Bahrain is a strange place. Skyscrapers mushrooming out of the sand next to an old city. New, giant air conditioned shopping malls exactly like in LA, only bigger. Same design. Same stores. Same brands. There even is a McDonalds selling burgers and - believe it or not - an item called McArabia.

Sometimes Michael Jackson goes to the mall with his kids, wearing Muslim women's clothes. They recognize him because of the shoes he wears. He's a close friend of the Royal family.

Homosexuality is outlawed. The King's daughter lives in exile in London since she/he ran away (was disowned) because she/he is a transsexual (female-to-male).

Bahrain hosts the largest US naval base in the Gulf region.