Local traditions and culture in Bahrain

It is also a local custom to build these modern buildings in Middle East!

Bahrain has a limited resource of hydrocarbons and it's rulers are looking to the future; the oil revenues are invested in big banking/ financial companies which will install on the sea-front new buildings in construction; Foreign architects enjoy contracts with Bahrain (and other emirates in the area) leaving them way for lots of creativity for the glass/concrete/steel constructions.
In few years the sea side of Bahrain will be occupied by high glass buildings giving some new "identity" to this small kingdom. Construction work takes place day and night, and the migrant construction workers (mainly Pakistanis and Philippines) will probably never put their savings in the bank, the offices of which they are building . . . .

In Arabic speaking world , belly dancing is known as Raks al Sharki ( dance of the East ).
Many people know the belly dancing but contrary to many people?s perception, this dance did not originate as a dance by concubines to titillate the Sultans ( King ). For centuries the role has been that of folk dance and joyous occasion like wedding and child birth ,but it was performed by women FOR women. And it is one way where the mother of marriageable young men to get to know these eligible young women. For Arabian women this dance is considered to be sacred and not to be seen by men.

The dance was taught to girl since young to help them to strengthen their abdominal muscles , The muscle isolation technique requires practice and control and is believed to mitigate pain , so the dance was born thru abdominal movements like pelvic rocking and belly roll. This dance is at least 2000 years old , and was made popular in the US by Mr Sol Bloom when he brought these Middle Eastern dancers to the 1893 Chicago World Fair.

To know more about this sacred and exotic dance , check Iman- Profile Fitness, Regency Hotel or Bahrain Ballet Centre

The persian influence can be seen with these wind towers. The wind towers catch the wind (no matter which direction it's blowing in) and direct it downwards to the room below; natural air conditioning. Sadly there aren't many of these left, but there are a couple behind the American Mission Hospital.

There are more pictures in the travelogue.

At the back of the suq you'll find lots of small grocery shops (known locally as 'cold stores'). Even though there are gazillions of supermarkets and several hypermarkets, these little cold stores somehow manage to survive.

Henna'd hands anyone? When an Arab woman gets married she has her hands, feet and ankles painted with henna patterns. 50 years ago it would've been all body parts. Her husband was supposed to look for his initials on the wedding night. More photos can be seen in the henna'd body parts
travelogue.
So you want pretty patterns on your arms, ankles or belly buttons? Go to Rachna's Henna Salon in Adliya - they draw the best patterns. You don't need to make an appointment except during Eid, but you will need to ring for directions. Opening hours are from 10:00-13:00 and 16:00-21:00. Tel: 716 699

I am addicted to dates (tamr) and yogurt drink(laban). I guzzle up loads of bottles a day! Well, in the hot summers of Bahrain, there is nothing better than to feel the sweetness of dates melting in your mouth every time you gulp a cold swig of laban! Bahrain was used to be called “The land of a million palm tree.” Every single country in the region has more palm trees than Bahrain. So, I still can’t figure out why it has been given that name! *Ponders* Maybe relative to its small size? Still… not convincing! Anyhow, it’s all good! :) Even though most of the date palm picking operation can be done mechanically, I’ve never seen it being done that way in Bahrain. I’ve always seen manual harvesting…old men in their late 60s if not older tying a rope around their waist, carrying a basket made out palm tree fronds to put in their tools and the collected dates, and climbing the tree with all their strength. Very amusing! But I still don’t understand why VERY old men happen to always do this strenuous job! It sure says something about the younger generation! The picture on the left shows how dates are being collected by the traditional way.