by George Pontino Jr.
The northern part but for the Overseas Filipino Workers or OFW / Filipino community, the southern part is usually a favorite choice for a winter picnic spot. The Al Haeer sand dunes, as a whole, not only offer a picturesque landscape to have some selfie, group picture taking or award-winning photography shots, but the site also serves a place for a picnic ground for the group to cook some barbecue. A reminiscent of a popular outdoor activity in the Philippines where people go to the beach on a weekend and bring some raw meat to be barbecued for lunch. Both places has sand but the other has water. Nevertheless, the place is a perfect getaway for some camaraderie and adventure with friends or families, helping cure homesickness and stress from work in the process. You get to relax and enjoy at the same time. For one, it's accessible and near the city center so traveling isn't a hurdle. And also, there's a bakala (convenience store) and a restaurant near the area. (SEE MAP BELOW)
Note: If you eat there, specially with disposable utensils, just please don't leave your garbage. Bring them home and dispose them properly. Respect nature!
The most popular activity in the area is by renting an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or popularly called a quad bike. You can drive to and fro the dunes that has steep topography and very fine sands. A wrong manuever can possible get your vehicle stuck or can get you to an eventful accident either by falling with your vehicle or get being thrown down by abrupt halt and wrog turn. So, be careful when driving through the crazy horizons and uneven landscapes. The closest hospitals or clinics are miles away.
Meanwhile, the ATV's rent goes up from 50 to 70 saudi riyals per hour when the demand is great; specially when people are coming in droves early in the morning. At 3, in the afternoon, the prize goes down as much as 30 to 10 sar as the number of people dwindle when most of them leave for another place to seek more fun such as the Hidden Valley or Natural Arch in the southern part or just go home before the sun sets.
Sadly, the glorious days of the Hidden Valley is gone. The area seemed to be an apocalyptic wasteland where old tires were thrown in many areas. Graffitis left by visitors are still very visible. The silence is so deafening, too. However, you can still appreciate the mountain formations around the vicinity and it takes a good eye to capture these subjects and still tell an interesting story. The Natural Arch, on the other hand, is located more than 100 kilos away from the red sands, reaching its peak is still worth it. You just need a 4x4 car so you can cross the rocky road towards the natural arch's location.
2. If you decide to drive an ATV, be careful and don't be over confiedent doing some extreme moves, or else, you might end up with broken bones in a hospital.
3. Be careful with your gears such as GoPro, phones and others. Some fast hands might steal them from you in a blink of an eye.
4. You can make the red sand desert as a natural backdrop for your Pre-nuptial wedding photography and videography teasers.
5. Wear your winter garb as the temperature in the place is much colder than in the city.
6. If rain falls move to higher ground to escape flooding.
7. Don't leave your garbage in the area. Dispose them properly.
8. Put off your charcoal fire when leaving and dispose them properly.
9. bring some foldable tables and chairs, tents or mobile rest rooms/covers. The area has no ready huts.
10. Be careful with the camels when you decide to have a photo with them. You might get kicked or stomped. They could be sick too.
11. Pls. don't leave graffitis like "Juan was here" or "Jose loves" Maria on natural rocks or trees.
MORE PLACES TO GO FOR ADVENTURE IN RIYADH:
RED SAND DUNES AND HIDDEN VALLEY IN AL HAEER
WADI NAMAR IN THE SOUTH (SOON)
LOCATION MAP and GPS:
If you're a living and working in Riyadh, you probably know by now that when it starts to rain, it means it's time to have some picnic with friends in Al Haeer (sometimes Al Hair) Red Sand dunes located in the outskirt in Riyadh. But just wait for a week or two before going there as the rain creates life-threaning floods in the "Wadis*".
*Wadi is a valley, ravine, or channel that is dry except in the rainy season.
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*Wadi is a valley, ravine, or channel that is dry except in the rainy season.
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Al-Haeer Red Sands at the outskirts of Riyadh City center
Most of the times, rain signals the upcoming cold spell in the Middle East. Particulary in Riyadh, you will also know that winter is coming as malls start to sell outdoor gears from tents to grilling cookwares to foldable chairs to bags of charcoal by late September or early October. The drop in the weather provides a "more humane" atmosphere compared to summertime's unforgiving soaring celsius. The cold season gives everyone a chance to truly enjoy the Al Haeer's natural desert landscape straight from sunrise to sundown. But of course, the cold can also bring discomfort to the senses. I advice you to bring some proper winter clothing to protect you from the elements. Staying overnight camping atop the desert sand is an option and you need a campfire to keep you from freezing. (SEE SOME HELPFUL TIPS BELOW)
All-Terrain Vehicles for rent. Quad biking is fun yet risky.
Note: If you eat there, specially with disposable utensils, just please don't leave your garbage. Bring them home and dispose them properly. Respect nature!
WATCH THE AUTHOR'S ORIGINAL MUSIC CALLED DIWATA WITH AN "UNOFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO" SHOT
IN THE AL HAEER
IN THE AL HAEER
RED SAND DUNES AND HIDDEN VALLEY
DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE TO THE AUTHOR'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
The most popular activity in the area is by renting an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or popularly called a quad bike. You can drive to and fro the dunes that has steep topography and very fine sands. A wrong manuever can possible get your vehicle stuck or can get you to an eventful accident either by falling with your vehicle or get being thrown down by abrupt halt and wrog turn. So, be careful when driving through the crazy horizons and uneven landscapes. The closest hospitals or clinics are miles away.
Meanwhile, the ATV's rent goes up from 50 to 70 saudi riyals per hour when the demand is great; specially when people are coming in droves early in the morning. At 3, in the afternoon, the prize goes down as much as 30 to 10 sar as the number of people dwindle when most of them leave for another place to seek more fun such as the Hidden Valley or Natural Arch in the southern part or just go home before the sun sets.
The Hidden Valley during its glorious days
Sadly, the glorious days of the Hidden Valley is gone. The area seemed to be an apocalyptic wasteland where old tires were thrown in many areas. Graffitis left by visitors are still very visible. The silence is so deafening, too. However, you can still appreciate the mountain formations around the vicinity and it takes a good eye to capture these subjects and still tell an interesting story. The Natural Arch, on the other hand, is located more than 100 kilos away from the red sands, reaching its peak is still worth it. You just need a 4x4 car so you can cross the rocky road towards the natural arch's location.
So close with a dromedary
HELPFUL TIPS:
1. If you have a DSLR camera with multiple lenses, try to change lenses inside a car where you're gears are safe from fine dusts.2. If you decide to drive an ATV, be careful and don't be over confiedent doing some extreme moves, or else, you might end up with broken bones in a hospital.
3. Be careful with your gears such as GoPro, phones and others. Some fast hands might steal them from you in a blink of an eye.
4. You can make the red sand desert as a natural backdrop for your Pre-nuptial wedding photography and videography teasers.
5. Wear your winter garb as the temperature in the place is much colder than in the city.
6. If rain falls move to higher ground to escape flooding.
7. Don't leave your garbage in the area. Dispose them properly.
8. Put off your charcoal fire when leaving and dispose them properly.
9. bring some foldable tables and chairs, tents or mobile rest rooms/covers. The area has no ready huts.
10. Be careful with the camels when you decide to have a photo with them. You might get kicked or stomped. They could be sick too.
11. Pls. don't leave graffitis like "Juan was here" or "Jose loves" Maria on natural rocks or trees.
MORE PLACES TO GO FOR ADVENTURE IN RIYADH:
RED SAND DUNES AND HIDDEN VALLEY IN AL HAEER
WADI NAMAR IN THE SOUTH (SOON)
LOCATION MAP and GPS:
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