Bahrain,
the thirty three-island archipelago burrowed among Saudi Arabia and Qatar in
the Arabian Gulf, smoothly manages the contemporary and the medieval.
TRADITIONAL
BREAKFAST
Make your way through the renowned
cheerful and gorgeous Manama Souk in quest of Haji’s Cafe. This is a go to
place for incredible, no frills authentic Bahraini Breakfast…. a festivity of
Bahraini home cooking and culture. The Bahraini breakfast is a strong meal encompassing
star dishes such as shakshuka, mihyawa, Balaleet and the
staple karak tea, quite similar to our masala chai. Balaleet is distinctively
Bahraini with sweetened cardamom-infused vermicelli noodles capped with a savoury
omelette. With its uncommon pairing of salty with sweet, I have doubts about
trying this one. Far from turning off I am a convert.
BAHRAIN
INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT
Absolutely worthy of a visit whether
the Formula 1 event is on or not! Take a circuit of the remarkable track where
legends from Lewis Hamilton to Jenson Button have raced and even imitate the
greats by making use of the go-kart track on site. For an exhilarating off the
road thrill I go for the Land Rover Experience A first of its kind, it offers
3.5 kilometres of unpredictable manmade terrains such as sand, rock, hill and
water landscapes. I am a fan!
TREE
OF LIFE
What makes The Tree of Life
or Shajarat-al-Hayat unique is the secret of its survival. Situated 10 km from Askar and about 3.5 km
west from Jaww, this 32-feet tall Prosopis cineraria has been making
an apparently incredible living out of dry sand for roughly 400 years. There is
no ostensible source of water and other flora for miles around.
AL
FATEH MOSQUE
Bahrain’s largest; the mosque at first
glance is humble with a fawn brick and stone facade, characteristic of Bahraini
monuments. The geometrical patterns, engraved windows, spires and surah’s etched
in Kufic lettering are unremarkably understated. But as I enter, I am
in awe! The lavishness could be of an extravagant five star hotel lobby. The Scotland
made carpet in the prayer halls, Italian marble flooring; a 3 and a half tonne
Swarovski crystal chandelier from Austria suspending in the main hall; French
made 952 hand blown glass lamps inside the mosque and the dome … one of the prevalent
fibreglass domes in the world. My favourite part is hearing about Islam, only
to realize it preaches just like any other…to be God fearing and a good human
being.
NATIONAL
MUSEUM
The nine main halls across six
sections capture over five thousand years of Bahrain’s history. What enthral me
are the life size dioramas of Bahrain’s daily life, particularly on giving
birth, death, wedding customs, clothing, architecture and more. I equally enjoy
a cup of coffee at the Darseen café overlooking the ocean at the end of my
tour.
BAHRAIN
FORT
One of the most intense bequests of
the past is Bahrain’s craggy forts and Bahrain Fort well merits being listed as
a UNESCO World Heritage site. Civilisation has valued the dune for epochs and
the fort’s museum digs deep into the assets that have been dug up, and linger
to be dug up, all around the site. Sunset is one of the best times to take a
picture of the fort.
AL
JASRA HANDICRAFT CENTRE
Bahrain’s modern art scene is
thriving, but so is the local artistic temperament. The Al Jasra Handicraft
Centre is where local artisans congregate to make everything ranging the gamut
from baskets to traditional musical instruments in trades that have been
practised in the country for years.
BBQ
AT THE DISAPPERAING ISLAND
A roughly forty minute’s boat ride
from the Marina would get you to Jarada Island for an amazing Robinson Crusoe
experience. The confines of civilization do not exist and the deserted island
can be yours until early evening. Unload your picnic basket, go for the BBQ, be
a beach bum but remember to leave in time before the island disappears….which
it does every evening owing to the high tide.
LOCAL
DINNER
Head to Emmawash for a traditional
meal and enjoy scribbling on the walls. Yes this restaurant not only serves
middle eastern fare and recommendation’s go all out for the beef kebab and
khuboos bread, but the best part is scribbling on the walls …no fret they white
wash them every year!
SHOPPING
You
may be walking through the many souks of Bahrain or through the splendid malls
across the country. Manama is a buyer’s delight. Start at the Bab
Al-Bahrain Souk, moving on to a thread of elegant yet unforgettable shops that
line the streets behind the souk. The City Centre happens to be the largest
mall in the country, packed with over 300 select brands outlets and 60 dining
destinations and is also home to Carrefour. Drop by to the Dragon city for
china made products arranged so orderly.
First Published in The Free Press Journal
