Hey... let's go visit Ally Cat's Mom!!! Shall we?

[Catsnclay]

Ok, please tell us the story behind the motorcycle in your entrance way!!

You house is beautiful, you did a wonderful job decorating it.

This is so much fun seeing everyone's house. Glad you thought of this Kim!!

[sirrahbed]

WOW Julie - so much space. Wouldn't this be heaven for toddlers on bigwheels? I LOVE the kitchen best - very homey and cozy!! I can see why you have a housemaid - it must take forever just to keep the floors clean and shiny. Thanks for inviting us in. These tours really are fun and I am loving every minute!!!

[QueenScoopalot]

What a lovely home you have! I'm curious about the white room (that's maybe to be a game area) is that all marble? It shimmers! You most certainly need to add a few more cats to the huge place!

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

Thanks for all your kind comments. I have done what I can to personalise the house, but there is always an awareness that you are not really "home", as expats can't buy property here, so you never REALLY settle down. I am continually homesick for South Africa, and I'd go back in a flash, if my hubby and I could find decent jobs there! Having said that, Bahrain, and the Bahraini people have been extremely good to us. I have been to Saudi, Dubai, Oman and Qatar and I can honestly say that Bahrain is the place I prefer to live!!

Now to answer some of your questions:

T & P's Mum: I dont have to wear an Abaya (picture here) in Bahrain, but I do try at all times to be respectful of the culture and religion here. When shopping or going outsise the compound, I won't wear sleeveless tops or shorts etc - NOT because I CAN'T (Bahrain is one of the most liberal Gulf countries), but because I don't feel it is appropriate.

When I travel into Saudi (only a few times a year), I do wear an Abaya over my "street clothes". In Saudi it is also advisable to have a head scarf with you, in case you are singled out by the Mottauw (sp?) or "Religious Police". Although in four years of trips to Saudi I have never been picked on - a friend of mine who is blonde has a lot of hassles when shopping etc in Saudi, and so prefers to wear a head scarf. That is THE MOST that we, as westerners, are ever required to cover up - we do not have to wear full "Hijab" - ie a veil etc. (Sorry to be a blabbermouth on this issue, but I love to share my perspective on the Mid East with people who may never have an opportunity to experience it first-hand. If any of you ever have any questions I am only a PM away ).

POPS - you are correct that the style and design of my house is representative of the "typical" Mid East house, although it is probably larger than most residential houses. The area is around 7500 square feet! This IS larger than the average. (There is actually a waiting list for this compound - you need to pay rent ANUALLY in ADVANCE!!) To benchmark consider the following: The top 5% of residents in Bahrain are extremely rich royals and businessmen, who live in houses that you or I can barely imagine! This house is probably in the top 20% of äverage "residential" houses. My hubby is mid-to-senior Management level, so his housing allowance reflects that. We also do A LOT of corporate entertaining at home, so I like to think that my home reflects this also - it is not just a family home, but is also a "business resource".

Meg - you are wecome ANY TIME. Warren will pick you up at the airport on the Harley, and I will follow in my car to carry your luggage!

Catsnclay - my Hubby has ALWAYS ridden Motorbikes. Last year he bought a 100th Anniversary Harley Davidson V-Rod, and point-blank refused to park it oustide in the heat, dust and humidity!! I like to think of it as a "Modern Art Sculpture" . (Someone commented to me that you know you have a BIG house when you have a Motorbike parked in the entrance hall, and you barely notice it!!!!). Lucky for hubby I LOVE bikes as well, so I really don't mind - in fact I barely notice it!

Thelmalu99 - you are welcome ANY TIME!!!

QS - the "white room" is totally empty whilst we debate what to do with it! It is tiled, and had a huge skylight - Ally is so cute - she is a real "sun-bug" and moves around the room so she is always lying in the sun!! (See the attached photo).

Sorry for rambling - I am such a blabbermouth

[lynnestankard]

Originally posted by Ally Cat's Mommy

I just adore this pic of the furries - their own cushioned chairs too! LOL!


Your home is so beautiful Julie the high ceilings must help to keep it cool in that heat?
I love the way the bike has it's own 'parking' in the hallway! Where else would anyone park it?

Lynne

[catcrazylady]

Julie your home is incredible!! What a beautiful place to stay. I know it's not HOME in your heart but I think I could handle it for a while!

I enjoyed my visit and the conversation has been wonderful! I love listening to your *blabber mouth*! You are so right when you say a lot of us will never experience life in the mid east and all we know is what we see on tv. Unfortunately most of that is terrorists or war torn towns.

I have always thought that it would be such a neat experience to visit a middle eastern country. Since that is probably never going to be possible I thank you for sharing your home and all this information. You have given a good insight to how you live.

I think it is beautiful and I love how open your house is. I know it gets hot there but all that tile and marble makes everything appear so cool.

Thank you so much for the visit and especially the conversation. It was wonderful!!

[Cataholic]

My house would fit in your kitchen. Did you hear me?

Very, very lovely.

[catmandu]

That is not a House ,It is a Palce! TheFound Cats , will never be Satisfied , with The Found Cat Hotel , when they see this! Beautiful , Big Place!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Thanks for blabbering. I can understand how you would want to be respectful of their culture. I would do the same because it's the ones that flaunt their "westernism" that give the rest of us a bad name. I have a German friend who lived in Saudi for about 4 years I think it was. He and his wife loved it there. He still goes back regularly on business and really enjoys those visits - especially when it's to Dubai and the company is paying for everything.

Thanks for giving us a perspective that most Americans will never see.

One last question....when you say "compound" what does that consist of? Is it just your home or are there several homes surrounded by a wall? Kind of like what we would call a "gated community?" It seems on the news they're always talking about "compounds" and I was just wondering what that was.

So continue on with the blabbing.

And isn't Ally adorable offering her tummy up to the sun.

[Edwina's Secretary]

How wonderful Julie! Isn't it interesting how houses in different parts of the world are so different....reflecting the local climate, available materials, and culture?

I've been documenting my house for other reasons and will see if Kim can bring you all over for a tour.

BTW....many years ago I was Cairo Egypt with my mother and sister. At the time I was a tall, skinny blonde. I was rather naive about the culture and we were in a bazaar. I was wearing jeans and a shirt with very short sleeves. Some men kept following us around saying something that I assumed from the tone was NOT "Welcome to Cairo, have a nice day!"

[catlover4ever]

I agree with T&P...keep blabbering.....I really enjoy seeing and hearing about different customs, traditions, religions, etc....I find it very, very interesting.

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

Originally posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom



One last question....when you say "compound" what does that consist of? Is it just your home or are there several homes surrounded by a wall? Kind of like what we would call a "gated community?" It seems on the news they're always talking about "compounds" and I was just wondering what that was.

A compound can range in size. Ours is a small one, with only around 20 houses - all with the same layout. There is an outside wall around all the houses, and a guard at the front gate. We have a communal swimming pool (1/2 olympic size), tennis and squash courts and a gym. Sometimes the compounds have a mixture of different sizes of houses, and even some apartment-type 1-bedroom accomodation, but the common denominator is the perimeter wall and some shared facilities.

The compounds in Saudi are typically much larger, and have more facilities (as women can't drive). They have restaurants, dry cleaners, DVD rental, sports facilities, small shops, playgroups for toddlers etc. The compounds in Saudi also provide buses which run a fixed timetable to and from most of the nearby shopping centers and supermarkets.

[K & L]

Stunning!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Wow! Your house is gorgeous and sooooo spaceous. I'd probably get lost. Thanks for the wonderful tour.

[jazzcat]

Your house is gorgeous! I too love the style.

Thanks for sharing the pictures and explaining things/answering the questions. It's interesting to learn and hear about life there.