Tales from Exile - Cultural Village or Travelling Circus?

 A few nights ago, one of the local colleges was hosting a conference dinner, and the evening's entertainment was a ****** Village that one can hire for $US25,000 a night.  It was billed as an authentic village experience, with various cultural elements. 

My photos are never great, and these were taken without flash in low light, with my phone, however I think they are interesting and unusual, if not representative of 'real' life here, more a circus fantasy of what it might have been like 50 years ago.

These are some of the cultural icons of life here in Exile.

The majalis, where men (usually from one family or tribe) gather to drink coffee,
 smoke shisha and gossip.

acres of carpet with part of the majalis in the background
and a collection of children 'dancing'

the woman cooking is wearing a white cloak, like a giant apron,
 over her black abaya, but her face is carefully veiled

a falconeer, note the leather gauntlet on his left hand, the rifle in the corner
and the leather hood on the falcon

carpet making: on the right preparing the fleece and on the left a loom
we didn't see them produce anything so I suspect they were merely posing with the tools

more actors with props

model pearl fishing boats

Camel and driver

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