I was called upon to perform a quick trip to Bahrain and as a result was able to cross the off the final item on my Bahrain Bucket List: See the Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life, Shajarat-al-Hayat, is lone tree 32’ tree that sits way out the desert in southern Bahrain. The tree is estimated to be over 400 years and it has no detectable source of water -- supposedly its roots that run over a kilometer to access a deep underground spring. Based on what I've read, the tree is a North American Mesquite; which explains how it can do so well in the desert but I'm not sure how the North American Mesquite managed to find its way to Bahrain.
The tree is a local tourist attraction and is the largest tree I've seen anywhere in the Middle East. According to the signs at the site, the tree is visited by approximately 50,000 tourists every year. There is evidence of a lot of damage from graffiti carvings, spray painting, and supposedly it is also the site for cults practicing ancient rites. I was also told that Chinese visitors would visit the tree and tie silk strings to its trunk and branches that created quite a mess. According to the local Bedouins the tree marks the site of Eden.
Pictures Of The Week
Not unlike Jews or Christians, Muslims believe that your life is blessed by the number of things that you do in charity for other people. These fountains are built and maintained by various families, individuals, and businesses to help serve the population that might not have access to clean drinking water.
Had to go to the dentist this week too. Dental humor in the Middle East: Before & After Braces

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