OOOH…after almost 365 days I have spent in Bahrain, and still I didn’t share even a single words how “great” this small eh tiny country!
Bahrain…one word!I didn’t know if some one asked me how to explain into one word..because I myself even confused..sorry exaggerating as usual!I didn’t know where is Bahrain exactly in the map!
Well just forget it, what matter is NOW!i’ve been exploring all over this tiny place…you can just conquer Bahrain in one day!amazing.
Bahrain, they said THE ISLAND OF GOLDEN SMILES!
Bahrain, the Pearl of the Arabian Gulf, is a fascinating archipelago of 36 islands in the Gulf of Salwa, located in the heart of the Arabian Gulf. The total area of over 706 square kilometers, which means Bahrain is soooooo slightly smaller than Singapore!
The word of “Bahrain” literally means ”two seas”. It refers to the natural springs of water rising from beneath the sea which are used by the country’s famous pearl divers. Bahrain offers a unique blend of ancient and modern values which add to its charm. Modern skyscrapers rub shoulders with majestic looking mosques, and embodiments of Islamic architecture.
The country typography? Has a varied from rocky deserts to lush green vegetation, sandy beaches (just like my work place, actually its private beach. Only Novotel and Ritz Carlton have a private beach!), and parks to explore on 36 islands, all accessible by boat.What else I can tell you? ahh..The year-round fine weather offers scope for a wide range of leisure activities whether on land or sea, like swimming, all types of water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, water skiing and diving
Population??over than 700.000 people and the recent fact shows that more than 54% are expatriate..hihihi!funny though. And one more, wherever you step your foot out, you will always meet the same person in every corner of Bahrain!
Money and currency? The Bahrain dinnar exchange rate to the green buck is BD 1:US$ 0.37. But usually ! BD equal to Rp 24.700,-. 1 BD looks small amount, once I went to Zara to buy my dream office attire, it costs 23 (shirt and skirt only) paid it all with my widest smile without thinking anything. I reached my flat and start dealing with calculator machine..woaaah!it costed me much..too much!but still there was a quarter of my body part feels satisfied.
They said Bahrain is quite similar with Europe in terms of living cost..everything seems expensive,but one thing I love the most is one litre of fuel is cheaper than 700 ml mineral water.
Climate? From June to September is hot and humid around 36 C to 45C (freakin hot, I swear to GOD this is like living in a hell). From Oct to April is mid and coolaround 10 C to 25 C. Just yesterday it was strange for me, the sun was really shine around 10 o clock but I can feel the cool breeze. Lately, I always keep my coat and pashmina inside my drawer…just in case the temperature goes up, I have everything there.
Shopping Areas?In the capital city, Manama has a wide range of shops offering of quality goods, or we can explore the maze of lanes in the souk area of Manama, its an open market, but very hard to bargain here to get the best deal. Its part of the fun! Ah..branded items are cheaper than Jakarta!and all shopping centres are full with RED SIGN written SALE!yeay…no possible to get a good things in a reasonable price! Forget MIDNITE SALE, FORGET JGS…come here and you will be pampered by those attractive percentages!
What to See in Bahrain?
Heritage and Cultural Attraction, Bahrain offers A’aali Burial Mounds, Al Jasra House, Bab Al Bahrain, Bait SHaikh Isa, Bait Siyadi, BarbarTemple.
Forts: Arad Fort (this is the highest point in Bahrain, so you can see all over Bahrain from this place. NICE! I went there many times in Summer, ohooo…skin burn), Bahrain Fort, Shaikh Salman bin Ahmad AL Fateh Fort
Museum: Beit Al Qur’an, BahrainNationalMuseum (just a walking distance from my working place, inside was really magnificent!), Museum Pearl of Diving, OilMuseum, CurrencyMuseum.
Natural Attractions: Beaches, Islands, Ahmad Al Fateh Mosque(its Bahrain Grand Mosque, the architecture has a WOW factor), Al Gazal Desert Camp (camping in the desert and star gazing at night is sound amazing. Traditional dancing or henna painting to enjoy), Dolphin Watch Tours, Jebel Dukhan, King Fahad Causeway, Sea Trips, Tree of Life ( I never been there, but heard at a glance from my friends and collegues are saying that this mature mesquite tree stands alone in an otherwise barren desert; its source of water remain a mystery…..
……and many moreeeee!i cant write it here, otherwise I will fall a sleep writing a thousands things on my blog.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HERE! Hospitality at its best!
Whatever be your purpose when visiting Bahrain, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation. There is everything from beachfront villas to boutique business hotels for travelers. From five starts to budget hotels and serviced apartment. They are offer the guest with well-equipped facilities.
Cuisines??? Like the shifting sands of Bahrain’s landscape, the restaurant scene in the Kingdom continues to witness a changing landscape. Where to dine in Bahrain? No worries, here there are a lot of range of cuisine to choose from along with theme nights they are offer, the cooking and buffet concept, etc. Chinese, French, Lebanese, Iranian, Korean, Thai, Moroccan, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Philippine, Indonesian(just one and only the best Indonesian Restaurant here, Captain Cove).Dining style?Its thousands to select, from hotel’s fine dining to delivery service. Some of those are open for 24 hours.
Entertainment?You will discover seemingly endless selection and variety of entertainment venues ranging from traditional pubs and sports bar to trendy night clubs that cater to whatever musical tastes and atmosphere you desire.
Well that’s all I can say about Bahrain…wee, more than 3 pages but it should be more as I’ve been staying for more than 340 days here. Ok Blog, I fulfill your wishes. At least I give my contribution for all the readers who curiously wanna know this place.
…..please wait me patiently for another another crazy and amazing story to share!
