What day is it? Update – Bahrain

it is ….

it is Saturday….

I had to think.

the weekends here are Friday & Saturday – it kind of throws me off…

so – Friday I went on a tour of the city – which is Manama City…

it was $80!!!!

which didn’t seem so bad – b/c it was supposed to be 4 hours, and 7 stops…

well… it was Friday.

Friday is Bahrain’s ‘Sunday’ … so-  half of the stops were closed.

it was very disappointing… I was pretty upset… but the tour guide said there was nothing she could do, and was ‘very sorry’… I said well, there’s nothing you can do – but – there should be a disclaimer on the site – and it just sucks b/c it was so much money and I only get to do 1/2 the sites…

OH

not to mention —- I was the ONLY person on the freaking tour… probably b/c everyone else knew that the sites would be closed!!!

ugh…

so anyways, I saw a few things, including the Bahrain museum… it was pretty cool – since I was the only one there – the tour guide was able to give me a personal guided tour of the museum… the only unfortunate thing was that I did not get to see the actual art work in the museum, just all the historic things… which was very cool… but I was sad to not see the art…

there were a couple other sites – and they were pretty cool…

when I got back to the base – I was tempted to go off base again for dinner, but didn’t want to do it by myself… so, I didn’t… and while at dinner, I got a message from the tour company saying that they were so sorry… and they wanted to give me a free tour of the desert… which – I was originally interested in – but didn’t want to spend the almost $150 to do both tours… unfortunately I already had plans for Saturday – and that was when they were offering it, so I told them as much, and they said ok, when can you do it? and you can bring your friends, and we’ll give you two free passes to the water park… and we’ll refund your money for the other tour…. which is great…. except the other tour is in the morning; and I work in the mornings… so I told them as much as well as thanking them for the refund… and they didn’t respond after that 😦 , plus the money is not refunded yet, so we’ll see what happens… *sigh*

all in all though, what I did get to see was pretty cool… pics will be posted on facebook when my AT is done… just to make things easier on myself… (haha!)

Saturday –

met up with one of the guys from the command and he drove us to the Manama Souq. which is a market place of sorts… but honestly, I thought it would be different, but it’s just a TON of stores, a lot selling the same stuff over and over…. but it was quite interesting… my AT buddy was looking for a piece of jewelry for his wife, so we were on a mission, plus I wanted to buy something that was indicative of my time here… and a souvenir for the bear… I was able to buy something for me, but have yet to find anything for him… it was pretty cool … ALTHOUGH – they are super high pressure salesmen, and they are very pushy… so much so, in fact, that one of them just placed a head dress on one of the guys!! as he was walking!!! uh. no.

after that we went to American Alley for lunch, and had a pretty good lunch at a Lebanese restaurant…  and then headed to the City Centre of Bahrain, which is a **HUGE** mall… it’s 3 floors, in some places 4… SO many stores, and it’s EXPENSIVE!!! we went there to wander b/c – well, I didn’t want to be hostage in my hotel room for the rest of the night… plus there was a ramen restaurant there, and I’ve never had ramen – so we went there to try that also… .but – we decided upon that at lunch – and when dinner came around – I was not hungry yet… lol – so we got it to go …

and then we got dropped back off at the hotel and I have been here ever since… I should have gone to the gym tonight, but – instead I spoke to my husband via video and now I’m writing this as I finish my glass of wine before I got to bed… I have to get up for pt at 6am… so – I’m actually up too late…

I was going to try to watch the meteor shower, but – it’s at 3am my time – and unless my stupid suitemate decides to slam doors when she goes to work (which  – who am I kidding – she totally will)… I will be sleeping!!

I’m really kicking myself about this damn suitemate thing… *sigh* why do I have to be so freakin nice!??!?

she woke me up this morning at 1-something, and since I woke up I realized I had to pee, so I got up to go – but she was in the fucking shower… ugh.

the lack of sleep definitely doesn’t help with my self image that I’m having issues with currently… but that’s another blog for another time…

I’ll end now – and wish you all luck watching for the meteor shower!! someone take pics for me!!!

Have a wonderful night my friends!

I’m out –

~Peace~  T.

 

Bahrain – Wednesday/Thursday Update

So,

Wednesday – we had command pt at 6am… we met up to play wally-ball… ever hear of it? no – me neither… it’s volleyball that you can play off walls… but – not the back wall, b/c that’s an automatic out, and not the ceiling b/c that’s an out too…

now – I know how to play sports… I just REALLY suck… and these guys are competitive… and the LPO (supervisor for those who don’t know) was very patronizing and trying to explain the game to me as if I were a child  –  I told him, look – I know how to play volleyball, I just suck!!! smh… whatever.. it was still fun… I took a dive and skinned the hell outta my knee though.. hardwood floors, dust, and slippery shoes… not a good combo…

the day seemed to drag on forever yesterday…

we have this girl who is doing her at with us and omg… she’s just so … irritating.. .

she’s got rose gold metallic nails… that are way too long… ok first of all – metallic nails?? in uniform — no. the regulation states that your nails must be complementary to your skin tone… metallic is not complementary to any skin tone… one of the guys asked her if she was a fish when she said it was – … pretty funny… anyways — it was one thing after another with her on Wednesday and I couldn’t handle it anymore… I wanted to punch her… so I left the room as to not put myself in the setting anymore… bc obviously I wasn’t going to punch her, but I couldn’t guarantee I wasn’t going to completely lose my cool…

Wednesday dinner was yummy. they had Mongolian bbq 🙂 my AT buddy and I were going to eat dinner and have a beer, but there didn’t seem to be anyone serving at the bar 😦   we were sad…

we went off base after dinner (at my insistence) and explored “American Alley” for a little bit… it was 7:15 in the evening and still pretty hot…

 

American Alley

 

 

Thursday morning my lovely suitemate decided to slam doors at 3:30 in the morning… which of course woke me up… I attempted to get back to sleep, but could not…. so I waited until 5a and took a run and went to the gym… then the work day begins!!  we actually ended up getting out early today …. and I came back to the room, showered b/c I was DRENCHED in sweat, and then I took an hour nap and woke up to call husband… 🙂

i’m hoping tomorrow I get to take a tour of Bahrain… but they are kind of pricey…. Saturday one of the guys in the shop offered to take us to the Souq (which is essentially a market bazaar) and i’m excited about that… one of the other guys offered to take us to the Tree of Life after that… so that’s cool! 🙂

 

Sunset from my hotel room

 

 

 

Bahrain – Day 3

WOW. i haven’t written since december.

i figured i’d share it here instead of facebook since this links to facebook anyways… not that they are long updates, but updates nonetheless.

So,

Day 3.

i woke up super early after having some really weird dreams – the one i woke from had Jennifer Aniston in it, and i upset her and it made me cry b/c she was so very mad at me….

yeah… in my defense – i watched a movie with her in it before i went to bed…

pondered going to the gym but talked to my husband instead ❤

normal day at work – it was TACO TUESDAY!!! so i ate more today than i have since i’ve been here… but, then – made up for it by not eating dinner…

i’ve been pounding water, but i have had a headache since right after lunch… it hasn’t gone away… i took a nap when i got back to my room, was woken by stupid people running up and down the halls screaming, now i’m perusing facebook and writing this update… i took some tylenol pm b/c i still have a headache, and will probably go back to bed when i get done here.

the end of the work day was a meet & greet for the new chiefs on base. . . there are two in the command i am working in, PLUS i got to meet the girl who helped me out when i couldn’t get my command to help me!! so that was cool… we won’t get a chance to hang out while i’m here b/c she’s going through the chief thing…

if you don’t know the story – it’s a sordid stressful affair in which a stranger’s help was a life saver… thank goodness for virtual friends!! and facebook is seriously sometimes a game changer!!

let me talk about the climate here for just a minute… since i have more space to do so…

ya know when you open an oven and you’re standing too close to it and you get that blast of heat?? well – the weather is like that – except it doesn’t go away when you move away from it… it’s hot. and super dry. and there have not been any clouds in the sky since i’ve been here… i’m not complaining – i’m just giving you a run down of how it is…

also – their work week is sunday through thursday… which means i have friday & saturday off… i want to do something interesting, but it’s a bit hot out – and well, there’s probably only one person that i can do anything with – so… we have to agree to what that will be…

so – that’s my update for day 3… maybe it is a good thing i am switching to this – i can go more into detail!!

happy day ya’ll 🙂