Elite Resort & Spa Manama

Out of the widow Bahrain looks like lots of dust with skyscrapers on. Inside it is a strange mix of Christmas decorations lots of tour groups who look like they might be going on pilgramage, 25k rolexes in duty free, mcdonalds,costa and free internet to keep us amused. We've got 2hrs to kill - body clocks already out of sink! Am going to try and learn some nepalese from a podcast.

... the bus was keeping on at an average speed, so where exactly were we? Strained my neck to catch the nearest milestone, and when I caught sight of the nearest one, shocked was an understatement: it said Jeddah 775 Km. I had to frantically call Manoj ( my host at Jeddah) and say: dont expect me too soon.<br><br>As I sat back observing, I saw that we were about to bypass a small town. And as I took in the picture of a small Saudi desert town, I couldnt help wondering: Are there ...

17/10<br>Time to be honest. We're heading home.<br>The last country is a stop-over in Bahrain (for 2 hours) as we fly through the night back to England<br>We wanted to surprise a few folks so have sneaked home quietly.<br><br>Never the less, Bahrain International Airport looked very nice at midnight, all lit up. This small island state lies in the Persion Gulf alongside saudi ...

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<br>

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... situation. I really wished that I had never come in the first place but I knew wishing couldn't solve anything so I formed out a plan and a budjet for the next few days. Early the next morning I changed hotel to the second of the two hostels on the island; phoning them first to get directions. I visited a shopping mall where I collected the money I had been sent, (thanks Joffy) and used it to buy food to keep me going until my flight left the island. Wheatabix and ...

... from the sun, but the water was a perfect temperature and the sand was soft and welcoming. The view was also stunning as long as you looked straight ahead of you, and not to either side where endless construction and debris taints the view. Siena was scared of the water, holding my hand the whole time, which was disconcerting to Kane and I since our kids ...

... Dinar, or 40 Saudi Riyals, or $12.00 Canadian). Instead we went for dinner and had a nice dinner with a drink. It was nice and civilized. THEN, we went to Starbucks where I found my mug, headed home to a snack of cake and coffee, watched a movie, and headed for bed. It was time to relax before heading back to Saudi in the morning. Good night all! Tomorrow - we head for Riyadh via Desert Sand Roses and Shark's Teeth...

... oil, and precious commodities--that gets done in Bahrain. But that doesn't mean I feel comfortable with it. My moral conscience wrestled with its feeling of dread, and so I decided to have a look at the water. The sun was very hazy, and even in the small Gulf of Arabia, you can't see any land surrounding the archipelago of Bahrain, 33 islands of which Bahrain is the largest, Manama being the capital and largest city. It is connected by bridge to Saudi Arabia, and is not far ...

... alley, and the marina. After a time-killing drink at the Diplomat hotel, we visited the Beit Al-Quran (Koran House). It had some photo exhibits showing that Moslems worldwide are just regular people. (I make fun, but these were actually several very good portrait series by a few photographers.) The museum has an extensive collection of ancient and modern versions of the Koran, including the world's smallest complete Koran (made in the 18th century), and excerpts painted onto ...