TBK tries walking at The Avenues, Bahrain

It is a while since I have walked at The Avenues in Bahrain, and so when Neil G gave it to me in a list of places to go walking it seemed like a good idea. I took Rew home to Juffair and then parked at the Financial Harbour end of the Avenues car park and set off on my walk. It was a beautifully sunny morning ( 21 degrees at 9 am) and the place was deserted. They are now constructing Phase 2 of the Avenues ( because we do not have enough Malls, Restaurants and Hotels in Bahrain !)

The Hoardings are up showing an "Artists impression" of what the new mall will look like

As usual the memories form the last 12 years in the Middle East flooded back. Jeboy took me to The Avenues in Kuwait where he worked at The Cheesecake Factory in 2013. The Mall in Kuwait is huge and has been added to in phases since the initial Building.

According to Wikipedia:

"The Avenues Mall is the largest shopping mall in Kuwait.^[1] The mall is located in the Rai area extending from Fifth Ring Road from the south and Al Ghazali Highway from the east. It opened in April 2007, under the patronage of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah.^[1] It was the winner of the ICSC Gold Award for “Best Shopping Center 2013” under the Expansion and Design Category in the Middle East & North Africa.^[2] It features more than 800 stores and parking that fits over 10,000 cars"

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Avenues_(Kuwait) ( accessed 15.3.22)

The one in Bahrain is a lot smaller- according to their website:

"The Avenues - Bahrain is the first shopping & Leisure destination of its kind in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with a unique seafront location stretching 1.5 km. strategically located in the heart of Manama, along King Faisal Road. The development brings a new concept to the Kingdom, with a design inspired by The Avenues - Kuwait that gives the visitors an outdoor feeling while remaining indoors, protected from the heat by a ceiling that allows sunlight in.

Avenues Bahrain , Phase one

The project’s leasing space is around 40,000 sqm includes 130 stores, 50% are allocated for restaurants and cafes which will overlook Bahrain Bay. It also includes a large family entertainment areas such as a special play hall, 10 cinemas, public parks, walkways and parking spaces.

Avenues Bahrain, Phase 2, on the right, stretches from Phase 1 to the Financial Harbour

Official approval has been obtained for the construction of Phase II of the project. This will add another 30,000 sqm in leasing space, as well as new districts and a hotel with 210 rooms. This will make The Avenues - Bahrain an attractive destination for citizens, as well as for tourists from the GCC and other countries who come for shopping, leisure and a good stay."

Source: https://www.the-avenues.com/xHPyodbA9uVcAukAK1QPxgM2Ry8LSkmO9twnjvIJjHuQk8WRxcYhn2GGAdGpHS5O-Z5gWII-86FrA8GDUCm4zaAH4yewnGD9 ( accessed 15.3.22)

The Hilton hotel is already open offering rooms at 130 Bd a night on Booking.com on a weekday, compared to 195 at the Four Seasons opposite. However the Four Seasons rises to 840 bd on Friday night ( Grand Prix!)

There are so many iconic buildings to be seen as you walk from Financial Harbour to the Avenues- this is the Bahrain World Trade Centre.

For those of you who do not know Bahrain the World Trade Centre:

"The Bahrain World Trade Center is a 240-metre-high, 50-floor, twin tower complex located in Manama, Bahrain. Designed by the multi-national architectural firm Atkins, construction on the towers was completed in 2008. It is the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain_World_Trade_Center ( accessed 15.3.22)

I have actually seen the turbines turn once at the weekend, the problem is the blades go so close to the building that they cause vibrations in the offices so cannot be used in the week. The plan had been that they would generate 50% of the buildings power.

You can see the turbines working here : https://bahrainwtc.com/

That aside it is still an iconic landmark on the Bahrain Skyline and is lit up at night ( currently blue but this changes to pink in October for the Breast cancer month). My engineering friends will love this amazing video which shows how it was built and the problems they had putting the turbines in place back in 2008:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vTBsCqqhWc

There are many other Iconic buildings opposite like the Wyndham Grand hotel which has a spiral shape, and the Four Seasons hotel ( H shape) and finally Arcapita which looks like its resting on an upturned pipe!

The Wyndham Grand Hotel in Bahrain Bay

The Four Seasons Hotel is opposite Avenues. protected by booms from the polluted water caused by the Building work for Avenues Phase two

The Arcapita Building is also opposite Avenues

I knew that my camera would not be allowed in Avenues but you have to go in one door and out the other to get to the promenade at the back where all the hotels and restaurants are. As soon as I entered the security man pounced on me and followed me to the other door telling me I could not use my camera. I told him I was not going to use it inside but outside, but he said I was not allowed to use it there either. I have had this fight at Zallaq Springs before and in Mall of Dilmunia where you can take photos on your phone ( as you can see above the new phones take as good pictures as my Cannon camera) but not in a camera! He wanted to take me to the control room to register for permission to use my camera but I refused. He then used his radio to alert the other guards and I was stopped twice more down by Arcapita.

Tatay's OOTD, on wanted posters all over Avenues!

Sadly the artist impression photos hide the reality, as I found when I poked my camera between the hoardings :

Bahrain Bay, once beautiful , is now polluted by all the Piling and reclamation for Phase two- they have had to put booms across the bay to protect the exclusive beach at the Four Seasons hotel ( see above)

Although the Mall does not open until 10 am several of the restaurants had customers , while at The Cheesecake Factory several staff were sunbathing and smoking.

The Cheesecake Factory at Avenues Bahrain with 160 seats outside and 300 inside

This was the first time I did not stop to eat ( as I had to fast until 11 am as Rew and I did not eat until late the night before) and it was also the first time I walked all the way around the outside of Avenues, around the back of the new Hilton Garden Inn at Bahrain Bay. As well as being linked to Avenues the hotel has stunning views out to sea, and over the Bahrain skyline, with it's own parking. Most of the major Malls in Bahrain have adjoining hotels ( The Westin City Centre Bahrain and Le Méridien City Centre Bahrain for example). The Saudis love to stay here at the weekend as they can get their car valet parked, and then do not need to go outside again. The men can stay in their hotel room and in the gym , restaurants and bars while the women shop and use the spa and the kids go to the cinemas!

The new Hilton Garden Inn at Bahrain Bay

This is one of the few places in Bahrain where the water taxis are still operating with a regular service from Avenues to the Four Seasons from 10 am in the week to 10 pm and until 2 am at the weekends!

As an early sleeper ( usually 8 or 9pm until 4 or 5 am - old habits die hard after 11 years of working from 6 am to 2.30 pm) I have never understood why people want to go shopping until Midnight ( or 2 am in Ramadan) or on boat trips or to Cinemas and restaurants with their children and babies in tow!.

The Bahrain Government sold licenses to various companies to operate Sea Passenger Transportation services from various points around Bahrain ( Sitra Causeway, Arad Fort , and even a yellow bus/boat from near Kids Kingdom at the Financial Harbour) but the one at Avenues is the only one still operating along with the boat to the Hawar Islands from Durat Al Bahrain and near Coral Bay.

One of Bahrain's water taxis operating from the Avenues

As I walked back from Avenues to my car the workmen were busily painting and building the stalls for the 6th edition of the Bahrain Food Festival ( due to COV 19 the last one was in 2020). According to the Bahrain Calendar site:

"Unprecedented edition of the "Food Festival," in which visitors will be treated to a festive and entertaining atmosphere that will appeal to all family members and make their visit to the festival an unforgettable experience.

From 17 to 31 March, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority is holding the Food Festival in the Bahrain Harbour, with over 100 local and international restaurants participating and offering a rich and varied range of food items that cater to all tastes.

This year's food festival will provide visitors with the most spectacular shows and experiences that promote Bahrain's culinary variety and various entertainment shows and events such as: Live cooking station, musical shows, kids play area and competitions."

Source: https://calendar.bh/en/bahrain-food-festival-2-3-4-5-6-7 ( accessed 15.3.22)

It's gonna be quite a weekend in Bahrain with

Food festival - 17- 31 March- avenues

FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX - 18- 20 March- bahrain international circuit

eric clapton concert- 19 march- al dana amphitheatre