Bahrain 08

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Had a few days in Bahrain on the way home...hot, bright and at least the photos were sharp again in the sunshine. It's certainly livlier than Abu Dhabi! Kate and I had to wear chaddors and scarves to visit the biggest mosque and our hotel was the ony place to get a drink (alcohol, anyway) in the area - and I was desperate for a drink after the antibiotic and kill Bill the amoeba pills I'd had to take - generally, it was friendly and pleasant - if a bit formal and slightly sterile...
All the area we stayed in at the top of the island is built on reclaimed land, so my little dream of swimming in the 'sea' was ammended to swimming in the lagoon and we were apparently lucky to have that - beaches are being built, but won't be open for a year or two yet. The markets were disappointing, as we were expecting souks, not actual shops, but overall, it was good to be there after an especially rainy summer in India. And for the person who wrote and mentioned that he doesn't know if I'm female or male, there's a photo!

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Photos

THE PEARL ROUNDABOUT
UPDATE: Symbol of the uprising in Bahrain, demolished in March 2011

Bahrain swimsuit 1
Kate said, "Is that what I think it is!??"

Necklace!
I think it's only one...!

Inside the Grand Mosque
We had to wear long black coats and black headscarves, andwere shown around by a warm, smiling man, who answered all our questions. ..

Shop interior
Love it!

Old Bahrain fort
Now being restored - but huge, echoing and very empty...

New...
buiding going on everywhere...seems every square piece of land is being covered - even the hotel we stayed in was on fromth sea) land

on the bottom of the lagoon
Perfect shells in the warm water

Bahrain 08 455
Interior