Foto: The traditional architecture (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Saudi Arabia - Just outside the center of Abha lies the Al Nasb district. In this neighborhood, a few houses built using traditional mud-and-stone construction methods still remain. Most of the historical houses are abandoned, and therefore deteriorating quickly. We also visit the Abu Bakr Mosque in this neighborhood. On the edge of town lies the Dabab Walkway. From the boulevard, we have a view over the deep valley, with the peaks of the Asir Mountains rising behind it. When we stop a little further at another viewpoint, monkeys immediately approach our car. A large group of baboons lives here on the rocks. One male baboon jumps onto our hood, looking expectantly for food. Signs clearly request visitors not to feed the animals. The group of monkeys moves across the parking lot, trying their luck at every car. At one pickup truck, they’re already checking the cargo bed before the car has even stopped. We continue driving. At Alogl, we take the turnoff to Rijal Almaa. Large signs warn of sharp bends and that the road is prohibited for trucks—and for good reason. Over a stretch of sixteen kilometers, the road descends steeply with sharp hairpin turns carved into the mountainside. At the bottom of the valley, we arrive in Rijal Almaa. This village, which dates back to the 8th century, is built against a mountain slope. It used to serve as a stopover for travelers coming from Yemen en route to Mecca and Medina. Today, the village’s roughly sixty traditional houses form an open-air museum. We walk among the brown mud-brick houses via stone stairways. The architectural style here differs significantly from the traditional methods used in Abha. Some of the houses are open to the public and have colorful interiors. Artifacts from the past are displayed inside, and daylight streams in through the small white windows. Around the main entrance to the museum, all the houses have been restored. Further back, we find dilapidated structures—sometimes only the walls are still standing, and doors hang crookedly in their frames. These houses will likely be renovated soon as well.
Al Masmak Fort in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia - We continue on to the Al Masmak Fort. Parking here is easier. There’s a parking lot where we can leave the car for a fee. The citadel, made of clay and mud, was built in 1865. In 1902, King Abdul Aziz captured the fort and took control of Riyadh. At ...
Madain Saleh
Saudi Arabia - This morning, we visit the magnificent tombs of the Nabataeans in Madain Saleh. Just before the start of the Common Era, the Nabataeans expanded trade routes from Petra in Jordan. In Hegra—the other name for Madain Saleh—they carved tombs with beautiful ...
The 300meter high Kingdom Tower
Saudi Arabia - From the platform at 200 meters, we have a view over the entire city. We can see our hotel, the fort, the mosque on the edge of town, and directly in front of us, the Kingdom Tower. This skyscraper, shaped like a bottle opener, is the tallest building ...
The historic old town of Jeddah
Saudi Arabia - In the historic old town of Jeddah, many old Ottoman houses still remain—characteristic white buildings with wooden balconies. Some are heavily dilapidated, while others are being restored. The old town of Jeddah has been on the UNESCO World Heritage ...
The rock carvings of Jibal Umm Sinman
Saudi Arabia - Around 12:30, we arrive at the rock carvings of Jibal Umm Sinman. The parking lot is empty—could it be closed? We walk through the entrance into the visitor center. In one of the rooms, two men are sitting on a carpet. “Come in, come in.” As they ...
Wadi Al Disah
Saudi Arabia - We get into the car with Abu. He introduces himself with a longer name but is fine with us just calling him Abu. A cheerful older man. He doesn’t speak a word of English, but that doesn't dampen his enthusiasm one bit. He drives the car through a deep ...