Briefly Bahrain

Time is relative. An hour may seem like an eternity if waiting for the test results of that spot you got after that night with that girl. Conversely, that same 1 hour period may seem fleeting as you realize you didn't study nearly enough for your "introduction to time management" course exam.

6 Hours: As i was being evacuated for Yemen, my flight path had me

passing through another recent hot spot, Bahrain. It was just in transit, but 6 hours is way to long fro me to sit around staring at a wall in an airport. Yet 6 hours just didn't feel like enough time to head into town, trying to get a "feel" for the place. I was torn. Whatever shall i do? Well the tie was conveniently broken for me as the evacuation co-ordinator called to ensure there was no way in heck that i'd be foolish enough wander into Manama, the capital of Bahrain. Recent protests had proven deadly. "It's far to dangerous!" he warned. "Enough said, don't worry about it", I reassured him. So 15 minutes after touchdown at Bahrain international airport, i was in a taxi, visa in hand, heading into the Manama town centre, Bab al-Bahrain (Gate of Bahrain).

5 Minutes: It is virtually impossible to truly understand a place

in 5 minutes. Yet that exactly how long it took for me to get bored in Manama. But let's be fair. I was there at night when all museums and such were closed. To top things off, the recent protests had most locals taking shelter in the safety of their homes. But the framework for boredom was there. Clean streets, modern architecture, reliable electricity and nobody walking around with knives in their belts. Maybe i'd spent too much time in Yemen, but Bahrain, similar to it's gulf state brethren like Kuwait and U.A.E., had an air of sterility. There's no question, shopping malls and fast food chains are not exactly my cup of tea. That said, the funky World Trade Centre is pretty cool. And wandering the market streets behind Bab al-Bahrain can pass some time. But neither are really "move me to tears" kind of places.

I'm glad i popped into town. If nothing else than to prove the LP wrong again. Reports are that taxi drivers, particularly at the airport, refuse to turn on the meter. Not true. Although they will ask, almost demand, for tips.

Bahrain is hardly a major destination. I'm sure, that given more time, i'd find something to minimally fill that time. An extended layover was long enough for me. But that's just how the time related to me.