Craving forbidden pleasures

Being an expatriate yearning to the comforts of home, my mother's food, my sister's coffee, my bed, the jasmine shrub by my window and the amazing smell of the Neem (شجرة الكلونيا)tree a the terrace as the wind blows, my father's stories, his old backgammon table and guidance, that's where I grew up.

The simple pleasures that people enjoy (check what Abed had to say), One of the thing I miss the most was the trip to the barbershop. It was an all male ritual. Like a gentleman's club

A post by a blogger that I absolutely admire and look up to (Wael) has revived some strong feelings in me. Things that people take for granted back home that we struggle to learn to live without. His post about "Hammam el Basha" really hit home with me, made me almost cry. All I can say, may god bless him, and continue to have him enjoy the bliss with his family

We come in, greeted by the young "padawan" (as I call them) Barbers in training. Where we're treated like royalty, it's the whole point after all. A pleasant, memorable experience, they want you to come back. They own the business and care about the customers.

They start you off with your choice of coffee or Tea. While you wait till the "head" before you is done. There are no appointments here. No need to reserve in advance, you just walk in and they greet you with the largest grin. As if you're a long lost love that have been away for a long time.

So what if it's 2AM in the morning. You're work, and the owner would happily open the place for you to give you top shelf service. This is no 10 minute Great-Clips, where some lady uses the hair clipper and you're done like an Australian sheep in 10 minutes flat. She has to look your name up in the computer to know who you are. Oh did I mention that she wasn't the one I saw last time?

Back home a trip to the barber means utmost relaxation. Nothing come close. We start with the cup of coffee and a cigarette as the barber divulge his best jokes and latest trivia to keep you entertained. You see barbers back home have many jobs, they're versed in human psychology. They're stand up comedians, news reporters and marriage consultants.

Then the moment you've been waiting for comes. The "head" before you is done, and everyone shouts "Na3eeman" Kind of a greeting people tell to someone who just got out of the shower or had a hair cut or just shaved. It's a cultural thing, people wishing each other luck. And if you're a good friend, you get to slap the guy on the back neck. Why? I'm clueless!

So for forty five minutes you hear the mastery of scissors snipping and snapping and you barely holding your breath because of all the fun you're having

Then comes the time for the shave. Hot towel, professional leather and the professional strokes of a razor that would cut glass, but surprisingly not even a single mistake. No bruises, no cuts. I can't even do that with my 16 blade Gillette fusion-sensor-excel-extreme-Venus with aloe Vera and Vaseline dispenser. Then he gets the thread out and plucks the little hairs that shouldn't be done with the razor. Did I mention that you get your hair washed at least twice, once before the haircut, and once after it with the finest most fragrant shampoo. The young padawan takes care of this task. You probably get 2 or 3 cigarette breaks and more coffee or tea. while you watch your favorite channel on satellite TV

Then more amazing strokes around the goatee and oh my god you start looking like Brad Pitt. Even better! You Will feel like a million bucks for sure.

Then the moment of truth. It's bill time ... for all you got, you're expected to pay what? $100? $200? more?! 3JD! AMAZING 3 JD's got you all that amazing service and pleasure. I'm telling you. This spa level treatment is truly priceless

And, you leave happy! God I miss home