National Day Bahrainthismonth.com December 2023 25 WHO IS KHALID? While chatting away with Khalid, you can’t help but be inspired by his pride in Bahrain’s culture, but he admits that he wasn’t always as well-versed in the subject. “I used to be an English teacher and actually lived and taught in countries across South America and parts of Asia. It was through this experience that I had actually discovered that my knowledge was lacking when it came to cultural aspects of Bahrain,” says Khalid. “My students would ask me ‘What is out there to do there in Bahrain when it comes to culture?’ and I’d always be ashamed when asked that question as I had not done anything cultural before. So, I promised myself that, when I’d return to Bahrain, I would explore its culture and all of its historical sites,” he narrates. Khalid not only discovered these sites but vowed to share his new-found knowledge with as many people as possible. “When I returned in 2019, I went everywhere and indulged myself in my culture, my identity as an Arab… I’m so proud of it now and naturally decided to become a tour guide,” he says. This proved to be a turning point for Khalid who was recently certified by the UNWTO for a course organised by The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations and Bahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority (BTEA). “I was really honoured to have been selected according to my experience as a tour guide. I learnt a lot and thank my professors and Ministry of Tourism for supporting me in this journey because my passion is to show people how culturally diverse Bahrain is,” he says. “Every country that I travelled to or lived in introduced me to different languages and ways of living, allowing me to discover aspects of myself which I would never know if I lived my whole life in Bahrain. My international experience allowed me to discover aspects of myself and encouraged me to appreciate Bahrain’s culture more,” he says. VISITING BAHRAIN According to Khalid, most travellers instantly consider Dubai when thinking of the Middle East. “They never think about Bahrain as a tourist destination,” he says. “If one were to plan a short visit here, they could focus on select historical sites to experience our culture. I would recommend they definitely visit Muharraq, but also Bahrain Fort – which used to be the Dilmun Capital once upon a time – and the National Museum,” he adds. Khalid believes that the development of additional transportation could be the key to supporting Bahrain’s tourism sector. “If we take care of our public transportation and we add metros, public taxis and buses, I think there is potential for more tourists to come to Bahrain and explore it freely,” he explains. As we wrapped up three blissful hours of strolling in Muharraq, Khalid enthusiastically says: “I’ve seen that when people visit or move to Bahrain, they are pleasantly surprised by just how open-minded Bahrainis are and how welcoming our culture is. I strongly believe that in that sense Bahrain is a hidden gem, and I welcome people from around the region and across the world to come and experience how culturally rich and welcoming Bahrainis are. Come and explore Bahrain!” You can find the Muharraq Cultural Walking Tour on Trip Advisor or contact Khalid on Instagram through the handle @relaxingwave. Scan to watch the full interview Pictures credit: Mani
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