Rub’ al Khali, – the Empty Quarter
Wilfred Thesiger, an English explorer and travel writer, is renowned for his expeditions into some of the world’s most remote and inhospitable regions. Among his most famous journeys was his exploration of the Rub’ al Khali, or the Empty Quarter, the largest continuous sand desert in the world.
Thesiger’s fascination with the Arabian desert began during his service in the Middle East during World War II. After the war, he returned to the region to explore the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. In 1946, he embarked on his first journey into the Empty Quarter, a vast and desolate expanse of sand dunes and rocky outcrops that stretches across the southern Arabian Peninsula.
Traveling with a small team of Bedouin guides and companions, Thesiger traversed the harsh terrain on foot and camel, facing extreme temperatures, scarce water sources, and the constant threat of sandstorms. His journeys were not just about exploration, but also about immersing himself in the traditional way of life of the Bedouin tribes who inhabited the desert.
Arabian Sands
Thesiger’s experiences in the Empty Quarter left a profound impact on him, shaping his views on the relationship between humans and nature, the importance of traditional cultures, and the challenges of the unknown. His writings, including the classic travelogue “Arabian Sands,” have inspired generations of adventurers and explorers.
“Arabian Sands” is filled with insightful quotes that capture the essence of Wilfred Thesiger’s experiences in the Arabian desert.
- “For a time I believed that mankind had been hypnotised by a landscape so different from anything they knew at home, and that they had been led into a state of euphoria by the beauty of the desert.”
- “In the desert I had found a freedom, unattainable in civilisation; a life unhampered by possessions, since everything that was not a necessity was an encumbrance.”
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“For this was the real desert where differences of race and colour, of wealth and social standing, are almost meaningless; where coverings of pretence are stripped away and basic truths emerge.”
- ”“What use will money be to him in the Sands.”
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