I went to Bahrain for three days (Nov 2009). It is an island with only 1.3 mil people (about 500,000 locals and 700,000 ex-pats). Recently it has been linked to Saudi Arabia through a 26 KM long bridge (supposedly the longest in the world). Actually it is not a bridge but a road built in the sea. There is a small island in the middle which is used for customs & immigration.
Many Saudis come here on the weekend (Thursday & Friday) just for leisure purposes. Everything is available here including alcohol, which is sad really.
As a matter of fact Pakistan (& PIA) is one of the only few Muzlim countries (airlines) where alcohol is officially banned – a matter to be proud of.
Bahraini land is desert like. There is no much oil or gas here so Bahrain is dependent on Saudi and other rich Gulf states. Population is majority Shia who migrated from nearby Iran many many years back. However they are very poor. Minority sunni are rich as Royal family is also sunni. Rioting is common among shia. Unemployment and the resulting poverty is the main cause. For some bizarre reason Bahrain imports a lot of foreigners from India, Bangladesh, etc etc for labor & household work but do not use locals.
Weather was really good this time of the year but mostly it is unbearably hot. I enjoyed walking outside. Food was as smashing as it is usually in Middle East. I bought lots of dates & nuts for friends & family, fancy one?
We went to visit a fort near the city. It was looking magnificient in powerful flood lights. Many of its parts are rebuilt. There was a trench all around the outside wall to keep at bay.
