The Kingdom of Bahrain is a Middle Eastern archipelago in the Persian Gulf, tucked into a pocket of the sea flanked by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
It's an oasis of liberalism – or at least Western-friendly moderation – among the Muslim countries of the region. It's popular with travelers for its authentic "Arabness" but without the strict application of Islamic law upon its non-Muslim minority. Case in point: alcohol is legal here. Although it has a heavily petroleum-based economy, its more relaxed culture has also made it a social and shopping mecca, which has helped it develop a fairly cosmopolitan middle class not found in neighboring countries with just a rich elite and subsistence-level masses.
Bahrain is the smallest of the independent Persian Gulf states, and has often... (more)
Bahrain is the smallest of the independent Persian Gulf states, and has often had to walk a diplomatic tightrope in relation to its larger neighbours. The country has few oil reserves, however it has established itself as a hub for refining as well as international banking, while also achieving a liberal political system. Its economy depends to a small extent on Saudis interested in a little entertainment, not available in the strictly Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Overview
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Have Been:
92,074
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Want to Go:
10,414
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Have Lived:
30,502
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Population:
738,004
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Closest Airports:
(DOH) Doha
(BAH) Bahrain Intl
(DHA) Dhahran
Top Cities in Bahrain:
Bahrain
I was totin' my pack along the long dusty Winnemucca road,
When along came a semi with a high an' canvas-covered load.
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Crossed the desert's bare, man.
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Of travel I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere.
I've been to:
Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota,
Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota,
Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma,
Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma,
Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo,
Tocapillo, Baranquilla, and Perdilla, I'm a killer.
[Chorus]
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Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana,
Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana,
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Glen Rock, Black Rock, Little Rock, Oskaloosa,
Tennessee, Hennessey, Chicopee, Spirit Lake,
Grand Lake, Devils Lake, Crater Lake, for Pete's sake.
[Chorus]
I've been to:
Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika,
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[Chorus]
By: Sam Smith
Bahrain
I was about 12 or 13 when I went to live in Bahrain and 15 when I returned to England. We lived in a ground floor flat with an entrance hall so large that we wondered where all the furniture was as it was so empty. We went to school between 7 am and finished at 1 pm every day. After a bumpy bus ride home we did our homework as fasts as we could so that we could spend the afternoon at the swimming pool or the beach. We had cotton trees growing outside the front of our porch where we sat and watched lines of ants marching around the parimiter wall. Lizards used to walk around the walls and I named one Fred. The bathrooms were the domain of the cockroaches and they were big, really big, about the size of your thumb. Air conditioning was a must, when the temperature got to 40 degrees a black flag went up and work on camp stopped and the men came home.
By: Pauline Thompson
Bahrain
Bahrain was the more restrictive Muslim country that I've been to. That being said they still have a large UK expat community so tourists are allowed to dress normally and alcohol is served in hotel lounges and certain restaurants. They have a great museum and a western style mall. Overall it wasn't nearly as much fun as Dubai, but part of that might be caused by the dollar standing up terribly to the Bahrani Dinar.
By: Gabe Bayles
Bahrain
Hot,steamy and the shopping is great. I spent most of my time in an expatriate compound but did see one of the local markets.(Souqs) Never sweated so much in my life as I did just sitting at the side of the pool.
By: Evelyn Marie
Bahrain
Great place to go when you are in the middle east, they are a little more like western cultures.
On a side note you can watch the pious Saudi's get drunk. They seem to think that allah does not know what they are doing across the causeway.
By: Gayle W Black
