Saying No To Plastic: Reusable Shopping Bags at Bahrain Supermarkets

I am thrilled and happy that the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife of the Kingdom of Bahrain has undertaken a project of reducing use of plastics in the kingdom. The program will be launched on July 1^st but the commission along with its partner supermarkets have already started its first phase of the program. Jute bags are available now in lieu of plastics bags that are non-biodegradable and harmful to our environment. Jawad Supermarkets gives it for free while Geant Hypermarket charges BD 0.500 and BD 0.800 for it’s small and big bags which are reusable. By the 1^st of July, both companies will charge a small fee on plastic bags all which will be given to the Public Commission to be donated to charity.

I have started using the jute bags and they are adorable. I feel strangely proud bringing my jute shopping bag with me as I walk through the hypermarket entrance. It’s practically easy to pack groceries with more space and being and more durable. What more, it is easy to lug around instead of those small plastic bags. Just sling them over your shoulder if you really don’t have enough loads that require use of the trolleys.

Hubby has complained that now we can’t use those bags as trash bags anymore. Yes we do our part of recycling the plastics but it isn’t enough. I patiently told him that the earth is there giving us what we she can offer. Yet, think of it, what about our children’s children? Will she have enough to give the same? I already talked my friends and everyone I know to make use of the bags and contribute to the effort of saving our planet. If you are in Bahrain, please grab one when you do your groceries!

Geant Ad

Banned Shrimps and Preggy Safis

Just over two weeks ago, Bahrain announced a halt of harvesting, selling and buying shrimps. I thought it is a little puzzling since I had the notion that shrimps thrive and are available all season. Hubby’s cousin explained that at this time of the year, there are only mainly baby shrimps available. I’m glad to know at least Bahrain is interested in safekeeping its resources. Shrimps do bred easily to cater to human consumption but there are several reports claiming overharvesting of shrimps all over the world. So I do my part, leave a rest to buttered shrimps and sinigang na hipon.

Since I gave up temporarily on shrimps I decided to feast on Safi. This is a local fish that Bahrainis are fond of. My in-laws just love fried Safi coated in Arabic Masala coupled with a tomato soup appetizer and fragrant spiced rice. For me, I like them simply seasoned with salt, fried a bit crunchy and dipped into soy sauce with lemon. (wishing for a lemonsito though!) On the way home I stopped by a road peddler and saw the freshest Safi I have ever seen in Bahrain. Glossy, clear eyes, red gills and fat. Priced at a higher BD2 per kilo (approx. Php230) I took over a kilo instead of my normal half kilo simply because they were really fresh to my eyes. When I reached home I cleaned them one by one (fish cleaning is a trick I learned in college with roommates equally undomesticated as I was. I was the bravest then J ). Imagine my surprise and delight, all of them had eggs! All seven of them! Heavily pregnant! I don’t like caviar but I do like plain fish eggs. My mouth literally watered at the thought of those fish in my plate. One of my friends had Safi as well and she said she’s not sure but they could actually be banned that’s why they were priced higher than normal. Eventually my guilt got into me. If we pick up all the pregnant Safi in Bahrain, what’s the future of our safi-filled plates? Hah, keep in mind BG, don’t advocate peddlers selling preggy Safis.

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Right after writing this thought I did some minor research and I think that I don't have much to be alarmed with. The GCC in general have invested a harmonized shrimp ban to give time for shrimps to multiply and Bahrain's Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife has invested in breeding Safi to replenish natural fish stock in the kingdom and for exporting purposes

Safi on my plate:

External Link

Live Safi

Picture courtesy of Budak

Safi farming/breeding project in Bahrain

Shrimp Ban across GCC

The Golden...

And so yesterday I woke up muttering "Where the f*ck is Eira University?" Congratulate me, I had the strangest dream I ever had in my whole life. When I started to be aware of my dream, I was engage in a high speed chase with two other guys running with me. We ended up in a port and got on a ship via the starboard. There were three single occupancy cabins across the ship, the first occupied by a fine young man waved off by his Dad and two somber looking men clad in pristine black suits. When I passed by the 3rd cabin, that's when I realized that it isn't exactly a passenger ship, rather it is a barge of some sort with places for passengers in case they do come. But instead of an open barge, the cargo side is enclosed and instead of cargos, there is nothing except a gigantic basketball court with wooden floors. A long bench adorns the left side of the ship along the court and on front are several rows of benches reserved for the sporadic passengers. I engaged a young lady in conversation when she suddenly coverd her mouth in surprise. Alarmed, I asked her what is wrong. She said she farted. Now that really puzzled me. So what if she bloody farted? Who doesn't? She said I didn't understand. She had a golden fart!!! Hold on, a what????!!!?? I glanced at the steel column behind her and true enough part of the column changed into gold! A commotion started because apparently the same bad guys chasing us were after her and her brother who shares the same GOLDEN FART! The guy in the first cabin is her brother.

As we were running away, my dream changed. I was running in a scavenger hunt with the clues pointing towards some universities and colleges in Manila. I and my partner have already finished 9 out 10 clues saved for Clue # 8. Just as we were heading to the finish line, someone screamed "It's at Eira University!". That's when I woke up wondering where the hell is Eira University...

Office Whine #1

Hayop talaga si Kamot. Nanahimik ang lola mo, bigla ba naman akong tawagin para titingnan kung tama ba yung ginagawa nya. Okay na sana kasi nagpatulong magvalidate kung tama nga. Eh ang hinayupak na Kamot pagtingin ko sa screen nya yung instructions naka step by step as in detailed step by step na pala inemail sa kanya ng administrator namin. Shieeet! Naisip ko na naman bakit ba nagta-tiyaga akong mapaligiran ng sandamakmak na bobo sa opisina???? Napagtanto ko na rin kung bakit ganyan sya magbigay ng instructions sakin, yung kelangan isa-isa at pa-ulit ulit. Kahit ilang beses kong sabihin na maintindihan ko at hindi ako tanga. Kasi pala siya hindi makaintindi ng simpleng instruction. hay buhay nga naman!

New Bahrain Banknotes Out Today

I am hoping I can lay my hands today on the new Bahraini Dinar banknotes now in circulation. Apparently, the change of the notes is imposed because the old notes carry the name of the now defunct Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA). The new notes now are under the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) which superceded BMA.

What do I get with these new notes? For one, I will have crisp bills! Hahaha! I’ll have to change my wallet as well! Bigger notes this time..hmmm..shopping opportunity! I can also grope the right denomination should I be in the most unfortunate scenario of having to pay someone in the dark. The new notes are accommodates the visually-impaired. At the top right, they have incorporated a series of short, raised lines to identify each note. A line for the half dinar; two lines for BD1; 3 lines for BD5; 4lines for BD10; and 5 lines for BD20. (Dang! Would anyone come up with glow-in-the-dark notes please???)

I browse through CBB’s website for a walk through of the new currencies. They have a wonderful interactive show that allowed me to look at the notes up close. Some of the changes I took more notice of:

BD10. The back side features the Shaikh Isa Bin Salaman Al Khalifa Causeway. The same bridge I cruise on from Muharraq to Manama everyday.

The new BD5 has the Riffa Fort and the Shaik Isa House in Muharraq whereas the old one features the airport…

The 1BD has the Pearl Monument, the same monument I have been trying for months to take a clear picture of in a moving vehicle =)

The ½ dinar features the F1 racing track, the same track I have never been into. Shame on me!

Main Article from CBB

Lost In Translation

Subtitles in "The Librarian". A funny reminder to buy original DVDs =))

"I have goosebumps seeing you both"
"Excalibur?"