A playground for Saudis and Middle East expats, Bahrain is a fairly lenient Islamic country of 33 tiny islands in the Persian Gulf. It is a wealthy country that entertains with casinos, alcohol, shopping malls and beaches. However, Bahrain is still steeped in Islamic tradition. Manama, the capital, is packed with mosques and minarets. Some females dress in western-style clothing but immodesty is frowned upon. Perhaps its legendary Tree of Life – a verdant tree blooming out of arid desert – says it all: Bahrain is full of surprises and contradictions.