Elite Grande Hotel 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

Apparently the Bahrain-Saudi border is on a little island [not sure if it has an official name], which hosts a rest point on either side of the border, complete with matching observation towers. The whole road, which is 45km long, is called the King Fahad Causeway on the Bahraini side, with a different Saudi name.. Interesting stuff! :) Due to it being Ramadan and us not being ...

... 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 ...

... priority, and then mechanical problems (which means that the first excuse was BS), so we ended up sitting on a hot plane with the door open to the heat/humidity with no A/C and passengers getting really restless.  Eventually, after an hour and a half, they made an announcement in Arabic and let us get off the plane, boarding buses back to the airport, but we had no idea what was going on.  There was no Yemenia agent anywhere to be found, and the airport staff would only say to wait ...

... 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 ...

... boat. They are everywhere in Bahrain and perhaps one of the few remnants of the Kingdom's past. Fishing and pearl diving used to be the main economies here -- until black gold and cultured pearls were discovered elsewhere. E - Electricity and other utilities. They are subsidized here. Can you imagine what your A/C bill would be in the summer if the season low (at night) were 87 degrees? F - Fares in cabs. Totally negotiable. G - Gulf Air. The Bahrain airline that guarantees to ...

... forming a point at the top, but with turbines between the buildings (look at the picture; it's hard to describe). It's still really quiet, and someone mentions to me that it's National Day. Which explains the closed museum, quiet streets and very little happening. Damnit. (This is the third country in a row I've arrived in during a holiday -- UAE National Day and Oman Armed Forces Day.) The Bab is, frankly, underwhelming, but I'm tired, so I stop off at an Indian ...

... to be brought to the States Most people here can't discern an English accent from an American one, so I guess we really do look and sound the same to them, just as they do to us. At least 4 occasions I've been asked if I was British, even after having lengthy conversations with the people No one has tried to kill or convert me Pork is no where to be found Because your white, they assume your rich, and everything costs literally ...

... the sights and sounds of Doha until I arrived in Bahrain, driving from the airport to our hotel it took me a while to work out what was so different about this city. 1. NO CONSTRUCTION, every corner in Doha is in a bit of kaos with the new buildings going up, building coming down and the widening of roads, 2. TREES & GRASS, not everywhere, not even that much, but enough on the trip from the airport to notice. I like this place so far! Whilst still trying to work out ...

... lighter in hand, trying to wrap my mind around it, and staring at nothing in particular. I noticed the guy behind the counter was a bit pale and his eyes were fixed on the lighter I held. I cold see the "oh $h&t!" look in his eyes. I am used to being one of the biggest guys in the room, and I realize that being 6'1", 240 lbs can intimidate some people. I try never to use my size in that way, and the fear I saw in this guys eyes shook me out of my mind numbing thought ...