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Shenanigamii t1_iud98gl wrote

Reply to comment by fcfrequired in Did I get a fair price for my Turkish Rug? by sbayz92

Hey dude! How long ya been in Bahrain? One of my favorite places on Earth. If you haven't been to Asha's for Pani Puri, do it. It's near the gold souq.

Also, check out Navaratna (4HF8+3X2, Rd No 523, Riffa, Bahrain). If any place could make me vegetarian, it would be this place. Holy hell.

If you are looking for rugs, peacock rugs just off shawarma alley also has a deal with the base, but just make sure that if you buy a Nain rug, it's actually Nain...just because they have a deal with the base doesn't mean they are not going to totally rip you off. Know what you are purchasing...every detail about it. I caught them trying to do this to me on several "nain" rugs. Their Qum rugs are the best I had seen though.

For the best Thai food (my wife is Thai and she said its better than some restaurants in Bangkok) head over to Honey restaurant and grab some tom yum and kor moo yang (grilled pork)...man I miss that place. I wish we had their chefs here in the states lol.

Also, if you haven't made it out to the racetrack on Sunday nights (I think its Sunday nights) for their open track night, it's a hell of a lot of fun, and sometimes, some of the rich Saudis will let you drive their Ferrari's if you befriend them. It's a fun time.

I admit it was better (more fun) 20 years ago when you could drive over the bridges doing 130MPH, but now,at least it's a little safer to drive there...hahaha.

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AllEncompassingThey t1_iue58a3 wrote

Man you're making me want to visit Bahrain

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bezbrains_chedconga t1_iuea0dz wrote

It’s the most livable of all the GCC countries. Oman is the prettiest landscape but super dull if you don’t make use of the outdoors

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Shenanigamii t1_iueb3js wrote

I love Bahrain. Spent about 5 years collectively there in-between other deployments to the region. Still have local friends there and speak with them on the reg. They have all shown me some of the best the country has to offer. Back in the early 2000s, there were less laws...or at least enforced laws...as there are now, so it's not nearly as fun anymore for the US Military member, but there is just so much there to do. Most people there unfortunately just stay in the Manama area or stick to the more well known tourist areas. Sure, the black flag areas are off limits, but before Nabi Saleh became a restricted area to the US servicemembers, I used to walk from my villa to this place nearby that had the most amazing gnocchi. The locals were friendly and their kids loved to use my remote control nitro truck I used to have. Good people, even if they aren't too keen on my country's government.

I've been spat on while there, but that's few and far between. They cheered when the twin towers got hit...they chanted "death to America" when United Flight 93 (the movie) was in theaters and pretty much h put us on lockdown...but theres bad apples everywhere. It's the only country that I know of where I could get Chateaubriand, a bottle of red wine, hummus, Naan, fries(chips..whatever), veggies, and mashed potatoes with peppersteak gravy for 5.5BD (about $13 US)...its a shame they knocked down the Middle East Hotel where that restaurant was...what popped up after to take its place just capitolalized on our fetish for good beef and now we pay American prices (sometimes $80 for a good steak).

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Hessarian99 t1_iuiczmm wrote

Amusingly the Bahraini government and elite lives at the mercy of Saudi and the USA as they Sunni monarchy is hated by the Shiite commoners.

Oman is a slightly more friendly place, more chill.

Most of the gulf states are trying to become gross tourist traps like Vegas tbh and it's really sad.

My Jordanian internet guy went on a massive rant about how fake and corrupt the Gulf Arabs are and said if you want the REAL ME go to Jordan or maybe Lebanon.

Rant over 😜

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Shenanigamii t1_iuix464 wrote

You are not wrong. The amount of protests and tire fires was a bit much. I was riding my motorcycle one time to the Harley dealer and a few turns away I was about 4 cars behind a truck that stopped, 3 men jumped out and one tossed them tires. The dumped petrol all over the tires, lit them, and then they drove away. Was crazy to witness

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Hessarian99 t1_iuid3u1 wrote

It's a tourist trap like Vegas with adultery laws and prohibition on public drinking

Fine for a visit, I wouldn't want to live there

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Hessarian99 t1_iuid71z wrote

Amusingly all those places were founded by Indian and Asian immigrants to cater to the gigantic guest worker population.

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