Raining Yoginis This Weekend in Bahrain

Lucy Roberts Yogini and retreat facilitator

Bahrain gets less than three inches of rain a year.  And sometimes it all happens on one day, and the whole place is flooded.  Seems we have the same issue with visiting yoginis.

This weekend Namaste and La Fontaine are both hosting yoga workshops.

Lucy Roberts will kick it off at Namaste Thursday night.

Last February, Lucy taught a class here in Bahrain.  I attended one evening and was impressed with the depth of the class.  All the elements – breath, postures, meditation and sound – were included in a graceful way.  She taught a beautiful yoga class.

Valerie Jeremijenko from Qatar will be at La Fontaine on Friday night for a talk and the class will start Saturday morning at 9:30.

I haven’t met Valerie before but I can tell we are of like minds.  Not only does she teach yoga, but she is thinker who writes about yoga and likes to share her knowledge.

Of course, I will attend both.  I’ve already informed the family that I will miss their first baseball game against Saudi Arabia.  I will be with them in spirit but not in body.

The Namaste studio is located on Budaiya Highway above Ruyan Pharmacy.  You can book by calling 38855999.

La Fontaine is downtown and you can call or email events@lafontaineartcentre.net

yoga master valerie jeremijenko at la fontaine

Bahrain’s Specialness – Free Hugs

Bahrain Free Hugs Arab artists peace

Many times people ask why we live in Bahrain, and by extension the Middle East.

In Bahrain we get Free Hugs.

All people from the Gulf countries are very warm and affectionate with their families and friends.  When Arabs greet each other, it is not a simple “HI”.  There is an entire ritual of multiple hugs and kisses while asking about the family’s well-being.  When I offer my hug and kiss to a friend, it looks anti-social compared to theirs.

But in Bahrain, that love extends beyond the family to the other people visiting and living on the island.

Ulafaa (meaning partners), an artist-led group, gave out Free Hugs during the Market 338 last month.  The Free Hugs campaign began in 2002 when Juan Mann started hugging strangers on Sydney’s street.  Helped by the Sick Puppies song and video, Free Hugs has gone global.

free hug Juan Mann Sydney

As I look through the Free Hug photos and videos from around the world, I think Bahrain was the first country in the Gulf, if not the Middle East where Free Hugs were given out.  A tiny drop of hope from Paradise that inshallah will radiate throughout the Middle East.

Good ideas do spread.  It is true that one person can be the creative force for positive change.

free hugs hug the world tshirt1

Last Sunset for 2012 – Gangnam Style

last sunset 2012 Bahrain palm tress

After December 21, 2012 passed and the earth continues to turn, December 31st seems a bit anti-climatic if it wasn’t for the fact that it is my niece and Psy’s birthdays.

Still, as the sun sets on the last day of the year, it seems appropriate to wish 2012 farewell.  For all of the hype around the year, it turned out to be quite peaceful with positive signs for the future.

I wish everyone Happy New Year and send you my heartfelt wishes that 2013 will find you and your family full of love, life, health, wealth and happiness – and that you end it in true Gangnam style.

Who knows, something exciting could still happen.  The Year of the Dragon does not change until February 10th, 2013.

In case you are NOT one of the billion people who have watched Psy’s video.  I am certain I recognized some people I know.  Go South Korea!

Now The Countdown to Christmas

Since the world is back on track, I thought I would share a low, medium and high option for a Bahrain Christmas Eve.

dublin bahrain christmas eve 2012 menu

Starting at the low end, Santa and his helpers will be hosting Christmas Eve dinner at a local club.  Knowing how many tribute singers come to Bahrain, I have a feeling this is not the REAL Santa Claus.  And, sorry men, I certain the helpers in the ad have been photo-shopped in.

The medium option is – believe it or not – Ric’s Country Kitchen in Juffair.  Before yesterday, I had not eaten at Ric’s since Mojo brought me there nearly a decade ago.  I appreciated the cow-kitschy, remodeled interior.  And my huevos rancheros with homemade salsa and beans were so good, I picked up their Christmas flyer.

ric country kitchen christmas 2012 menu

The menu, except the deep-fried turkey, looks like it came right out of my book.

My high-end choice is La Fontaine.

Christmas Eve 2012 at La ntaine

Fatima decided Christmas Eve means opera.  She has invited the Greek, but born in Bahrain, opera singer Danae Eleni and her pianist brother to perform.  Danae Eleni’s repertoire includes songs composed over seven centuries and in eleven different languages.  Like Placido Domingo’s sopranos, Danae Eleni has competed in several international competitions.  Add a glass of proseco under the new Capricorn moon and it sounds like a wonderful Christmas Eve setting.

Or, as in our case, you might have already been invited to an exclusive event with close friends.  The champagne and the snowman, ice cream cake have been ordered.  All Mark and I have left to do is to bake the chocolate mint cookies.  Mmmmm.

Spoiler Alert: The Sun Will Rise Again

Dawn at GMT+3

Dawn at GMT+3

Mojo, Ace, Mark, Susan and I greeted the dawn of the new age at 6:21, GMT+3.

This, actually, was not the easiest thing to do, not because we had to dodge zombies, but we had to find a beach on this island.  Knowing we had to leave early in the morning, I did not want to discover en route that we could not find an empty beach to stop at.  Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours scouting out a spot on the eastern side of the island.

Secondly, I had to convince the troops to go.  Last night when I told them what I wanted to do, the conversation went like this.

Mark said, “Sounds like a Mom-thing.”

I insisted, “It’s historic.  The next cycle won’t start for another 2,000 years.”

“What time do we have to get up?” he asked suspiciously.

“5:30.  You can sleep in the car.”

“Noooo! Not on our holidays!  I can’t believe you’re making us do this.”

Obviously my cunning repertoire convinced them to go.

Ric's Country Kitchen Doomsday Bash

After we took our photos, Mojo insisted our first meal in the new age be biscuits and bacon at Ric’s Country Kitchen.

“Nooo, we want to go hooooome,” wailed the boys on our deaf ears.

The party streamers and stragglers were cleaned up by the time we arrived.  But the last of the ancient Gods met us, and we toasted the new day with beer.

Enki God of Heaven and Earth and his antelope having a beer with a friend in Ancient Dilmun or Bahrain

Enki God of Heave and Earth and his antelope having a beer with a friend. Dilmun seals found in Bahrain, the ancient Dilmun.

So far, the news from Paradise is the next 2,760 years will be better.

Peace to everyone on earth.

And to the survivalists, you can turn in your semi-automatic weapons now.

Tidying Up for the New Age

November 13 1833 the night the stars fell

A story my great,great-grandfather used to tell was when he was a young boy working on Erie Canal, he watched the greatest astronomical spectacle in recorded history – The Night The Stars Fell.

What? You never heard of it?

On November 12-13, 1833, watching what they believed were falling stars, people concluded the Day of Judgment had arrived.  The nine-hour, meteor show was so intense the night sky looked like a snow storm.  The story had a happy ending.  The humans survived, and from that night, scientists began formulating their first meteor theories.

Today, scientists are busy posting articles that December 21st is the end of a Mayan calendar cycle, not the apocalypse.  They are also busy debunking the Planet X rumors.

Twelfth Planet by Zecharia Sitchin

In 1976, the late author Zecharia Sitchin claimed in his translation of the Sumerian texts, he rediscovered the lost planet Nibiru, which allegedly orbits the sun once every 3,600 years.  In his translations, Sitchin referred to four regions where the Nefilim resettled man.  The fourth, a “holy” region, was called Til.mun.

Other Sumerian archeologists translate Bahrain’s ancient name as Dilmun.

“Ziusudra, the king, having prostrated himself before An and Enlil…they bestowed eternal life upon him as a god…They installed him in a country overseas: At Dilmun, where the sun rises.”

– Sumerian text l.254-262 from Traces of Paradise: The Archaeology of Bahrain

Gilgamesh and Enki Dilmun era tablets from Bahrain

Gilgamesh holding the lion. The god Enki standing at the head where the two waters meet. Tablets uncovered in Bahrain.

Ziusudra was the Sumerian hero who survived the great flood.  Gilgamesh’s epic journey was to find immortality in Ziusudra’s Paradise.  Over millennia, as the flood story continued to be told, Ziusudra’s name was changed to Noah.

Overtime, Zecharia Sitchin decided Til.mun was not our little island.  He said the texts referred to Til.mun land and Til.mun city, the other being in the Sinai.  But I still think he should have visited the Bahrain Museum and studied the original, Dilmun seals.

Dilmun seal with Enki enclosed in a room  perhaps a teleporter

Dilmun seal on display at the museum. Enki is holding his two jars of water and standing “in an enclosed chamber.” Could that be a teleporter?

This last day of the 13th b’ak’tun in the ancient Mayan calendar system, I am cleaning up my desk.  Living between Dilmun’s ancient tombs, my family and I wait to see whether we, like my great, great-grandfather, live to tell the tale about the dragons and rabbits in Paradise.  I suspect one day, my great, great-grandchildren will read this post and giggle at our quaint notions and antiquated communication systems.

Mayan nay-sayers and doomsdayers aside, I hope a new era is beginning.

 

Note:  You can read about the Dilmun Seals and learn about Bahrain’s ancient history in this 2000 museum catalog, Traces of Paradise: The Archaeology of Bahrain 2500BC-300AD.  Edited by Harriet Crawford and Michael Rice.

 

A Message from Our Mother “We are of One Heart”

Saffron Restaurant, Muharraq Bahrain

Saffron Restaurant, Muharraq Bahrain

Superman’s appearance in Tahrir Square was not the only sign of hope I saw yesterday.  After applying make-up over my teary face, I drove to Muharraq to meet my Bahraini friend for breakfast.  We agreed to meet “in the big parking lot” before walking over to Saffron together.

A busload of school girls and their mothers crowded the alley’s entrance.

Um Hassan and school girls in Muharraq Bahrain

“Hello, hello,” the girls said to me, practicing their English.

My friend recognized the elderly woman the girls were gathered around.

“Salam alay-kum Um Hassan,” she called out to her, waving.

The woman returned the greeting and waved to us.

“Who is that?” I asked.

“Um Hassan.  The mother of Bahrain,” my friend told me.  “I recognize her from the television.”

“When the teachers started protesting at the Pearl Roundabout, she was the first woman who volunteered to go help in the schools.  She is not educated, but she did not want the schools to be shut down.  They interviewed her and she talked about how Bahrain and all Bahrainis were her children.  Her speech moved many people.  It was repeated over and over again.”

“My Children you are the crown on my head. You are my children and the children of Bahrain … All of us are One and are of one heart. Our flag is red like our hearts. My Child, Bahrain, deserves the best.  It raised us.  Since we were born, all we saw was Bahrain. We are on one track.  We want One heart. Our heart is red like our flag but it’s pure and white and we love everyone and our people are one.”

“Let’s meet her,” I said.

“You want to?” my friend asked.

“Of course.” I said, diving into the girls.

As the Mother of Bahrain held out her arms to embrace me, the abaya-clad women took photos.

Um Hassan The Mother of Bahrain in Muharraq Bahrain

“Our King is the bird and we are the two wings.  A bird can’t fly with one wing and I say, May God guide everyone, all of us, Sunna and Shia.  This land – we will not fail it.”

These revolutions are not just about the youth.  Superman and Um Hassan are carrying messages and lessons learned from all those who have gone, and suffered, before us.

“And please forgive me. I love you and love the land that you walk on. I love you my children. Maybe good will come out of this harm.

The spirit has awoken and you have all awoken and gathered around. May God bless you.”

– Quotes from Um Hassan’s speech to the Second Gathering of National Unity.

Um Hassan Bahraini Emblem given to me by Um Hassan

Bahrain pin given to me by Um Hassan

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