tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87303305706389993032024-03-15T00:20:28.946+08:00Riyadh - KSA رياض - السعودية العربيةBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-60262108800087927342012-04-25T21:31:00.003+08:002022-05-05T20:09:26.672+08:00Index<div style="text-align: justify;">
Although Riyadh is still probably one of the least well known capital cities in the world, it's a match for any other city with its stunning architecture and wealth of places to visit.</div>
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Broad highways criss cross this metropolis, sweeping over or under one another in an impressive and ever growing road network. In between the towering, futuristic buildings and luxurious shopping malls are nestled ancient mosques and other remnants of times gone by. </div>
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Since 1982, Riyadh has been the capital of Saudi Arabia. Today it extends for some 1,600 square kilometres (600 square miles) and has a population of around five million.</div>
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For many people arriving in Riyadh, however, finding information about the various attractions can be extremely frustrating since much is passed on by word of mouth, opening times vary depending on whether you are male or female, and that all depends, of course, on whether you can actually find the venue in the first place!</div>
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This web site is dedicated to opening up this wonderful city to all visitors. It was put together between 2005 and 2012; but although it is now well out of date, you might still find it interesting for looking back on this amazing city.</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>Historic</strong><br />
</span><a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/diriyyah.html">Old Dir'iyyah</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/musmak-fortress.html">Musmak Fortress</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/murabba-palace-historical-centre.html">Murabba</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/qasr-al-hokm.html">Qasr Al Hokm</a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>Buildings</strong></span><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/king-khaled-international-airport.html">Airport</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/king-fahd-stadium.html">King Fahd Stadium</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/faisaliah-tower.html">Faisaliah Tower</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/kingdom-centre.html">Kingdom Tower</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/ministry-of-interior.html">Ministry of Interior</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/nasiriyah-gate.html">Nasriyah Gate</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/king-saud-university.html">King Saud university</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/riyadh-railway-station.html">Riyadh Station</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/tuwaiq-palace.html">Tuwaiq Palace</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/tv-tower.html">TV Tower</a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>Museums</strong><br />
</span><a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/agricultural-exhibition.html">Agricultural Exhibition</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/currency-museum.html">SAMA's Currency Museum</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/environmental-awareness-centre.html">Environmental Exhibition</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/king-fahd-library-museum.html">King Fahd Library Museum</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/king-faisal-gallery.html">King Faisal Gallery</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/sultan-bin-abdulaziz-humanitarian-city.html">Humanitarian City Art Collection</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/hall-of-manuscripts.html">Islamic Hall of Manuscripts</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/meteorology-and-environment-exhibition.html">Environment Exhibition</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/national-museum.html">National Museum</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/see-stars-at-king-fahd-cultural-centre.html">King Fahd Planetarium</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/post-office-museum.html">Postal Services Museum</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/saqr-al-jazeera.html">Saqr Al Jazeera (RSAF) Museum</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/see-stars-at-king-fahd-cultural-centre.html">King Saud University Museums</a><span style="color: red;"><strong></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>Souqs</strong></span><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/souq-al-adl.html">Souq Al Adl</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/bathaa-souq.html">Batha'a Souq</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/camel-souq.html">Camel Souq</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/automobile-souq.html">Car Souq</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/fish-souqs.html">Fish Souq</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/gold-souq.html">Gold Souq</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/pet-souq.html">Pet Souq</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/harraj.html">Harraj at Manfour</a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>Outdoors</strong></span><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/5-10-20-street.html">5-10-20 Street</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/walk-around-dq.html">Around the DQ</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/look-down-on-riyadh.html">Look down on Riyadh</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/shisha-hubbly-bubbly-cafes.html">Shisha</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/cemeteries.html">Cemetries</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/janadriyah.html">Janadriyah</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/parks.html">Parks</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/zoo.html">Zoo</a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>Sport</strong></span><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/camel-racing.html">Camel Racing</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/golf.html">Golf</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/dune-bashing.html">Dune Bashing</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/sky-diving.html">Skydiving</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/cricket.html">Cricket</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/football.html">Football</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/equestrian-sports.html">Equestrian</a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>Outside Riyadh</strong></span><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/camel-trail-no1.html">Camel Trail #1</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/dairy-farms-of-al-kharj.html">Dairy Farms of Al Kharj</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/date-farms.html">Date Farms</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/iris-fields-of-tumayr.html">Iris Fields</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/karraragh-waterfall.html">Karraragh Waterfall</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/king-khalid-wildlife-park.html">Wildlife Research Park</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/riyadh-river.html">Riyadh River</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/wabha-crater.html">Wabha Crater</a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>Useful information</strong></span><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/arabic-crib-sheet.html">Arabic Crib Sheet</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/currency.html">Saudi Arabian Currency</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/drive-to-qatar.html">Drive to Qatar</a><br />
<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/drive-to-uae.html">Drive to the UAE</a></div>
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<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/football.html">Football</a></div>
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<a href="http://riyadh-ksa-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/equestrian-sports.html">Equestrian</a></div>
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</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-77861064994624223752012-04-18T17:08:00.002+08:002012-09-01T16:18:26.663+08:00Drive to the UAE<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Contrary to what you may surmise by looking at maps of KSA, you DON'T need to drive to the UAE via the Dammam road. </strong></div>
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For a few years there has been a perfectly good road that doesn't appear on any of the “older” maps, and in the process it takes off over 100km from the “old” journey via Hofuf. </div>
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First, the basics. You can comfortably drive from Riyadh to Dubai in about 10 hours (to Abu Dhabi in about nine hours). It's an easy drive, with the biggest danger being falling asleep at the wheel from the relentlessly unchanging countryside as you drive through the emirate of Abu Dhabi! From Riyadh to the border is about 520kms. From the border to Dubai Trade Centre (25 13.69' N; 55 17.41' E) is about 480kms. <br />
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The route you should follow takes you south to Al Kharj, and then along highway 10 via Haradh and straight across a corner of the Empty Quarter to the border town of Batha. If this road is not marked on your map, then draw a straight line from Haradh to Batha and this is the road you take! </div>
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A great deal of the journey is on single track roads, and the maximum distance between petrol stations is around 160kms, though most are clustered much closer together. Although the majority of traffic travelling the Haradh to Batha road is made up of lorries, the standard of driving is generally good and the lorries will regularly wave you past, indicating when it is unsafe to overtake. </div>
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<em>However, you should not attempt this route at night as it can be dangerous with oncoming headlights, not to mention the fact that there are long sections with no camel fencing. If you have never seen the results of a car driving into a camel, believe me.. you really don't want to!</em><br />
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The journey couldn't be simpler. Go south 100 kms and then due east for 900kms! Start on Riyadh 's Eastern Ring Road and set your odometer to zero at junction 13 (24 42.83' N; 46 45.72' E) – the Makkah-Khoreis road. Leave the ring road system at junction 18 (24 37.98' N; 46 48.13' E), and travel south, signposted to Al Kharj. Be aware that at 30kms, you need to take the turn off at junction 12 (24 30.29' N; 46 56.16' E) – there is a sign to Al Kharj in Arabic only (ال كرج ) which is very easy to miss. If you do miss it, you will find the road comes to an abrupt end three kilometers on – though there is then a U-turn allowing you to regain the Al Kharj road. </div>
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You go through a check point at 40kms (24 12.11' N; 48 04.83' E) and at about 80kms reach the outskirts of Al Kharj, with the famous water tower looming up at 85kms. At the traffic lights immediately after the tower (24 09.73' N; 47 17.87' E) , turn left, signposted to Harad (later spelt Haradh) and when you get to traffic lights at 90kms you need to take the left hand fork. </div>
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You can now forget about directions as you don't veer left or right for the next 900kms! At 101kms you pass Al Safi's dairy farm on your left and the entrance to the massive Prince Sultan airbase on your right at 109kms. </div>
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From here on, the road turns into single track. Look out for the unusual bird houses at 114kms on your left (24 12.12' N; 47 33.70' E) and go through a normally-unmanned check point just before Almarai's central processing plant (24 13.67' N; 47 39.34' E). </div>
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If you're a train fanatic, you can look out for cargo trains on your left travelling the southern route between Riyadh and Hofuf, starting at 130kms and running parallel with the road for the next 140kms. I normally see two of these long trains when I travel this route. <br />
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At 170kms you go through another check point (24 09.35' N; 48 57.14' E) just before the start of the red sands and the road continues on relentlessly until at around 215kms you will see that work is well underway on the creation of a dual carriageway stretch. <br />
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According to my friend Jason, there is now a second carriageway under construction but, as per usual in KSA, no sign of when it may be completed. Also on this section of the journey there are some sections of road, at most about 1.5km long, that have had the top surface removed, presumably in preparation for resurfacing and long sections of the road with no central markings. There is no warning approaching these unsurfaced sections.</div>
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Pass Nadec's arable farms near Haradh at 250kms and then go through another check point at 260kms after which you will travel through a section of the Empty Quarter . <br />
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In truth, the scenery is not particularly stunning – the light yellow dunes are relatively flat and the road is punctuated with the occasional red signs saying “ Sand Dunes” (the first one 30kms in from the start of this section!) and lots of activity of roadside workers bulldozing sand from the side of the road and spraying it with liquid tar to stop it blowing across the carriageway. </div>
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At 520kms you reach Batha. Fill up with petrol a couple of kms before the border as once you cross over you will be paying over three times the price. </div>
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Incidentally, since June 2010 in the UAE petrol is now sold in litres - just as in Saudi. But unlike in Saudi where petrol is sold at octane ratings of 91 and 95, the UAE sells 95 and 98 (“special” and “super”) grades. </div>
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The Saudi customs post is at 520kms (24 07.79' N; 51 34.35' E). First you must show your passport and car istimara (ownership card) and you will be handed a piece of paper which from here on will be stamped at every border check. The next check is to make sure your passport and piece of paper are in order before you are waved on to drive the next five kms to the UAE border. Drive straight through the police post archway (normally unmanned) to the next check, at which point you will be told to go into the passport control office (unless you are a GCC citizen) on your left. This passport office can be recognised by its turreted end towers. Once inside you might be asked to undergo a retina scan (I have been asked to do this on two of my five journeys through) and to fill out a form (remember to take a pen in with you!!!) before having your details entered into the UAE computer. </div>
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You now drive to the customs inspection hall where your details are checked again before a customs officer inspects your car and stamps your piece of paper. Immediately after the customs hall is another stop-off point – this time for car insurance. No matter if your Saudi insurance covers you for driving in the UAE. You still have to buy car insurance here – SR100 for 10 days or SR150 for a month – or else you won't get your piece of paper stamped and you won't be allowed to enter the country! There are four insurance booths, representing four different companies, but it appears immaterial which one you plump for. </div>
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Finally, having had your piece of paper stamped for the last time you drive to the last check point and give it up to be allowed to enter the country. <br />
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From here on in the road is excellent – but remember that there is a 100kph speed limit for most of the journey through Abu Dhabi emirate, and there are speed cameras and “sleeping” police cars throughout the trip. When you enter Dubai , the speed limit is 120kph, again with plenty of speed cameras. </div>
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Again Jason tells me that the speed limit on the UAE road from the Batha border to Abu Dhabi is signposted as 100 kph at junctions but the speed radar warning signs say 120 kmph. Just to confuse things further, it is common knowledge that the Abu Dhabi police will not fine drivers unless their radar shows speeds in excess of 139 kmph! Dubai police, on the other hand are much less forgiving, and you are advised to keep within the speed limits there.</div>
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If you intend driving through Dubai, you should know that a toll system has been introduced in four places on the Sheikh Zayed Road – the first one at Barsha, near Media City. There are plenty of warnings for you to purchase a Salik sticker in any Dubai petrol station (Dhs100 from which Dhs4 is deducted every time you drive through a toll bridge) and don't think because you are driving a “foreign car” you can get away with not paying. These things are checked on the border!</div>
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The only way to escape the toll system is to drive inland on the Emirates road in order to bypass Dubai altogether, or to use the local roads such as Al Wasl Road, which runs parallel to Sheikh Zayed.</div>
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Finally, you should be aware that when driving back to Saudi you will be charged an exit visa fee of Dhs35. <br />
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<em><span style="color: red;">I received the following info from Geoff Holland in September 2012:</span></em><br />
<em>There is a better road to Dubai than the al-kharj road. From Riyadh take the Damman road from exit 8 for about 50km, then take the Hoffuf road. About 20 or 30km before Hoffuf the road goes to the south, bypassing Hoffuf. Then continue to the Saudi-UAE border. </em><br />
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<em>I have done every combination of road and this is the best as large sections of it are completely new and it's dual carriageway all the way. The main problem with the al Kharj road is it's dangerous at night as the cars overtake in front of oncoming cars with their headlights on full beam.</em><br />
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<em>Other notes for the Riyadh-Hoffuf-UAE route: Like the al Kharj route, petrol stations are few, so when you see a petrol station, fill up. There is a small hotel on the Saudi side of the border, perhaps 10 or more km from the border, on the left coming from Saudi. It could be useful if you want to break the long drive up into 2 halves.</em> </div>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-20696558501315662732012-04-18T16:59:00.000+08:002012-04-25T17:17:03.205+08:00Drive to Qatar<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>It never ceases to amaze me how few people consider driving over to Qatar from Riyadh. Yet the journey is extremely easy, the distance is just undert 500kms to the border (and then only 90kms to Doha) and you can make it easily from Riyadh to Doha in around six hours.</strong></div>
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I normally leave Riyadh between 5 and 6am and schedule business appointments for the afternoon and the following morning, thus ensuring I can drive in both directions in the daylight.</div>
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Head out on the Dammam Road (either from junction 8 or else eastbound on the Makkah-Khoreis Road). Once you reach the junction to Thumamah near the camel souq (stay on the Dammam Road), set your odometer to zero.</div>
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The first part of the drive is pretty uneventful. You go through your first check point after about 50kms. As you approach the Sa’ad turnoff (also signposted Se’ed) at 25 08.7’N 47 33.4’E you’ll see gas flaring over to your left.<br />
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And about 100kms out of Riyadh the sand dunes turn bright red. Although you can turn off up into the dunes, you’re likely to find this a disappointment as close-up the area is covered in litter. Better to admire them from afar!<br />
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The desert has lots of scrub around here and you will normally see very many herds of camels, goats and sheep.<br />
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There’s a Sasco petrol station at 131kms (petrol is slightly more expensive here – typically +3halalas) and soon afterwards you start to see quite a few Saudi Aramco oil pipelines. Go through your next check point at 142kms (25 27.14’N, 48 03.54’E)</div>
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At 239kms (25 21. 9’N, 49 22.5’E) you take a right turn - signposted to Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman – but note you should not drive this section at night as there is no camel fencing from here on. Also there is no petrol for about 100kms. The countryside is much nicer from here on. You'll see plenty of signs for Salwa (the border town in Saudi).<br />
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Go through a Check Point at 311kms (25 21.79’N 49 23.73’E) and soon after you will see a number of rock crushing works as well as plenty of Saudi Aramco pipelines. At 327 kms look out for a right turn signposted Qatar, cross over a railway line and pass the turnoff for Ahsa Airport (25 18.0’N 49 29.9’E)</div>
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The road thro Khurais and Hofuf is well laid now; two tracks on either side. There is a bypass road on the outskirts of Hofuf, which means you don't have to go through Hofuf's centre any more. You now need to drive close to 120 kms till you reach the Saudi border post at Salwa, but be careful with drifting sand.</div>
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Your first sight of the sea is at 464kms and 20kms later (24 45.99’N, 50 44.80’E). You should fill up at the petrol station – the last in KSA before you cross the border at Salwa (24 43.29’N, 50 45.92’E)</div>
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Going through the border, you collect a piece of paper at the first control (where they check your car’s istimara papers); the second control is where you get your passport exited from saudi. There is then an 8km journey to the Qatari border post (24 44.92’N, 50 51.05’E) where you can stop for a loo break, café and shop before the next controls if you wish to.<br />
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Here you will be relieved of QR100 for a visa – but note you have to pay by credit card as they are not allowed to accept payment in cash. If you don’t have a credit card then you have to go in to the Customs hall to the payment desk on the right hand end and purchase an e-card for QR20 and then charge it in multiples of QR50.</div>
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Once that is done and you have had your passport stamped, you go to the customs shed and thence to the insurance kiosk. No matter that you may have arranged car insurance in KSA before you left. You will still be relieved of SR106 for three days, even if you are going for one day only </div>
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Finally you hand in your original piece of paper which will have been stamped at each of the control points and you are finally in Qatar. You can drive for about 85 kms in one straight line and you come across only a few intersections and fly overs.</div>
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If you didn’t have the foresight to bring your own music, there is very little to listen to on the radio until you’re well into the Eastern province, whence you can pick up two Saudi Aramco stations – Studio 1 on 91.4MHz and Studio 2 on 91.9 and 101.4 MHz. Qatar Broadcasting (QBS) broadcasts in English and French on 97.5MHz. There are also some additional radio stations [AM/FM ] catering to Tamil & Malayalam speakers, streamed out from the UAE on 1152 & 657 Khz, and 89.5 & 91.4 Mhz for English music</div>
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<em>* I am grateful to Gopalan Kalpathy for sending updates to this page November 2011 and to Nik Granger for sending updates in March 2012, who added: "Your directions to Doha were very helpful, and we were able to make it in about 6 hours including the border crossing. On the return journey, we decided to take a slightly alternate route, coming back through Khurais before rejoining the Riyadh-Dammam motorway near Sa'ad. This saved about 50km from the journey and was less stressful as the traffic on that road is lighter yet one can go at the same speed given the dual carriageway is just as good as the main motorway.".</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-61594349419292467372012-04-18T16:54:00.001+08:002012-04-25T18:53:08.186+08:00Currency<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<strong>The Saudi Arabian Riyal is divided into 100 halalah. </strong></div>
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The currency is tied to the American dollar at a rate of $1 = SR3.75 </div>
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Bank notes come in SR1, SR5, SR10, SR20, SR50, SR100, SR200 and SR500 denominations. </div>
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Coins come in 10h, 25h and 50h values, but don't be surprised when values are rounded to the nearest riyal as many stores - especially the big supermarkets - try not to use the coins.</div>
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Newer bank notes feature King Abdullah, but at the present time, the older style King Fahd designs are still legal tender.<br />
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<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-82690433124025881372012-04-18T16:52:00.002+08:002012-04-25T18:55:32.051+08:00Arabic Crib Sheet<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Once you are outside the centre of downtown Riyadh, you will find that many road signs are written in Arabic only. </strong></div>
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And there will come a time, sooner or later, when the particular place you are looking for will be on one of those signposts.</div>
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If you cannot follow Arabic script, this could cause you a little 'mushkillah'. Worry not! What follows is a list of the most common place names you are likely to need. </div>
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Remember, though, that very often a name will have ‘Al’ - ال - written in front of it – unless the name begins with a vowel in which case it looks like الا. Hence Al Imam is الامام whereas Al Riyadh (pronounced Ar-Riyadh) is الرياض </div>
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Abdul Aziz عبدالعزيز</div>
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Abdullah عبدالله</div>
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Abdul Rahman عبدالرحمن</div>
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Batha'a بطحاع</div>
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Dammam دمام</div>
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Dir'iyyah درعيه</div>
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Dirab ديراب</div>
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Dirah ديرة</div>
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Durma ضرما</div>
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Fahd فهد</div>
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Faisal فيصل</div>
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Ihsa إحساع</div>
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Imam امام</div>
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Izdihar اخدهار</div>
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Khaled خالد</div>
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Kharj خرج</div>
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King ملك</div>
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Khoreis خريص</div>
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Makkah المكرمة مكة</div>
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Malaz ملز</div>
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Manfouha منفوحة</div>
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Medinah المنورة مدينة</div>
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Mohammed محمد</div>
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Murabba مربع</div>
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Olaya عليا</div>
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Orouba عروبة</div>
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Prince / Amir امير</div>
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Qasr al Hokm الحكم قصر</div>
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Qassim قصيم</div>
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Riyadh رياض</div>
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Road طريق</div>
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Saud سعود</div>
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Saudi Arabia السعودية العربية</div>
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Suleimaniah سليمانية</div>
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Street شارع</div>
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Sultan سلطان</div>
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Turki تركي</div>
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Wazeer وخير</div>
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<br /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-23418654930816629232012-04-18T16:51:00.000+08:002012-04-25T18:56:45.871+08:00Sky Diving<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<strong>You’re in a perfectly good aeroplane. It’s not on fire and you don’t have to bail out – but you do... </strong></div>
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Saudi Arabia may not be the first place you would think of for recreational aero-sports, but for the past few years the Kingdom has been encouraging private individuals to take up such hobbies as paragliding, paramotoring and radio controlled model aircraft flying, as well as sky diving and the flying of light aircraft.<br />
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It is overseen by the Saudi Aviation Club which was established in 2000 as an independent not-for-profit entity to promote aeronautical science within the Kingdom and to encourage the practice of personal, recreational and sports aviation activities to the highest possible standards.<br />
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SAC also offers skydiving training for the public and this – along with many of the other aero-sports – takes place at the recently refurbished Thumamah Airfield with its 4000-metre long runway. <br />
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A general aviation flight school has been established which provides pilot training to any person interested in becoming a professional pilot, or would like to learn flying as a hobby. It issues private, commercial and Airline Transport Pilot Licenses with instrument and multi-engine rating, and is also authorised to offer refresher courses for holders of private pilot licenses (PPLs) from other countries desiring to fly in Saudi Arabia.</div>
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Anyone interested in joining the Saudi Aviation Club should go to their web site: <a href="http://www.sac.com.sa/">www.sac.com.sa</a></div>
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<em>Thumamah Airport is located some 60kms north of Riyadh, past Janadriyah.</em></div>
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<em>25 13.3’ N; 46 38.2’ E</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-6826752940574458932012-04-18T16:49:00.002+08:002012-04-25T16:38:42.672+08:00Golf<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>It comes as a surprise to many people that despite its desert location, Riyadh boasts five green golf courses and a host of brown ones as well. But the days of individual golfers having to carry around their own piece of astro-turf may soon become a thing of the past.</strong><br />
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Traditional brown Saudi courses are played on sand which has been smoothed with oil. The very first of Riyadh’s green courses opened in 1994 at the Intercontinental Hotel – 9 holes that double up as an 18-hole, 2,219 yard par 55 course. Here you play ‘out’ off the red tees and ‘in’’ off the white ones. Each hole is par 3 except for the sixth which is par 4. Not surprisingly, it tends to get extremely busy at weekends. Further details on 01-465 5000</div>
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Another course can be found right in the heart of one of the most luxurious residential compounds to be found in Riyadh. Arizona boasts 9 holes which double up to a 4,180 yard, par 68 18-hole course. There is a feature lake on the 376-yard fourth par 5 hole and a 24-stall driving range. Non residents can get individual memberships by phoning 01-248 4444 x454.</div>
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There’s a par-3 9-hole course at the Reef club to the north of Riyadh which also has a good swimming pool and clubhouse restaurant. </div>
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To find it you leave the northern ring road at junction 1 heading north. At Al Ammariyah turn left for six kilometers and turn right at the mosque. You will see it signposted eight kms later. Further details on 01-489 0226. </div>
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One of the best of the green courses can be found at Dirab, an hour’s drive from downtown Riyadh at the foot of the Tuwaiq escarpment. With 18 holes, the course is rated par 72 at 6,455 yards. With two lakes and a floodlit back 9, the club is for members only and has very tight security. Further information on 01-498 0018.</div>
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Finally, there is a fifth Riyadh course on the Qassim Road with 18 grass holes. </div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-69605844502947145082012-04-18T16:47:00.003+08:002012-04-25T18:58:16.390+08:00Football<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Anyone who has been in Saudi Arabia during the World Cup will know how football crazy the Saudis are. </strong></div>
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The roads are deserted – as if it were a Friday morning – whilst the entire population is glued to their television sets watching the matches. </div>
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If you have the urge to kick a football around yourself, you will have no difficulty finding someone who knows of a team in need of new players. The expatriate compounds, of course, are focal hubs for ‘friendly’ matches to be played. </div>
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And most Saudi ‘istirahas’ will have their fair share of football games being played in the evenings and weekends.</div>
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If you want to go and watch professional football, there are also ample opportunities to do so. The really important matches are played in the King Fahd Stadium but there are plenty of other stadia dotted around the capital – such as Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium and Al-Saigh Stadium – where semi-professional games can be seen. </div>
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The easiest way to find out what games are being played is to ask virtually any Saudi! But the newspapers on Thursdays also have details.</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-31701282737010606392012-04-18T16:46:00.001+08:002012-04-25T18:59:25.121+08:00Falconry<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>If you get the opportunity to see Falconry in action, you should definitely take it.</strong></div>
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It is a traditional sport with a long history in Saudi Arabia. Originally falcons and saluki dogs were hunted together to supplement the poor diet of the desert people. Because much of the falcon’s traditional prey is now endangered, falconry has been limited and is carefully regulated. <br />
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Wild falcons are caught during autumn migration and are trained for the hunting season that begins in early November and lasts until March or April. The training period may take a month. The falconer swings a bundle of feathers (tilwah) around his head, which he trains the bird to come to. When the falcon lands on it she is rewarded with a piece of meat. Eventually the falcon learns to return to the lure each time she is released. The falconer wears a glove, or dass, over his wrist to prevent the bird’s sharp claws from hurting him.<br />
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When soaring high in the sky, a falcon can spot any movement of the prey more than a mile away. Its sharp prehensile claws and dagger-like beak make it almost impossible for the prey to escape. Well cared for falcons can live for 15 years or more. </div>
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Saker and Shaheen (peregrine) are the two main species used for hunting. The Saker is more popular because it is well suited to desert hawking and has more endurance. <br />
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Some hotels organise falcon parties for visitors but if you go out into the desert you may also come across people flying their birds.<br />
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There is a falcon centre on Imam Saud bin Abdul Aziz Road, close to junction 9, but this is not for visitors – unlike other falcon centres in the Middle East. </div>
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Instead, it is one of the largest medical centres for falcons in the world. Not only do they ‘chip’ birds so they can be traced, but they also repair broken wings and cure them of virus and fungal infections. </div>
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At the time of writing an even bigger facility is being built at Salbukh. <em><span style="color: red;">Does anyone have any further information on this?</span></em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-40543034172958646172012-04-18T16:43:00.006+08:002012-04-25T19:01:22.095+08:00Equestrian Sports<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Throughout the world the Arabian horse is one of the most sought-after breeds. Beautiful, intelligent and loyal, it has a bloodline that dates back thousands of years. </strong></div>
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In Saudi Arabia, owning and breeding horses has always been popular with both city dwellers and bedouin alike. The founder of the modern Kingdom, King Abdul Aziz, owned a famous stable, and the Arabian Horse Research Centre in Dirab owns a breeding stock of several hundred stallions and mares, most of which are descendants of his horses.<br />
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Horse racing used to take place at the old stadium in Malaz, but now it is held most Thursdays and Fridays between September and April at the newer Equestrian Club a few hundred metres north of Janadriyah. <br />
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Although men only can watch from the stands, families are able to watch the spectacle from the excellent restaurant facilities located over the stands. Betting is prohibited. You can telephone 01 254 0222 to get further information. </div>
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If you want to ride, rather than watch others, there are numerous clubs and facilities around the capital, but in most cases you will need to register as a member. The International Equestrian School in Malaz not only teaches people to ride but also puts on horse jumping, polo and other events. <br />
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There’s an equestrian centre, too, at the northern end of the Diplomatic Quarter and you may well see bridleway signs near the perimeter walk.<br />
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<em>The Equestrian Club race track is on the Thumamah Road just north of Janadriyah. </em></div>
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<em>24 58.98’ N; 46 46.97’ E</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-14987863082866712372012-04-18T16:42:00.001+08:002012-04-25T19:03:00.769+08:00Dune Bashing<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Although many of the desert areas outside Riyadh are surfaced with hard rock and rubble, there are some parts both to the north east and to the west which feature the area’s famous red sands.</strong></div>
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Here you will find a number of enthusiasts most weekends driving their 4-wheel-drive cars up and down the dunes – an experience that can be thoroughly heart-stopping and adrenalin pumping at one and the same time!<br />
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Whatever you do, don’t even think about taking your own car onto these sands unless you have been trained in sand driving and you know exactly what you are doing. </div>
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And always ensure that you have at least one other car with you when attempting to drive the sands as you can almost guarantee that at some time or another you will get stuck and will need someone to pull you out.</div>
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The first thing to be done when driving on sand is to lower your tyre pressures. (A good rule of thumb is to use a pressure of around 15psi/100kpa.) This provides a bigger footprint for the tyre and dramatically improves traction.</div>
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When cruising the bigger dunes, you should never try driving down at an angle as there is every probability that your car will roll over. Instead you face the car straight down the dune, hold on tight and experience a mixture of fear, apprehension, laughter, exhilaration and finally accomplishment.<br />
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My best piece of advice, however, is to join a four wheel drive club and to go out with other like minded individuals. One such club has been in existence for over 20 years and you should be able to get an introduction to such people through expatriate contacts, though for security reasons, they tend not to advertise their presence.</div>
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For those of a less adventurous nature, or who just want to experience the sands on an occasional foray, (or for those who love their cars too much to subject them to such conditions!) you could consider a session on a quad bike or trike. <br />
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Almost every sand dune in the vicinity of Riyadh has whole squads of quads and a one hour session will normally set you back around SR100. </div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-92061675942139196012012-04-18T16:40:00.005+08:002012-04-25T19:04:21.287+08:00Cricket<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>If football is the game of choice for most Saudis, then cricket is the favourite for most visitors from the sub-continent.</strong></div>
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Drive round Riyadh any Friday morning and you will see impromptu matches being played in many areas – most notably in the large car parking area next to the stadium in Malaz.<br />
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There have been rumours circulating Riyadh for many years of plans in the pipeline for the creation of a cricket stadium specifically to cater for the needs of the Indians and Pakistanis in particular.</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-1099270695721969572012-04-18T16:37:00.000+08:002012-04-19T21:21:36.947+08:00Camel Racing<strong>Every visitor to the Middle East should ensure that on at least one occasion they should enjoy the amazing spectacle that is camel racing.</strong><br />
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It used to be the traditional desert sport of Bedouin tribes and involved thousands of animals speeding across the open desert. </div>
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Today, the desert racing rules have been modified for modern racetracks, and camel races are held at the King Fahd International Stadium every Monday during the winter months. </div>
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The annual King’s Camel Race, instituted in 1974, quickly became one of the world’s most important camel events. Between 20,000 and 30,000 spectators usually attend these races. </div>
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Camel races are also the traditional start of the National Heritage and Culture Festival at Janadriyah, held every February, when more than 2,000 camels and their riders compete for top prizes. </div>
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A winning camel can be worth many thousands of riyals to its owner and competition between the camel owners is intense. At large meetings camels from other Gulf countries are brought to challenge one another. Huge prizes of cars or money reward the winner. No betting is allowed at the track as Islam prohibits this.</div>
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Camel races are a test of endurance. The tracks are oval shaped and races are usually between 10 to 14 kilometres.</div>
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Before a race, camels are gathered together in huge pens where they are sorted into different categories such as male and female and by age. They will have been exercised every day for weeks before a race to ensure they are in good condition. </div>
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Racing camels are also fed a special rich diet to build up their muscles, but for a few days before each race they are given little food as it is felt they perform better on an empty stomach.</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-56469580689558961642012-04-18T15:06:00.001+08:002012-04-25T19:06:18.785+08:00Pet Souq<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Sometimes in life, things are not always as you would expect. Riyadh’s pet souq could well be a classic example.</strong><br />
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Situated south of the city on the Al Hair road in Aziziyah district, it is a conglomeration of shops with birds of every description, fish in a myriad of colours, as well as other animals, most notably dhab – a large spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptius microlepis) that lives in the desert.<br />
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Think twice, though, about taking children to this souq as some of the animals are not very well looked after and for some it could be a distressing sight.<br />
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In common with many countries around the Middle and Far East, pet birds are often dipped into vats of dye to make their colours stand out; and it’s not even just the plain chicks that get dyed, but even budgerigars and other birds that already possess quite outstanding plumage! <br />
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Dye is even injected into some of the fish! <br />
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If you get to wonder what kind of a pet a dhab would make, you should be aware that they are considered a cullinary delicacy by bedouin and the fact that there is an istiraha (meeting house) for bedouin just eight kilometres down the road might explain the brisk trade in this species.<br />
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For many people, the pet souq may be the only place they are likely to come face to face with one of these amazing creatures. Normally they are spotted in the desert only from a distance and then they will quickly scramble away to the sanctuary of their burrow at the slightest hint of danger. The Dhab may look ferocious but they are really gentle giants and strictly vegetarian.<br />
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That apart, this souq also sells every conceivable kind of cage or tank, sells pet food very cheaply and is a fascinating place to wander around, though photography is definitely not a good idea.</div>
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<em>Go down Batha’a Street and cross over the southern ring road on to Al Hair Road. Come off at the first flyover, turn left under it and then left back north the way you came. The pet souq is on your right hand side. </em></div>
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<em>24 35.2’ N; 46 44.6’ E</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-81125377326977962072012-04-18T15:05:00.001+08:002012-04-25T19:08:34.813+08:00Harraj<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Every Saudi city has its Harraj – or junk souq – and Riyadh is no different in this respect. What is different about this one, however, is that it is likely to be one of the biggest ‘flea markets’ you’ll ever have come across in the world. </strong></div>
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Situated in the district of Manfouha, the souq seems to go on and on for ever. In one area you can buy clothes – a huge selection often in excellent condition for as little as SR1 a piece: anything from tee-shirts to thobes to designer dresses to wedding gowns. <br />
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Move round the corner and you’ll come across washing machines – new and second hand – stretching into the distance, whilst there are areas for pots and pans, carpets, office furniture, computer parts, car bits and pieces – you name it, it has it. It even has a mini-souq for chandeliers!<br />
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Even if you’re not interested in grabbing yourself a bargain, it’s still a fantastic place to explore – especially in the evenings when the place is jam packed with people. <br />
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<em>You get to Manfouha district by driving south down Batha’a Street as far as you can go; just before you meet the southern ring road, Harraj is on your right hand side. Alternatively, drive down King Fahd Highway and at the southern flyovers turn left (signposted Al Kharj). Come off at the second exit (marked for Al Hair) and turn left under the flyover and left again. Harraj is now on your right hand side.</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-59407664767932424272012-04-18T15:04:00.001+08:002012-04-25T19:10:13.721+08:00Gold Souq<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>There are any number of retail outlets for gold across Saudi Arabia, but one of the most popular gold souqs frequented by expatriates can be found in Dirrah. </strong><br />
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Gold jewellery is sold according to its weight, almost irrespective of how much workmanship has gone into the making of it. If the seller mentions the workmanship, he is ‘trying it on’ and you should look elsewhere. Accordingly, before you set off, you should check the local gold rate (look in newspapers such as Arab News) and then keep this figure in mind when you enter the shop. </div>
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Ask the shop assistant what their gold rate is for today and if it is higher than what you have read, tell him what you saw in the paper. If he is negotiable you can then beat that price (especially if you are interested in purchasing more than one piece of jewellery).</div>
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In 2005, new labour laws were introduced making it mandatory for Saudis to be employed in the gold stores. The worst hit were the Indians and the Yemenis, who dominated the scene till the Saudisation drive came into effect to ensure at least 25,000 jobs for young Saudis. Many of the expatriates from the sub-continent had no choice other than to move off to the Emirates and carry on trading from there. Nevertheless, there is still no shortage of gold shops to choose from. </div>
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It is little wonder that the Kingdom's gold market is regarded as one of the largest in West Asia. It is estimated at $5 billion. The country has about 6,000 retail shops with Jeddah dominating with 1,300 shops. Nearly half of the gold shops in the country were, hitherto, owned by the expatriates through Saudi sponsors who shared part of the profits by simply lending their names. These expatriates, in turn, employed their kith and kin and carried on the trade for years. </div>
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It's a good idea to take a Saudi friend with you if you are able as he will often be able to bargain for a much better price for the gold than can a westerner.</div>
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<em>The Dirrah gold souq can be found in Ath Thamairy Street, a stone's throw from the Al Musmak fortress. </em></div>
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<em>24 37.86' N, 46 42.82' E</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-4700060299555963082012-04-18T15:03:00.003+08:002012-04-25T19:10:58.064+08:00Fish Souqs<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>If it’s fish to eat that you’re after, you can buy every shape, colour and description in Riyadh’s plentiful supermarkets and hypermarkets; but take the time to visit one of the fish souqs which are where the discerning chefs head for when they want to rustle up a culinary delight.</strong></div>
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For the more traditional type of fish souq, there is the Murabba central market which you can find just to the north of the National Museum. <br />
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Alternatively try the Souq Al Shamal (northern souq) just one block south of junction 5 of the northern ring road. At both these markets, the fish are really fresh. If you are buying crabs, ask for females as they have more meat on them. And the giant prawns are simply to die for!<br />
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At the Souq Al Shamal you will also find a vegetable and fruit souq as well as another area which sells chicken.</div>
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<em>The Murabba fish market is to be found on the first major road north of the Water Tower entrance to the Murabba Park. 24 39.0’ N; 46 42.6’ E</em></div>
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<em>Souq Al Shamal is in Ibn Seina Street 24 25.6’ N; 46 39.2’ E</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-55825620571306214292012-04-18T15:03:00.001+08:002012-04-25T19:11:52.105+08:00Automobile Souq<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>If you’re after buying a new or second hand car, the chances are that you’ll end up sooner or later on the Khureis Road in the area known as the automobile souq. </strong></div>
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It goes on for kilometre after kilometre, and you will find virtually every type of make and model with which you are familiar.<br />
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Even if you aren’t wanting to purchase a vehicle, go one Friday late afternoon to see the car auctions taking place (but don’t even think about buying from here unless you are very familiar with car maintenance, or have an expert with you!). </div>
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There are normally a good thirty auctions taking place at any one time, with each auctioneer seemingly trying to drown out the voices of his immediate neighbours! If you do want to buy a car, and you have set your heart on a 4x4 vehicle, you will need a letter of authority from your kafil (sponsor) and this will have to be stamped by the police department in Nasiriyah Street – an ‘interesting’ experience for the unwary!</div>
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It normally takes 24 hours to register any car in your name, though, and even if you are buying privately, you will still need to come to the car souq to find a dealer to make the transfer for you.<br />
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<em>The automobile souq extends from junction 13 of the eastern ring road in an easterly direction along the Khoreis Road. </em></div>
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<em>The majority of the second hand dealers are on Abdulrahman bin Abdulateef Street across the road from the Géant Hyper-market. The auctions can be found around the corner from here in an area with numerous corrugated iron partitions that separate off each of the auctioneers. </em></div>
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<em>24 44.12’ N; 46 48.03’ E</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-16078206017521995262012-04-18T15:02:00.001+08:002012-04-25T19:13:36.188+08:00Camel Souq<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>A souq that is guaranteed to bring out the ‘aaaahh’ factor in almost anyone can be found on the Dammam Road, heading east out of Riyadh. A vast area of around five kilometres square is home to the largest collection of camels in the Middle East and is a market that has probably changed little in the last few hundred years.</strong></div>
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Domesticated thousands of years ago by frankincense traders, who trained camels to make the long and tortuous journey from southern Arabia to the northern regions of the Middle East, Ata Allah, or ‘God’s gift’ as the Bedouin call them, went on to become the desert dweller’s primary source of transport, shade, milk, meat, wool and hides. <br />
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But in modern Saudi Arabia, camels are now valued more as thoroughbred racing animals than as the mainstay of transportation. <br />
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Some of the camels are eaten – the young male camel is preferred – a tough meat, but which is quite tasty, and it needs to be well marinated or stewed for some time. </div>
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Camel’s milk is much more nutritious than that of a cow. It is normally drunk fresh, though the warm frothy liquid, heavy and sweet, is usually an acquired taste for the Western palate. (If, when travelling in the desert you are offered a bowl of camel’s milk by hospitable bedouin, do give it a try! You can also buy it from some supermarkets for around SR9 per litre.) Most Saudi Arabian camels are females reared for their milk in dairy herds, whilst the males that are not up to racing standard are culled ready for the pot. <br />
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Many Saudi camels are also kept as pets and live in the enclosures of this souq area. Their owners go out there in the evenings and weekends to spend ‘quality’ time with them, to drink coffee, gossip, and generally hang out with other camel-loving friends, whilst the camels themselves feign indifference in the extreme, wearing<em> Who, me?</em> faces as they stroll around their enclosures. </div>
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You can wander freely around the camel souq, where the locals will be only too happy to show off their prized possessions which come in a variety of colours ranging from off-white to nearly black. (There are seven 'official' colours designated in camel beauty contests.)</div>
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Look for the branding marks, or ‘wusum’, often applied to the camel’s neck, leg or rump which shows ownership of an animal. <br />
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And ladies, try not to be too jealous when you see their double row of long curly eyelashes that help keep out sand and dust! Thick bushy eyebrows shield a camel’s eyes from the desert sun; and when the camel places its foot on the ground its broad, flat, leathery pads with two toes on each foot prevent it from sinking into the sand. When walking, the camel moves both feet on one side of its body, then both feet on the other, suggesting the rolling motion of a boat, explaining perhaps the camel’s ship of the desert nickname.</div>
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Camels have the reputation of being bad-tempered and obstinate creatures, whereas in reality, they tend to be good-tempered, patient and intelligent. Their hearing is acute – even if they choose to pay no attention when given a command. The normal life span of a camel is 40 years, though a working camel retires from active duty at 25.</div>
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<em>To reach the camel souq, take the eastern or northern ring road to junction 8, and continue along the Dammam Road for approximately 10 kms, whence you will see endless camel enclosures on your left. Come off at the next exit, following signs for Thumamah, and the camel souq is on the left hand side of the road. However, be aware that at the end of 2006 a central reservation was made in the road, and this runs for some 9kms before you can turn back on yourself to the camels, so you're probably better off parking on the right hand side and braving the traffic. </em></div>
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<em>Another way to reach the camel souq is from the airport. Take the eastbound road signposted Private Aviation and drive as far as you can go - past the end of the airport runway, right through the check point, across the junction and when you meet the junction at Janadriyah, turn right - past the BAE Systems Salwa compound and keep in a straight line for 20kms when the souq will appear on your right hand side.</em> </div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-11691196204428462722012-04-18T15:01:00.005+08:002012-04-25T19:14:40.735+08:00Batha’a Souq<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Sooner, rather than later, you will want to explore the bustling commercial centre of the old town centered around Batha’a. </strong></div>
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Don’t be put off on your first visit by its grubby buildings and its teeming masses. In fact, it would probably be best to make your first visit here on a Thursday morning when the crowds of people are very much reduced. Go on a Friday evening, and not only will there be nowhere whatsoever to park, but you will hardly be able to move through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds; for this is the time that the place is teeming with people from the sub continent and the Philippines and it will be all you can do to get through the souq, let alone be able to have the luxury of seeing anything!<br />
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The first thing to understand is that the Batha’a Souq area is enormous, but principally it’s divided into three distinct regions with the northern end taken up predominantly with Filipino shops, members of the Pakistani community taking up the central area, and people from India and Bangladesh ‘inhabiting’ the southern end. But of course there are loads of other nationalities all mixing together to make a truly cosmopolitan whole. <br />
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This large souq is also split up into very many smaller souqs; so if you want to buy electrical and DVD items you’d probably head for the electrical souq in the Filipino end. There’s lots of furniture and material to be found in the central area, whilst if it’s gold or household you want, then start at the southern end. <br />
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Need some camping gear, or canvas bags made to measure? Head for the tent souq. Spare wheels or gadgets for your car? Head for the automobile parts souq. Spices and vegetables? There are spice stalls and food markets aplenty. There are also areas devoted to costume jewellery, handbags, sugar cane, bicycles, henna, perfume – just name it and you will find it at Batha’a, often at ‘ridiculous’ knock-down prices. </div>
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Remember that the shopkeepers expect you to haggle down the price of anything they have on offer and the fact is that it is almost impossible to come away from Batha’a without having picked up a real bargain. </div>
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With the dark and narrow alleyways stuffed full of shops it’s very easy to get totally disorientated, and one of the best ways of visiting Batha’a for the first time is to stay in one block of alleyways and to make sure you do not cross a road until you have ‘discovered’ everything within that block. Then as you emerge into daylight, take your bearings and head across a road to the next block and start exploring there. You can almost guarantee to get lost the first time you go there, but after a few visits you start to get your bearings and you will be able to find the particular souq-within-a-souq that you are after.</div>
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By the way, a word to the wise… If you are after a pair of really good walking boots for walking in the desert, you simply cannot beat a visit to the army souq where you will pick up an excellent pair for around SR200. Look for the Suleiman Centre at the southern end of Batha’a and opposite this centre on King Faisal Street you will see lots of army surplus stores. </div>
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<em>Finding Batha’a Souq is very easy. From the Kingdom Centre, go south on Olaya Street, past the Interior Ministry and down King Faisal Street. Pass the Abdul Aziz Historical Centre in Murabba Park (look for the Water Tower) and then at the next traffic lights turn left. The entire area ahead of you is Batha’a.</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-51778600176412521392012-04-18T15:01:00.002+08:002012-04-25T14:02:01.250+08:00Souq Al Adl<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>One of Riyadh’s more traditional and charming souqs can be found in the Hokm Palace area, just along the road from the clock tower near Al Musmak fortress and a stone’s throw from the Dirrah Gold Souq backing on to Ath Thamairy Street. </strong><br />
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As you walk from the clock tower toward the Thumairi Gate, you will pass shops selling aghals (the double rings worn to hold a ghutra or shammal in place) and bashet (the coverall jacket worn by men); and to the right are narrow alleyways that contain an incense souq and an antique souq.<br />
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The incense souq contains stalls selling oudh and bakhoor, frankincense and myrrh – natural ingredients to bring out that classic, pleasant scent of Arabia in your home or office!<br />
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The wood referred to as oudh is Aquilaria agallocha and is also known as Aloes wood, Agarwood and Eaglewood. The scent that most are familiar with is obtained only after this tree has been infected with a fungal infection. Non-infected trees do not produce the highly fragrant oil or wood but the infected tree must be at least 50 years old to produce the oil.</div>
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Saudis burn oudh, which is more expensive than gold, in hand-crafted mabakhir (incense burners) as a gesture of hospitality and respect for guests in their home. It is also used as part of the celebrations following the holy month of Ramadan when some Saudi families burn oudh each night after iftar - breaking their fast and washing - and before going to the mosque to perform the evening prayer. </div>
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Current prices range from SR10,000 up to SR50,000 per kilo for the more rare varieties, and Saudi Arabia is the biggest importer in the Gulf, with nearly 500 tons sold annually. </div>
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Raw oudh – the wood – is used as incense. The oil, called dahn al-oudh, is used as perfume. The best quality oudh wood breaks easily and contains water. This variety will give off the best fragrance when burned and can be recognised by the bubbles that appear. When burned over hot charcoal, solid oudh releases a stronger, but pleasing fragrance.<br />
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Frankincense oil is distilled from the gum resin that oozes from incisions made in the bark of the trees. The oil is spicy, balsamic, green-lemon-like and peppery and is used to modify the sweetness of citrus oils such as orange and bergamot. It is also the base for incense-type perfumes used in masculine scents.<br />
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Walk through the incense souq and you will find another must-visit souq dedicated to antiques. <br />
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Some of these so-called antiques are, of course, nothing of the sort; they are simply goods churned out in Pakistan and Afghanistan for gullible tourists. But amongst them all are some lovely items that make perfect presents to take back home. Look out for henna pots which have multiple compartments and are normally made of brass; or silverware that will fetch keen prices in the west; or even more traditional items such as coffee pots, camel rugs, cooking utensils and traditional jewellery.<br />
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There’s plenty of junk around, but look carefully and you might come across something that really catches the eye.</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-49260634297633558212012-04-18T14:58:00.001+08:002012-04-25T19:23:36.339+08:00Wabha Crater<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Our final trip is nowhere near Riyadh. In fact it’s a crater over 700kms away yet I feel it is worth a mention since not only is it a trip well worth making, but it is also extremely popular amongst the expat community living in the capital.</strong><br />
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You can manage the trip easily in one weekend, and now that there is tarmac road all the way to the very edge of the crater, it is not necessary to take a 4-wheel drive – except perhaps for the very last couple of kilometres if you intend to camp round its sides.<br />
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A GPS unit is very useful for this trip as there are precious few signs to the crater, and it’s easy to get lost when you’re only a few kilometres from your destination! The Wabha Crater should not be confused with the Wabar craters of the Rub’ al-Khali which were discovered in 1932. </div>
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In terms of shear spectacle it sure takes a lot of beating with its 11km circumference standing out against the black lava flows. At the bottom some 400m below you is a white salt bed made up of sodium phosphate crystals. Some liken it to a cross between the Grand Canyon and Death Valley, albeit on a somewhat smaller scale. </div>
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There are two theories as to how the crater was formed. Some believe it came about from volcanic activity in the form of an underground explosion. The rising volcano hit a body of water and the result was a massive explosion which ended up with this big hole in the ground. On one side of the crater lies an ash cone which is all that is left of the volcano. Others would have it that a meteorite struck the region and formed the 3km-wide hole.<br />
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Nearly a kilometre away lies a field of black lava, textured with swirls as if it had been made of molten fudge and it’s here that the best camping sites are to be found. </div>
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If you set off from Riyadh at 7am, you should be at Wabha in the early afternoon – just enough time to walk around the crater (about 90 minutes to two hours) and get some spectacular views before getting back to set up camp before night fall. But do make sure you leave enough time for a mini exploration of the lava fields before it gets dark.</div>
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It’s best to leave an exploration of the crater until the next morning. It can get very hot down there in the afternoons, but even in the morning you should make sure to take plenty of water with you. (The less energetic in the party might prefer instead to hunt around the crater’s edge for ‘desert diamonds’ – obsidian and peridot which sparkle in the angled rays of the sun.)<br />
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From the crater’s edge you should head towards an oasis that you can see some 30 metres below the rim. You can reach it by an easy path that is liberally strewn with cola cans and blue plastic bags. Here you will pass pools of water surrounded by a wealth of palm trees, and this is as far as some people go, since the journey down is a lot tougher after this. </div>
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Another 100 metres further down you come to a near vertical rock face. But if you backtrack for a few metres and move across to the right for another 20 metres, there is a gentle – but well hidden – slope that takes you all the way down to the bottom.</div>
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Once again, the sight that meets you is spectacular. Enjoy it for a while and let your camera snap away freely before the long trek back up to the top. <br />
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<em>You should plan to start off around 7am and drive down the escarpment on the Makkah road. The road leads you past the red sands, which soon turn to yellow around junction 11 and to brown near Jelah.</em></div>
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<em>120kms from Riyadh there’s a great stretch of nothingness ahead of you, except for a double row of pylons stretching into the distance.</em></div>
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<em>But a giant Saudi logo (which, incidentally, looks splendid at night) proclaims the start of the hills once again at Quwayiyah – a pleasant little town close to what look like red slag hills, rich in copper, lead, zinc, iron and manganese.</em> </div>
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<em>The next main town is Ruwaydah, proclaimed to all visitors by a giant rifle flanking the northern side of the highway. (Ruwaydah, by the way, is a popular girl’s name in Arabic which means Walking Gently.) </em></div>
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<em>You keep on driving past the tasteful row of plastic palm trees – green, yellow, orange and red – and on past the pegmatite rocks (microline and quartz) stacked haphazardly one on top of another, and thence into a large stretch of grey-green rocks that then flatten out once again around Barzah.</em> <br />
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<em>Soon you reach Dhalim (strangely the westbound signs read Dhalim whilst eastbound they are spelt Zalim!) which is one of those places that mothers use to hush the errant behaviour of their offspring. Apparently in ‘the old days’ it was a centre for the camel train raiders and even to this day, there are many who hurry quickly past. (Dhalim means ‘revolt’, injustice, or oppressor.)</em><br />
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<em>Almost exactly 600kms from Riyadh, you turn northwards off the Makkah highway at junction 325 (22 20.99’ N, 41 33.19’ E) and on for a good half hour until you see a left-hand turn near Maran at 22 38.11’ N; 41 22.55’ E. </em><br />
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<em>Drive to a cross roads at 22 36.49’N; 41 20.74’E, then head for a right hand turn at 22 51.86’N; 41 06.47’E and hence on to the crater’s edge at 22 53.73’N; 41 07.90’E. </em><br />
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<em>The road nowadays goes all the way to the very edge of the crater; only a set of painted poles and some road bumps warn you not to drive over into the abyss! </em><br />
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<em>The best camp site areas can be found on the west side by going clockwise round the crater for about 2-3kms.</em><br />
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<em>The following day, if you leave Wabha around midday, you should be back in Riyadh around 7pm in plenty of time for the Friday evening rush hour.</em></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-14974566903250381952012-04-18T14:57:00.003+08:002012-04-25T19:25:04.395+08:00Riyadh River<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Whether or not you are an inveterate ‘twitcher’, you are guaranteed to be bowled over by the abundant bird life that can be found close to the ‘Riyadh River’ – also known as the Riyadh Lake District</strong><br />
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The river is, in fact, so-called grey water treated by the city’s sewerage system and running for some 100km away into the Wadi Hannifah and surrounding areas. <br />
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It was first developed around 1983 when the first large sewage plant in the Manfouha district of Riyadh started operating and consequently increasing amounts of ground water were pumped from the city centre. Much of the purification of the grey water is effected by the roots of Phragmites (reeds).</div>
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The Riyadh River is home to a variety of species of herons and egrets in particular. Falcons and kestrel are regular visitors, as are harriers. You are also likely to see bitterns and white-cheeked bulbuls, and if you are patient you might get to see various wintering / migrant birds in season, such as white-tailed lapwing, collared pratincole, and large numbers of steppe eagles, as well as imperial, spotted and short-toed eagles, black kites and buzzards. If you’re very lucky you might even catch sight of a golden eagle. <br />
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These birds bring with them plant seeds from other countries, and to some extent probably fish spawn. Certainly the water is full of fish – in particular Tilapia and Sailfin Catfish.</div>
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Unfortunately, many areas along the river are also home to the ubiquitous blue plastic bag where thoughtless visitors have left their mark for those who follow; but there are still many parts of the river that are unspoilt, and you certainly shouldn’t use this as an excuse not to visit.<br />
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<em>You can see the river meandering along beside the road to Al Hair on the south side of Riyadh. But to reach the main bird areas, you should drive into Al Hair and turn left at the first set of shops. </em></div>
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<em>You need to search for a road heading due east and then carry on for some eight kilometres. </em></div>
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<em>You will see a bird ringing project on your right and soon after there are plenty of places where you can approach the river and park.</em><br />
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</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-37385161808442275302012-04-18T14:57:00.001+08:002012-04-25T19:34:19.271+08:00King Khaled Wildlife Park<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Wildlife lovers should definitely put the King Khaled research centre on their must-visit list, it being a major conservation nature park some 80kms north of Riyadh’s town centre.</strong></div>
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Here you will see a number of animals that you would be hard pressed to see elsewhere – such as Ruppel’s fox, the desert hare, the sand cat and the rock hyrax. <br />
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Pride of place, however, goes to the breeding pens for larger animals which are indigenous to the region – such as Oryx, Desert Rheem, and the Darker Coated Idmi. There are also non indigenous Gazelle, Zebra and Ostrich – the Arabian Ostrich died out in the 1930s. <br />
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Each animal released into the wild has its chromosome pattern recorded in order to ensure that the gazelles of separate species released in a particular area are sufficiently disparate to prevent cross breeding. Many animals also have radio collars fitted so that their success in integrating back into the wild can be monitored.<br />
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In order to visit the Thumamah Research Centre, you need first to get permission from the head office of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development which is located on Khazzan Street near Shamaisi Hospital.</div>
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At its visitors’ centre, you can get detailed information not only about the Centre, but also about other reserves and research centres – including the Ibex Reserve which can be found 300km south of the capital.</div>
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Alternatively, you can ring them on (01) 441 0369.<br />
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<em>You will pass the King Khaled Research Centre if you are heading towards Thumamah Airport and if you’re in luck you might be able to combine a visit to the Centre with some displays of sky diving. </em></div>
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<em>Entrance: 25 11.99’ N; 46 38.42’ E</em><br />
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</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730330570638999303.post-33293209467953038462012-04-18T14:56:00.002+08:002012-04-25T19:35:28.668+08:00Karraragh Waterfall<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Sooner or later, every visitor to Riyadh will find themselves beguiled by the sight of those beautiful red sands lying to the west and north-east of the city. ‘Old timers’ find that it doesn’t seem to matter how often they revisit them; they always captivate the imagination and every time is a pleasure renewed.</strong><br />
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Climbing a sand dune is an experience that is very difficult to describe, and certainly one that is not to be missed. For a start, it’s hard work! You find your leg muscles straining to make ground as your feet slide back into the soft sand and when you reach the top there is the added pleasure of actually running down the steep face with the dune acting as a brake against the force of gravity. <br />
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One of the best places to enjoy the ‘dune experience’ is some 50kms down the Makkah road where the red sands meet the hard rock of the escarpment. Driving there is very easy; you can park on hard rock and be climbing up a high dune in next to no time.</div>
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And when it has rained, there is an added bonus. As water channels its way off the escarpment, it cascades down the rocks as a gushing waterfall into a natural lake, attracting wild life and a mass of green vegetation that weeks earlier would have been unthought of. The Saudis give this area the name ‘Mishash Karraragh’, which roughly translates as ‘the gurgling stream and the marsh’. </div>
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<em>To reach Karraragh, drive down the Makkah Road, through the check point and on to junction 7. Here you turn back on yourself, heading back to Riyadh for a couple of kilometers until you see a garage on your right whose owner must have bought a job-lot of pink paint! </em></div>
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<em>50 metres on (24 26.95’ N, 46 15.38’ E), you turn right onto a tarmac road which twists its way up to and through the dunes. (This road is sometimes closed off, in which case you 'cut the corner' from the garage onto the road 100m further on). You pass a small mosque around 5kms from the main road junction, and another two kilometres on, the dunes on your left fall away, making room for a large plateau of rubble. </em></div>
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<em>Follow the tracks through this plateau area until you come to a very large area fenced off with camel fencing and then follow the fencing counter-clockwise until it makes a right-angled left turn.</em> </div>
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<em>Some 400 metres on from here you will see a track forking uphill to your right away from the camel fencing. Go up this very uneven track and at the top, make a sharp left turn, descending along the established track and following it round until you come to a flat area that has obviously been used by many for a makeshift car park. </em></div>
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<em>From here it is a mere 50 metres to the dunes and to the waterfall rocks of Karrarah.</em></div>
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<em>On your way back, having left the hard top rubble, look for a turning on your right about 2kms on. Down here you can find another lake after it has rained, which makes a pleasant walk in the cooler months.</em><br />
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</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110745443984271087noreply@blogger.com1