Sandstorm in Riyadh

I was in work this afternoon (Saturday starts the week here in Saudi) and I turned to look out of the window of my office which is in downtown Riyadh and suddenly the day had turned to night. In the space of less than five minutes a sandstorm had swept in and visibility on the road outside was 50m at most. In twelve years in the Gulf I've never seen a sandstorm like it.

Here's a photo from my phone.

Pots and pans

As you drive into Sakaka the provincial capital of Al Jouf province in Saudi Arabia you are welcomed by a rather strange site. A very large coffee pot.

As you get closer you appreciate just how large the pot is.

In the town itself there is also a rather dreadful example of roundabout art.

Za'abal Castle, Saudi Arabia

Za'abal Castle is a mud walled castle set on a hill high above the city of Sakaka in northern Saudi Arabia.

The holes in the walls are for firing arrows through but as the walls are made of mud I should think the attackers would do enough damage by using hoses to wash the castle away.

There is a large basin carved out of the rock to catch and store rainwater in times of siege.

I think you'd have trouble dislodging defenders from the castle, but then again why not just leave them there?

Marid Castle

Marid Castle is on the outskirts of Dawmat Al Jandal in northern Saudi Arabia.

The castle walls are made of mud which gives it a real organic look and reminded me of something from Lord of the Rings.

For anyone wishing to visit Marid Castle it is located in Dawmat Al Jandal at 29° 48' 41.21", 39° 52' 02.42" and is signposted (in arabic) through the town. It is free to enter but you may be asked to pay SAR20 to look at the rather tatty 'museum' by the entrance. There's a small archaeological museum on the other side of the car park.

Arabia's Stonehenge

On a hot, dusty hillside on the edge of the Nafud Desert in northern Saudi Arabia is what the locals call 'Ar Rajajil'... 'The Men'.

I flew up there last weekend from Riyadh to have a look around.

Known as the 'Saudi Stonehenge' the site comprises about fifty sets of sandstone pillars.

Archaeologists think the pillars were erected about 3,000 years ago. They have excavated below the stones and found no votive offerings. So they are not really sure what their purpose is.

I arrived on site shortly after dawn. And you can see that every set of stones is set facing towards the rising sun. 

The most famous set of stones are these and they would make a great symbol for the Saudi Tourist Board.

For anyone wishing to visit...

The site is at 29° 48' 49.31", 40° 13' 11.28". The gate seems permanently locked but there is a hole in the fence to the left. From the airport at Al Jouf take the road to Sakaka and take the first right immediately after the ARAMCO distribution plant. The site is signposted on the right after about 3 kms.