A Journey of Postcards: Bahrain

Showing posts with label Bahrain. Show all posts

Monday, October 10, 2016

Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy | Bahrain

10:40 PM Bahrain, Island, UNESCO No comments

Postcard

Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy is the 2nd Unesco World Heritage site of Bahrain.

The site consists of seventeen buildings in Muharraq City, three offshore oyster beds, part of the seashore and the Qal’at Bu Mahir fortress on the southern tip of Muharraq Island, from where boats used to set off for the oyster beds. Muharraq Island is the second largest island in the archipelago of Bahrain.

The building you see on the postcard is the windtower (or wind catcher) of Isa bin Ali House, residence of the former ruler of Bahrain.

The Fort of Bahrain

10:21 PM Bahrain, Island, UNESCO No comments

Postcard

The Qal'at al-Bahrain also known as the Fort of Bahrain is an archaeological site dating back almost 5000 years. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2005.

I never realized Bahrain is an island. It is an archipelago with Bahrain Island being the largest land mass, 55 km long and 18 km wide.

Traditional Fishing Dhow from Bahrain

8:52 PM Bahrain, Transport No comments

Postcard

The word 'dhow' is used to describe all types of local boats along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and East Africa. Dhow is the generic name of a number of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with lateen (triangle shaped) sails.

“Nobody had made a wooden dhow in Bahrain for 20 years – until recently to fulfil an order for the king. Ibrahim is one of the last 3 craftsmen who still know the trade: No plans, all made by eye. Indian teak planks fixed with wooden plugs and sealed below the waterline with camel fat. Good for 100 years. Ibrahim can’t find young Bahrainis willing to learn his craft, so he’s teaching apprentices from India and Bangladesh.”