A tour of Bahrain (chapter 2): The Tree of Life

Tourism in Bahrain is generally small scale, laid back, and seemingly simple but surprisingly complex. You can rush through the 4-5 “must see” sights in one or two days and you probably will know the sites better than most Bahrainis.

Contrarily, you can spend 7 months on this island experiencing the culture. Then, and only then when you see the sights you can truly and accurately relate it to your experiences within the culture.



The Tree of Life has been described to me as a rather unimpressive, middle of nowhere, waste of time. I have been told it is just a tree full of graffiti. I have been given the impression that most tourists visit the tree because it has become a big name, but hardly anyone leaves it with anything more than a photo and a checkmark next to the page of their lonely planet.

The tree is a very large, robust tree, on a small sandy desert mound completely isolated from all other vegetation. It is a natural wonder how it has grown for as many years as it has without anyone watering it, nor any special care nor attention. Even more remarkable is how a simple tree can withstand the endless people climbing and hanging in its limbs and carving their names on the side.

I don’t own a lonely planet, but I did get my picture. In lieu of a checkmark, I will give you my first and only impressions of the tree.

The tree is definitely something special. It is completely isolated and unique from its surroundings. It stands tall and proud and continues to grow and spread wider and wider, but isn’t given much credit as a landmark. Without any water or unnatural care it has survived years and years of torment. When other trees on the island will be cut up for development or re-rooted, the tree of life will be left alone as a symbol of longitude.

Actually, everything I just remarked I thought of in advance based on pictures and prior knowledge. The second I saw the tree my thoughts on the topic were 100% clear, and they had very little to do with the tree itself.

My description of the tree is in fact a mirror of the Bahraini culture. Its neighbors are often living dreams, spoiled by oil money and unaware of what will happen once that is gone. The young people in general don’t have any real experiences, and are treated like a long stemmed fine red rose. The problem is the red is paint, the stem is made out of plastic, and there are no roots.

In Bahrain they have been challenged and given very little for nothing. The people are growing and developing even faster internally, while the neighbors have everything to show to the world. They have faced a difficult political reform and don’t have the same level of luxury of putting together a new phase of investment/real estate ideas to delay the reaction of the people. All the while they are good at balancing their traditions and culture while allowing for modernization.

In the end they are able to grow at a steady rate, with very little water but very deep roots. It is with pride I can say that in the future there is infinite potential, but still formidable room to grow.

Yalla Bahrain.