The King of Bahrain Park and Zoo, that has the potential to be a lovely educational and fun place for kids, because of the good collection of animals it houses, is in such a shameful state, where every empty piece of land is covered with trash and leftover boxes and rags.I can safely say that the animal cages are much cleaner than the toilets, at least animals tend to clean after themselves when they are done doing it! I sometimes wonder if the ministry of Health has ever sent anyone to check on this zoo...it is after all a public place, and doesn't the ministry supervise the cleanliness of publis places?

 

I can not imagine what would I have done if one of the kids insisted they needed to use the toilet while we were there, because passing by them , you can see the pathetic state they are in. I passed on the opportunity to see the inside, but took some pictures from outside the door (Oh, wait, there was no door), but here's the pictures:

 

 

 

The floors, are just horrific.

 

 

The above sign says: ( Please Check on the Cleanliness of the toilet before using it)!! cleanliness, what cleanliness??

It seems someone came and tiled on top of its last part ..I guess whenever the wall gets dirty, they just repaint it or tile it or something..but cleaning is no option.

 

 

 

And,WHY, do we feel inclined to turn every public place into a mini amusement  park of some sort? Iam sure if it wasn't Ramadan, the place would smell of Argeeleh and sound of George Wassouf.

 

 

 

What an eye soar!! Then again maybe I need a refresher course in art appreciation!

 

 

 

 

 

The King of Bahrain Park, in Ghamadan, has a small zoo with a big variety of animals and birds, very interesting for both kids and grown-ups. These are some of the animals whose pictures turned out ok, but they have in addition to those lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, goats, mahas, more monkeys and lots of stuff thats worth seeing. However, my next post will show why I would not want to go there again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a fierce struggle for power, I sat there at the edge of Zaido's bed waiting for him to fall asleep. He kept nagging he wanted to go sleep in our bed, and there was no way I was going to let that happen.I haven't had any real sleep in three days, because a mom makes one mistake, and it's fatal. You let your kid share your bed once, and that is it! The precedent is done, and it's a legal right for him ever since to creep next to you, hog your pillow, and push you in the waist over and over again, like he was in a tomatoe squashing fiesta. So I waited and waited, for his eyes to close so I can sneak back to my room, but like a lion pretending not to care, while waiting on his prey to make a wrong move, he slept with his eyes half shut..I admired his long lashes and  wide eyes, with sleepy eyes myself..it was after all three in the morning, and I'd hardly got any sleep yet. I was doing the impossible to prevent myself from resting my head on his bed, because I would certainly fall asleep, and he would have won. It was his plan B, as a way of compromise, if I did not let plan A go through, to have me sleep next to him..but again, this was a power struggle and I was not about to surrender..not just yet. Problem is, in this struggle, he did have the upper hand. He was lying in his bed, on his pillow, sunggled up with his favorite blankie..not like me sitting on the edge, half sleeping in an upright position on the edge of his bed, swinging back and forth , to the right and to the left, worried about the alarm that will go off in less than 3 hours, while I hadn't actually slept yet. But the thing he was extorting me with the most, was the fact that he'd just fell, and said I should only stay with him till the wawa was gone. Now whenever he sensed an unwanted movement on my side, he'd go: "Ay, ay, aaaay!" and touch the side of his head which he'd hit while falling..not like he doesn't fall around 12 times a day! then he goes back to sleep, and the next time I'd move the Ay ay would get louder and stronger.Maybe I was there for around an hour when I thought its's safe now..I'd better make my exit! I resisted the urge to kiss him and pull back his blankie to cover his shoulders, and just left as quietly as possible. I rested my head on my pillow and was about to declare victory when I felt his hand pushing my back to make room for himself..it did not take him a minute..not even 30 seconds..and I got up and went crazy."thats it "I said.."you're going back to you room.!"

"But I'm in pain!! and my bed's not that soft, and my blankie is cold, and my room is noisy!!"

"NO! back to your bed!!"and he just made himself comfortable, pulled up the duvet, and digged his feet in baba's back! I threatened to never talk to him again, since this seems to be the only thing that works nowadays, but he did not care.

So I left to his room, sat on his bed and waited for him to get some sense, and he did not..well not on his own at least, but when baba's had it with the pushing and screamed..he came back to mama.."6ayyeb, I will sleep..but you have to stay here.."

"NO"

"6ab get me some water"

"get me some water shoo?"

"get me some water, please!"

"ok..just a little and you go to sleep!"

So I bring the water, and he's like: " Put it there, I don't want any right now!!!"

A three year old tyran!! mashi ya sidi..at least he seems to have given up, and I win.

Or do I?

In my bed, and about to sleep..

"Mama, soat el 3ammo kteer 3ali" el 3ammo is the moathen calling for prayer. The new mosque which was only opened beginning of Ramadan is so loud, no where else it's this loud..I'd think the speakers were on my bed side table..so we wait till 3ammo finishes and go back to bed.

Before my alarm rings at 5.45..Zaido calls me: "Mama , khalasty noam? Are you done sleeping?"

Am I done sleeping..did I sleep yet, you mean? I decide to keep it to myself..it's just not worth it..lets start a new day, and hope for better luck tonight!

 

 

         

               

                

                

               

               

               

 

                 

                 

                          

                     

 

" Is there anything else I can donate, ammo?" Ten-year-old Omar Hashim Al Majali asked Mohammed Al Wakeel, after donating 50 jds from his savings for the cornea operations campaign. Little did anyone know that a couple of months later, there would be something else he would be donating, this time his corneas.

 

I could not contain my tears, when I heard a rerun of the little boy's phone call..

"can I dontae anything else, ammo?" it's like he knew..his dad says he did tell him I would like to donate my corneas too, one day, and this day has come much sooner than anyone would have wished.

 

Omar died when a bus driver hit him, and left him lying there on the road, to go on with  his life, as if it was just another day in the bus. Omar's father said he  forgives this driver..but only if he is a found to be a sensible person and not a reckless driver with a record of other road accidents. He said hecan only wish for God's mercy on his son, but he also fears for other people's lives.

 

And this morning, less than 48 hours after the little angel's death, two young men are admitted to hospital, to be given the gift of sight by a ten year old boy, who could teach us all what it means to be a human.

 

I can not get over how sad this Ramadan will be for Omar's family. I can not imagine, how every time they sit for their long awaited meal, Omar will be missing. I can not imagine how his mother will wake up early to prepare the s7oor meal, for everyone but Omar.I can not imagine how will there be a Eid, without Omar.Is it possible to love a child without ever seeing him, I loved Omar, as soon as I heard his voice.May God's mercy be upon him. and May his family be granted patience and strength to go on with their lives and keep his memory alive.

First it was cute , but after a couple of minutes where we ended up going upwards instead of downwards, and where the five minute walk was going to turn into a half hour walk (which I don't mind, had it not been for the nagging three-year-old-son-of-mine), I started pulling them back to routes of my choice, when Raya asked why I won't let her guide the way.

I found myself saying something like: Well, you know what mommy? I would like it if you kept the decision making for me for some time. Ok? Since I'm the mother?

Raya:   Then, would it be Zaido's turn after that?
Me:      Zaido's turn in what?
Raya:   In Decision making, will he be next in line, after me?
Me:     You really like this idea, of me being old and senile, and you deciding things for me,don't you?
Raya:   Can't wait!