Gulf Air Housing & Conditions of service (threads merged)
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Dont know the fees for joining the Rugby Club...yes there are reefs to the north if the island a bit far but doable..all the reefs close are dead or dying due to silting that is occurring due to massive land reclamation thas is perpetually ongoing in Bahrain....but hey...Phuket thailand is day's travel away...and some fantastic diving, and the Red sea is closer...crowded in my opinion, but fantastic!..and the water temp is getting good for diving in the Gulf next 2-3 months
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Thanks ironbutt,
A question for the rev-heads in Bahrain... do you have engine problems from dust/sand in Bahrain? Does anyone have a K&N Air Filter fitted to their engine? I've had a good run with a K&N Air Filter in Australia and I'd be keen to replace the paper filter in the car I get in Bahrain with a K&N Air Filter...
A question for the rev-heads in Bahrain... do you have engine problems from dust/sand in Bahrain? Does anyone have a K&N Air Filter fitted to their engine? I've had a good run with a K&N Air Filter in Australia and I'd be keen to replace the paper filter in the car I get in Bahrain with a K&N Air Filter...
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Harley shops sells them for harleys....K&N stuff that is....don't know 'bout cars...Rugby club membership BD100 per year...family membership...that's 267.00USD
Last edited by ironbutt57; 23rd Oct 2004 at 23:58.
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Thanks again Ironbutt... if you're still diving and looking for somewhere different, there's a reef in Western Australia that's better than diving on The Great Barrier Reef in Australia and it hasn't been damaged by tourism... yet.
It's called Ningaloo Reef and it's off the North-West coast of Australia. You could fly to Perth direct from Dubai on Emirates, or fly Bahrain to Singapore and then down to Perth. From Perth, book a flight to Learmonth then coach to Coral Bay, or get on an organised tour to Ningaloo Reef from one of the dive shops in Perth.
http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/national_p.../ningaloo.html
http://www.coralbay.org/resort.htm
http://www.saveningalooreef.org/
It's called Ningaloo Reef and it's off the North-West coast of Australia. You could fly to Perth direct from Dubai on Emirates, or fly Bahrain to Singapore and then down to Perth. From Perth, book a flight to Learmonth then coach to Coral Bay, or get on an organised tour to Ningaloo Reef from one of the dive shops in Perth.
http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/national_p.../ningaloo.html
http://www.coralbay.org/resort.htm
http://www.saveningalooreef.org/
Last edited by Quokka; 24th Oct 2004 at 07:16.
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...and red i, some websites for Bahrain I've found so far...
Aquatique Dive: http://www.pearldive.com/aboutus.html
Skate Shack: http://www.skate-shack.com/index.html
Bahrain Tourism (with contacts for Le Meridien, other Recreation Clubs, restaurants, banks, car hire...) http://www.bahraintourism.com/
Aquatique Dive: http://www.pearldive.com/aboutus.html
Skate Shack: http://www.skate-shack.com/index.html
Bahrain Tourism (with contacts for Le Meridien, other Recreation Clubs, restaurants, banks, car hire...) http://www.bahraintourism.com/
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How much does a local phone call cost within Bahrain? Are they timed calls or fixed charge? Can you get Broadband internet access or just dial-up at home? How much are some of the packages and can anyone recommend an ISP?
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Fixed-line and broadband communications are handled by the state-owned telco, Batelco
Mobile telephony is also offered by Batelco, and also by MTC Vodafone.
General consensus is that mobiles/fixed-line are cheap, broadband (via ADSL) is an absolute rip-off.
With regards to satellite television, apart from the usual free-to-air dross off Hotbird etc., subscription packages are available from Orbit and Showtime Arabia.
However if you want sports, the only one to go for is MNet from South Africa. You get this off Nilesat but need a friend in Africa to subscribe for you and post you the smartcard. However, shops in Bahrain can install all the equipment you need.
Mobile telephony is also offered by Batelco, and also by MTC Vodafone.
General consensus is that mobiles/fixed-line are cheap, broadband (via ADSL) is an absolute rip-off.
With regards to satellite television, apart from the usual free-to-air dross off Hotbird etc., subscription packages are available from Orbit and Showtime Arabia.
However if you want sports, the only one to go for is MNet from South Africa. You get this off Nilesat but need a friend in Africa to subscribe for you and post you the smartcard. However, shops in Bahrain can install all the equipment you need.
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Just realised that the best club you should join is the Bahrain Yacht Club.
They have a nice beach on the premises where the waiters will serve you your Amstel and Hieneken as you burn. They also have a great diving section with the dive boat off to somewhere most Fridays. Sailing, motorboating, etc etc and all for a lot less cash than the Meridien.
BYC
On a Friday I'm usually the one being towed home
They have a nice beach on the premises where the waiters will serve you your Amstel and Hieneken as you burn. They also have a great diving section with the dive boat off to somewhere most Fridays. Sailing, motorboating, etc etc and all for a lot less cash than the Meridien.
BYC
On a Friday I'm usually the one being towed home
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Yeah...remember my ADSL was BD50 per month for the "hi speed" option...bout 130uSD monthly...get twice the speed here for less in the UAE..but the dial-up in BAH is TERRIBLY SLOW...
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My Batelco ADSL is BD 15 pm (approx USD 40) with 128 kbps & 500 MB traffic threshold, BD 0.030 per MB pm after that.
I very rarely go over the 500 MB, but for those who would the next package is BD 30 pm with 256 kbps & 5 GB threshold, BD 40 pm gets you 256 kbps unlimited and BD 50 pm 512 kbps unlimited.
ADSL modem NOT provided and ADSL is not available in all areas, most expat places will be OK. Hopefully prices will come down when the next ISP comes on line, licences have been granted now.
http://www.batelco.com.bh/preview.as...leId=13&mnu=12
I very rarely go over the 500 MB, but for those who would the next package is BD 30 pm with 256 kbps & 5 GB threshold, BD 40 pm gets you 256 kbps unlimited and BD 50 pm 512 kbps unlimited.
ADSL modem NOT provided and ADSL is not available in all areas, most expat places will be OK. Hopefully prices will come down when the next ISP comes on line, licences have been granted now.
http://www.batelco.com.bh/preview.as...leId=13&mnu=12
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Re: Batelco
Some may argue with this, but you likely will find the DSL "speed" with Batelco (Bahrain Telephone Company) is totally sub-standard compared to many countries, even others in the Gulf.
Batelco's network is in no way modern, regardless what their publicity people gloat about. Techs and support personnel for the most part have no networking skills, even on a basic level.
I can hardly wait until the next ISP's roll out their hardware properly. With Batelco being the only game in town at the moment there is no choice but to use them, but what a sad choice they are.
Totally overpriced and totally underspeed is their true name.
Signed,
Unimpressed Ray Darr.
Some may argue with this, but you likely will find the DSL "speed" with Batelco (Bahrain Telephone Company) is totally sub-standard compared to many countries, even others in the Gulf.
Batelco's network is in no way modern, regardless what their publicity people gloat about. Techs and support personnel for the most part have no networking skills, even on a basic level.
I can hardly wait until the next ISP's roll out their hardware properly. With Batelco being the only game in town at the moment there is no choice but to use them, but what a sad choice they are.
Totally overpriced and totally underspeed is their true name.
Signed,
Unimpressed Ray Darr.
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Do ex-pats bother getting a fixed line home phone or do you just purchase a mobile phone? Is it cheaper to buy phone cards and use public phones for long distance calls?
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Always had a fixed line...used the adsl line for voice and data...I did get an adsl modem with my subscription......just about getting to be time for another trip to paco's eh? r.d.?
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As ironbutt alludes to, there is lots to do in BAH. (Yes, a trip back to Sr. Paco's is a great plan, ol' buddy!)
There are plenty of good restaurants to go to, with enough of a variety you won't end up eating the same boring food all the time. Want to keep busy? There are lots of clubs, plenty of shops and stores for almost anything you need, and activities for singles, couples and families here too.
Sometimes it takes a quest to find things, but most of what you want is here. It by NO means is a "developed" country but they are working on it.
Prepare for a wild ride on the roads - everyone wants to wipe you out, on average two or three times a day. Think I am kidding? Re-visit this comment after a few months living here!
Enjoy the place - it's not paradise at all, but come with open eyes and mind, and a closed mouth until you get the flow of the culture, and you'll find it's not too bad a place.
Batelco still sucks, though.
Cheers,
Ray Darr
There are plenty of good restaurants to go to, with enough of a variety you won't end up eating the same boring food all the time. Want to keep busy? There are lots of clubs, plenty of shops and stores for almost anything you need, and activities for singles, couples and families here too.
Sometimes it takes a quest to find things, but most of what you want is here. It by NO means is a "developed" country but they are working on it.
Prepare for a wild ride on the roads - everyone wants to wipe you out, on average two or three times a day. Think I am kidding? Re-visit this comment after a few months living here!
Enjoy the place - it's not paradise at all, but come with open eyes and mind, and a closed mouth until you get the flow of the culture, and you'll find it's not too bad a place.
Batelco still sucks, though.
Cheers,
Ray Darr
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Thanks... I am keen to move there, just getting motivated and focused on how I'm going to set myself up when I first arrive, but I'm looking forward to it and keen to check out the island when I get there. That's if the door is still open to me and the job is available... 
I'm not concerned about settling into Bahrain, it's the move from here that I'm not looking forward to because it's going to be a pain here for a few weeks sorting out loose ends before I get on the plane...
I'm not concerned about settling into Bahrain, it's the move from here that I'm not looking forward to because it's going to be a pain here for a few weeks sorting out loose ends before I get on the plane...
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Do all the ex-pats get American Express cards or local bank Visa Credit Cards? I used my Visa Card recently in Bahrain and my host mentioned that some cards aren't accepted by bank machines in Bahrain... mine wasn't.