September 11th Memorial Ceremony

          Twelve years ago today tragedy hit where I call home, the United States. Almost 3,000 people from all “walks of life” lost their lives. The World Trade Center was struck by two hijacked planes. Another virtually demolished the Pentagon and one plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. I believe absolutely everyone can recall where they were, what they were doing and may have known someone who perished on that devastating day on September 11, 2001.

            Today in Riyadh Saudi Arabia we memorialized the lives lost with a brief ceremony, a moment of silence and lowering of the U.S. flag.

                             

Gone ...always in our hearts, but certainly.....NEVER forgotten!

 GMarie

Caribbean Cuisine in the Kingdom

          One day, I asked my co-worker Cherryl, who is from Guyana, to teach me how to prepare some of the Caribbean dishes that she bring for my lunch sometimes. She said okay and collected the ingredients that we would need. I am from the northeast and grew up amongst a plethora of ethnic groups (i.e. Italians, Puerto Ricans and Germans) but mainly Afro-Caribbean (Haitians, Jamaicans and Trinidadians) folks. So during the dinner hour, my neighborhood would be overflowing with an assortment of aromas; spicy sauces for pasta, pastelons (sweet plantains with pork) or even, apple strudel. But my favorite was the Caribbean cuisine. Cherryl taught me to prepare these dishes and decided to share her recipes.

We started off with the peas and rice. Let me tell you, this is not your ordinary, white rice!

PEAS and RICE (called “cook up rice” in Guyana)

First, pressure cook ox tails and salt meat

Add kidney beans (you can use black –eye peas, split or pigeon pea), 2 cups

Add chopped onions, 1/2 cup

Add coconut milk, 4 1/2 cups

Let simmer 10 minutes

 Add 3 cups of rice (uncooked)

 Add 2 tbsp soy sauce

Add 2 tbsp Worcester sauce

Add quartered tomato

Add quartered green peppers

1 tbsp Basil

1 tbsp Thyme

1 pkg of chicken bullion

Add salt to taste

Stir, cover the pot and allow to simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Stir to prevent burning.

Next is one of my favorites…..Curry chicken. I just love the taste of curry!

 CURRY CHICKEN

 Mix cumin, curry powder and water with:

1 onion, cut up

Garlic, minced

Ginger, minced

 Put in pot with hot oil

Add seasoned chicken (lemon pepper, chicken seasoning, soy sauce and Worcester sauce) 

Simmer for 10 minutes

Add coconut milk, 1 cup

Add 1 tomato, cut up

Add potatoes, 3 medium potatoes

Add chicken bullion

Simmer until the potatoes are tender.

If you haven’t had some Jerk Chicken, you are missing a treat. Spicy, but delicious!

JERK CHICKEN

Preheat oven to 350

Rub the Jerk Seasoning (hot spice mixture) into the chicken, add 1/4 cup of olive oil and allow marinating for one hour in the refrigerator

Place the marinated jerk chicken in baking dish

Cover with foil and put in the oven for 20 minutes

Roti is a must, to complement these three dishes!

ROTI

Baking powder, 2 tbsp

Flour, 3 cups

Water, 1 cup (add more as needed)

Mix flour and baking powder together

Slowly mix with water into soft dough.

Let stand for 10 minutes

Add small amounts of flour to firm up batter

Mix ghee (clarified butter) with cooking oil

Divide dough into equal portions

Roll each piece of the dough on a floured surface, brush with the ghee and oil mixture evenly over the surface, make a slit in the center and fold all corners. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Roll out each piece of the dough and place on hot grease roti pan or skillet

Turn the roti on both sides and brush with the ghee and oil mixture.

Remove the roti from the pan or skillet and “clap” immediately.

(“clapping” causes a ripped up, flaky appearance).

Fold and place in a bowl lined with wax paper

I am still trying to get the “clapping” part correct. That roti is hot!!

And there you have it! Loosen the belt on your pants and dig in!

“Big up and walk good”,

GMarie 

Manama, Bahrain

           A few of us from the base made a trip to Bahrain.  The drive from Riyadh to Bahrain is approximately four hours. Before crossing the King Fahd Causeway, which connects Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, we stopped in Al Khobar for a bathroom break then on to Manama which is the capital of Bahrain and also the smallest Arab nation in the Middle East. Upon entering the city, I immediately noticed the tall skyscrapers and exceptionally beautiful architecture.   

The living accommodation of choice was the Ritz Carlton. We all know that the Ritz Carlton is known for its uncompromising service and renowned lavish interiors, so we knew that we were not in for nothing ordinary at this Ritz and was not surprised by the picturesque view of the Gulf and the city of Manama. We immediately checked in so we could freshen up before having a bite to eat. As I was getting ready, I admired the night lit view of the manicured grounds from the 9^th floor. I also wondered if my king sized bed covered with an antique white duvet comforter and bedding which is featured in many of the Ritz-Carlton’s, was as comfy as it looked. For now, hunger was setting in fast and I would entertain that thought later.

 

There were several restaurants located inside the Ritz. We were so famished that we just chose the first one we saw. It was called the Plums Restaurant. We were immediately seated. The restaurant was small but had a cozy atmosphere. The décor was modern, intimate and dimmed but the art deco brought the room to life with the interesting wall art of wine bottles and hats. For starters, we shared the calamari, which was very scrumptious. Since it was late, we decided to have a light fare, so I had the Caesar salad with shrimp with creamed spinach. My colleagues had the Seared Duck Foie Gras and grilled asparagus. We found out that if you ordered a steak, you actually get to select from an assortment of knives! The entrées were a bit pricey but the staff was accommodating and very attentive.

  

Manama is known for its nightlife and alcohol is legal but we were there during the beginning of Ramadan, so music and drinking was suspended until after Eid Holiday. After a great meal and shower, I had only one thing on my mind; try out the bed that looked like you are floating on a cloud. Well the looks were not deceiving because once I climbed into the bed all I remember was that the sheets were so big and soft….the rest of the evening was a wrap!

The next morning I got up early because I was well rested from my “Ritz Carlton sleep experience” and wanted to walk the grounds before it got too hot.  The view from the room did no justice as I roamed the manicure grounds. I walked along the path that ran adjacent to the hotel’s beachfront. What a welcomed sight to see green grass and blue water which is not the norm in Riyadh. So I strolled slowly and took pleasure in my surroundings as long as I could before the heat and humidity forced me to retreat indoors.

I decided to go to the Lobby Lounge located near the front desk of the hotel. The Lounge, while being very cozy with a view of the pool was a great place to sip on some tea (twenty different types) along with some scrumptious cookies, while I waited for some friends to pick me up for the day.

My friends and I decided to do some shopping and later grab some dinner.  We thought it would be too hot to shop at the Bab el-Bahrain Souk (means market in Arabic) district, which is a popular place in Bahrain. So we went to one of the largest malls in the area; Bahrain City Centre. Unlike Riyadh malls, there is a movie theatre and to my surprise a water park!  We had seen all of the movies that were playing so we decided to have an early dinner at P.F. Chang’s. Good Asian cuisine mixed with great company before meeting back up with the group I traveled with to go to VIVA Karting Track.

          
          For those enthusiasts who love to get the adrenaline rushing through the thrill of racing, VIVA Karting Track is the place to go!  The racetrack was about a 30 minute drive from the hotel. Once we arrived we went to the club house to register and pay for our racing sessions. I was a bit apprehensive to register being that I am in no way a thrill seeker of any sort. Speed and heights are just not my idea of excitement. But, I didn’t want to be the “baby” in the group, so I put on my big girl smile and slowly handed the attendant my fee.

          Next was for the ladies and gents to go to the changing rooms and “suit up”; overalls, gloves and helmets. I don’t know about everyone else, but I am so glad that we had a safety brief! This was my first time participating in this type of venue so I surely did not want to have to fake my way through this! Now it was time to get in our cars. Why did my car have to be the first car; leader of the pack!! The attendant yelled, “Take off!”  And take off, I did!! I pushed the accelerator so hard; I lost control of my car and ran virtually off the track! Once I regrouped and lined my car back forward, I decided to go a bit slower. After about 10 minutes and my group speeding past me twice, I decided to just call it quits, get unsuited and just watch everyone else race.  At the end of every race, the score is sent to your email. I came in tenth place.............I did say that speed wasn’t my thing!

I will have to go back to visit Bahrain when I have more time so I can visit some landmarks (i.e. museums, mosque and Tree of Life) and when it is not a Muslim holiday so I can check out the nightlife as well! 

All the best,

GMarie

Margaret “Tookie” Borel

          In 2011, I wrote about my “Favorite” couple, Adrian and Tookie. They were celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary!   Adrian called me last Friday and told me that his “first lady” had become ill about a year ago and never recovered. To make light of my sadness, Adrian told me that he began sorting through Tookie’s things. He said, “Tookie was always cutting out recipes. She acquired quite a collection. But you know she never cooked any of them!”

   

          Margaret “Tookie” Borel went peacefully home with the Lord on August 14, 2013 at the age of 78 having lived a full and wonderful life.

          In this advanced computer age many of you may not remember, but as a career, Tookie was a phone operator. Remember when you dialed “0” and got, ”Operator, may I help you?!” or “How can I place this call?”

With sadness, I would like to rerun their story.

“A couple days ago, I heard from my “Favorite” couple…….Adrian and Tookie! I may get the ages wrong, so let’s just say that Adrian is in his 80’s and Tookie is in her 70’s. The vitality of these two is amazing! I had the pleasure of meeting both of them at a place called Gators located at Treasure Island, Florida, not too far from Clearwater Beach. Well on Sundays, Gator’s venue is typically a Reggae band. While I was checking out the local musical talent, I spotted this mature couple on the dance floor, gyrating to the Soca and Reggae beats with rhythm and stylish swagger. They even had a couple of line dancing routines that immediately had folks learning the steps and joining in. I starting meeting up with Adrian and Tookie at Gators every Sunday and eventually attending other venues with them. It finally became official; they adopted me as their daughter!

I decided to add this spectacular couple to my blog today because in December they are celebrating their 50^th (Semi centennial) wedding anniversary! Adrian wrote me and said, “On December 1^st, I will be going to Las Vegas with my “first lady” to celebrate our 50^th wedding anniversary!” He further said (in reference to me), “40 is the old age of youth and the youth of old age”. He said I was at the prime of my life and to try everything. He concluded with, “Let me know when you can ride a camel. I hope you don’t get arrested for doing something illegal. It is illegal for a woman to drive a car in Saudi Arabia so don’t try to beat the law by riding a camel. I guess you will have to get a friend to give you camel driving lesson!”

Considered the “golden” anniversary, spending half a century in love with the special someone is a wonderful statement about the gift of married life. Having recited their marriage vows in 1961 (I wasn’t a thought yet!), Adrian and Tookie are role models for whomever believe in LOVE. I am emotional writing this piece, but I celebrate your bond and dedication to one another……”

I will miss you, Tookie,

Your adopted daughter,

GMarie

Hair Care in a Desert Climate

            I have been in the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia “the Kingdom” since September 2011. I knew I would be faced with several challenges (i.e. culture, language barriers) but the thought had not closed my mind that one of those challenges I would be confronted with is hair care.  I have been wearing Sisterlocks (length; 20 inches) for 14 years. Sisterlocks is tiny uniform woven locks/dreads of hair. This technique was founded by Dr. JoAnne Cornwell who is a Professor at San Diego State University in California.

           

          After a few months in this dry desert climate, my locks went from shiny and healthy to dry and brittle. After some internet research, I found that it was not only the sun, heat and dust that was causing the lack of lustre and breakage in my hair (in some cases, from the root) but also the desalinated water (removal of salt from seawater), the chlorine in it and air conditioning (removes moisture from the hair) was contributing factor as well. In severe cases, it can also cause hair loss. Saudi Arabia, followed by United Arab Emirates and Kuwait uses the largest amounts of desalinated water. 

           The Gulf climate is harsh so extra measures must be taken to care for the hair.  To be proactive and defeat the damages caused by a dry climate it is advisable to avoid over-drying with hot appliances. Let your hair dry naturally and try to wash less often. Use hot oil or moisturizing treatments with a plastic cap. Drink plenty of water and take a good multivitamin (i.e. Vitamin A, B-Complex, Biotin, C,D,and E). Try to avoid the use of chemicals such as haircolor and relaxers. Although expats in most places are not required to cover the hair, it is not a bad idea to do so with a cotton scarf, hat or cap. I protect my hair with Betmar New York hats. They are SPF 50 and they come in several designs. http://www.betmarhats.com/ 

            I am regularly asked through my blog whether I know someone who does braiding in the Kingdom. Braids and corn rolls are a great styling option as long as they are not left in for weeks at a time. I recently received contact information (thanks, Annette) for those of you who reside in Riyadh. Her name is Monica and her mobile is +966560293597. Please give her a call for pricing and availability.    

           If any of you know any other braiders or Sisterlock technicians in the Riyadh area....please drop me a line so I can pass it on.

All the best.....

Hair and all,

GMarie

      

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

           Memorial Day weekend was slowly approaching. Instead of hanging around Riyadh and squander that time away waiting for others to decide what they wanted to do, I asked my co-worker Cherryl to go to Abu Dhabi. Without hesitation she agreed. I do not know how much time I have left in the Kingdom, so I plan to travel to a few other places in the area before returning to the U.S. So with ticket in hand we were off to spend four days in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

            Abu Dhabi is the capital of United Arab Emirates, located on the Arabian Gulf and situated among over 200 other islands. The current President is Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Nahyan became president on November 3, 2004, subsequent to the death of his father, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The UAE is more conservative than Western countries but far more progressive than Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Wearing an abaya is not enforced, women can drive and there are movie theaters, night clubs and one can partake in a little libation!

             There is a lot to do in Abu Dhabi. There are beaches, golfing, fishing and of course shopping. Each day, I was there, the weather was sunny and humid. It reminded me of South Pasadena Florida, which is where I live back in the states.

            The Intercontinental Hotel, where we stayed, was in the perfect location, situated on the Arabian Gulf with a white sandy beach and marina. We were minutes away from the shopping malls, business districts and the famous Abu Dhabi Corniche. Every day when I awoke I would undraw the curtains to a breathtaking view of the city skyline and the Gulf!  The amenities included a state-of-the-art gym, outdoor pool, tennis courts, health club and skillful massage therapists!

            There are several eateries on the premises. Some of the places we frequented was the Belgian Café where the favorite entrees is fresh mussels, Belgian waffles and of course selection of 18 types of Belgium beer. We also visited the Fishmarket that is located on the beach. The inside perimeter of the restaurant is set up like a market. Once seated, a server comes to your table and escorts you around the market to select your dinner which can be fresh seafood, chicken or steak, and a wide selection of vegetables. The chef then prepares your entree with your selected sauce and brought to your table steaming hot!

            A must do is the Big Bus Tour. For 200 Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) or $54, the tour offers a tour around Abu Dhabi and have recorded commentary in eight different languages. You can hop on and off the bus at several locations. It was pretty hot and humid the day we went so I took most of my photos from the bus.

            We embarked the Big Bus in front of Marina Mall. Marina Mall contains high end stores like Louis Vuitton,Yves Saint Laurent and Burberry, to name a few. There is also a cinema and sky tower.

            The first stop was Emirates Palace Hotel, the most expensive built hotel in the world and is located on West Corniche Road.  With its 7-star status and luxurious amenities, a modest room per night begins at $773 and a palace suite is $11,200 per night! This would definitely be an amazing place to stay.

             The next stop was the Sheikh Zayed Mosque which is known for its 24 carat gold chandeliers, the world’s largest hand crafted carpet and is the third largest mosque in the world! The architecture was absolutely beautiful with its magnificent white domes and columns. This mosque can house up to 40,000 worshippers and is accessible to non-Muslims as well.  Appropriate attire is a must and abaya and head covers are provided to visitors.

            We passed the Abu Dhabi Mall then on to Saadiyat Island. Saadiyat Island is 27 square kilometers and is located off the coast of Abu Dhabi. There are two galleries; one an interactive narrative of the history of the island called the Saadiyat Story and the other is the Arts Abu Dhabi Gallery. There is also the UAE Pavilion that holds some of Abu Dhabi’s cultural functions. Co-located is the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and two five star properties; the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi. There is also a public beach.

 

            Beside the malls, another place for shopping that we passed was the infamous Iranian souk where you can purchase anything from foods to carpets. Due to the heat, we passed up the opportunity to shop outdoors.  Another place outdoors that would be perfect during less humid weather is the Abu Dhabi Corniche that is located along the Gulf and extends almost 4 miles. Folks can be found either jogging, walking or biking. What a beautiful place to just lie out and relax on the beach front with the family. 

            The last stop was the cultural attraction called Heritage Village that displays a glimpse of traditional past Bedouin living.  Entrance to Heritage Village is free. Also co-located here is the tallest flag pole in United Arab Emirates. The highest point in the city is the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers which is known for serving high tea (a heavy meal of meat dishes, fish dishes, baked goods, vegetables and other heavy foods) served after five PM. All of this is complimented by a scenic view of the Arabic sea and the city.

            Our last night in Abu Dhabi, we went to the Jazz Bar and Dining (cross through Hemingway’s) at the Hilton Abu Dhabi. I was told by a friend that they have live entertainment featuring a six piece band in a cozy, laid-back atmosphere. The band, unlike the title of the bar, played the latest top hits, enticing you to at least tap your foot or snap your fingers. Okay,….I gave up and just got up and danced!  

            What can I say, a perfect ending to a wonderful four day retreat! It does a psyche good to get away from the Kingdom for a bit and dwell in activities comparable to the West. If you thought about it, make plans to visit Abu Dhabi.

All the best

GMarie