Licence to drive Bahraini style

Here is my application for a driving licence, was an exciting process to complete. Only about 5 different Ministry of Transport counters to visit to achieve the end result of a Bahraini Licence and as a bonus my own personal copy of the road code booklet...... still wondering why you receive (and pay for) the road code after they issue you with the licence?

Still it makes for an interesting read. Has illustrations that remind me of those primary school readers back in the day.

I was lucky the man in charge of most of the process was a hardcase, he produced (with a theatrical flourish) what he thought was my licence when the machine spat it out, but alas, it had a photo of a bearded Arab man, not me I laughed :-) Next one was the real deal though.

Nice spot for a morning walk

Full credit to these ladies, not the most beautiful place in the world but they are out there doing their exercise early in the morning to beat the heat.

Think this may have been an typo on the weather forecast website

If it's not then man Friday is going to be a shock to the system that's for sure!!

Temperatures rising

Last week was a bit of mini heatwave, I'm seriously relieved that the temperatures have now returned to a pleasant range in the late 30 degrees.

It's amazing what a difference 10 degrees can make; at 47 degrees you just don't feel like moving outside at all, you feel yourself start to break out in a sweat even walking slowly inside.

This photo was taken last Saturday during the invigilation session I foolishly signed up for - what was I thinking? Leaving for work 7am on a weekend day? Especially after attending the Great Escape Party the night prior!! Perhaps that 2nd bottle of bubbly wasn't the best idea.......

The tests went from 8am to 4.30pm and it was hot, and as a bonus, the A/C was broken that day. With hundreds of potential students packed into the hall it got a bit on the warm side.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

'Don't know' is still the answer to that old question; this chicken was cruising across the road last weekend but, damn it, he just plain refused to answer my question.

The mystery remains unsolved

Signage

I do admire the helpful traffic signage in Bahrain, it often provides a chuckle or two (yes then I do look like the crazy lady laughing to herself in her car - it's true).

This particular gem caught my eye the other day. Note the careful placement of the caution sign - a good 2 metres or so in front of the 'new traffic signal' that the sign is cautioning drivers about.

Struck me as locals must have far superior reaction times than me if that's all the warning they need :-)

Just to add to this post because I don't want too many of my posting being about traffic signs..... here is another gem just outside the Isa Town roundabout - on route to work. One way is fine - but which one? One way or another...

Reading the rear end of vehicles passes the time while stuck in traffic

A great example of how reading the vehicles around you can cheer up your 'stuck in traffic jam' mood.........Debbie (fellow tutor at work) snapped this gem this morning. Tempting to phone them really.