Most of my friends already know this, but I spent 10 months deployed to Bahrain this year. It was a lot of hard work, but I won't bore you with that part. Unlike being on a ship (as with my previous deployments), I got to go on liberty every night. Granted, sometimes I was at work until 10pm at night (or later), and who really wants to ride their bicycle home through a not very nice part of town at that hour, but I digress. Anyway, upon arrival, I had to go through two separate indoctrination processes- one for the base and one for the command... this was a bit annoying as I'd already spent months doing paperwork, completing online training sessions, and listening to death by powerpoint lectures while preparing to mobilize. One perk of base indoc was the MWR led tour of Bahrain. It used to be free but I think you have to pay $35 now, due to budget cuts. It's still a good deal- anyone entitled to MWR benefits can buy a ticket. (So if you're visiting a service member you can buy a ticket for this tour!) Bring $10 for lunch and snacks along the way.
If your tour guide is smart, your first stop will be Bahrain Fort. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site. Apparently, Bahrain has been a major hub for trade in the Arabian Gulf since the beginning of civilization. Anyway, it's basically a city built on a city, going back thousands of years- which is pretty cool when you live in a country that's only been a country for 237 years. There is a sidewalk up the hill to the fort, but it is oppressively hot from about March through October (even in the shade), so make sure you have water and sunscreen. If you have small children, be ready to carry them. There is an air conditioned visitors' center adjacent to the parking lot. You really don't want to be here later than 10am during the hot months.
After that, we went to the Al Fateh Grand Mosque. It's the largest mosque in Bahrain (most mosques are quite small- men are expected to go to the mosque several times a day to pray, so there's one in every neighborhood). This mosque is relatively young (built in the late 80's) but an interesting mix of traditional and modern architectural concepts from around the world. This was my first trip into a mosque, as most do not allow visitors. Since I am female, I was expected to cover my hair, as well as my body to my wrists and ankles. At this mosque, women are expected to wear an abaya (the loose fitting dress). Men are not required to cover their hair or arms, but must wear long pants.
The next stop was the King's camel farm. If you're not used to livestock, brace yourself for the smell. There are a lot of camels. You can feed and pet them, and if you luck out, sometimes you can find someone willing to let you (and your family) sit on one long enough to pose for a picture.
The next stop for us was the causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. This is as close as I'll ever be to Saudi Arabia. (I hope.)
We got a break for lunch, and then it was off to the National Museum. What can I say, it's a museum! Tons of history about the Dilmun era through modern Bahrain.
Of course, there are other things you should do if you're spending any amount of time in Bahrain, but it's pretty good to hit these highlights all in one day and to have reliable transportation for only $35.
Please visit our Etsy store for Hawaiian beach glass jewelry, limited edition artisan jewelry and more!
If your tour guide is smart, your first stop will be Bahrain Fort. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site. Apparently, Bahrain has been a major hub for trade in the Arabian Gulf since the beginning of civilization. Anyway, it's basically a city built on a city, going back thousands of years- which is pretty cool when you live in a country that's only been a country for 237 years. There is a sidewalk up the hill to the fort, but it is oppressively hot from about March through October (even in the shade), so make sure you have water and sunscreen. If you have small children, be ready to carry them. There is an air conditioned visitors' center adjacent to the parking lot. You really don't want to be here later than 10am during the hot months.
After that, we went to the Al Fateh Grand Mosque. It's the largest mosque in Bahrain (most mosques are quite small- men are expected to go to the mosque several times a day to pray, so there's one in every neighborhood). This mosque is relatively young (built in the late 80's) but an interesting mix of traditional and modern architectural concepts from around the world. This was my first trip into a mosque, as most do not allow visitors. Since I am female, I was expected to cover my hair, as well as my body to my wrists and ankles. At this mosque, women are expected to wear an abaya (the loose fitting dress). Men are not required to cover their hair or arms, but must wear long pants.
The next stop was the King's camel farm. If you're not used to livestock, brace yourself for the smell. There are a lot of camels. You can feed and pet them, and if you luck out, sometimes you can find someone willing to let you (and your family) sit on one long enough to pose for a picture.
The first time I went, I didn't know about sitting on the camels... so I had to brave the smell and go back a second time.
The next stop for us was the causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. This is as close as I'll ever be to Saudi Arabia. (I hope.)
We got a break for lunch, and then it was off to the National Museum. What can I say, it's a museum! Tons of history about the Dilmun era through modern Bahrain.
There is a big to-do in the museum about finding oil in Bahrain. What they neglect to mention is that Bahrain used to have lush vegetation until they salted the water table while drilling for oil. Anyway, here's the Buick the King drove out to see the first oil well.
The gift shop is definitely a tourist trap- you can buy most of what you see there out in the souk for much less. However, the little cafe is quite reasonably priced, with excellent pastries and coffee. Don't forget to take a peek at the sculptures outside. (You can usually get in and out through the cafe veranda.) During the cooler months, they host swank events outside the museum, by the water. Gorgeous view, isn't it?
Of course, there are other things you should do if you're spending any amount of time in Bahrain, but it's pretty good to hit these highlights all in one day and to have reliable transportation for only $35.
Please visit our Etsy store for Hawaiian beach glass jewelry, limited edition artisan jewelry and more!
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