The Gizan Experience; Farasan Islands in Saudi arabia
April 8, 2021
Jeddah-Gizan-Farasan, Saudi Arabia
Experiencing Saudi Arabia from the eye of appreciation and gratitude.
When I first came to live in Saudi Arabia with my two young kids (Sarah was 6 months and Yousif 18 months old), I would have never believed that 25 years later life here would be so much different.
In those days Mutawa (religious police) would be hunting the streets for hidden mistakes that they would inevitably find, making the street roaming in peace not necessarily easy.
I arrived to Saudi in mid December just to find a completely different atmosphere:
Walking at the Corniche (an andador built along 7 kms of beach coast with only pedestrian and bicycle facilities) I have ended up drinking karak (milk tea) with families enjoying together-time while seating on a carpet placed on the pavement and specially designed portable chairs/sofas. I have even been to a couple of their homes, allowed to take pictures of the food, decor, their hands and feet...
Of course while on the public andador, 90% of women cover everything in black, except for their eyes, feet and Hands.
At the beginning of my stay I never thought I would be making friends or hugging total strangers enveloped -in-black... what joy...
The intense joy that continues to accumulate from these wonderful unknown-but-known women who allow the divine energy transference that naturally results from a hug is now sprinkling you. Let’s hug while closing our wyes!!
The five-time-a-day call for prayer makes the experience even more enjoyable and magical...
“Allah huwa akbar... laa ilayha illaa Allahhhh...”
3,4,5 different imams remind us that everything that God creates is divine, including you and me.
And my heart stops into deep being...just being in total Alhamdulilah... thank God...thank all...
Four months later we join Mermates lead by fantabulously wise Reem, a lady visionary who
organizes soul-trips around Saudi Arabia at times where Corona regulations prevent Saudis from leaving or entering their country.
What a blessing. This country is so full of amazing secrets! And of friendly hearts that make you feel so welcome.
We left home at 4:30 am to catch our flight to Gizan, a 90 minute flight to the south of Jeddah. 26 lovely souls gathered by the spirit of adventure and scuba diving... but truly, it’s much more than that: it’s the love of life from the perspective of Alhamdullilah. All thanks to our mudiratna Reem, who with the help of Yemeni Jude manages to bring people together in a family spirit that creates tribes of joy.
On the plane Jeddah-Gizan, a 90 minute flight
Heading towards the frontier with Yemen
Because of a prince taking all if the hotel that has been reserved for us, we arrived to a not-so-well-taken-care-of hotel. Wa Alhamdullilah. This made it possible for us to be TESTED into the river of empathy and patience that Reem always flows in.
Wooww. NOBODY complained. We all just knew that our Reem and Jude had given more than what they could possibly give, and that when a prince comes and says “empty the hotel for my entourage and me”, it has to be this way, even knowing that they will not get paid “for service to the nation”.
And let us leave it at that.
After 90 minutes flight we reached a nice hotel where we had breakfast in Gizan. Then we gathered to introduce ourselves... one more interesting person than another, all Saudis who have traveled and even studied abroad, becoming super inspiring “agents” of creativity and social weaving.
Wow! I realized just what I had gotten into: not only a rehla (trip), but a full life experience!
Introducing each other in a cosmic trip (also comic for what is life without laughter?)
We then took a 2 hour ferry boat towards Farasan, an island 🏝 most famous for its controversial Parrot-fish Festival which the locals celebrate every Spring.
The female waiting room in the ferry premises. We have to go through ID control before being able to board the ferry
Sailing towards the Farasan island which was the “prison in liberty” in the past.
Getting to know each other is the most nutritious activity we can engage in
Reem briefing us about the schedule before dinner in our-not-our-hotel. I was feeling SO happy to be amongst such caring people that just played along no matter what challenge 🙏
The tour to the lovely Farsan heritage museum, enabled us to imagine how life was in the olden times.
It was particularly interesting to know about the life of a newly wed: they would live in a one room home, where the clothes would be stored by hanging them in a rope across the room.
The newly wed woman would not be allowed to leave her house for the first year of marriage
OMG, I’d better reconsider getting married...😇
Well, if I can live in a house like this, I could reconsider...
Dream-ceilings
History is what we wear from our ancestors
This inspiring poet and writer whose efforts brought Farasan to the light of the world (locals wanted to keep this town “un-spoiled”) telling us how mothers in the piden days used these shells to quench their babies’ thirst Subhan Allah!
And finally... DINNER! It’s very healthy to feel the intense call of the stomach knowing that yes or yes there is food for us waiting. What a privileged life we live..
We then enjoyed the most delicious fried shrimps and parrot fish... who would know that Saudi would be such a fun experience?
The next morning we left early to have breakfast in our yes-this-is-the-original-hotel, to then have a dip in the sea à la grande like the french would say...
Thank you God
Thank you Reem and Jude
Thank you spouse
Thank you co-experiencers
Thank you Saudi Arabia
Thank you sweet earthly body who allows us to experience life as earthlings
Thank you tribe
ALHAMDULLILAH...
Let us keep on weaving magic and splashing joy as we continue to walk in this fiesta called Life.
More about our diving dip in the next episode 2 of “Traveling with God” . Yeyyy! Always back to joy!
PS I just noticed that in this moment, while writing in front of the sea at the Jeddah Corniche the series “Traveling with God” has come to light. Thank you for being part of this magnanimous Cosmic Ride as earthlings. Together.