tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51574447823377974982024-03-21T18:52:06.746-07:00The Beels in Saudi ArabiaJen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-49397959812224502932013-11-20T02:07:00.001-08:002013-11-20T02:07:35.477-08:00Other things to do in RiyadhDeveloping a social life and making friends was on my list of things to do next having settled into work and moving to our apartment int he hotel. However it is not as easy as it first seems It's not that I am impatient - Good Heavens not me! - but it seemed to me that it wouldn't be difficult to find some people you have something in common with and that you could find and do things together.<br />
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There are websites / groups you can join that enables expats from all countries to get together and make friends. Internations is one such site and there are a range of different activity groups that you can 'attend' such as bowling, eating at restaurants, 4x4 desert events and trips.<br />
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In the same way as seeing a woman covered head to toe in black with a scarf over her head doesn't bother me at all now (well only a little) these expat events also took a bit of getting used to.<br />
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The thing is that especially in September there are a whole new bunch of teachers arriving who are fresh to the wonders of KSA and trying to find their feet. I am speaking of women mainly here although there are also quite a few male teachers as well. Mixed in with this are engineers of various descriptions who are mainly, possibly completely, male. Some men have their wives with them others are waiting for their wives to come over. For the most part, people are lonely and vulnerable at the beginning of their adventure because they are adjusting to a new culture and do not have the security of family and friends to lean on.<br />
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I didn't quite understand this situation and so I was a bit taken aback by some of the women's behaviour towards the men who were equally confused. There was a desperate need for alcohol, men and well alcohol and men. They wanted to go to parties "How do you get invited to parties?" They all wanted to know and were particular frustrated when the answer was "A friend invited me" I remember seeing a woman just one small step from shaking a man across the table by his shoulders "Tell me how, I want to know how". I was talking to one woman and when a man walked past she hungrily followed him with her eyes. "Thanks very much, I didn't realise I was just a prop for your letching." I wanted to say. When I said to a woman I'd met before that she had been speaking to my husband, she looked over at him and said "Ooh heeeeeeeeeeee's handsome" "Piss off" I didn't say. <br />
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So we backed off from that a little but it seems to be calming down as people are settling in.<br />
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One of the major issues in Saudi is the segregation of women from single men or married men wandering around without their wives. Until relatively recently single men were not allowed to go to malls other than at lunch times. They are separated from 'families' in restaurants and in shops. Even for a coffee they cannot sit in the same area as women. The married man is esteemed in Saudi culture and single men are not.<br />
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Many expats live in what is known as compounds which are walled communities where Saudi nationals are no allowed. Within these walls you can do as you please. The religious police do not go in and so you can drink alcohol and walk around as you please. Men and women are free to do as they please. <br />
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What is becoming popular is having a day in a compound as an expat activity. You pay a certain amount which includes a meal, use of the pools, gym and facilities such as bowling and a film at the compound cinema. You do as you please and sit around and chat or whatever. The first one we went to cost 150 riyals (£20) for the day and we arrange to meet at a certain place and those with cars give lifts to those without.<br />
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You can see why this is such an attractive idea when you live in an apartment where there is very little natural light or a balcony to sit out on.<br />
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There are just a couple of residents on this compound at the moment. Wonder what they would think about 50 people turning up and using their facilities?<br />
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Martin went bowling and watched Ironman 3 again. But I just loved swimming and sitting by the pool and reading and chatting. Just like being on holiday.<br />
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The other thing I didn't realise although it is perfectly obvious when you think about it, is that many of the male expats are from Pakistan, Eqypt, Jordan, Syria, India as well as from Europe and many of these are also Muslim and some are married as well. They use these events as an opportunity to meet Western women in the hopes of having sex. I don't know how successful they actually are but it is both amusing and embarrassing at the same time having to watch. I know you are just about to say "Don't watch then" but we are sometimes used as props to draw in a young woman as she feels safe with a load of old people around.<br />
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<br />Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-34066713456866231262013-11-20T00:24:00.002-08:002013-11-20T00:24:13.172-08:00A day at the RacesThere was an opportunity to go to the races - no not camel races - the gee-gees. It was a small race course but it was quite interesting. The last time I went horse racing was when I was 8 years old. My Nan loved horse racing and the Royal Family and combined her two loves when she took me to an event where the Queen was in attendance. I have a vivid memory of Liz wearing a yellow dress. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the Racecourse</td></tr>
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The part of the city where I live is completely devoid of green areas and so when I get to see some trees, grass and flowers I stretch out towards them. This was a verdant welcome.<br /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large seating area for spectators that gave a good view of the area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The starting point</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">It was abayas on of course and there were none of the familiar betting points that we would expect to see at the races in the UK and naturally none of the excitement that goes with it. I understand that there were some surreptitious doings upstairs somewhere but I have no proof. There was a restaurant and a seating area and that was it.</span><br />
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The horses were paraded around and we oohed and aahed a bit. The jockeys are really, really tiny. No really tiny. Like Tom Thumb.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See?! Tiny!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Horse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have a winner</td></tr>
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Getting a bit bored after a while so me and Martin decide to have a verbal gamble. I go for the white shirt with the big navy spots. Martin went for the green and yellow stripes. We didn't see the end of the race because our lift was ready to go. I'm sure I won.Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-34519193870857179842013-11-19T08:53:00.003-08:002013-11-19T08:53:34.491-08:00The Camel MarketI guess no trip to Saudi Arabia would be complete without a visit to the camel market. We were doing a trip to the races and on the way we stopped at the camel market for photo opportunities.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One view of the market but what is most striking is the number of pylons</td></tr>
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The first thing you notice is the enormous pylons clustered together. The guy who gave us a lift is an Electrical Engineer and told us a story about a colleague of his who went up a pylon but it was still live. They couldn't find a body. He simply vapourised. So be careful. Is there a health risk associated with pylons? Poor camels.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin and the camels</td></tr>
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It didn't have the feel of a market. I was expecting an atmosphere of money changing hands and people calling out like in Petticoat lane where they throw dinner services up in the air for two quid. (Well in the 60's they did) There was just a lot of tired looking camels in pens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scraggy little baby camel</td></tr>
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When you look close they are quite cute.<br />
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Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-88769656892026143412013-11-16T00:57:00.001-08:002013-11-16T00:57:02.133-08:00The Edge of the WorldRather a dramatic name for a place but when you look at the pictures you will see that it deserves it's name. Since we arrived we have been trying to establish ourselves and get a social life. It sound easy - all those expats running around but the reality is that it is quite difficult. Everyone is new, the same as you, and also trying to do the same thing. But everyone wants and no-one knows how to do it exactly. We all get a bit paranoid. The people here last year are keeping it secret from us. It is like starting school - there are elements of one-up-man-ship - "Oh I am going to the party at the French / Italian / American Embassy" It feels like a popularity contest where everyone is trying to get connected. So it can get a little tense, like starting school or when you start going to parties at 13 / 14 .... you get the picture.<br />
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So we joined - or rather I did and Martin is a member with no privileges (I paid he didn't) - Internations. This is a site for expats and helps you link up with other expats. There are 'groups' and you 'join' the group and they organise activities in your are of interest. So there are a couple of 'eating at restaurants' groups and a bowling group and new ones come along all the time. This group is a 4x4 desert group and a friend (you become friends very quickly here) recommended the activity and I am so glad because it was great.<br />
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Trevor (the group host) has been around on and off for 27 years in the construction business and he loves the desert and the different places to go and has organised many trips and events. Basically people turn up at a meeting place and people who need lifts (all the ladies of course and men without cars or 4X4s) get accommodated and we set off for a destination with cool boxes full of food and drink plus bbqs. This was Trevor's last trip and so was glad to have made it - he is now working in Russia on the pipe lines. Let's hope someone else takes up the reigns.<br />
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We were both pretty excited about this trip and prepared accordingly. Martin went shopping and bought a pull along cool box with another mini version for drinks. He went crazy with the food shopping as well with a couple of racks of lamb ribs ("don't take them all" I said) and chicken. There were going to be a few BBQs and it was suggested that we bring food to share. Martin also made 4 boxes of salads - coleslaw, potato salad, green salad, and tomato and onions - he really got into it. It was gonna be good!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfz_PL2Beryz_1hgELo1bPhCmd-0sfN_j-pvKdePxcTnjxgxsJ6hzj3yYroewZbzsjP7OMFazSZtdKnVaCvDHzfuRAQrtbwLgotsQtTBwlkZvq_cMtC4QCzcIMfcK5s_e2YT3A3xnY-I/s1600/P1010384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfz_PL2Beryz_1hgELo1bPhCmd-0sfN_j-pvKdePxcTnjxgxsJ6hzj3yYroewZbzsjP7OMFazSZtdKnVaCvDHzfuRAQrtbwLgotsQtTBwlkZvq_cMtC4QCzcIMfcK5s_e2YT3A3xnY-I/s640/P1010384.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping for a break and a catch-up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtyv3tHHEH-u3NSxRudGjeEntChJNjdGmEu6asfMkQnB3o2Jth39LDPRc4EJucPZkomiSiria6MLBTmKzN2EC9z3jeJ1qIY9OwcbxVNEqll5rugCyCJkp7kTC5aE0m_gfL9fIBsuQuZw/s1600/P1010403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtyv3tHHEH-u3NSxRudGjeEntChJNjdGmEu6asfMkQnB3o2Jth39LDPRc4EJucPZkomiSiria6MLBTmKzN2EC9z3jeJ1qIY9OwcbxVNEqll5rugCyCJkp7kTC5aE0m_gfL9fIBsuQuZw/s640/P1010403.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trousers and no Abaya!<br /></td></tr>
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We met up at the Mercure Hotel which is French and shaped like a ship and we were allocated to cars. Martin and the cool box went in one car and I went with Trevor and 3 other ladies. The journey was about 3 hours in total, with 90 minutes on roads and the following 90 minutes over the dessert. There were about 10 cars and 50 people and we must have been a sight as we drove at speed through the desert leaving huge clouds of dust. We passed many camels who were left there to graze?<br />
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The funny thing about this dessert is that it isn't sandy. More gravelly, hilly and shrubby more like the desert in the wild west! Driving in the desert is an experience as there are of course no roads and the land isn't flat at all. In fact there are rivulets - is that the right word? - like when the tide goes out on the beach but bigger and so this created an effect of travelling over continual speed bumps. For the three of us in the back seat, we were thrown all over the place and I lost count of the number of times I hit my head on the side window! It really hurt!!<br />
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We stopped several times to regroup but on the last stop it was discovered that one car had got a puncture. This was the point we found out that new cars are no longer given a spare tyre and there was some faffing around as bits from other vehicles were being utilised to assist the car in trouble. This was a saloon car and the puncture wasn't the usual kind but was the result of a large rock that had ripped a bloody great hole.<br />
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Five cars led by Trevor continued on and the others were going to follow on as soon as the tyre was fixed. There was concern that 20 minutes after arriving the other cars still hadn't tuned up. A couple of phone calls later - reception was bad - we found out that the injured car could not be fixed and was returning to Riyadh slowly and was to be followed by another car and the rest were going to catch us up.<br />
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Martin was in the damaged car and so went back with its owner Bruce having handed over the cool-box with its goodies to Bill who had been herding the train of cars from the rear.<br />
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Trevor set up the BBQ and off he went to catch up with the other vehicles.<br />
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This is the Edge of the world and as you will agree was absolutely stunning and well worth the journey.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYHDfyIFEer_Y-qALeZdYsSI5cMZ6mAxx-D1xAcj8v83U_s-VdQgmsadSSd9vgrkPKq4P13aHUpAvTgkoUDh7m6ZXqGeV_PVzEQdf592gv24ulWfxhki3yLAIH-DfuUNyXcZOnydIBB8/s1600/P1010416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYHDfyIFEer_Y-qALeZdYsSI5cMZ6mAxx-D1xAcj8v83U_s-VdQgmsadSSd9vgrkPKq4P13aHUpAvTgkoUDh7m6ZXqGeV_PVzEQdf592gv24ulWfxhki3yLAIH-DfuUNyXcZOnydIBB8/s640/P1010416.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view between the rocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the peaks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down from the edge</td></tr>
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Trevor came back empty handed. He had found Martin and Bruce slowly making their way back on their own and made a couple of loops and couldn't see the others. He couldn't even see any dust so couldn't see where they had gone. But the cool box was with these cars so I had to rely on the generosity of the rest of the group. They were real professionals! By the time Trevor had returned they had lined up their vehicles in a row to create shade and laid down thick red rugs to sit on, plus cushions, set up a bbq using stones lying around and had brought enough chicken kebabs to feed an army! They had kettles on the boil, coffee made, and shishas at the ready! What a show. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFheK_HPvvJWnUveiMMHOY4n9oUtfeePH1Jm1t8RrYzh_4gTo3h4allt2XaE-6J6GF-gZjlqmjmF8bFFwLQ_jo5txzwU1YBxuSCpfzRfnf82bXs_oGAVtK3IYsCACnFFf7h2DGDIMgw_o/s1600/P1010429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFheK_HPvvJWnUveiMMHOY4n9oUtfeePH1Jm1t8RrYzh_4gTo3h4allt2XaE-6J6GF-gZjlqmjmF8bFFwLQ_jo5txzwU1YBxuSCpfzRfnf82bXs_oGAVtK3IYsCACnFFf7h2DGDIMgw_o/s640/P1010429.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between the rocks - see how small the people are on the left!</td></tr>
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We took turns to get up and introduce ourselves and there were a wide range of expats from many different countries and industries. A few teachers, nurses and other medical staff, construction guys and computer and business people. I had mistakenly assumed that the expat community would be from English speaking countries but there are a huge number from Egypt, Pakistan, India and other Arab states such as Syria and Lebanon. Internations events exclude Saudis because it would attract the attention of the religious police - the Muttawa - because the purpose of these events is that it allows for mixing of unrelated males and females which is of course forbidden in the Kingdom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeXQWdwOPM7PqeHmkgKOGr87xmjux6G0FcnDJUWPGzsA4mKbiCVSpIWx50tumY0oTluUWnvS77A4cDVEpU6sHPa3iuAWxljdHSB9o7zWanVvbDX4_uu8RiaaLX4rQUCdWh0FJsj6AEKY/s1600/P1010444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeXQWdwOPM7PqeHmkgKOGr87xmjux6G0FcnDJUWPGzsA4mKbiCVSpIWx50tumY0oTluUWnvS77A4cDVEpU6sHPa3iuAWxljdHSB9o7zWanVvbDX4_uu8RiaaLX4rQUCdWh0FJsj6AEKY/s640/P1010444.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun sets</td></tr>
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Martin, bless him, had a great time, even though he didn't get to see the Edge of the world - this time. He had a lot of fun enjoying the journey there and back and made a friend in Bruce. What happened to the others? They had stayed where they were, thinking Trevor would come to the last spot we had all met at - hence no dust. They left after an hour, believing that Trevor had left them alone in the desert.<div>
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And the cool box? It stayed in Bill's car (the contents had spilled everywhere alas) and it was returned to us a week later still with whatever contents were left. Of course Martin had taken all the ribs!<br /><br />
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Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-27953850640077339892013-11-15T10:02:00.000-08:002013-11-15T10:04:20.158-08:00Things to Do in Riyadh - When Darryl came to Visit<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
could be a very short blog entry. Not to
deride another country but there isn’t a great deal to do or see. Much of Saudi life takes place inside the
home I am told and as I am not party to this kind of life, I have to make do
with what is visible to me. That’s not
much. There are a lot of malls and a lot
of shopping to be done and there are many restaurants but all of these take
money and we are trying to save not spend!
We are starting to have a social life now and getting to know people and
so there is more to do now than there was before and this is do with people
making their own entertainment and organising events for everyone small or
large. So the following few entries will
set out the places we have visited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Firstly, a FB friend, Darryl, who had worked in Georgia while we were there came to stay for 3 days in Riyadh. He is teaching in Saudi near the border of Yemen in a small mountainous village which is a very different kettle of fish to Riyadh which is flat and built in the desert. The first day he was here it was Eid day which is the equivalent of Christmas Day in terms of what was open but we did find a couple of restaurants open and a mini fun fair in the mall was running catering for family fun. Fortunately, coming from Al Bahar this was a big thrill for him so our job as big-city hosts was successful!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night-time up the "West End". Al Faisaliah Tower.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riyahd "Bond Street" so they say.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYIDLmCT3kt9KoZFduZZOYbq3KdvM8N80U5yIygRlNd-W7PW2FhxT-L6UYnsfk2oVmVdMBsxsUiqmSg9WrrNKIk9Ed3Iag0vpTziGFn1aW3_TkQJdrWdd5RaFBebtz18tXdCD5QQ54kc/s1600/P1010362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYIDLmCT3kt9KoZFduZZOYbq3KdvM8N80U5yIygRlNd-W7PW2FhxT-L6UYnsfk2oVmVdMBsxsUiqmSg9WrrNKIk9Ed3Iag0vpTziGFn1aW3_TkQJdrWdd5RaFBebtz18tXdCD5QQ54kc/s640/P1010362.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas lights all year round!</td></tr>
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We made a visit to the Mashmak Fort. We couldn't find the opening times for Eid so took a chance and it was closed when we went. The times change anyway and the times on the web site were too confusing as it says when families / single men / school parties only allowed. Tripadvisor said that chop-chop square round the corner was the place where floggings and dismemberment take place on Friday mornings and this tends to gather a crowd so avoid it. We went on the Wednesday.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBARqNl6aSiBI3dt3W8YWaC_nY1f1UWlqXBMXqOeiGSaDWXKtVhz2JyURKm1Py7G1Z0YeOHuORL59zpOB72mZj_hqIGeSqWmMvEj8DyDDsgKmVj6TXF9s08Quyz_dXv-GdSDqv3lfpGs/s1600/P1010376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBARqNl6aSiBI3dt3W8YWaC_nY1f1UWlqXBMXqOeiGSaDWXKtVhz2JyURKm1Py7G1Z0YeOHuORL59zpOB72mZj_hqIGeSqWmMvEj8DyDDsgKmVj6TXF9s08Quyz_dXv-GdSDqv3lfpGs/s640/P1010376.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot and empty of all people</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7AaJijASOCJObHUQp2qlweJ_e0m3btVEYqRCmgQrQYrPyZ3iizh4368ZgarUJZPrlzqlS6WMqtziAfLtuZqsUqtazJ-jDJQ-TAPMWVIIsv6FZpbVzNXTH9C-rFJR1zVq_8725pWBqMU/s1600/P1010373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7AaJijASOCJObHUQp2qlweJ_e0m3btVEYqRCmgQrQYrPyZ3iizh4368ZgarUJZPrlzqlS6WMqtziAfLtuZqsUqtazJ-jDJQ-TAPMWVIIsv6FZpbVzNXTH9C-rFJR1zVq_8725pWBqMU/s640/P1010373.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front entrance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice lunch in Tony Romas Steak House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_aEaKfyzg3eiz6BkwWY6qiGff4u-L6JuyFy9hwLsjoes42btX0c1jLLLCZ8UeI2uX6pN9CbxVkl6p9YGjMC5FEwlibClsfMb7Ry6zEGXiTJRO3VPDYu66Wmus_zjoy2obqiXvBQoFXM/s1600/P1010276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_aEaKfyzg3eiz6BkwWY6qiGff4u-L6JuyFy9hwLsjoes42btX0c1jLLLCZ8UeI2uX6pN9CbxVkl6p9YGjMC5FEwlibClsfMb7Ry6zEGXiTJRO3VPDYu66Wmus_zjoy2obqiXvBQoFXM/s640/P1010276.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darryl and Carole - one of the people with whom he did his TEFL in Prague</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The national Museum in Riyadh is a large and airy building with nice gardens where families can sit and relax. This is the first bit of greenery I have seen here and it feels good to be walking out in the open among trees and plants. It was also nice to see families with children picnicking and enjoying themselves and it is a place we plan to come to even just to sit here and chill.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk8sL7KmpxPXJrlubZOD015bhkberr2AAzye_AVN9PvHKcidXC3mfzGcaU8jC_YDjcdJmH_GwAhdq_-8Qy955ItePIGIwVADl_6YfNhuKRaQ9vmtFXX0AYs4HfmBdL859RLbKuEt-dzw/s1600/P1010287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk8sL7KmpxPXJrlubZOD015bhkberr2AAzye_AVN9PvHKcidXC3mfzGcaU8jC_YDjcdJmH_GwAhdq_-8Qy955ItePIGIwVADl_6YfNhuKRaQ9vmtFXX0AYs4HfmBdL859RLbKuEt-dzw/s640/P1010287.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went into the museum foyer and saw the lovely gardens through the glass walls and I just had to go outside and look around!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A touch of monasteries and cloisters</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light, airy and cool with fountains - very peaceful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An imaginative playground for the children.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids had a lovely time with the fountains</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Families just chillin'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes it is true that a very small child IS holding a roman candle.</td></tr>
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The museum itself wasn't up to much. Sadly it had a lot of replicas of what we had seen in the British Museum but it was interesting enough with translations in English and imaginative displays.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin and colleague David playing the fool in the museum</td></tr>
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We came out of the museum to find more people than ever barbecuing and sitting around in the cooler evening air. really nice atmosphere.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqTXhq4eiZtbv_ggPwYGinYy_pWh9cPIVzhDtOPgCFWm4JQWA7aPfK0krirWXqXvpkNF1bkwvGaZxNHtZWDLhtkxsgaIbo7t2A6Pv5OnMK1kChXmXxTa-wTzpLVRR9A41oWJeQh9zja0/s1600/P1010339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqTXhq4eiZtbv_ggPwYGinYy_pWh9cPIVzhDtOPgCFWm4JQWA7aPfK0krirWXqXvpkNF1bkwvGaZxNHtZWDLhtkxsgaIbo7t2A6Pv5OnMK1kChXmXxTa-wTzpLVRR9A41oWJeQh9zja0/s640/P1010339.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening in the Museum Gardens</td></tr>
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Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-33206822651650149482013-10-12T05:25:00.002-07:002013-10-12T05:25:33.121-07:00Random PostHad been looking at these photos to see how I could make a thrilling new entry for the blog but gave up and so here they are.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPnEyp2i0jsYjMfbEL2QFzzCBoSY7zwo09Ro8HfoVzyeRTDx9nAJU7Fwi7fP2kaUjFeyId6nqZIoBey20TsF1oWn6nGUBkDm4iP0T-RIPVumge5z-ko7WKVA1T2R9dzf_NJA69ZYVIX4/s1600/P1010129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPnEyp2i0jsYjMfbEL2QFzzCBoSY7zwo09Ro8HfoVzyeRTDx9nAJU7Fwi7fP2kaUjFeyId6nqZIoBey20TsF1oWn6nGUBkDm4iP0T-RIPVumge5z-ko7WKVA1T2R9dzf_NJA69ZYVIX4/s640/P1010129.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locked inside the supermarket when the staff are off for prayer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFNTn3OJllJN6fbrXTde4GpGn2Fd3SiuXjX4WmJv5w6qvPy5G2G-3Ct0e4-UqnkHj0vniwtSDLChc7rHF2tRqkrs_8Qjf7AawXr5VNNoxs57vhelN-QA1rQJThfXBQ_jwbRFGB6sXgFk/s1600/P1010162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFNTn3OJllJN6fbrXTde4GpGn2Fd3SiuXjX4WmJv5w6qvPy5G2G-3Ct0e4-UqnkHj0vniwtSDLChc7rHF2tRqkrs_8Qjf7AawXr5VNNoxs57vhelN-QA1rQJThfXBQ_jwbRFGB6sXgFk/s640/P1010162.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's what I call a pepper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJp3ynoiw9hAw6dpeydSdKrg7LOpuMQ-QWSwdeRXxSAhAD4Ucv_6k7yTRzC4fyi9s43nN0PUBjfSL-L1bo1Orqfq6Zexap1omX7o2nOz53y_TFKTNbWJCEp4xqp9ocPH5K0soZvhUJI1g/s1600/P1010163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJp3ynoiw9hAw6dpeydSdKrg7LOpuMQ-QWSwdeRXxSAhAD4Ucv_6k7yTRzC4fyi9s43nN0PUBjfSL-L1bo1Orqfq6Zexap1omX7o2nOz53y_TFKTNbWJCEp4xqp9ocPH5K0soZvhUJI1g/s640/P1010163.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am sure it tastes better</td></tr>
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Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-56233789077076023942013-10-12T05:18:00.001-07:002013-10-12T05:18:57.740-07:00Arabic CoffeeAfter our dessert night we bought some of the delicious coffee and had a go at making it. A bit of a palava but hoping it is worth it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH9Cyp7eZfBn8gykPUANzlXzfxwPZpRyew8Vha0YgzhjM9MXcHf_mL3PWZ0Px4KAok9ro_HBquHi4FUjwgUknp-qsj1CJ98guBFxchfk4bvT6M8RAAzuV_jLrSHq2lbSjQ6s3PEUfr4s/s1600/P1010263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH9Cyp7eZfBn8gykPUANzlXzfxwPZpRyew8Vha0YgzhjM9MXcHf_mL3PWZ0Px4KAok9ro_HBquHi4FUjwgUknp-qsj1CJ98guBFxchfk4bvT6M8RAAzuV_jLrSHq2lbSjQ6s3PEUfr4s/s640/P1010263.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 tablespoons of coffee into the coffee pan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpFyfEImmJF4x-ag69fW0pKZOo2dJBl3sVTySxwI8mjaDHj2E35bk3JeKws2BXdL0G2mmCn9xjlG-V8Daa3wX8mQ_R6KmwSG0sRZoJ9qNlK-1XPkfuL_-gB7W-9wiji-CG0-vwxXFZNM/s1600/P1010262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpFyfEImmJF4x-ag69fW0pKZOo2dJBl3sVTySxwI8mjaDHj2E35bk3JeKws2BXdL0G2mmCn9xjlG-V8Daa3wX8mQ_R6KmwSG0sRZoJ9qNlK-1XPkfuL_-gB7W-9wiji-CG0-vwxXFZNM/s640/P1010262.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simmer for 'several minutes'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl32QhBHN4_6eIpntpGsl2MSLWRHDmKLjPzUVgmFCM-l_KLozz2jNu7367Hg6qID4dy-EFzd0BcqLIWIYimWFZaLaustRlTRMZ7aW92CMwkUZQNr9CbLkrbgbEqVBWVOyVUxBaEqmbFc/s1600/P1010264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl32QhBHN4_6eIpntpGsl2MSLWRHDmKLjPzUVgmFCM-l_KLozz2jNu7367Hg6qID4dy-EFzd0BcqLIWIYimWFZaLaustRlTRMZ7aW92CMwkUZQNr9CbLkrbgbEqVBWVOyVUxBaEqmbFc/s640/P1010264.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strain and pour into a vacuum flask and serve</td></tr>
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Didn't quite taste the same as it did int he desert. Will have to investigate.<br />
<br />Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-67404937653692730332013-10-12T02:08:00.004-07:002013-10-12T02:21:08.482-07:00We moved againAs you recall we moved into a bedsit into a cheap hotel after we were told to leave our first hotel that was being paid for by our agency SBC. It consisted of a bedroom, kitchen and a bathroom and cost us 3250 riyals which is about £550 a month. Eating out may be relatively cheap compared with UK prices but accommodation is decidedly not. It was furnished - just and while we were grateful to find something at such short notice (we were given 2 days including a working day) to find another place; after a week it was horrid to come home to. Nasty decor, poorly maintained and the essential air-conditioning sounded like a jumbo jet. Even when you turned it off, you could still hear the other resident's aircon going off. I could make a long list, but luckily I'm not going to, but fortunately we had only committed and paid up front for a month.<br />
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Another problem with this hotel was that although it was just across the road to where Martin works it necessitated crossing a dual carriageway. Nose to bumper 4 lanes in 2 directions with a wall serving as a crash barrier to climb over in the middle. Not a nice experience.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb95KOsRFWTiMdvjnMLDc2IXUkw1_2L5xrGkBAK7e8zcA-e7WDHYnNv6SDdoc1hlVBPqgK0Tiw_3TWIWDiTpGpyzv1ti6-L__dxEFMy22NjLT0wzIrrtz3gi4Oe7x8gskir6TZy4s3y1M/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb95KOsRFWTiMdvjnMLDc2IXUkw1_2L5xrGkBAK7e8zcA-e7WDHYnNv6SDdoc1hlVBPqgK0Tiw_3TWIWDiTpGpyzv1ti6-L__dxEFMy22NjLT0wzIrrtz3gi4Oe7x8gskir6TZy4s3y1M/s640/028.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is another island in the middle and it is very early so no traffic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Martin found another hotel across the road last Wednesday but when we both went to look again on the Friday both of the apartments that he had viewed had been let. They showed us a one bedroom apartment with lounge, kitchen and bathroom which was lovely and cheaper than the ones he had looked at before so we took it there and then and moved out even though we had 9 days left on the other hotel. This accommodation costs 4300 a month around £720. It is a far cry from the luxury compounds with pools but this would cost around 100000 a month (£1700) a month. We were a bit misled (under-exaggeration) before we came here about a number of things.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ3aD2iBjzmCut7-EHg0JpD_QQS7EsisBmX-4OkGzUp246petLQjW_3vh4L2zCfrI6WfaoRYjKEW3uHT1gl0wj0s3UUfWU-3vQpffPzIjkO86-2VEFlAjxk6_jWiwRU9dyt36sWTyDzE/s1600/P1010254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ3aD2iBjzmCut7-EHg0JpD_QQS7EsisBmX-4OkGzUp246petLQjW_3vh4L2zCfrI6WfaoRYjKEW3uHT1gl0wj0s3UUfWU-3vQpffPzIjkO86-2VEFlAjxk6_jWiwRU9dyt36sWTyDzE/s640/P1010254.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyJ5byuDtfns61ckznekDsUn3kVm2H70w3r8to2RfLSCsRbo_ph1gwOsGaJ9pNHcFtRKOoE0SiVc8UCcMFeIfrd1rlsitBTR2qpYcgi8KosbpAagju1FsMzljn7i39c4J5b_-OnMSgzk/s1600/P1010255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyJ5byuDtfns61ckznekDsUn3kVm2H70w3r8to2RfLSCsRbo_ph1gwOsGaJ9pNHcFtRKOoE0SiVc8UCcMFeIfrd1rlsitBTR2qpYcgi8KosbpAagju1FsMzljn7i39c4J5b_-OnMSgzk/s640/P1010255.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom with a BATH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbX6tYv5V-UsejFETdY_8svxKhonoYFlUnYyfK9CelOuJcBaGtRLvulmu1IWAO-KX9OAK2T_yIcwZzMOfqEa5Ictuq13sBoyJfHBe-3cOui99wWhYEpydu5xub5hgGoyGZAasq8CjzhI/s1600/P1010256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbX6tYv5V-UsejFETdY_8svxKhonoYFlUnYyfK9CelOuJcBaGtRLvulmu1IWAO-KX9OAK2T_yIcwZzMOfqEa5Ictuq13sBoyJfHBe-3cOui99wWhYEpydu5xub5hgGoyGZAasq8CjzhI/s640/P1010256.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hallway with vegetable rack noe a shoe rack</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSshmMOnYgvayP3HZJNMOIcfvczLRvGmCxkoDPmgZ80sw0ohs513KJ33CHixdiUScPvWEhanCflAVd1kljupB1D5_gR-YOKVLIw7mNvQ3QkN2kGhUzNR_ZX-RvYiyKQHGAtTJytj2SQ9g/s1600/P1010257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSshmMOnYgvayP3HZJNMOIcfvczLRvGmCxkoDPmgZ80sw0ohs513KJ33CHixdiUScPvWEhanCflAVd1kljupB1D5_gR-YOKVLIw7mNvQ3QkN2kGhUzNR_ZX-RvYiyKQHGAtTJytj2SQ9g/s640/P1010257.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lounge with excessively patterned settees</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XLGWWMorGYK5h0R5VKYPHXwH0eJp6auB4ZQFd30taBOBXiDXw85JUednpbcWbkKtGgDCK56i2GL2D7rMM1Yg347_O66VigJTnFtPVcjwIbW1Va3GF1JUCv-Ucc9vFlE70QlUGhOptj4/s1600/P1010258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XLGWWMorGYK5h0R5VKYPHXwH0eJp6auB4ZQFd30taBOBXiDXw85JUednpbcWbkKtGgDCK56i2GL2D7rMM1Yg347_O66VigJTnFtPVcjwIbW1Va3GF1JUCv-Ucc9vFlE70QlUGhOptj4/s640/P1010258.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flat TV was the big seller for Martin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1iK_sSnP8OAv80ZT4hEfu1BqAkumw58fxun2BWDUMQfmlHKqJ59lliUmyfjc-Zcq1Pue3W3Z-dmmf0bMRplt4Uk1ZduwiY-GjE7eIe5Xy7aiTo7Ze6ktKCEltsZnp-86xPGQv0-ugjs/s1600/P1010259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1iK_sSnP8OAv80ZT4hEfu1BqAkumw58fxun2BWDUMQfmlHKqJ59lliUmyfjc-Zcq1Pue3W3Z-dmmf0bMRplt4Uk1ZduwiY-GjE7eIe5Xy7aiTo7Ze6ktKCEltsZnp-86xPGQv0-ugjs/s640/P1010259.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen large enough to eat in plus a working microwave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3CnbwrymwTxoCsEXyN00WlQiJytdFvWyBpXYAlTRNPdGc3ngeZNGNCfo3BsuyfE7qAmifHOX5Cp9F01HmaJnVDYKjfbMyTx7QcN6CS8JYg_WtkEU0xa4HS8l7EQDKPhYawNiONAMilc/s1600/P1010260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3CnbwrymwTxoCsEXyN00WlQiJytdFvWyBpXYAlTRNPdGc3ngeZNGNCfo3BsuyfE7qAmifHOX5Cp9F01HmaJnVDYKjfbMyTx7QcN6CS8JYg_WtkEU0xa4HS8l7EQDKPhYawNiONAMilc/s640/P1010260.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice big fridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was so nice to be able to sit on a sofa and it kind of just feels normal.</div>
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Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-38674753181711474502013-10-12T01:03:00.000-07:002013-10-12T01:03:02.352-07:00Eating out in RiyadhI know what you are thinking - doesn't she do anything else other than eat and shop? Not prepared to answer that.<br />
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Lots of lovely Indian food here. We went to a restaurant that the locals frequent and of course because when men are in the company of women they are no longer crazed animals but respected individuals deserving of comfortable chairs.<br />
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We were recommended to go to Makani restaurant for Indian food by a Saudi and so we did. There were loads of families there and I kid you not we waited nearly 3 hours for a table. The single men section next door was empty but the family side was heaving. It was somewhat reminiscent of the old fashioned doctor's surgeries before receptionists ruled your life and the patients managed to work out who was next in the queue. We sat in 2 rows facing each other. I say we, Martin and David had to stand and all the ladies accompanied by the children sat down. The kids were amazingly well behaved to be able to wait that long without being violently whispered to or shouted at. They ran up and down of course, babies were passed to each other to be entertained and children wedged themselves between two women and then got up 15 seconds later to repeat this process between another two women. They were all veiled up but I have become an expert in identification and believe I can identify family members by the eyes and the uppermost part of the bridge of the nose. Glasses are a big hindrance of course. But I am confident as ever in my observational abilities and managed to work out that the 3 women opposite were definitely related.<br />
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I played finger spiders with beautiful pre-toddlers chasing their feet and hands with my tarantula fingers to ease the boredom of waiting for sooooooooooooo long but they preferred their mother's mobile phones. Sigh - kids of today. The Dads were supportive as they took the restless ones away before they got too bad and brought them back again to take the next one out.<br />
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Martin and David managed to hold out and not nip off to the men's section for some peace at least. By UK standards, eating out is relatively cheap. This cost us £30 including drinks for the 3 of us.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYwmE-G3NoyZkuW08loxzp8PpwwRtpqqoHbcrc6Irx9_9fzDSGm9_GyuS-zMMwt_tpG4HBkAwRiDdgdsQ5G6yxmF0eSTRRuEey3k-_-Lu38ucqjN1r0wO6wkr9NymMxOrQ3A-pjbsLEQ/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYwmE-G3NoyZkuW08loxzp8PpwwRtpqqoHbcrc6Irx9_9fzDSGm9_GyuS-zMMwt_tpG4HBkAwRiDdgdsQ5G6yxmF0eSTRRuEey3k-_-Lu38ucqjN1r0wO6wkr9NymMxOrQ3A-pjbsLEQ/s640/112.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious naan bread</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXd5RAyOzuTiln1sglErIKUZgd90A-fUtRG68djDOxRu2uI7NYEd5wZzhCxusTY6EyxhGsIlqyMWj-XxCjQJYz7d_LI0m5QmOJhXMXiAkcl4IXMvtXHGNM5mDBh68mktcWtgL_lpvgOE/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXd5RAyOzuTiln1sglErIKUZgd90A-fUtRG68djDOxRu2uI7NYEd5wZzhCxusTY6EyxhGsIlqyMWj-XxCjQJYz7d_LI0m5QmOJhXMXiAkcl4IXMvtXHGNM5mDBh68mktcWtgL_lpvgOE/s640/113.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilau Rice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7r3pQ4R7jDt-ZtakySDVVoIt5EEhmftT-5HooWeUqQT73JrrhjOnWGdj-3S_NmNE2hbBEKDSem1r1v5K_HtRXyscFmisvmap-k6XIpEaeeY6Y0c8FkSR_aL6HR92n_I40_vMBezz5TY/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7r3pQ4R7jDt-ZtakySDVVoIt5EEhmftT-5HooWeUqQT73JrrhjOnWGdj-3S_NmNE2hbBEKDSem1r1v5K_HtRXyscFmisvmap-k6XIpEaeeY6Y0c8FkSR_aL6HR92n_I40_vMBezz5TY/s640/114.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken samosas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oRbm4Gg5Mp2QwS13yPYk7en6rR_P9Ra5cmtdeFVfdO_ouoWG_DtNuBoS5z3vjCHe4Ru8TnSY2t6jSIP5WxzAamR1P16Sd89iOB_33GvRetZwIdmFi10Nym_q_iTYVGxyne8ZC8KO_Ks/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oRbm4Gg5Mp2QwS13yPYk7en6rR_P9Ra5cmtdeFVfdO_ouoWG_DtNuBoS5z3vjCHe4Ru8TnSY2t6jSIP5WxzAamR1P16Sd89iOB_33GvRetZwIdmFi10Nym_q_iTYVGxyne8ZC8KO_Ks/s640/115.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken tenders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEA6nY8mkLfCdpmbmk1-w8Q8QHpeVMPSOY_FoVx5hKx7m2ORA-cJ1Ztkz0OBe5m_yoxDN6x3xaoYXXGoFVAoHtBFctG1d31FVcTNN29f4F1ClvBd8-PNth_zRii9Qz1JRd-7eeNGHAQI/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEA6nY8mkLfCdpmbmk1-w8Q8QHpeVMPSOY_FoVx5hKx7m2ORA-cJ1Ztkz0OBe5m_yoxDN6x3xaoYXXGoFVAoHtBFctG1d31FVcTNN29f4F1ClvBd8-PNth_zRii9Qz1JRd-7eeNGHAQI/s640/116.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken lollipops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxcenlZZiUts6ycfeIB1ASwWLtF9XRUeFQ-4Fq3EkNSttWMbBjPwOPmkXy1HAF7BUtmWbiS1mS2UaGUkxAEtIPVyzZHoJiTn3HWRCIgTmV235Qhy9zEHn26zKO1OQFi9ttpwRR2lkum4/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxcenlZZiUts6ycfeIB1ASwWLtF9XRUeFQ-4Fq3EkNSttWMbBjPwOPmkXy1HAF7BUtmWbiS1mS2UaGUkxAEtIPVyzZHoJiTn3HWRCIgTmV235Qhy9zEHn26zKO1OQFi9ttpwRR2lkum4/s640/117.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Variety of curries </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXjtqZSx_qJud6wYe9KpywisMG_sifcYdi0_G1B-EVQF47FBW2nNvRqpRvbh7B6U8TSa0mlXQltoQacTU2m5Nbvw5Itz1S_m3BAE_TlPB6V-XRGOwtoTr9jA-wswCyDUPAWNJZJ70Va4/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXjtqZSx_qJud6wYe9KpywisMG_sifcYdi0_G1B-EVQF47FBW2nNvRqpRvbh7B6U8TSa0mlXQltoQacTU2m5Nbvw5Itz1S_m3BAE_TlPB6V-XRGOwtoTr9jA-wswCyDUPAWNJZJ70Va4/s640/118.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum yum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DuPwjojSAYWrK2pxDojkhPlres-87iKpD8sg04OyR93MSidRI9mW_SfHm2uFuspBZWGwppK0KXWh6UKc3J4_rFkg2rYxGHkAOwzT5bQ1bfnl3s_5I-C_L-qnrx40tOosWf-I3yPiQ5c/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DuPwjojSAYWrK2pxDojkhPlres-87iKpD8sg04OyR93MSidRI9mW_SfHm2uFuspBZWGwppK0KXWh6UKc3J4_rFkg2rYxGHkAOwzT5bQ1bfnl3s_5I-C_L-qnrx40tOosWf-I3yPiQ5c/s640/119.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamb curry on the bone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really really good</td></tr>
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<br />Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-29542225554002539762013-10-11T23:59:00.004-07:002013-10-11T23:59:29.733-07:00McDonalds and Family Eating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have said already about how eating areas are divided into 'Family Sections' and 'Single Men' sections. Interestingly Martin is relegated to single man status when not with me but is allowed to sit in the generally much nicer family section when he is with me. Having said that you also have to put up with a lot of noisy kids too ......</div>
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Here we are at one McDonalds where we are free from prying eyes when we draw the curtains. It felt somewhat like being on a night train - although not the trains you can find in Georgia hehe. The guy taking our photo is Martin's colleague who has to pretend to be our son if he is going to be allowed to sit with us. </div>
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The big bonus for women when they are curtained off is that they can remove their abaya and more importantly the niqab. I have been witness to women in open family areas trying to eat burger and chips with their veils on and it is not a pretty sight.</div>
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<br />Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-12331110437988177012013-10-11T23:22:00.003-07:002013-10-11T23:22:24.346-07:00Kingdom Tower and SkybridgeThere really isn't much to do here in the way that we would be used to in England. I hope that as this blog unfolds you will see that I slowly change my mind as to this view and that it is just that I haven't yet discovered the delights of Riyadh life. Although a check on Tripadvisor shows only 13 places of interest in Riyadh. We will have to see.<br />
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We were told that the Sky Bridge is a sight not to be missed especially if you can get to it as the sun is setting so that that you can see the city in daylight, twilight and night in the same visit. It is somewhat similar to the London Eye except that it is nothing like it at the same time. You do get amazing views across the city however.<br />
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It was our first visit to the Kingdom Tower which has a mall at the base and then offices and business on the floors above.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kingdom Tower AKA The bottle opener</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sky bridge is the walkway that connects the 2 towers</td></tr>
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The mall is very upmarket and not for the likes of immigrant teachers like ourselves. Top designer shops and a whole floor dedicated to women. I had a quick look around and found women huddled together drinking coffee and eating bowls of interesting icecream; not forgetting big fat cream cakes. See guys, this is what we get up to if there are no men and alcohol to keep us occupied. There were lots of boutique shops selling very small ranges of chocolates and stationary, you know all the lady things we like to buy. No Ann Summers I noticed. I did find a nail bar though and I took a card in case one day I want to pay £50 for a manicure and pedicure.</div>
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Each mall has its own character as I have said before and this one had a great food court. Had my first Taco Bell which was lovely. There were several outlets that you don't find elsewhere that looked interesting, such as Iranian food, and some very good looking burger joints. Several trips are required here I think, Oh and something like a Krispy creme Donut place. Yum yum.<br />
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There are 100 floors to the Skybridge and the total lift ride is about 90 seconds. The lift is decorated to look like the night sky with lights shining through boards with holes in. I am very easily pleased in the thrill factor line as you can see. The lift is also filled with an air of anticipation as everyone is excited about going up so high to see the city landscape.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riyadh at night</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-43199246141170122902013-10-07T13:52:00.000-07:002013-10-07T13:52:03.952-07:00Desert Nights<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">David
is a colleague of Martin who also works at the Language Centre. One of his students is keen to befriend him
and had taken him out a couple of times.
There was a knock on the door on Friday and David asked if we wanted to
go to the desert with Yousef and him to eat and sit by the fire. We jumped at the chance to go and met up at
9.30.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full moon</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The desert at night is the equivalent of us nipping out for a day in the country for Saudis. Except of course they go out at night when it is cool and they can get time in the open air and away from the city with its noise and dusty air. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saudis
are very generous and hospitable and Yousef set out to make it as good an
experience as possible for us. He had
arranged a take-away from a restaurant of Kabbsah which is chicken and rice
dish that is traditional to Saudi. In
fact there were three different flavours of chicken in the dish. We picked it up and then drove into the
desert. Riyadh is built in the middle of
a desert so we didn’t have to go too far, about 20km to be outside of the city.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kabsah</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
you are thinking of “Ice Cold in Alex” (I know that’s Egypt not Saudi) when you
think of a desert this desert isn’t quite like that. It is more gravel and shrubby. It was a full
moon and so I didn’t get to see it properly but it wasn’t sandy at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the desert</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yousef
set out a padded quilt on the ground with a couple of blankets and a cushion
and a low chair for me. He poured water
on our hands to wash them and gave us water to drink. He made a small fire and
set out the large communal dish of food on the blanket from which we all
ate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campfire</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The coffee is amazing. It is mixed with spices such as cardamon and cloves and is 'blond' the colour of tea. We haven't had any alcohol for a month and not much in the way of caffeine either. Wow! It went straight to my head! Maybe it was the moon but I was babbling away quite intoxicated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfMv8FpAtXd2FYeXog9zP9srCF7iPtOnWosYE0JlONvhjynhvrR_ENAnZex113LKWtLYx9SQIhlMviqP0MJehHThIxEDtty2zCFRVba7cVTa2qL6gA3u8YDOyI-TESwNY3em-nvLrWLE/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfMv8FpAtXd2FYeXog9zP9srCF7iPtOnWosYE0JlONvhjynhvrR_ENAnZex113LKWtLYx9SQIhlMviqP0MJehHThIxEDtty2zCFRVba7cVTa2qL6gA3u8YDOyI-TESwNY3em-nvLrWLE/s640/068.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 3 cups of coffee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-54148071272939530622013-10-07T13:51:00.002-07:002013-10-07T13:51:57.964-07:00The Malls<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
entertainment in Riyadh centres around the Malls. And by entertainment – I mean shopping and
eating. They are huge beasts and seem to have their own character. I had got used to the Granada Mall where we
were first living and this featured a Carrefour supermarket and amongst other
top names a Debenhams. All malls have an
extensive range of take-out places in the food court and some exciting
entertainment for children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have now ventured to the Hayat Mall, the Kingdom Tower and the Riyadh Gallery
so far. They are much the same as I said
but have their own character. I am sure
that there are at least another 10, maybe more to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Riyadh Gallery has a lake and fountains on the ground floor and a Hyper Panda
supermarket. Hayat Mall has an ice
skating rink (the size they set up in winter in Southend shopping centre) and a
Danube supermarket. Danube is more
geared to the American shopper whereas Carrefour is more European I think. The Kingdom Tower features top designer shops
and I was able to have my first Taco Bell there. But it deserves it own blog entry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is no transport infrastructure in Riyadh.
No buses, trains, metro, nothing.
You get taxis everywhere or you have a driver. The distinction is that taxis drive along
roads and get hailed. Drivers meet you
at rearranged times. I don’t think they
are any cheaper but I guess it saves women on their own having to hail down unknown
men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
tankful of petrol costs £2.50 here – water is more expensive. So everyone drives. Actually it is a loose term for driving as I
don’t think they even have to pass tests.
There are near misses on every trip.
They don’t have roundabouts either or any means of crossing the dual
carriageways that dissect the city. Instead,
they little breaks in the barriers and you have to do a U-turn. Nuts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No-one
knows where they are going either.
Yesterday after a 15 minute drive the taxi driver took us back to the
mall he picked us up from. They charge
what they like and if you let them will put it on a meter which is totally
rigged. You have to haggle. Trouble is we don’t really know how far away
anywhere is so it is difficult how far o haggle!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-90665553081198914002013-10-07T13:51:00.001-07:002013-10-07T13:51:48.598-07:00What Martin did next<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
get a text on Wednesday night at 10 o’clock.
“Martin will be working at the SBC language centre. You have been given 3 months housing
allowance and will now have to leave the hotel by Friday” WHAT?!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Great
news that Martin had been placed in Riyadh but because of the split shift we </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">weren't</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> happy about that. In England,
our expectation was that we would both be working in Riyadh universities and
not subject to the capricious nature of the learn-English market. In fact, we
had said that if he was offered a split shift we would both up sticks and go to
Al Kharj which is an hour and a half outside Riyadh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Since
we made that decision I found out that women have to wear a veil over their
face in public and I just </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">couldn't</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> imagine doing that at all! And Martin said I would hate it there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
we decided to give it a go with the split shift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We
were both working on the Thursday, so how were we meant to find a place to live
the next day? We had only just found out
where Martin was going to be working so </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">couldn't</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> do anything about it before
then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We
had a look at a lot of places but we </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">hadn't</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> realised that you needed to pay 6
months rent up front plus a security deposit and we didn't have that. Although furnished apartments are relatively
cheap, you still need a lump sum to buy furniture. So we are in another hotel 15 minutes walk
from where Martin works. This means that
he can come home in between shifts and have a rest without having to take a
taxi. It is costing me 100 sar for a
return trip to the University. Ouch!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is cheap (3250 a month) but can be compared to a traditional B&B in the
1970s in terms of style. It has a large
bedroom, kitchen and a bathroom. We get
free internet and of course the cleaning is done for us. We can pay monthly which is why we are
here. In a couple of months we will have
enough month to rent elsewhere – maybe a compound – but we may end up deciding
to stay where we are because the point of being in Saudi is to save some money
and it will be easier to do that if we spend less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
other advantage is that it is right in the middle of the malls and so quite a
lot to do. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Realised I hadn't taken any pictures of the bedroom, the main room. I wonder why?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjnrYnvyXFEJFyOX6bn60QNogrZPpDLbJ1ZlktKgzW8Clrq6JBwNK97X7NOmevhx18K6-akw3qAdnUD2y5mtP7SLkQ26bnQDCA6JHJpcGMEu_xVnIpIJyjI_NYnLH8RSpvOWUd5Cgyfo/s1600/P1010251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjnrYnvyXFEJFyOX6bn60QNogrZPpDLbJ1ZlktKgzW8Clrq6JBwNK97X7NOmevhx18K6-akw3qAdnUD2y5mtP7SLkQ26bnQDCA6JHJpcGMEu_xVnIpIJyjI_NYnLH8RSpvOWUd5Cgyfo/s640/P1010251.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grotty washing machine and sinks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAaihZ95wGy89SqLMUEJy4CgkE40qq3u2NV6ERPlKk0-wXMdLQ79yALHX8EeNZgV9F1rxAIq8W1h8T7jbvSHnsh9VZ76g5KSrjhrAVpuklw-6KdQGztiofQjXZGcuqOxFykUlmtHSe04/s1600/P1010252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAaihZ95wGy89SqLMUEJy4CgkE40qq3u2NV6ERPlKk0-wXMdLQ79yALHX8EeNZgV9F1rxAIq8W1h8T7jbvSHnsh9VZ76g5KSrjhrAVpuklw-6KdQGztiofQjXZGcuqOxFykUlmtHSe04/s640/P1010252.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loo and shower room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagXz8hdkysdm_k7cNmc_txuTOWSd6kOAoq0uldCpEgOairjHmmQOqmlwU__28xopr25aF0N9OhHeMpk56WBCtHEIgboSwHlC3cF3fq6FTlZ4sDuiwPH1D3jwtgrKpeMIy9QqGDGoDntY/s1600/P1010253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagXz8hdkysdm_k7cNmc_txuTOWSd6kOAoq0uldCpEgOairjHmmQOqmlwU__28xopr25aF0N9OhHeMpk56WBCtHEIgboSwHlC3cF3fq6FTlZ4sDuiwPH1D3jwtgrKpeMIy9QqGDGoDntY/s640/P1010253.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long corridor leading to the bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-80189917775776759852013-10-07T12:51:00.000-07:002013-10-07T12:51:17.080-07:00Princess Noura University<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
university where I am working is an all-women university. You won’t see a man on the complex but
lurking on the levels underground, a colony of men run around furiously mending
machines and doing other manly things with electricity, plumbing and
security. It is huge, I mean really
huge. I think you can even see it from
outer-space - just kidding. I can’t help
but to be thrilled to be working here.
No tatty run-down buildings for me.
New and sparkling, state of the art, flag-ship university for
women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There is an outer ring to the university which consists of a complex system of roads that will take you to the specific area you wished to visit. This is where the fountains and the greenery are as well as the security guards who direct the heavy traffic. It is the size of a large town.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkLUV8-mGN0D_DEKqrmtXsdSZG4A7ki7ijYQVb2XkYw26Bie5IgD07ePWoHblMKZ-8oModOa5sdR4GsdTdYmNqkvz779fmsRaBLozjlNQuvq0pjy0jOWvSJ9sPcfF163XLC6YIKhuYJg/s1600/P1010148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkLUV8-mGN0D_DEKqrmtXsdSZG4A7ki7ijYQVb2XkYw26Bie5IgD07ePWoHblMKZ-8oModOa5sdR4GsdTdYmNqkvz779fmsRaBLozjlNQuvq0pjy0jOWvSJ9sPcfF163XLC6YIKhuYJg/s640/P1010148.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the university buildings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px;">It has its own transport system, a series of mono-rails, linking the different campuses and this is the landmark you aim for. “Station A5”. “Station side or pavilion side?” There are two buildings to each station connected to each other by a bridge so that you can safely cross the busy road in between, 3 lanes of solid traffic going in each direction. Canny drivers arrange drop-offs and pick-ups from the less busy pavilion side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmsN4AGkkRNjx9AqWnooEl1_bu4OtkPdWsD09n1NXwFrhB6mQh9AduKA3hna3jhIas2J9IWatORIbuzh4G0uO2ikLE-uaAhpJJJkDgf6T4hVIWvOzwsQP82DCTpdTwcaLLBCMjdZmaHs/s1600/P1010149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmsN4AGkkRNjx9AqWnooEl1_bu4OtkPdWsD09n1NXwFrhB6mQh9AduKA3hna3jhIas2J9IWatORIbuzh4G0uO2ikLE-uaAhpJJJkDgf6T4hVIWvOzwsQP82DCTpdTwcaLLBCMjdZmaHs/s640/P1010149.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finding our way to the campus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7oRedApTsRePTAMQduemZQbm1rFNS73gp-f72-Wy7luMAZYXOoVw8mvOwdCeQ_sQlGzfBhf71VPl9vG-pN-2HFFdH5f6IEK0ChqcNxhsWLK18SXeo_EdGfEyPNM3Fy1lHOIUZKHGGOs/s1600/P1010150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7oRedApTsRePTAMQduemZQbm1rFNS73gp-f72-Wy7luMAZYXOoVw8mvOwdCeQ_sQlGzfBhf71VPl9vG-pN-2HFFdH5f6IEK0ChqcNxhsWLK18SXeo_EdGfEyPNM3Fy1lHOIUZKHGGOs/s640/P1010150.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The monorail rail runs through the university</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0GsXilq1sAywqOJYQ_44Mpy3FYs1dzlF9liPIlvQXlKxEjyFS5DBMv9sla1tBzW61Zch6BKUDlWuQFH0RrUl7XRSVkPjNkWjFbAz4AocC8A3gqLcKbRy1m3WPSQy8R2F_gS-UMq6wDs/s1600/P1010152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0GsXilq1sAywqOJYQ_44Mpy3FYs1dzlF9liPIlvQXlKxEjyFS5DBMv9sla1tBzW61Zch6BKUDlWuQFH0RrUl7XRSVkPjNkWjFbAz4AocC8A3gqLcKbRy1m3WPSQy8R2F_gS-UMq6wDs/s640/P1010152.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traffic worsens as we get nearer the stations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The traffic is terrible – everyone is being picked up and dropped off at the same time.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQAdpTEVuOqv6gwEUiXGBfsM7yaAmLqu5c866d4PuDZpAjRj083alBSbI6TgfBvp20BFNrBHKvxWRXdWBvnvEUvqNZefWqkcU5v3w8U_CmOyezFEqUA7UM0piUT4UaLE0RmlrHGf_XXg/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQAdpTEVuOqv6gwEUiXGBfsM7yaAmLqu5c866d4PuDZpAjRj083alBSbI6TgfBvp20BFNrBHKvxWRXdWBvnvEUvqNZefWqkcU5v3w8U_CmOyezFEqUA7UM0piUT4UaLE0RmlrHGf_XXg/s640/025.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men are forbidden to enter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Entrance to the actual campus is through the mono rail stations and there is a sign on the door to remind unsuspecting males that this is a women-only building. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Abayas are in fact banned inside the campus and so as you walk through these doors you are confronted with a couple of hundred young women removing their abayas and niqabs and putting them into their bags. Some are only now applying their makeup but for many their makeup (which would put an air-hostess to shame) has already been applied. They are busy chatting and talking on their phones and leisurely walking to through to their lessons. Leisurely is the operative word here – you never see anyone break into a trot to get to a lesson on time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I am more used to the layout of the buildings now. At first I would wander down the corridors unable to find anywhere for literally hours now I just wander for minutes. The trouble is that all the corridors look the same and all buildings look the same and it really is difficult to know which building and sometimes which floor you are on and even if you can do that it is easy to mistake the direction you are going in and you have to re-trace your route again. I work across 3 buildings, the management were in the first building, my office and where you sign in and out in the second building and then the third building is where I teach. My day was spent trailing from one building to the other. I walked miles each day. Not forgetting the stations of course which are situated between buildings all important to know where and at what time you are being picked up for your ride home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcGrD0aE1K11U1Z-DWu-Xz5AT4jQ0zoxef_MWY_DL4UuHcw6BCz-gv43Hb6Xs08slFww5Z_GcZOPEL0EFQ6QxmYB-dEoRpEyHYmdF75oV4eexfGrbdYInmp_6C34facNtwk6u4UC9vow/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcGrD0aE1K11U1Z-DWu-Xz5AT4jQ0zoxef_MWY_DL4UuHcw6BCz-gv43Hb6Xs08slFww5Z_GcZOPEL0EFQ6QxmYB-dEoRpEyHYmdF75oV4eexfGrbdYInmp_6C34facNtwk6u4UC9vow/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My office only 1 door key and no cupboard keys for the 2 of us.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I had a little notebook where I wrote down routes and landmarks. I still got lost because I would write down how to get to a place from one place but if I was coming from a different direction then my notes were not a lot of help. So I added extra detail. Then they changed my office, where we could sign in and out and I changed to teach level 2 which meant I had a different set of managers and a new class room. Ho hum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNYS45sJ0Rf7pvMXqEhU61ABzI7i6GUIKQ24Co-LUA9yxVoxuuXNEwUnIdjp3x7KLiZJlO7qUepZ37b5h1Lmdm9pjf2XnONwEfhB53biuTTd0JEp0z71nCBWgApcrtvRI-Kle2ac40uU/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNYS45sJ0Rf7pvMXqEhU61ABzI7i6GUIKQ24Co-LUA9yxVoxuuXNEwUnIdjp3x7KLiZJlO7qUepZ37b5h1Lmdm9pjf2XnONwEfhB53biuTTd0JEp0z71nCBWgApcrtvRI-Kle2ac40uU/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walkway to the back row of buildings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQpllIWltu6OeJwvVAuKexApwOsFftgg5HjfEykfL-WSs0WhABporTM9NenNHC5_-NtZMkYyaWQ4W2CP-pRRqtEgGTYI8X89L0R_EjyD9Vo3HEemi2SEtgaBUOK6e4j6UxkzeJeN28ZQ/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQpllIWltu6OeJwvVAuKexApwOsFftgg5HjfEykfL-WSs0WhABporTM9NenNHC5_-NtZMkYyaWQ4W2CP-pRRqtEgGTYI8X89L0R_EjyD9Vo3HEemi2SEtgaBUOK6e4j6UxkzeJeN28ZQ/s640/004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2nd floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaoU391Z-DewA8MfvGizNtH-xhBNOJVnQPHtbcpAARcE8oVPpkunOgBaqmPhUUvzUaMuXU_xWELxlI98qommEe7f953xpUVA_uZS370AJ-9qQ_k3wfslUq_Q0waDQ6eTiGeY0ROBZVK0/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaoU391Z-DewA8MfvGizNtH-xhBNOJVnQPHtbcpAARcE8oVPpkunOgBaqmPhUUvzUaMuXU_xWELxlI98qommEe7f953xpUVA_uZS370AJ-9qQ_k3wfslUq_Q0waDQ6eTiGeY0ROBZVK0/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walkway to the next building running alongside the mono-rail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ7s_Ppj_9ZOvMJNlUNwsvE20AiXqMAPW2Vwdg_A0ztKNH8txvhBFv7tfxWfjFGeK6B2utp1WMQpPZnaC3Im3w6eeVAwampbaLin2VsTp7ZHNHDQ5AD4pTWk-GQvaZp1Jw6OA93Ra5yQ/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ7s_Ppj_9ZOvMJNlUNwsvE20AiXqMAPW2Vwdg_A0ztKNH8txvhBFv7tfxWfjFGeK6B2utp1WMQpPZnaC3Im3w6eeVAwampbaLin2VsTp7ZHNHDQ5AD4pTWk-GQvaZp1Jw6OA93Ra5yQ/s640/003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outside walk way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The buildings are very modern but are still being finished. Naturally the courtyards and gardens are last to be completed so it is a bit barren. But I will hopefully be here long enough to </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">see the improvements.</span></div>
</div>
Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-56327754902617588292013-09-06T12:52:00.000-07:002013-10-07T12:56:45.105-07:00Our Options<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well
this is still day 8. Continuing on from
yesterday I have now been in contact with the person in charge at the
university. I think they are only used
to single women who of course live on the university site itself, my situation
with my husband also teaching is a new situation and they don’t seem to have a
process for that yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Firstly,
I explain the situation with my husband and that he has to work in Riyadh as
Al-Kharj is too far to commute to. He
rang me back and said that there are three options. 1. We
both work and live in Al-Kharj. 2.
Martin works and lives in Al-Kharj and I work and live in Princess Noura
University and that we spend the weekends together. 3. Martin takes a position in the Language
Centre in Riyadh and we find accommodation in Riyadh. Sounds good but the problem is the working
hours. My working hours are 8 to 4 and
Martin’s work hours are 8 to 12 and then 4 till 9. This isn’t a happy prospect either for
obvious reasons. We know that one of the
teachers is working in Riyadh at STC the communications company with day-time
hours so maybe there is an option here if we press it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
leave it that Martin and I will discuss these options later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
also find out that I am starting work on Sunday and we agree that it would be a
good idea if I can visit the university today to be shown around. However there is a problem with how I can get
to the university. There are no drivers
available at the moment to take me. I
suggest getting a taxi and he seemed thrilled that I would do that! “Really?,
Yes! let me get the details for you”.
However, a call back says we can’t do that and he will look into what
else they can do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Back
to Candy Crush for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
final call. We will send a driver to
take to you to the university at 8.30 on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-83491502746407280132013-09-05T13:22:00.005-07:002013-09-05T13:22:57.969-07:00Day 8 in Riyadh<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Firstly here are a couple of things I have noticed about TV we have here in our hotel. We have film channels that are in English with Arabic sub-titles and we have caught a few good films so far. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some of the adverts are interesting too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJUSVZXI4OAL-TOBpTvFrFtQkR3Z0yq14T3JQ6UmIU9OnbcixBMmxN3LICg-5V3K-y10AJZf91T4ocJUmpMbmdoBaE3VSn4dv-fDWb55eNYHEm8HAm29BXTtln6-L0qIj_ZGSxDGPbA4/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJUSVZXI4OAL-TOBpTvFrFtQkR3Z0yq14T3JQ6UmIU9OnbcixBMmxN3LICg-5V3K-y10AJZf91T4ocJUmpMbmdoBaE3VSn4dv-fDWb55eNYHEm8HAm29BXTtln6-L0qIj_ZGSxDGPbA4/s640/017.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arabs got talent! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I took this picture straight off the TV. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83ciRU-hrPyVffEvHikkgwy7gKua8zLfVx5QnBfRZV2T2AbO80XxbTEzEXxmP_EEoSSD_ZVscO4AH_cCwv84gCCkOjmnBuCcN31-uO51WtvXXwpFL1-gRxOmo-FkvGvb9yZ85NwspDcs/s1600/Hallumi+McD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83ciRU-hrPyVffEvHikkgwy7gKua8zLfVx5QnBfRZV2T2AbO80XxbTEzEXxmP_EEoSSD_ZVscO4AH_cCwv84gCCkOjmnBuCcN31-uO51WtvXXwpFL1-gRxOmo-FkvGvb9yZ85NwspDcs/s640/Hallumi+McD.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hallumi McMuffin from Mcdonalds </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This looks scrummy and must try it soon for breakfast.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well
this is day 8. We are very comfortable
in our hotel accommodation and Martin has now spent 4 days in Al Kharj at the
University, being transported there every day in a mini-bus with 12 other makes
teachers. I, on the other hand, have
been hotel-bound other than a few visits to the mall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Sunday, the first day, the driver didn’t turn up, and Martin sat in the foyer
with another couple of teachers from 6.30 till 8.30 chatting. The second day, the driver turned up late and
then got lost on his way to the university.
He got lost again trying to find his way back to the university because
one teacher had been left behind (only realising 5 minutes after starting) and
then got lost on the return home yet again.
This time he had been driving for an hour and a half before he realised
he was going in the completely opposite direction and had to turn around once
more. Martin didn’t arrive home until
7.30 in the evening having spent over 8 ½ hours in a mini-van with 13 large men
and ineffective air-conditioning. He was
in a bit of a state, he hadn’t eaten and had just a couple of cans of coke all
day. I had to laugh and told him that he
should have taken a banana and a bottle of water with him. He was better after a shower and a cup of
tea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
the rest of the week the driver has still been late but is better about getting
lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s
been a bit stressful not knowing what was going on, made worse by the fact that
the 12 other teachers also didn’t know what was going on. Everyone was a bit antsy about when they
would get paid and when would the visa money be refunded but others had their
own issues as well, particularly around their wives coming over and how and
when that was going to happen. Some were
not happy about being placed in Al-Kharj when the agency had told them they
were definitely would be placed in the city itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Al
Kharj isn’t a bad place to live, it’s just that it’s not Riyadh and you have to
think about the kind of social life your wife will have if she is coming to live
with you, and there would certainly be less of it in Al-Kharj that’s for
sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Accommodation
has been a bit of an issue and a lot of the time in Al-Kharj has been spent in
viewing the range of accommodation that is available, that is the male teachers. We get an allowance of 2500 sar each month
for accommodation. If you take the SBC
accommodation as offered then they don’t give you any allowance as such, you
just take it. However if you want to
live in private accommodation, SBC will give you the cash up front, for 6
months in advance, so you can put it towards private accommodation. If you can find accommodation for less than
the 2500 sar then you are in luck otherwise you can top this up for more
comfortable or larger accommodation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most
of the teachers have sorted out their accommodation and paid their rent, but
there are 4 teachers who haven’t. One
thinks he is going to negotiate and haggle on the rent, one has to go back to
London to get his visa sorted out again as a mistake was made, then there is
Martin, who keeps saying that he cannot stay in Al-Kharj as his wife Is working
in Riyadh and it is becoming increasingly evident that he cannot commute and the
other guy was not happy with the accommodation available for his wife and 7
month old baby who is due to follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
found out yesterday that they are moving in today and have to leave the
hotel. This is an interesting situation
for those who have not arranged alternative accommodation. For the one who has been given his
accommodation money already, he will have to get on with his negotiation
sharpish. But for the others who have not taken the money, do they stay in the
hotel? What about the arrangements for getting to work? Rumours are running wild, “There’s no work on
Thursday anyway” so they can all be moved with their luggage. “Be in the lobby with your luggage at 6.30”
is the other one. No-one knows.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
were getting a bit concerned as I hadn’t yet been contacted by the Princess
Noura University and we realised that Al Kharj was an hour and a half outside
Riyadh and going to be a bit difficult to commute to. The agency, Sudan Business Centre, didn’t
seem to be taking into account that we were a married couple and that we needed
to be working close to each other. Calls
to the agency we were recruited through in England had not been particularly
fruitful but yesterday we were assured that they would sort it out.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So we went shopping. That's all you can do!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4OfMpoCsOYr0f-qeIhqACGtFUxldVXCJ_EEreYz1dcE4YCakFdMjfAJ1e3rUOJORWKO729kfzhqMrLaUrm9XfZLIptETp1PiNMl7q_8IEraWZ1dDyOhquhtWW65b6pDPI_clx-5mEuU/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4OfMpoCsOYr0f-qeIhqACGtFUxldVXCJ_EEreYz1dcE4YCakFdMjfAJ1e3rUOJORWKO729kfzhqMrLaUrm9XfZLIptETp1PiNMl7q_8IEraWZ1dDyOhquhtWW65b6pDPI_clx-5mEuU/s640/012.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at garden furniture - we need a garden first!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwFQCEvHk951_yMBqTww5muLJcm9Vcv5M7iKk4Zp00hyphenhyphenri7iResebozvfi6DWAWn3yHfCIYwt4N9YG3ti3pcHY34XO3edxJ9u-p_BeYQsm8xAPdMn0fsV5-dk77VqI1qlkkK5dhdwlLI/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwFQCEvHk951_yMBqTww5muLJcm9Vcv5M7iKk4Zp00hyphenhyphenri7iResebozvfi6DWAWn3yHfCIYwt4N9YG3ti3pcHY34XO3edxJ9u-p_BeYQsm8xAPdMn0fsV5-dk77VqI1qlkkK5dhdwlLI/s640/013.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying out wearing the scarf as well</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaf_ZNEreTcdN25M8iRIcuw0p9P5mEsSVQm_rTQG8JwFVJdQNKd1ZP4EPDaTHfE13SwtrDdG1iJ184Z-apw0kwoygPTSXeipwP8RK72KjV9USc68dt0Cs1B_60YmS5dlzTcuLcVGJeaM/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaf_ZNEreTcdN25M8iRIcuw0p9P5mEsSVQm_rTQG8JwFVJdQNKd1ZP4EPDaTHfE13SwtrDdG1iJ184Z-apw0kwoygPTSXeipwP8RK72KjV9USc68dt0Cs1B_60YmS5dlzTcuLcVGJeaM/s640/014.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am sinking lower and lower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And watch some TV.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyhow,
Martin, went to the foyer as usual at 6.30 and he didn’t come back, so I assume
he has gone to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-60455363210839285012013-09-05T13:02:00.001-07:002013-09-05T13:02:36.506-07:00A Couple of Stories I forgot to Tell you About<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
were a couple of stories that I forgot to mention in my previous blog
entries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
first one was while I was being finger printed at the airport. It was a lengthy procedure as the custom’s
official was having trouble with the equipment and he had to keep rubbing the
glass box with class cleaner and then offering me bits of tissue to do the same
with my fingers and thumbs. Anyway he
was randomly shouting at other people, standing up and waving his arms when
suddenly he unzipped his fly, puts his hand inside and proceeds to have a
rummage around. He was obviously having
difficulty getting himself nice and comfortable as he did it again 10 minutes
later. This is in full view of everyone,
with Martin standing next to me. What’s
that all about?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkNar9gEqnu1pMMK7ZC5I_hnnoy2KA_WzGQDN_e0h8SXH5ix-vSTephhcm8yZ4-Yugs47rQN8R6bszta5WnBOeSHajl6TN1Sd0ebViR_Z01WxBmiKAX_OOkaYmRFs3m9SIfQhHzRWbu8/s1600/burka+with+mesh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkNar9gEqnu1pMMK7ZC5I_hnnoy2KA_WzGQDN_e0h8SXH5ix-vSTephhcm8yZ4-Yugs47rQN8R6bszta5WnBOeSHajl6TN1Sd0ebViR_Z01WxBmiKAX_OOkaYmRFs3m9SIfQhHzRWbu8/s640/burka+with+mesh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of the Burkha - veil with mesh so that you cannot see the eyes - freaks me out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
other story I forgot to mention was in the Granada Mall in the cosmetic
department in Debenhams. Do you remember
a while back, in the UK, where there was a newspaper story about a muslim woman
who was refused a job as a hairdresser in a salon because she wore a hijab
(scarf). The argument was that
hairdressers also model different styles and hair colours themselves. This story had always stuck in my mind
because I wasn’t sure whether I agreed or disagreed with this argument. Here is the link if you are interested </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1027029/Hairdresser-ordered-pay-4-000-Muslim-woman-refusing-job-wears-headscarf.html">Click here for news story</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyhow,
the reason I bring this up is that it was interesting to see the girls behind
the make-up counters were all dressed in Niqab (everything covered other than
the eyes). Now I do think that a lot of
ladies behind cosmetic counters in the UK wear an awful lot of make-up but it
is very strange indeed to not be able to see the faces of the cosmetic
assistants at all. I am sure that when
they go home and show their faces freely, they are probably plastered in the
stuff, but it just seems strange to be talking make-up with someone when you
can’t see their face and what they have on it.
I realise I am trying to compare 2 different situations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
I accept as fact from a western point of view “I want to see that you are
practicing what you preach” when being offered make-up advice / products
perhaps needs to be questioned. Do I
really need to see their faces covered in make-up? How does that influence my purchases? The same argument applies to the hairdresser
situation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Does the state of my
hairdresser’s hair influence my decision as to whether to use their services or
not or to dictate the style I would choose?
Well yes it does actually. I have
often said “I want it like her’s.”, pointing to a girl half my age and style
and I like it when my hairdresser changes their style or the colour regularly. Having said that, my hairdressers over the
years have mainly been men. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Seriously,
it is a valid point. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-70902230075442796792013-09-05T12:55:00.003-07:002013-09-05T12:55:29.290-07:00To Abaya or not to Abaya? that is the Question<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well
it is day 6 in Saudi Arabia and what has happened so far? Not a great deal so far. We weren’t surprised to find that when people
say they will call they don’t and then just turn up unexpectedly and so this is
how it has been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
had a meeting in the hotel foyer with someone from the agency on Saturday and
this was the first we had heard from anyone since we arrived and was surprised
to find out that there were 3 other male teachers staying in the hotel as well.
It was really a quick introduction and to let us know what time and when we
would be picked up to go to our respective workplaces. I was to wait for a call the next day and
Martin and the other guys were going to be picked up at 6:50 the next morning.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So let's go shopping. This was funny to see on the shelf! For those of you not from England, 'Iceland' is the name of a shop that is known for it's value. It used to focus on frozen food in the 70's but has added a limited stock of value items to it's range. So it was a laugh to see this on the shelves. "Fresh coming by Air Flight"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__9jkQLT2ZaEwAgfJ2FxhBPfCsVcf3UnT3Cw7Eu0gSsY8bkKUSeWX3Am8x3pr_g3atn_0e262bTzS4eI-fEAehMs78kS1qfsIWaiEElr_kplQGvul9YkycbFBaOPG8AptP0ccNCadv4g/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__9jkQLT2ZaEwAgfJ2FxhBPfCsVcf3UnT3Cw7Eu0gSsY8bkKUSeWX3Am8x3pr_g3atn_0e262bTzS4eI-fEAehMs78kS1qfsIWaiEElr_kplQGvul9YkycbFBaOPG8AptP0ccNCadv4g/s640/015.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A taste from home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0UzyShP4KjG1WQvDSPmX3Mk_awqqsI5IZ3VSpxlHdy7RuhRtZTh2AImk2wluzRANUVSrBUM5ExuEEMA_0CajeGw4p37-LIKfV06d5C1b3qFxrEnINT7qyKmxY-luT-mUg8TAZrfpKB0/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0UzyShP4KjG1WQvDSPmX3Mk_awqqsI5IZ3VSpxlHdy7RuhRtZTh2AImk2wluzRANUVSrBUM5ExuEEMA_0CajeGw4p37-LIKfV06d5C1b3qFxrEnINT7qyKmxY-luT-mUg8TAZrfpKB0/s640/016.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If only it was that cheap! More like £10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We both had a restless night, general anxiety and excitement, and Martin was dutifully in the foyer on time. Two hours later he came back having been sitting in the foyer chatting to one of the other male teachers, the bus hadn’t turned up after all, and said he was going to the mall with his new friend. I was still waiting for my phone call of course but I still had a quick panic “I can’t leave the hotel without you” kind of thing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
haven’t got the abaya thing sorted in my head yet. When we had the meeting, the day before, I
had to think, “This is an abaya event” and put it on but it felt odd, being
with westerners in an abaya and even though the agency guy was a Saudi, I kind
of think “Well he works with westerners so he should be ok about it” but in
fact he commented that I wasn’t wearing a scarf. I thought I was ok not wearing a scarf as an
obvious foreigner but that isn’t necessarily so. I had been wearing a scarf when outside more
of a fashion accessory to take the edge off so much black, although I did
realise that I might be asked to wear it by the “Muttawa” (religious police) if
they said so. I didn’t bother with the
scarf going to the hotel foyer but it was remarked on. I kind of think of the hotel as being ‘international’
rather than ‘Saudi’ but have got this totally wrong. This made me much more wary of asking at
reception for a change of towels or to empty the bin and I ended up leaving
Martin to do that. I am not allowed out
in public on my own as a woman – so does the hotel foyer count as in public? I perhaps considered nipping out to the hotel
reception without an abaya on (our suite is next to the reception) as the
equivalent of nipping out in my dressing
gown and slippers if it was an English B&B but of course it isn’t.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
had to do a double think when Martin and his new found friend Alex came back
into our suite. “What am I meant to do when other men are in our place?” Obviously, he has been invited by my husband
and my husband is here. But presumably
if he had brought back a Saudi colleague I would have had to have warning and
then rushed and covered up? Similarly, a
hotel employee came to unblock the toilet and I went into the bedroom to find
my trusty black friend. In the end I
couldn’t be bothered and just stayed in there with the door shut until he had
finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-83315863029929618682013-09-05T12:49:00.003-07:002013-09-05T12:49:47.907-07:00Our Home for the Time Being<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
didn’t get the call yesterday but Martin was rung at 10 in the evening and told
to be in the foyer at 6.30 in the morning.
I am just sitting and waiting for my call again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">From
the discussions yesterday we were told that we could stay in our hotel suite or
they will continue to look for a married compound for us. We had had no idea how long we were meant to
be staying in this hotel, as did the other teachers, so we </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">hadn't</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> unpacked very
much at all and by now it was getting irritating trying to work out which
suitcase was so-and-so to be found. So
we unpacked some stuff and sta</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">rted to think about this as being our home for a few weeks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_3xQqR23m6RU_b9JRrc8ZCk2Sz-y-PV69AiNP2exApSAUslk-F0U8wHvPj0rZYI69S67XTar_4q3i0VjvuVs5ybUq5Kwex6g8g1eYUj-anSXhSA8esK2pDT-2ye42Z4zh9h9B4mCmIg/s1600/P1010114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_3xQqR23m6RU_b9JRrc8ZCk2Sz-y-PV69AiNP2exApSAUslk-F0U8wHvPj0rZYI69S67XTar_4q3i0VjvuVs5ybUq5Kwex6g8g1eYUj-anSXhSA8esK2pDT-2ye42Z4zh9h9B4mCmIg/s640/P1010114.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lounge / kitchen area is very comfy and quite well equipped</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX_iXANdDM75pSCuADTw522R8hY4Zm2XUKxw7l4HsYRe2lv8IV1qW6uz4qmNftw21MBKRlIT6uLEVWPoGfNRsnX0MC4BeaR_Q2sBa9YeyHOGkv28BQi3F1pojXIChMDheyPKiB-87kyo/s1600/P1010115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX_iXANdDM75pSCuADTw522R8hY4Zm2XUKxw7l4HsYRe2lv8IV1qW6uz4qmNftw21MBKRlIT6uLEVWPoGfNRsnX0MC4BeaR_Q2sBa9YeyHOGkv28BQi3F1pojXIChMDheyPKiB-87kyo/s640/P1010115.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its a bit on the dark side because there are minimal windows to keep the heat out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFvcmjwVnMKniTfRuOWEnDteCfObecUkGUPZDkXquqDEYeSZrvtDMwi6CDbnjDKHt9Ia5ATc1xQbf51LZHXJfaq5ZQgEFxfA-Tuj5sJD6naKptCxTEERv6_rXTnDvYX9Vz63l41LdHIs/s1600/P1010116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFvcmjwVnMKniTfRuOWEnDteCfObecUkGUPZDkXquqDEYeSZrvtDMwi6CDbnjDKHt9Ia5ATc1xQbf51LZHXJfaq5ZQgEFxfA-Tuj5sJD6naKptCxTEERv6_rXTnDvYX9Vz63l41LdHIs/s640/P1010116.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only played Ankh Morpork 3 times so far. We have FOX films and a few other channels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPbPQ4m1e7zGMp8LWzjZ6-y9XQKjqd51kt-0MLbcwbDJoaMBfe99Lxve1totBuZAZBxUCHLxCSzdxA3kOUWMkCTUtn-U3SDR5AdlZMoB_u7gDmBKcYP3AUeoaeJV9vcO6nXK_Ne5P-8M/s1600/P1010117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPbPQ4m1e7zGMp8LWzjZ6-y9XQKjqd51kt-0MLbcwbDJoaMBfe99Lxve1totBuZAZBxUCHLxCSzdxA3kOUWMkCTUtn-U3SDR5AdlZMoB_u7gDmBKcYP3AUeoaeJV9vcO6nXK_Ne5P-8M/s640/P1010117.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are zebra print tiles - they look furry but they are not.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmyNmGGBK_HewNwbd4cYjk1JIB7Q1mHUFtOhJyoBugtsTI4qXjuON72fP70HKUCJNginFD_79NskmpA_BJJTR-VmJuAQS5CmRzLwrP6u1gmqJISwpFwMmaiHbaZom7u6C_TUQHbb8QL8/s1600/P1010118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmyNmGGBK_HewNwbd4cYjk1JIB7Q1mHUFtOhJyoBugtsTI4qXjuON72fP70HKUCJNginFD_79NskmpA_BJJTR-VmJuAQS5CmRzLwrP6u1gmqJISwpFwMmaiHbaZom7u6C_TUQHbb8QL8/s640/P1010118.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen has no oven but it does have a microwave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IPKQbed5fTQtcs6Ae_MT_4XJhDYrG24nXQ0stAKXnbDTKZBwDoriHQXaBqU3z1TAYEyiy4Yg4OrTFceFFthfz-TslQ9vFU1J0M-HnKAuZ4nfFXErXlmD9Q_zgHejt5Du9Ik9WaCAWL0/s1600/P1010119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IPKQbed5fTQtcs6Ae_MT_4XJhDYrG24nXQ0stAKXnbDTKZBwDoriHQXaBqU3z1TAYEyiy4Yg4OrTFceFFthfz-TslQ9vFU1J0M-HnKAuZ4nfFXErXlmD9Q_zgHejt5Du9Ik9WaCAWL0/s640/P1010119.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settee is big enough to sprawl on</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ9qQD3bvqwIbmudGu8guuBF8_MM_hmS6uWo2NEJhluLgTnEUOOKKh_6CnyoIJ92u_hnwBeGDJN4OaY_o8Enxa6nL_EmB37PsvDL7YWxKBSKnUQF-pjI2Ix0Hue8fmmnKRnnCT4wMl-w/s1600/P1010120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ9qQD3bvqwIbmudGu8guuBF8_MM_hmS6uWo2NEJhluLgTnEUOOKKh_6CnyoIJ92u_hnwBeGDJN4OaY_o8Enxa6nL_EmB37PsvDL7YWxKBSKnUQF-pjI2Ix0Hue8fmmnKRnnCT4wMl-w/s640/P1010120.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom is a lot better now the toilet is unblocked but a lovely shower and very spacious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE1U5nbtAmWMESsoccOHnQk8jlXQg8rj0G3Ed5RZkqroYegfqimpRZELTkFxZz2acZWs_FF7LRi120fvHN3UiBs0kd3n00cYmIaUz2SiNxflL26LodAL9roCMQm8UTzubYv1cRpRm68s/s1600/P1010121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE1U5nbtAmWMESsoccOHnQk8jlXQg8rj0G3Ed5RZkqroYegfqimpRZELTkFxZz2acZWs_FF7LRi120fvHN3UiBs0kd3n00cYmIaUz2SiNxflL26LodAL9roCMQm8UTzubYv1cRpRm68s/s640/P1010121.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving the bed - huge and soft and get a really good sleep</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very spacious - still not unpacked yet</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-4946590034547545562013-08-29T05:55:00.001-07:002013-08-29T10:04:38.949-07:00First Trip to the Mall<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside our hotel - the roads are virtually deserted</td></tr>
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We were picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel and told that someone will contact us tomorrow. We are not sure whether or not these are our permanent digs or just temporary we just don’t know yet. We have a lounge / kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom which are all very comfortable. We had been travelling from 11:30 the previous day and were pretty tired and so showered and then had a lovely sleep in a lovely soft bed and felt very rested when we woke up. Thought we would go and explore the outside world and find something to eat!<br />
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We had passed a Carrefour hypermarket as we arrived at the hotel and aimed for that. The surrounding area is a huge building site and there are lots of empty spaces waiting to be built on – I can imagine that in 5 years it will look very different. It is wide and flat and not many cars and you can see for miles and the buildings that are in progress are ultra-modern. It’s quite eerie in a way, it’s as though they are building a derelict town. In London, there are no empty spaces to build on – another building has to be knocked down to make way for new ones and new construction goes on in the midst of life. But here there are such huge spaces to build on it could be on the moon!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultra-modern buildings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The building in front is shaped like a ship</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to be built on</td></tr>
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Carrefour is part of an enormous mall the size of a small town. It is more Bluewater style than Lakeside and again quite empty. Maybe because of the time of day but it has a church like feel – like the murmurings in a cathedral and you can see clusters of black clothed figures floating in the distance.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The is a bit like a cathedral</td></tr>
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There were many familiar names as we walked around – Next, Mothercare, Marks and Spencers, Debenhams and from what we could see the prices were generally speaking the same as in England, maybe a little more expensive in some cases and a little cheaper in others.
There were also many shops that sold beautiful abayas and furniture that reflected the local culture.<br />
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Naturally I studied the women I saw, all wore a full length black abaya and most of whom also covered their faces with their eyes uncovered. Quite a few completely covered their faces and the eye area of the cloth was thinner, so in the same way as tinted windows worked, you could see out without anyone else seeing in. I found this the most disconcerting but I guess that I will get used to this in no time at all I remembered in the Sudan that the girls wore a full length pale blue uniform but individualism shone through and their shoes and school bag was their own. The same here as the women walked or were sitting on a bench, their shoes were different as was their clothing under the abaya; some wore trousers, others dresses in a range of colours. I find it very strange. How do they feel, having to be covered in black head to toe when they go outside. There were some younger girls, not wearing scarves but wearing abayas and so it would seem they wanted to wear them even though they were not required to. In England before the war, boys would become men when they were 13 and allowed to wear trousers and not shorts. There was a time for women when you were considered old enough to wear your hair up instead of hanging loose. Is it the same kind of thing we wondered – getting excited about being able to wear an abaya, an external badge to show that you were now a woman, something to be thrilled about?<br />
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Before we came here I had read that it was important not to be seen in public holding hands or being physically affectionate and I was surprised to see one young couple holding hands.<br />
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I was surprised to see areas that were designated “families only” that excluded single men. These were shops that sold women’s clothes or make-up or really places that women would hang out. Restaurants had different areas too, we checked out the prices of a Steak Restaurant and the door to the left was for families and the door to the right was for men. Even at the takeaway food places, there was a divider to separate men and women customers. I have since read an article that explained that it is a relatively recent thing that single men have been allowed into shopping malls other than at lunch times.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the signs "MEN" "WOMEN"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food is about the same price as in the UK - the divider of male and female customers</td></tr>
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The Carrefour hypermarket was enormous about 3 times the size of the Tesco extra in Southend. Which is probably nothing for any Americans reading this! We did enjoy our tour round, looking at similarities and what was different to England. There was a policy of not selling US meat according to one sign but they reassured their customers that Australian and New Zealand meat was available and not sure whether the sale of camel meat was a result of the ban or not. Will have to try at some point and report back!
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have never eaten Camel before</td></tr>
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While we were there we heard the call to prayer but was surprised to see that customers in the store were generally stationary or sitting down during this time. Was this a bit like the 2 minute silence in the UK in lakeside for example when some people don’t realise they should be standing still and it dawns on them too late that that was going on? Well the answer to that is yes and no. During prayer time, the roll-down doors are pulled down so that the staff can go to pray and this means that the customers can’t leave either. So if you have finished your shopping then why not sit down and wait? Or like us, carry on round.
We’d look at something and I’d say to Martin “How much is that then?” and we would both embark on complicated conversion mathematics and get it wrong on the first attempt and we did this about 99 times! I just pretended to do it – Martin is much better at that kind of stuff than me.
We bought the following items in our first shop. Cooked chicken, Greek salad, humus, coleslaw, mayonnaise, 6 eggs, 5 pain au raisins, sweetcorn, bottle of fresh milk, pack of rolls and a French stick. It came to 90 sar which is about £15.50. Not bad really.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first food shop</td></tr>
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Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157444782337797498.post-11241257952723731292013-08-29T05:55:00.000-07:002013-08-29T05:55:03.201-07:00Leigh-on-sea to Riyadh in 7 weeks<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a long journey we arrived in Riyadh</td></tr>
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I had sent off my CV to an agency for a job as an ICT teacher in Hockley when I received a call asking whether or not I was interested in teaching in a women’s University in Saudi Arabia; I did not immediately say no as I usually did when asked about international work. It had not been easy finding suitable work for either of us since we returned from Sudan and with the new academic year looming we were less optimistic than we had ever been. We hadn't been investigating overseas work though; we had been in a bit in limbo. Martin had applied for teacher training for the September and we had not long found out that he had not been accepted. What were we going to do now? We carried on for a bit as we were, Martin in the bakery and me doing supply work at a Pupil Referral Unit then we were both laid off within a week of each other. We had no real plans, I had health issues and we were playing the wait and see game. “Mmmm, might be..”, I said. “What about my husband?” “”He can follow on in a couple of months” “But he is a teacher too” “Brilliant, he can find him work as well”. This was on the Tuesday and by the Friday we had both received job offers. What followed was a medical for Martin and an interview for me to see whether I would be going to Princess Nourah University for Women, a new state-of-the-art university in Riyadh. And 7 weeks later we arrived in Riyadh.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One without the glasses and the full abaya</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin looking smart</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuorKBW0Us1s2Ys-xj7l1YBzTRN904IRnqRpH7QwG84XJfSssuU4ALchZBVuVQMJl94P-TZA1ZS3MK1233QNZ6KyZ-MoCdPKLDWEc2G0QZaVu00v8K86E3Y3-mswq1jywNzb4fsOpoC4k/s1600/184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuorKBW0Us1s2Ys-xj7l1YBzTRN904IRnqRpH7QwG84XJfSssuU4ALchZBVuVQMJl94P-TZA1ZS3MK1233QNZ6KyZ-MoCdPKLDWEc2G0QZaVu00v8K86E3Y3-mswq1jywNzb4fsOpoC4k/s400/184.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks a bit like he's going to present the weather forecast!</td></tr>
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Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0