YouthTalk

IN a quest to find the perfect jalabiya, we ventured into the depths of the long forgotten, once bustling souq.

We walked along the meandering streets, past the cobbled roads and dark, twisting alleys, past dozens of shops that had their wares spilling into the street, past the bicycles and rundown cars.

It was like being caught in a labyrinth; every road led to another and at every turn the surroundings morphed to give way to even more shops and stalls, garlanded with the most curious articles.

It was comforting to soak in the ambience of this seemingly ancient mystical place - one of the only little havens that have been left unwashed by time.

The souq still maintains its glorious profusion of rich colour, fragrance and sound of the yesteryears.

The very same wizened old men with loosely draped turbans and crooked smiles man their stores, hawking their merchandise as they have for many decades.

Shopkeepers stand at the doorway, telling you about their fine textiles and unravel bundles of cloth in every conceivable colour with swift, deft flicks of their wrists.

The place is also scented with the numinous aroma of traditional spices and Arabic perfumes and oils.

It's surprising how the souq, probably one of Bahrain's best kept secrets and well-preserved heritage sights, has been forgotten and buried under the luxurious illusions of internationally-acknowledged malls and boutiques.

The Designer Jalabiyas on display in City Centre are tagged with three digit prices and many are manufactured in foreign factories. However, riffling through the magnificently embroidered and individually-crafted jalabiyas in the little shops that line the streets of the souq, one can find even grander, more personal garments for a fraction of the cost.

Every little delicate detail has been handcrafted by men and women who have grown up and been in the trade for as long as they can remember.

Laden with our purchases, we proceeded to explore the hidden world of the souq. We stepped into a shop crammed from ceiling to floor with fragile curios; each unique, each created by hand.

There were statues of bejewelled geckos, bronzed African women, an old yet functional gramophone, an exquisite hookah, jars of Persian evil eyes - incorporated in every possible novelty: bracelets, key chains, bookmarks, trinkets, doorknobs - Arabic carpets rolled up in a corner, exquisite ornamental masks, tinkling chimes and rickety compasses, golden timepieces on chains, a collection of preserved butterflies and rare coins, a carved vase stuffed with knobbly walking sticks with hooked handles. It was like a quintessence of Bahraini tradition.

The timeless masterpieces that lay within the heart of the souq are reminders of Bahrain's rich culture and tradition.

Through the arches of Bab-Al-Bahrain, the secrets of Bahrain's history live time immemorial. No matter how many years go past and how many scaffoldings give way to buildings that seem to go up in a blink of the eye or are scraped and taken down beyond the confines of the gateway - within the parameters of the sacred Souq, Bahrain will always remain true to its past.