AL-ASYAH, 31 January — The unusually high number of vacationers and hunters visiting the northern regions led to a shortage in the supply of gasoline at a number of filling stations last week along the international road linking Rafha with Hafr Al-Baten.
The places which witnessed the shortage were Al-Shuaba, Al-Habbas, Kareem and Al-Sadawi. Many filling stations along the road were unable to supply the unusually large number of cars with fuel. "You have to wait for about an hour to refill your car's tank," said Abdullah Al-Shuqaiq, a collector of truffles from Al-Asyah region.
"A full tanker of gasoline is used up in just 15 hours," said one service station owner, adding that they had to wait for a long time until another tanker came.
"It was so crowded that the police were called to control traffic in front of a filling station near Al-Saffania," said Muhammad Al-Qusair, an amateur hunter from Qassim.
A large number of visitors from different regions of the Kingdom and the neighboring countries of Kuwait and Qatar set out for expeditions to enjoy the full splendor and magnificence of northern Saudi Arabia and the nearby areas.
As a reult of the heavy rains that hit the Kingdom recently, the northern and eastern parts of the Arabian Peninsula are ideal for camping and a big number of picnickers stayed there for weeks gathering truffles and hunting grouse and other birds.
Prices of truffles reached their highest last weekend as visitors from Kuwait and Qatar thronged Hafr Al-Baten's truffle market looking for this precious food. "The most popular market for truffles is the one near Al-Saffania," said Abdullah Al-Shuqaiq.
Some vendors made use of this unusual activity around the area and displayed their goods in the open. "Everything is sold. An empty carton of bananas is sold for two riyals," said Al-Shuqaiq with a laugh. He added that the empty cartons were used for picking up truffles in the desert.
Shepherds also made a roaring business by selling sheep to visiting families. Sawaileman Al-Harby, a sheep-seller, said thanks to heavy rains this year business was booming. "A three-month-old sheep is sold in the desert for SR400," he said. "People visiting you in the desert do not make a fuss about the price."
The road to Al-Asyah was heavy with traffic during the three days before the beginning of the second school term which started on Monday. Many people spend their short holidays with their families experiencing the beauty of the surroundings. Al-Asyah is strategically located between Qassim and Al-Dahna Desert and the northern regions.
A number of teachers criticized the decision of the Ministry of Education to give only two days as mid-term holidays this year. "The only thing that spoiled our trip is its short duration," said one teacher. "The new term usually starts on Saturdays, not in the middle of the week."
