I finally went traveling again!
It was only for 3 days but it was so great to be on the road again. Random encounters with people, great historical sights, beautiful landscapes, and most of all freedom. Man I love to travel.
I just came back from Mada'in Saleh, which should probably be on a few lists of world wonders. But no one knows about it, cause it's in Saudi. Well, coming here I found out a bit and knew it would be a must see.
I flew to Medina, rented a car and drove North 400 km to find Al Ula, a nearby city. I spent the night there and the next day, started driving the 20 km or so to Mada'in Saleh. With poor signage, most of which in Arabic, I promptly got lost. Which was awesome. I drove around the desert for quite a while and when I finally started to get close was treated by this great, Star Warsish landscape. You know the pod races from episode 1? Just like that. Big towers of rock jutting up from flat plains. Camels wandered around the roads and there were even little sandstone and mudbrick villiages. It's probably the best desert landscape imaginable.
So after that, I finally found my destination and began to explore. A lot of Arabs believe Mada'in Saleh is cursed, and so they don't go there. The reason is that apparently a prophet visted the site many centuries ago. The people of Mada'in Saleh didn't believe he was truly a prophet though so they asked him for proof. For a miracle. So the prophet came back the next day and with him, brought the first camel. He said this animal can drink one day, and you can drink the next (of its milk). The people of Mada'in Saleh still didn't believe so they killed the animal. God got so angry that in return, he killed all the people of Mada'in Saleh and that's why the place has been abandoned for so long.
I heard this story from a local guy I met that morning, and although he didn't believe it was too dangerous to venture to, he did say that it's not safe to stay more than an hour or two. Anyway, it's a shame that a lot of Saudi's don't go here, because it really is a wonderful place. There are maybe fifty or so of these buildings dozens of rock outcroppings. Most of them are tombs but some appeared to me to be living areas and the like. One huge building with something like a trough running all along its perimeter might have been a stable.
Anyway, without further ado, here are the photos. Enjoy seeing a taste of this place that most will never even hear about.
One of the more dramatic entrances to the site.
One of the cliff walls
More of them. Erosion seems to have hit the bottom over the last 2000 years 
Cool overhang
Looking inside one of them from the doorway. They are very roughly carved inside.
They started carving from the top down, as seen by this unfinished one. It would have been the largest I think.
The stables, or perhaps just a meeting place of some sort.
Me at what may be the "stables." 
Lone building.
A shot from down low. 
Camels crossing the road.
