Rawdhat Khuraim..again in Spring

14 April 2011

This is our second visit to Rawhat Khuraim, a “forest” reserve by Saudi government.  The area which were full of daisies surely attract anyone whose eyes were always fest with sands and deserts.

We decided to visit the place again to see difference.  Our last visit was in December, during the winter season.  We went with our friend, Ezri and his family who just been in Riyadh for three weeks.  We surely want them to enjoy the new life in Riyadh.  So..we invited them to explore a place in the kingdom.  A country which is well known of its holy place in Mecca and Madinah and its sahara.  However, don’t underestimate the sahara here as the more we explore the country, the more we are attracted to its own uniqueness and beauty.

At around 8 am, we met at our housing area heading towards Al-Rumah.  It is about an hour journey from our home.  The weather today was not that nice.  The air still fill with sand storm that starts from last night.  Visibility is still quite low…maybe around 100 meter.  We hope when we reach the area, the weather will be nicer since it is full with trees. 

Once we reach Rawdhat Khuraim, there were few numbers of cars already park at the area though the time was 9 am.  The area looks  very different from our last visit.  Last time it was only full of trees but now the trees were in the middle of green grasses with white and yellow daisies.  The area were full of daisies and grasses about knee tall.  Wow, the scenery was amazing.  It really surprised us to see how the place has turn out to be in spring.  No wonder when we came during the winter season, no one was around.  It surely is a place to sit around during spring.

We walk in the fields which was like a fairyland.  Subhanallah, how great is Allah creation…having a place like this in the middle of a desert.  We were so overjoyed seeing the greeneries with the wind keep on blowing our face.  The grasses were gracefully dancing following the rhythm of the wind.  Everywhere seems so peaceful.  The kids even lay down on the field.  Even the boys enjoy running around and picking up flowers.  Green color really ease our mind and put us in a really good mood. 

Later on after satisfy walking around the fields and usual activity of taking pictures, we settled down for a picnic.  We hadn’t had our breakfast yet and good thing the kids were not complaining.  We guess the great surrounding really makes everyone in a peaceful mind which makes us a in a very good mood.  After completing our meal, the kids continue exploring the place.  As usual, mom will sit down chit chatting while sipping a nice cup of hot tea.  A great way of releasing mind from the normal housewife routines.

Sadly, today we can’t stay long to continue the relaxation at a very calm and peaceful place.  It is a good thing we came here today as we will be sadden again when our always ‘jom redah’ friend will be leaving the country later on in the evening.  We need to rush back home to meet them before sending them off at the airport.  Wonder whether we will still have our ‘jom redah’ geng after this. 

Surely we will come again to Rawdhat Khuraim before spring is over.  Guess what..we did came again the week after!  Surprisingly..we were surprised even more as this time we were relish with a safari experience!  Stay tune for the next story of our beloved Rawdhat. –tw&

 

  Rawdhat Khuraim in December..

…and look how it turn out to be in April during spring!

    The variety of flowers besides daisies…

 

Takde Koje

25 March 2011

 

 

Weekend kali ni memang kami sumer terperap kat rumah.  Bila abahnye kena outstation, memang la mandom dan terkurung la kitorang anak beranak.  Kalau kat Mesia bole la jugak maknye bawak merayap2.  Tambahan pulak, esoknye dah start minggu exam.  So..tv, game, internet adalah dilarang sama sekali untuk anak2 termasuk adik2 yg tak exam untuk membantu kakak dan abang tumpukan perhatian.

Tetiba dapat panggilan telefon dari seorang teman yg anaknye sekelas dengan anak kita tanye kan jadual periksa.  Kitapon offerkan diri utk scan jadual tu dan email ke beliau.  Malas nak gi scan, bg je la instruction ke anak sulung bernama Aiman.  Dia pon follow instruction step by step dan alhamdulillah, selesai la tugas yg diberi. 

Peluang menyentuh komputer dan pengetahuan men’scan’ tidaklah disia-siakan oleh beliau.  Tengah maknye ni sebok bagi makan adik yg kecik sekali, dia pon mula lah sebok dengan kerja dia.

Tengok la hasil kerja tangan dia..seterusnye mengajar adik2 dia pulak.  Siap bagi nama kat hasil seni depa ni.. “silly siblings” ;-). Alahai abang2…ummie harap abang akan ingat keje2 abang ni bila abang besar nanti yer!

Memang la takde koje cari koje…pening la maknyer. - tw

 

 

 

 

 

IRIS…AGAIN

10 March 2011

Iris..here we are

Believe it or not..this is our fourth trip to be up close and personal with iris.  At first, we were not that eager to go there as from our last trip, we can see how the sheeps from the badwi port not far from the iris field already ate the leaves that has start growing.  Nevertheless, after our friends from AF5 able to witness the iris flower bloom the week before, we decided we must go this week. 

We then announce to anyone who interested to join as well.  On the day, we move from Sri Harum at around 9.30 am.  Three other family join us which were Mr. Lokman and family, Mr Harun and family, Mohsin and family, Anees and us.  As this is our fourth trip to Tumayr, nothing much for us to tell about the journey itself.  Just that this time around we follow the speed limit as now the Saudi government have tighten their enforcement on speed limit with their new traffic system and the fine is SR300.  Surely we do not want to waste our money on that!

At around 11 pm, we reach the juntion offroad to iris field.  Getting to the field, we need to go off-road for some distance.  After passing by the dam, not far from it we can see alreadt Dr Othman’s farm which we intend to visit for a while.  A friendship build due when we accidentally entered his farm on our first attempt to witness the iris.  An ukhwah build which we will always treasure in our heart.  Reaching the farm, hubby stop for a while to see whether Dr Othman is around.  One reason why we want to come on Thursday is because the family will gather here on Thursday and went back home the next day.  One of his brother went out and told us that the family will be there around Asr.  He invite us to come back later on.

We proceed with our journey and the route we took this time wasn’t the usual route where there were less sand and doesn’t require 4wd.  Coincidently we were in front of some other people track going to the same direction, we just follow the trail.  The trail we were following were more sandy and caused Lokman’s CX9  got stuck.  We just found out that his Mazda CX9 version wasn’t 4WD.  Luckily, with some effort of pushing he able to reverse and got out from the sand.  He then took another rocky route alongside of the hills which more stony.

Not far from the spot, we can see a green field stretching quite long…maybe like a two football field.  Seems there were already four cars parked near the field.  Reaching the destination, we park our car and as we expected, the flower were there but shorter than expected!  We went to greet the other visitor and found out there were also Malaysians..chinese! At first, we though there were Pinoys..haha..shame on us as most of the time we were labeled Pinoys!

The temperature was 31 degree!  So..can imagine the heat!  Luckily it was windy…still as we were outside when the sun is on top of our head, the feeling is not comfortable.  We then set up  Lokman’s tent(newly bought!) so that kids and babies can be more comfortable.  As usual, getting outside from house is good enough for the kids already.  They forgot about the heat when they can play with their friends.  So…the men’s start to take out the cameras to catch anything interest to their eyes while the moms busy laying down the food. 

Me and hubby went more up from our current spot just to see whether possibly there could be more flowers.  However, the other spot flowers were less and smaller.  Some of it still growing with no flowers yet coming out.  We saw two types of birds playing around the area..very pretty but do not know the species.  Unlucky, we didn’t bring our video cam to capture it.  Our camera zoom were low to capture from far. Well..i guess it is enough for us to capture in our memory.

Waiting until 1 pm for the flower to bloom is challenging when the sun keep on biting our skin.  Some of us just sit down finding shades to run away from direct sunlight.  Once in a while we went back into the field to check for any flowers that starts to bloom.  Finally, hubby able to capture a flower that starts to bloom.   We all took the opportunity our observing and savoring its beauty for our two years of waiting.  Though it is hot but the patient and waiting worth while.

Subhanallah…a beauty in the middle of the desert!  Once in a year of around one to two months and just around an hour to savor its’ beauty…revealing it with shyness :-).  An opportunity one must not miss. 

Alhamdulillah…finally we met one of our target while staying in Saudi! –tw

   

Just look at how beautiful are the flowers!

 

Quite few number of visitors continue to come later on…

 

Visit to Dr Othman farm

Before heading back home at around 2.30 pm, we stop by at Dr Othman’s farm.  Alhamdulillah, we saw a few more cars there.  We knew that the family were there already.  As we park near their home, a few boys came near already greeting hubby.  Dr Othman was somewhere near the area doing some chores.  They ask us to wait for him.  Not long, the women came to  greet me.

Masyaallah..they still remember my name!  Though we can’t communicate much..more of exchange smile and laughter due to language barrier, but its like a moment of happiness of seeing a ‘long time no see family’.  We were so touch with their kindness and hospitality.  We though of only stopping for a while to send some Malaysian cookies but they insist us of having a few sips of tea.  We called our friends to join in as well.  The guys chit chatting and visits the farms while the women chit chatting at the women side.

It was a wonderful and memorable moment.  The family still remember us and hoping for our visit again.  It was great to see Dr. Othman’s farm grew.  He has more animals at his farm compare to previous time we visit.   His family member also grew!  Wow, now we have harder time to remember all their names and faces..haha!

How time runs so fast.  We need to move on as it will be dark soon.  We had a wonderful time at his farm and hope we’ll meet again some other day.

Thank you so much to Dr Othman and family!  Jazakallahulkhair.

Till we meet again! – tw

..see how pretty is the hen!            ….now got pigeons as well

 

…baby pigeon.                                          ….new pet to play

 

..a quick tour in the farm.