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Next month I will be travelling to Bahrain (and Dubai) for a few days.
Am looking forward to exploring this interesting country made up of 33 islands.
To see the historic and the innovative collide.
Enjoying the shores of the Persian Gulf.
Hello Bahrain.
“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends.
The mind can never break off from the journey.”
-Pat Conroy-
Bahrain is a window to its historic past. With many mosques, minarets and mausoleums, there’s a virtually endless array of things to do in Bahrain. In true Middle Eastern style, the country is a blend of the old and the new, with beaming skyscrapers and majestic embodiments that speak of the fantastic Islamic art, culture and architecture.
The Kingdom of Bahrain (Mamlakah al-Bahrain in Arabic) is an independent country in western Asia, comprised of 33 islands on the western side of the Arabian Gulf. It is also the smallest Arab nation in the entire Middle East.The main island, also called Bahrain, lies 24 km (15 mi) east of Saudi Arabia and 29 km (18 mi) west of Qatar. The capital and largest city is Manama. Bahrain entered recorded history about 5,000 years ago as a commercial trading center.
Long under the influence of more powerful neighbors, it came under the domination of Iran in the 17th century. The Al-Khalifa family, originating from the central Arabian Peninsula, established themselves as Bahrain's rulers in 1783 and has ruled ever since. A series of treaties in the 19th century gave Britain control over Bahrain's defense and foreign affairs. Dominant British influence lasted until Bahrain became independent in 1971.
Bahrain is defined by its relationship with water. Take the country’s name: ‘Two Seas’ in Arabic, the focus is not the island’s minimal landmass, but the water that laps its shores. So shallow is the water lapping Bahrain’s coastline that the inhabitants regularly ‘reclaim’ pieces of land, filling in the gaps between sand bars, as if winning back lost territory. The new Bahrain Financial Harbour of Manama is currently rising like Neptune from such reclaimed land, and its proud buildings, such as the Dual Towers, appear to be holding back the sea. For more information visit here.