In what I thought was my final week in Bahrain there were so many places I wanted to visit and so many good friends to say goodbye to. The original plan was to take Team Neil (my houseboys Corleen, Jake, my chef Coco, and part time assistant , Joshua) to the Sofitel for Brunch. However, COV 19, stopped that, like so may other things. Then the week before I was due to leave Ian and I made a delivery to Arad, for Chester’s mum. We arrived early and went in search of coffee. As usual, when you have lived somewhere for 11 years and are about to leave, you find a really nice restaurant. So, I checked their opening times and menu and a plan formulated in my head. We could eat our way around Bahrain for a day!
The waitress taking our Breakfast order at Mado, Seef Mall Muhurraq
I went to see my friends in Bapco Corporate Communications (CCD) and they recommended a company called Bahrain Limousine who I emailed. They were prompt in reply, gave me a variety of options and prices and confirmed all the details – car, driver, itinery, price and payment within 24 hrs.
Corleen, Ian, The British Kabayan- almost, and Jake
So the route was finalised, the tables booked, and my boys were told to be at my house at 7 am on Friday and look smart! Our SUV, driven by a very smart Samuel, in his suit, arrived spot on at 7. 30 am. We all selected our seats for the first leg of the journey. The little ones (Ian and Jake) got the back, and Corleen, Joshua and I shared the middle seats with all the camera gear (mine and Corleen’s) and we set off before most of Awali was awake.
Just part of our amazing Breakfast at Mado, Seef Mall, Muhurraq
After 11 years driving around Bahrain it was so nice to have a Chauffeur. We headed to the North East of Bahrain to Arad Fort where we had an amazing breakfast, and photo shoot in the sun. Special thanks to Joshua for the amazing pics and the two lovely Phillipino waitresses who served us. As usual Corleen and the boys had them in hysteric's . Even Joshua could not eat all the food, so we had a take away for our driver, Samuel, who waited patiently outside. Another great advantage of having your own Chauffeur driven Limousine is you don’t have to worry about parking- you just get driven to the door and dropped off. When you are ready to leave a quick text from Corleen ( the fastest guy in Bahrain at getting a guys phone number) and the driver returns to collect you!
The day was purely extravagant with a big pay off promised by Bapco ( no they did not manage to pay me before I left, unbelievable! ) . There will be more Blogs on this subject when I have left Bahrain. One of the most demotivating things about Bapco was how they deducted money if you were 5 minutes late for work in an instant. Then when you leave and are owed 11 years indemnity and interest it takes over 5 emails, 3 office visits, a delayed flight, and 7 days to get your money.
So as well as splashing out on a Chauffeur driven SUV and several meals I
decided to spoil the best Pinoy staff who served us. Many lost their job as people swapped to Talibat delivery rather than dine out. During the Cov 19 pandemic their
income fell dramatically. So I decided to put a smile on a few faces by leaving
a large tip at each restaurant. This resulted in the waitress running after us
to the car in Arad shouting “Sir , your change” and the most amazing smile when
I said it was for her for her excellent service.
I can still hear Joshua shouting "Talabat" from the back of the car every few secondsI always
remember travelling the UK on vacation with my dad and we always swapped seats
after each pitstop . So after breakfast Ian and I had the back row, Joshua and Jake had the middle seats and Corleen
sat up front to give the driver directions. Another of my father’s ways of
keeping us entertained was to play spotting games – how many Eddie Stobart
lorries can you see. So I set the boys a challenge- How many Talabat ( food
delivery drivers ) can you see before Malkiya. They reckon that with COV 19,
the closing of indoor dining, and Bahrainis being too lazy to cook or go out
there will be more Talibat bikes on the road than cars by 2030! Joshua easily
won , and carried on shouting Talibat for the rest of the day every 2 minutes.
Even I
cannot eat all day so we planned in some walks between the restaurants and our
first was at Malkiya, which has always been my favourite beach in Bahrain. As usual it was devoid of Expats and full of Bahrainis and fisherman enjoying the sun and the
cooler winter months (26 degrees) . The sea there is the cleanest in Bahrain and
there is some sand. You can watch the old fishermen making lobster pots and
repairing their nets. Suddenly Corleen became very excited when some Shia boys
with a big whip, cart and 2 donkeys arrived on the beach. He set up all his
vlogging equipment and soon had the boys eating out of his hand. Even Jake, who
Corleen has been training, got up on the
cart with the Shia boy and the big whip for a photo. Eventually I managed to
tear team Neil away from the teenagers for a walk on the beach and to play on
the swings before heading back to the car.
Corleen loves Shia boys with big hosepipes
For the next
leg of the journey we played “spot the royal palaces” and Jake won with 9!
Next Corleen
directed the driver to the secret forest ( don’t ask how Corleen found out
about the forest) and we joined several other families and photographers for
some amazing shots. On the next leg of the journey Team Neil were given a topic
to photograph and this time Corleen won easily.
By now we
were getting hungry again , and sadly Ian had to go to work at 12.30 so we
headed to Zallaq Springs and Shakespeare Restaurant where Ian and I headed to the table
which the waitress had saved for us. The other boys got stopped by security for
taking photos on private land! There is always one “Jobsworth” security guard
everywhere and he did not fall for Joshua’s pleas that how could it be private land
of it was open to the public and everyone else was taking photos with their
phones. For one happy moment I thought they would arrest Joshua but they let him go and he took revenge by ordering his own food while the rest of us shared the platter I ordered. Strangely Joshua left without paying for his meal!
The rest of us decided on a shared starter and a shared main course
While we
contemplated Joshua being arrested and taken away ( more food for everyone
else) we ordered a shared starter and main course and several soft drinks.
Corleen returned his Lemon Mint and we voted it the worst Lemon Mint in
Bahrain. Joshua was finally released and was so upset he had to order a main
course for himself, and this time there was none left for poor Samuel in the
Limo! Once everyone had eaten we headed back to the car chased by the lovely
waitress shouting “Sir, you left your change”
My saffron ice cream- Masarap
Corleen
stayed up front to direct Samuel to Riffa, his home territory, and we dropped
Ian off early for his work before heading back up the highways to Manama and Water Garden where we had desserts and drinks by the sea at Joshua’s cousin’s
café. Maybe we should have called the Blog "Joshua's farewell tour"- as he has since disappeared.
As we were ahead of schedule, we headed to Mall of Dilmunia (Bahrain’s newest and best Mall – because we do not have enough Malls!) which was amazing. There is a canal with fountains (outside, then still work in progress- now finished ) and a lovely Karak cart . It is run by an amazing Phillipino who has worked in Oman, Al Ain, Dubai, and many other countries and who had us all in hysterics. She also teased Corleen for spending 30 mins in the toilets ( CR)! While we waited for Mr. Pok Pok the rest of us watched the show on the huge screen set into the roof of the mall with planes flying overhead ( complete with sound effects ) followed by sharks swimming and so on- all very surreal- and no, none of us had been drinking.
The amazing roof of Mall of Dilmunia
There is also an aquarium which runs up though the ceiling and is full of sting rays and multi coloured fish which drew quite a crowd, especially the kids
We needed some snacks by then so
we headed to Tamimi markets, a Canadian supermarket staffed by the happiest and
cutest Phillipino’s you will find anywhere in Bahrain. At the checkout they had
red roses so I bought one each for Corleen, Jake and Joshua which caused a lot
of laughter from the 3 sweet Bahraini girls on the tills.
Corleen
called Samuel as we left and the SUV shimmered in the sun as it emerged from
the Underground car park, past the “you cannot go there” security guard to
collect his VIP’s from the Mall entrance.
Neil discusses the finer points of drinking tea with Jake
It was now time for tea and there is no better place to have tea than The Orangery at the Palace hotel. The wonderful Pinoy staff there did not disappoint delivering tray loads of china pots of Earl Grey Tea and stacks of scones, smoked salmon sandwiches and fresh cakes which amazingly all disappeared in 30 mins.
Finally I got my camera back and got a picture of an unusually quiet Joshua and Corleen
All too soon our amazing day was over as Samuel dropped us off at 4.30 pm and the prize giving took place. Bottles of HEG perfume and the remaining items from the house. Jake got the mop bucket and Wallis Tambo, Joshua a plant, and Corleen the iron and Ironing board!
It is a day we will all remember for the rest of our lives. Special thanks to all the Pinoy staff who looked after us so well on our travels. You reconfirmed, not that it was ever needed, that I have made the right choice to move to the Philippines. Secondly thanks to Samuel our driver , and Yasser at Bahrain Limo who made all the arrangements for me. If ever you need a Chauffeur driven car ( or van) contact them:
Bahrain Limousine
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Hello, I am The British Kabayan! Feel free to read my stories.
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