Bahrain Has A Technology First – 3G WIFI

17 Jan 2013 5 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Island Tales - Expatriate Living Tags: , , , , , , , ,

First 3G to WIFI Offload in the Middle East Bahrain

I just met my friend at City Center Mall to say our final good-byes.  She arrived before me to use their new 3G WiFi.  She went to the Zain kiosk and, for a few dinars, was watching YouTUBE on her phone.

This is the type of Internet access you need when you are traveling.  You don’t want to get caught with roaming charges when you check your emails on your phone.  Roaming is unbelievably expensive.  An acquaintance admitted she had hundreds of dinars in roaming charges when she did not turn off her phone’s data service while on vacation.  This is also great if you want to shop and your husband does not.

3G to WIFI Offload was all the rage at the 2012 Mobile World Conference in Barcelona last year and Bahrain, believe it or not, is the first in the Gulf to get it.

I don’t know why they are keeping it so quiet.  Maybe they are afraid City Center will be overrun with people.  Four dinars will give you access for the whole day.  Bring your iPad.  You can download TED, the uncut-version, and video Skype in your friends to people watch with you while you eat your mango PinkBerry.

See – sometimes even old Bahrain gets something new.

Raining Yoginis This Weekend in Bahrain

15 Jan 2013 Leave a comment

by Eva the Dragon in Island Tales - Expatriate Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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

10 Jan 2013 Leave a comment

by Eva the Dragon in Healing - Self and the Earth, Island Tales - Expatriate Living Tags: , , , , , , ,

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

January 4, 2013 Calls for the Mayan’s Food of the Gods

07 Jan 2013 16 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in When Dragons and Rabbits Make Me Laugh - Humor Tags: , , , , , ,

Marty McFly goes to the future

“You better check out your sister’s Facebook page,” Mojo told me this morning.  “There’s something posted there that will make you cry.”

Worried it was photos from my childhood, I looked at his computer.  He was right, but not because it was about me.  I remember those days in October 1985 when Michael J. Fox was driving his DeLorean around the shopping mall parking lot.  And now January 4, 2013 had passed.  Where did the time go?

Depressed, I wandered into the kitchen and laid my head on the table.

“Mom, can I make some hot chocolate?” Mark asked.

Chocolate! – the solver of all problems.

“Sure,” I said.  “Use this chocolate.  It is brand new.”

Our friends just returned from Switzerland and brought us back some chocolate.  Opening the can, I realized this was no ordinary, American, powdered chocolate, where you rip open the pouch and pour into boiling water.  This was Sprungli Swiss chocolate flakes.

chocolat chaud hot chocolate from sprungli

The 16th century Spaniards did not find the gold they searched for in South America.  But the Mayans taught them how to make xocolatl which was believed to restore health, fight fatigue and prevent fainting.  After realizing I was now in Marty McFly’s future, no Hershey’s kisses  for me, I needed the good stuff.

My sister had another photo on her Facebook.  I agreed.  As long as there is food for the Gods, the world will not end.

Oreo Cookie versus Mayan calendar

chocolate being stolen

“Hey, get your hands out of my chocolate.”

Last Sunset for 2012 – Gangnam Style

31 Dec 2012 4 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Island Tales - Expatriate Living Tags: , , , ,

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

22 Dec 2012 8 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Island Tales - Expatriate Living Tags: , , , , , ,

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

21 Dec 2012 3 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Island Tales - Expatriate Living Tags: , , , , , , ,

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.

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