Bahrain, the third smallest country in Asia, is believed to have been the country where Arabian and Persian cultures coexisted. This country located in the Persian Gulf has no land borders with any other countries. The name given to the country means “two seas” which makes sense because Bahrain has one of the longest coastlines in the world. Here are some interesting facts about Bahrain.
1. Consisting of 33 islands, Bahrain is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf.
2. Bahrain is the smallest country in the Middle East and is Asia’s third smallest country, covering an area of only 295 square miles.
3. The country’s natives love coffee. They consider the “ritual” of coffee drinking one of the most important aspects of their social life. That’s why there are so many coffee shops where one can enjoy a cup of coffee while talking with friends. The coffee offered in Bahrain has a different taste than European coffee since it’s flavoured with either cardamom or saffron.
4. The country’s education system said to be the oldest in the Arabian Peninsula is divided into primary, intermediate and secondary levels. Since education is free and compulsory for boys and girls, the majority of the natives can read and write. The government can be proud of the fact that the efforts that were made in terms of education resulted in a high level of female literacy.
5. In 2004 Bahrain’s flag set the Guinness world record for the largest flag with 169.5 meters long and 97.1 meters wide.
6. The Kingdom has one of the largest mosques in the world; Al-Fateh Mosque that sprawls over an area of 6,500 square meters and in 2006 became the official site of National Library of Bahrain that has over 7000 books.
7. For a country that is known to have little to no rain, the existence of “The Tree of Life” would come as a surprise. A tree that is 400 years old and stands alone in the desert with no known source of water.
8. Bahrain is the real pearl of the whole world. At the beginning of the last century, the world discovered that the seas of Bahrain store the purest pearls.
9. For photographing local residents without their consent in Bahrain, you can go to jail, as this is considered an encroachment on personal life.
10. Weekends in Bahrain – not Saturday and Sunday, and Friday and Saturday. And until 2006, the weekend was Thursday and Friday.
Visa:
Captain Nero’s recommendations in Bahrain:
Riffa: One of the largest cities in Bahrain, Riffa is located in the heart of the Kingdom and is full of rich history. The Riffa Fort, made of clay, has been preserved for hundreds of years and overlooks the Hunanaiya valley The Riffa Bazaar and the Bukuwara Street Market are the best places to go find some souvenirs, from crafts to pieces of clothing or small pottery objects.
Muharraq: A trip to Bahrain isn’t complete without a visit to the ancient town of Muharraq, which was once Bahrain’s capital city. While in Muharraq, you’ll be able to witness some of the best examples of the Kingdom’s rich history. The city’s traditional market, called a souq, where you can find all sorts of traditional foods and crafts is also worth a visit.
A’ali village: The art lover will enjoy visiting A’ali which is knownfor its pottery. The city is lined with pottery shops where you can admire the work of local artists and might catch one of them in the process of working on their craft.
Hawar island: A 45-minute boat ride from the southern city of Al Dur will take you to Hawar Island, southeast of the mainland and close to Qatar. The island boasts many resorts with hotels and water-sport rentals to venture into the Arabian Gulf.
