Ash Shafa-a true Saudi picnic

Today we are in Ash Shafa, 2200 meters high, and the place where the Saudi King has his residence when the government moves to Al Ta'if in the summer months.
For hours we watched troops of baboons playing around, squabbling, de-fleeing each other, and collectively taking the local rubbish container apart. When Margot went for a walk she was promptly invited for lunch and ordered to bring her husband along, and so we experienced a real Saudi picnic.
A huge pot of rice, chicken, spices and lots of chili had been cooking all morning and was now poured out onto a single very large plate, everyone gathered around in a circle and with their right hand, scraped the food into a ball and stuffed it into their mouth.
It looks a mess, but that is how it is done here.
In between, with great excitement we were questioned about our journey while the mother proudly showed Margot her jewelery and the multi-coloured cuff of her shirt under her black hood. BUT NOTHING MORE, the face stayed covered!Läs mer