Bahrain was famed for its commercial pearling industry until it was halted in the 1930s with the pioneering in Japan of the cultured pearl. This heritage industry has since been revived, and Bahrain is the only country in the world to sell almost exclusively natural pearls.
This was taken at a souk in Manama called “Gold City,” which was fascinating and was the first “souk” on this trip that felt like the real thing. I didn’t buy anything, but was sorely tempted by an Arabian “bracelet” that attaches at the middle finger, covers the back of the hand with patterned gold and clasps around the wrist. Totally impractical, but would have been fun to wear. Luckily it didn’t quite fit, and there wasn't time to enlarge it.
Another image posted today of a revolutionary skyscraper powered by wind turbines:
