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These are recent stories - the rest are in my latest book,"Walking Through Adversity."

Stories about Middle East Trips (2)

Rob bryant
2006-01-09 11:39:38

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could be monitored on channel 39 on the TV. I enjoyed the "homey" feeling and did my wash (yes I have been domesticated). There were US Marines billeting in the apartments next to mine and it made me miss Jason even more (my Marine son). The Island of Bahrain grows by over 200 American Families/week, so the demand for quality housing is very high. That night we went to an Arabic restaurant. It was an awesome meal consisting of a large pita type bread that was so hot it steamed when cut open. It was filled with chicken, lamb, beef and many local vegetables basted in condiments and low fat oils. This was followed by an Million Dollar Irish Pub where every stick of mahogany wood was imported from Ireland. They also drove me past the palace and mosque lit up with so many colors it was breath-taking. I met, worked and trained with our employees all the next day and had meeting after meeting with them to either negotiate something or show them the "DynCorp" way of doing things.

Striking Gold in a Shiite Village - In the afternoon we went to a Portugese Fort on the Western side of Bahrain built in the 1600s. It had a moat and protected the Sultan from the pirates of the day. I was fascinated looking at the 12 foot thick walls and perfectly preserved artifacts older than the USA. Then we went to a "Gold Souk" (mall) where over 30 gold stores all competed with each other. I looked around for a minute than picked one that looked honest and rolled in. He treated me like royalty and even got me a soft drink while I shopped. I didn't have long, so I bought my wife an 20K bracelet made of yellow and white gold. I asked a woman standing there if she liked it (needing the female seal of approval). She smiled and said, "If you are trying to impress a woman, this will certainly do it!" I also bought matching ear rings and more for our Anniversary and as a Christmas gift. This is one of the cheapest places in the world to buy gold, so I got carried away, but the store owner and credit card company loved me. Next he drove through a Shiite village where Muslim Zealots live and it was very dangerous for an American to go. We are considered "infadels" and evil people. Of course with what you can watch on US television, they have a point. No pictures are allowed of the women who were totally covered in silk black clothing and even had veils over their faces. Women are treated terribly here because they "bring out the devil in men." I took a picture anyway down a street where a woman and her son were walking hand in hand. He was barefoot, dirty and wore shorts and no shirt, yet she was completely covered from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. Next, we drove passed the famous Gulf States Pearl Roundabout. It is a 50-foot high marble statue of 6 replicas of whale bones teepee style (one representing the 6 Persian Gulf States) topped with the Pearl of Great Price. To me, that is Christ, to them it is Mohamad. It had lights hitting it from every direction, which change every few minutes. The word beautiful does an injustice to this piece of art that has religious and patriotic meanings. On my final evening in Bahrain we ate at a Mexican style restaurant called Senior Pacos. The owner had just purchased a huge Texas Mesquite Smoker, which he "fired" up each night outside and the locals packed the place. Luckily we had a reservation, and we ate authentic fajitas. Taco Bell eat your heart out!!

Copyright by Rob Bryant

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