Trip to Al Murjan Beach

Secured some day passes to the Al Murjan Beach area which is a private beach located about 30 minutes or so North of the Compound. We left around 8 AM, knowing it would be an easy drive (or so we thought) to the beach. About half way there, we stopped for some coffee at a McDonalds (yup, the Golden Arches are here too) and as we left the drive through, just a click or so away the car started to thump pretty hard. Turns out, I had somehow managed to pick up a bolt in the left rear tire the size of North Dakota... Soooo, after a NASCAR style tire change to the spare, we were once again off and running to the beach at Al Murjan.
Nice place... No abaya for Leslie here. It's a private beach. No Mutawa allowed!

Leslie at Al Murjan

It's really more of a splash around area about 100 yards wide. It does have a board walk out to the sea and we met the dive instructor! She is going to meet up with us and give us the study book so we can pass our written test ASAP and then we are going to try and setup our dive certification the weekend of April 19th, our anniversary weekend! One day in the pool, the next day in the sea, after that, certified to dive! I told Leslie I would, and I will. Thus I will be facing my two largest fears. Water and claustrophobia... woot! Actually looking forward to the dive. The water looks amazing. Some of the best diving in the world here we are told and not something a lot of people get to do.

Looking the dive island with the pier on the right

The dive master runs the outfit with her boyfriend. She is French as is her boyfriend we gathered. They are apparently buying this little island in the above picture to run their dive ops from. Good luck to them I say!

Maybe you can see the little fish in the middle?

Me at the end of the boardwalk. The Red Sea behind me kind of looking Southwest.

Trying to look relaxed

Les at the end of the boardwalk. Red Sea in the background. All smiles as usual! Looking mostly West toward Africa!

Leslie and the Red Sea

Looking toward Africa! I never thought in a million years I would do anything like this!

Somewhere out there is Africa!

Took a snap and accidentally captured a local on his jet ski. Note the young lady on the back wearing the abaya!

Local Jet Skier

Me at Al Murjan. Enjoying sun and sand. Temps in the 70s, light breeze. Amazingly pleasant.

Chillin'

After Al Murjan, we cruised back down the coast, took a stroll at a couple of the many walking areas along the Red Sea coast and marveled at how we ended up here and how things have gone so amazingly well thus far.

On our way home, we went for a stroll at a couple of malls, had a late lunch at the Red Sea Mall at the Saudi version of KFC called Al Baik. We ended the afternoon with a swim and some relaxing poolside at the compound. Well come on, it's tougher than it sounds and someone has to do it!

More adventures to come.