The Middle East is located at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa, connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean, and has been the transportation hub of the East and the West since ancient times.
The tropical desert climate is the most widely distributed here, and fresh water resources are scarce, and there are many disputes among countries for this.
In addition, this "pearl of the desert" has also given birth to countless civilizations and contains extremely valuable oil resources.
Relying on the gifts of nature, black gold has made the countries of the Middle East rich, and now when we hear about this region, the first impression is that of the local tyrant with a white cloth on his head.
There is a glitter of wealth between every gesture.
This land has a strong religious atmosphere, the people are almost all devout believers, the sound of prayers coming from the temples, the traditional costumes that walk through the streets and alleys, the aborigines are tightly covered, especially women, not only the body, but even the skin of the face is not allowed to be exposed.
However, on top of such a conservative country, there is a small country with an area of only 780 square kilometers, but it has a rich nightlife, drinking is allowed, dance halls are everywhere, karaoke is everywhere, and even has a well-developed red light district.
It is the Kingdom of Bahrain, known as the "Hawaii of the Middle East", known as the "secret back garden" of Arab men.
It is the only Persian Gulf island country in the Middle East, and it is also the most open and inclusive country in the Middle East.
"Man's Back Garden"
Like many Middle Eastern countries, Bahrain has made its fortune on oil.
In 1932, the first oil well was discovered and exploited in the Middle East in 100 years, creating the first significant oil well.
Although Bahrain as a British colony did not have independent sovereignty, the economic prosperity and modernization brought about by oil improved the living standards and welfare of the people of the small country.
Workers from all over the world gathered here to relax while working hard, entertainment began to develop, and the Red Light District was created as a favorite place for workers to go after work.
According to statistics, there are more than 15,000 people in Bahrain who work in this industry, which is not a small number for a population of more than a million, which is equivalent to one in 100 people encountered on the street who may be engaged in a special industry.
Solemn by day and lit by night, this land is full of exotic customs, where different races and cultures meet, making the girls of the Red Light District also present a variety of charms.
Some of them come from the Middle East, some are forced to come from the surrounding countries to make a living, and even blonde European women can be seen, and of course, most of them are trafficked. In the land of luxury, there will inevitably be oppression and humiliation.
In response to this situation, both the state and the private sector have adopted a silent way to respond, relying only on oil resources to promote development, making Bahrain's economy very fragile and the turbulence of international oil prices putting the country's economy in jeopardy.
The custom industry has attracted a lot of tourists to Bahrain, driven the development of tourism and supporting industries, and also brought a lot of foreign investment, injected new vitality into the economy, and saved the economy of the whole country to a certain extent.
Of course, in order to ensure the normal life of residents, Bahrain has also issued a series of regulations to control the operation of red light districts without affecting people's lives.
Since then, the reputation of the red light district has spread to the world, and it has been listed as one of the "most wanted places to visit".
"A tree, a well, a bridge"
In Arabic, Bahrain refers to two rivers.
As an island country in the Persian Gulf, Bahrain was originally composed of 30 or 50 natural islands, surrounded by the sea, and then reclaimed land without human encirclement, adding more than 80 artificial islands, with its own unique style.
Despite its proximity to the sea and its long coastline, the desert still accounts for 90 percent of the country's total area, with an average annual precipitation of only 100 millimeters, and the summer is even hotter.
But it is in the midst of such a harsh environment that Bahrain's famous attraction "Tree of Life" was still produced
The tree stands in the light brown desert, the nearest water source is far away, and the annual precipitation is less than three times, but the "tree of life" is still flourishing, and it is one of the ten strange trees in the world, and it is regarded as a sacred tree in the local area.
Since Bahrain was an immortal place associated with gods in ancient mythology, this tree is also believed to be a tree left in the Garden of Eden, and has been endowed with endless spiritual power by the people of Bahrain for more than 400 years.
Bahrain, which has always relied on the development of the pearl industry, has gradually come to an end in the pearl industry, but the sky is endless, in the nineteenth century the Persian Gulf first discovered underground oil, the first oil well in the Persian Gulf came from Bahrain, this well also brought new hope to the Bahrainis.
Basha Sea Bridge
It is a sea-crossing bridge connecting from a small island in Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, with a total construction cost of nearly a billion dollars.
The 25-kilometre bridge has reduced the commute time by more than five times, which used to take two hours to travel between the two countries.
Today, it takes only 20 minutes to drive from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.
Because of the unique geographical location, many people also hope to be able to see the neighboring country of Bahrain after arriving in Saudi Arabia, and vehicles are frequent at night, and there will even be traffic jams.
A small and diverse country in Bahrain
Bahrain is the smallest country in the Middle East, not as large as a county in China, with more than 40 percent of its 1.5 million people being migrant workers.
Fresh water resources are scarce, agriculture and plantations are particularly difficult to produce food on a large scale, and the geographical and territorial limitations limit industrial development in Bahrain.
The history of Bahrain begins before 3,000 BC, with the Sumerians establishing cities in this small country, followed by the Phoenician occupation, the Persian Empire, the Parthian Empire, the Sassanid Empire, the Arab conquests, and the British colonization.
Ancient Bahrain was first a place where the bones of people killed by seafaring were buried, and later the Persian Gulf became the largest trading area in the Middle East due to the frequent trade of Arab merchants, and Bahrain began to flourish.
Relying on the special geographical location, Bahrain has become a transportation hub for business and trade.
African ivory and gold, Persian pearls and blankets, Indian wood and spices are all gathered here, and the local pearl industry flourished for a while.
The wealth accumulated by ancestors does not guarantee prosperity for future generations.
The pearl industry was declining, years of aggression and war had impoverished the country, and British colonial rule had deprived the country of its independence and sovereignty.
The country's economic lifeline, even the right to exploit oil, was in British hands, and the Bahraini people were oppressed and lived in poverty for 14 years.
It was not until the eve of World War II that the people of Bahrain, who had been constantly seeking freedom and dignity, finally found a new way out.
Inspired by the pearl industry, Bahrain quickly realized the limitations and vulnerabilities of its oil resources and embarked on a series of diversified economic development strategies.
It began to develop tourism and entertainment industries, provided oil storage and refining services for surrounding countries, actively joined the WTO, and established free trade agreements with neighboring countries.
Today, Bahrain has developed a range of industries, modern urban facilities, and an emphasis on education, making it accessible to both men and women.
As a result, the status of Bahraini women ranks first among Arab countries, and more than 60 per cent of Bahraini women have received higher education and have their own jobs and careers.
The financial sector also accounts for an increasing proportion of the country's economy, becoming an important component of Bahrain's economy and an important financial center in the Middle East.
There are more than 400 financial institutions, including banking, insurance, asset management and other contents, and other industries are booming, in an era where opportunities and challenges coexist.
Perhaps in the near future, when we hear about Bahrain, there will be more well-known industries than just "men's back gardens".
Source: CNKI "Women Here Are Not Simple" Huang Peizhao