BAHRAIN
Meeting Various Bikers
16th November - 19th November | 2023
Oh, and my luck continued … It was raining in the morning when it was time to get up and pack up! I waited another hour, but it didn't look like it would improve, so I packed up. I have to remember to dry my tent once in Bahrain tonight! Of course, once everything was packed up, it stopped raining!
After having a snack at the nearby fuel station I went to the border bridge into Bahrain. It was the first time in nearly 6 weeks that I left Saudi Arabia! Well, if they would find my number plate in their system at the border! As it was a busy border, I had to park aside and walk to the main office. As they couldn't find it still, they just created a new entry for me. All no problem! Entering Bahrain was no problem: Visa on arrival (VOA) for 14 days and insurance for 5 days (one spare day, just in case!). Within 60mins it was “Welcome to Bahrain!”. And my first impression was after the first kilometres “How civilised everybody drives!”
During the past weeks and days, I was in touch via Social Media with various biking groups in Bahrain. One of them is the Falcon Riders (IG: falconriders.bh) and they usually meet Friday early morning at Tim Horton for their ride. So I went there to have a snack to find out where the meeting point for tomorrow morning was.
Through Bahrain Riders (FB: bahrainriders) I got a room at the IBIS hotel booked. How fantastic is that! They got me a really good deal! And it was for the first time again, to stay in a hotel with “Western Standard” - it made me feel so special! Ru'a had it all arranged for me and so we met at the Club House of Bahrain Riders at 18h00. It was just down the road from the hotel. Ru'a and some of the Riders gave me a warm welcome! And I could dry my tent! It was so great to meet up again with some local bikers! Later on, Ru'a took me to the Portuguese Fort (yes, they were here some time ago!) for dinner. How nice is that!
The next morning I had to get up at 5h30 as the Falcon Riders met at Tim Horton at 6h30!! Not my time of the day ;-) That area at Tim Horton's seems to be a popular meeting point as upon my arrival another group just left for their ride! I got a very nice welcome from the group! At 7am we hit the road - and how well organised is that! One driver at the end, giving clearly the commands, being connected with the last rider closing the group, but also closing entries or exits so that the group stays together. Wow - I wish it would have been that civilised when I did organise the “Sunday Rides” in the Algarve back in 2018!
We went through the oil and gas fields. I always thought these oil pumps were huge, but here they look tiny! However, it was impressive to ride through the area on our way to the south of the island. There we had a cafe stop before we drove back to Manama. At midnight we had lunch in a typical restaurant in the Old Town. What a lovely group, it was worth it getting up so early! But once I got back to the hotel, I hit the pillow again ;-)
In the afternoon it was the official meeting at the clubhouse of the Bahrain Riders, with the sticker exchange! How cool is that! We went later on for their Night Ride to another area in the South. Back into town, we went for a delicious dinner. What a lovely bunch of people! And believe it or not, I made 250km on that little island today!
The next morning I had to get up even earlier as the Bahrain Ladies Motorcycle (IG: bahrain.ladies.motorcycle) already start at 6h30! I was there for 6am and it was so fantastic meeting the girls, so many of them. Also one of the girls from the Falcon Riders was there and some of the male “Falcons”. After a cafe we decided the “Falcon boys” could join us, being the road captain and closing the group. We went mainly through the maize of the Old Town and Old Souq. In the Old Town, we had a late breakfast at a lovely traditional place with very delicious dishes.
In the afternoon I met up again with Ru'a and this time we took the car, so we had more time to talk (as not in our helmets). We went to the “Tree of Life”, so we had to cross the oil fields again. I always thought the places with the tents were for workers, but it was for tourists camping. Seriously?!? Who would stay in such a vast area overlooking the oil mines and gas? I could think of nicer places …
As it was still the half-term holidays and now also starting the camping season, it was like a Tollwood around the “Tree of Life”. So many cars, food trucks and tents, quads, people … and of course dust.
The next morning I took it easy as I would meet up with Ru'a later, before I left Bahrain. We had a drink together and then it was time to say Goodbye - Thank you, you looked so well after me!
Back at the hotel, some people started talking to me and wanted pictures whilst I was trying to get ready to leave. In the end, I even met the hotel manager of Ibis Seef Bahrain. What a lovely person!
When I crossed the border, all went smoothly leaving Bahrain, but when I arrived at the Saudi side, they asked me for a customs paper. It is a small printout Bahrain would have given to me. Unfortunately, that person in Bahrain sent me straight to customs to stamp out my Carnet de Passage and never mentioned I had to come back to obtain the paper.
So when the border control asked for it I knew immediately what he needed, but of course, I didn't have it. He kept on asking, but I still haven't got it. One of his colleagues peered around the building and asked for the paper - aarrrrggghhh, I still DO NOT have the paper! What didn't help, their English was very limited. Finally, he went with me and my passport to a superior and after I explained to him the situation he said I can drive back to Bahrain to obtain that paper slip.
So I had to turn around the bike and drive across all the lines to get through the hole in the fence (obviously I am not the only one ;-) ). So I went back to Bahrain and hoped for the best as I only had a one-entry visa (on arrival). I explained the situation and they kept my passport for the time being. So I went on to customs, where you usually stamp your carnet. After explaining they waved me to drive around the building to the exiting side. So back to the customs booth. I again explained the situation that all I need is the customs paper. Finally, I got the paper, went off to get my passport and back to “my friend”, the superior, at the customs. I had the correct paper this time, so I could finally enter Saudi Arabia again. I had my giggles about it, as technically I was twice in Bahrain ;-) and glad I am only on a motorbike to make moving around much easier!
When arriving in Al Khobar it was getting late and I started to hunt for a cheap hotel. As still half-term holidays it was not an easy task! Either there were no free rooms or they were really expensive. After the 3rd attempt, I booked something via booking.com. I didn't pay too much attention to the distance and it was 30km away! At least in the right direction for me tomorrow heading towards the Kuwait border. However, once the check-in was done, the receptionist asked me for a much higher price as I booked it. It turned out, I didn't see the “little letters” - something I have seen the first time in 2 years travelling: deposit for damage! In this case, it was about €50 that I would have to pay in cash! Seriously! I could still cancel the booking online and back to a hotel hunt!
Two more hotels and I finally found one with secure parking, he even gave me a wee discount (making the SAR straight) and he didn't even ask for the deposit. He was so helpful and he even called me before he left his shift if I needed anything as he was the only one speaking English. How sweet is that?
I hope you enjoyed the trip to Bahrain as much as I did. Especially it was the first time feeling more getting into a Western World: everybody driving civilised and girls without Nikah = you can see a smile when served in a shop! And meeting all these lovely bikers! While you are waiting for the next blog, have a Ginger Ale (finally I can buy them again!).
Places | Cities:
BAHRAIN
KSA: Al Khobar
Driven km | Trip:
Total | Steffi: 31795 km
Information Border Crossings:
BAHRAIN:
Stamping in and out Carnet de Passagem (CdP).
Vehicle insurance mandatory.
Visa on Arrival (14 days single entry) possible.
All fees payable by credit card.
All very smooth and straightforward!
KSA:
Check your registration on the customs paper slip - maybe take a picture as the computer system all over GCC seems to be connected.
If you have all the papers like passport, visa and insurance, all very fast and straightforward.
Maintenance | Breakdown:
./.
Health issues:
./.
Special thanks to:
Falcon Riders, Bahrain Riders and Bahrain Lady Motorcycle to look so well after me!
Ru'a to take her time to show me Bahrain and spending a great time together; and booking my hotel room with Ibis Seef Manama.