HX Report
Irishman in the Middle East
Foto Friday
Posted on September 29, 2017
MB recently recommended Ireland to an Arab acquaintance who wants to go on a horse riding holiday.
Change can happen in Saudi Arabia
Posted on September 27, 2017
A little ray of light from a region where it’s much required. Congrats to all who laboured hard and suffered much to get there.
MB
(CNN) A couple of hours before the news broke that the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia was finally being lifted, rumors had circulated that a decree on a women’s issue was coming.
I suspected it could be about the driving ban, but after years of campaigning to no success, I had nearly lost hope in it ever happening.
For the past few of weeks, friends of mine have been planning parties in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam to commemorate 27 years since the first protest against the ban. Since November 6, 1990, Saudi men and women have paid hefty prices for voicing their opposition to the ban on women driving in our country.
The unnecessary sacrifices of so many people crossed my mind as I read the tweets issued by the Saudi Press Agency announcing that the ban had been lifted.
The manner in which the ban was lifted…
View original post 8 more words
Foto Friday
Posted on September 22, 2017
The Geneva waterfront is a hive of activity, in the evenings especially but also i the early morning. MB caught these two ladies relaxing and chatting at 7am in the morning, clearing the heads before the day ahead no doubt. And why were you out at 7am in the morning shooting photos MB? Well lads, it’s just the kind of thing MB does.
The Baptism of baby Sofia
Posted on September 22, 2017
Weekly Photo Challenge – Layered
Posted on September 20, 2017
Bens photo challenge:
This week, share with us a layered image of your own. The topic is wide open, as long as you focus on the interplay of depth, density, and texture (or just choose one of these elements if you’d like). Strata of clouds, a shirt collar peeking through a sweater, a cross-section of an onion: you can keep your interpretation as literal or as figurative as you wish. Read More
Foto Friday – Views from the castle
Posted on September 15, 2017
MB has some external shots of the Crusader Castle at Byblos, Lebanon, somewhere in his photo library, from a previous visit of a few years back, but he is too lazy to search for them. So, for today’s Foto Friday post, MB gives HX followers some shots that he took last week, from atop the castle, of the surrounding countryside, without any shots of the actual castle itself.
Some of the views are quite typical of the Lebanese coastline, countryside, and townscapes. Read More
The Wedding of David & Myriam (9)
Posted on September 8, 2017
D&M are escorted to the dance floor.
A small flavour of Lebanese Christain Wedding madness!
Note the video drone that hovers into view in the later stages, that was ever (silently & unobtrusively) present on the night
Weekly Photo Challenge – Waiting
Posted on September 8, 2017
The Wedding of David & Myriam (8)
Posted on September 7, 2017
The Party.
Lebanese wedding parties are mad crazy affairs, and the wedding party of D&M was no exception. The venue was a resort complex called Orizon which is located about 5 minutes drive outside the town of Jbail, on the road to the famous church of St Charbel. Lunatic tribal dancers waving sticks, swords, and guns over their heads, dazzling fireworks, live music and DJ, food to die for, following a drinks and snacks reception on the entrance lawn with fountains, a free bar, all to the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea, made for one hell of a spectacular Lebanese wedding bash.
Thanks so much to D&M for inviting MB to your special day. He enjoyed it immensely.
Shukran jazilan!
The Wedding of David & Myriam (5)
Posted on September 7, 2017
The Wedding Ceremony.
As MB has already mentioned, the wedding ceremony of D&M took place in the Christian Maronite Church of St Jean Marc in Byblos, which is part of the modern day Lebanese town of Jbail. MB’s previous Lebanese wedding experience in December 2016 witnessed a Christian Orthodox ceremony in which the bride and groom do not utter a single word throughout. There was no “I do”. But, for the information of those who may not know, the Maronite Church is a branch of the Roman Catholic church, so the ceremony on Sunday last was similar in most respects to a Catholic Church wedding in Ireland – but no pictures of St Patrick were evident!
Anyway, the church interior and its floral decoration were stunning, as followers can see:
The Wedding of David & Myriam (7)
Posted on September 7, 2017
Time for Desert!
MB spent 2 full days in Lebanon, one of which was spent at the wedding of D&M, and 2 part days travelling to & from. He returned to Qatar some 3 kilos heavier than when he departed. It’s not difficult to see why:
The Wedding of David & Myriam (6)
Posted on September 7, 2017
Feeding Time.
Weddings are tough work. For the participants and guests alike. The food can not come soon enough for most. And on the occasion of D&M’s wedding, MB can assure followers that the food was mouthwateringly delicious and amazing!
The Wedding of David & Myriam (4)
Posted on September 6, 2017
The Bride Arrives.
Nobody cares about the groom. Any groom. In any country. Except maybe his mom. He just arrives as early as he can with his best man in tow and prays that half of those invited actually show up. He prays even harder that the bride will show up. Inshallah she will!
But when the bride arrives, that’s when the excitement starts……..
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