Park for Rose Festival in Ta'if

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Top Sights in Ta’if “City of Roses”

“I stand out from the crowd because I stand out from the crowd. But no-one stops to notice me, in over-crowded London” – Jonny Blair Poetry. Cities that are given random titles and monikers rarely live up to expectations. Don’t expect me to glorify excremental joints such as Venice (city on the water), Paris (city Read more about Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Top Sights in Ta’if “City of Roses”[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: Top 7 Non Alcoholic Beers in Saudi Arabia

“Work is the curse of the drinking classes” – Oscar Wilde. While backpacking in Saudi Arabia recently, I realised it was one of the rare countries I visited where I didn’t consume any alcohol. This is due to the strict law – alcohol is simply forbidden here and will result in imprisonment, fines or expulsion. Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Top 7 Non Alcoholic Beers in Saudi Arabia[…]

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: The Train Journey From Hail to Riyadh

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: The Train Journey From Hail to Riyadh

“Grimsby Town don’t even play in the town of Grimsby!” – Every football fan! So another train journey and I love them. This one, in Saudi Arabia. Hail Train Station, Saudi Arabia Hail Train Station, Saudi Arabia just reminded me of over elaborate, middle of nowhere train stations in China. Shaoguan sprang to mind, I Read more about Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: The Train Journey From Hail to Riyadh[…]

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Top 12 Sights in Jeddah

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Top 14 Sights in Jeddah

So I spent 10 days in Saudi Arabia backpacking in April 2018 as part of a Business Trip with Young Pioneer Tours. My friends, family and followers were unsure if I would still find time to explore these places and go backpacking in the country as I was here on business. Well, I milked it Read more about Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Top 14 Sights in Jeddah[…]

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Mashar National Park and Tawarun

“Ridahah Ridahah ” – Arabic Desert Song. While based in Hail City in Saudi Arabia we did two day trips out into the remote desert. The first of these included an ancient dwelling place and a hike. This hike brought reminders instantly back from my 2013 adventure to Jordan. On that trip I celebrated 10 Read more about Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Mashar National Park and Tawarun[…]

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Touring Jubbah and Jebel Umm Sanman Petroglyphs

“Ridahah Ridahah ” – Arabic Desert Song. While based in Hail City in Saudi Arabia we did two day trips out into the remote desert. The second of these days was a trip to the historic settlement of Jubba, Jubbah. I had never heard of Jubbah before! In fact some of us knew only of Read more about Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Touring Jubbah and Jebel Umm Sanman Petroglyphs[…]

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Touring the Rashid Husain Al Qorashei Rose Farm and Factory in Taif

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Touring the Rashid Husain Al Qorashei Rose Farm and Factory in Taif

  “I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey” – Seal. After attending the Hotel Conference in the cool city of Jeddah, we headed inland to the famous city of Taif. Taif is often dubbed the “City of Roses” and it isn’t hard to see why this title has been allocated Read more about Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Touring the Rashid Husain Al Qorashei Rose Farm and Factory in Taif[…]

World Borders: Muslims Only - The Fork in the Road Near Mecca, Saudi Arabia

World Borders: Muslims Only – The Fork in the Road Near Mecca, Saudi Arabia

“Another turning point; a fork stuck in the road” – Green Day. This is a world border which is slightly different to those in my normal World Borders series, as whether you enter this border or not depends solely on one thing – if you are a Muslim or a Non-Muslim. I am a Non-Muslim Read more about World Borders: Muslims Only – The Fork in the Road Near Mecca, Saudi Arabia[…]