IT’S TRULY LOCAL COMPLIMENTARY COPY FIRST ENGLISH AUGMENTED WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 ISSUE 233 www.bahrainthisweek.com Follow us on: CALLING BAHRAIN HOME DUBAI FRAME TO OPEN SHOWJUMPING: AL ROMAIHI ON THE YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! DOUBLE AGAIN 2 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 bahrainthisweek SPOTLIGHT CALLING BAHRAIN HOME book. Beverly is a talented photographer, being oppressed, no equal right with men, from South Africa. Nothing tells better low social status, is often misunderstood than lively photographs. Her marvellous based on western points. I would like to pictures make this book attracting. Rehab have the ladies speak on their own to break is local Bahraini young lady. She taught the prejudice. me how to live and eat as a local, also introduced the rich culture and good What one thing would you give up to tradition of Bahrain to me. become a better writer? Writing is one of the methods that I use Who is the cover girl? to express my love toward the Middle Honestly speaking, I don’t know who is East. Music, dance and art also offer the girl. This pic is among the thousand other methods. I established the Middle masterpieces of Beverly’s collection. The Eastern Culture Association at Taiwan in publisher liked it a lot and put it as cover. 2002. I have my own dance school; that This picture was taken in 2015 during Heya teaches different dances and music from Beya at Zallaq Beach. If you are the cover the Middle East, also Bollywood. Every girl or happen to know her, will appreciate year, we put a theatre show combined if you can contact me by emailing with drama to introduce different Middle [email protected] This pretty girl is Eastern culture to Taiwan. For me, no widely loved and representing Bahrain in matter writing, music, dance or art, as long this Chinese book. as people can love the Middle East, I will continue working on it. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a At the end, before we finish the body of work with connections between interview, do you have some more each book? words to share? This is my 2nd book. My first book is Bahrain is a culturally advanced nation, about Arabic dance, “Slim Body Raks Because of Bahrain, I started to know Sharqi”. For me, writing is alike homework excellent groups, like Caracalla (Lebanon), given by God. My major is Middle Eastern Enana(Syria), Mahmoud Reda Troupe Studies. I will continue writing more to (Egypt), Anadolu Atesi(Turkey), Merchant explore the good culture and value which I of Bollywood(India) and many more. saw from this land. Meanwhile, I do have During the past week of National Day plans to move to my 3rd book to talk about celebrations, I saw Ardah, Liwa, Yowla, the stories of women from different Arabic Fijri, and girls’ Khaliji dance in events. countries. Far from outside world, people I really enjoy everything I experienced tend to have a lot of wrong ideas toward here. I would like to say. Thank you, Middle Eastern countries, especially Bahrain for opening your arms to “Since I moved to Bahrain at 2009, every time when I mentioned I live toward women. Whenever seeing a picture expatriates friendly. And thank you for in Bahrain to the people in my country, many of them do not seem to of women wearing Abaya, a stereotype of letting us call Bahrain home. know about Bahrain. Even thinking I am talking about Paris, for the pronunciation of Bahrain and Paris in Mandarin sounds similar. I would like to find a book introducing Bahrain specifically to my friends, but couldn’t find any in Chinese books market. That’s how I started the idea to write it,” Violet Lee (Lee Wan Ju) said. In conversation with the author where the author speaks to Bahrain This Week where she is in search for Cover Girl of “My home at Arabian Sea – Kingdom of Bahrain”, the first ever traditional Chinese book introducing Bahrain. November 9, 2017, a Bahraini style, red and white, party was held in Taipei, Taiwan, announcing the publishing of “My home at Arabian Sea – Kingdom of Bahrain”. Read on to find more about the author and the search for the cover girl. What is the book about? sure mentioned, and also how local people Bahrain has a rich culture since ancient spend time in Malkiya beach, Desert Dilmun civilization. Since Bahrain is a multi- camping, farmer’s market, Al Dar Island, faced society and tolerance makes Bahrain horse racing…etc. most unique in the Middle East. I began with Bahrain’s history and tradition, and how How long did it take you to write this people celebrate festivals, like Ramadan, book? What kind of research did you do, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, Gergaoun, Heya and how long did you spend researching Beya, observations of Muharam, Ashura and before beginning a book? Nasfa are also mentioned. For writing, it took me around one year. In this book, I also introduce local However, for collecting the data, it took To know more about Middle Eastern Bahraini food, like Machboos, Mashkhool, me around 8 years, as I visited villages for Culture Association in Taiwan, you can Momawsh, Harees, Saloona, Aseed, interviewing and attending yearly festivals check out following link to watch a clip Balaleet, Gimat, Mahalabiya etc. Plus to make sure the information in my book is of their 2017 drama show, White Rose, point, recipes are also included in case the correct and without stereotype. a story based on real story happening in Chinese readers would like to try making Here, I would like to especially thank Ottoman Empire. the dish. The famous spots as Tree of Beverly Ann West and Rehab Madan for https://www.facebook.com/arabesque. Life, Oil No.1, Qalat Al Bahrain etc are for their kind helping me in working on this troupe/videos/1862210813811678/ bahrainthisweek SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 3 RETHINK BAHRAINRETHINK WHEN SHOULD YOU APPLY BRAKES suddenly. It could be a pedestrian crossing the But there are situations where you have to press road at a leisurely pace, a cat or a dog who makes a the brakes hard and immediately to avoid an impact. sudden appearance infront of your vehicle, a careless Nevertheless you must not press the brakes so schoolboy, a car which suddenly decides to cut across hard that your wheels get locked because in such a you to change the lane, a driver jumping the red light situation you might lose control of the vehicle. and springing a nasty surprise on you, a brick or a Another danger of harsh braking is your vehicle cardboard carton blocking your way, road works to might skid. If skidding occurs you must release the which you may not have paid attention beforehand brake pedal fully or ease off the accelerator and turn and much more. The reasons could be a thousand the steering wheel in the direction in which the vehicle and one. may be skidding. So one must be on the lookout for all possible And finally remember that if you have just driven scenarios so you are not taken by surprise. And if through deep water – an eventuality faced by drivers It’s rarely a smooth ride for any driver all the way from you guard against sudden surprises accidents can only during winters in Bahrain though - then your point A to point B. And subconsciously one has to be easily averted. The safest way to put brakes is to brakes may not be as effective for some as you would put brakes umpteen times even for a kilometer-long press them early and lightly as you gauge the nature expect them to be. Once you are out of water, test journey. If you ever decide to keep count of the number of and distance between your vehicle and the hazard their efficacy by pressing them gently. And if you feel of times you had to apply brakes while driving, even / obstruction. This way you are in complete control they are not fully effective then drive slowly while if briefly and lightly, you will be astonished to read the of the situation. You should then begin to brake applying light pressure on the brakes. This should sum total at the end of the stretch. more firmly as you approach the target and begin to help to dry them out after a while. In any case, a good driver should always stop. To avoid a jerky stop and give a shock to your You must also check your brake oil regularly. Brakes remain ‘brake-ready’. You never know when, in what co-passenger you should ease off the pressure just are the first line of defence for any driver to avert an circumstance, you may have to press the brakes before you stop. accident and must be maintained in good order. Supported by rethinkbh www.rethink.com.bh This Column is published in association with Ministry of Interior in public interest. Please send in your queries to [email protected] & MOI will respond in our next issue. 4 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 bahrainthisweek INSIDE BAHRAIN HOUSING CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2017 A GRAND SUCCESS companies and more. the only Bahraini exhibition that has “It is our pleasure to inaugurate partnered up with regional and global the Bahrain Housing Exhibition and construction groups specializing in Conference which comes as part of BTEA’s concept creation and development of efforts to host events that contribute everything from strategy, brand and significantly to the national economy.