Manama, Bahrain

Kuwait International Airport had a security check before check in and then another check before passport control, just like in Beirut. They kicked it up a notch though and had a final security check at the gate, which was the most serious of the three. Strangely, though, I didn't even have to show ID to get my boarding pass. The airport is desperately trying to get people to stop smoking anywhere they want. There are no smoking signs, and there are even designated smoking sections, but it makes no difference. Every announcement is peppered with a request not to smoke. "Attention passengers, Jazeera Airways Flight XXX to Dubai is now departing. Passengers are requested to proceed to gate 24 for departure and to refrain from smoking." We landed at Bahrain International Airport just an hour after departing Kuwait. No jetway for this puddle jumper flight. We deplaned the old fashion way and were put on a bus to the terminal. Although you do have to get a visa for Bahrain, you get it right at passport control rather than having to wait at the "Visa Issuing" desk. However, this means that the passport control line goes incredibly slowly. I witnessed officials yelling at the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi migrant workers and herding them like cattle. To get in, all I had to do was fork over 5 Bahraini dinars to the official who stamped a visa and entry stamp in my passport. Then, for some reason, you have to go through an x-ray and metal detector to get to baggage claim. After that customs was practically non-existant. Bahrain is nice. It's a lot more chill than Kuwait and with kind of an island vibe. Kuwait was very hot during the day and surprisingly chilly at night. For the most part it was very dry, except for this morning it actually was raining. Bahrain is noticeably more humid, but not that uncomfortable and overall nice. Alcohol is legal here and there is a bridge to Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is banned completely. What happens, of course, is that weekends in Bahrain are crazy with lots of drunk Saudis. Unfortunately I think I missed it all since the weekend here is Friday and Saturday rather than Saturday and Sunday. This morning, right after checking into my hotel, I passed a stunningly beautiful woman in the hall. We made eye contact and she smiled at me. A little bit later the phone rang in my room. "Alo?" "Alo. Where are you?" "I'm sorry?" "What is your room number? I passed by you in the hall. You went down and then came back up. Can I see you?" "Who is this?" "My name is Jenna. What's your name?" "Can I help you with something?" "Hehe, yes, can I see you?" "Why do you want to see me?" "I want to see you. Where are you from?" "USA, where are you from?" "I am from Russia." "OK, thank you very much. Goodbye." Later I wondered how she was able to call my room without knowing the room number. Obviously the front desk is in on it. On a final note, Bahraini women are ugggggggggggly. About half cover their face with the veil, and the other half should consider it. This is in contast to Kuwaiti women, who actually were kind of cute. Still the best Arab chicks I've seen are the Syrians, who outshine even the Lebanese.