Bahrain

Images of conflict in the Middle East have become so common over the last 40 years that it is easy to become desensitised to them. From Australia it seems worlds away and unreal. 

John and I were in Bahrain in September,October & December 2010. Blogging was blocked in while we were in Bahrain, but given recent events I thought it would be timely to load a few photos:

Al Fateh Grand Mosque; main mosque of Bahrain (Al Fateh = Conqueror)

Bahrain has been going through a construction boom, built on the labour of guest workers from Pakistan, Indian and poorer nations in the Middle East. There are signs of Western influence everwhere in architecture,consumer goods, cars and food. There is a MacDonalds on both sides of the causeway that connects Bahrain with Saudi Arabia and shopping malls are replacing traditional souks. An inevitable sameness with the rest of the world is creeping in.

On the Bahrani side of the King Fahd Causeway (linking Bahrain & Saudi Arabia)

Being a Muslim country, alcohol is banned, but Bahrain has one discrete retail outlet which sells wines and sprits to non Muslims. The car park was full of the cars driven by wealthy young Bahrani men; unable to buy for themselves, they would send their Indian and Phillipino servants in to shop for them.

With elections looming there were rumblings for change to the minority ruling elite, repression of the workers, lack of representation of women in government. The local media are officially pro monarchy -

Daily Tribune: September 30th 2010

but were also starting to publish other views: (Both pieces from the Daily Tribune, September 2010 - the national Bahrani newspaper)

Daily Tribune: September 30th 2010

There were no protests on the streets while we were in Bahrain; but there were many security guards and police, particularly around the major roads and near the King's palace. I was unable to get a photograph of the Pearl Monument Roundabout (centre of recent protests) - it was patrolled by armed guards every time we drove through. Possibly the most surreal sight of the trip came on a trip to the supermarket; there was a military exercise immediately across the road in the desert.

Tanks across the road from the Seef Mall Supermarket

I've put together a small video piece on our trip - soon to be loaded to YouTube.

Sunset at Qal`at al-Bahrain - World Heritage Fort

And here it is...