Bahrain: A Pearl Among Sands and Steel

If Bahrain were a person, it would resemble a strange but charming friend who knows the secret paths to any point of the city. Unlike its "older brothers" - the UAE and Saudi Arabia - this island emirate lives by its own rules. It does not shout about its wealth, does not shock with golden skyscrapers, but with a smile shows the most interesting only to those who are ready to look deeper.

While Dubai was building its tallest building, Bahrain was keeping its 4,000-year-old secret: Dilmun. This is a mysterious Bronze Age civilization that was mentioned by the Sumerians. The city of Aali is strewn with ancient burial mounds, and in the Bahrain Fort (Qal'at al-Bahrain), you can walk through layers of history: from ancient traders to Portuguese invaders.

For a taste of antiquity, head to Umm al-Baid Island, where temple ruins stand amidst the salty waters, as if welcoming visitors from a parallel universe.

Before oil, Bahrain lived by pearls. Its pristine waters yielded the world's most valuable pearls, which people dived for without scuba gear or safety equipment, just breathing. Today, that era is a bygone era, but its echoes can be heard in Manama, the capital, where the old Bab al-Bahrain market still sells handmade pearl jewelry. But if you want more, follow in the footsteps of ancient divers - here you can go out to sea and try your hand at traditional pearl fishing, raising a shell from the bottom that may contain your own treasure.

If you don't feel like diving, take a look at the ancient city of Muharraq. Its old houses, converted into museums, will tell you how pearl divers dived without scuba gear and deciphered the nature of each pearl they found.

Bahraini cuisine is not about ordinary hummus and shawarma. It is about "makhbus" - rice with saffron and spices, about fried fish hamour, about sweet halva with rose water and nuts, which you can try at the central market of Manama. For those who want surprises, there is a special gastronomic attraction - Haji's cafe. Here, dishes are served without pathos, and waiters carry trays with steaming meat, like in a real oriental house.

Formula 1 in Bahrain is a real treat. Even if you are not a fan of roaring engines, it is worth visiting the Sakhir circuit. Here you can rent a supercar and feel what it is like to accelerate on the smooth, perfect turns where the best pilots in the world competed.

And if speed is not your style, you can simply book a tour and find out how one of the most exciting weekends in the world of motorsport is created.

Imagine a lonely, mighty tree standing in the middle of a completely lifeless desert. No water sources, not a single bush nearby - and it has been growing for over 400 years. This is the "Tree of Life" (Shajarat-al-Hayat), a Bahraini mystery that scientists are still puzzled over. Locals say that it is fed by the mystical energy of ancient gods. Come closer, put your palm on the rough trunk - who knows, maybe it will whisper something of its age-old secrets to you?

Bahrain is like an ancient chest forgotten in a corner of the Arab world. It may seem modest from the outside, but once you open it, stories, legends, secrets and surprises will spill out before you. This is a place for those who are not looking for noisy entertainment, but for unique emotions, for those who like to listen to the whispering waves and solve the mysteries of the past. And if you come here one day, do not be surprised if Bahrain stays with you forever - like a pearl hidden in a pocket of memories.