2009 AFE Tour Blog Day 4: Sheik Isa Airbase, Bahrain

This morning we woke up, ate breakfast at the hotel, and then walked over to the base. We loaded into two vans and a truck and drove about 45 minutes to Sheik Isa Airbase. This base was an Air Force Base that was opened in 1991 during the initial Gulf War. It had been deserted for some time before the Army started to rebuild it recently. 

When we arrived it immediately felt like a “real” military base, not that the other bases we have visited aren’t, but this one is what we all pictured in our heads before heading to the Middle East. At the gate, there was a huge Hummer with a “manned” machine gun on the roof. The whole base was very primitive and did not have any of the luxuries of most of the bases we have been on have had. Most of the original buildings are completely destroyed from the sun and sandstorms. We were met by SSG James Dooty who took care of us all day and escorted us around the base.

We unloaded all of the gear into what was basically an airplane hangar and then we took off for a tour of the base. We were initially supposed to play outside but the show was moved inside because it looked like rain was coming. We got to see their living quarters, a bunker, and then ended up in the Dining Facility. We had a quick lunch and then went back to the hangar to sound-check. After a pretty lengthy sound-check (trying to make a band sound good in an airplane hanger is not easy…. everything just sounds HUGE) we met lots of troops, played ping-pong, video games, and hung out most of the afternoon.

This whole base was cool. We met lots of great people from all different backgrounds. They are kind of out there in the middle of nowhere so we could really feel how much they appreciated us coming out there and we had a blast all day.

After the show we got to hang out for a while with the Troops before hopping in the vans and heading back to the hotel. Overall, today was an extremely fun and interesting day for us and we hope it was for everyone at Sheik Isa as well.

General Fun Facts about Bahrain:
Speed Limit on the freeway is 100 km/h
Gas costs around $0.65 per gallon
Bahrain is one of the most liberal Arabic Kingdoms.
Alcohol is only sold in bars connected to Hotels.
A beer costs around $9 U.S.
A pack of cigarettes costs $2 U.S.
Most bars serve Sheesha with molasses tobacco.
The have every American restaurant ever imagined.
KFC is WAY better here than in the U.S.
The first oil well in the Persian Gulf is located here.
People park wherever they want to.
Driving on the roads is merely a suggestion.

Checking the interwebs in the hotel lobby.

John is not a morning person.

Outside NSA Bahrain with the MWR Staff.

Heading to Sheik Isa

With SSG James Dooty at Sheik Isa.

Walking through a bunker

This is the stage we were supposed to play.

This is a bath house located next to the stage. Most of the original buildings on the base look similar to these.

These are the living quarters.

Inside

They still celebrate Christmas in the middle of the desert.

The show

after the show

The late night ride home.