Riyadh hit by a Sand Storm

We had scant warning of the sand storm roaring down upon Riyadh from the north coming out of the Qassim area. This massive front of brown dust and fine sand just filled the sky over 1000 meters high. If you remember the sand storm in the movie 'Hildalgo', you have an idea what very quickly enveloped us. This picture is taken from high up in the tallest building in Riyadh with King Fahad highway on the left and Olaya Street on the right with streams of cars heading right into mother natures best.

About 5-seconds after the picture above.

This next picture shows a wider view on the left. The we come to be best.


The above is what we saw from any window for the next 4 to 5 hours beginning aroung 11:15 AM before the fine dust started to disapate enough to see more than 50 meters in any direction. Accidents galore occured in minutes. People found safety by heading in-doors and staying in-doors. We all basically ducked for cover and sat out the afternoon and night. If there was a crack anywhere in one's home, the dust found it and made a nice trail inside leaving a fine coating on our tile floors. If by drawing the curtins we still found some fine dust near some windows and both doors, but we could breath and slept well while the storm blew itself out.

The 'Edge of the World' is a popular sight seeing point of interest northwest of Riyadh. As you approach the edge of the escarpment running nearly south to north through a wide valley laced with Acadia trees along the wadi that winds its way you soon see a notch in the escarpment wall and are wowed by the view looking west. The drop off is over 300 meters down to the next valley floor with numerous wadis heading off into the distance. At the edge of our view is the town of Al Barrah and the remains of an old sandstone Turkish fort nearby complete with a deep well, a guard tower, and a few old farms.

This gives one a view along the escarpment wall looking south.

If you look closely you'll notice the clothing is snug in front and flapping in the back. The wind was blowing over 40km/hr and facing the wind head on has its own fun. Hence, we stayed clear of the edge itself to be on the safe side. Little flakes of sand would tingle as they struck us directly in the face or any exposed flesh. Marie is just laughing standing asking me to take the photo shot quickly.

Now what is Mick doing. Oh yea, taking a GPS coordinate. Perhaps we are not at the right spot. Nah, we are at the right spot and the YM in our ward are making a trail to the bottom and back up. Three car loads from our ward made the 2-hour trek from Riyadh. The last 1-hour was over the rough teraine suited best for the 4-wheel drive vehicles in which we travelled. The YM group stayed much longer taking a 10km hike while our vehicle headed back to Riyadh to enjoy the remaining hours of our Thursday afternoon.

Shopping with Marie in Khobar

Now this nondescript looking building houses one of Marie's favorite shopping stops in Khobar, Saudi Arabia known simply as Al Mushiri by one and all. On the outside it looks like many stores selling clocks and watches. but inside, it is much more.

Inside is a different story. Bernina is present and the main attraction for Marie, who brings newbie's here for a sewing experience par excellence. When in Khobar, one always stops in for a refreshing look around and to pick threads and "you name it." Marie is truly in her element.

Dinning Out in Riyadh

This may not look like a restaurant, but is one the most interesting ones in Riyadh. It is called the 'Nadj Village' and features wonderful traditional Arab cuisine served in private rooms for up to 16 people complete with a small firepit with cushions on the floor along two walls. Hope you are ready for lots of sitting, because there are no chairs. This is totally native style.
The building style is quite common even today in the Asir region in the southwestern mountain, an area rich in native industry like basket weaving and jewery manufacturing. It is also a favorite vacation location during the hot months as the average temperature rarely exceeds 85 F. At night, as you will notice, these buildings really stand out when lights are blazing in the windows. They can be seen from afar and tend to give the illusion of floating in the air because the lower windows are covered at night so no light is shown.
This is also the most likely area where Nephi broke his steel bow and is the only area where suitable wood is available to make a new bow.

Winter Back Home

Snow in our back yard with our 'old gizzer swing' sitting forlorn without Boppi and Hamma to sit and swing with the grand kids.

Christmas Season In Saudi Arabia

We organized a field trip out in to the desert country west of Riyadh during our Hajj Eid break (mid December) and guided a group of families in our ward who had not visited 'standing stones'. Above is a picture of us leaning against a set of the taller stones. Everyone enjoyed the trip and seeing areas of the country not frequently visited and definitely not on the sightseeing tour. This site is about 1-hour outside the city below the escarpment and past some of the better ATV desert tracks through the reddish sand dunes. Unless one has a GPS or has been there before, this place is not easily to find. Once we reach a convenient parking location as close we can come to the actual site, we have to foot the rest of the way but first must snake ourselves under a newly installed chain link fence and walk about 300 meters out on to the flat planes. These stones are are nothing but stand stone slabs arranged in a semi circle with the remains of a small building at the epicenter.
Now here is real desert: sand or sand stone, little to no vegitation, no trees, no buildings, and few tents. The weather was perfect for picture taking: mid 60's.

Europe - Day Four

Day Four – 27 Sep 2008 – Castle Day

This was a day all four of us had looked forward to. Even though we had all been in this area before, Marie is the only one who had been to Neuschwanstein Castle.

We toured the lower castle first – Hohenschwangau – and then hiked up the mountain to tour Neuschwanstein Castle.

Taken from a postcard of Neuschwanstein Castle.

Diane and Marie waiting for tour to begin.

This is a bridge that is behind Neuschwanstein Castle. After the tour, we walked up to this bridge.

Mick on bridge behind Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein - "New Swan Castle" - You must have swans at the swan castle.

After touring Neuschwanstein we drove to the Linderhof Castle- another of “Mad” King Ludwig’s castles. Here we are on the grounds of Linderhof Castle.


Upon returning to Reutte to our hotel, we came across these street performers. I mean this literally as the parade was going right down the street we needed to go on. It was Oktoberfest in Germany. There were 5 or six perfomers walking and dancing on stilts and 2 marching bands dressed in traditional Bavarian costumes.