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| Bahrain
Social Profile |
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Food & Drink
A wide range of
eating places
that serve all kinds of food, which include American, Chinese, Indian,
Arabic, European, Japanese, Lebanese and Mexican are easily found in Bahrain. Arabic food is
mostly spicy and powerfully flavoured.
Lamb is the main meat with turkey, duck and chicken. Salad and dips are also
general. Water, arak (grape spirit
flavoured with aniseed) or beer are the most basic drinks. The
sale of alcohol is not supported; however, it is OK in good restaurants, nightclubs and luxury hotels for non
Muslims (but not during Ramadan). There is also strong Arabic coffee and tea broadly available.
Nightlife
There are nightclubs, restaurants and cinemas with English and
Arabic films in the major towns and cities.
Shopping
A large number of fashionable department stores with imported luxury items are available in Bahrain. The country's major local products are pearls. Renowned red clay pottery can be accessible from
A’ali Village. Weavers can be found at the village of Bani Jamra
and basket makers at the village of Jasra.
General shopping
hours are from Saturday to Thursday 8.30 am to 12.30 pm
and 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm.
A few shops open for a few hours on Friday mornings in souks.
Social Conventions
Bahrain is strongly influenced by traditional beliefs and customs, and people are usually more formal than Westerners.
Attitudes to women are more moderate than in most Gulf States.
It is polite to drink 2 small cups of coffee or tea when offered.
Guests will usually be expected to share a bedroom since guest bedrooms
and privacy are almost unknown. Smoking is common and cheap by European
standards.
Restrictions
Homosexuality is illegal. Video cassettes will be withdrawn on arrival at the airport.
It is illegal for Muslims to buy alcohol from retail outlets.
It is welcome to sit cross
legged on cushions or sofas in people’s homes; however, it is
still
very rude and offensive
to accept food or anything else with the left hand or to display the soles of the feet
or shoes.
Sports clothes can be worn in the
street and short dresses are acceptable; however, they should avoid wearing revealing clothes.
Tipping
10% is expected
by taxi drivers and servers, especially when service charge is not included,
and is general practice. Airport porters expect 100 fils for a
piece of luggage. |
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