I’ve not posted any pictures on the family website for quite some time now – I haven’t been taking as many pictures either – probably getting stuck in a COVID rut. Still, my camera hasn’t been entirely unused in 2021 so it is time to start working back through a backlog dating back to the start of 2021. Enjoy the pictures.
Desert tent at sunset.
Camels up north near Haffar al Baten
Crystal visiting the herd of camels
Baby camels
Camels look even goofier up close
Crystal talks with our excellent guide and host, Ahmad.
Camel with sun flare off the lens
Baby camels taking a rest
Nursing camel
A mid day break with some Saudi hospitality. The wood was just for show - it was a gas fireplace
Crystal enjoying a cup of Saudi coffee
A field of desert lavendar
A field of desert lavendar
Desert lavendar up close.
Desert flowers in bloom. They had a bit of rain earlier so the plants were making the best of it.
The palm plantatiion of our gracious hosts.
Ducks chilling at the plantation.
Another shot of the date plantation with a goat crossing in the background.
Ducks chilling at the plantation.
Palm grove.
Goat herd making its way home at sunset
Desert camp at sunset.
Our vehicles at sunset.
Where we spent our evening.
Sunset across the desert plain a bit south of Haffar al Baten
The stars that night with the 360 camera
Night stars over the northern desert
Interesting decor at a museum of historical Saudi dwelling.
Coffee pots in the museum
Crystal and Josh from the door to the museum
Old Saudi door
Under the big sky of the desert near Haffar al Baten
desert under a big blue sky
Enjoying some tea and a chat in a farm grove
The elusive desert truffle poking out of the ground.
Interesting seed pods on a thorny desert plant.
Grand lantern in a mosque
Staning under the main lantern in a mosque
Minaret on a family farm up north
Irigation on the farm
Checking out the fields
Heading out for a group picture
The whole group with our hosts. Distanced a bit because of COVID
Ben, your pictures are wonderful and I’ve missed your postings. But I have questions! Does the desert lavender smell like lavender? The Arab coffee pots…did you check them for the official stamps, origin? The colors of the desert in low light are fabulous! Have you eaten desert truffle?
And I miss the camels too….we really miss our trips in the desert that we lived for every winter!
The desert lavender had a hint of regular lavender to it I suppose but was also a bit musky. It was not specifically an unpleasant smell but it did leave me unsure of whether I liked it or not. I would not have bought it as a perfume. We didn’t check the coffee pots for stamps because it was a museum but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were authentic. Not aged antiques but pots crafted in the traditional way in perhaps the 40s or 50s. We also didn’t sample the truffles. We didn’t find enough to bring home but perhaps, if there is enough rain this season, we’ll find one to bring home this spring and try. They are definitely a fungus but we’ve been told they are not the delicate taste of a European truffle – more of a “boil for an hour to get the sand out and serve with a robust red sauce” kind of food.