Bahrain

May 2, 2008

Bahrain has less money than Qatar, because it has less oil.

So Bahrain became a petroleum-refining country. It’s also a banking center of sorts for the Arab world. They do whatever they can: they’ve already built one iconic skyscraper with integrated wind turbines. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to work in an office where you have blades rotating constantly outside your window—you’re practically guaranteed to develop a nervous tic.

Out at sea, developers are attempting to emulate the Emirates in their exploits. Although there’s nothing more tasteless, anti-cozy, kitschy and boring than all these homes on artificial islands.

The pedestrian on the signs was inherited from the British (just like in Israel, only there they’ve added a hat with sidelocks to the silhouette).

Bahrainis have decided that the person on all the signs is the same character, only in different outfits.

The country’s capital, Manama, is quite a bustling place.

Like in all the other neighboring oil countries, the bulk of the workforce here consists of Indians and Bangladeshis.

Important signs have even been translated for them.

And here’s what a vehicle traffic light looks like, by the way.

And here’s a trash can. The trash cans are always mounted on a pole. And the law-abiding citizen on them is dressed in a robe.

Sort of like these ones.

Visitors can wear almost anything they want. But a real Arab woman, even when she’s begging, is bundled up completely from head to toe—even her eyes are covered with black cloth. Such examples are very rare, though.

Let’s quickly run through some typical artifacts.

A mailbox typical for a migrant worker neighborhood: the address is marked on the box so there’s no mistake about where the letter should go.

A post box for outgoing mail.

The fire hydrant brings several Hollywood sci-fi characters to mind at the same time.

Payphones are situated outside shop entrances to prevent crowding inside.

A sign that means the exact opposite of a “Do Not Enter” sign.

The vehicle inspection stickers, which are always on the right side of the windshield, are exceptionally nice. It’s safe to say they take second place after the vehicle inspection slips in Guyana.