Best Western Elite Manama

Not much - just waiting at the airport for the flight! Bahrain was both nicer and more boring than I thought, the weather is a lot more forgiving but it's not worth more than about 3 days exploration tops.. Unless you like to get really nittygritty :P

... and also not having any male family members with us [women are not allowed to cross solo, nor are they allowed to drive in Saudi!], we didn't even bother to attempt to cross the real border to go into Damman [although I wanted to..], so Saudi exploration will have to wait until I'm married :P [I have no brothers and my dad would much rather go anywhere else but a hot desert!]

... of Dubai. There were two interesting buildings - the World Trading Centre, which has 3 wind turbines in the middle of it that produce its power, and a pair of buildings I dont remember the name of that's shaped like two quarter-pikes [skate ramps]!

Our driver then took us to some random palace grounds thingy - basically, it's where the king keeps all of his camels. And there were LOADS of the buggers! We got to go in and stroke one of the baby camels, who at 3 ...

... local tribes around the country (normally last several days, victims are treated well and released without harm once concession from Yemeni gov't is obtained).  Additionally, several Westerners (including children) were killed in the Northern provinces, where there is currently fighting with the gov't now on the offensive, and small secessionist fighting/protests in the South.  The thing that worried me the most though was that Al Qaeda, having been hampered in Saudi Arabia, had been re ...

... less than 3)---everything was on paper and the guy was placing copies all over the place, adding things, and stapling. It was now past 9 and the taxi still wasn't here. While checking out, the admin from the local company called and said they were sending someone to pick me up. We cancelled the taxi, but this meant that I would probably get to the plant even later. Had to wait another 15-20 ...

... he meant by I can't leave the mall. Bahrain is the most liberal of the Gulf States and Saudis cross the causeway to come here for smoking, booze and ladies from Russia. It's a lot like those commercials where what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. There are even hotels here with bars and discos that cater to this clientele. It's like the anti-Kuwait when I compare the two. I guess a 30 kilometer drive across the causeway can really make ...

... and storing my bag there for the day). I decide to skip the cabs; the airport is in Muharraq, near the historic house of the last pre-oil sheik, Isa bin Ali, and the neighbourhoods of Muharraq are supposed to be historic, so let's walk there -- maybe 1.5 km. It's actually a nice walk, with stops to chat with bored security guards, buy ice cream and look at the wall murals throughout the area. I tour the house, which is decent enough, with a nicely working windtower ...

... and roamed the local streets for a bit until it was time to check out and go to the airport. One final note on my trip to Bahrain, as I walked the streets, I noticed an alarming high number of Thai "Massage" parlors. Now I have never had a Thai "massage", but I can't really believe that they are so amazing and in such high demand that there would be like six of them within a one block radius. I don't want to put all the blame on the Thai's either ...

... The food hear is great there are so many different restaurants to try to, Im slowly making my way through those, also cooking up a storm in my kitchen, dinner parties are a weekly event in our apartment building. A few house parties have been had as well with the most memorable a house warming Villa party with Mexican theme, lots of Tequlia and Karkore not always a good mix! but lots of fun. We have also been trying to venture to the few different bars they have hear and ...

... to Sydney next day. As i am privileged to have all the time in the world right now i kindly accepted. After a five hour flight and some more waiting in line to get to the hotel in Bahrein i was at last heading out of the airport. The expectations were high as it was supposadly warm outside. And it was. The first feeling of summer air on your face after arriving from under freezing temperatures is just wonderful. You may try to picture it ...