the souq and shisha

Before dinner yesterday we went to Bab el Bahrain, one of the souqs (market) in Manama. "Bab el Bahrain" translates to "door to Bahrain." We were dropped off at the beginning of the souq, and as soon as we stepped out of the van we heard the call to prayer.

This was my first time hearing the lovely chant that is played city-wide five times a day, calling every practicing Muslim to prayer. They are renovating this souq, so soon all of it will look like the beginning part that is in the video. Farther back into the frame is what it really is like, crowded vendors trying to lure you into their shop with "special prices." Within Bab el Bahrain there are gold souqs, which are indoor markets with tens (hundreds?) of vendors/stores that sell 18 and 22 karat gold and natural pearl jewelry. In the main part of the souq the shops commonly sold items like cloth and scarfs, touristy t-shirts and things, electronics, watches, and abayas.

After shopping (which consisted mostly of trying to be polite while ignoring salespeople all but drag you into their store), we went to Veranda's, a restaurant popular with locals, with Parsa and Ranna for dinner. Veranda's had international food on the menu, but also served local/regional dishes. Again, delicious food...but this time followed by smoking shisha, which is similar to hookah. We smoked it fresh, with a piece of fruit was placed on top of the tobacco instead of having fruit flavored tobacco.

To touristy stuff now. Coming soon: reflections on the similarities in privileged students' idealism, and how much Hollywood has shaped perceptions of the U.S.