Information for backpackers in Bahrain

• Population: 754,000 (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Manama
• Area: 717 square kilometers (277 square miles)
• Main language: Arabic
• Major religion: Islam
• Life expectancy: 73 years (men), 76 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Bahraini dinar = 1000 fils

The Kingdom of Bahrain is slowly unraveling its vision for the future, a vision for change by slowly and gently breaking down the barriers of tradition. Bahrain translates directly as “Two Seas” or “Two Waters”, but its essence is nowhere in its translation. The majestic kingdom is in an eager race to catch up with the times as it has become the island paradise for essentially rigid Saudis while giving the green light to most things restricted in Saudi Arabia: the bars, the nightclubs and the cinemas. Not just another desert, Bahrain is a peculiar place to exist with its swelteringly hot climate, but, as it is connected to the Arabian Peninsula by a bridge, Bahrain is never short of visitors and inhabitants because of the great entertainment center in which it is has converted.

However, as rich as Bahrain is in modern oil dollars, its history features culture and civilization on par, as in 3000 B.C. C., Gilgamesh had tales of adventures of this place that was once simply hailed as the Cradle of Life. In fact, the kingdom is home to the largest ancient necropolis in the world. In addition to the worldly wealth of a kingdom, Bahrain is teeming with life, such as the colony of seabirds, hundreds of thousands of Socotra cormorants, who perch in the intense desert heat to nest. For both seabirds and people, Bahrain is ideal because there are no predators. True to the statement, there is a minimal incidence of crime. And if any policy of country houses where women taxi drivers can work freely, that place is worth it for a vacation, isn’t it?

GEOGRAPHY

The Kingdom of Bahrain (26 00 N, 50 33 E) is a 741 km2 archipelago of specks of 33 islands that are almost microscopic on a map, located right where the main sources of oil in the Middle East are found. Fully aware of this, the people of Bahrain have more than quickly planned reclamation projects to increase the land mass, which has materialized especially in the last decade. Recovery was deemed all the more necessary as almost 92% of Bahrain is low-lying desert with low elevations, the highest being Jabal ad Dukhan, at 122 meters above sea level right on the main island.

CLIMATIZED

The climatic situation in a desert country is arid with mild winters, hot and humid summers with an average temperature of 35°C, regular droughts and occasional dust storms, and because the seas around Bahrain (Persian Gulf) are very shallow and saline. , the waters warm much faster and provide lower humidity levels than necessary. Rainfall is also minimal, maxing out at 2.83 inches, which most people just gasp for. With simple and common sense, the ideal time to visit Bahrain is during the winter, or from November to March, while May to September are months that are far from tolerable.

PEOPLE

Politics is also hot and active among the population of 793,421 Bahrainis, but of this, 37.6% are not Bahrainis but Palestinians, Omanis and Saudis, in addition to the population of immigrant workers from India, Pakistan or the Filipinos. ARABIC is the official language of the state, and ENGLISH, as well as FARSI, is widely spoken due to its global audience of workers. More than three-quarters of the population are Muslims (Shiites and Sunnis), while Christians make up a relatively sizeable 9% population.

ATTRACTIONS

Manama is where most of the action is. The best of authentic shopping and clubbing, little is known why it’s called the ‘place to sleep’. In the case of gold or silk carpets, most of the nice and shiny things are very expensive, like the man-made silk carpet that costs more than 20,000 US dollars or the gold from the Bahrain gold souk. Although there are fewer activities in Bahrain during the day, the Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve and the Bahrain National Museum are great places to relax and learn new things. Possessing some of the most precious pearls in the world, diving becomes even more challenging and exciting with the possibility of even finding one of Manama’s famous pearls. Finally, Al Bokari Restaurant is a local food venue where the traveler can expect the best introduction to Bahraini cuisine delivered right to their table, clean hands and all.

Given these factors alone, Bahrain doesn’t exactly have the makings to be a popular vacation destination, but let’s just say this little archipelago is Saudi Arabia’s sweet little island paradise that deserves a little attention from the sheer number of travelers who are basically on some new adventures. Independent travel can be hit or miss, but poverty-stricken Bahrainis not benefiting from the state’s economic growth have this opportunity to earn an income. Ruled by a Sunni monarchy for the last 200 years, the most dominant Shia suffer horrific discrimination resulting in undeniable poverty. While the flashy lights, piercing skyscrapers, and expensive cars are the biggest draw of these islands, the less glamorous side of Bahrain is where the people meet.

FOOD

Truly, when it comes to food, the foods of the world are well represented on street corners or in five-star hotels, as are the cuisines of the Middle East, India, Thailand, and the Philippines. But first and foremost to learn about are the traditional foods of Bahrain, where rice plays a staple role, and khubz, the traditional flatbread, is widely consumed. Fish, meat, dates are served with rice. Machboos is one of the most famous Bahraini dishes that basically includes meat or fish served with rice. Fish from the main source, the Gulf, is very important in the diet of Bahrainis cooked in many ways, be it grilled, steamed or fried, such as British fish and chips. Shawarma is a hearty snack of carved roast beef wrapped in soft pita bread. These and most other Arab foods like falafel, fried chickpea balls in a pan, and pastries: samboosa and qoosi, grilled lamb stuffed with rice, boiled eggs, onions, and a few spices are undeniably addictive and delicious.