Pearl of the Middle East (Bahrain)

Member Name: OllieCourts

Product:	Bahrain
Date:	04/07/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Relaxed, friendly, with a Western feel

Disadvantages: Still a lot of building, but getting there

My Dad lives in Saudi Arabia so i've visited Bahrain a few times in the last couple of years as it's a simple drive for him across the King Fahd causeway to meet us there.
I'm not going to lie and say there's loads to do, because there isn't, but it is a lovely country with some lovely people.
A stay in Manama, the capital, is easiest as it is the hub of restuarants and nightlife. Many good hotels are being built, including many by the 'Elite Group' who offer good apartments at good rates. Many expats live in bahrain so it's never hard to find an English or Irish pub such as JJ's or Warblers. Alcohol isn't (currently) banned in Bahrain, so a beer or two goes down nicely in the heat, which reached 56 degrees C last time I was out.
Cafe Italia is worth the visit if you've got a bit of money, as it is where the Bahraini Royal Family eat and is easily the best meal I've ever had!
Shopping in Manama covers all asppect of Bahraini life, from Seef Mall containing Western shops such as Lacoste and Tommy Hilfiger to the Suq's where the ethnic workers ply their trade. Wondering down some of the alleys in the labyrinth of the Suq is like watching a scene from Aladdin with the spices in sacks and Abayat's being sold, truly spectacular.
If shopping doesn't feel your need then a round of golf at Riffa, a course just renovated under Colin Montgomeries watch, is amazing, and Bahrain has its own football league whose teams have had friendlies against Inter Milan and big teams in the past.
Driving around is hectic compared to England but still not too bad, and petrol is cheap as chips, so that is the best way to see the Island. A lot of fancy cars cover the modernised roads, and taxi's are plentiful if you've had a good night out. taxi fares are now metered whereas previously there was always the hostile negotiating, so no need to worry about fares. It's never too expensive.
A trip to the grand Mosque is phenomenal, where guides tell you about the history of the Mosque along with the basic teachings of Islam. It's so easy to fall in love with the buildings when they're as tasteful as this. It's free to enter, and you get some free books if you're interested, so you've got nothing to lose. Women get given an Abayat to wear though.

Although it doesn't have the tourist attractions of Dubai, I feel Bahrain is an easy way for Western people to see what life in the Middle East can be like, and although you are limited in what you can see or do, it is a nice place to relax. It's also a bit different when saying to people where you've been on holiday!

Summary: A lovely Island for anyone who doesn't enjoy the hustle and bustle