Bahrain

I spent the first weekend of April in Bahrain, a tiny Island country (well, actually an archipelago of 33 islands, but still tiny) in the Gulf. Bahrain is pretty, and that's about it. There is (was?) a pearl industry there, and of course they have that whole oil thing going for them, but as far as real historical significance or political import, Bahrain is kind of lacking (though they LOVE the USA. The US Navy's 5th fleet is stationed there). Which is fine by me! The weekend was a lay on the beach, nap your cares away, vacation vacation, and much needed, too.

I did little more than relax in the sun (when it was sunny...), read, eat, drink and sleep. It was much needed, much enjoyed. I went with five other girls from my program and came back with a tan.

We did make it out of the hotel long enough to go to the Al-Areen Nature Reserve, in the middle of the desert. It was basically a zoo, but i got to see PORCUPINES!!!! They were deceivingly cuddly looking. None of the animals were in real cages, just little pens, so I guess I could have found out whether or not they were cuddly, but then I had a flashback to Homeward Bound and moved on.


We also made it out to clubs a couple nights. The night life in Bahrain is surprisingly bumpin'. It is just north of Saudi Arabia, with a bridge connecting the two. Bahrain is, obviously, much more liberal than Saudi, so Saudis flock here on the weekends to engage in activities their country does not allow-- like drinking, fun and womens' rights. Apparently Bahrain is also the gay capital of the Middle East, and we saw tons of trannys walking around. We also saw a FIGHT! I was driving home from a restaurant with the girls and two cars in front of us pulled over on to the sidewalk. People got out of them and proceeded to beat the crap out of eachother, blocking in our car. Not scary AT ALL. Gotta love the Middle East.


Left to Right: The pool at our hotel (the round thing is the back of the swim up bar :) ), the Bahrain Pearl Roundabout (the Middle East LOVES roundabouts. This one is Bahrain's most famous... wooo), a camel (in case this was not obvious)