Awad Al-Tuwalah and Aref Al-Suwaidi Okaz/Saudi Gazette HAIL — The pleasant weather that followed the recent rains has spurred many families to venture out into the blooming desert around Hail and set up camps. The rains have turned large areas around Hail into beautiful oases and provided the ideal spot for short trips to nature enthusiasts. Aref Al-Metared, a citizen, said he takes his family to the desert around this time of year and sets up tents to enjoy the beauty of nature. Qalet Al-Ghazai another family camper said these trips into nature help him relax from the pressures of work. He does not allow his family members to take along anything related to modern life, as technology has resulted in distancing family members from one another. Fayez Al-Meyah, another fellow camping enthusiast accompanies his friends on these nature trips and his sole purpose is recreation. He said the fresh and clean air, away from the din and disturbance of city life, allows him to clear his head and think clearly. He said he does not take his family on such trips because children make him tense and agitated. Al-Meyah said he loves to lie down on the pristine sand looking at stars twinkling up above in the sky and contemplating God's creation. A Saudi woman also camping on site with her children said that nature trips provide recreation for both children and adults alike. She prepares for the trip at least two days ahead and ensures that all her family's needs are taken care of. A specialist in family medicine said such trips allow family members to come together, especially as the demands of work and study and the electronic gadgets have created barriers separating people from each other. These trips, he added, allow all members of a family to have time together and exchange stories about their work, school or friends. The rains have breathed new life into the desert. Hundreds of Hail residents wait for the rainy season to take their families out on these nature trips, away from life's dull routine. Some set up camps for the whole winter. Children and adults both enjoy practicing sports during the day and gather around fires at night. Mohammad Fadel, a teacher, said he likes to discover new places during the weekend, which has become almost a habit for him. He pointed that Hail has plenty of historical sites that he visits with his relatives.
