January 26, 2004

REVVING UP BAHRAIN

The Middle East’s first Formula One Grand Prix will be held in Bahrain this April, and I’m tempted to make the trip, not just for Legitimate Journalistic Purposes but also on the chance that I might meet Mahmood Al-Yousif, king of Bahrain bloggers. Here’s his take on a member of Bahrain’s parliament who wants to ban his fellow citizens from entering the nation’s hotels:

Please join me in welcoming MP Abdulla Al-A'ali into the "Wheel is turning but the hamster is fucking dead society (tm)" for this gem of an idea again to "protect us from EVIL":

It’s difficult to disagree with Mahmood’s conclusion:

I think the guy's turban is most definitely wound too tight. Loosen it up Abdulla before it completely cuts off the blood to your brain. NO WAIT please wind it tighter! Pretty pretty please?

Posted by Tim Blair at January 26, 2004 02:34 AM
Comments

The hotels are the only place to get a drink in Bahrain. That's why I spent most of my free time in them when I was there. The Islamist MP obviously wants to deny his fellow Bahrainians the pleasure of tall, cool frosties.

Posted by: Lawrence at January 26, 2004 at 04:41 AM

Hope you can get a boondoggle for the Bahrain F1. Send pictures. Maybe they have a Petroleum Museum too. Or perhaps there it would be a Natural Gas Museum.

Posted by: Wallace at January 26, 2004 at 05:42 AM

Not true, most (upmarket) restaurants are licensed and you can drink to your heart's content. I love the margaritas at Senor Paco's (alternatively known to people who know me as my HQ #1!)

As for the petroleum museum, yes we have one owing to the fact that Bahrain was the first place to have oil discovered in it in the Gulf (other than Iraq and Iran) The museum houses the first ever oil pump in this part of the world. It's small, but nice enough to visit.

Posted by: Mahmood Al-Yousif at January 27, 2004 at 04:46 PM