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BATHING belles have been flocking in their thousands to take advantage of a special Ladies Night at the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park, writes Liz O'Reilly.
Since the weekly sessions were launched in early July more than 10,000 have taken full advantage of catching the sun, splashing about in bathing costumes and enjoying the thrills and spills of the rides ... without a man in sight.
The park's management has been so overwhelmed by the event's popularity it has decided to extend the opening hours until midnight, giving ladies five hours to enjoy the park and all its facilities every Thursday evening.
Visitor Muneera Salah, who came to sample last week's Ladies Night, said: 'I have been waiting for this really exciting opportunity since the park opened last year - I love Ladies Night! There are so many rides to go on and so many other ladies having fun that the extra hour will be great!'
The Thursday night specials at the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park allow the kingdom's womenfolk to fully enjoy the attraction's facilities alone, with their friends, or their young children, secure in the knowledge that they do not need to cover up for cultural or religious reasons.
Management has even negotiated with the contractors building a hotel adjacent to the rides to finish early on Thursdays to allow the women to bathe without the fear of being overlooked by workmen.
General manager Paul Blunt explained: 'In order for our female guests to enjoy the park as much as possible, we have responded to their request for the park to remain open for an extra hour on Ladies Night.
'We want the ladies to be relaxed and comfortable when they visit and through their feedback we have also opened more food and beverage outlets and provided additional entertainment to further their enjoyment.'
The initial idea of staging the ladies only opening came from a man ... Mohamed Ali, sales and marketing director, and his initiative was supported by the senior management team which recruited a full female staff - including lifeguards - for the enterprise.
The Thursday night specials will continue throughout August and may even be extended.
The additional entertainment comes in the form of live music and entertainment every Thursday evening for Ladies Night, as well as Friday and Saturday for all guests during August with the aim of bringing a 'relaxed summer feel' to the park.
DJ Leila has been booked to perform and said: 'I am looking forward to playing at the Lost Paradise of Dilmun, and I'm very sure music will add to the ambience of the ladies' evenings and compliment the whole water park experience for everyone during the summer.'
Ladies Night takes place every Thursday evening from 7pm to midnight. All females above 1.2 metres in height can enjoy the event for BD10 while all children under 1.2 metres in height can enjoy the regular entrance fee of BD5.
Boys aged 10 and below are permitted, however, they must produce CPR identification if required. The $50 million Lost Paradise of Dilmun is the Middle East's largest water theme park, opened in September 2007.
Set in 77,000 square metres of desert oasis, Lost Paradise features 14 of the fastest, newest slides, pools and fountains.
Taking its theme from Bahrain's rich cultural heritage - the kingdom was the centre of the ancient Dilmun empire more than 5,000 years ago - Lost Paradise and the adjacent five-star Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort are the first parts of the $1.3 billion Al Areen Development.
Once the hotel is open on site the challenge will be to provide natural screening if the popular ladies nights are to continue for years to come or be expanded to full day events.
