I was in Bahrain last weekend along with many Saudi families. My reasons, however, for visiting the island were totally different from theirs. You see, I spent my childhood in Bahrain and it always seems the perfect place to go when I need a break from work. The small beautiful island welcomes all its visitors just as it has done for hundreds of years. It has always been a place of peace and serenity and if you go to the museum, you will find that the old name for Bahrain was Delmon — which supposedly means “land of eternal peace.”
Traveling is something I became addicted to a long time ago and I never wanted to settle in just one place even if others saw it as heaven on earth. My feeling is that by traveling you learn so much and claim what is your birthright to the entire planet. I just wish we did not need passports and visas which are, after all, fairly recent requirements. Nowadays with advanced technology in travel we are more restrained than ever. I would like to see travel free of most control so that once again, we could concentrate on the real frontiers.
Dear Nadia, What are the must see places in Saudi Arabia. I am joining my husband in three months and I have a lot of time.
— Boston Mass.
* Saudi Arabia is a vast and diverse country — it’s almost a continent in itself. Unfortunately, many expatriates come and go without seeing it. Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran are big cities but are not really tourist destinations. If you are free to travel around, then you have two choices — arranging trips through hotels inside Saudi Arabia or through your company; many companies such as Aramco do. The first must see is Madain Saleh north of Madinah; it is home to 131 tombs, 45 of which carry inscriptions in late Aramaic scripts. A permit is required to visit but is not difficult to get. The Nabateans who created the astonishing city of Petra in Jordan also built Madain Saleh. Another must see is the giant oasis of Hassa in the Eastern Province. It is considered the largest oasis in any desert and it is on the outskirts of what is called in Arabic the Rub Al-Khali or in English, the Empty Quarter, a vast desert that covers the southeastern quarter of the Kingdom. The oasis is famous for its natural earth wells and the millions of date palms that farmers cultivate. If you want a real Saudi gift, there is nothing better than dates from Hassa. The oasis is also famous for its ancient natural caves. There is also a camel market which is a colorful and fascinating place to visit. And of course, if you are Muslim, there is Makkah, the holiest site in the world for Muslims. Only Muslims are allowed there and during the annual Haj (the pilgrimage) some three million people stream into the city. Another destination is the Asir Mountains in the southwest, in and around the city of Abha. Cool, green, rainy and nothing like the desert images of Saudi Arabia. Not far from humid Jeddah on the Red Sea is the city of Taif, also popular for its cool weather and greenery. Beware of the monkeys and baboons there as they are used to people and will snatch items from your hands — perhaps a lollipop from a child or, by mistake, a finger. There are also some small museums — not to mention the big ones such as the Masmakh Fortress in Riyadh and the King Abdul Aziz Museum. And if you love the outdoors, make sure you make some trips into the desert.
— Got a question? E-mail Nadia at [email protected].
