Saudi Arabia

[Davemurphy007]

Evening all,

Just backing up my phone and discovered that I have some half decent photos of what is otherwise a pretty naff place to live and work. I thought some people on here might appreciate them. All the photos have been taken on my phone (currently an iPhone 6, but I have a load taken on my HTC One as well to sort through as well) and some have had some minor tweaks done on PS Express (again, on the phone). I'll start with some more scenic photos, I plan to start doing video as well once I've sorted a motorbike out here as there's some truly epic scenery out here (if barren desert is your thing) and certainly unlike anything we have back home in the UK.

Hope you like them.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/F0A7772F-D393-441C-AD8F-636EC6FB4E93_zpsalflenmd.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/34D87B93-8349-4E10-A9B6-749B4B598C13_zps50d1a1nl.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/52F2E97E-E12D-49FB-A93C-59FE07AC13B2_zpsfeyh60tu.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/8236F8F2-1B27-4D7E-B9BF-D24AD1A2F133_zpsvddpxttx.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/C6E69855-2A8E-442C-B742-4A7419641163_zpsgm1fwxsu.jpg

[Geodude]

Nice, guessing that you get to play with them flying things :)

[Davemurphy007]

Yeah I do, force of habit having spent 12 years working on them and more in the UK.

I've committed to the idea of buying a motorbike out here (separate thread to come about that) and one of the first places I'm going to go is here..........

These photos weren't taken by me, but I'll be going here to take my own as soon as possible.

The Ascartment on the northern side of Ta'if.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/062e1fb0515d9e942b4aae858a6a40a5_zpsagdd6cbs.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/54d995c7cddce25acf98a7169fd2c312_zpsiz4y73x0.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/4f7e2385322e65e580cab42524ec9e0c_zpsutlmgxeb.jpg

[chris8886]

good looking roads from those pictures!

[Geodude]

It would be wrong not to have a play on that road :)

[dizzyblonde]

My dad worked in Saudi during the 80s. We've piles of photos somewhere from the Red Sea to dusty desert. He worked at Jeddah airport, and also in Riyadh.
I've a flipping awesome photo of him at the airport, looks like a film set! ��

[Davemurphy007]

Thought I would update this. I've now taken delivery of my new toy out here, which is providing ample opportunity to get and and explore some more.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/47AA9A6A-9DA7-4B62-A0ED-1ECA967E3745_zps7sbwsrzk.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/AFA5C745-2ABA-49BD-8A42-CD6453B2E0F5_zps8g1ptbbx.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/C45F37F3-7EC4-475B-A37E-E33E9AEB11D3_zpsp5fpa1ad.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/74E0E46B-883B-4AA4-AF54-58D0C233796B_zps6c2biiqy.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z36/Leo_Dave06/Saudi/B150AAFF-0791-4E06-BA8A-76AAA3318DD1_zpsjnda9ebu.jpg

[Mr Speirs]

How are you finding the scrambler? Tempted myself but totally different type of bike than I normally ride.

Where you live looks perfect for that thing!

[maviczap]

Send some of that sunshine this way!

[Davemurphy007]

How are you finding the scrambler? Tempted myself but totally different type of bike than I normally ride.

Where you live looks perfect for that thing!

I'm not qualified to say whether it's a good bike in the grand scheme of things as I've only a 16 year old SV to compare to lol. But I like it, though it's very different to what I'm used to.

I've just had the running in service done so I can now use the full engine rev range and, to be completely honest, I'm a little underwhelmed by it. It's got more peak power and torque than my SV, yet it really doesn't feel all that special. Maybe it'll grow on my but I'm still getting used to extremely light and sensitive controls - namely the throttle (wide flat bars when I'm used to clip-ons) and a cable throttle with absolutely no resistance - I have to keep checking it's not ride by wire!

But I can stand up on it (just) and it's perfect for the occasional dirt roads I have to/choose to ride around here. I just need to get a bit more confident with the bike and learn some of its more intricate traits.

Oh - and the seat's rock bloody hard! I've done 800kms over the last 2 days and my backside feels like it's done a dozen rounds with Graham Norton!