Peregrinating Around Bahrain: A travelogue of my experiences

Bahrain, one of the Persian Gulf states, has been on my bucket list of countries to visit since I was first exposed to the idea of traveling when I was very young. A couple years ago, I was finally able to cross it off my list, and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend visiting Bahrain, though you might not get the same experience that I did depending on when you visit and what you do. In this travelogue, I’ll tell you about my adventures in Bahrain and hopefully inspire you to visit this interesting country soon!

Day 1 – Al Muharraq

I started my journey in Al Muharraq, one of the oldest cities in Bahrain. This city is full of culture and tradition, and I was able to learn a lot about the history and heritage of the country. I also visited some of the markets, which were full of beautiful places and interesting people. It’s not often that you find such tradition and culture in such a small area. Markets in Al Muharraq are beautiful, filled with all sorts of goods from all over the world.

If you’re looking for something unique, this is where you’ll find it! There are so many beautiful places and interesting people. It was fascinating to see how different this city is compared to others in Bahrain. When I first came here, I found myself stopping every few feet just because there was so much to take in. The vibe of the place made me feel like I had traveled back through time into another era.

Day 2 – Durrat Al Bahrain

I woke up early today to make the most of my time here in Bahrain. After breakfast, I walked around the neighborhood a bit to get a feel for the place. I then made my way to Durrat Al Bahrain, one of the largest man-made islands in the world.
The island is absolutely beautiful, with crystal clear water and white sand beaches. I spent the day lounging on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and exploring the many shops and restaurants on the island. In the evening, I decided to try out some of Bahrain’s famous seafood restaurants. There were so many options!
I ended up choosing one that served fried fish fillets as an appetizer. It was so tasty! As for dinner, I had spicy shrimp sautéed in butter sauce. At first, it tasted very bland but when I added a few drops of chili oil, it became more flavorful. Though this dish was pretty good, it’s not quite what I’m used to back home. The rest of the night went well; I finished off my trip at Bahrani ice cream and waffles place before returning back to my hotel room.
Bahrain has been such an amazing experience thus far – from touring Abu Saqer Tomb Complex yesterday morning to trying different types of food today!

Day 3 – Umm Al Hassam & Al Qurum

I started my day by heading to Umm Al Hassam, which is a residential area known for its villas and wide streets. I walked around the neighborhood, admiring the architecture and imagining what it would be like to live in one of these houses. I then made my way to Al Qurum, where I visited the Bahrain National Museum. The museum was interesting, and I learned a lot about the history and culture of Bahrain. I had some great conversations with people who were on duty there too. It was interesting hearing their perspectives on life in Bahrain and their thoughts on how the country should go forward from here.
I didn’t take many pictures because it’s against museum policy to take pictures inside, but you can find some pictures here .
My next stop was at Haji’s restaurant for lunch. One of the best restaurants in Bahrain according to TripAdvisor reviews, I wasn’t disappointed when I arrived. The food was delicious and filling, so much so that I couldn’t finish everything! Overall, it was a great experience.

Day 4 – Manama City Center

I started my day by exploring the Manama City Center, which is a large shopping mall in the city. I was surprised by how many western stores were represented, and I even found a Starbucks. I walked around for a couple hours, window shopping and people watching. In the afternoon, I made my way to the Bahrain National Museum. They had an interesting exhibition on Islamic calligraphy that I really enjoyed. Afterwards, I went out to grab some dinner before heading back home. I found a small Indian restaurant that looked nice from the outside, but when I got inside it smelled like curry and sweat. The waiters seemed nice enough so I ordered their lamb biryani dish anyways.

The food arrived quickly and there was too much rice with barely any meat or vegetables mixed in it – not what I expected at all! After asking for the check, they took about 15 minutes to give me change instead of just throwing it on my table. When I finally got the money and left, one of the cooks followed me out and asked if I was going to come back again. When I said no, he said well next time make sure you order something better. Well, thanks for nothing! My appetite isn’t quite gone yet though, so I decided to go up two blocks to another restaurant that also served Indian cuisine. It turned out that this place was a whole lot nicer than the last one- thankfully!

Day 5 – Seef District

I started my day by heading to the Seef District, which is known for its shopping malls and financial institutions. I walked around the area, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. I visited a few of the malls, doing some window shopping and people watching. I then grabbed lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to my hotel for a rest. The evening had me visiting another mall, this time spending more time exploring it.

I also stopped into an Indian restaurant that looked really interesting but was unfortunately closed on Mondays. After dinner, I headed out for drinks with friends at one of the many nightclubs in Manama. We stayed out until 3am – what a night! It’s been a long day tomorrow so I’m going to head off to bed now. Tomorrow’s blog post will be about my time spent at an archery range. It should be a lot of fun.

Day 6 – Zallaq Thana & Juffair (Day 1)

I started my day by visiting the Zallaq Thana, which is a traditional Bahraini fort. From there, I walked to Juffair, which is a modern district in Bahrain. I was surprised by how many westerners I saw there! I walked around for a while, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. In the evening, I went to a restaurant called Al Dente for dinner. The food was amazing! I ended my day by taking a walk on the beach. I started my day by checking out of my hotel and heading to Zallaq Thana. I wanted to see the Bahrain World Trade Center, so I took a bus there.

Unfortunately, the bus dropped me off at the wrong stop, so I had to walk for a while. But eventually I made it! The view from the top was amazing, and I could see all of Bahrain. After that, I went to Juffair and walked around for a bit before heading back to my hotel. There are some really cool bars and restaurants there! I’m going to have to come back when I have more time and explore more of what this place has to offer. My last day consisted of walking along the water’s edge and catching up with friends over Skype. That night, my family came over for dinner at my apartment. It was nice seeing them again after being away for six days.

Day 7 – Sitra, Amwaj Islands & Isa Town

After a delicious breakfast of shakshouka (a North African dish of eggs poached in a spiced tomato sauce), we set out for Sitra. Sitra is known for its traditional dhow boat building yards and was once the center of the pearling industry in Bahrain. We visited the Bahrain National Museum, which tells the story of the country’s history and culture. From there, we went to Amwaj Islands, a man-made island development.
The islands are residential areas with a central commercial area. There are many shops and restaurants along the coast line as well as recreational water sports available on the sea such as jet skiing, kayaking, banana boating and more. The highlight of our visit was definitely spending time at one of the smaller islands with white sand beaches that were only accessible by boat or via cable car! We enjoyed swimming, snorkelling and drinking some fresh coconut juice from the coconut trees growing on the beach. It was truly an unforgettable experience.

Day 8 – Juffair & Adliya

I started my day by heading to Juffair, which is known for its lively nightlife. I walked around the area, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. I then made my way to Adliya, which is a more laid-back and residential area. I ended my day by exploring some of the local shops and restaurants. In the end, it was a full day that left me feeling happy and content.
I had spent most of the day outside and enjoyed being able to see so many different areas of this country. It’s now been two weeks since I left home and although there are many places I want to visit, it will be hard to leave Bahrain! The people here have welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home even though I am not from their culture or religion.