SAUDI ARABIA   INFO & DIARY  1

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; المملكة العربية السعودية, is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula; 80%, with a land area of about 2,150,000 km². There is evidence of human habitation in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back to about 125,000 or even 350,000 years. The present day Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz, who united Hejaz, Najd, parts of Eastern Arabia (Al-Ahsa) and South Arabia ('Asir). The population is estimated to be 27 millions, made up by 90% Arab and 10% Afro-Arabs, all being Muslims.

The geography of Saudi Arabia is diverse, dominated by the Arabian Desert, associated semi-desert, scrubland, steppes, several mountain ranges, volcanic lava fields and highlands. The 647,500 km² Rub' al Khali; "Empty Quarter" in the south-eastern part of the country, is the world's largest contiguous sand desert - strangely enough green on the map, but it is lowland.
The southwest province of Asir is mountainous, and contains the 3,133 meter high Mount Sawda, which is the highest point in the country.

The climate is desert, except for the south-western regions such as Asir, with very high day-time temperatures during the summer and a sharp temperature drop at night.

Saudi Arabia is home to five terrestrial eco-regions: Arabian Peninsula; coastal fog desert, South-western Arabian foothills; savannah, South-western Arabian; mountain woodlands, Arabian Desert and Red Sea Nubo-Sindian; tropical desert and semi-desert.

The wildlife includes the Arabian leopard, wolf, striped hyena, mongoose, baboon, hare, sand cat, and jerboa. Animals such as gazelles, oryx, leopards and cheetahs were relatively numerous until the 19th century, when extensive hunting reduced these animals almost to extinction, and others, like the lions have gone extinct. Birds include falcons, eagles, hawks, vultures, sand grouse, and bulbuls. There are several species of snakes, many of which are venomous.

The plants counts almost 3,500 species recorded in the country, with nearly 1,000 species known from the south-western region of Asir with its higher rainfall. I have set several days off to explore them. To me, the caudiciforms are the most interesting, counting Adenium obesum, Adenia venenata, Atriplex halimus, Ceropegia bulbosa, Cissus rotundifolia, Citrullus colocynthis, Coccinia grandis, Commiphora gileadensis, C. incisa, C. kataf, C. kua, Conium maculatum, Corallocarpus epigaeus, Dipcadi serotinum, Dorstenia foetida, Dracaena serrulata, Eulophia speciosa, E. cuneata, E. longetuberculosa, Ficus glumosa, F. vasta, Ipomoea obscura, Jatropha pelargoniifolia, Kedrostis foetidissima, K. gijef, Momordica balsamina, Moraea sisyrinchium, Moringa peregrina, Pancratium sickenbergeri, Scadoxus multiflorus, Talinum cuneifolium, Typhonium venosum, Umbilicus rupestris and Zehneria scabra.
I am not going to look for any of these specific, bit I hope to stumble over some, while exploring the wild.
I deliberately missed this year's Dakar Rally, just as I get out before the Ramadan begins. No reason to compete on hotels and alike. That said, participating in the Dakar in Argentina was one of the most exiting things I've ever done!

DIARY
16/2 2023. I've been stock in Denmark for more than a year, for the first time since 1973! It is about time to catch a train for the airport and start an adventure!
I choose a night in Budapest, saving €300, instead of hitting Riyadh at 1;30 in the night, despite I saved four hours. I got an E-visa from home, and I can soon find my car at arrival hall, in the late afternoon.

17. I have a long drive op north-west to get to the Red Sea coastal area, but I just lean back, and enjoy the temperature; 16C, the drive and the sun - as long as it last. I do stop to stock some food in a 24/7 mall in Al Majma’ah. The sun is touching the horizon, when I enters, it is pitch dark, when I get back out.
Then follow yet another long stint, this time in the dark on a camel-infested highway. It seems to be fairly flat, but with a few hills and a few lights from remote towns. The Highway #65 is six-lined, smooth and the speed limit is 140 Km/h. I only get flashed by an automatic camera once today...
The pre-programmed GPS is priceless, as the few road-sighs I see, are in Arabic. After 350 kilometres and five hours, I reach my hotel in Buraidah. And it is actually just a pit-stop on the way to the Red Sea; tomorrows stint is 800 kilometres.
The hotels are not exactly cheap in Saudi Arabia: I can find some at $15.000 for a night! I settle for less, and can't complain at all. This two-room apartment is real nice, but a bit wasted for only seven hours of sleep. Cold supper, photos, diaries and a fast shower, then I try to grab some much needed sleep.

18. I wake-up fresh and ready - at midnight. Might as well get a few more hours of sleep, considering I missed last night. Second start, and I make a stop at the first gas station, as it is a hungry beast, I got for a car. I do consider driving a bit slower, despite the stint of the day is 800 kilometres. Then again; the petrol is only €0,59, and diesel €0,19.

The first planned site is found after 370 kilometres of trans-desert driving. However, I have to stop within the huge King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve, which have some amassing rock formations. They bring me right into the world of Wile E. Coyote & The Roadrunner. As expected, the rain six weeks ago have created some real nice flowers on the scars plants.

Then I reach the amassing Jubbah Rock Carvings. It are petroglyphs, dating back to 5500BC. They are found within the Royal Natural Reserve, and fenced in. I find the official hole in the fence, and walk along the smooth paths.
While the ancient graffiti is not that entreating, the rocks sure are. Well, I easily recognise men and many species of animals like camels, lion, man, oryx, gazelle and sheep.

As every time I get close to some local men, they are eager to praise my moustache. A few want selfies, and it is a great ice-breaker. Everyone is so polite and friendly, and love to chat - some even in English.

On the other side of Jubbah, I find the red sand dunes, which I have to see, when I'm here. They are found within the Al Nafud Desert, but not as impressive, as I have thought.
Back through Jubbah, as the GPS don't know any shortcuts, avoiding Hail. I actually drive all the way around the back-side of the huge city. Then I have to gas the car once again, and while I'm at it: Top-up the spare wheel. 

Then I pass through the beautiful Salma Mountains, with more Wile E. Coyote rocks. After Hail, the landscape flattens, and is mainly made-up by flat gravel desert. The Bedouins are here with their tents - or huge campers, along with numerous camels.

After a total of 920 kilometres, I reach the hotel in Al Ula, and I am now close to the Red Sea - if you are willing to call "150 kilometres as the falcon fly" close? I'm going to explore this area for the next two days, and slow down a bit. Noodle cups, as here are only a electric kettle. Added some beans, it is supper.
                     And then the tour continues in Diary 2.