Testament to nature’s resilience

It has been five years or so since I last visited the Tree of Life, yet something stirred inside me these past few days, and I finally persuaded my parents to embark on a road trip into the Bahraini desert.

As hot and lost as we got, I returned unscathed and with a fresh perspective on this miracle of life that has so long decorated the history of Bahrain.

Despite being difficult to track down, the Tree of Life, pictured right, has been an icon of Bahrain for more than 400 years, and has become one of the kingdom’s biggest tourist attractions in recent history.

The tree has been fabled to survive with absolutely minimal measures of sustenance, with one of the deepest root systems known to man, and it is this incredible feat of nature that has earned it the title of ‘The Tree of Life’ or ’Shajarat-al-Hayat’.

The tree is rumoured to have been the site of many ancient rituals. First impressions of the tree are potentially disappointing, however. The branches droop to the ground and graffiti adorns the trunk which now has protective fencing around it.

I felt saddened at first, and then as I walked around the tree, I understood that despite the damage it may have suffered, it still remains a testament to nature’s resilience and ability to adapt in the most hostile of conditions.

Restorative work is underway by the Tree of Life and although time may sap it of its strength, it still stands as a somewhat miraculous attestation to this island’s history and culture.