I sit in the vast cavernous lobby of the Bahrain Ritz Carlton, waiting for some assistance from Sunny, the concierge who knows everything and tells me what is going on – free of charge. He made reservations for my ‘birthday’ celebration yesterday, advises me on the sights and sounds of Manama (I love a capital city that is easy to pronounce. Took absolutely ages to learn how to say Riyadh, therefore I am grateful to the namers of Bahrain.However, I do have to admit that it took weeks to learn how to say Bahrain. .
It has been a glorious day – begun with resolve. I have, after considerable consultation and sheer happenstance, amended my original New Year’s Resolution. The original intention was made when gazing and upon the huge turquoise outdoor swimming pool, filled with people swimming up, down and around Decided there and then that it was high time I learned how to swim. I have a deathly fear of water, somewhat calmed by water aerobics, bur it still fills me with trepidation. Spoke to a highly efficient hospitable woman working at the Front Desk of my water phobia. She had been a scuba diving instructor.
She: I taught my students to have respect for water, not to fear it.
Me: That is brilliant. I can see that it is a very workable approach. Water can help you if you let it. Its buoyancy, delivers you to the surface if you calmly let it take over.
.
This conversation did ease my mind somewhat, but the thought of putting my face in the water was daunting, Pondered my need for exercise – mobility, knees the problem, but also exercise for my core. Not necessarily aerobic at my age. Exercised throughout my life – used to jog, then walk but now distances leave me in pain. An answer to the dilemma came, almost like a miracle. I was walking back to my room after a foot massage, followed by ginger tea in the calm room. In doing so walked by the indoor pool. Spied two men with earphones in their ears walking quickly in the temperature controlled water. Hmm. Asked the helpful staff what was going on. They not only answered the question but also pointed to the adjoining Jacuzzi, best I have I have ever seen. This could be an alternative, learned the hours of operation, went off with great resolve.
The next morning, after Fajr prayer, found my modest bathing suit and cover, arrived at the oil at the witching hour of seven. The staff member with his strange name welcomed me warmly, encouraging me to relax, providing towel on the chaise chair, water and bananas. First to the enormous Jacuzzi. Began doing the exercises remembered from my recent Oberio Health Club times with Mona, then remembering some from my water aerobic days. Decided I would ease into exercise – progressing to the speedy walking. This gave me a feeling of peace, felt in charge of my life, on my way to accomplishing my goal of greater mobility and fitness.
There are more steps to be made, need my bathing suits abandoned in luggage left at the Oberio. The hotel is being ridiculously non cooperative, however help is on the way.
The Islamic Faith has taught that progress is best made one step at a time. Sort of like the moon walk “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” (Neil Armstrong) That just came to me, Of course I googled it getting more information focusing on the importance of taking that first step. Onward and upward, I often say.
One He was talking about his achievement of being the first man to step on the moon. “One Giant Leap for Mankind”. He was talking about mankind’s achievement of landing on the moon. There are many quotes about taking steps: The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Lao Tzu. Life is an exciting journey but the things we want are rarely, if ever, handed to us on a plate. We have to work towards them, and we start by taking one single, small step.
This too is encouraging: Everything can be achieved through gradual steps – one small step at a time: overcoming fears, fulfilling dreams… anything you wish to be different from the way it is. If you concentrate on small, manageable steps you can cross unimaginable distances.
One final reminder: Taking small steps toward our goals can lead to significant progress over time. It’s important to focus our energy on actions that are at least one step forward and to be patient with the results. Remember, every small effort counts, and over time, they can compound into something substantial.
Therefore, if I am taking one small step in my exercise regime. Being patient with the results then I am on the Straight Path. This is way of the Islamic Faith, Niyahh is the Arabic word for intention. Chapter 33 Verse 5 of the Quran. “There is no blame on you for what you do by mistake, but (only) for what you do intentionally. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful”
Wikipedia provides more.
“Correspondingly, one’s niyyah or intention is of the utmost importance among the requirements of an act of ritual prayer. According to Ibn Rajab‘s Commentary on Imam Nawawi’s Forty Hadith: Hadith #1, actions are judged according to intentions: “‘Umar b. al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet said: Deeds are [a result] only of the intentions [of the actor], and an individual is [rewarded] only according to that which he intends.
There is some debate as to the necessity of an audible utterance of niyyah. Most scholars agree, however, that as niyyah is spoken from the heart, it does not have to be uttered. Additionally, there is no evidence that the Islamic prophet Muhammad or any of his companions ever uttered a niyyah aloud before prayer.
Accumulating knowledge of the faith is so vitally important because it can be so confusing. There are the strict rule followers, with their litany of what needs to be done in an exact manner,. My discussion of night time prayers being an example. Whenever scholars enter into the debate one learns, for example, that the Prophet never entered a niyyah before prayer.
This is a religion of ease, being made impossible by many, usually seeking to profit from the faith. Speaking of greed and corruption may be a continuing theme in this blog.
This hotel is, for multiple and a myriad of reasons, an absolute blessing. First we shall define myriad and then discuss some of this hotel is, for me, a blessing. myriad: a countless or extremely great number, You are going to love its synonyms: throng, droves, horde, loads, oodles, zillions, more … than one can shake a stick at; gazillions, bazillions, gob.
I shall now provide an example of the gazillions, zillions and oodles of blessings bestowed upon Alexis McBride by the Bahrain Ritz Carlton, not necessarily in order of importance.
- There is a women’s bathroom near the Lounge which has Japanese toilets by Toto. This means that the toilet seats are warmed and there is a way to get warm water on your privates while you are sitting on it. I was thinking of asking if I could get coffee served to me while there or perhaps lunch – but thought better of it.
- I went to the front reception desk for no reason whatsoever and they served me ginger tea. It was absolutely delicious. It tastes better than wine, from what I can remember.
- The security in this hotel is phenomenal, absolutely incredible. You pass security check when entering the hotel. A gracious man looks in your purse, bags, everything. I spoke to the handsome (actually he was) man who is the head of security. I told him of the gratitude I felt, the immense relief. One cannot go to any floor on the elevator without a room key. This was not true in the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel in London – anyone could breeze in, go to any floor at all with no checks or balances. The same situation took place in the Medina Oberio Hotel. Anyone can enter the hotel as there is an escalator between the lobby of the hotel and the shopping area with Starbucks etc. right off the Prophet’s Mosque. When in the lobby one can just jump on an elevator and go to any floor, to any room. They have no means of control. Once I took charge – telling a group of four ‘covered’ woman to get out when they did not listen to a guard who was being polite to them. In English I said: No!! Get Out and pointed the way. They left, the guard and staff thanked me as they have to be polite to everyone. The Head of Security at this hotel told me that there is security all over this hotel keeping watch and keeping us safe. PHEW. An attempt was made on my life in San Francisco in 2019 in the halls of my apartment building. You cannot imagine how frightened I still am. Not only that, I do let people know through the blog where I am residing. I absolutely know that Allah (PBUH) keeps me safe but He has other things to do – what with Gaza and all. I am sure that our Creator is thankful for the diligence of the Bahrain Ritz Carlton. I certainly am!!
- The Concierges here at this hotel are amazing. The Concierges in Saudi Arabia hotels know nothing and do nothing. At the Medina Oberio Hotel the staff cannot even tell you at which Gate at the Prophet’s Mosque the library is located. The Prophet’s Mosque is right next door. It is that bad. I also learned today that in order to get a reputable tour company to show tourists the sights of Saudi Arabia – guests come to this hotel to have them hire and provide tour guides and companies. Moreover, concierges know where everything is within Bahrain, call you a taxi or arrange a hotel driver. All the hotel drivers speak English unlike those at the Medina Oberio Hotel where it is totally up to chance. Some of the Oberio reception staff speak English but do not convey the information to the drivers – so you end up with somebody not knowing where you are going and there is no way to communicate with them. It happened again on my way to the airport when leaving Medina for Bahrain. However, the driver understood sign language – I pretended I was a bird and we got to the right place.
Well I survived those other hotels. Needless to say I am grateful to be here. Those hotels were hardships – this one a fantastic benefit, thoroughly and utterly appreciated by yours truly.
Goodness knows I am grateful not to be in Gaza. Here is a link to a sermon preached in Palestine: Christ in the Rubble. Watch it, it says it all.
