Did you know that tiny Lebanon,10,452 km2 (4,036 sq mi), has several small islands, including the largest one called the”Rabbit Island” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Lebanon)?
The overall area of the Rabbit Island is about 4.2 km ² (likely also including the two smaller islands of Ramkeen and Sanani). It is located 5.5 Km from the coast, namely from the Noth-West of Elmina, Tripoli.
Now, if you are curious about the cute name of this island, like Bambi has been during her childhood, here is its origins: It comes from the LARGE number of rabbits that were grown on it during the French mandate of Lebanon in early 1920s (Lebanon got its independence on November 22, 1943). Cool, isn’t it? Here is picture of a rabbit for you taken from Plus 961 (https://plus961.blog/2020/07/16/8-things-you-didnt-know-about-rabbits-island/).
Before showing you two short yet fun videos featuring this island that Bambi found on YouTube, here are some interesting pictures and facts.
The first picture comes from 961:
The next picture below shows another resident of the island, thanks also to Plus 961. Well, as can you see it is a beautiful giant sea turtle!
This picture of the giant sea turtle is now bringing Bambi perhaps 37 years ago [when she was born : ). That was a joke obviously]. She was a teenager at the time on a kayak by herself across from the coast of a city North of Beirut, called Jounieh. She saw five giant turtles floating and looking completely still. Her excitement to bump into them did not last long as she quickly understood that something was deeply wrong about them. She quickly reached the shore and called for help. Two men came and checked on them. They were divers and experts of the sea. Their verdict was that the five turtles got killed by the heavy shelling the night before that morning. Leaving this very sad story behind, Bambi will now share a happier scene with you:
A picture taken from Plus 961.
OK, enough of rabbits and turtles now and back to the island itself and its human guests, the tourists.
A picture taken from die Deusche Welle (DW) initially by Getty Images/the Associated France Press (AFP).
A picture taken from die Deusche Welle (DW) initially by Getty Images/the Associated France Press (AFP).
Indeed, there will be a last fact or fun human story for you before the two promised videos, which will be followed by three songs, to end this post on a musical note.
First, we will hear our own Mr. Daniel Lavoie singing in French, with English sub-titles, J’ai quitté mon île [I left my island]. Second, if you wish, you can hear a very talented Lebanese singer discovered lately by Bambi, thanks to a Lebanese-American internet radio station. Her name is Ms. Christina Haddad. Her first song does not need any introduction as it is Madonna’s La Isla Bonita. Last but not least, Mr. Haddad’s last song is actually on of Bambi’s favourite ones in life, as you may know. Yes, it is the Egyptian Three dakat [3 heart beats] about a summer love on the beach. Ms. Haddad interprets it in her unique way and pace. Bambi hopes you will enjoy it.
Before letting music have the final word, it is time now for the last historical piece of information related to the Lebanese islands that Bambi mentioned earlier. Thank you Plus 961 for the interesting information!
