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Hot off the heels of a recent Saudi Arabian escapade, which saw them take in rarely-accessed parts of the country, intrepid Bahraini bloggers Hussain Almosawi and Mariam Alarab have already set off on their next adventure to explore the natural beauty of Oman.
The married couple, both 25 from Malkiya, are currently exploring the sultanate for a second time, documenting and sharing their experiences online.
After falling in love with the country on a previous trip, they have decided to return this time taking in various sights they had not come across. They will be touring Bahla, a town in Ad Dakhiliyah, known for its ancient fort and pottery.
They also aim to discover the second largest cave in the world named Majlis Al Jinn (gathering place of the demon).
Mariam said: “My husband and I loved Oman the last time we were there. The natural scenery is beautiful, the people are friendly and inviting, and there is so much history to explore.”
And exploring is something the couple knows all about, having taken in some of the rarest monumental parts of Saudi Arabia, which they documented on their blog www.dilmunicouple.com.
Their past adventures include trekking for seven days in the Indian Himalayan mountains and 10 days discovering the beauty of Kashmir.
Hussain, a freelance web developer, said: “The name for the blog came to us while walking through Bahrain National Museum. Dilmun had been described as the land of eternity and the land that the sun rises from. We liked that.
“We love taking pictures as well and thought this blog would be perfect to share our adventures and perhaps later on show our work in books or exhibitions.”
The Dilmuni couple said the purpose of their adventure across the Causeway was to highlight Saudi Arabia’s many historical treasures and the kindness of its people.
They captured the sights with their new Nikon D800 camera and travel/landscape lens, which was sponsored by Nikon Middle East and Africa, and drove more than 2,161km from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia’s archaeological heritage site, Mada’in Saleh.
Mariam, a change management consultant, said: “This is such an important site. Formerly known as Al-Hijr or Hegra, Mada’in Saleh is the first World Heritage property to be inscribed in Saudi Arabia.
“We set off on the 12-day trip from Bahrain passing through Mecca, Medina and Al Ula city before arriving at our main destination Mada’in Saleh. The entire trip cost us BD350.”
During their journey, the couple visited various sites including the old capital of Saudi ‘Ad Diriyah’, the Holy Ka’aba, the Mecca museum for antiques and heritage, the cave of Hira situated on Mount Al-Noor and other neighbourhoods.
In Mada’in Saleh, the couple were over-the-moon exploring the tombs, railway and its famous fort which resembles Petra in Jordan.
Mada’in Saleh is the largest conserved site of the civilisation of the Nabataeans south of Petra in Jordan. It features well-preserved monumental tombs with decorated facades dating from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD. The site also features some 50 inscriptions of the pre-Nabataean period and some cave drawings. Al-Hijr bears a unique testimony to Nabataean civilisation. With its 111 monumental tombs, 94 of which are decorated, and water wells, the site is an outstanding example of the Nabataeans’ architectural accomplishment and hydraulic expertise.
Hussain said: “It was a totally new experience for us. We can best describe the place as an open museum to explore. The site is amazing and full of wonders. We were in awe of the tombs that are carved into the mountains and how it remains standing until today, despite erosion and the desert. It has remarkable rock formation.
“The trip went smoothly and we were lucky because Saudi Arabia’s roads are well prepared for road trips. The experience was also good preparation for more upcoming road trips that we have in store in more remote places or countries.
“The challenge was to come back with photographs in a country that considers photography as prohibited activity that needs permission. Another trial for us was the long distance and constant movement.
“Truth be told, every moment was special for us, because we were together. But perhaps the best was when we finally reached Mada’in Saleh and saw it for the first time.”
The daring duo believe that travel is a rewarding thing that should be experienced and encourage others to give it a go.
Mariam said: “Travelling is not only about having fun but it has many other rewards, getting out of your comfort zone, pushing your own limits and sometimes ends many fears that you have about places and about people. It also helps you understand what’s happening around the world and how people really live, ridding you of stereotypes.”
However, if you’d prefer to live vicariously, you can follow their journey on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook @dilmunicouple.
