Bahrain

The Kingdom of Bahrain, or Bahrain (formerly spelled Bahrein), (Arabic: ????? ???????) is a borderless island nation in the Persian Gulf (Southwest Asia/Middle East, Asia). Saudi Arabia is to the west and is connected to Bahrain by the King Fahd Causeway, and Qatar is to the south across the Persian Gulf. The Qatar?Bahrain Friendship Bridge, currently in planning, will link Bahrain to Qatar as the longest fixed link in the world.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Bahrain

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As flashy and modern as central Manama may be, the basic rhythms of life in the island's many villages (and in parts of Manama itself) remain remarkably traditional. By the same token, where there's tradition in the Persian Gulf there's Islamic conservatism: women cover themselves from head to foot and women travellers are expected to wear long skirts and one-piece bathing suits. Bahrain's population is 85% Muslim and Islam is the state religion. Arabic is the official language but English is widely spoken.

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Traditional craftwork continues in several places around Bahrain: dhows (fishing boats) are built on the outskirts of Manama and Muharraq, cloth woven at Bani Jamrah and pottery thrown at A'ali. A few goldsmiths still operate in the Manama souk, though a lot of the work is now done abroad. One of the mainstays of Bahraini culture is the drinking of traditional Arabian coffee. You can't go far without finding a coffee pot in a shop or a souk. Traditional Arabian street food like shawarma (lamb or chicken carved from a huge rotating spit and served in pita bread) and desserts such as baklava are also ubiquitous.

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Formula One

Bahrain is the home of Formula One racing in the Middle East, hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix. In 2005, it was held on April 4.

Related Topics:
Formula One - Bahrain Grand Prix - 2005 - April 4

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Holidays