The non metropolitan break

Not intended to put off the reader or with any deliberate intention to sound bombastic, the above title is a rare experience in the lives of any resident of metros who's fallen the trap of the daily rigour.

Reads: A break for the mind is the best break. Oh! That was exactly my thought!

As my train leaves the Chennai metro and rushes out up and westwards from spanning the entire width of the Deccan and chugging its way up and around the eastern and western ghats to Lonavala, I am surprised afresh even after doing the length for over 8 years in the past.

Greeen! So green. No Camera could capture

that verdant a green- nature's flourish!

The myriad of old heritage, and new swanky and untidy constructions are left behind and the eyes and the heart are elated at the sights of dispersed, low rise, a handful of houses interspersed with large expanses of greens. Abetted with a few passing showers from a few days before, it is a simple, earthy delight to see the dull, cloudy skies with a cool breeze and to actually be able to see crops swaying in the winds. A rare sight along any of my regular routes to work, play, gym or recreation-movies and malls!

I feel so small and uninformed when I wonder at the occupation, education, entertainment options of folks whose houses and towns rush past. I learn that the national electric grid is owned, run and maintained by the Central Government from a short distance traveller in my coach. I use multiple electronic devices, work in highly overcooled offices pushing for an ISO certification, always use air-conditioned vehicles to navigate the city, curse when power
cuts happen due to rains, winds and lightning, and swear at electricity officials who don't turn up to set it right. Yet the same rains in vast verdant fields lightens my heart and I feel small for not knowing where all the power I consume comes from or who works hard to provide that to me.

Well, it was time a fantastic time to learn basic, oft-ignored basic information from new folks I met while soaking in the freshness of the greens.

Hail Tourism

A small, pleasant town, sleeping in on their last day of fasting on the occasion of Ramadan and looking forward to Eid celebrations late night and inch back to the regular schedule of eating, sleeping and working was really heartening to see.

A landmark roundabout in Hail town

As a tourist this quaint town attracted me in the convenience it accords, with all major supermarkets, local date and vegetable markets, simple souls and traditional handicrafts available within the main area of the town centre. Typical old town areas congested in the evening with shoppers and families looking for an evening out.

But as a tourist and having informed myself of the multitudes of treasures of history at the location and my excitement built up knowing that these are treasures from more than 9500 years ago, the simplicity, quaintness of folks was very inconvenient.

A long 250 km drive from Hail city up to a much publicised volcanic site- Harrat ithnayn ( about 140km SW of Hail) was a complete confusion with no indication, directions, or any boards with the location marked. It was just a huge expanse of volcanic material on the ground. What was appalling was after enquiring with many or almost any soul on the road, everyone is jinxed, completely unaware of such a site! It was not just the language, having to converse in Arabic; I had an Arabic English conversant person on board. The local people had no information, awareness, knowledge, that apparently stems from no immediate need or inquisitiveness to know about these national treasures. The appalling apathy was shocking for someone like me who has seen the pride and possessiveness of locals in historical locations worldwide, be it Egypt, Africa, Finland, USA, Europe or South-East Asian countries.

Vast volcanic ash expanse

Understandably, the SCTA has a huge task ahead in protecting, researching, documenting, creating awareness among locals in the area and advertising/publicising them to encourage touristic curiosity in locals as expats in the region. Meanwhile a good move would be to involve, inform, train local people in the areas of historical finds, to understand and take pride in them, which would be a good start. History buffs like me, and several expats living in Saudi could help volunteer with government departments, and experts working to collate and publicize such discoveries.

My voluntary services are available to KSA tourism department for use! Thanks!

Trip from the First (Al Awwal) street to the Edge of the World in a day!

An apprehensive morning's start, armed with a lot of food and water considering it was a Friday and most stores would be off the first half, ended a really rewarded one. The trip to the "Edge of the World" or "Aakhiri Duniya" as it is referred to by folks near the place, was a little scary....we'd already tried it in our Accord 3 years ago, knew we needed a 4-wheel drive to beat the sandy patches, and were aware of presence of local mujahideen who were pointed by our jeep driver the last time, though he never did take us to the right place then! As simpler, easier-to-please persons those days, we had nice picnic fun that day and got back home happy and warmed up in the wintry sunshine.

A lot of better information, a trial trip on the main road the previous weekend and exchange with locals in the area later, we set out bravely yesterday on our trip, in finding the edge of the world. Amusingly as a friend noted, the first main road we set out on was the "Al Awwal" or "The first" (technically, Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Awwal Road) street of Riyadh, and were somewhat apprehensively wondering if we'd make it to the right location- The Edge of the World, this time round. It was a welcome humour to the mild trepidation of the morning- the first to the last!

As the wheels lowered off the main road, one could feel a carful of doubt at the uncertainty ahead. Beaten and thumped around on bumpy patches and sensing the rear wheels zipping uncontrollably in sandy patches, we covered the entire distance in half an hour though it seemed like it took forever to reach! Faster, more experienced drivers-of-the-sands had reached there, so we could find out final spot to rest the car and stretch out jilted bones! A nice breakfast of hot idlis, sambhar and tea prepping ourselves for walking the rough terrain, we set out with our cameras, water and sugary treats in case it gets too tiring on the way back.

At each stage of the climb or walk the next leg looked dangerously narrow and close to the edge until you got there and assured yourself that it's actually not so bad. We must have climbed up and legged a good 3-4 km rightwards after reaching the top. Each stop was astonishing and views absolutely so happiness-satiating, one would feel so close to nature and the impossibility of nature's creation! Clearly, years of rains, water and wind activity had cut out semi-circular ranges of mountains with water basins between them. Each ridge of all the mountain faces intricately carved out looking like as though artists hung and decorated them! Reminded me of stories of how Michael Angelo hung off the roof and painted the domes, walls and niches of the Sistine Chapel. Only, here it was sheer, deep faces of entire mountain ranges spanning as-far-as-eyes-could-see kind of distances intricately carved out over the centuries by nature!

Setting out from home at 7am, it was 10 am when we took off the main road into the sands towards the Edge of the World, and finally piqued, exhilarated and exhausted with almost-broken-bones, we climbed back onto the main road at 3pm, washed at the petrol pump and picnicked at a local farm, caught a short leg-stretched-out nap and headed back to main town Riyadh reaching at 6pm.


Directions: Arouba road, onto King Khaled Road 535 N, get off at the Jubayla junction and 30 kms from there, even before the Sadus town, where you see some pipelines being laid and a sandy incline built upto the ridge on your right, get off onto the sand, drive a good 7 kms to reach the rangers tent, take the car into their borders and then drive a rough patch for a good 22kms keeping largely to the right at all doubtful forks. Leaving early morning is advisable to be able to deal with any uncertainties, car troubles and managing to leave the rangers premises before 6pm when they close the entrance. And yes, a ton of water, a lot of food, and emptying out our system systematically before leaving and after reaching the main, paved highways of Riyadh. Needless to say, there are no washrooms in the entire 30 kms stretch of unpaved road on the approach to the Edge of the World, and you have the challenge of several hours of climbing up and down, and walking narrow patches of mountainsides involved.

Happy, soul-filling views!