Arabian hospitality

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Najran
November 10th 2022

Published: November 10th 2022

My last blog focused mainly on the issues of travelling around Saudi Arabia, when you don't have your own transport, with a few first impressions thrown in for good measure. What it didn't tell about was the people, which is by all accounts probably the most interesting and important part of travelling. The people! Sights can be impressive and awe-inspiring, but it's mostly the little encounters a... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 113, Displayed: 21

Najran

Judgement being pronounced in the state room

Najran

Pulpit inside the mosque

Najran

Looks like a gingerbread house

Najran

Our guide

Najran

Posing in the Yemeni dagger souk

Najran

Making the knives

Najran

Friendly merchant

Najran

Better watch out for this guy, he looks nasty!

Najran

More posing

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View

Najran

Aan Palace, we could only see it from the outside, as it was closed

Najran

Aan palace with the moon

Najran

Al Ukhdood Archeological site

Najran

That's a horse!

Najran

Hoping to find some wine

Najran

Symbols and shapes

Najran

Still much to be done here

Najran

We had it to ourselves

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Dinner invitation

Najran

Good food

Najran

Our host with his son and nephews

11th November 2022

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Baboons!
What a lovely trip to experience with your Mum. Thanks for sharing a little-known part of the world (to me anyway) - your photos are fabulous Ralf. And I had no idea there was a species of baboons native to KSA! Safe travels, Cheers, Ren :)

11th November 2022

His Dudeness
Ralf Kreuze

Thank you.
It's an interesting country, much more diverse then I expected. They don't only have baboons, but also woves, foxes, gazelles and more. But we've only seen the baboons.

11th November 2022

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

Your blog has let the secret out...
Saudi Arabia is so wonderful that soon it will become a major tourist destination. Let's hope not too soon! I can't imagine taxi drivers, who are usually the biggest scammers in any country, offering you free rides. My neighbor is ethnically a Saudi, having been born in the States when his Saudi father was attending graduate school here. He is one of the kindest people I know. I'm glad to hear that he is not an exception. Thanks for posting this blog.

12th November 2022

His Dudeness
Ralf Kreuze

I think...
it will still take some time before Saudi Arabia takes off as a tourist destination. Most people simply don't associate it with tourism. Point in case, when I told people I was going to Saudi Arabia, the most common reaction was: 'what the heck are you going there for?' Thanks for reading and commenting.

12th November 2022

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Arabian hospitality
Thank you for this blog. You say "When you travel, you realise the world, by and large, is populated by good people, not bad", which is our experience also. I do believe that that is the experience if one is respectful and do not look down on the locals among whom we travel. I am reminded of the men who invited me to join them for coffee in Dubai and others in Samarkand, the Tibetan boys who invited our son to hang out with them in Lhasa and the rickshaw driver that Denise & I hung out with for two days in Beijing...no strings attached. What a fabulous time you thus had in Saudi Arabia, Ralf. Being nice to others is actually quite easy for most!

13th November 2022

His Dudeness
Ralf Kreuze

True
If treat people respectfully, doors will open. Just as if you go through life smiling at your fellow human beings, you will get many smiles back and a much more pleasurable experience out of life. A smile, is an extremely efficient and easy way to get things done. You are rewarded ten fold for every smile you give.

12th November 2022

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Thee Ain Village
What a fabulous image Ralf. I am lost for words to describe such a surreal settlement.

13th November 2022

His Dudeness
Ralf Kreuze

Thank you
It's location under those mighty mountains is impressive. When you first glimpse it, your mind goes, 'wow!'

12th November 2022

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Thee Ain
Yet another. Evokes all sorts of meanderings in my mind.

12th November 2022

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

And then there were the doors inviting one within
Fabulous collection that I have posted in TB's "Doors, doors & more doors" thread in the Photography Forum, Ralf. Check 'em out.

13th November 2022

His Dudeness
Ralf Kreuze

Thanks again
It's slightly bigger then the last door of mine you posted on the forum, which was I believe, the fairy house door in Ireland

12th April 2023

Piprey on wheels
Shona

nice
hi, nice to read about jeddah. i also like to travel in local transport. would jeddah and al ula be sufficient for a non Muslim to visit by herself or should one include Riyadh if there is nothing spectacular to see?

13th April 2023

His Dudeness
Ralf Kreuze

Thanks for commenting
In answer to your question. How much time do you have? It's a long way from either Jeddah or Al Ula to Riyadh, so unless you have plenty of time, you can skip Riyadh in my opinion and concentrate on the west coast (Jeddah - Al Ula).

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Arabian hospitality

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