00:00Je suis Lili Douse et c'est Grand Voyager.
00:04Dans ma base, à Qatar, je vis le monde à découvrir des places de culture, de luxe et d'adventure.
00:13J'ai rencontré les gens, j'ai écouté les flavors et j'ai écouté les moments
00:19qui rendent chaque destination unforgettable.
00:22Aujourd'hui, je suis à un endroit où l'histoire, l'héritage et la luxe sont ensemble.
00:33C'est un short flight de Qatar.
00:36Dariya est l'un de l'Arabie d'un des plus important historiques des destinations.
00:41L'un endroit où l'histoire de l'héritage s'est passé.
00:44À son cœur est l'Atta Raif,
00:47c'est un site qui s'est passé comme la capitale de la première saudi state.
00:52C'est la ville de l'Arabie d'un des distinctifs de l'architecture,
00:56c'est construit de l'ombre d'une seule zone.
00:59Je suis là pour découvrir la beauté de l'héritage,
01:02de l'ancienne à l'héritage,
01:04de l'héritage à l'héritage et de l'héritage,
01:06de l'héritage à l'héritage.
01:09Pour commencer, j'ai arrangé à rencontrer Sarah Al-Frayan,
01:14a cultural guide with a deep passion for local heritage.
01:19Sarah, thank you so much for showing me around today.
01:21This is incredible.
01:23Please explain a little bit about this place.
01:26First of all, I'm delighted to have you here today, Lili, in the Dariya.
01:29We are now in the Traif district.
01:31As you can see,
01:32it's actually have the real culture of Najdi,
01:36architectural and authenticity of our traditions.
01:40Also at Tareif,
01:41it's gained the world UNESCO recognition for this site.
01:45At Tareif spans 160,000 square metres
01:49and is one of the largest heritage restoration projects in the region.
01:53Wandering through its walkways and courtyards with Sarah,
01:57I can almost picture what life was once like here.
02:01This district was home to mosques, schools and family houses,
02:05a thriving community long before Riyadh became the nation's capital.
02:10At its centre stands Salwa Palace,
02:13the largest structure in Atareif.
02:16This is one of the important places that you should see.
02:20This wasn't only a residential home for the ruler.
02:24It was actually the administrative and the political centre
02:28from the first Saudi state.
02:30That is incredible.
02:32What an amazing building.
02:35At Tareif gives a real glimpse into Saudi Arabia's past.
02:39Fully restored, yet still full of life and tradition.
02:43Close by, that same heritage continues in a different way,
02:48through food.
02:49Sarah has invited me to a local restaurant
02:52to try some authentic Saudi flavours.
02:56Here, traditional dishes are given a modern touch.
02:59It's a perfect way to end my experience with Sarah.
03:04Let me do that for you, Lily.
03:06I want to take care of you today
03:08and to welcome you to our signature dishes.
03:13Thank you so much.
03:14You truly have welcomed me and sharing food with you is incredible.
03:18Why is food such an important part of the Arabic culture?
03:21Actually, you know, the food is representing the culture
03:24and the customs of the people.
03:26And the hospitality is actually very important to us in Saudi Arabia.
03:30It actually comes from the soul.
03:32Saudi warmth is about more than just generosity.
03:35It's deeply rooted in the culture.
03:39The food and Sarah's kindness reflect the spirit that defines life here.
03:45After an incredible meal, I'm heading off to see another side of Doria.
03:49Not far from here lies Wadi Safar, a wide open valley set to become one of the most exciting new destinations in the region.
04:01The clubhouses and academy buildings are inspired by traditional architecture,
04:06blending local heritage with contemporary design.
04:09My coach today is Callum, an experienced golf instructor.
04:13And we're starting with some practice at the club's brand new driving range.
04:17Hello, Callum. It's such a pleasure to meet you.
04:20Good morning, Lily. Lovely to have you.
04:22I'm so excited to be here. What is in store for me today?
04:25So, in store we have a warm-up area on the driving range first,
04:28before we head over to the putting green, get a little practice there,
04:31and then we're going to head out on the academy course for some golf.
04:34This sport is all about precision and patience.
04:38And with Callum's help, I'm hoping to get the hang of it.
04:41How we would hold the club first, okay?
04:43So, the left hand would go at the top of the golf club with our left thumb running down towards the club head.
04:48Next would be aim. So, this part of the golf club here is the club face, okay?
04:52So, that's an important part, especially when we're aiming for a certain target.
04:56So, what we're looking for is to line the centre of the club face up to the intended target line on the driving range.
05:02There's a lot to think about, how to hold the club, how to line it up, and how to stay loose and relaxed.
05:08As I become more confident, Callum shows me how to bring it all together.
05:13When we put that back down and we take that stronger grip, that's what it's called.
05:17Yeah.
05:18When you make your motion off the swing, the club face is then squarer at the point of impact.
05:22Okay, grip's looking good.
05:25Now, just focus your eyes on that golf ball. Keep that head nice and still and strike down towards the ground. Good.
05:32Well done.
05:33With each swing, it's starting to feel more natural.
05:36Callum shows me how to putt on the practice putting green.
05:39And with the ball finally going into the hole, it's time to head out onto the course to put it all together.
05:46A few good shots later, and I'm really starting to enjoy it.
05:52Ah, fantastic.
05:54Yes.
05:55Great golf shot.
05:56Thank you so much, Callum.
05:57No problem at all, Lily.
05:59After an incredible day out on the course, I'm heading to get a better view of it all.
06:05It's been such a rewarding experience, and I want to take in this beautiful landscape from the perfect vantage point.
06:13I've had such an incredible day here today.
06:18Wadi Safa truly is the epitome of heritage meets luxury.
06:25Not far from here lies Wadi Hanifa, a long green valley that winds through the heart of the old city.
06:33Once an oasis in the desert, it's now a peaceful place to walk, cycle and enjoy nature.
06:40Cycling in this area is really relaxing. The cool breeze and stunning views make it a perfect way to explore and exercise.
06:52Just a short ride away stands Babsam Han Hotel, a luxurious retreat with real historical roots.
06:59Miss Lily, welcome to Babsam Han.
07:03The hotel's general manager, Fabrice Ducrai, is here to tell me more about the story behind the hotel.
07:09The hotel itself actually is a historical site. It started off in the Ministry of Culture, wanting to renovate a few houses,
07:19gnash the houses, and then one thing led to the other that's turned into the hotel that it is today.
07:27What began as a simple restoration project has evolved into one of Doria's most remarkable hotels.
07:34Babsam Han blends original features with heritage-inspired designs.
07:40What I love about this place is how it captures the essence of Doria, heritage, culture and beauty all in one.
07:49Each suite here reflects Doria's history, crafted with natural materials and decorative touches.
07:56This royal suite perfectly balances tradition and luxury, a colourful space that feels truly part of Doria's story.
08:05Just outside Riyadh, in the desert area of Al Muzamia, I am meeting Salma Tari, a skilled rider and Arabian horse enthusiast.
08:18Known online as La Cavliere Eligon, she has inspired over a million followers across Saudi Arabia and beyond with her epic cinematic videos.
08:30Today, she has something special lined up for me.
08:35Hello Salma, thank you so much for having me today.
08:38Thank you. It's really nice to have you here.
08:40This is absolutely incredible. What are we doing today?
08:43Thank you. So, I'm happy to have you in our stable called Chalifat and Naj.
08:47And first of all, I will give you a little tour and then I will let you have your first experience with an Arabian horse.
08:53And the last part, I will be riding in the desert.
08:56OK, let's get straight to it. Let's go.
09:00Arabian horses are known for their unique appearance, strength and gentle nature.
09:05Let me introduce you to our mares.
09:07Yes.
09:08So, most of our mares are located on this side.
09:11So, we separate the mares and the stallions and we also bring them to be calm and relaxed.
09:17So, when the students come and train with our horses, they are comfortable because Arabian horses are quite nervous.
09:24That's why we only let our students to ride females.
09:28Arabian horses are famous for beauty shows or for endurance.
09:32When it comes to endurance horses, we train them to canter for a very long distance.
09:37Oh, wow.
09:38And only Arabian horses can ride up to 160 kilometers.
09:41Salma takes me further around the stables where beautiful Arabian horses are everywhere.
09:47As you can see on my left, we have some mares and we can put them together.
09:52And they're all fine.
09:53They're all fine.
09:54They're all happy.
09:55Yes.
09:56It says a lot, doesn't it?
09:57The females are the relaxed ones.
09:58Exactly.
09:59We get on very well and then you have the stallions against each other.
10:03And you cannot do that with stallions.
10:04If you put them together, it's just impossible.
10:07They will be fighting.
10:08Salma brings me closer to these beautiful creatures so I can get to know them better.
10:14We feed them dates, a favorite treat, and it's easy to see how much they're loved and cared for here.
10:20Next, we head to the training area where a horse and riding gear are waiting for me.
10:25Before we begin, Salma shares a few tips on how to approach a horse safely.
10:30So, first of all, I need to give you a little bit of guidance, okay?
10:34So, when it comes to horses, always come from the front side, not the back side, okay?
10:39Especially if you do not know the horse, it might kick.
10:42And always try to make some noise so the horse is alert and knows that you are around him, okay?
10:47With Salma's help, I climb into the saddle.
10:50It's a little higher than I expected, but once I'm up, there's an incredible sense of calm and connection.
10:56Let me show you how we hold the reins.
10:58So, when you put your hands like this inside, like that, and the same thing on the other side, okay?
11:05You can really sense the horse's strength, her gentleness and intelligence.
11:10But I must admit, it's hard to tell who's guiding who.
11:15And I want you to keep the horse head straight, come towards me.
11:20Yes, and when you're in front of me, you stop the horse.
11:25We leave the stables behind and head out into the open desert.
11:29Riding through the sand dunes with Salma feels like something out of a dream.
11:33The landscape, the lights, and the beautiful horse beneath me feel truly special.
11:40As the sun is setting here in Saudi Arabia, I'm reflecting on what an incredible experience this has been.
11:46I mean, horse riding in the desert, it doesn't get much better than this.
11:50But now, on to the next adventure.
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