TABUK: Time
flies so fast as they say, summer is coming, the second quarter of 2019 and Ramadan Holiday as well; but have you ask
yourself where you gonna spend your Eid Holiday? hhhhh! kekekeke! I know it's still far
far away or very early to think about it and in fact month of March have just
stepped in; but honey and habibi I bet you also know that preparing for a holiday
vacation needs at least few months in advance (or a year ahead) in order to make it epic (less hassle,
more plan options and most importantly saving money in every bookings). This year’s Eid vacation is somewhere in the
first to second week of June (double check your calendar and needed documents),
and right now is the perfect time for planning, so fasten your seatbelt and get ready
for a wild ride! (Ya! Hamad!)
One
of the places we have visited (locally due to budgetarian mode) I can share for now is the dreamy Haql Beach of
Tabuk northwestern of KSA (Represent!!!). Honestly it is like a dream come true
for me because when I’m just starting to check which or where to go for a Saudi holiday tour,
Neom project (in same area hoping to see developments at that time) is in every news and using other blogs as a reference, I am in awe
when I saw the photo posted by Blue Abaya (https://www.blueabaya.com/2016/06/wanderlust-travel-ksa-haql-beach.html)
and really if you are there
it was exactly what’s in the photo online (no editing /filtering at all no
disappointments)….imagine embodiment of natural beauty (spell embodiment hhhh epitomy?)starting from the colors of water(super clear blue water to
aqua green of Mykonos, the mountains (together with historically famous Mt.
Sinai) are magnificent and with what they call Titanic of KSA you will see it
yourself the Georgio G Shipwreck! (thunderstorms) Reminder, you should get near to the
shoreline or the area of Shipwreck to really enjoy the place like we did specially by
snorkeling (my first) there’s a lot of colors underneath and diverse aquatic
ecosystem, although at first when we are still far from it, we thought it’s not
that what we see online and we are wrong, you should find the way where cars
can enter going to the shoreline (the best spot for a panorama 360). There are many areas of a free access to the beach (in different shoreline types) because we tried to go in some stony area with bigger waves, in between mountain rocks and typical sandy area (where water is more calm) near the Greek shipwreck; definitely Haql Beach is a great place to visit that can give you a very good long road trip adventure and for
those who loves fishing/camping. Moreso, if it is a family getaway, dont you worry coz there is a lot of resorts/esteraha along the beach for more private occasions and also don't forget to try their local delicacies and unique version of kabsas (carbs check chertz!) (wondering: I think that Gulf of Aqaba when at high tide, water can
reach the other side of highway near mountains because we saw the water from it) I hope you could experience as well to see small silver fishes at noon time (when sunlight is directly on water) rising and jumping like (metaphor like waving and saying hello).
 |
| Stricly No filter (Honor 8 Lite Mobile) |
 |
Panasonic Eluga 5 Basag P yan! Mountains over there already
beep beep beep Egypt! |
 |
| Stony Shore Jersey Shore! (Honor 8 Lite Mobile) |
Alrighty,
there is a lot of options on how to get there, and for me this is what I can
share…..first off is to book online thru SAPTCO website filling needed travel
details as similar in
booking the plane tickets online. Besides, you can
visit the Saptco Bus Stations at Azizia or Saptco VIP Express Riyadh in Al
Wara, Al Olaya (please search in google map of many nearby stations in Riyadh) ahead of time due to reservation traffic.
In
our case I selected one way bus ticket, and then return ticket is via plane from
Flyadeal. Lucky us, the scheduled Saptco bus trip from Riyadh to Tabuk is a
direct route (meaning there is no stop over to incoming Saptco bus stations and
taking another passengers) and the stop over only for prayer time schedule combo
eating time and WC time; the driver will find a nearby Masjid mostly at
Gas/Petrol Stations. Another lucky thing
is that, the bus is only filled with a big number 4 passengers only (including
me and my friend Jeff) in a 30 seater modern bus with built in mini WC just
like in planes.
Since
our return to Riyadh is via plane (Flyadeal), we rented the car directly from
the Tabuk Airport (Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport) strategy to save time,
money and getting advantages of the facility (free water, WC, wifi, gadgets
charging, and a power nap). The only
light issue that we had in this vacay is the renting of car because four out of
five available Car Rentals rejected my documents (Iqama Card near expiry, while
in online system says clearly recently renewed) so we thought that we suddenly cut our happy
trip and think of Plan B (roving nearby possible happy place around the city). Thanks to Hanco Car Rental (Mr. Fahad) he
assisted me very well and understands that my Iqama is valid. (https://www.myhanco.com/)
The
route going to Haql is really enjoyable because you can stop over (use Mr. Google Map/Weather very wisely) in every interesting places along the way (like Railway Station
and Park, Tabuk Tank, Tabuk Fortress and Castle, etc.) before entering the long
and winding road way to the beaches, although the planned 2nd location after the
Haql beach is a failure because the road way to Wadi Tayyib Al Ism (remember this place...soon it'll be more famous) already
blocked and secured due to ongoing Neom Project. Take note that Haql area is already few
kilometers to Jordan, (you will see the mountain border) and Egypt (Gulf of
Aqaba in-between) you can do overlooking and even receiving Vodafone signal on
your mobile, and Egypt’s radio stations. (yallah let's plan now!) 😂
 |
| The long and winding road (border between KSA & Michael Jordan) |
 |
| On the way to the beach |
 |
| Ya!Hamad! lesh kidda? :) |
draf excerpt:
"first off is to book online by SAPTCO website filling needed travel details like locations (from Riyadh to Tabuk), the dates, just.....please (poooocha!) saptco have mercy upgrade your website....more faster and up to date like airline websites..pentium 4 or dota also the built in wc in bus......passengers will gonna cry....chertz!"
"The only light issue that we had in this vacay is the renting of car because four out of five available Car Rentals rejected my documents (Iqama Card near expiry, while in online system recently renewed) so we thought that we.......wait lungs....paksheeet u din fhd......nangkukubra ka buti smart fren q mathematician........pay exceeding km........nyeta ka din....dont us!"
