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Or maybe not In the early 2000s, a writer of "alternate histories" put up a web site which presented itself as the official site of the government of the "Republic of Baker Howland and Jarvis", portraying a bustling tourism destination, including a fake CIA World Factbook article providing statistics for the island nation The web site is no longer online, but puzzled more than a few armchair travelers |
The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast
Equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef Treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
Arabic is the official language, although English and Persian Farsi is widely spoken Urdu and Hindi is also understood and spoken by Indians and Pakistanis on the island
A cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast
Bahrain has history dating back 5000 years, from the ancient Dilmun period through the Islamic era The country offers three forts which have been meticulously restored and opened to the public, although a lack of signs and general promotion by the country's tourist industry sometimes makes finding these sites difficult
Bahrain's biggest yearly event is the Bahrain Grand Prix F1 race, held each April at the Bahrain International Circuit 5 Plan well in advance, as flights sell out and hotel prices triple
The high temperatures in Bahrain make sea activities seem extra tempting and water sports are extremely popular in Bahrain, with tourists and locals indulging in their sport of choice all year round in the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf Sailing and scuba diving are particularly popular
Although a desert country, Bahrain boasts an international 18-hole grass golf course, which is about 15 minutes outside the capital, Manama The par 72 championship course features five lakes and is landscaped with hundreds of date palms and desert plains
Enjoy riding a camel along a highway
Purchase souvenirs and buy some authentic pottery at A'ali Village Pottery
Haggle for goods at the local souk markets
There is no economic activity on Baker Island
Restaurants in Bahrain run the gamut for cheap stalls offering local food to fancy restaurants in fancy hotels American fast food franchises such as Burger King and McDonalds are ubiquitous Western mostly American style-foods and franchises can be found around the malls and in the city center, offering food for upper mid-range prices
Bahrain has relatively liberal laws regarding alcohol and has long been a favorite getaway for visitors from Saudi Arabia and other nearby "dry" countries — don't be surprised to see Arabs in thobe and gutra sipping cool brewskis as they watch dancers strut their stuff in the nightclubs
There are no accommodations on Baker Island
Bahrain has a number of expatriates they make up almost 30% of the population The predominant industry is the financial sector where over 400 banks are licensed, although only about 30 can accept deposits from retail customers- the rest are basically investment houses The construction industry is also finding takers in Bahrain Large building complexescommercial and residential are coming up
For an expat, life is easy By law, a company must provide:-
At present, there is a 1% charge on salary gosi tax which goes to subsidize the unemployed, but a lot of employers are giving their employees an additional bonus by paying it themselves instead of deducting it from the salary
Most executive positions would have their children's education sponsored
Working hours differ across different industries Government offices work from 7:30 to 2:00; banks from 7:00 to 3:00
