Visiting Iris…again

4th Feb 2011

Believe it or not…this is our third attempt testing our luck to watch the beautiful iris flowers.  Actually, we didn’t put high hopes this time as it has been a long time without rain in Riyadh and just since the past two weeks rain drops.  In order to see the iris flower, it has to be raining in December.

Together with us this time were Shahril and Vijay, our ex-office mate from Malaysia, in Saudi for short project trip.  We thought..”why not let them have the experience of being around in the desert?”

We picked them at from their hotel at around 9 pm and straight move out to Tumayr.  Knowing the way as this is our third time, we keep on enjoying the view of the landscape.  Same like us, our friends were excited when they first saw camels by the roadside.  I still remember how excited we were every time we saw camel by the roadside at the early day in Saudi, taking pictures and all.  Now the feeling is like when we saw cows at the roadside in Malaysia :-). 

At around 10.15, we were in Tumayr and ready for off-road to the iris field.  The place seems to be prettier this time.  Quite some changes being done, even the off-road to go into the area were partially tarred.  The roadside have greater view with the pathwalk being decorated with some landmarks of murals and replicas.

Again, we passing by Dr Othman farm that reminds us with the good memory of Saudi hospitality about 2 years ago. Our intention to go and vist the family is still not fullfilled as they are only there in the farm every Thursday. InsyaAllah, next time.

After off-roading for about 20 minutes, we were almost there. Not far from the spot, we knew we will be frustrated again (though not much, still if it is there we surely be overjoy).  There were no signs of purple flower.  Now, the place has a new landmark, Badwi tents! There were badwi tents put up not far from the iris field, and the worst thing was… they reared sheeps!. there were two groups of sheeps, one being cage and the other groups wondered around. 

As hubby park the car, everyone went out to find any trace of the flower before settling down.   The flower just start growing, maybe 2 or three weeks, i guess.  Seems most of the newly grown iris were eaten by the sheeps.  Hopefully, the flowers got the chance to show it’s beauty again this year or next.

The flowers just grew but seems like the sheeps have eaten them from the look of its leaves.

Felt frustrated (again) and sad, we still need to do this.. it’s time for picnic!  A must do thing when travelling in the desert.  We brought nasi lemak for our special guest as we knew they must missed this Malaysian all time favorite food.  Our dear friends sure were excited to see ‘nasi lemak’ in the land of sahara. 

After enjoying ‘nasi lemak’, the guys decided to climb the surrounded hills to get more views of the desert.  Hubby asked my daughter to accompany me with Amzar at the car.  My 1st son decided to stay instead and let his sister to go.

“Does a teacher like naughty boys more than the good boys?”

While in the car, I start chit chatting with my son.  He first asked me, “ Why does the teachers like naughty boys than the good boys?”

“That is not true.  Why should teacher’s do that?  They should like all their students but maybe they give attention more to the different type of students", I replied to him.

“My PE teacher likes this very naughty boy in class.  Even during review he calld this boy and was very friendly with him”, still my son wasn’t satisfied with my answer.

“Maybe he was very good in sport though he was naughty. “ I told him.  This time he nodded, nevertheless I can see in his face he is still dissatisfied with the situation.

I then start of with a story.  I started telling him,  “When I was working, my boss ask me to get two new staffs to help me with my project.  We start advertising for the position and there were ten applications I need to look into.”  He was listening to me eagerly.  Our son was always excited with stories about work.

To enticed him more, I asked him, “How should I choose from this ten people as they all had same qualifications?” 

He answered me by asking me instead, “Is this your real experience or you created it?”

“It’s my real experience.  My boss wants me to do it.”  In a while my daughter came back.  She went halfway and decided to turn back as the guys were already too far to catch up.

“So, how did you choose?”, asked my son.  My daughter who just arrived asked me to start our conversation again so that she can understand what we were talking about.  I gave a short brief to her and continue my story.

“I surely choose the best who have the experience and the knowledge that I want.  So that leaves me to four people left for me to interview.”

“Then I call the four people for me to interview them with my boss.”  All four were very good and talented but I want somebody special and different.

Then my son asked me, “Why you want the different one?”

“Different makes you special.”, I answered. 

“I asked the applicants to tell me their strengths and weaknesses, what they plan in 5 years time and much more questions“, I continued.

My son asked me again, “What would you tell your boss when he asked you of your weaknesses?”

“I told him, I can’t stand my work unfinished.  I always did my best to ensure i can optimize my time at the maximum”

He then shouted with laughter,”You’re a show off ummie!”.  My daughter joined as well agreeing with his brother. 

He continued with his comment,”You told us that show off is not nice but you were doing it.”

I have to admit with laughter as well and said, “There are times when you need to do it not to show off but to tell your strength and your capabilities so that people trust you and have confident in you.  I’m not showing off but I was telling the truth of what I can do.”

“That is why my boss likes me very much”, I smiled and laughed with them.

What makes me stress this out because our kids are so ‘by the book’ type of person.  They are so scared if they makes mistake or did anything different where they think others won’t do.  So, this is the purpose why I kept telling them stories to be different is somehow means be someone special.

While we were nearly at the end of our story, the guys came back with a surprise.  Hubby got back with two fossils he found on the way back down the hill.

Well, though we didn’t get to witness the iris flower (again.. well for the 3rd time), still we had a good time chit chatting with old time friends.  And I had a great conversation with my kids hoping they will learned something from my story.  Hubby also got the fossils which we intend to get the previous day where we got lost and just head back home without the fossils which we supposed to find.

It was a great day and we are looking forward a better day ahead.  On the way back, the phone rings from a friend suggesting us to call for a picnic.  Here it goes, that means our picnic continues, we decided to head for Wadi Hanifah at Old Diriyah.

Yeah, seems our day is full for today with more memories to cherish with. -tw

 

Picnic as usual

 

 

 

Exploring the desert

 

 

Iris Tak Menjadi (2nd Attempt of Iris) Trip

Trip No: x
When:  05 Feb 2010
Where:  About  140km from Riyadh 
GPS Coordinate:
Kambing Rating: 7/10
Total Trip Time: Half day

Following our 'dried' Iris Flower Trip last year (http://inxps.blogspot.com/2009/04/after-browsing-interesting-places-to.html), we decided to make a 'revenge' this year. Knowing that the Iris is only blossoming during mid-January to end of February every year, and with our parents are here for a short visit, as to impress them that they could see flowers in the middle of the desert :-), we then took course and heading to Tumayr last Friday (5-Feb-2010).

Together with Faris family, we off to Tumayr after Jumaat/Friday prayer.

This time we are coming with very high hopes as we only able to see the dry stem last year. Reaching Tumayr, the gun replica helps us to remember where we should start going off-road. Though we have GPS to assist but the off-road track from previous trip was not available. The off-road trip scares our parents a bit as it is not a usual drive they have had experienced. We tried to find the easiest path as this time Faris and his family whom joining us was driving Mazda 3, not 4x4 like us. We tried to identify the dam and the farm of the Saudi family who were being very nice to us. We hope to meet them but knew that they are only available at the farm on Thursday. Maybe next time insyaallah we hope to meet them again.

Seeing the dam relieved us as we knew we are going at the right direction but this year round the dam is dry. I remember last year there are water like a pond at the  dam. We passed through the dam and the farm with great memories. The path to reach the field is also drier this time.

As we reached there, the excitement goes down as it was not as expected. Only a few buds blooming within a small area. Nothing at all like the pictures of the flowers blooming last year. We know it is not because its out of season this time. We guess this year round, the Iris doesn't bloom like the other year could be due to very less rains. Even my kids school hold special prayer calling for rain for quite few times. Seems like it was not our luck this year, again. Meaning that we need to have another 'revenge' next year!

‘Flowerless’ Iris field…

Ah, found one.. so shy.

Picnic is a must, anywhere we go ;-)

Our parents new experience, picnicking at the middle of the desert.

Kids are always kids.. always creating and looking for their own activities regardless where they are. 

Well, at least we have seen the real flower instead of just dried stems like we did last year. Does this mean that we need to stay for another year to try our luck?? Well...we as human can plan but Allah know what is store for us.

So...for those who plan to find the Iris, maybe can skip it this year, unless you just want to fill your weekend and have another good time picnicking with family and friends, like we did. – tw&th

Iris Flower Trip

Iris flower blossoming in Tumayr, picture courtesy of Dr. Othman 

Trip No: 3
When:  26h March 2009
Where:  About  140km from Riyadh 
GPS Coordinate:
Kambing Rating: 9/10
Total Trip Time:  One day 

After browsing interesting places to visit on our weekends, just at a very early in the morning we decided to head for Tumayr, maybe we have our luck to see the beautiful Iris flower which is very well known for its beauty.

From the net, it was said that the flowers only blooming once in a year between Mid January till Mid March. We knew that probably the flowers are finished but our gut feeling tell us to just go. After all, at least we have another day spent together somewhere.

At around 11 am, we start driving North of Riyadh heading for Tumayr. It took us around 1 and a half hour to reach Tumayr and start going off-road into the desert. Tips: Before going off-road, you'll see a replica of a gun, If you pass this, means you need to turn back and find the place where you can make a corner to the off road.

Once we reached Tumayr, we could feel the air is more relaxing caused more greeneries view can be seen here. It is like when you go back to your hometown in suburb areas. Once we start driving into the deserts, we bypassed some purple grass trees. At first we were excited cause we thought that the purple grass trees were the iris flowers. Then, we went out from our car and take a close look at the flower. Haha..this is not it! We all were laughing but still great to see flowers in the desert.

We kept going on until we saw a dam which should be the landmark that tell us we are getting closer. We keep on going until we saw a yellow field which is pretty and attract us to get closer to it. However, the field was inside a gate. Could it be the place where someone is taking care of the Iris field? After a while, we decided to go in.

Chicken and Duck
This is the best part. Once we get into the gate, two persons came out from the house near the field. Now, we knew we are at the wrong place. This is a private property! We start to turn back to get out of the property but the two guys are getting closer. If we drive fast out, we will look like a criminal. Then, my husband decided we should meet the guys and tell them we are sorry. My husband went out from the car and approaching them.
My heart is beating fast..wondering how can my husband tell them our mistake as we for sure can't speak Arabic, while they most probably couldn't speak English. Its going to be a war between chicken and duck!!! ;-)

As I was watching the guys were exchanging smiles and shaking hands, I was very relieve. My husband headed back to the car, smiling. He told me that they invited us for tea and can perform prayer at their farm house. We are making a very bad assumption thinking we are going to be scolded! My husband told me that one of the guy who approached us just now is a Vice Dean in King Saud University. He has been in US for a few years for his PhD study. His name is Dr. Othman.

As we parked the car near their farm house and get out from the car, I was told to go into the women section with my daughter while my husband goes to the man section. I guess this has been a very special experience for me and my family. Once we enter the house, everyone was welcoming us...from grandma, the mother, nieces, their aunts and children! Wow..so many of them. I was told that they are gathering at the farm every Thursday. Funny thing is all of them can't speak English and I can't speak Arabic as well. Just a few words that I just learn from the school I went for 3 weeks which is only twice a week. So.....challenging and funny! I talk in English + Malay + Arabic...hoping some of the words matches with Arabic words.

At first they serve me with Arabic coffee. The taste is quite funny. It has some herbs taste and without sugar but they serve it together with dates. The dates is to complement the unsweetened coffee. After the coffee, I request to perform my prayer. My kids kept on following me as they were shy with so many people looking at them and trying to talk to them. Once I started my prayer, suddenly I heard a loud knock on the rooftop and outside.It was raining, but I just wondering why the sound is too loud. I continue praying though my sajadah starting to get wet caused the rooftop where I was praying got holes.

Raining Ice

Once I finish praying, I rushed outside to see what causing the loud sounds and the havoc outside. It was raining ice!

   The small ice cubes are all over the ground.

What a day! Small round cube ice were everywhere. The kids and the teenagers were busy collecting the ice. You never seen ice rain and suddenly you experience it is the middle of the desert! I'm so grateful to Allah for this opportunity. I was wondering how my sons react to the rain at the other side.

   Ice cubes they collected.

As it was raining, we can't go anywhere so they ask us to stay for lunch. I was serve now with tea and salad. My kids were looking at me as we never had salad for our appetizers. They eat salad leaf like eating crackers! It's the big size salad leaf type. The Arabic kids were all happily eating it. I took one leaf and eat it as well though I'm not used to eat like that but not bad! The other appetizer was onion leaf. This one I can't try as I knew I can't eat it. I politely resist. They tried to entertain me and making me feel comfortable by still talking to me and asking me questions. It was so funny and we laughed many many times when we knew that we do not understand each other. I heard the other kids telling my kids "I Love You"". That's the English words they knew..haha.

Once the rain stop, they were busy preparing for lunch. It was 'kapsa'...an Arabic dish made of rice cook with ghee, onion and so on with whole chicken. 3 small boys age around 8 or 9 came to take the tray with kapsa. The smell was so good. Then, they invite me to go outside eating our lunch. It was quite cold outside with the rain just pass by but refreshing. We all sit around the tray and start eating. This is how they have meal here. No plates given..so no need to was dish after this :-). I ate with their elders in family. Beside the 'kapsa', they also had their salad which is tomato, cucumber, parsley leaf and salads mix with lemon juice. The cucumber and tomato were slice in cubes. The salad is nice. I finish 1 bowl of it. Afiq and Azim was really enjoying the kapsa. They eat more than usual. Actually, the kapsa was really nice..better than what we ate in Riyadh which I though it was the nicest kapsa I ever ate since I reached Riyadh.

I asked them the recipes but it was quite hard understanding them though I knew they are trying their best to explain and as usual we laugh when we all trying to guess the words. After a full stomach, the owner sister brought me going around their farm land. They have goats, camel and chicken beside the wheat field which attract us at the first place to enter the farm. My kids has started to become friends with the other kids. They tried to play to together.

At the Men Side

Having the ‘kapsa’ lunch with the family.

Dr. Othman, at the left most (barely see his face). On his left is the father, in his 80’s.

Among the goats they had in the farm.

There was a guy who look after the farm everyday where the family only came to the farm once a week on every Thursday. Most of the family stay in Riyadh. It felt very short when we realized we must headed to what we were coming at the first place, the Iris flower. Dr. Othman, will bring us to where the actual Iris field is. Before heading off, the women packed us with dates, snacks and cakes. We are so honored and grateful to be treated so nice by the family. I was very touched with their hospitality. It is time to say goodbye and they make me promise to come back when I have learned Arabic. This inspires me to learn Arabic faster at school.

Went off to Iris field
As we finished saying goodbye, we headed to the Iris field by following Dr. Osman’s pick up truck. But the only thing left is the stem which is dried as what has been told by them. I tried to imagine when the Iris flower is blossoming by seeing the dried stems were a lot. My husband says his big thank to Dr before he headed back home to his farm. They also will headed back to Riyadh tonight after Isya' prayer.

 

The dried Iris flowers… if its blooming, it should looks like the title picture above, very beautiful.

We took pictures and enjoy the scenery there. InsyaAllah, we will surely come again next year to see the Iris flowers and come again visit the wonderful Saudi families which we just make friends.

 

This is what you say God will. All things that happened in your life, there must be a reason behind it. There is always 'hikmah' to Allah qada' and qadar. The unintentional and lost has given us the experience getting to know Saudi people, their life, knowing the people and most importantly their hospitality; Saudi hospitality, two words that are very rare to be found together, well at least that is the common assumptions towards Saudis, which is proven to be not true at all. We are grateful to what happened to us today. Although we didn't get to see the Iris but we get an even more 'beauty' than the flower beauty. The beauty of the heart!

Till meet again...ma ‘assalamah!