November 22, 2007 - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Our airline travels from Houston included a layover in Frankfurt, Germany. On the 10hour transatlantic flight, I was not woken-up for the breakfast meal, causing me to be extremely hungry by the time we got off the plane. Knowing the Euro is much stronger than the dollar, I tried to find the cheapest meal possible... $16 US dollars later, I indulged in a cheese, tomato, and bread sandwich. Then on the 5 hour plane ride from Germany to Bahrain, the Germany airlines ran out of meals for all the passengers. Once again, extremely hungry, I bought a meal from a local vendor. My Thanksgiving dinner and first meal in the Middle East was a cinnamon roll from Cinnabon.

We flew into Bahrain, Bahrain, and drove over on the King Fahd Causeway (in the Persian Gulf) to Saudi Arabia. The causeway is a 15 mile long road connecting Bahrain (an island) and Saudi Arabia through a series of bridges and dams. Saudi Arabia does not allow alcohol on either their soil or airspace. However, Bahrain is much like Reno in the U.S. (Dubai is the Las Vegas of the Middle East). Bahrain sells massive amounts of alcohol and tobacco, plays on its bright-lights, big buildings, gambling atmosphere; and provides female entertainment. The King Fahd Causeway allows both Saudi Arabian men and women access to western world vices. Even in the Middle East, "what happens in Bahrain, stays in Bahrain".