Heat in the Middle East?

[addler]

I'm moving over in the next couple of weeks, and as it draws closer I'm really starting to worry about the heat!

I'm always warm anyway, and I hate being hot, I get uncomfortable and irritated and feel like I constantly need a shower. I much prefer the cold.

I'm an actual idiot for choosing a job out there.

Please, please if you live in a country over there or have in the past, is there anything I can do to help cool down?

I know that when I'm inside or in a car it will have a/c, but there will be times when I'll have to be outside for a couple of hours in the late afternoon (around 5) but at the moment it still has a heat index of 48 degrees at that time!

Am I doomed to become a hot, stinky mess?

Another thing that has suddenly worried me is that I am on a fluctuating dose of medication for a problem with my nerves, when I'm having a relapse and need to take a higher dosage it has the side effect of greatly reducing the amount I sweat, which I've just realised could actually be quite dangerous in a hot country. I've been in remission for a while so have only been on a low dose which is why I haven't even thought of it until now!

I wish there were clothes with an in built cooling system...

Never made it down to Riffa - bacon and wine tend to make us stop before we get far out of Manama/Juffair/Sar .
Great news on the flat tho.
And yes, the whole place is stuffed with malls. Not much else to do in the heat.

Would it really freek you out if I said we think the roads and driving standards in Bahrain are a breath of fresh air after the driving in Saudi. This place is seriously scary in terms of roads.

Hi OP, just came along to offer my thoughts/advice on living in Bahrain. I've moved to Saudi and hate it you're so lucky! I was in Bahrain for almost ten years and managed to save enough to buy a house outright, it can be done!

Happy that would be the dream!

Any ideas on optometrists? I've broken my glasses so need to get a new pair. I'm assuming there won't be anything as cheap as spec savers here!

Magribi is very well thought of here. Think there is one in Manama.
There is a Vision Express in City Centre mall.
But, Yes, expect it to be very expensive.

Looks like I need to take a trip up to Manama. I guess it's better waiting until I'm in an apartment though as these places normally need an address don't they? I'll just have to squint a few more weeks.

God it seemed really hot today. Even just walking from a door to another door across a courtyard around 2pm felt like my flesh was burning.

I'd have thought it would all before on mobile number, rather than address, if post in Bahrain is anything like the postal service in Saudi (ie none existent!!).
If you've got time to go up uo Manama, I think I'd make the trip. Broken glasses are really uncomfortable!!

I used to get my glasses on a BOGOF in Vision Express at the City Centre mall branch, so well worth keeping an eye open for those deals. Depending on your package OP you may be able to claim some back on your health insurance?

The heat can be unbearable in sweaty September but it should start getting better in the coming weeks - I miss Bahrain, hopefully coming over for Tribfest next month