We decided on a whim to spend the afternoon at Al Ghouse Corniche, just the three of us. Packing a picnic felt almost too simple, but sometimes the simplest plans make the best memories. Our daughter danced around the kitchen as we gathered snacks, proudly dropping her contributions into the bag – mostly biscuits – but we let her feel like she was running the show.
When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to find plenty of parking, which immediately set the tone for a relaxed visit. The sea breeze met us the moment we stepped out of the car, and the soft shimmer on the water hinted that we’d picked the perfect time of day.
Before we even laid out the picnic blanket, our daughter spotted the bouncy castles. For just 500 fils, we couldn’t resist letting her have a go. She bounced and tumbled, hair flying and cheeks pink with joy.
After she’d burned off her first wave of energy, we made our way to the shaded play area. The sand underfoot was cool and soft, and she immediately set about exploring everything; the multiple slides, the climbing dome and, most endearingly, the huge abacus she fell in love with. She slid the oversized colourful beads back and forth with great importance, narrating her ‘calculations’ like a tiny accountant at work.
From our picnic spot nearby, we could see the dhow boats drifting gently along the water, their silhouettes timeless against the afternoon light. Manama’s skyline sat proudly in the distance, a familiar stone-and-glass outline that somehow looked softer from across the water.
Every few minutes, someone zipped by on a jet ski, their engine hum sweeping past us like little bursts of excitement. It added a lively backdrop to an otherwise peaceful scene; families strolling, kids chasing bubbles or a family get together.
We unpacked our picnic and settled in, enjoying a slow, easy meal while our daughter alternated between bites of food and quick dashes back to the abacus or the climbing dome.
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