Dec 17 2007
Pop’s and Omar’s
Now that I’ve moved from FOB Diamondback to FOB Marez, I have to reestablish my daily and weekly routines. This first item I addressed was my running routes. On Friday, I ran a loop around Marez and measured it to be approximately 3.5 miles. Saturday’s route was basically a sideways figure-8 (or infinity) through the FOB, which was about 5 miles. Then yesterday, I ran a figure-8 that measured at 5.2 miles. I’ve mapped out another route that looks to be about 10 miles. I’ll probably run it next Saturday. I think I like running here on Marez better than on Diamondback. Because of the airfield, Diamondback was completely flat. While I’m not a good hill runner, the small hills here on Marez offer a nice change of pace.
The other routine item I had to consider is the barber shop. I visit the barber once a fortnight, usually Saturday afternoon. Coming out of the Marez DFAC yesterday, I noticed a small hajji shop in the parking lot across the street. In the Middle East, Hajji is an honorific for a Muslim that has completed the pilgrimage to Mecca. The American troops have adopted the term as their own and use it to describe anything from the Middle East. It is used as both a noun and an adjective. So all of the small shops on the FOBs run by non-US personnel are referred to as hajji shops.
Pop’s and Omar’s shop is a mini-mall in one room. You can see from the sign all of their different offerings. The jewelry is sold by weight. So if you want to buy a gold necklace, they weigh the necklace and calculate the price based on the value of gold for that day. The tailor makes custom suits. I’m not sure when I would have an opportunity to wear a suit, so I guess I’ll hold off on getting one made. The whole shop feels almost as if it could have come from Itaewon, the tourist trap area in Seoul, South Korea. I was able to get a reasonably good haircut. However, it is much more expensive than the barber on FOB Diamondback. I had to pay $5, whereas on Diamondback I only paid $3! Also, it doesn’t come with the scalp massage they give at Diamondback. Life is rough!
Poor little fellow… such a hard life. Love & prayers
Scalp massage? Next thing you know, you’ll be getting your nails done.
I guess I should call it a scalp beating. The barber puts his hands together as if he is praying. Then he starts chopping down on the top of your head with his hands.
What is pops and omars website to order the goods from there…. i bought a bunch of stuff from them when i was there… want to buy more…
please email me the website….
thanks,
Shamid
:shock: lol
you are so mistreated
poor poor dale….