As I begin in Bahrain , space will be a bit empty, but soon it will fill.....

Here is some concise info about things that I think you will most notice in your first few weeks in bahrain

Size - The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small island located in the Persian Gulf You can drive from one end to the other in 30 minutes. Within a few weeks you will have seen the sites and explored it all

Weather - The biggest advantage and disadvantage of Bahrain ! Sunshine is nearly guaranteed .Summers can be very hot and humid (April -OCt) and winter ( Nov -March)is cooler.Average rainfall is low, but most of it falls in winter.

Alcohol - To the surprise of many people - unlike most Arabian Gulf countries, alcohol is readily available for sale in Bahrain . There are pubs, bars and retail outlets

Taxi -The main form of public transport is taxis which you will probably need to frequently use until you lease or buy a car. Try to avoid taxi ranks outside 5 star Hotels, wave down a cab instead. Make sure the driver uses the meter, at night they may refuse but make sure you have agreed a price before you start the journey - BD3, including a tip, is plenty for up to 4 miles (6 km) at night.

Info for women - Women can work and drive in Bahrain . However expat women will find that they always attract attention.

Quality of life - The quality of life in Bahrain is very good by most comparisons. Local people are generally friendly and crime rates are low, although inevitably "rich" expatriates are occasionally a target for theft and burglary. The western community is quite small but this can actually help you to make a wide range of friends. There is always plenty to do and to get involved in. Most people take on (at least part-time) a house-boy or maid so much routine drudgery is removed.

Respect for islam and dress code - Although Bahrain is a very tolerant society, particularly by Arabian Gulf standards, it is an Islamic country and local rules and customs should be respected. Allow common sense and caution to dictate your behaviour until you are accustomed to Bahrain . Pornography is banned and being inebriated and excessive displays of affection in public are best avoided. For example, in theory an unmarried couple kissing in public could be deported!

Wealthy and poverty - Like many countries Bahrain has a mixture of wealth and poverty, but due to the small size of Bahrain these co-exist to an extraordinary degree. Million dollar mansions are built beside shacks, and brand new limos can share the road with donkey carts. There are many very wealthy individuals, but half the working population are expats

Here are some random snaps of my trip in Bahrain :

The Tree of Life is a huge tree standing in the middle of the desert. It looks completely out of place because there is no other vegetation around. The tree's source of water remains a mystery some others belief that it gets nourishing from the underground but no one knows why this tree still surviving.,so it assumed to be a miracle. I am not quite sure which species it is but it is a revered reminder to the locals of their old culture and ancient history When we got here, there were a couple of foreigners that were also wondering about the tree, they climbed up and happy as we did.

Bahrain-Saudi "causeway" (a bridge linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia)

Riffa Fort in Bahrain is one of the prime attractions of the city. Riffa was originally the center of power till 1869. The fort was built in 1812 by the present Bahrain Amir's great grandfather. The interior of the fort is quite spacious and divided into chambers. This fort is one of the best places to feel the intensity of winds that blows over the desert sands during the nights.

BAHRAIN AT NIGHT

Once the day's races are over, Bahrain goes into party mode at dozens of nightspots accross the country. Get out there and have some fun.