00:00An Arab country where people go out partying, drinking alcohol and dancing until dawn.
00:06This is not Dubai, welcome to Bahrain, the most liberal Arab country in the Gulf.
00:12a land of contrasts between faith, luxury and lack of control.
00:16Bahrain, a small archipelago lost in the Persian Gulf,
00:21made up of more than 30 islands that float between luxury, tradition and the desert.
00:26Surrounded by giants like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, this country goes unnoticed on the map.
00:33But their lifestyle breaks all the stereotypes of the Arab world.
00:39My fellow travelers, today I greet you from Bahrain, a little-known, little-visited country,
00:45But I have so much to tell you. I'm here in its beautiful capital, Manama.
00:51As you can see, it's quite a modern city.
00:53And we'll be exploring it, learning a little bit about its culture,
00:57its delicious cuisine, its mosque, Soko.
01:00And when night falls, we'll see how liberal they are, how much of a party animal they are.
01:05So come with me.
01:07Every weekend thousands of Saudis and Qataris cross the Reifat Bridge
01:12to enjoy what is allowed here.
01:15Bars, good music, and nights that seem to never end.
01:19Today I'm taking you with me to discover what the most liberal Arab country in the Gulf is really like.
01:26Something that surprised me is that despite Bahrain being a small country,
01:30It is considered one of the richest countries in the world.
01:34Their economy grew thanks to oil, and today they are betting on banking.
01:38to technology and luxury tourism.
01:40Although, to be perfectly honest, I don't see many people around here.
01:44I don't see much tourism.
01:45And today is Saturday, at the time I am recording this video.
01:48I might think it was because of the temperature, but it's not that hot.
01:51It's about 28 degrees.
01:54Let's see if it gets a bit busier in the late afternoon/evening.
01:57What cannot be denied is that wealth is palpable here.
02:00There are many futuristic skyscraper buildings, luxury cars, and private marinas.
02:05So let's see what else we find.
02:15In the background is the Bahrain World Trade Center,
02:18the most photographed place in the entire country,
02:21especially at night when those turbines are illuminated,
02:24Because yes, my travelers, what you are seeing there are turbines.
02:28And that's why this building is so famous,
02:29because it was the first skyscraper in the whole world
02:32in integrating wind turbines to generate their own energy.
02:36And its design was inspired by the sails of traditional Arab ships.
02:40With its two twin towers of 240 meters,
02:45The Bahrain World Trade Center was inaugurated in 2008 as a pioneering project.
02:50The three enormous wind turbines generate about 15% of the energy
02:55that the building itself consumes.
02:57More than a skyscraper, it's an icon of sustainability
03:00and green technology in the heart of the Middle East.
03:05Look, in the few blogs that exist on the internet,
03:08Everyone said that when they were here,
03:10Those turbines weren't moving.
03:11and we are very lucky,
03:12because even though there isn't much wind,
03:14Look at my hair, there's not much of a breeze.
03:16The turbines are indeed in motion.
03:19Those towers house offices, embassies,
03:22and downstairs there's a shopping center
03:24which is called Moda Mall,
03:26which are high-end stores.
03:28With fewer than 2 million inhabitants,
03:31Bahrain is modern, wealthy, and surprisingly liberal.
03:36Here skyscrapers blend with mosques
03:38and traditions coexist with the most extravagant luxury.
03:45And amidst so much modernity,
03:46Let's not forget that Bahrain is still a Muslim country.
03:50So I have come to your spiritual jewel,
03:53to the great mosque of Al-Pate,
03:55the largest in the entire country.
03:56In fact, it's so big you can see it
03:58from various points in the capital
04:00and one of its most beautiful things
04:02Its dome is made entirely of fiberglass,
04:05which is one of the largest in the world.
04:07The entire mosque has capacity
04:09up to 7,000 worshippers
04:11And what I like most is that you can come,
04:13Whatever your religion, get to know it.
04:16Right now, I don't know if they can hear,
04:18that song,
04:19There are many people, many faithful arriving to pray,
04:22And despite everything we've seen in this video,
04:25Faith is still maintained in every aspect of life.
04:28Between Italian marble and hand-carved wood,
04:32The great Al-Pate mosque holds the essence of Islam in Bahrain.
04:36Its golden dome dominates the Manama skyline,
04:39remembering that although the country is looking to the future,
04:42Faith continues to guide her soul.
04:46Between the silence of the desert and the brightness of the sun,
04:49Bahrain shows its oldest side.
04:52Here, camels still set the rhythm of life
04:54who seems to be in no hurry.
04:56Behind the luxury and the skyscrapers,
04:58This country holds an ancestral soul,
05:01a deep connection with their land and traditions.
05:08And just a few minutes away from all those skyscraper buildings,
05:12There you will find the traditional soul of Bahrain,
05:14the Soco of Manama.
05:15And here everything changes,
05:17the smells, the colors,
05:18the rhythm, more people.
05:20In fact, everything I hadn't seen up to this point
05:23It's right in this souk.
05:25And you see everything,
05:26from handicrafts,
05:27decorative items,
05:28of fabrics,
05:29carpets.
05:30So I want to walk and explore it
05:32because I like how Bahrain is combining
05:34all that modern part
05:35with all the traditional elements.
05:45Bahrain was known for centuries
05:47through the trade in precious pearls.
05:49In fact,
05:50before they discovered oil,
05:52all of their main source of income
05:54and what they saw as the jewel of the gulf
05:56They were pearls.
05:57In turn,
05:58gold,
05:58more than wealth,
05:59What a luxury for them!
06:01It's culture.
06:02So here,
06:02in this little market,
06:03You'll find out how both work
06:05and you find lots of gold jewelry
06:07with the pearl
06:08And they look beautiful.
06:10For centuries,
06:11Bahraini pearls
06:12were considered
06:13the purest in the world.
06:15They were known
06:16like the white gold of the Gulf
06:18And thanks to them,
06:19A jewelry tradition was born
06:20that still defines the country's identity.
06:23Today,
06:23Gold is sold by weight.
06:25The most wanted
06:26It is 21 or 22 karats,
06:28with that intense yellow glow
06:30that dazzles every shop window.
06:32But the soco
06:33It's much more than jewelry.
06:35Here,
06:35the air smells
06:36to Arab perfumes,
06:37incense,
06:38to spices.
06:39Between carpets,
06:40antiques
06:41and colors,
06:42this place
06:43It preserves the essence
06:44most authentic in Bahrain.
06:47At least here,
06:48how they combine
06:49those bracelets
06:50with 21-karat gold,
06:52with all the little pearls
06:53that give it shape
06:54to the jewel
06:55And she looks beautiful.
06:57Wow!
06:58And what do you say?
06:58of this bracelet?
07:00Spectacular!
07:01I want it with that ring,
07:02Look how beautiful.
07:07I must confess to you
07:08that of my meals
07:09favorites in the world
07:10There is Arab gastronomy.
07:12So I said
07:13I have to try everything.
07:14I came to a local restaurant
07:16and I ordered a variety.
07:18Look,
07:18This is lamb kebab
07:20which looks delicious,
07:21nice and toasted,
07:22a small salad,
07:23little bread roll
07:24and this,
07:25the truth,
07:25I'm not going to try it.
07:26Told me,
07:26if it's your first time
07:27in Bahrain,
07:28You have to try it
07:28because it's bread
07:29very traditional here
07:31And of course, there had to be hummus.
07:32but this is not
07:33the traditional chickpea one,
07:34but from eggplant,
07:35whose name I don't know.
07:36If you know,
07:37Comment below.
07:38But everything looks great,
07:40It smells really good.
07:41Let's try this bread roll
07:42which was the recommendation
07:43of the house.
07:47It's filled with something,
07:48It's delicious.
07:49It looks fried to me.
07:51Let's combine it
07:52Now with the lamb.
08:03The most anticipated moment
08:05This video has arrived.
08:07I changed
08:08to enjoy
08:09nightlife
08:11and searching on the internet
08:12where to go
08:13Let's celebrate!
08:14Let's dance,
08:15to have a few drinks
08:16and check
08:17all that freedom
08:19that they talk about
08:19It's real.
08:20I was recommended to come
08:21to Block 338,
08:23a rumba zone
08:24where there's too much of a scene,
08:26clubs, bars,
08:27DJ, live music.
08:29And taking a little stroll,
08:30I saw that there are some bars
08:32which are called,
08:33Listen to this,
08:33my travelers,
08:34Escobar,
08:35El Chapo.
08:36What a bad influence!
08:38the one about Latinos
08:39even from these Arab countries.
08:41But precisely in that
08:42Let's begin
08:44in Escobar
08:44which looks pretty good.
08:47I never imagined
08:48find bars
08:49with such Latin names
08:50in the heart of the Persian Gulf.
08:52El Chapo,
08:53Escobar,
08:53Calexico.
08:55Before any drink,
08:57I prefer to have
08:58my tummy is full,
09:00so I asked
09:00a plate
09:01which looks very delicious.
09:03He just arrived
09:04little fish
09:04with potatoes,
09:06since lunch
09:06with my flesh,
09:07I'm craving fish right now.
09:09And it looks pretty good.
09:11Inside,
09:11the party
09:12It has a different rhythm.
09:13Arabic music
09:14You really live.
09:15The Felidancers
09:16are the real ones
09:17stars of the night.
09:19His movements
09:19hypnotize
09:20and they spread energy.
09:22Here,
09:23the rumba
09:23It's enjoyed differently,
09:25but the joy
09:26It is universal.
09:28The music
09:29It's pretty good.
09:30This is how this night begins
09:32after eating
09:33delicious.
09:34The live show has begun,
09:36all the instruments
09:37that I really like.
09:38There are some girls dancing
09:40and also man.
09:41I don't know if they're on me
09:42listening carefully,
09:43I don't even know if I can record,
09:45But I'm trying.
09:45to bring them everything,
09:47But the truth is
09:48has begun
09:49fairly good.
09:54I would have loved it
09:55record them much more
09:56in Escobar
09:57because afterwards
09:58that people
09:58He finished eating,
09:59things started
10:00to get quite good,
10:01But when they gave it to me
10:02recording,
10:02They approached me,
10:03They gave me,
10:03No,
10:03please,
10:04so that people can't be seen,
10:05no,
10:05And I was like,
10:06Well,
10:06Okay,
10:06I'm leaving now
10:07Or we'll go somewhere else.
10:09And now I've come to this one,
10:10I'm surprised
10:11that almost all places
10:12They're working on the decorations
10:13Halloween
10:14and all that
10:15and although it is not seen
10:16people out here,
10:17inside the music
10:17It sounds pretty good,
10:19So let's go.
10:26nowadays,
10:27nowadays,
10:28The atmosphere is great,
10:40richer music,
10:43My tongue was already giving me trouble,
10:44She focused her tongue on me,
11:01I may not have found the big party I was expecting, but I discovered something better.
11:05The way this country balances the sacred and the mundane, calm and celebration.
11:10In Bahrain I learned that there isn't just one way to live and that even in the silence of the gulf there is
11:16a rhythm that never stops.
11:19A pretty fun, different night.
11:23It's not the kind of party I'm used to, but I enjoyed learning a little bit about how they celebrate and party here in Bahrain.
11:31And although I would have liked to show you much, much more, it's understandable that in several places they told me,
11:37Please, the camera here, everything needs to stay quiet here.
11:41Yes, I feel that Bahrain is a liberal country for drinking, for partying, for dancing, but mostly with the
11:48men's issue.
11:50In fact, what you saw most in the streets and nightclubs were Arab men, some foreign women,
11:57But I believe, without judging anyone, that it is a place where many people from surrounding countries come.
12:03Many Arab people go there to have a good time, to enjoy themselves, to have fun, to live their crazy life, but the men...
12:11It was most common to see men arriving at nightclubs alone and then finding some women there.
12:16Since I was on this side of the world, I wanted to show you what life is like and how true it was that
12:21This is the most liberal Arab country in the Gulf.
12:25I want to know what you think and I hope you'll join me in an upcoming video of Traveling with Vero.
12:29Bye, bye.
12:30Bye.
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