Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
For me, the Saudi Arabian adventure was primarily thanks to the Dakar Rally, for which I worked for five consecutive years.
I lived there for a while as a child with my parents, and I'll try to post as many photos of the landscapes as possible.
Saudi History
Saudi Arabia is incredibly rich in history.
Since time immemorial, peoples have traversed these lands in caravans: Bedouins, tribes...
Until the discovery of oil, the Saudi way of life was very down-to-earth.
Moving goods, often from elsewhere; camping; traveling from water source to water source and living off what the land provided: agriculture, falconry.
Despite what you might think, Saudi Arabia isn't just desert.
Nor is it scorching hot all year round; quite the opposite, in fact.
I saw frost in the morning in the north.
And that's not all.
I saw mountains, steppes, futuristic cities, vast deserts, a thousand colors, and breathtaking coral reefs.
Breathtaking landscapes
The Saudi people and their great hospitality
I was fortunate enough to meet Saudis, occasionally escaping the hustle and bustle of Dakar to go for walks, alone or with my colleagues.
I made encounters there that profoundly impacted my life and changed my perspective on the world.
Their generosity, their thirst for knowledge and exchange, and the challenges they face in relationships make Saudis a remarkable people.
Don't hesitate to venture into the old quarters of modern cities like Jeddah or Riyadh.
You'll discover architectural and historical gems there, not to mention the unique atmosphere.
Dakar race
For seven years now, Saudi Arabia has hosted the Dakar Rally, the world's most famous motorized rally.
And the challenge is certainly there.
Between the Empty Quarter in the south and the cold of Neom in the north, traversing the rocky region of Ha'il and the archaeological wonders of Al-Ula.
The organizers' inventiveness constantly pushes the limits of both man and machine by choosing increasingly technical routes.
