Hotel & Resto Review (Ronza/Boiling Pot)

KHOBAR:  Super excited as we are in #TeamYahamad regarding the #GEA #SharqiaSeason #ColorRun #Happiest5KRun happened last 23rd of  March 2019, Saturday at Khobar South Corniche; all bookings and itineraries were planned beforehand (even if salary is not yet coming hahaha!).  With the help of Cobone we get some choices to book about discounted food vouchers and so as planned we will take Ronza Rose Hotel for our breakfast (Intl. breakfast menu), then thru Booking.Com as for our hotel accommodation.

Travel time from Riyadh to Khobar is about 3-5 hours depending on speed and stop-over, #TeamYahamad travels by around 2AM Friday to get there at exactly 7AM to avail the voucher because serving the breakfast is from 6:30AM till 10AM.  However, the issues that we encountered is that; first, (though its a small thing) the said sea view from the buffet area is not real (i cant see the sea while eating), secondly (main issue) representative of the hotel in buffet area named Mr. Mohammed told us that the Cobone voucher is not valid every Friday.  I explained to him right away and showed our printed copy (tip: please always have the copy with you in buying vouchers) that it is not mentioned in the terms and conditions that our voucher is not valid by Friday (unlike on our top three choices, like in Holiday Inn Sea-side breakfast clearly mentioned the Friday rule). Overall instead to enjoy the breakfast, the service and attitude of the representative make our morning at Ronza uncomfortable even he allowed us to avail it.  For Ronza breakfast i will give 3stars but for poor service i will give half star or negative 1 hahaha (I think crew or the representative needs to understand what excellent customer service is...see how he affects the whole team/company....so be aware that where you work, you represent it...)

Moving forward, after breaky #TeamYahamad stay for a while at the seaside bay to indulge the beauty of corniche, fresh air, and beautiful sunshine before going to hotel and to sleep for a while.  As instructed by #ColorRun thru social media announcements we need to get our kit at Mall of Dhahran by 4PM, then afterwards  we check the events happening all at the same time at Main Corniche (Concerts, Dino Show, Culture Village, Water Tower 3D Mapping and Fireworks ofcourse!).

Before heading to our hotel  at 9PM to sleep and recharge for the Fun Color Run, we tried the Boiling Pot Resto near Al Rahmaniya Center; it is an eat all you can resto (66 SAR/pax), with a nice setting (you can cook it by yourself as Korean/Japanese style) though the choices are few (not seen shrimps and crabs) and not so tasty even marinated so i can give only 2 Stars out of five (tip: also, please bring cash or end up going outside to find ATM machine).  Then the next day #TeamYahamad wakes up on time and prepare for the run, the so-called #Happiest5KRunInThePlanet! ever! :)  Yallah!

Photos:

Beautiful Sunshine!

 

Boiling Pot Resto

The Giants (Al-Qarah Mountain)

AL-AHSA:  (TBT) Once upon a time, in almost two years ago, #TeamYahamad got the chance to visit Al-Ahsa on the way from Riyadh to Al-Ukair beach (soon to post) and they are surprised by this stunning Mt. Al Qarah that somehow partly mimics the Grand Canyon National Park of Arizona by its layered  and gigantic rock formations. 

Grand Canyon of KSA! Represent!!! #Mt. Al Qarah 

                                   

The place were developed and supported by the government as one of the tourist attractions in the area and they have an organized group called Saudi Friendship Committee. The fee at that time is only 50 SR for adults and free for kids under 13 years old.  At first they will have a quick orientation, refreshment offerings (tea, Arabic coffee, sweets and dates), friendly chat and a selfie/group pic sessions (they said photo will be uploaded in their Facebook  account as a digital souvenir) altogether as their hospitality treat in welcoming visitors before you can get inside the mountain caves.

Entrance Area Land of Civilization (Al Qarah Mountain Al Ahsa)

Facebook Page

Delightful local sweets they offer.

We got there during the summer (@around 39 degrees celcius) and we noticed that when you’re inside the caves it becomes colder (between 18 to 21°C) and you’ll see a lot of sun rays entering in every possible open part (aperture) at the ceiling of the caves that gives a dramatic random of shadows.

Cinematic Shot (chertz)

The Lost Prince of Leyte (pusang gala)

In too much excitement my friend got the chance to groove like there’s no tomorrow at the moment he hears the caves music: (And he dance happily ever after...)

Nearby, from Mt. Qara don't forget to try visiting more of Hofuf Al-Ahsa tourist spots like Al-Ahsa National Park and the becoming more popular the Asfar Lake (you'll need a 4x4 type of car here).

Asfar Lake (Yellow Lake) (photo from Saudi friendship)

And here we are on FB:

Us and no one but only #teamyahamad got this comment. Chertz! :)

Finally, you can also enjoy the place for souvenir shops and food, they have a designated area for café and resto..........YaHamad! next destination please!  :)

TB: Dinner in the Sky Jeddah

Seven long years ago when http://dinnerinthesky.com/ set put in Jeddah, KSA at the Park Hyatt Jeddah - Marina, Club and Spa (which made it extra more special) just right across the highest fountain in the world, the King Fahad's Fountain.

Dinner in the Sky Middle East

According to Wikipedia, Dinner in the Sky is a Belgian based novelty restaurant service which uses a crane to hoist its diners, table, and staff 150 feet into the air. Forbes magazine called it one of the world's ten most unusual restaurants.

            

            Crane attached to the dining table / structure

Crane for lifting the dining table / structure

We are actually not privy to this great event up until we came across this online deal in https://www.cobone.com/en/deals/jeddah/lenzoarabia-20junedinnerintheskyvaluemeal/10769 in Cobone.com.

One will be able to experience lounging in the Jeddah Corniche sky at a discounted rate!  Isn't that great! And since we just can't let this pass, we purchased the deal (paid Sar 137 for the price of Sar 350) and went to their location on our scheduled date on the 13th of July 2012.

Photo with the Dinner in the sky ME logo!

Whilst waitiin' for other sky diners

We arrived at the site a bit early so we can somehow get to feel the place and take some pictures of course. Around 5 PM when we started to move up via a humongous crane. A little over 10 minutes more, we were already 50 meters hanging in the air!

Crane view from up

Food (we took the SNACKS and not the dinner meal since we are actually up with the experience and not the food... or we can also say that we can afford the snacks and not the dinner) were served soon as we've reached the desired height. The Filipino crew on board were on their harness as they move around the space provided for them whilst serving the food and the drinks.

snacks in the sky :)

We had burger, fries & juice the Park Hyatt Jeddah way :)

The dining table/structure in the air!

Whilst we are having our snacks, the dining table/structure is moving clockwise. So each of the diners will get to see the entirety of the Jeddah Corniche & the Red Sea and not just a side of it! The view of the King Fahad Fountain with the sun set is just amazing!

A view of the sunset & the King Fahad Fountain

The King Fahad Fountain & the sun set!

The Red Sea & Park Hyatt Jeddah - Marina

Al Hamra area and the sun set

Dinner in the sky!

It was such a great experience to have snacks/dinner in the sky! It isn't an everyday thing!

Ya Hamad! Let's Go enjoy life whilst we can!!!

The Night Before Summer

RIYADH: Really?!? Are you just gonna sit there waiting till winter is gone? This is the simple question that triggers us (#teamyahamad) to push and make it happen for an overnight stay in the desert overlooking the city, with a starry starry sky while enjoying the thin, crisp cold air.

Well better late than never, if you wanna experience a night in the desert with your good company of friends, sharing nice food, hot tea, crazy stories and funny jokes while sitting in circle near a bonfire, in a place not so far far away (just in Riyadh and most importantly it’s for Free!); well pack your bags now and grab some tents and blankets “yallah Hamad!” go ahead to Thumama National Park, Riyadh.  (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Thumamah+National+Park/@25.1177144,46.6628615,13.96z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x3e2e9f9af85d5295:0x9944f9842561e504!8m2!3d25.1226414!4d46.6706917) (http://www.thumamapark.com/) (https://www.google.com/maps/place/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9%D8%8C+Riyadh%E2%80%AD/@25.1164856,46.6687083,12.21z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x3e2e9f9af85d5295:0x9944f9842561e504!2sThumamah+National+Park!8m2!3d25.1226414!4d46.6706917!3m4!1s0x3e2e9271b187b787:0x7e1a2c292c0e01a8!8m2!3d25.0950044!4d46.6633129)

  bonfire baby!               (photo credits: mr.ansel)

 

Please don’t get me wrong, because Yahamad knows for a fact that there’s a hundred ways to enjoy the place (sunrise/sunset viewing, motor bike, horse riding, concert-oke or a selfie sessions in a nearby old castle etc.), and here are some links that can guide you more as well:

·         https://www.blueabaya.com/?gallery_page=slideshow&pp_gallery_id=1402774699

·         https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293995-d319523-Reviews-Al_Thumama_Desert-Riyadh_Riyadh_Province.html

·         https://lovinsaudi.com/riyadh/thumamah-desert-is-the-best

So there you go, enjoy and love Mother Nature, lastly please be Responsible!

2019.03.12teki

Iris Fields or Iris Failed of Tumayr?

Ya Hamad! Let's Go Tumayr!!!

RIYADH: It was one cold Friyey morning on the 22nd February 2019 when we decided to visit a place some 140 Kms away from Yarmuk Exit 8 (1 hour & 30 minutes land trip) called Tumayr. It is located north of Riyadh same route going to Majmaah & Qassim|Buraydah.

Photo Credits: Ansel

Our main target is to visit the so called Iris Fields of Tumayr which is exactly located at 25°38'52.2"N 45°54'31.8"E or 25.647833, 45.908833 (copy paste in Google search). It is advisable to bring 4x4 or big cars and not sedan so that it will be a smooth ride specially when you reached the area where there are a lot of stones. For us, since we just had a sedan with us, we have to park it few meters from the main road (going out of Tumair) and just had to
walk around 10 minutes into the sand and stones before we finally reached the target location.

One note though to those who would give this a site a try... DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH!!! & don't dare be deceived by these awesome photos (credits to Mr. Ansel Hernandez: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1208742367 & to Mr. AJ). Their works really created this place “The Iris Fields of Tumayr “! Aren't we in Saudi Arabia???

     

Photo Credits: Ansel

Photo Credits: Ansel

Photo Credits: AJ

But what’s behind the lenses is way, way, way different to these great pics. As if the photos weren't taken in the same space/location.

Here are some photos taken from my phone and see the HUGE difference!

But what the heck! It's still worth visiting! You will not see flowers in the streets of Riyadh everyday! At least not the PLASTIC FLOWERS :)

NB: We stayed in the place for roughly around two hours. If you do plan to stay for a while, don't forget to bring your foods and drinks and ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR TRASH AFTER as well. 

Ya Hamad Let's Go LOVE and RESPECT nature!!!