Riding the Dunes of the Rub' al-Khali
- Community
- Aramco Brats
Author: Kirk K. Peterson
Released 8 April 2007
It’s not often in life that one gets the opportunity to travel to one of the most remote inhospitable deserts on earth, but for the fortunate students and staff of Udhailiyah Middle School that is exactly what happened; on the morning of March 18, 2007 students and teachers boarded a plane at the Udhailiyah airstrip and took off for an incredible field trip to Shaybah in the forbidding sands of the Rub al Khali.
The flight on the Saudi Aramco Dash-8 was very enjoyable with excellent service. Due to the intimate number of travelers on the plane individuals were given a special glimpse into workings of the airplane cockpit.
Soon the red sands of Shaybah could be seen as far as the eye could see. A feeling of excitement and wonder filled the cabin as the plane touched down on the remote runway between mountainous sand dunes.
Upon arrival at Shaybah airport students and teachers were given a warm welcome by Mr. Hizam M. Qahtani, camp administrator for Shaybah and placed visitors into the capable hands of Mr. Saeed Al-Zahrani and his assistant Mr. Mresal N. Al-Dossary. They were placed on a bus and taken up to the Oasis tent located on the side of large dune overlooking the handsome camp of Shaybah and stunning landscape that surrounds it.
After a delicious lunch students and staff were given an informative PowerPoint presentation by Mr. Hassan A. Bawahab on the history and development of Shaybah. An informational video about Shaybah was also shown which gave students a greater appreciation of the tremendous efforts that went into the construction of this oil production facility.
Waiting for the cool of the day to approach students and staff spent a few hours in the tent playing games and watching a special National Geographic video called Sand, Sea and Sky that presented information on special flora and fauna of the Arabian Peninsula.
The weather cooperated and was perfect for an afternoon on the dunes! After two days of heavy shamals in Shaybah, it received early morning rains that had refreshed and rejuvenated the region, giving everything a fresh look.
The red dunes of the Rub al Khali were stunning in the afternoon sun… beckoning students and staff to come and play. Sand boards were hauled up to the tops of massive dunes and students enjoyed the rides of their lives as they took turns riding the waves of a sandy sea in the Rub Al Khali!
As the sun dipped lower on the horizon the hospitality of the Arabian campfire beckoned. Traditional coffee and dates were served around the warmth of a patio fire pit. A delicious supper was served afterwards while students chatted happily about the events of the day.
The night time sands whispered in the wind, calling once again to be explored. Students were given multicolored light sticks that glowed neon bright in the inky darkness… soon students were scampering about on the dunes in search of firewood to feed a desert campfire set up in the bottom bowl of a large dune.
The campfire illuminated the night as students and staff roasted marshmallow and created tasty treats with gram crackers and chocolate bars. Ah yes! What would a campfire be if not accompanied by the tasty treat of s’mores, the staple of Boy Scouts and Brownies around the world?
A giant telescope had been brought from Udhailiyah School to Shaybah and was hauled up the side of a dune for star viewing in the clean desert air. Students enjoyed taking turns exploring the constellations’ of the night sky.
As quickly as the day had come it was soon time to bid our Shaybah hosts farewell. Students and staff gathered personal belongs and boarded the bus and headed back down to the airstrip for their flight back to Udhailiyah.
A wonderful day was had by everyone who ventured to an area that is rarely visited by the outside world. It’s not everyday one gets to play in the red sands of the Empty Quarter!
Photo left to righ: Bryan Hanson, Kirk Peterson,Gert-Inger McDougall, Roberta Waldner, Mansoor Ghoto, Alejandro Gomez, Paula Franco, Linda Hanson, Michael Estrella, Rania Hamzeh, Salindi Herath, Brad Born