Manama: Jasem felt particularly proud. His catch for the day was far better than he had expected and he knew that he had won the bet he had with his wife that he would bring home enough fish for the large gathering they had planned for their extended families for the Eid.
Like thousands of Bahrainis, Jasem had a deep faith in the sea both as a place to relax during the days off and as a source to provide fresh fish for the family, especially for auspicious gatherings when his wife would show off her culinary skills.
The family boat he bought three years ago as he was working on his retirement scheme was used for both activities.
He regularly took his family on outings that lasted hours, floating around Bahrain and giving his children the chance to look at their homeland from the sea. The view was a welcome change from the road landscape they are used to seeing every day as they left their small village of Zallaq in the southern tip of Bahrain to go north to the town of Riffa or to the capital Manama.
For his fishing trips, Jasem often took on his friends, lured by the thrills of catching big fish and reconnecting with the traditions that had given their grandfathers money, fame and glory.
The sea adventures meant spending the night under the moon and sharing the small space on the boat. But nobody minded. The excitement was sufficient to make them accept the sacrifices as, like small children, they looked forward to the fishing trip and to the competition for the largest catch.
Nautical miles away from Jasem and his friends, and on the other side of the island kingdom, Rasha was sitting on a smooth rock overlooking the sea, relishing the cool caress of the water around her feet.
Her delight at being able to drop her neat ankles in the salty waters magically made her relax and do away with the overwhelming rational trait of her character and allow her emotions to emerge and silkily envelop her.
It was a rare sensation and she wanted to enjoy it fully, silently expressing gratitude to her parents who had purchased the new house by the sea and the opportunity to relax.
She had always been fond of the placid waters of the Arabian Gulf and had often used them as her best refuge when she needed peace and as her greatest inspiration when she needed to contemplate.
“My heart invariably longs for the sea,” she said, her limpid eyes scanning the horizon. “It is not just a large pond of water or a source of fresh fish. It is much more significant than that and it is in fact an integral part of me as a person and as a character. I have always been close physically and emotionally to the sea and I cannot imagine myself away from it,” she said.
An accomplished artist, she has drawn several sketches of the waterfront and of amateur fishermen engaging enthusiastically in their favourite activity.
“Living by the sea has taught me how to make my intentions clear and my spirit generous. It is a privilege that is not given to many people and I do feel fortunate that I am among those blessed with the sea as a great neighbour, a dependable friend and a wonderful source of inspiration,” she said, relaxed in her pink jump suit, the summer breeze blowing through her long hair cascading over her slender shoulders. The perfect image of an elated woman.
To the north of Bahrain, Abdul Aziz was playfully swimming with his children. “It is the best way to have fun while easing the high temperatures that have hit us this summer,” the public sector employee said. “I have opted to live here in Muharraq because it is the home of my ancestors, but also because we can use the sea to relax,” he said. “The sea is an integral part of the family traditions. We use it mainly for swimming and for amateur fishing during the weekend. We do not have a boat, but the children love to use their fishing rods. Of course, we do not depend on their catch for our food, but we do encourage them to engage in the hobby. It teaches them patience and that is very important,” he said.
