It never really surprises me that the headlines in the GDN often reflect that on so many surveys, Bahrain gets a “highly placed” wrap as a wonderful place for expats.
Well that’s not looking at “all expats,” mainly middle class availability for restaurants, local and international theatre events, wonderful, “sophisticated movies and cultural events,” as at La Fontaine!
Added great friendliness, tolerance of differences, generally fairly reasonable dress codes, liberal religious observance, lots of excellent sophisticated hotel eateries, especially memorable weekend family buffet lunches.
Once there was entertainment at two and three star hotels, ideal for growing numbers of backpackers, but much of that has now been constrained.
Hopefully too, soon clean public beaches, with proper, facilities.
Drawing more international tourists to Bahrain, especially during harsh northern European winters, when visitors seek the warmth of a beach.
A generally agreeable climate, good connections to Dubai, and beyond, a reasonable although sometimes, ponderous, often over-red-taped bureaucracy.
A forward thinking, benevolent rulership, allowances for trade unions, parliament, generally accepted legal norms and institutions regarding international human rights standards.
What is there not to like, apart from a few niggling problems, dealing mainly with the bureaucracy!
As a fan of Bahrain, during my 10 years as an expat, after earlier having come from Barbados, it was certainly different!
I came for a two-year contract, but happy it kept being extended, and used my time, in the hot period, when air-conditioners run as fast as Usain Bolt, to write novels.
My first was the Diplomatic Dog of Barbados, about a rescue dog, simply called DD
My last, a novel, drawing on a character, obliquely of course, known to me in Bahrain, on an “affair relationship,” set in the UK, and Paris, entitled, What the Eye Cannot See.
Both books were reviewed, Bahrain.
Many hours of enjoyment writing.
As Bahrain is six hours, strategically placed, midway between Europe and Asia, lots of visits, to parts of Europe, as well as hosting visitors to Bahrain, and showing them the sites and sights!
I’d planned visiting Bahrain in April 2018 but unfortunately cancelled it following a bad back strain, travelling the long flights from Canberra to Amsterdam, visit to the First World War battlefields.
This time alone, with guide!
Previously saw them twice before, with parliamentary delegations from Australia, and while there was great solemnity at grave sites and memorials, later asking, “what about lunch?” an important factor!
Sadly, many of my expat friends had left or were leaving; it was sad not seeing Bahraini friends.
Mind you, the cost of a tourist visa, even for a few days, has climbed astronomically, a strange way of putting off some travellers especially backpackers (numbers growing exponentially).
Glad, Gulf Air and Tourist authorities, now give transit visitors Visa Free three-four-day entry; hope it is extended to other carriers
Other ways of “milking tourists,” once they are in the country.
In sound economic terms, less visa costs means more people.
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