Newsvine
  • Welcome
  • Help
  • Report Bug
  • Conversation Tracker
  • Your Column
  • Replies
  • Friends
Type Comments Since You Last CheckedArticle Source Last Checked Stop Tracking All Clear Tracking All
Advertise | AdChoices
Log In | Register
Close the Login Panel
Existing users log in below. New users please register for a free account.

New Users:

Existing Users:

E-Mail:
Password:
Forgot Password?
Please enter the e-mail address or domain name you registered with:
E-Mail/Domain:
Back to Login
Log Out
  • Top News
  • Local News
  • World
  • U.S.
  • Sports
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Science
  • Business
  • Health
  • Odd News
  • More
    • Arts
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Fashion
    • History
    • Home & Garden
    • Not News
    • Religion
    • Travel
Visit Alex Haakonsen's column >>

ALEX HAAKONSEN

Home Page
Born in the arctic circle. How cool is that.
Articles Posted: 6  Links Seeded: 3
Member Since: 2/2006  Last Seen: 2/27/2006

What is Newsvine?

Updated continuously by citizens like you, Newsvine is an instant reflection of what the world is talking about at any given moment.

Get a Free Account
Help
Fun Stuff
  • Your Clippings
  • Leaderboard
  • E-Mail Alerts
  • Top of the Vine
  • Newsvine Live
  • Newsvine Archives
  • The Greenhouse
  • Recommended Articles
  • Wall of Vineness
Put a Seed Newsvine link on your own site

Travelling in the Arabian Peninsula

Tue Feb 28, 2006 2:53 PM EST
travel, dubai, arabia, peninsula, sand, civilisations
By Alex Haakonsen
Advertise | AdChoices

It may seem in the days of mass tourism and cheap worldwide flights that no stone has been left unturned in our pursuit of the unexplored. However, Arabia still offers much in the way of mystery and exoticism.

If you are brave enough to venture into this unknown, a feast of surprises await the senses. The scenery is the first to strike. The picture-postcard desert is home to an astonishing array of mountain landscapes, deep and rich forests, bursting and colourful coral reefs, endless date plantations and lush green wadis, plus of course miles and miles of undiscovered, untouched and truly breathtaking beaches.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of this fascinating region is its ascension from a 3rd world barren landscape to a series of prosperous, emerging nations in a little under 30 years.

The Peninsula is far from a large plateau of sand and sun. The cultural legacy of the great civilisations can be seen and felt everywhere in the ancient cities, temples and fortifications such as the Beit Sheikh Isa bin Ali on Bahrain's Muharraq Island, or the Madain Saleh embedded in a rock face deep in the heart of the Saudi Arabian desert.

So what activities might one engage in? Truly world-class golf resorts such as the Montgomery in Dubai, thrilling 'dune-bashing' (4x4s driven expertly over dunes at high-speed), wildlife safaris such as watching green turtles invade a beach at dawn to lay their eggs, snorkelling and scuba diving some of the planets most breathtaking and undisturbed coral reefs, or perhaps mountain trekking or desert safaris, meeting the indigenous Bedouin people for a cup of steaming arabic coffee with dates along the way.

Alex is a regular contributer to TravelBX.com

  • Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Back To Top | Front Page

Published to:

  • Alex Haakonsen's Column, All of Newsvine
  • Groups: none
  • Regions: none
  • Public Discussion (0)
Leave a Comment:
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
You're in XHTML Mode. If you prefer, you can use Easy Mode instead.
(XHTML tags allowed - a,b,blockquote,br,code,dd,dl,dt,del,em,h2,h3,h4,i,ins,li,ol,p,pre,q,strong,ul)
Newsvine Privacy Statement
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
FUN STUFF:
  • Leaderboard |
  • E-Mail Alerts |
  • Top of the Vine |
  • Newsvine Live |
  • Newsvine Archives |
  • The Greenhouse |
COMPANY STUFF:
  • Code of Honor |
  • Company Info |
  • Contact Us |
  • Jobs |
  • User Agreement |
  • Privacy Policy |
  • About our ads
LEGAL STUFF:
  • © 2005-2012 Newsvine, Inc. |
  • Newsvine® is a registered trademark of Newsvine, Inc. |
  • Newsvine is a property of msnbc.com