SAUDI ARABIA, SUDAN, KUWAIT & QATAR
The entire point of this trip was to visit Iran and whichever other countries I could get to efficiently from there.
Had you told me before I left that I wouldn’t actually be getting to Iran I would have been gutted and thought the entire trip would suffer as a result. Well with every cloud comes a silver lining.
TRIP
SAUDI ARABIA
I have been keen to get to Saudi ever since my friend Jenna worked there but due to the visa restrictions it has only become possible to visit since she left.
Anyway I arrived and the first full day was spent at the Edge of the World, an incredible rock formation and one of the best landscapes I have ever seen. This is the number one recommendation for anyone visiting.
The following day was spent roaming the old town at Masmak Fort, Souks and the infamous Deera Square, also known as Chop Chop Square where the executions take place. Before flying out I was able to enjoy the incredible sunset on top of the Kingdom Centre before eating myself into a coma at Naj Village.
SUDAN
I had planned to visit Sudan 3 years previous but due to my Nana passing I of course had to cancel. I’ve been keen due to all the positive stories about the locals and I wanted to get a piece of the action.
On my first day I cam across a protest and unlike probably anywhere else in the world it was the most friendly demonstration I have ever seen! A surprise to most but I was being humbled at every corner.
Not only were the people winning me over but I had probably the best fish I have ever eaten, certainly the best in Africa
KUWAIT
This is the point where the Coronavirus was starting to take over and the time where I was meant to fly into Shiraz in Iran. After being told my flight was cancelled I opted for Kuwait, a country I had been before but was happy to check out again.
I had the biggest shock here as it was National Kuwait Day and to celebrate the locals throw the biggest water balloon fight you will ever see, excuse the pun. I wasn’t made to fend for myself either and the locals kept me stocked with food, coffee and artillery.
QATAR
Arriving into Qatar meant I was back on track but had 3 full days here which if I’m honest is a little long if you aren’t living it up in a resort or going out to the dunes.
I got the incredible metro to Katara Cultural village before exploring the new city of West Bay, which is insane! I would recommend to get the Doha Bus like I did the following day to check the city out and visit the pearl. Be sure not the miss Souk Waqif where you can almost buy everything.
A special shout out must be made to the Spa in the airport, it’s insane!!
FINAL THOUGHTS
What a trip, full of surprises and even though I didn’t get to Iran if it was a week later I wouldn’t have been able to leave the country. Add this to the new experiences I had at two countries I had previously visited and it wasn’t a bad day at the office.
PHOTO OF THE TRIP
NEXT UP
Who knows until the Coronavirus is over….tbc
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
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This post is part of The Oil Series, click to explore or for episode 1 click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.
