Random Musings - Day #119

Rent a space
I saw an article in the newspaper discussing working from home. Working from home would be ideal but you do get isolated (cabin fever) from the outside and arguably some skills will go stale. So getting into the office, any office is good for social aspect, discussing ideas. Hence the novel idea of renting desk space. This is more suitable for the freelancer. An example can be seen advertised at gumtree and deskspacegenie. A couple of others include: sohodeskspace and rentadesk (not to be confused with Rentaghost).

Cheap tickets
I've done an impersonation of my dad... looking for bargains for the sake of a bargain. lastminute.com brought back their "When it's gone it's gone" special. Once again, tickets were sold out in about 10-15 minutes but this time, I got 4 tickets for a play called Sparrow Heights, which starts on May 12 at the Greenwich Playhouse. It cost 24 quid in all (4 pound booking fee). Now the question is who do I take?
Once again, i'll have a look at Avenue Q for June, as well.

Sobering Times in Bahrain
It looks like Bahrain are pushing for outright ban of alcohol. Some pubs and bars have already closed down as a result much to the anger of this blogger.

Dance
Talking of Greenwich, there is the Greenwich Dance Agency, which also includes yoga as once of its courses available.

UK Singles Chart
Tinchy Stryder Ft N-dubz are the new #1 with the song appropriately called "Number 1" leaving La Roux are denied at #2 and last week's #1 Calivin Harris is at #3.

Lady Go...
Thought of the day, Lady GaGa took her name from the Queen song, "Radio Gaga". It wouldn't be a total surprise if we someone rebrand themselves as Lady Goo Goo as a tribute to Goo Goo Dolls.

Random Musings - Day #59 (Bahrain #9)

Last day in Bahrain. I've just got in and now I need sleep.
Interesting taxi drive to airport, as the taxi driver wanted to stop off at his house first and proceeded to take a long way round. The weather was only again dusty.
Last night/morning, I went to a club/bar called Aqua Fuena and then on to Tabu, which features a paddling pool. Finally when to a secluded pizza hut that was open 24 hours!

Random Musings - Day #58 (Bahrain #8)

Brunch
Now when I first heard about this, I thought the Bahraini have the same concept of having a breakfast mashed up with a lunch. As I like to put it, an extra hash browns and a extra glass of orange juice. Wrong, apparently over here, brunch means you have an all-you-can-eat buffet and drinks to get you very drunk. About to find this out later on (hence the early report, I'm not going to bother later)

Random Musings - Day #57 (Bahrain #7)

Jokes
Here are some old school jokes in the form of "A man walks into the pub" and "Knock knock". Talking of jokes here's Terry Tibbs receiving a phone call. Also Russell Peters make fun of other people's accents.

Dance Music
I've been looking at the MTV Dance channel. Some interesting songs there include the sneaky sound system's 'I love it' and someone has video mashed up Flithy Dukes 'This Rhythm' with Jean Claude Van Damme.

Bahrain
I went down to Manama souq (gold market) near Bab Al Bahrain, which is in the heart of the city centre. I got some gold stud earrings that someone requested. But I may have been suckered into buying another pair (diamonds). That said I managed to haggle down the price from 161 to 48 in my lame 'I really can't afford it' style.

Random Musings - Day #56: (Bahrain #6)

Relaxing today and had a lovely massage.

Fitness
A friend of friend owns a fitness centre del's fitness focused on martial arts. Maybe worth a look. Also I saw yoga outfits advertised on google.

T-Shirts
In the past, I've ordered t-shirts from Itiswhatitis and chargrilled. I've been more impressed with the latter's variety and better designs.

Random Musings - Day #55: (Bahrain #5)

Bahrain
I went to Trader Vic's at the Ritz Carlton. I suspect there may have been royalty in the vicinity as everyone entering the resort was checked. In earlier in the day, really struggled to get money from a cash-point machine. The first one I tried just spit out receipt saying restricted card. I also tried my mastercard (which was allegedly acceptable) but it complained that pin was wrong. Eventually at a second cashpoint, I figured out that I was taking too much out. You can easily take out 500 bahrain dollars (1000 pounds) but the daily limit probably applies. I had been trying to get out 200 dollars and finally got out 100 dollars.
Also on my walkabout town I got down to the Navy base.

Random Musings - Day #54: (Bahrain #4)

I don't know why I feel like I have the cold/sore throat but later in the day I am fine. It might were be sandy environment of Bahrain.
Still trying to take it as easy as I can but I did go to the Bahrain National Museum, which appears to be a combination of a local art gallery, local artifacts and graves. There is also private collection on display for the late King Saud.
Also went to the Bahrain City Centre mall fairly big with 3 floors of shops, bowling alley, cinema, waterpark. Mind you, it's not fully completed though.
Went to a karaoke place and sung as well. heh.

Sexercise
As the "time warp" song goes "let's sexercise, let's sexericse", it looks like that there is evidence that it keeps you fit.

Carnival
Meanwhile in Trinidad and Tobago, the 2009 carnival is in full swing and can be watched live.

Oscars
Oh yeah and Slumdog Millionaire won 8 oscars. Kate Winslett and Heath Ledger won their oscars too. However, the rest didn't, just to show the leaked list was faked (or change at the last moment).

Random Musings - Day #53: (Bahrain #3)

Bahrain
Not a lot to report here. I am getting a cold/sore throat but it could be the sand-fog that was in Manama today.
Did go to Nando's and no they didn't accept my loyalty card. ;)
Some guides on Bahrain can be found at Bahrain Tourism and Trip Advisor

Oscars
Tonight is the Academy Awards and has the results already been leaked out. If it has, Slumdog Millionaire (which I saw last Tuesday, a two thumbs up IMHO btw) will win best picture. Also the best actor will be Mickey Rourke. Best actress will be Kate Winslett. Best supporting actor will be Heath Ledger. Best supporting actress will be Amy Adams.

The wrestler in wrestlemania?
Looks like that Mickey Rourke will not be wrestling at Wrestlemania 25. He's backed out of a match, alledgedly to focus on his acting career. However, there is a report that says he still interested in appearing/helping out at Wrestlemania as a favour.

UK Chart
No change on top as Lily Allen is now 5 weeks at #1. No change neither at #2 as Lady Gaga just stays there. Kings of Leon are at #3 with "Use somebody".

Random Musings - Day #51: (Bahrain #1)

Flight delayed by one hour. Normally, that's ok. But when the flight time is one hour only, then it feels like a long time. Settled in at a family friend's.

After some relaxation and unpacking, I ventured out to Fiddler's Green.
Later, went to dinner to a place called "Upstairs, Downstairs", which turns out has nothing to do with the BAFTA winning Upstairs, Downstairs. There was certainly a jazz vibe to the place. Particularly aided by their guest performers, blues band Nine below zero ((wikipedia)). They were very good indeed. Anyways on to the Irish bar, JJ's. A long day finally caught up with me. My body needed rest and water more than ever.

I've been told Bahrain is probably the most liberal of the Middle Eastern countries, particularly as there are a number of Americans and expats in the country. But times maybe changing as seen in this blog and reported in the Arabian Business.