TRIP NA TRIP @ NORTH-WEST OF ARABIA
-DATU ONTAY-

INTRODUCTION !

Saudi Arabia is one of the world's most beautiful countries, all tourist spots in the kingdom are safely open to the tourists and natures lovers, the roads are accessible and concretely asphalted, it is easy to reach the historical areas within the kingdom, just only in the road you will enjoy the ride of 200KM/H and the scenic view of road sides) grab the opportunities and tour more until you have chance to do it.

The story behind the adventured of MGI – TRIPPERS to North-west of Arabia to the border of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, dated July 06 to 10, 2016.

The main targets of the trippers are the 12 springs of Prophet Moses AS, the well of Moses AS, the location of departed sea, Mount Sinai known in Arabic Jabal Horeb, the Rock struck by Prophet Moses AS and water came out mentioned in noble Qur-an in Suratol Baqara ayat 59-60, The House of Prophet Shuwaeb AS in Madian, the old house of Prophet Moses AS in Median, those sites all in Median now part of Saudi Arabia at the boundary of Egypt, Jordan and KSA.

The travel starts 9:27 AM of July 06, 2016 from the house of manager Seradj Abdulhamid at Asiziya Jeddah, we are 3 cars from Jeddah and 1 car from Yanbu, total of 21 trippers, to mentions their names are;

TRIPPERS IN KIA CARNIBAL ARE

• Manager Seradj Abdulhamid
• Nahara “Lik-Lik” H. Taha
• Ameed Madriaga
• Marry Ann Madriaga
• Lian Madriaga
• Abdullah Madriaga
• Raymon Cuevas
• Mrs Raymond Cuevas
  

TRIPPERS IN TOYOTA HI-LUX ARE

• Mr. Al Bagcola
• Mrs. Dati Bangcola
• Aga Lucman Mizalambat
• Mahid Camid Lucman
• Alinader Guinar Abdul
  

TRIPPERS IN TOYOTA COROLA ARE

• Faisal Alvarez
• Akeem Sani
• Faisal Halil
• Abdullah Balindong
  

TRIPPERS IN TOYOTA SEDAN-YARIS ARE

• Datu Ontay “EMER OF THE TRIPPERS”
• Ansano Abu Talib
• Fahad Madid
• Sowaib of SND

ARRIVAL IN YANBU CITY

Starting point is Jeddah and we took our lunch in Yanbu city to the house of Mr & Mrs Bangcola, the road way got more than 350 KM/Hrs to reach Yanbu city, this road is excellent for it straight formation, you could drive 200 KM/HR and there is no camera traffic been installed on the road. at 3:40 pm we proceed to our main target and we passed by several cities and municipalities, Umluj, Al Waj, Al Duba the crossing to Tabuk City, before Al Bad city the target area we passed by some town, Al Mowayli, Al Soura, Al Khoraybah, Al Kiyal. The travel took 676 KM and we reach Al Bad city at around 10: 25PM of a tiring inland traveled, we stayed overnight in the rented apartment located in the center of the city.

HOUSE OF PROPHET MOSES & PROPHET SHUWAIB AS

In the morning, everyone was excited and quickly took breakfast, exactly 9: 45am we checked out from our accommodation and went to the first target “MAGAIR SHOWAIB” the old house of Prophet Showaib AS and the old house of his son in-law Prophet Moses AS when he was advised by the king of Masir to leave Egypt, Prophet Moses AS spent his married life in this area and the deep well located along this village where he first met his wife, that site is near to our accommodation.  Everyone was excited to in house to house with selfie and groufie then I suggested to proceeding in the next target, [click for more photos]

12 SPRINGS OF PROPHET MOSES AS @ ELM MEDIAN

SURATOL BAQARA AYAT 60

وَإِذِ اسْتَسْقَى مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ فَانفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْناً قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ كُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ مِن رِّزْقِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تَعْثَوْاْ فِي الأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

 About 19 Kilometers from the house of Prophet Showaib AS, we proceeded to Al Magna municipality where the 12 springs of Moses and the 70 Palms dates located, in that area there were many tourists, we’ve thoughts that we are only Filipinos tourists in that place but we met a group of Filipinos from Islamic guidance who were touring also. When we reached the springs of Moses AS, everybody was amazed on the formation of the water, imagining mountain in the desert and water coming out in it, thinking that what is the sourced of that water? Really a miracle of ALLAH SAW, we took Selfie and Groufie and I asked Nader to pitch from the water and we tested it and the test is similar to the Zamzam water of Makka, we took also from the dates as souvenir and to observe its test in ripe. Then Selfie again, Groufie and the live streaming of IT Mahid Lucman so that some of the trippers’ members failed to come and they were watching true online -Datu Ontay- [click for more photos]

BETWEEN AL MAGNA AND TAIBA AL-ESM

From the springs of Moses in Al Magna is 25 kilometers going to the actual area of departed red sea of Moses AS, the divided mountain and the struck rock of Prophet Moses AS, when the descendants of Israel dying for thirst, Prophet Moses struck the rock and water came out from It and flooded like stream, the area also called Taiba Al ESM, in our way to the site the view of the road called our attentions and attracts the trippers, the views are extra ordinary, pure dark blue ocean, fresh air and the sea is marine sanctuary of underwater parks, we met there 2 professional divers, we stayed in the seaside for half hour in the diver’s tent and took some selfie, everyone is shouted for joys, then we proceeded to our next target the THAIBA AL-ESM –Datu Ontay- [click for more photos]

THAIBA AL-ESM THE STRUCK ROCK OF MOSES

SURATOL BAQARA AYAT 50

وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَاكُم مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوَءَ الْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءكُمْ وَفِي ذَلِكُم بَلاءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ

When we reached the departed ocean then we walked from the sea to the entrance of the divided mountain going to the struck rock, I asked Al Bangcola to observe the road with his Toyota Hi-lux if it accessible for small car like Yaris and Corolla.  Al Bangcola and some trippers went firs to the entrance, when he came back he advised us to leave the small cars near to the sea and we rode to his Hi-lux going to the main entrance with the KIA Carnival, in the entrance we park the two cars and there is a wooden bridge going to the main way where the descendants of Israel took their way going to Median, the bridge is quite long not to be exact estimated of 120 to 160 meters going down to the next entrance, the height of mountains both sides are estimated of more or less 1000 feet, while we walks to the struck rock we felt that we were part of the people of Moses those ancient time,

While walked we met a Pakistan national returning from the site, I asked how far the end of the way to the struck rock, he said 15 kilometers more and he suggested to go back, its far and it might be till sunset for us to reach the rock, I asked the 21 trippers to go back to the departed  red sea to save time because we are still planning to visit Madain Salih at Al Ulah city which is 579 KM equivalent of 6 hours road way, the trippers took rest at the red sea and ate some snacks, Silfie and Groufie at the back of departed red sea –Datu Ontay- [click for more photos]

THE TRAVEL TO THE NEXT PROVINCE

At exact 2 PM we leaved the area (Median) and took our late lunch at Al Bad city, at 4 pm we moved going to AL Ulah city part of Madina province, took our snack at Al Duba city, took our way going to Tabuk city and re-route to Al Ulah to the new road, we took the new road leading to Al-Ulah, and passed many human inhabited, few gasoline stations and mosques along the way. It was a quite interesting landscape, a sort of Saudi version of the American Wild West. At the entrance to the town of Tabuk we turned right and drove inland for 3 hours kilometers through a hilly landscape, we saw a high hill but the way brought us to the top, I was afraid at first for the steep land with my excitement and shouted for joy when our cars reached the top of the hill, Along the way we stayed the cold and fresh air, we saw herds of goats alongside the road and some camels. While on the road that curved between beautiful hills that kept changing color with the movement of the clouds and sunlight, we came upon an open area that had been cemented over to make it into a recreation area, sunset on our way hour before Al Ulah city and finally we approached the city of Al Ulah at 10PM, more than 1 hours looking for apartment most accommodations in Al Ula were full due to holidays season the eid fitr, Al Hamdulilla we found good accommodations around 11 PM –Datu Ontay- [click for more photos]

AL ULAH AND THE OLD CASTLE

We then continued our Journey to Al Ulah and stayed at the Apartment, a very nice hotel with comfortable accommodations, and cook our dinner. We explored the surrounding area for several hours and then in the evening visited the mud city and fortress at Dedan. Friday Morning at AL Ulah, the trippers took breakfast then took bath went to Masjed to performed Friday congressional prayer, at 2 PM we visited the Al Ulah Castle (more than 2600 of age) located in the north of the City, Ulah is Arabic term for first, referred to the city which is more than ten thousand of age. The trippers embarked to the gate of the castle and climb the tower of the castle, then pictures 2x –Datu Ontay- [click for more photos]

(The older history of the oasis has been divided into several phases. The Dedanite kingdom spans to the seventh and sixth century BC. Dedan is mentioned in the "Harran Inscriptions". In these it is told how Nabonidus the king of Babylonia made a military campaign to northern Arabia in 552 BC or somewhat later, conquering Tayma, Dedan and Yathrib, the old Medina. It is thought that around the turn to the fifth century BC the kingdom became hereditary)

Al-Ula existence on this historical legacy visited by archaeologists as well as political figures and government officials, lovers of nature and desert, hunters and explorers, Al-Ula with its natural agricultural nature and temperate climates makes the visit enjoyable. Mountains and valleys overlaps the strange formations of amazing antiquities and palm groves surrounded with fruits along the valley made beautiful scenery merged with the green color of nature with blue skies and sunshine that reflects on the golden sand. Poets and travelers in old and modern Al-Ula City described the multiple colors surrounding mountain and variations on each of these amazing panoramic painting of Al-Ula in general as magnificent and wonderful place.

Al-Ula is a land of peace and harmony with kindhearted, industrious and loving Arab people. Good relationships between locals and clans are still kept through generations. Visitor would love to stay and spend some time to meditate and experience the harmonious beauty of the traditional town. A place with blue skies, friendly people, fresh air, and environment away from pollution and busy city life, truly, town is still far better than city! The beauty of nature and peaceful life in Al-Ula attracts visitors to plan the next visit and bring some friends to experience this unique opportunity.

A visit in Al-Ula is not complete without seeing the noticeable antiquities in the old town. The pride of historical site in old town shows how local people lived and survived during era of political instability. Cultures, tradition and basic daily life of dwellers in ancient civilization will see on how the people in the old town built their houses. Old town in Al-Ula is still being restored at the expense of His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Al-Saud in order to preserve its heritage. Old town has played a significant role in developing the new generation of Al-Ua City. –Madainsaleh.net

OTTOMAN EMPIRE OLD RAILWAY STATION

(The Ottoman Empire also known as the Turkish Empire, Ottoman Turkey, or simply Turkey, was an empire founded in 1299 by Oghuz Turks under Osman I) Osman Ghazi; or Osman Bey or Osman Alp);

After we visited the old city and the old castle in Al Ulah, then the trippers proceeded to the old Railway station near Madain Saleh about 30 Kilometer from the city of Al Ulah (Turkish: Hicaz Demiryolu) which was a narrow gauge railway (1,050 mm (3 ft 5 1⁄3 in) track gauge) that ran from Damascus to Medina, through the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia, with a branch line to Haifa on the Mediterranean Sea. It was a part of the Ottoman railway network and was built to extend the line from the Haydarpaşa Terminal in Istanbul beyond Damascus to the holy city of Mecca. It got no further than Medina, 400 kilometers (250 mi) short of Mecca, due to the interruption of the construction works caused by the outbreak of World War I). This "interruption" was in part assisted by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). The trippers happily taken their Selfie and Groufie particular on the Museum, multimedia and film showing about this history, this was our chance to reach the historical site since few Filipinos able to visit the area its far and remote –Datu Ontay- [click for more photos]

WHO WAS OSMAN?

was the leader of the Ottoman Turks and the founder of Ottoman dynasty which named after him, his dynasty and him later established and ruled the nascent Ottoman Empire (then known as the Ottoman Beylik or Emirate). The state, while only a small principality (beylik) during Osman's lifetime, would prevail as a world empire under Osman's dynasty for the next six centuries after his death. It existed until the abolition of the sultanate in 1922, or alternatively the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, or the abolition of the caliphate in 1924.

Osman announced the independence of his own small principality from the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum in January 17, 1299, and was acclaimed the Khan of the Kayı tribe. The Ottoman principality was just one of Anatolian Turkish beyliks many small Turkish principalities in Anatolia at the time that emerged after the dissolution of the Seljuks, all of which the Ottomans would eventually conquer to reunite Anatolia under Turkish rule. The westward drive of the Mongol invasions had pushed scores of Muslims toward Osman's principality, a power base that Osman was quick to consolidate. As the Byzantine Empire declined, the Ottoman Beylik rose to take its place. (WIKIPIDEA)

THE TOMB OF MADAIN SALEH

In same day of July 08, 2016 we the trippers visited the Tombs of Madain Saleh. (Arabic: مدائن صالح, madāʼin Ṣāliḥ), also called Al-Hijr or Hegra (so in Greek and Latin, e.g. by Pliny), is a pre-Islamic archaeological site located about 30 kilometers from Al-Ulah north, within the Al Madinah Region of Saudi Arabia. A majority of the vestiges date from the Nabatean kingdom (1st century CE). The site constitutes the kingdom's southernmost and largest settlement after Petra, its capital. Traces of Lihyanite and Roman occupation before and after the Nabatean rule, respectively, can also be found in situ, while accounts from the noble Qur’an tell of an earlier settlement of the area by the tribe of Thamud in the 3rd millennium BC.

According to the Islamic text, the Thamudis, who would carve out homes in the mountains, were punished by Allah (SWA) for their persistent practice of idol worship and for conspiring to kill Saleh (an Arab prophet mentioned in the noble Qur'an), the non-believers being struck by an earthquake and lightning blasts. Thus, the site has earned a reputation down to contemporary times as a cursed place, an image which the national government is attempting to overcome as it seeks to develop Mada'in Saleh, officially protected as an archaeological site since 1972, for its tourism potential.

In 2008, for its well-preserved remains from late antiquity, especially the 131 rock-cut monumental tombs, with their elaborately ornamented façades, of the Nabatean kingdom, UNESCO proclaimed Mada'in Saleh as a site of patrimony, becoming Saudi Arabia's first World Heritage Site.

Since that this was my second visit to the site, I was asked by manager Seradj to handle the Nikon camera to take a pictures of the trippers, I suggest to visit first the place which we missed last our trip, from the museum of the Ottoman in Madain, we turned right and embarked the trippers to wide and amazing old archeological arts, we met there a group of Filipinos headed by a Islam revert, when he saw Ansano bringing a bottle of water, the Filipino motwa called my attention to informs the members of trippers to avoid drinking water or eating foods inside the tomb,  he added that it was written in a hadith that to say “astagfirullah” in everything we seen in the area, the place was cursed by ALLAH (swa) and it is still cursed.

After the first stop, we moved to other tomb, the word largest tomb called ALFARID, the trippers took some photos and we moved to temple of Al Hidjr, we climb the hill to the peak while other trippers failed to reached the top of the mountain, it was a record and honor of our group that Ms. Nahara “LIK-LIK” H. Taha was the first Filipina female who reached the top of that mountain,

After that temple we mill around to each possible site in Madain Salih, and IT Mahid took his effort to captured video at the back of Toyota Hi-lux for the live streaming, until such manager Seradj ordered to move back the trippers to Yanbu city, at exact 5:40 PM, the trippers went out from Madain Salih and moved their way to Yanbu City. –Datu Ontay- [click for more photos]

GOING BACK TO YANBU STAYED IN AL RAIS WHITE BEACH

After us visits the tomb of Madain Saleh, the Trippers fill their cars to the near gasoline station and they started the 4 hours journey to Yanbu, we took the shortcut road going to Al Ais city instead of Madina al Monawara. the trippers passed by several towns, like  Mogayra, Masader, Muraba, Al-Qrash, Al-Ais, while on the way, we stopped at the gasoline station in Mothalath to fill again our cars, then Ansano drove my cars for 200KM/Hour, we were shocked when the KIA Carnival driven by Allan Madriaga overtook our car which was running for 180-190km/hr,

The trippers stopped again at Foqqa’ali town to have our dinner in a kabsat’s restaurant along the hi-way, the trippers prepared the foods that we brought, then manager Seradj ordered some menus from the restaurant, buddle fight in the foods been done and we continued our way to Yanbu. Before Yanbu city we passed by Aswaik town, then Yanbu Nakhel, finally we approached Yanbu city at around 11 PM of July 09, 2016.

Manager Seradj choose to stayed at Al Rais white beach for the overnight camping and morning swimming of the trippers, the Toyota corolla with some trippers already left Yanbu so that Faisal Halil has a duty in the following morning. We let the ladies trippers to stay at the house of Mr and Mrs. Bangcola while the 9 boys’ trippers enjoyed their night camping with swimming at seaside.

Morning of July 10, 2016, the Toyota Yaris with the Emer of the Trippers also left the Yanbu and they safely home in Jeddah at around 12 noon. The KIA Carnival with manager Seradj Abdulhamid left Yanbu afternoon and they reached Jeddah at 6 PM. Thank you Allah (swa) for letting the 21 tripper’s safe in their journey and Alhamdulillah thank you so much for letting me and the trippers in reaching the historic areas and evidence of your greatness (ALLAH HO AKBAR) unlimited Alhamdulliah –Datu Ontay- [click for more photo]

The story to be continued next travel of MGI-Trippers in South-West of Arabia