Long line Talk about traffic jams! Those who live in small cities and complain about a couple of hours of delay during rush hour would not fare well in Saudi Arabia. There, a causeway links Saudi Arabia on the mainland to the island nation of Bahrain. The King Fahd Causeway is only 26 kilometres (16 miles) long, but it can sometimes take eight hours to get across. It seems that a lack of customs officials is the cause for the delays. People like to go to Bahrain to shop and others have business there, but no one enjoys waiting in line to get to their destinations.

Shoplifters A man in Chicago, Illinois (US) is a carpet layer by trade, but apparently enjoys shoplifting more. Along with his wife and daughter, the man is being charged with stealing $7 million in merchandise from stores all over the country. The women in the family would hide items in their skirts, then the merchandise would be sold over the Internet. It must have been a lucrative business because the family owned a million-dollar home and 12 expensive vehicles. However, all good things for this family came to an end when they were caught and charged with the crimes.

Expensive nuptials It seems that no matter where one lives, getting married is often a costly affair. Wedding traditions, from expensive gowns to five-course meals, can cause financial hardship for many families. In Gansu Province in China, however, grooms are often faced with an exceptional problem. They are expected to provide pre-wedding gifts to the bride’s family. The amount the grooms are expected to spend on these gifts has risen over the years and today it is not uncommon for over 100,000 yuan ($16,000 US) to be spent. It can take the groom’s family years to save for the expense.

Doll population Ayano Tsukimi was sad when she went to visit the town in which she grew up. The town of Nagoro is in a remote location on Shikoku Island. Once an active community with hundreds of people, it now has a population of under 50 because most people have moved to larger cities. Tsukimi decided to take action. As an artist, she made over 350 life-sized dolls and placed them in situations in which they appear to be carrying on with life. They might be shopping, sitting on a bench or hanging around a school yard. Although they are only dolls, Tsukimi’s art is a reminder of a happy past.