After a week in Saudi Arabia, our journey to the island of Bahrain followed.
That I spent part of the day in Medinah, I went to the Prophet's Mosque, and then I visited a few places in the region. Towards morning we set off for Bahrain.
After breakfast at the hotel where we were staying, we packed our bags and set off.
I'm sorry I failed to do some of the things I didn't do the night before. We returned to the Mosque to visit that wonderful spiritual wealth of all Muslims.
We left Medinah around noon. It was a long and tiring journey to Bahrain.
From Medinah to Bahrain, it is almost 1303 km by car, almost 13 hours and by plane it takes almost 2 hours.
But you can't see the view from the car on the plane. Traveling by car is more exciting and exciting. See many interesting things and new impressions.
We stopped for lunch, prayed and refueled the car. Because it is a long and tiring journey, it is a challenge to see fascinating things.
Traveling through Saudi Arabia, there were some good and some bad impressions. What I didn't like about Saudi Arabia were some roads broken down by heavy trucks carrying long-distance cargo.
Another impression was the dirt from the gas station where there were dirty toilets, it was not clean in the mosque, as well as in the restaurants.
But not all gas stations and restaurants were the same. All around was deserted, here and there were Bedouin tents that stretched for miles. A few miles away you could see a small town or a larger city.
In some places the streets of the lighted cities were clean, and you could find a place to have lunch or dinner. There were parks to rest.
The journey was a dream. I couldn't believe it was that place and I wanted to extend my stay in Saudi Arabia.
My husband informed me that we would be in Dammam in the morning. We decided to rest and then set off. It's tiring to drive for 13 hours.
On the way, we were able to visit various interesting places, but due to lack of time we did not. Along the way, I saw trucks and cars, but unfortunately I did not have the walls. Due to fatigue and the long road, he accommodated us so that we could rest so that we could cross the customs between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
It was four in the morning when I arrived in Dammah. At the entrance to the city I looked for a cheaper and cleaner hotel. And yet I found it. We stayed, took a shower and went to bed.
It was a long and adventurous journey. We drank coffee and tried to have breakfast. Since we couldn't find it, we set off for Bahrain. I went through Al Khobar customs in Saudi Arabia to customs in Bahrain.
The five bridges are supported by 536 concrete pillars, with seven embankments in the shallower waters of the Gulf. One of the landslides, known as Middle Island, Al Jazirat al Wustaa has been transformed into a sizeable artificial island with customs and immigration facilities, a mosque and gardens and fast food restaurants. Another island at the end of the road belongs to Bahrain and is simply known as the Mother of Drowsiness.
Between the two countries Dammam and Bahrain, we did almost 2 hours, we also took into account the two customs we passed. I did almost 86 km.
Passing through the customs of Saudi Arabia, I had some pleasant emotions being for me, a land unknown. In front of us was a road that was built on water. It was sunny and pleasant outside.
I passed both customs without any problems. Quick and easy. We had to get to my husband's relatives, who were waiting for us at noon. It was the first time to her husband's relatives.
It was almost 30 km from customs to Bahrain. My husband was with them and he knew the way. Here I met a different society, a different tradition and a different culture.
I didn't know much about Bahrain. I knew she was surrounded by water, if a tsunami comes she can drown everyone.
I will talk about my past experiences and my impressions of Bahrain. I hope that on the next visit, I will get to know her better.
Bahrain spelled in the past and Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, literally the Kingdom of the Two Seas, is an independent and sovereign island country in the Middle East, comprising an archipelago of 33 islands in the southern Persian Gulf.
It has an area of 665 km. The main islands are Bahrain, 562 km away, the largest island of Al Muharraq, Umm o Nasan, Sitrah, Jiddah and the Hawar group. The capital is Manama and the largest city in Bahrain. Bahrain was under British control from 1861 until 1971, when it gained independence.
The highest peak, Jabal ad Dukhan: 122 m is located in the central part of the largest island.
I learned from my husband that on the northern coast, where there are karst springs, dates grow and vegetables (tomatoes) and fruits (melons) are grown.
In the past, the entire surface of the country was covered with date forests.
Many have been cut down with the country's industrialization, others have dried up due to falling groundwater levels. The southern part of the kingdom is occupied by salt marshes and deserts. Hot and humid winds blow north-west or warm dry breezes from the south.
I wanted to know more about this wonderful country. We found out during our trip there.
It's past noon. My husband's family was waiting for us for lunch. Because we wandered around the area, we went to the market to get them something.
I had great emotions because I didn't know how to get along with them. I didn't know them at all. We reached them who had been waiting for us for a long time.
I met his family. It was welcoming and warm. We talked, got to know each other and joked. That day, we didn't go anywhere because we were tired and wanted to spend more time with our family. We were served homemade goodies and sweets.
It was a beautiful day when we had a lot of fun. I had no plans for the next day. But we wanted to get out of the house and visit the city.
I wanted to bathe in the ocean and we arranged to go with the girls the next day. I enjoyed their plan, I couldn't wait to go.
It was a day full of joy, when we got closer and became friends. It was like a dream for me. The next day, I drank coffee, my husband went to repair the car. I stayed home with the girls and made lunch.
We waited for him to enjoy the presence of the other. In the afternoon we went with the girls to bathe in the ocean. We took our spare clothes in our backpacks.
I reached the ocean, there was a cold wind, the waves were rough and I was afraid to go into the water. People came with their families to relax and rest by the sea. I sat in the salt water. Almost an hour. I was very happy.
Because it was late and cold, I went home. We went home to Fatima to change from wet to dry clothes so we wouldn't catch a cold. I drank something hot and talked.
Our discussion was interesting and productive. I like to meet interesting people, beautiful at heart and mind.
You have a lot to learn from them, and to charge yourself with positive energy.
After this beautiful adventure, we became hungry. I bought some very delicious snacks, for the first time I ate something like that. Spicy and delicious.
After that we went to dinner at a famous restaurant in Bahrain, the girls said it was popular, but the food was tasty too. I ordered skewers, salad and juice. I felt good in the company of the girls. We had fun and laughed heartily.
We returned home full of energy and full of positive emotions. My husband was waiting for me angrily because we were planning to go together. I calmed him down and promised to go with you the next day.
We went to bed because we were tired. In the morning, the mistress of the house served us breakfast.
Our plan was to go with my husband to the capital Manama, to visit some wonderful locations. I had great emotions visiting those beautiful places.
Manama is the capital of Bahrain, located in the Persian Gulf, northeast of Bahrain. It is the largest city in Bahrain with a population of about 155,000, almost a quarter of Bahrain's total population.
Manama has been mentioned in Islamic chronicles since 1345. It was conquered by the Portuguese in 1521 and then by the Persians in 1602. It was held with small interruptions by the Al Khalifa dynasty since 1783. Manama was declared a port in 1958 and 1971 is the capital. Bahrain Independent.
The city was preparing for Independence Day in December. They put up colorful lights and decorated the city with Independence Day flags. Manama's economy is identical to that of Bahrain as a whole, oil, refining, dhow, fishing and diving. Manama is served by Bahrain International Airport on Al Muharraq Island, which is connected by a bridge.
Al Manamah was one of the twelve municipalities of Bahrain, and is now the capital of this country.
The first location I visited was the Al Fateh Mosque, one of the main tourist attractions in Bahrain and one of the largest mosques in the world. More than 7,000 believers could enter it. Al Fateh Mosque is home to the National Library. opened in 2006.
From there we went to the house, the owners were waiting for us for lunch. They prepared the most delicious food, seafood with rice. It was a hearty lunch.
After resting, we went out into the city to visit other places, and one of them was Fort Bahrain.
The Bahrain Fort was built in the 14th century, but excavations have indicated the remains of a settlement called Dilmun, which dates back to 3000 BC. Named the Qalat Al Bahrain by the Arabs, the fort was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. The Bahrain Fort is an incredible structure that pays homage to Bahrain's deep-rooted history.
Located in the Seef area and formerly known as the Port of Portugal, Fort Bahrain or "Qal'at al-Bahrain" is built on an area of 180,000 sq ft. The occupation of the fort was recorded in 2300 BC. BC until the 16th century. The fort is named after Qal’at al-Burtughal and was located in the capital of the Dilmun civilization.
The excavated style of the fort reveals that the fort was used for residential, public, commercial, religious and military purposes. An archeological excavation has revealed various tools and artifacts; Dilmun Stamp seals, fishing gear, pots used for cooking and transporting food from Oman and Mesopotamia.
After this wonderful trip, we went to the Bahrain Mall, went for a walk and did some shopping. I drank coffee and had dinner. We stayed for a maximum of two hours and went home. Exhausted and happy, we prepared for the next day of adventure.
In the morning we had breakfast, and went to visit the Bahrain National Museum, the Tree of Life and other wonderful places. I was excited and happy.
The monument itself was renovated in 1986 to incorporate Islamic architectural features. In 2013, a new complete renovation of the facade and interiors was made, the ground floor houses the tourist information office and a craft store. Today, the monument consists essentially of a huge arch, under which passes a road, which is often called the entrance to the souq (square) and 2 side arches are made for pedestrians. The building houses several shops and cafes, including Naseef Cafe, which was the first ice cream shop in the country.
The Avenue District, which runs past Bab Al Bahrain, contains many important banks and business units. The Avenu district is so named because all the offices of the Bahrain government were once housed there. The City of Gold (Gold Souq) is a shopping complex for gold ornaments and is also located on District Avenue.
We walked through the Golden City, bought some snacks and went on to the Al Bahrain National Museum. It was sunny and beautiful outside.
The National Museum of Bahrain presents the natural and cultural history of Bahrain, being one of the most popular destinations in Manama. It was opened in 1988 and is housed in a modern, sea-view building.
Activities such as fishing or pearl picking are carefully presented to best recall the past occupations of the locals. The museum includes 9 main halls where the accumulated heritage of the Kingdom of Bahrain is classified into 6 different sections.
Visitors to the museum can travel through its halls, from the traditional handicrafts section to the customs and traditions hall, the mound and antique documents hall, the manuscript hall, the Tylos hall and the Islamic period hall. At the end of this trip, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of traditional Bahraini dishes and international delicacies from the museum buffet. The museum also has a souvenir shop.
Bahrain is known as the center of the fishing and pearl industry. The museum is a small, Arabic-style building, divided into several halls.
The Pearl Diving Museum is located in the building considered to be the most important historical building in Bahrain, dating back to 1937. Built to house the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, the building has become the museum that best describes how to fish for pearls. with the tools and costumes used.
In addition, in the museum can be admired various exhibits from ancient weapons, traditional games, musical instruments, to instruments from the past.
The museum has a collection of ancient archeological artifacts from Bahrain, purchased in 1988 and covering approximately 5,000 years of Bahrain's history. The complex includes three halls dedicated to the archeology and ancient civilization of Dilmun, while two other halls describe the culture and lifestyle of Bahrain's recent pre-industrial past. In 1993, another hall was opened, the Natural History Hall, which focuses on the natural environment of Bahrain. This room features specimens of Bahrain flora and fauna.
We only visited the rooms where the artifacts and objects in Dilmum are, and we went outside to take pictures.
Outside in front of us lay an indescribable landscape, low water and tall buildings on the horizon.
After visiting the museum, we set out to see the Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life in Bahrain is about 400 years old and 9.75 m high. The tree is a local tourist attraction, due to the fact that it is the only tree that grows in that area.
The tree is visited annually by 50,000 tourists. Because of this, it was vandalized.
It is believed that the place around the tree is used by various cults to practice ancient rituals.
After visiting the Tree of Life I went home. The evening was very pleasant with the family. Although I had no plans to go anywhere, I persuaded my husband to go out.
The night city was covered in colorful lights and a lot of hustle and bustle. People went out in the evening for fun and spending time together by the ocean, at cafes and restaurants.
The next day my husband took me to Fort Arad. Typical 15th century Arab fortress. For centuries, its defensive role has been exceptional in protecting Bahrain from an external enemy. The building was rebuilt, during the renovations only natural material was used, the building has not lost its uniqueness and historical authenticity.
After this tour through Fort Arad we set off for another destination:
Riffa Fort in Bahrain. An old defensive structure, the former sheikh's residence. The city of the same name was the ancient capital of Bahrain. Inside the fort is the sheikh's palace, with all the furniture. Just like a historical museum with a rich collection of exhibits.
We wanted to visit another location (Al Jasra's House) that was in our plan, but we didn't have time.
We went to the Koran House, which is one of the museums in Bahrain dedicated exclusively to the Koran. The collection is based on handwritten texts of the Qur'an from various parts of the earth. The oldest book dates from the 700's.
The museum has 10 rooms and is open two days a week. The building houses a library that is open to visitors every day.
In the evening we had dinner at an Indian restaurant in the city in an unforgettable atmosphere with our loved one.
We enjoyed the view from the outside, there were restaurants and cafes, people were enjoying each other's company.
It was a wonderful evening for both of us. It was a pleasant memory.
It was the last day in Bahrain and I wanted to spend as much time as possible. My emotions were vivid and indescribable. I'm sorry I'm leaving, I wanted to stay.
The next day, I had breakfast and drank Turkish coffee. We planned to visit other tourist attractions.
The first attraction was Amwaj Island. Juffair District is sometimes considered another urban extension of Manama, but in fact it was a completely different part of Bahrain. One of the main reasons to come is to see how fast this city is developing, as new accommodation towers appear every year. It is an expatriate area of Manama, famous for its bars and fast food restaurants.
After seeing this wonder, we went to see another tourist attraction A’Ali, located between the city of Isa and the west coast of Bahrain, is a small cave village A’Ali. The village is known for being the center of arts and crafts in the region and is particularly famous for its pottery.
One of the best things to do here was to walk to the local bazaar and explore the pottery shops while the local workers who worked on that amazing craft worked.
We took some souvenirs, headed out of town to the famous Dilmun funeral mounds that were nearby and date back 5,000 years.
Coming home, we had lunch, rested, and packed our bags to leave for Qatar.
The girls invited me outside and we went to the Saar.
Saar is close to Manama, but also far enough away to give a quiet and less hectic atmosphere. The area is known for the summer homes of the rich and famous Bahrain, but it is not the only thing.
The area is also known for its cafes and delicious cafes.
We had a wonderful evening with the girls at the restaurant until late, after which we went home. Everyone gave me presents, they were careful with us. We said goodbye to them.
The next day, we woke up, had breakfast, said goodbye to the mistress of the house, and set off for Qatar.
Leaving the customs in Bahrain, we entered Saudi Arabia to go to Qatar.
But I will talk about Qatar in the next article.
Written by Elena Boguș
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