Hospital Retreat in the Desert

It was that time of the year, early March, for the hospital's annual retreat.
The hospital (KFSHRC) has two branches, the main hospital (800 + beds) in Riyadh and our branch (400 + beds) in Jeddah. Once a year the "management" gets together in the Riyadh vicinity for our "retreat" ( a term I find curious as although the intent is to discuss ways of moving ahead the very term itself suggests the opposite). After flying from Jeddah to Riyadh, and staying overnight there, we were to be taken by bus over 100 km west of the city out into the desert to a resort location (an "oasis" in the desert). This year we were to be "educated" by a small group from the "VA Health Care" Network from the USA discussing how they overcame their many health care delivery issues from the 1990's era to transform itself to where it is today. This was done via lectures, working groups and open discussions. The other major attraction was obviously an opportunity to network, as well of course to have some local R & R. The abundance of food available was however not good for my pseudo diet.

On the resort grounds there was a large horse facility (several hundred horses & ponies apparently) and small race track. Needless to say the grounds and resort were owned by a Prince. However we were not able to see any Arabian horses on our short visit.

In addition to this facility, along with restaurants, accommodations, and swimming pool there was also a small African safari feature which we did visit on one of our "breaks". Strange seeing African animals in the Saudi desert - why not a feature with natural features & game related to the Arabian peninsula?. We travelled through this venue by 4x4's with a "guide".

On the bus trip back to Riyadh (eventually to the airport) we were able to view the changes in the desert landscape - from the "flats" and dunes (the "red sands") to the rocky cliffs and eventually the large geographical plateau that Riyadh actually sits on ...........

   These images brought back memories of the first "tour of duty" in the Magic Kingdom (while at the KFSHRC in Riyadh) when many weekends were spent hiking & camping in these rocky areas - memories of the silence 'out there' and the magical vistas.
Eventually back to Riyadh and to the airport for our trip back to Jeddah.

Of course the trip back didn't come without a couple of hitches. First our flight back was cancelled only to be booked on a flight leaving two hours later - not initially knowing this as having been given our boarding passes and to "discover" the cancellation while sitting in the boarding lounge.
Secondly during the flight back  I was travelling with a chairman who was Swedish, with the appropriate accent - he asked for a glass of water. None came. He subsequently asked again ....... and this time to be given a set of earphones! So much for flying Saudia.