DREAM IN TURQUOISE

 

Trip to Umluj, Tabuk 

A Turquoise Gem of Saudi Arabia.

When I first heard about "the Maldives of Saudi Arabia" -it definitely sparked the nature lover in me. There is a beauty to nature that speaks every language straight to the heart. However, despite the dreamy illusion of Maldives, one must realize that Saudi Arabia possess its own gem of spectacular natural wonders when it comes to unique archeological monuments, millions of breathtaking marine life, vibrant ecosystems and tropical beaches. 

Umluj is a coastal city in Tabuk province that spreads around 150 km north of Yanbu and contains more than 100 small islands known for its unspoiled beauty, with crystal clear waters inhabiting robust marine life and especially, the turquoise hue of the sea that stretches far into the horizon, with its pristine white beaches-dazzling like millions of jewels at the touch of the vibrant sun. Historically, it was the second largest commercial city after Makkah. Also believed to be a contemporary of the Roman Empire, it was known as Al- Madinah Al-Baydah "The White City".

Onward to Umluj City:

As we said goodbye to the hustle and bustle of Jeddah city- the bride of Hejaz in Saudi Arabia, we took off towards the small oasis in Tabuk- Umluj Islands. It took four hours drive through the desert in the late afternoon to reach our staycation. 

After a good night's sleep at the chalet which we booked through a local tour guide for a three days trip-we woke up at the wee hours of the morning, excited to catch our boat ride for island hopping. As i stepped out, there was a crystalline quality to the air, with the indigo sky above, furrowed by rose-flushed clouds that moved towards the mountains far ahead. Driving along the shore road that curved its way towards the red sea, looked picturesque and alluring. Literally, a city dipped in honey.

The Marina:

The marina was brimming with numerous boats and yatchs to carry the vacation goers away into the sea and explore various islands. You can't help but catch your breath at the sight before you. The sunrise came as if it had missed the sky and wanted nothing more than to illuminate the blue and ignite the most perfect flame. The coastline was bathed in the first light of dawn. The boats were scattered over the harbor like fall leaves in a pond. They bobbed on the waves, turning a little as they did in their chaotic dance. The cold air tasted salty while the cry of gulls that wheeled overhead in the sky filled my ears. No music could be finer--the symphony of colors, taste and sound could not be replicated in a video-graph or in a photograph.

Things to do: 

• Soak up the warm delight of the morning sun, cool sea breeze and watch the white foam at the tip of every wave as you sail off.
• You can rent a boat directly from the marina (250-300SR/hour) or book a tour guide in advance- who can take you around various places at your own pace.
• The boat stops at one of the spots in the middle of the sea and provides an arrray of water activities like swimming, diving, dolphin spotting, and snorkeling at your heart's content. Fight the fear of diving deep as the water is quite shallow and your feet can reach the seafloor.
• Enjoy local fruits, fresh juices and cold coffee from the fruit basket.
• Note that marina has no food stalls or facilities like toilets and refreshments. Make sure you book a boat with toilets.
• Also note that, most of the pristine beach islands are not accessible due to restrictions from the Red Sea development, so you cannot stop at any of these islands.
• However, you can definitely go to the city corniche- Umluj beach, where miles of glorious beaches await you, along with dune buggies and horse riding for your pleasure. There are beach shades and seating areas where you can take your picnic baskets and enjoy the sunset.

Explore The Best Beaches in Umluj:

Al Duqm Beach 

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Duqm beach is one of the popular touristic beaches in the city because of its white sands which are adorned with tall palm trees that sway in the cool ocean breeze. The beach is home to permanent fun fare- including beach buggies, waterfront horseback riding and the perfect place to come with families to spend a wonderful time sitting on the designated green areas and benches overlooking the sun-speckled sea. 

An Evening to Remember: Sunset horse riding and a beach birthday celebration.

As the sun sank slowly below the horizon, a swirl of pink and lavender transfigured the sky, leaving behind a silver of dark orange. At that exact moment we climbed onto our majestic horses "Sultan" named after his royal demeanor and 'Najm"named after the brightest star. Holding onto the reins, we galloped forward into the sea to watch the phenomenal vista before me.The wind wisped his mane into the air like flames just as the ocean breeze swept across my face in a frenzy. The opera of the sea washed over me and the wave music was soothing to my senses. It was spellbinding.

As soon as it became dark, I was yet to receive more surprises! Right at the beachfront, my friends and family went out of their way and had arranged the most beautiful birthday setup , framed with string lights flowers, cakes and tea sets. The evening stretched ahead with lots of cakes, conversations, songs and laughter with my favorite people in the world and the ones who hold my heart in their eyes. It was the perfect birthday in every sense, and in all the ways only the Universe can give. I am truly blessed to have you in my life if you are reading this.

Ras Alshaban Beach

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Located in the south of the city which takes around 30mins drive , Ras Alshaban village is an oasis of its own. Miles and miles of silver sand extends as far as your eyes can see with soft sand dunes on one side and the vastness of the majestic sea on the other. Sparkling clear water and abundant corals make this a prime spot for swimming, diving and snorkeling. 

Tips to consider:

• You must come here with a 4x4 due to the soft sands and make sure you have enough water, drinks and snacks with you as there are no facilities nearby.
• There are no mobile networks nearby.
• Must leave before sundown as it gets pitch dark by nightfall.
• Camping is restricted as there are Police Patrol Cars around who will stop you.

Personally, the snorkeling experience has been surreal in Ras Alshaban! There is no other wonderland on Earth other than the community of fish and corals as you dip down into the underworld. They sung of living in their colors- the nature-sequined fish of gold and silver, electric blue and yellow with bold striking patterns-a sort of visual choir seen by the eyes and heard by the soul. The corals laughed as if it had dreamed of all the color combinations to break every rule and still be the finest of artwork! 

In fact, the warm seas around Umluj are home to 300 species of hard corals and reported to be more than four times than that of Caribbean- green and Hawksbill turtles, dolphins and more than 1,200 fish species.

The ocean shore is a getaway, a place where the aquatic and terrestrial worlds collide.

 

Breakfast in Umluj:

Breakfast on the second day of trip was pleasant. The rooftop restaurant at Shada Collection Mina Hotel had the perfect view overlooking the Red Sea sparkling in the morning glow. 

The restaurant was filled with the appetizing aroma as the waiter brought us the Arabic breakfast platters of poached eggs, omelets, olives, cream cheese spread, cooked fava beans, honey, jam, and hummus with pita bread. Then came the coffee, the music, the chatter and the smiles of those who cares to spend moments of bliss together.

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  Note: 

The small city of Umluj has restaurants which consists of mostly Arab cuisine and includes numerous seafood places.

Fast food choices are limited to only McDonald's and Herfy.

Few cafes and coffee shops are available which makes authentic expressos and cappuccinos.

Explore seafood heaven in Umluj:

While we couldn't visit all the seafood places in the city, the foodies in us landed in one of the popular restaurant called "مطاعم الزعيم الاسماك" which offered fresh catches of the day including mouth-watering dishes of grilled, fried and baked fish, calamari, and sizzling shrimp platters drizzled in sauces or begged to be dipped in spicy concoctions. 

Other recommended seafood restaurants are:

• مطعم صياد املج للأسماك
• Al Mina Fish Restaurant

Explore Umluj through History:

Lovers of history and architecture will be thrilled to discover the Ghobaya site which is home to ancient ruins appearing in its northern parts and depicts the old city of Umluj, also known as "Al-Hawra". Like most cities, Umluj is born over the years from a tangle of monuments and infrastructures, culture and markets which opens a gateway to fascinating ancient history. Many researcher believe that the area was a waypoint on ancient pilgrimage trips.

Emirates Palace

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Emirates Palace

The Emirates Palace dates back to 1954 A.D. and was used as an official home for the region's ruler for 21 years. Marvel at the ancient arabian architecture of the palace with its original lattice windows still intacts and provides a glimpse at the stunning views of the blue sea and palm trees. The walls were made to build a community, to echo with laughter and be the shelter for generations to come.

Al-Manakha Museum

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Artifacts and weapons

Al Manakha museum features an array of Saudi heritage collections and has earned a reputation to be one of the popular tourist destination in the region. This private museum is owned by Dr. Musaed Salamah Al-Faidi, who transformed his own farm into sections of the museum containing ancient artifacts from the region's history including- stone and wood artifiacts, ancients coins and money, bridal accesories, traditional wedding dress, old weapons such swords and guns, typewriter, pottery and copper utensils, historical seals and old car models.

Ancient well-preserved

Light shone through the tree branches as we walked through the farm situated right behind the museum- which grew lemon, mint, mangoes and various tropical fruits at arm's reach. Sitting on top of the marble boundary, I wondered - perhaps this is the pride of nature, this simple scene of flora and fauna which brings forth an eternity in each moment. A joy that comes in the free birdsong and a steadiness to my heart.

Lemon Trees at the farm

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