Beauty Streaming from Below and Above

A Journey to Ushaiger Heritage Village

By Hana Imširović

When Rain Falls in Riyadh and Wanderlust Rises

Everyday obligations are priorities—but the voice of travel keeps calling. One has to answer it.

Given how rare rain is in the desert, I was savoring every drop of an unusually rainy day in Riyadh. The sound, the scent—it awakened something in me. My imagination drifted across the Arabian landscape, whispering tales of places I had yet to see. Inspired, I opened my laptop and began searching for my next adventure.

That’s when I stumbled upon an intriguing destination not far from Riyadh—close enough for a day trip. I shared it with my friends, who, like me, carry a shared passion for venturing into the unknown. As we planned, I felt a deep wave of gratitude for the people in my life who make journeys like these possible.

Discovering “The Little Blonde”

Ushaiger Heritage Village—known affectionately as “The Little Blonde”—is one of the oldest villages in the Najd region. With its earthy mud houses and timeworn paths, it stands as a living witness to life in Saudi Arabia hundreds of years ago. Encircled by old farmlands and sustained by an ancient irrigation system, it is both oasis and archive.

The charm was irresistible. We agreed: we’d leave the next morning.

Golden Hour in the Heart of Najd

Full of excitement, the four of us piled into our friend’s jeep and drove into the desert. The ride passed quickly as we admired the vastness of the sandscape, exchanged stories, and listened to the melodic pulse of Arabian music. By the time we arrived, the sun was casting a golden glow across the village—it was the magic hour.

I moved quickly through the narrow streets, eager to take in as much as I could. And as I wandered, I remembered a quote that echoed through my mind:

“Beauty streaming from below, above, and beyond—simply from paying attention. Sound. Light. Shadow. Art. Warmth.”

A Storyteller in Every Stone

We were lucky to be guided by a well-educated Saudi man whose ancestors once called Ushaiger home. Dressed in a traditional thobe and shemagh, he carried history in his words and dignity in his presence. He spoke with ease, painting the village’s past as we walked among its preserved structures.

Then we reached a tall tower. The stairs were steep, but every step felt like entering a fairytale. At the top, the view took my breath away—the village stretching beneath us, bathed in twilight, the Saudi flag fluttering proudly in the breeze.

Where Dreams Are Not So Far

In that moment, I felt it: dreams are not so far away.

They live in places like this—in silent corners of heritage, in friendships forged through travel, in flags waving at sunset. All we need is an open heart and the willingness to follow where beauty calls.

📍 Location: Ushaiger Heritage Village, Najd
📸 Follow Hana's journey: @hannaimsi