United Arab Emirates

BAHRAIN: (2 days: sightseeing of the island with Bahrain Fort, grave-mounds and excavations of an old settlement guarded by military at Sarr Village, Royal Tombs at A’Ali, the seat of the emir in Riffa, oil wells, first oil in Bahrain was found in 1931, sightseeing of Manama, the capital of Bahrain), flight to
QATAR: (1.5 days: sightseeing of the island with some dune riding and BBQ in the desert, in the evening by myself on foot through Doha, the capital), flight to
DUBAI (UAE). Here I and two others rent a car with a driver to quickly visit the rest of the emirates which form UAE. Driving from Dubai to Sharjah, then Ajman, followed by Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and the last one the emirat Fujarah at the Bay of Oman.

Travel office: Bestway Tours & Safaris (through independent agent Chris)
Who took part: 8 travelers, leader from Bestway and local guides

On Oct 25 we leave Dubai by plane via Bahrain and land in the capital of SAUDI ARABIA, Riyadh. The following day there is sightseeing of this modern 4 million people city. In the morning we visit Masmak Fortress built in 1865. In 1902 it was conquered by ibn Saud and so the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was started. Then a visit to a souq (market), a modern museum showing a history of the Arabian Peninsula and another one devoted to ibn Saud. After siesta we drive outside Riyadh to the town Dir’Aiyah, the place the Saudi family came from.

On Oct 27 we take a train through a flat desert east to Hofuf. This city is in the biggest oasis in Saudi Arabia with 1.5 million date palms. Here we get a police escort. We take pictures of a fortress called Ibrahim Palace. Then a drive outside the city to the Al Gara Mountain. It is a sandy formation with caves. Back in Hofuf a visit to a ceramic factory. Next day, after visiting a date souq, we drive to the city of Dhahran a see an Aramco museum. It explains everything about oil. Then we continue to city of Dammam on the Persian Gulf (the Arabs call it the Arab Gulf). Here is an interesting museum of excavations of cultures on the Arab Peninsula. In the afternoon a flight from Dammam via Riyadh to Sakaka in the northern part of Saudi Arabia.

We reach Sakaka very early on Oct 29. It is another oasis. In the morning a visit to Qasr Zabal fortress, a Nabataean well, an artificial lake and a place where an oil is pressed from olives. After lunch a nice museum in a town Damat Al-Jandal and Qasr Marid fortress. Another stop is at Rajajil Standing Stones. There is Talmudic script on them and they could be as old as 2000 BC. Later we visit a house of a policeman and also of our local guide for tea and coffee. After a night in Sakaka we leave the town next morning. Today we drive some 400 km to Hail. At noon we see rock carvings mostly as old as 5500 years BC (acc. Lonely Planet) some 100 km from Hail. In Hail itself we visit a Qashla Fort and are overnight. On Oct 31 we leave Hail. There is another 400 km west to the town Al-Ula. All the time we have the police escort. In Al-Ula we visit the old town built from mud. Next morning we see an old Nabataean city Madain Saleh, out of which only tombs chiseled from rocky mountains are left. In the afternoon we enjoy driving on dunes among rock outcroppings in 4WD vehicles.

On Nov 2 we drive from Al-Ula south another about 400 km to Medina. Medina is the second most holy city of Islam and only Moslems can enter it. So we drive on a highway at its perimeter. For non-Moslems there are signs in Arabic and English not to turn right into the city. We go to the airport, which is outside Medina. After a short flight we land in the second largest city of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah at the Red Sea. It is home to 3.5 million inhabitants. Next morning there is a visit to a fish market with all kinds of fishes including sharks. From there to the nearby Old Town Jeddah. Its narrow streets are one big souq (market). Most of its houses are in a pitiful shape. Exception is a Naseef House with a small museum. After siesta we visit a museum of a man who collected everything. Then to a mosque built on the bay above water near the shore.

On Nov 4 a flight from Jeddah south to Abha, which is 2200 m above the sea. After siesta a sightseeing of the city. Next day drive into the mountains to 2717 m a.s. From there by a cable car down to 1534 m a.s. and by bus to a village Rijal Alma with houses 400 years old. In the afternoon by a different cable car to another village, where people used to get on a rope. They hid there from Turks. While driving back to Abha we take pictures of hamadryas baboons in one place and made a stop in the city Khumis Mushait.

On Nov 6 a drive over the rocky mountains with the often changing police escort. Before noon a stop in Al-Janoub and a couple hours later we are in Najran near the Yemeni border. Outside Najran we see the excavation of an ancient town Al-Ukhdud. Then back in the city we go into Qasr Al-Imara (Najran fort). The following morning we drive in 4WD vehicles out of the city with few stops to the edge of the Empty Quarter. However this place we came to is not empty. There are many compounds of Beduins with their camels here. Some of us ride the camels. And again the 4WD dune riding. Finally we visit a farm with Arab horses. In the evening a flight from Najran to Riyadh where overnight.

On Nov 8 flight via Bahrain to Dubai. From Dubai early in the morning next day with Swiss Air via Zurich to Los Angeles. In a rented car to Vista where in the evening on Nov 9.

Travel office: Adventures Abroad – a Canadian travel company

Who took part: I was alone in Dubai. There were 12 travelers in Saudi Arabia and 2 guides (one Canadian and one Saudi). There were also local guides in
various visited places.

Between Nov 16 and Nov 19 our ship sails on the sea. First about 2.5 days it is on the Red Sea and later it is on the Gulf of Aden. The second day on the Red Sea we were to make a stop in Massawa, Eritrea. It was the reason I took this cruise. But for security reasons the ship does not land there. A big disappointment for me. Because the danger from the Somali pirates, we get instruction what to do and where to go on ship to stay safe. I have noticed 3 armed guards on board, though nobody talks about them. At night our ship is darkened and so invisible. Many interesting lectures fill the sea days.
On Nov 20, our ship “Discovery” is sailing the Arabian Sea. It lands at Salalah, OMAN in midafternoon. A coach sightseeing tour follows the landing. The harbor is 20 km from the city. First stop is at the palace of Sultan Qaboos bin Said. At the next stop, we visit a modern museum with models of ships, buildings, mosques, and forts. Then we browse a souq. For a while the coach goes past sandy beaches. After 2.5 hrs. we are back on our ship.
Next day is spent on Arabian Sea following the coast of Oman. In the morning on Nov 22 our ship lands in the capital of Oman, Muscat. The sightseeing tour starts at 1PM. First stop is at impressive “Grand Mosque.” The second stop is at nicely arranged museum. Like in Salalah no photos inside. Then we take pictures of the sultan’s palace from the outside. The houses of the town are mostly white or light colored. There are Mirani and Jalali Forts above the city. We explore the covered souq individually. We are back on our ship at 6PM.
On Nov 23, we are to see the emirate Fujairah. A coach takes us through emirate Sharjah to emirate Fujairah. Both are part of UAE (United Arab Emirates) . After passing the capital also named Fujairah the coach makes a stop at Fujairah Fort. Next stop is at a museum. Then a visit to “Heritage Village” showing local folklore. Last is a vegetable market. Then back through the emirate of Sharjah to our ship. In the afternoon, the ship leaves Muscat to sail toward India.
Overnight on Gulf of Oman then whole day on the Arabian Sea. Both are part of Indian Ocean. After dinner, I have an interesting conversation with a 32 years old Czech. She works on ships in various functions. She is in reception on this ship.
On Nov 25, most of the day sailing the Arabian Sea. At last at 4:30PM the ship lands in Porbandar in INDIA. A sightseeing tour starts just after 5PM. Soon we leave our bus near the birthplace house of Mahatma Gandhi. That house is a Gandhi museum now. We visit it individually. Then on foot through narrow streets of Porbandar full of local people. There is a statue of Gandhi on one square and a Hindu Temple on another. Darkness comes very fast and we return to our ship. There is a local Indian Show on the ship in the evening. The following day is on sea again.
On Nov 27, we are in Mumbai. There is a sightseeing trip in the morning. The local guide shows us a large laundry area, where hand washes everything. The next stop is at the house where Gandhi lived when he visited Mumbai. It is “Gandhi museum.” Then we visit a “Jain Temple.” A lot of beggars everywhere. It is followed by a stop at “Kamala Nehru Park.” There is a house in shape of a shoe there. From here we see the Black Bay around which Mumbai was built. North of this park there are the “Towers of Silence.” There the Parses (Zoroastrians) leave their diseased. From here back to the city to visit “Prince of Wales Museum.” Our last stop is at “Gateway of India” commemorating the visit of the British king George V. here in 1911. There is a lot of police around due to recent Pakistani terrorist attack costing 160 lives. After that we return to our ship. Here I prepare for my departure from the ship.
I must leave my cabin at 8AM and at midafternoon I depart the ship for a hotel near the airport. From here before midnight to the airport. Very early in the morning on Nov 29, I fly on Lufthansa from Mumbai to Frankfurt. There I switch the plane for another Lufthansa flight to LAX. In Los Angeles I rent an AVIS car and drive home to Vista where after 4 PM.

Travel office: Voyager of Discovery
Who took part: The “Discovery” could accommodate 730 passengers, but there were only 470 on the ship now.