Zei party

Tonight is the wedding party....for girls only. Got to do the last minute errands with cousin before leaving sis in the clutches of the hairdresser. Did go to see another cousin and he graciously gave me a Nokia 5310 so I could be reacheable. How sweet!

Back to pick up sister and cousin from the hairdresser and realised once I went to the building block where I left them, that it was the wrong block....after asking around managed to find the hairdresser's place which actually in another remote place. Oh dear...sis looked stunning in her new hair do. Back at home she put on her wedding gown (and did she look gorgeous!). I did get dressed up as well as the rest of the family before heading towards the party.

Tradition states that the bride arrives fashionably late in a fully decorated car....and I was to be the one that introduce her to the party where I would lead her to the altar, where a rococo-style couch was taking centre stage as to accomodate tonight's star. Only women were allowed in the place and I felt somehow a bit out of place. Pair of eyes peering at us, moi seeing people I have not seen since I was 13 years old for some of them. Have to admit that I nearly upstaged my sister as women came up to me and wanted to dance with me. Mother quickly solved the problem by kicking me out of the place......

Weddings in Libya are a women only party. They meet up, discuss, laugh, drink, eat and dance whereas the men are to be found sitting outside looking miserable waiting for their female counterparts to finish and drive them home......

One thing that astonished me, was the violence of the gulf influence into libyan society. Where 10 years ago, you would not see a abbaya (the black dress) now everyone was wearing one and covering their heads or even having a cape that made them look like ewaks from Starwars as to cover those tight mini skirts, deep cleavage and naked back....when coming out....

Next time I will bring my wonderburka disguise.....