The OTHER side of the PLANET

Hey friends, Nigel's job takes him to some of the most remote and exotic places in the world. His last stint has been in the north of Saudi Arabia, at a place called AlUla. While he was busy working 6 days a week, on his one day off, he went out and visited some of the fascinating sights around the town.
Hegra is a UNESCO World Heritage listed archeological site, with over 131 tombs cut into rocky outcrops. HEGRA was the second largest city of the Nabatean Kingdom, dating back over 2000 years. (You may be familiar with the capital of this Kingdom, the city of Petra in modern day Jordan.)
Nigel visited HEGRA (also known as Mada'in Salih, or Al Hijr to Muslims) on a bus tour and also from the air, on a helicopter flight.
Nigel also visits the Maraya - the largest mirrored building in the world, and takes a walk around the old town of Al'Ula
We hope you enjoy this episode - while it's a little different to our usual Van Life Australia content, we really love exploring those lesser known places too.
Thank you so much to our supporters on Patreon - you can join the community here: www.patreon.com/user?u=23150466
Want to know about our van build? Check out this post: bit.ly/3s7C6tJ
Please consider subscribing to our channel - we bring you travel guides and vanlife tips weekly with a peek into our lives on the road.
WHO ARE WE?
We are Nigel and Sue (NaS) Adventures, a couple of outdoor adventurers. We've been Overlanding Australia living in our self-converted 4x4 Sprinter van since January 2021. Join us as we visit the highlights, but also share some off the beaten path hidden gems, along with the day to day realities of living in a van.
Keep up to date with our adventures on instagram at / nas_adventures
Or Facebook / nigelandsueadventures
#hegra #alula #saudiarabia

[@ngt206]

A big thanks to everyone for your kind comments/feedback. I have a whole bunch of footage from my time working in places like Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and my plan is to eventually get round to editing some of that footage into a highlights reel. Those two countries alone have afforded some of the most amazing landscape I have ever seen, so it would be real nice to share it with you guys! However, time available being our most limiting factor, so please bear with us... Ok y'all, all the best to you for 2024.

[@davidfrew1518]

Absolutely stunning - Nigel you lucky bastard. Thanks so much for going to the effort to produce this.

[@nigelandsueadventures]

He did well didn’t he?

[@HeleneR67]

❤ your voice Nigel very soothing and your experience and knowledge is wonderful. Such a joy watching and listening to you ❤

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Thanks Helene! He is becoming more comfortable in front of the camera.

[@glendafaber1245]

WOW! Just WOW! Amazing, I want to go there. Thanks Nigel for video.

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it! Me too!

[@geoffotaylor2276]

I remember like it was yesterday, sitting at the lakeland having a beer with Nigel and he told me that he wasn't coming back the following season, he was going home to learn how to fly helicopters, he knew excactly what he wanted to do and how he was going to do it. I thought that he had had one too many beers at first, but when he started explaining everything to me I realised that he was serious. He's probably got the best job in the world, hard but amazing work. Keep up the good flying, not only in the helicopter but also the drone. Yes please, more of Nigel flying, looks like you might be going with him in the future Sue.

[@ngt206]

Reckon I must've had too many beers Geoffo, as I don't remember the conversation! But I'll take your word for it. Lol. Nevertheless, it demonstrates the "power of the word" when it comes to following through on whatever you choose to share with family/friends/colleagues would you agree? I certainly had my share of knockers back then, but that's ok. That's life. What's important to remember is not to take it personally and concentrate on what is important to you! "What people think of me is none of my business" (to steal an Eleanor Roosevelt quote) Take care old friend!

[@geoffotaylor2276]

@ngt206 you were telling everyone at that stage Nigel, for you I was another one listening but for me I was listening to an amazing story. I take my hat off to you Nigel, you blow me away, you had a dream and followed through with it. I've jumped out of enough chinook helicopters in my time but never been up front, the pilots were "untouchables" "legends" For you it's your daily work but for many people a dream. You guys are really living the dream, because of you two I'm thinking of selling everything I have and getting a van to go through Europe and spend at least 10 years travelling then I will be 70 so will return to the Netherlands and go and live with my daughter, either that os sell everything and go and live in Hopfgarten

[@kaynicholls9066]

Absolutely stunning video guy's, super great content as always. 😊😊 I too would love to see more of Nigel's work/adventures although it must be difficult to be apart for so long.😊😊 looking forward to all that you share & your adventures in 2024 of Tassie & beyond. 😊😊❤❤ Now it's 2024 Chris & I can now say we'll be off on our road trips next year!! Bring on 2025, Retirement here we come!! 😊😊 Safe travels ❤ ❤

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Thanks Kay! He’s not sure where he will be on his next tour, hopefully somewhere cool!. And how exciting for you guys. The countdown is ON!

[@carladalton6220]

Wow! That was amazing! If not for the carvings of the tombs, so many of those rock formations could have been in the outback of Australia!! Those date palms in the middle of all that dryness are beautiful. Quite incredible to see the little taste of Nigel's work, lifting all that equipment. Not for the faint hearted! Lovely to see what he gets up to and would love to see more in the future. Carla x

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Thanks Carla, I know it’s hard to imagine what it’s like over there. So glad he came home with all this footage!

[@LynneCarey]

That was fantastic. Would always be good to see more. It's highly unlikely I would ever be able to visit there in person, so it is amazing to get to see it all. Thanks for going to the trouble. 🤗

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Never say never Lynne! It was never in my radar, but I’m dying to go now

[@TheRaimo]

Very interesting, nice to see a place that is so intriguing . More please.

[@nigelandsueadventures]

I agree! It’s really fascinating.

[@davewain363]

Stunning scenery and would love to see much more of Nigels work destinations.

[@nigelandsueadventures]

We have no idea where he will be in the next tour, but hopefully somewhere just as interesting

[@pasveritas1872]

Wow cool video. Thanks for the ride there Nigel. It's like another time/space - ancient and modern Saudi. More please 🙏

[@nigelandsueadventures]

It really is, isn’t it? Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching

[@rachaelcooper1919]

That was amazing 🤩 Thanks for sharing Nigel.

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Thanks for watching Rachael. 👍

[@deeoh3708]

Wow... interesting video from Nigel. Thanks for taking us there. Very enjoyable. ps... yes, love to see more of Nige's work adventures :)

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Cheers Dee! I’ll enjoy him being home for a while as we travel through Tassie, and hopefully he gets to go to some more interesting places next yime

[@robyndehavilland1609]

Wow that was so cool to see. Great footage Nigel, yes please to more of these adventures 😊

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Pressure is on for Nigel!! Hope he goes back to somewhere interesting again!

[@lisafrancis485]

Wow loved it especially the mirrored building and the rock formations 😮❤

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Such a fascinating place! I can’t wait to visit myself

[@shaunacotter4665]

Loved the video Nigel, having lived there for 2 years back in the 80's it was very interesting for me. I lived in Tabuk, 350 kilometres north of there and spent many weekends at the Red Sea, just stunning. Yes more of this please 🙏

[@nigeltindall1446]

Ah no way?! Cool. Haven’t as yet been through Tabuk but I know exactly where you mean. Keen to get down to some Red Sea locations. Bring it on!🙌

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it Shauna, are you still in FNQ?

[@lynleykennedy8688]

That was amazing thank you I can now appreciate why you enjoy the outback of Australia. Thanks again will await more KZbin s

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it Lynley, hopefully we all get to see more of Saudi through Nigel’s eyes

[@neilthorman3646]

Hey guys that was truly amazing very enjoyable to watch, wouldn’t it be fun to take the van over there and travel around. It was so great to see what Nigel does when he goes away . Thank you

[@nigelandsueadventures]

I’m manifesting a van trip over there, don’t worry!!

[@travelswithforrestflo1239]

That was great, thanks for sharing Nigel. It’s definitely somewhere we would love to go, it looks incredible 👍

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Me too, it looks so fascinating!!

[@timothydunn5889]

Thanks for that insight into Saudi. It seems a lot better ordered than some of the region. I would be happy to see more content like this. Cheers.❤

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Will do our best to bring you more videos like this.

[@juliekirby3958]

Wow! Absolutely fascinating! Thank you for sharing

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Agree. I knew nothing about Saudi, except all the negative stuff in the media

[@bronwyncox8980]

Thanks for the video, the mirrored building looked amazing!

[@nigelandsueadventures]

And out on the middle of the desert! Nuts hey?

[@jennyrego7321]

Wow, fascinating. Would love to see more of Nigel's adventures. Thanks for sharing

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Thanks Jen, not sure where he’ll be next tour, hopefully somewhere cool

[@melindacharlesworth4369]

Really enjoyed this one. Such a fascinating place!!!

[@nigelandsueadventures]

I know! I'd love to go there someday

[@jeanie7369]

Absolutely amazing footage, I loved this video and would definitely like to see more. How cool was that mirrored building……Insane.

[@nigelandsueadventures]

I know. Isn’t it amazing to learn about countries we know so little about? (Me anyway!)

[@warrencramer4516]

Geez that's amazing, so much more interesting than I would have ever thought!

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Me too Warren! I thought it was all empty desert with a couple of oases here and there.

[@warrencramer4516]

@@nigelandsueadventures and Camels! Lol

[@jeanniehud]

WoW what a wonderful adventure Nigel. Love the Mirror building. Beautiful places. Glad you are safe!

[@nigelandsueadventures]

I know, it's fascinating isn't it? I can't wait to go there

[@peterhewitson71]

That was really cool to see another side of van life , its not all sitting on the beach drinking , cheers for sharing

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Thanks Peter, plenty of time for that when he’s home!

[@chrischristiansen8501]

Bloody awesome❤❤❤

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Cheers Chris! Glad you enjoyed it

[@michaelsecomb4115]

That was fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching Michael

[@debbicycle2143]

Loved it, THANKYOU ❤

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it! What a surprise it was for me too.

[@paulinebrennan8836]

That was amazing, thanks for sharing it ❤

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it! It looks like such a fascinating place.

[@helenvwalker7919]

Cool mirrored hotel reflections!

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Such an interesting building to have out in the middle of the desert.

[@paulaportelli1499]

Fascinating place Nigel, would love to see more of your trips to work. Not sure I could convince my husband to take a trip to Saudi but it reminds a bit of parts of Turkey.

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Thanks Paula, I checked in the map and it’s really not that far from Turkey at all.

[@campingaustralia6698]

Awesome ❤❤

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Thanks 🤗 glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@sandrahoskins6883]

WOW ! Amazing!!

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Thanks Sandra, glad you enjoyed it!

[@vickiedge7407]

Looks great!!

[@nigelandsueadventures]

It really looks amazing doesn’t it!

[@Lee-astrololee]

There certainly is some fascinating places around the world, all unique depicting the customs of the country. My favourite place I have travelled to was Greece and in particular the Asklepion on Kos, The Mountains in Meteora the waterfalls in Edessa as well as the Parthenon and many other ancient places. Travelling is so educational and so exhilarating but mostly it makes you also appreciate home. When you get back to Australia you notice more the uniqueness of what is here. I can remember in my travels some days were so exhausting that all I wanted to do was transport myself back home to look at gumtrees! LOL

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Greece is amazing isn’t it? I have seen little bits (including Meteora), and I can’t wait to get back there and explore more in depth.

[@Lee-astrololee]

@@nigelandsueadventures It would be amazing footage from a helicopter, lol where's Nigel working next!!!!

[@nigelandsueadventures]

@Lee-astrololee no idea yet!

[@Lee-astrololee]

@@nigelandsueadventures It doesn't matter where Nigel roams so long as he always gets back here. Sue your lives are so full of excitement and wonder and l thank you both so much for sharing your travels with all of your fans. Cheers

[@nigelandsueadventures]

@@Lee-astrololee oh Lee, thank you! We appreciate you being part of the community!

[@graemeashton1917]

Wave Rock would be similar to the landscape in Saudi Arabia

[@nigeltindall1446]

For sure Graeme. Bits in pieces of a number of places I’ve seen on my travels through this country, but the place in Australia that AlUla has reminded me most of, is the Bungle Bungles of WA. Very similar rock formations.

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Except for all the gum trees around it!

[@stevenjohannesen88]

Sup

[@nigelandsueadventures]

Yo!