Al Ahsa (aka Al Hofuf, Al Hasa, Hassa). After several previously aborted attempts I finally got to Al Ahsa. I had the last two days off and am about to start a run of nights. Hence, no social life for a week.

I caught the 12:15 inter hospital bus. It takes about 1 hour 30 mins to go south west across the desert to the oasis town of Al Ahsa. There is a larger National Guard hospital there. I thought I would use the free bus then take a taxi to the different sites and have a look.

The bus travelled out around the back of Dhahran and into the desert. There are a few very small towns off the highway. But essentially I saw several examples of oil production, a few petrol stations, thousands of old tires (desert dolphins) and 2 camels.

As you approach Al Ahsa there is a collection of small hills. I could not believe how much they caught my attention as Dammam is so flat. But they are very sculptural close up. Unfortunately there was a sand storm today so the view of the more distant hills was limited.

Suddenly you blink and there are thousands of date palms. This is what Al Ahsa is famous for, a huge oasis with millions of date palms. At the hospital I organised a limousine as there are no taxis in Al Ahsa. I mean they only got their first mall this year. Al Ahsa is a market town....... back to the dates. All the farms are private so I could only see them from the road.

Moonis, my Yemeni driver, took me around the town. We went to the Qasr Ibrahim Palace, which was closed. Then to the Qaisariya Souk which is not open after the fire. Following this we went to the piped natural hot spring which was drained for the summer. The doors on the shops in the market were very decorative and easy to see as they were not open.

Then we drove to the village of Al Hofuf where there was a second closed palace and souk. Moonis returned me to the hospital at 4 and I had a coffee until my return bus at 5:15pm.

Adele, Trudy and I went shopping for perfume and gifts as Adele is heading to London on Tuesday for 10 days. I am jealous.

But I think I shall make another attempt to go to Al Ahsa for the camel auction and the caves. However they are both morning activities so maybe even going down the night before or catching an early train. I really believe I caught a bad time as lonely Planet even said things are closed between 1 and 4 pm.

kalas ma'afi mushkala, C'est La Vie, S**t happens.