Arabian Nights

Met up with a couple of friends at Samar, the new arabic cafe we saw the other day down at Arab street after i picked up my mom and bro from the airport last night. It was an impromptu gathering of sorts since we don't really know what this place is really about but was just intrigued by their facade and the fact that the owner told us that there would be some dance performance when we passed by. The fact is, Samar is a refreshing drinking place that serve authentic arabic food and drinks, as well as shisha. It was comfortable, has good ambience and friendly staff who would take the time to answer our thousand and one questions about the beverages. Samar is one of the old shop house that has two storeys. There were carpets on the floor and lovely tin-wrought lamp shades all around. The second storey is a loft that was filled with carpet, low wooden tables and bright cushions all around. While we talked and drank the lovely drinks (should have remembered how to spell the names), tasted the unique desserts and puff on our water-pipe (shisha), lovely middle eastern music played.

After an hour of drinks, we were sort of puzzled about when the "dance performance" would be but when we asked, it turned out that there was a private party on the loft that night and the "dancing" was upstairs. We were slightly disappointed but nonetheless, quite pleased with the evening even if it was just drinks and company. However, the owner and her brother was terribly kind when they found out that we were expecting some "dancing" to take place and arranged for us to join the "party" upstairs. The only condition was that only GIRLS were allowed, hence the two other guys in the group had to be excluded unfortunately. In any case, it turned out that our evening has just started and there was a hen party full of muslim ladies on the loft. The owner had organized the party and seeked the bride-to-be's permission for us to join the party and they had kindly cleared a table for us and shifted our shisha and drinks upstairs. The ladies were welcoming and kind, and what followed was an evening of exotic dancing, fun and greater insights into a culture quite foreign to me. Despite what we usually see of muslim ladies outside in their tudungs and robes, they were surprising a fun and energetic bunch. Most had their shawls off and they were chit-chatty and sporting. They had dressed up the bride-to-be in a belly dancing costume and coming up with all sort of wild suggestions for her to do, such as entertaining everyone else with belly dancing. Even the most matronly lady was cracking raunchy jokes despite no alcohol was served (it being a muslim establishment), but that did not stop anyone from laughing and having tons of fun. One of the waitress turned out to be a terrific dancer and entertained us with her lovely arabic dancing (not too sure if it was belly dancing since no belly were involved, just very flexible hips). Then the ladies were invited to join in and learn, even we were invited. With shawls (bells attached) tied around the hips, the ladies were gyrating gamely along with the dance teacher as she demonstrated different movements while the rest of us watching clapped and wolf-whistled along.

It was certainly not an experience you can buy and we were very lucky that the ladies were gracious enough to let us join them. I must say that it was a refreshing and exciting experience sitting amidst a muslim hen party, watching exotic middle eastern dancing, drinking tea and smoking shisha pipes. Even without crashing the hen party, the evening would have been wonderful as we tried the different drinks and food but this was the crown of the night and one not easily forgotten. After the party, several of us stayed till 1 drinking another round of drinks and had some arabian bread with hummus. In fact this cafe is opened from 5pm all the way till 6am in the morning, and by the time we left, there were still many people, though mostly looked like arabs. In any case, this is certainly a nice place to chill out, experience something different from the usual watering holes and clubs, as well as drinking/eating at a reasonable price. Drinks are around $5 (a rather big glass) and food were quite unique and inexpensive as well. A good place to destress or even sober up after a night of clubbing since it opened till 6.

So, anyone want to go with me?