what i did on my holidays - educational and entertaining: Infotainment

These kids were just hanging out in Juffair on ashura


OK, morning folks

so at the moment it is ashura. as such, we get 2 days of work. Heidi actually has two weeks and the the fact that we are going to Abu Dhabi is by the by. At the moment we are enjoying 2 days off work, whilst the Shia mourn for the fallen son, Hussein, who was killed in battle by what would become the Sunni.

anyway, to commemorate the killing, the Shia men parade in the street, beating themselves. In Juffair, it was largely symbolic - they beat they chests only. But elsewhere, it can get pretty nasty as the flaglate themselves with chains.

follow the link for video.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6735972923606692828

the caption at the end of the vid, refers to this photo.




all in all, i think it is fair to say that they experience was odd. They do this great mounful thing which both preceded and followed by great celebrations with lots of tea and cake.

Tea fans: you will be glad to know that i have found a form of tea that i like. It is very milky, very sweet and made with cardamom. Lovely.

I got invited around an exhibition that showed in detailed exactly how the great Hussain was slain and then, after going to get Heidi, we were invited to sit with some locals and eat aforementioned cake and some really good curry.

The experiences was interesting, but overwhelming.

this truly is a bizarre place to be living.

XxX

more photos















For a better explanation of what ashura is, go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Ashura

and for photos of ashura in Manama last year, go here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamalaly/sets/72057594060908606