No sooner
than I had cut the ribbon for our Regent St shop opening than I was on a plane
heading once more to the Middle East, destination this trip, Bahrain. Yes you
guessed, another shop opening, if we carry on at this rate I am going to need a
double.
New Bahrain
New Bahrain- reminds me of barley twist table legs
As with most Middle East countries shopping takes place in Malls, this
was to be no exception. Our new shop is located on the 1st floor of the Bahrain
City Centre Mall. Anchoring the mall as seems to be the tradition was the very
smart Kempinski Hotel, and being German owned everything worked seamlessly for
my overnight stay. There being no meetings scheduled for the morning gave me
the opportunity to see a little bit of Bahrain.
Steps in old Bahrain- a perfect design for a
scarf
The official tour guide had
been arranged from the Ministry of Culture, a very well informed man named Ali
Saleh who in a mere two hours proceeded to educate me about the history of
Bahrain. I learnt that Bahrain had originally made its name in pearl diving not,
oil as I had always presumed. I was pleased to learn that the Bahrainians
are passionate about their ancient culture, leading one prominent citizen to
trawl the world seeking out lost Arabian books that were mainly to be found in
the West and creating a museum to house these treasures.
I had said that whilst
I admired all the towering sky scrapers, could he take me to see something of
old Bahrain. We headed to
Muharraq Island where ancient houses and streets had been restored which for me
was what visitors to the Middle East are most excited by. We stopped by the
souk that was bustling with market traders selling hand woven rugs, clothes
shops that had changed little from the 1970s with advertising that was so
dated it would be fashionable in Hoxton. I paused to look in the window of a
shop selling vintage watches and noticed on the dial of one of the watches a
name which at first I thought I had misread so I put my glasses on and took a
closer look and it indeed read Durex, it was a schoolboy moment as I imagined if
asked what make was my watch I could exclaim, " I'm wearing a
Durex".
Bahrain Fort
Bahrain Fort
We continued
the tour visiting a magnificent Fort built by the Portuguese in 1529 and now
sensitively renovated. By now it was a balmy 30 degrees as we headed back to
the hotel to prepare for the afternoon's interviews. Naturally I wore the Khaki
lightweight suit that I mentioned in my last blog and which I was frequently
photographed in, meaning I would need a quick change for the party in the
evening otherwise they might think, poor fellow he's only got one suit. I wore
a one button unlined blue cotton chambray suit and coincidentally one that
had Mother of Pearl buttons; it was formal without being stuffy.
Outside a school reminding pupils of street
etiquette
It was a
glittering party being firstly introduced to the British Ambassador Iain
Lindsay who in turn introduced me to Sheik Alkhalifa of the Bahrain Royal
Family who remarked that his family shopped in our London stores. There is
something about the people of Bahrain that I found different on my previous
trips to the Middle East not only are they extremely friendly but a sense
of relaxation pervades the atmosphere one that I could become accustomed to
very easily. I am looking forward to their opening another shop in the region
to give me the perfect excuse to take them up on their kindness and
hospitality.
Jeremy
Hackett
