Manali and I spent the Thanksgiving holiday visiting with her parents in Bahrain, and her brother Kunal, who flew in from Houston. Seeing the Middle East was an amazing experience, I think I had very distinct expectations that all eroded very quickly. Bahrain proved to be the social queen compared to the hustle and bustle of Dubai. I can still taste the morning tea Lata would make for us, and the smell of the salty gulf air.
We also had the opportunity to spend some additional time with family friends that reside in Bahrain, which we enjoyed very much, as moments with some that attended our wedding in India were short.through government zoning regulations. Soon to be the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai, shoots so far into the sky, you are left awe shocked and humbled at the sight, left to imagine what may be possible next.
Manali’s Mum took us for a history lesson, and we learned a bit about Bahrain culture and history. Considering how fast most middle eastern countries have developed, it is certainly a unique story that few others share.
I highly recommend the region for visit or vacation during the winter months, as we were remarkably comfortable, although I hear the rest of the year can be quite formidable.
Western influence is certainly notable wherever you look, and a McDonald’s cheeseburger tastes just the same in Dubai as in Atlanta. Most impressive though was the sheer size and scope of the projects currently underway, both in Bahrain and in Dubai. Entire beach lines are being reformed and manipulated, not by the forces of nature or the hand of God, but
A McDonald’s cheeseburger tastes the same everywhere, actually. I hadn’t eaten at a McD’s in probably five years before I left the states, and now I sneak into one at least once a month. It’s one of the few places where you can get something that’s exactly the same as home (in this case, delicious, freeze-dried carcinogens).