European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 7, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse After leaving the museum the military tourists visited one of the last shipyards where craftsmen make wooden fishing boats called dhows using the same rustic tools of a thousand years ago. Ten men working almost every Day Complete about two dhows a year Alhaddad said. Today most of the boats Are equipped with engines and sold As novelties to wealthy westerners for about $150,000, he tells the group. The tour also included the 14th-Century fortress at Mina Salman which was conquered by the portuguese in 1521. Although the fortress is off limits guides allow visitors to walk among the ruins of the Village that was Home to most of the soldiers families. Bones and pottery Are clearly visible among the rocks and Alhaddad did not seem to mind when people picked up a piece or two. The tour concluded where it began in the sparkling City of Manama. Its gleaming buildings Mercedes automobiles and shopping malls seemed almost out of place after four hours of immersion in the history and ways of an ancient culture. The Bahrain tour costs $10 per person and is scheduled through the Uso office in Dhahran Telephone 895-0602. A amps photos by Ken George westerners tour a dhow factory. Finished boats can be rented for Day trips elsewhere in the Island in a Muslim sea by Carmen b. Craft just imagine escaping to a place where the skies Are always Blue and it rarely Rains where you can lie in the Sun All Day stroll through streets lined with Gold in the evening and dance All night. That is Bahrain. The persian Gulf War May have made some people More aware of the Small country but to most it is still a big unknown. Bahrain sits 15 Miles off the coast of saudi Arabia is a Muslim country and has a constitutional monarchy a yet it is one of the most Liberal countries in Southwest Asia. Bahrain is exceptionally tolerant of foreign cultures and visitors permitting Many things in the Way of dress and entertainment that Are taboo in other Muslim countries. Bahrain the largest of the More than 30 islands that make up the country of the same name is just 30 Miles Long and 10 Miles wide and has a tourist Industry that is still in its infancy. However the Island has several three and four Star hotels that offer All the comforts Western visitors Are used to plus at least one unusual one refrigerated swimming pools. Visitors unaccustomed to 90-degree temperatures and a relative humidity of 100 percent often find the pools a Welcome Relief. If Sand Between the toes sounds More appealing head toward Sheik s Beach the Villa of the ruling Emir of Bahrain which is open to westerners. Don t expect however to find beachfront bar huts and scantily Clad people All along the coast. There Are no Public beaches Here westernization stops Short of offending the traditional muslims. Those seeking More secluded beaches can find one by taking a dhow trip. A dhow is the fishing boat used by the locals and looks somewhat like a chinese junk. At a Marina on the Island of Muharram North of the main Island visitors can barter to rent a dhow for a Day for As Little As $20 per person. Although these old boats Don t appear to be stable they Are completely seaworthy. A trip on a dhow is a memorable experience As the Craft clips across the Gulf Waters then anchors for several hours at a Small Island that can Only be seen during Low tide and is an Ideal place for a picnic lunch. The capital and chief commercial Center of Bahrain is Manama. Here the images of traditional Arab life Are in Stark contrast to the changes brought by modern times. Walk into the souk the old Market area anti there will be merchants lining the streets offering not Only Arab goods such As fruits vegetables and fabric fur Bayas the Black coverings that Arab women Wear but also designer perfume oils begins. The hungry can make a Stop on Manama s Quot strip also known As Quot Sha Warma Street Quot and have a Sha Warma. This food is similar to a gyros but is rolled up like a Burrito rather than stuffed into a piece of pita bread. Choose either Chicken or beef and request the White sauce a Sec ret recipe to put inside. Shaw armas Are either instantly liked or disliked although one question at out them always lingers is the meat really beef or is it camels for those who enjoy dancing and drinking Bahrain has several nightclubs. Perhaps one of the most Liberal As sects of this islamic country is that alcohol consumption is Legal. There is no need for Moonshine Here All Beers and liquor Are available a for a Price. Frequent customers include westerners living in other Muslim countries and arabs who Cross the causeway a nesting Bahrain and saudi Arabia each weekend l lie nightclubs play the latest in pop music usually trom the British music charts. It is a strange but not uncommon sight to sees amps file pipelines from Bahrain s Oil refineries Rise from the desert Sands. Selling for As Little As $2.07 and genuine Swatch and rolex watches. Bahrain s Young generation wearing jeans and sneakers mingle with their elders in those and Gutras a the men s while dresses and headpieces a and Aba Yasas they inspect the merchandise. Another thing Worth noting in the souk is that women Are usually seen in groups without the accompaniment of men. As in most islamic countries men and women do not socialize publicly and this aspect of Muslim lilt1 is expected to be adhered to by visitors. No Public displays of affection Are permitted and Stern warnings to offenders will be delivered by the lot als and a Lii e. The souk is the plat e to look for Gold items. Jewelry of every size and shape trom Small pendants to the Large Gaudy necklaces worn by Arab women on their wedding Day. Most Salt ires also at cent orders for custom made pieces. Pri Les Are relatively Low site the Gold is All the Buer is paying for craftsmanship is not figured into the i Ost. Don t miss the Gold souk a minimal of stores that Sells Gold bars and at it Ess Orins in mind boggling quantities. Stores close1 at around 7 p.m., and the nightlife a amps Sharon Kilday Tarrant an Arab Man in a Shohe inti gotta bopping to the Vve Stein Musk. Bahrain owes most of its wealth to the Oil Industry and a visit to the country would t he Complete without seeing an Oil Vrell. I Lead toward the desert in the Interior of the Island to see the first Oil Well on the property of tht1 Bahrain Petroleum o. In was disc i Vert d in Bahrain then a British Pri Itin i irate in 19 12 am i became a major Export. Supplies Are now close in depletion and the t country has moved into Oil refining in i order to it i ensure its Elt no huh future i lie Maji n pipelines it an i seen it Rissi Rossing the Middle of the desert while in the area keep an Eye it rut Lor it Imseis foraging for fond. I hey Are an amusing sight and will allow photographers i lose enough to Lake a Pic lure Don t gel too r lose these i an be ornery and More than willing to nip humans. Lie bahraini people on the other hand me extremely Friendly. Virtually All bahrainis speak some English due to Britain s Influent e in tin area from the Early 1 to t s on. Passers by Are i ire than willing to help i on fused visitors. And if you need tips on what to see or do Gist get into a taxi. There will la no Lac k of it limn the Driver eager to advise Iris new let Nurul Quot to lend Quot Camion Craft. A Liue Lanca want of lived m to. Ii Yuan. A a nov met r 7, / pm trip Ruga me a
