Rollin' Down The Highway To the Red Sea

What is it like to cruise down a Saudi highway?  It isn't a trip that most people will ever be able to experience.  This weekend I was able to do a road trip 3 1/2 hours south of here, so I saw a lot of the highway.  Here are the things I saw: sand, camels, sand, garbage, sand dunes, sand, blue sky, sand, security check points, and more sand.  At times I would drift off to sleep and then open my eyes and I would see a freeway from home, but when I looked closer I would notice that the people driving were men in Thobes with wives covered in the back seat.  Every once in awhile I would feel several speed bumps, which meant we were approaching a security checkpoint.  I have never stopped at one of these checkpoints, and hope that we can always easily pass right on through.  The important thing to notice is which line is passing through quickly.  I always wonder why some people choose the slow line.

To you it might seem very dusty, brown, and boring, but these road trips can lead to some marvelous unexplored places.  This weekend I was able to stay at a hotel on the red sea.  Now this hotel was nothing to write home about.  In fact, I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone.  It was very bizarre but it was on the shores of the red sea, which is a fascinating place that is the least explored sea in the world. 

I boarded a boat early on Friday and Saturday with about 15 others and a few researchers from the University and we set out to find Whale Sharks.  This is the time of year that the juveniles come into the red sea to feed on plankton.  Researchers are studying them and trying to figure out why the adults are staying out in the Indian Ocean.  Unfortunately this weekend was one of the few weekends that these gigantic fish were not seen.  Yes, they are the world's largest fish.  They are not even a whale or a shark, but have similarities to both, so hence the name. 

Even though we didn't see these incredible creatures, we had a lot of opportunities  to snorkel and dive.  I chose to dive each time to get a break from the waves and see the beauty under the surface.  It was amazing.  I felt like I was placed in the Nemo movie!   So many fish, coral, urchins, anemones, sting rays, and a turtle. There was so much to see and an hour wasn't even long enough.  I spent a total of 4 hours under the sea and I want more!  It was so fun swimming around coral mountains, going under bridges of coral, and going up and down the bottom of the sea.  I have never been so at ease diving.   If you live in this unique place you must dive!  It is amazing! 

Bryan did this journey a in March and was also on one of the few trips that did not see the Whale Sharks.  So, next year we will try it again and hopefully be swimming with the world's largest fish.  We will for sure take Cameron next year, since he is a full on fish in the sea.  He will snorkel for hours!  Carter is a little hesitant, so we will see how he progresses by this time next year. 

The diving center offers a "Little Bubbles" course that is for kids 8 and up.  We are going to check it out next year for Cameron.  Also, if you are a high school student here you become a certified diver during your P.E. class.  How cool is that?! 

Here area a few pictures. I guess you need a red filter for the camera to pick up all the colors.  Just turn on Nemo and you will see what I saw!

 Blue Spotted Sting Ray!

 Nemo!

 These giant clams are beautiful!  They are bright blue inside.



Me!  About 60 feet under! 

Now we are one month from leaving our home and coming back to the U.S. for a summer holiday. Of course we are taking the long way home, which will lead to more blogging.