BAHRAINI adventurer Ali Mushaima and his team began their 12,000-km friendship tour from Bahrain to Greece from the Bahrain Fort yesterday.

The publisher of travel guides, postcards and travelogues is leading the team of photographers and writers from Bahrain through Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan to Syria, where they will spend one week and then on to Turkey before finishing in Greece.

During the six-week trip they will promote Bahrain, also called Tylos by the Greeks, and the pearling project, which Bahrain is aiming to register as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) site. The Bahrain International Circuit will also be spotlighted.

The group will be travelling in the same Land Rover four-wheel drive that Mr Mushaima used in 2008 for his 24,000-km Bahrain to Britain voyage.

The launch of the friendship tour, dubbed Tylos to Thassos, was attended by Culture and Information Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Isa Amin, Syrian Ambassador Suleiman Sarra, archaeologists, heritage experts and media.

Mr Mushaima praised those who had made the trip possible and all the support he had received from the Culture and Information Ministry. "We are not doing anything for Bahrain other than what is our duty to do for our country."

On behalf of Culture and Information Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Dr Amin wished the team every success for the trip. "We are very proud of them carrying the name and history of Bahrain and the Bahraini people's greetings," he said.

"Heritage and culture have no boundaries and the team are ambassadors for Bahrain everywhere they go."

Mr Sarra saluted the friendship team for their efforts to promote Bahrain in other countries.

"All the credit goes to Ali, he has done an excellent job in promoting Bahrain in other countries, such as in the Dilmun to Dublin and Bahrain to Britain trips and now Tylos to Thassos."

Gulf Daily News