A few of the people from Josh’s work got together to rent a boat for the day to go out to an island off the coast and have a BBQ. Since it was the beginning of Ramadan, which means we’re not allowed to eat or drink in public and the base mandates that we all have to wear long pants and long sleeves in the bajillion degree weather, that sounded great to us.
Leaving Manama behind . . .
Under the Hidd bridge and out to sea
Engrish funny on the back of the lifejackets: “The Mr. Beach likes the surfing. Enjoys with the sea in the together feeling.”
We headed out at top speed for about an hour and I wasn’t seeing anything around us except for open water. Just as I asked Josh how far out he thought we were going he noticed that the water changed from dark blue to bright turquoise and this small sandbar-island appeared.
A “lighthouse” marking the shallow area
The only occupants were birds scattered along the edge of the water
First steps on the untouched beach
The water was so incredibly salty — second only to the Dead Sea. If any of it splashed in our eyes we had to rinse them with fresh water to take the sting away.
Paradise is grilled salmon on the beach. The boat crew set up an umbrella, table and chairs, started the coals and cooked all the food that we brought.
We swam and snorkeled (our group was small — our family plus 5 other adults)
I was too busy watching this fish to put on a mask and fins
Carter is always able to entertain himself at the beach — he’s either building something or hatching a plan to catch something.
He found a rusty pole buried in the sand and decided to try spearfishing
Lunch on the beach
The water felt like a warm bathtub
It was so hot out and getting wet didn’t do much to cool us down so I took Camille and escaped to the shade of the boat for a little while. I didn’t want her to overheat so we retreated to the air conditioned cabin for a few minutes, then came up for dessert.
Someone’s eyes are always closed.
Heading home
We saw a group of dolphins that looked like prehistoric creatures with crazy misshapen dorsal fins. I thought one had been in a boat accident until I noticed that all of them were the same. Googling “dolphin messed up dorsal fin” hasn’t given me any leads on what kind they are.
Finally sleeping . . .
A huge tanker that we passed on our way in
Entering the harbor — back home in Manama. Time to don long sleeves and pants again.