Day 10

On my last night in Bahrain I was invited into a Bahraini home for a traditional supper.  We had so many delicious dishes, such as dried dates and fresh flatbread otherwise known as Khubz.

We also went to a view point in the near hills, that had a perfect outlook over Manama.  It was truely amazing how much I had enjoyed this city in only 10 days.

From the nightlife to the food, going to Bahrain was a life changing experience.  I learned so much about their culture and how cool the Kingdom of Bahrain is. Hopefully my friends back home will come with me when I visit again!

Day 6

Conflict and History

I've now been in Bahrain almost a week. After traveling around the country with my guide I've noticed a serious divide.  Like many countries in the middle east, Bahrain mainly practices Islam.  I noticed that throughout the city there were many posters and signs, my tour guide said they were religious and political propaganda.  The conflict apparently is between the two branches of Islam, Shia and Sunni.  

Today we also went scuba diving in the Persian gulf.  We swam in the warm pockets of freshwater and saw the amazing coral reef, off the eastern coast of the island.  Although the Red Sea and Persian Gulf are mainly salt water, there are a myriad of fresh water pockets throughout.

Day 2+3

After spending a couple more days touring the city and learning more about the Bahraini culture, I've learned so much! This song is one of the most popular Arabic pop songs, that I heard on various taxi rides.  My tour guide told me that songs similar to these are remixed and played in the plethora of clubs around the capital city and along the coast.  I also learned that the form of belly dancing can be considered an art form if performed more traditionally.  

 

Locals also take advantage of the beaches, many performances, concerts and parties are held during the warmer seasons.  However, I had the opportunity to go horseback riding along the beach that lined the Gulf of Bahrain.  Seeing the divide between the city and the large sandy beaches was amazing. 

Day 1

After almost a 15 hour plane ride, I've finally arrived in Bahrain!  When I exited the plane and walked through the long tunnel to the airport terminal, I could feel the warm air on my skin.  As I continued into the bustling terminal, I was overwhelmed with the smell of hummus, and freshly prepared Shawarma (which i heard was the equivalent to a hamburger in America). I treated myself to one, to start off my trip!

Lamb Shawarma

Capital City of Manama

I met my tour guide, who would accompany me the rest of my trip.  We caught a taxi to our hotel, which was quite a ways away from the airport. As we traveled to the capital city of Manama, I saw desert rush by my window. Most of the population lives on the desert plains closer to the coasts, which are generously covered with buildings and apartments.  They have few mountains, rather rolling hills that are not as populated as the big cities. 

Day 0

 Today is the day, when I get the chance to travel to Bahrain. I'm so excited to visit such a unique and tiny country in the middle east, a culture I have yet to experience. Not only have I yearned to travel somewhere new, I wanted to emerge myself into a completely different world. 

 There has been political conflict between the U.S. and Bahrain recently.  The reactions of the Bahrain people to American tourists will be interesting to observe first hand. With over a 7000 mile divide from Seattle, Bahrain will be a life changing experience!