Bedouin camps, date farms and sand dunes

I traveled out into the desert again this weekend to continue the search for the perfect dune. The sand boarding, despite not having the proper gear, is going pretty well. We are still using the old skateboard and waxing it with candles as we haven't yet decided what would be the best gear.  It is looking like an old snowboard may be the solution. Our biggest problem currently is too much friction. We make good progress until the wax wears off. No matter what we do, we bog down at almost exactly the same spot every time. The board just stops sliding. So, more surface area, slicker surface and bindings to allow for better control and carving may just do the trick! So you have an idea of what looking for a dune consists of, it is literally a visual recon using google earth to look around the desert for wrinkles. Upon finding one, we program the latitude and longitude into the satellite navigation and drive to the spot.  

This is a satellite image of the dune we drove to this weekend. The blue dot is us making progress along the route and the dune is the wrinkle at 12 o'clock in the photo. The ripples around it are all of the smaller dunes surrounding the big one. As you can see, there isn't much else out there!

This is the turn off into the desert from the main road.

First sighting of the dune

Getting closer

The hike in

The summit from part way up

These are the little dunes that look like ripples on the satellite photos

Living the adventure sport dream out here...sort of...I think the nature of female attire is frustratingly limiting when it comes to sport. I feel empathy towards the women who spend their entire life this way. 

So the next set of photos are random shots as we headed out to the outskirts of Riyadh. Every day is an adventure here.  The roads are a zoo and the bedouins set up camp wherever they please along side the roads. Additionally, people pull huge trucks over loaded with goods and sell stuff so this makes everything even more clustered.  It is entertaining just driving around. I see an accident, no kidding, close to once a day.  Some more serious than others but there is usually at least a fender bender. The camps are pretty amazing. They just choose a spot and set up camp. There are huge tents and strings of lights, plus pens for the camels. Apparently the tents have rugs and cushions inside and are quite comfy. My goal is to get inside one at some point. I have been told that they are very friendly people if you happen to bump into them but I can't see myself walking into one of these camps. Some of the establishments out in the desert are more likely as I can get close. I keep hoping to see someone outside and then I will wander over to take photos and say hi. 

This is a soccer stadium that is all tented. It is pretty cool architecture and the games are good...but...I won't be watching one...the lady factor comes into play again...

This is not uncommon to see on the roads. 

Riyadh trucks make Sanford and Son's look empty!!!

These are hooked in with a strap over the top. I prefer to not ride within close proximity

Yup, sheep

If it fits, it goes! I am waiting for the opportunity to see how they load these guys. I've only ever seen them already in the truck. Not the mechanics behind the operation.

Including people. It was about 111 degrees and these guys are in full suits. No joy for them

The next photos are some of the side of the road sales opportunities.  You will see what a zoo it can be.  Lots of hay and what appear to be building supplies are sold this way. Plus bundled firewood.

Bundles of firewood

more firewood

And yet another guy selling wood

The next photos I love. They are of much more established camps out in the desert. They have lovely architecture and also beautiful tents.

This is the gate to one of the camps

Tent

Camp from a distance so you can see the size of it

This is a shot of an entire camp. You can see the tents in the distance, some trucks and the camels laying down in the foreground. They push the sand up around the edges to serve as a flood block when it rains.

This was where a camp used to be, you can see the pushed up earth 

Following are photos of buildings that I liked. I have absolutely no idea why they are out there and don't look as if anyone has used them in a while but I found them appealing.

                          

The sand was blowing so this is hard to see but the land changes from red sand to brown, rocky earth at this escarpment. I haven't often see landscapes have a line of demarcation like this. There is generally a more gradual change. It reminds me of cliffs with water at the bottom. Similar dramatic difference

Camel and date farm

Date palms to the right

From a distance to include the whole farm in the photo. They are pretty big. And I want to know how they water the date palms out there.

This thing has water pouring out of it, no idea from where it comes. Maybe underground springs?

This is another one, I didn't see camels here, only date palms

I love these tall buildings. They make them square and round. I'm sure they have a purpose...I'm still finding people to ask these questions of

Another one of the tall ones.  The holes don't really look like windows. They appear to be relief cuts in the side of the building but not all the way through the thickness.  

Embassy Party

Oh, I'm a happy girl! They had a pig roast. The party was a lot of fun! It was outside in a courtyard area and was well decorated. They had tiki torches all around and as table centerpieces. Also, on the tables were sand and shells. It was quite pretty. White table clothes and proper napkins and silverware. 

The spread of food was incredible! They had quite a few carving stations, including the pig roast and then hot stations with fish, pigs in blankets, meatballs and spring rolls to name a few. Additionally there were tons of different salads. Potato salad with BACON bits, a few different pasta salads, ambrosia and lots of veggies. Then you move to dessert, yay! There was probably 20 different options. I had four! Pecan pie, spice cake, coconut mousse and the loveliest profiteroles drizzled with chocolate.

There was a DJ who began the evening playing ukulele music but segued into traditional American dance music as the evening progressed. Typically, after a few beverages, everyone ended up on the dance floor! There were people of all nationalities and everyone was open to meet new people. 

I exchanged contact information with a few people and look forward to some new adventures in the future! I had to shake myself a few times when I remembered that I was having this experience in the middle of Riyadh. It felt like a wedding at home where I didn't know too many people. 

I've been told the French embassy hosts fabulous gatherings, as well and think I have a contact to let me know when they happen. On to the next adventure. Let the dream continue!

Le Chateau

I haven't posted in a while and have a lot to share.  I think tonight will just be photos of the restaurant that I went.  Firstly, I am terrifically pleased with the people in my compound.  I specifically didn't want to be placed in an American compound here as it seemed rather boring.  Especially as the majority of my friends in the states aren't from the states. I figured I didn't need to travel this far to meet a bunch of Americans.  So, this one leaves something to be desired in terms of size and amenities but it has a nice mix of people. I am really pleased to have fallen in with a fun group!  It consists of folks from the UK, Mexico, India, Venezuela, Canada and South Korea.

Tonight we went to dinner at a restaurant named Le Chateau. As I am sure you guessed...it is Chinese and Italian food...haha, this is not surprising in Saudi. Anyway, we ate on the second floor, which is Chinese food but we had a tour afterword to see the entire restaurant as it has many different themed rooms.  We passed through the Italian kitchen and they were making homemade pasta and hanging it to dry. Yum!

The restaurant is one of those incredible experiences that you won't have in too many places. Maybe Vegas or Dubai. It is over the top in so many ways. It is huge, and every room and hallway is different and more exotic than the last.  I can't begin to imagine what it cost to build. And tonight is a weekend night here and it was practically empty of customers yet still full of staff. Cheap labor wins the day here!

Tomorrow night is the party at the US Embassy. It is a Hawaiian Luau theme and promises to be a lot of fun but you aren't allowed cameras or phones in the embassy so I won't have any photos of that one.  It will be a properly fitted out party, though, which will be a nice treat.

Main dining area, had these huge chess pieces around, no idea why.

This light fixture is incredible, it is probably 10 feet long.
This is the top of it.

This is the bottom. It is hanging glass balls

They bring you a basket so your bag doesn't sit on the floor

Outside, from the back. I don't have the front, wish I did as it was reflective glass tiles in green and purple set in a diamond pattern

Entry way is to the side, this is some of us walking in, well adorned in our abayas, of course. 

Part of the main dining area. The central section is a sushi bar

The below ground level bar. These are giant drinks containers with spigots on them. You can order them with a multitude of flavors of sparkling fruit punch!

One of the dining rooms. It is hard to see but the seats each have a lambs wool draped over them and the table is marble

You walk through a British red telephone box (complete with phone) to get to one of the rooms

I have been told that each of the WC's is different. I only felt the need to visit one.

Each dish came out on a warmer which was nice

I love this room.  The table is stunning and the wall had a large map of the world cast in metal. It was quite pretty

Part of the downstairs bar area. The cars are billiard tables and the purple fans are spinning, no idea why, I think just decorative

These are both the escalator in the entry way

Playing video games in the downstairs bar. It was fun, they were all set on free play!

Yet another dining table

This housed the elevator

More video games!

In addition the chess pieces were these large horse sculptures

Still more video games. The motorcycle one was a bit dizzying

Private dining rooms (Saudi ladies can take the veil off in these) that looked like a train. If you put your hand in the lower lit up circles, the doors slid open