I think this subject is highly subjective but from what I've seen its a small campaign by a minority of the population thats got a disproportional amount of media attention from the West. A recent Guardian article states that only 30-40 women participated in the protest out of a population of 27million...
Whether that's due to the lack of right to protest or the lack of interest in driving by women is another subject entirely but surely it erodes the legitimacy of the protest? The Arab Spring Revolution only succeeded because of the sheer number of people supporting the cause.
As we're constantly presented with articles on why women should be allowed to drive in the Kingdom i thought it would make a healthy change and put up a video offering a different opinion by prominent Saudi Shaykh Fawzan.
Smoking, selling and buying marewana is permitted in the Netherlands but it doesn't necessarily mean that it should be made a basic right in all countries. Perhaps the same rule applies to driving...for better or worse the complex nature of the Kingdom, its social fabric and culture make driving for women seem a distant and unlikely prospect.
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Adornment and identity: Jewellery and costume from Oman (London)
Not in keeping with the spirit of my blog, the posts for the next few week (if any) will be from London. As expected London is a cosmopolitan melting-pot of different backgrounds and cultures with lots to offer :)
Today i visited the Jewellery and costume exhibition from Oman at the British Museum. Understandably the British museum attracts hundreds of visitors everyday so be prepared for crowds! the exhibition is totally free and runs from 21st of January to 11th September 2011.Oh i forgot to mention there are not that many items on display however its enough to give you a taste and cultural understanding about Omani customs and traditions.
Luckily for some, I've taken pictures for you to view.
Enjoy
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Art-Zuid: International Sculpture Route (Amsterdam)
Located outdoors, ArtZuid 2011 is an open air walking route whereby you can view 50 works of art from all over the world. The route is aptly titled 'The World Around, Equality and Diversity' and is a healthy blend of westerm/non-western art including and not limited to works by Yayoi Kusama, Auguste Rodin, Jean Tinguely, Salvador Dali and Subodh Gupta.
The good news is that its totally FREE, and conveniently located 5minutes walk from Museumplein. Route maps can be picked up from the Hilton Hotel nearby and its estimated to take about 2hours but i think you can do it in about 1hour comfortably.
Check it out, Art-Zuid open from 27 May and ends 28 August 2011
The good news is that its totally FREE, and conveniently located 5minutes walk from Museumplein. Route maps can be picked up from the Hilton Hotel nearby and its estimated to take about 2hours but i think you can do it in about 1hour comfortably.
Check it out, Art-Zuid open from 27 May and ends 28 August 2011
Saturday 11 June 2011
Amsterdam Central Station: Pink Ladies & The Man From Burkina Faso
Amsterdam Central Train station largely busy and teeming with people and the first point of call for tourists. I should have used my common sense and not used the Travelex at the central station to change money but i did and was therefore greeted with a que.
Morale of the story, don't use the Travelex at central station to change currency and don't fall for stereotypes not all non-Europeans extend que time with money transfers and not all Europeans just go in for a simple currency exchange.
& The Man From Burkina Faso - While i was on the platform i was approached by a man from Burkina Faso a land locked island in West Africa (he told me so) looking slightly shabby and worn out he extends his arm out with a white paper.
"just tell him we have no money"' i whisper to my friend.
"10B'' the man says pointing at the paper
On closer inspection i see he wanted directions, sure enough he was at the right platform but his final destination involved a more complicated journey. My friend asked him if he spoke Arabic evidently as he didn't speak Dutch of English. He looked up above and sighed shaking his head, frustrated at his inability to communicate.
Then a Dutch woman walked by (and their in the habit of doing this) with a smile on her face and looking to see if we needed help so i call her over and explain to her where hes heading and the fact that he doesn't speak English or Dutch.
"Where are you from"' she enquires
"'Burkina Faso" he says
""Parlez-vous français ? she retorts
In a look of absolute joy he nods, she then turns and gives me an explanation about how she knows people from that region and conveniently speaks French. Everyone seemed so happy at that point, the poor dishevelled looking man can be helped, hurrah.
So she walks of with the man pointing at another platform while speaking in English.
"Why is she speaking with him in English and not French?"' I'm asked
"'I don't know, maybe she forgot"'.
Scanning the que i see people of various ethnicity's and in front of me two Germanic looking ladies with luminous pink wigs that reflected this semi-blinding light. Irritatingly only one of the three counters were open and after a ludicrously long wait only the pink ladies were left.
The pink ladies approach the booth and engaged in some informal chit chat about their hair with the woman at the counter, which then turned into a full blown conversation (at this point id been there 30min and my blood was boiling), and it didn't end there, oh no, they pull out a map asking for directions and talking about venues! So I begun rolling my eyes and shuffling about in a vain attempt to communicate my annoyance to the woman at the counter but she was so engaged she didn't notice. Question: why do Dutch people talk so much?
Morale of the story, don't use the Travelex at central station to change currency and don't fall for stereotypes not all non-Europeans extend que time with money transfers and not all Europeans just go in for a simple currency exchange.
& The Man From Burkina Faso - While i was on the platform i was approached by a man from Burkina Faso a land locked island in West Africa (he told me so) looking slightly shabby and worn out he extends his arm out with a white paper.
"just tell him we have no money"' i whisper to my friend.
"10B'' the man says pointing at the paper
On closer inspection i see he wanted directions, sure enough he was at the right platform but his final destination involved a more complicated journey. My friend asked him if he spoke Arabic evidently as he didn't speak Dutch of English. He looked up above and sighed shaking his head, frustrated at his inability to communicate.
Then a Dutch woman walked by (and their in the habit of doing this) with a smile on her face and looking to see if we needed help so i call her over and explain to her where hes heading and the fact that he doesn't speak English or Dutch.
"Where are you from"' she enquires
"'Burkina Faso" he says
""Parlez-vous français ? she retorts
In a look of absolute joy he nods, she then turns and gives me an explanation about how she knows people from that region and conveniently speaks French. Everyone seemed so happy at that point, the poor dishevelled looking man can be helped, hurrah.
So she walks of with the man pointing at another platform while speaking in English.
"Why is she speaking with him in English and not French?"' I'm asked
"'I don't know, maybe she forgot"'.
Monday 6 June 2011
Gallery Trauma & Supermarket Drama
Gallery Trauma
If there is anything i can tell you, its expect the unexpected in Amsterdam and don't ever assume...I made that fatal mistake recently, on my way to Starbucks (its an addiction I'm trying to kick) i see a photo gallery on the corner of the street.
" Sure" i say walking in. The gallery was relatively empty with but two visitors
"Ummm i don't think you'll like this" a friend of mine suggests but i shrug and go in anyway.
The first photo i see was the same Japanese Geisha girl bound and semi clothed concealing anything normal and exposing everything that really should not be in graphic taste. I was shocked, as i turned slowly with a blunt smile on my face i could see the curator and his two visitors look at me intently.
"Thanks but its not for me"
"'Too hardcore?" he suggests
"Yes" I nod as i exit.
A part of me couldn't help but think there was some sense of purpose and humour in letting a seemingly unaware conservatively dressed Muslim girl into a graphic photo gallery. Perhaps it would be his ice-breaker at future events?
Well that's a lesson learned for me and i hope you, don't walk into obscure galleries without confirming the theme or you may be very unpleasantly surprised.
Supermarket Drama
When your husband pops into a relatively small local supermarket to pick up bread and milk you dont expect much of a story on their return. But i was fortunate on this occasion, looking absolutely stunned he informs me there was a brawl at the supermarket.
It begun with an argument between a male and a younger female, the younger female armed with a green shopping basket wacks the man on the head. In retaliation he does the same, she then grabs a wine bottle and throws it. A bunch of standbyers rush in to defend the damsel in destress, he pleads for an audience (after all she hit him first) nobody listens. Fight us if your a man! they bellow (the female charm, always works). He clearly didnt and was excorted home by the police to avoid the angry mob waiting for him outside.
Supermarket trips will never be the same again for him.
There was an exhibition running by a Japanese person, one or two photos were on view and i was lured in by the photograph of the Japanese geisha girl that was bound on the street. I also have a friend obsessed by anything Japan so i thought id go in and report on her behalf.
So i push the door, it doesn't budge (always embarrassing when that happens) the sign says ring the bell so i do. A stout Dutchman with a ponytail, circular glasses dressed in smart attire opens the door.
"Hi, i was wondering if you had a leaflet on the current exhibition i could take away with me" i say conscious that my aim was Starbucks not gallery diversions.
"I'm afraid we have none, but youre more than welcome to come in and have a look" he replies making a hand gesture for me to come in.
" Sure" i say walking in. The gallery was relatively empty with but two visitors
"Ummm i don't think you'll like this" a friend of mine suggests but i shrug and go in anyway.
The first photo i see was the same Japanese Geisha girl bound and semi clothed concealing anything normal and exposing everything that really should not be in graphic taste. I was shocked, as i turned slowly with a blunt smile on my face i could see the curator and his two visitors look at me intently.
"Thanks but its not for me"
"'Too hardcore?" he suggests
"Yes" I nod as i exit.
A part of me couldn't help but think there was some sense of purpose and humour in letting a seemingly unaware conservatively dressed Muslim girl into a graphic photo gallery. Perhaps it would be his ice-breaker at future events?
Well that's a lesson learned for me and i hope you, don't walk into obscure galleries without confirming the theme or you may be very unpleasantly surprised.
Supermarket Drama
When your husband pops into a relatively small local supermarket to pick up bread and milk you dont expect much of a story on their return. But i was fortunate on this occasion, looking absolutely stunned he informs me there was a brawl at the supermarket.
It begun with an argument between a male and a younger female, the younger female armed with a green shopping basket wacks the man on the head. In retaliation he does the same, she then grabs a wine bottle and throws it. A bunch of standbyers rush in to defend the damsel in destress, he pleads for an audience (after all she hit him first) nobody listens. Fight us if your a man! they bellow (the female charm, always works). He clearly didnt and was excorted home by the police to avoid the angry mob waiting for him outside.
Supermarket trips will never be the same again for him.
Wednesday 1 June 2011
Jazz on the Waterfront (Almere)
On the subject of Almere, the Schowburg (glass theatre complex) has a beautiful watefront resteraunt which hosts jazz session on the last sunday of everymonth. With tickets from 10 euros it is not only a bargain but a lovely way to wind down.
I remember sitting there with my macchiato latte and playing with the flower centerpiece on tht table as i waited for the jazz trio to arrive. Occassionally i would gaze outside the glass waterfront observing the people sitting by the lake and soaking up the sun.
Finally the performers arrived (Franz Von Chossey trio); starting at 4pm they delighted and wowed the crowd with a great line-up. Natually most people were transfixed and focused on the trio all excpt the one young man who left his seat at almost every 5 minutes to pick up a beer...
Thanks to youtube you can also enjoy the music of Franz Von Chosey i chose my favourite "Stranger Walked By"
I remember sitting there with my macchiato latte and playing with the flower centerpiece on tht table as i waited for the jazz trio to arrive. Occassionally i would gaze outside the glass waterfront observing the people sitting by the lake and soaking up the sun.
Finally the performers arrived (Franz Von Chossey trio); starting at 4pm they delighted and wowed the crowd with a great line-up. Natually most people were transfixed and focused on the trio all excpt the one young man who left his seat at almost every 5 minutes to pick up a beer...
Thanks to youtube you can also enjoy the music of Franz Von Chosey i chose my favourite "Stranger Walked By"
Almere - The Dubai Palm of the Netherlands?
The Dubai Palm Islands may well have a parallel in the Netherlands...yes you read right and its called Almere.Cities built on water are seldom seen but always an impressively innovative affair, the Palm Islands are a perfect example.
Dubai's Palm Islands are artificial peninsulas built on water and constructed of sand dredged from the bottom of the Persian Gulf (by no other than Dutch and Belgian dredging and marine contractors) and boasts 100 luxury hotels, exclusive residential beach side villas and apartments, marinas, water theme parks, restaurants, shopping malls, sports facilities and health spas.
Now the Dutch equivalent Almere while not as fancy or luxurious is not quite as fancy but is an artificial wonder. Initially just a fresh water lake before it was reclaimed (by dredging) and inhabited in 1975 Almere despite holding the title of "youngest City" in the Netherlands has a population of 190.000 inhabitants and 13.000 businesses.
No luxury hotels or beach side villas but Almere does have a marina, a hugely diverse shopping complex, restaurants, cafes a contemporary museum, and a glass theatre complex. It looks like Almeres growth is set to continue with the introduction of an International School, more office space and PRIMARK (UK's cheap n Cheerful high street chain).
So here it is in all its glory, the Dutch substitute to Dubai's Palm Island Almere
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