Huge writings on the hillsides gleamed in light. At the border, a few vehicles were waiting at the border crossing to enter Jordan. Coffee shops were busy and there were many police vehicles. But people moved freely, no heavy air of an international border. We stood on the road in near darkness, looking across the sea. Sharm Al Sheikh, Egypt’s jewel, and Palestine looked so
close. We could see the lights. The weight of history seemed to be hanging in the air. The road is about 50 meters above sea level. Children were playing at the seashore. On our return back to Tabuk, most of us were silent. Those countries, so close but so far. History as a theater, its drama, its actors might have been playing in our mind. On the way back from Tabuk, we decided to visit Taima, an important place in old caravan route, 250 kilometers away from Tabuk. Present Taima looked like a sleepy, languid city. Bi’r al Haddaj,
extraordinary well dating back to Babylonian’s time of around 1st BC, is one of the oldest and largest in the Kingdom. The draw wheels for bringing water using camels and ropes are still there. Taima is also one of the largest archaeological sites in the Kingdom. We arrived at the UNESCO world heritage site, Madain Saleh, by the afternoon, traveling 250 kilometers further. Saudi Arabia is a land of prophets and civilizations. There is a huge tourism potential. The Kingdom has built good networks of roads through the deserts. The only thing it lacks is public transports to these historical sites. And most of the visitors are in dark about the importance of these places. HOW TO GET THERE Coordinates: 29° 17' 39" North, 34° 57' 4" East
84 DESTINATION RIYADH DECEMBER 2015