Dust & Dates: Lost in the Echoes of Al-Khobar

okay, so, i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. 7326105 and 1368259214… honestly, those numbers just keep swirling around in my head like sand. it’s like a weird, insistent mantra. the air here in Al-Khobar is…thick. not bad, just…present. 22.99 feels like 22.36, and the pressure’s a solid 1018. temp_min is holding steady at 22.99, which is…there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. i just checked and it’s a hazy, almost shimmering heat.

I landed yesterday, and honestly, it’s a sensory overload. not in a ‘wow, look at all the pretty things’ way. more like a ‘wait, what is that smell?’ kind of overload. it’s a mix of spices, exhaust, and something vaguely floral that I can’t quite place. i’m staying in this little guesthouse near the corniche - it’s basically a converted warehouse, all exposed brick and mismatched furniture. the owner, Omar, keeps offering me dates, which is…a thing.

I spent the morning wandering around the Souq Alawiya. it’s insane. like, seriously, a labyrinth of stalls crammed with everything from hand-woven carpets to plastic toys to live chickens. someone told me that the best shawarma is at Abu Ali’s, but i heard that from a guy who was clearly three beers deep. i’m trusting him, though. i needed fuel.

I tried to get some shots of the old city, the Al-Jawharah Fort. it’s… weathered. like, really weathered. it looks like it’s been staring out at the Arabian Gulf for centuries. it’s got this incredible, brooding vibe. i was trying to capture the light hitting the stone, but the humidity is playing havoc with my lens. it’s a struggle.

Speaking of struggles, my phone battery is dying faster than a houseplant in direct sunlight. i’m relying on my backup, which is basically a brick. i’m also desperately trying to avoid ordering anything that requires a credit card. cash is king here, apparently.

I stumbled across this little cafe called ‘The Nomad’ - it’s tucked away down a side street and it’s run by a woman named Layla. she makes the most incredible cardamom coffee. seriously, it’s like liquid velvet. she also gave me some intense advice: "Don’t trust anyone who offers you a camel ride." I’m taking that to heart.

I’ve been trying to map out some day trips. if you get bored, Riyadh is just a short drive away, and Jeddah’s not too far either. i’m thinking of checking out the Al-Masmak Fortress in Riyadh - it’s supposed to be pretty epic. i found this TripAdvisor page with some decent reviews: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293939-d1238733-Reviews-Al_Masmak_Fortress-Al_Khobar_Eastern_Provincial_Saudi_Arabia.html

I overheard some guys at the corniche talking about a hidden pearl market - apparently, it’s only open on Fridays. i’m adding that to my list. i also heard that the best place to get a traditional Saudi breakfast is at Al-Waha Restaurant - https://www.yelp.com/biz/al-waha-restaurant-al-khobar. It’s a long shot, but hey, a guy can dream, right?

Honestly, the biggest challenge is just…navigating. the streets are a chaotic mess of scooters, cars, and pedestrians. and the signage? forget about it. i’m relying heavily on Google Maps, which is occasionally helpful, and occasionally completely wrong. i’m also trying to learn a few basic Arabic phrases, but i’m mostly just pointing and smiling. it seems to work…sometimes.

I’m going to grab another coffee and try to figure out my next move. maybe i’ll check out that camel ride. maybe not. who knows?

Check out this local forum for more tips: https://www.reddit.com/r/AlKhobar/