khalaf family (our neighbours of old) for the passing of their doyen. On the way back, I shot several pictures of the neighbourhood I grew up in in central Manama on my mobile phone… this one is of Saeed’s Mosque.

The local lore says that a Christian man fell in love with Bahrain and this (Al-Hammam) neighbourhood in Manama so much that he financed the building of this mosque for the area’s worshippers!

I guess, over 100 years ago people were much more tolerant than they are today.

The Compere

The Compere, originally uploaded by malyousif.

Sameer Hameed (Abu Hameed) is the Funeral Compere par excellence! He MC’d my dad’s funeral (rest his soul) and left us to deal with our grief, without having to deal with the other bits and pieces like ensuring that there is enough refreshments for people coming to pay their respects, arranged food to be served at the proper time and generally took good care of everyone.

Abu Hameed’s been in the business for 18 years, and he only serves those he _wants_ to serve! Very picky. But this guy is an act on his own, knows the tea/coffee/water/juice preference of every single high official in Bahrain from the King to the pauper!

I’ll put up a blog post about him soon, while the memory is still fresh.

Thanks Abu Hameed!