Blogs from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Middle East

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Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh November 27th 2022

The sun is setting on this trip, as I reach the final stretch of what has been a very interesting journey. Not an easy trip, at least, not easy if you are trying to keep to a budget, and don't have your own transport. But worth the money nonetheless. Looking back I can confidently say I managed to do more than I expected. I have seen a country in change. Going from a closed society to an open society. Remember this is a nation that until three years ago was forbidden territory for (western) tourists (but not businessmen). I have met lots of wonderful Saudi's and migrants from all over. 'Welcome' is the word I hear most, but also, 'What do you think of our country?' I have enjoyed the bus rides, it has given me ... read more
Dumat al Jandal
Dumat al Jandal to Tabuk
Dumat al Jandal to Tabuk

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh March 11th 2022

Wanting to visit Saudi Arabia is not a new thing for me. This Middle Eastern country has been on my list for years, but it was not so simple as an American female tourist. The notion of just hopping on a plane and landing in the desert wasn’t always that easy. I remember in December 1999 we were in Aqaba, Jordan awaiting the long anticipated arrival of 2000 and we hired a guy to drive us to the Jordanian border with Saudi just so we could peer into the magical, but out of reach country. I am pretty sure the driver thought we were nuts, but he didn’t understand the concept of being a border junkie either. The list of reasons why I wanted to experience Saudi Arabia is lengthy one that I am sure relates ... read more

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh March 11th 2022

The worldwide pandemic has turned our world upside down in so many ways. Some are severe like death, illness, lingering symptoms and families being separated from each other. Some have been more of mere hassles, like product shortages or wearing a mask. For those of us who love to travel, the pain has come in the form of being confined, being locked out of countries and being forced to put our adventures on hold for a little or rather a long while. Saudi Arabia was not immune to these complications and restrictions. A trip for me that was supposed to happen in 2020, was pushed to 2021 and then ultimately did not happen until 2022. Frustrating? Absolutely. But once the thrill of actually traveling strikes us again, it seems to be all we can think about ... read more
Free Tests Give at US Customs Upon Arrival to USA

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh February 27th 2022

He said, “Do you want to ride the camel? He is the lead camel.” I was standing somewhere in the middle of the desert in Saudi Arabia and I could hardly give him the courtesy of listening because my eyes and attention were fixated on the 40 white camels standing before me. Without any thought or consideration I said, “Yes, of course.” I had no idea what was planned and I guess I really didn’t care. I was with camels. I was in my element. I felt like I was in heaven. The camel obediently kooshed, I quickly climbed aboard and realized I had no idea who he was, where I was exactly and how I had arrived at this point. They all seem like important details for a single female traveler in a foreign country, ... read more
Selfies on Camelback
Camels, Camels Everywhere
Hanging with the Camels

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh February 25th 2022

I ascribe to the adage, the world is our runway. I believe every day offers fashion moments. Moments to express our feelings, our creativity and our very personal identity. We may fall into fashion habits, we may develop our own personal uniforms and we may even become complacent at times, but there is always an opportunity to walk your own runway. And when we are really lucky, our runway goes international. Before we step foot on our local or global runway, there are so many things to consider. From time and place, to climate and geography, to emotions and social etiquette. This list is big and can be heavy, but it becomes even more real when you realize your next runway is going to be in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. What do you pack for ... read more

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh February 23rd 2022

Fate. Divine intervention. Predetermined paths. Karma. Do I believe in any of this? I do not know. I don’t think I do, but sometimes you can’t help but let your mind wander. Do things happen for a reason? Are we all on this path and what seems like a coincidence is really just something already mapped out for us? Maybe we are all just supporting cast members in our own version of Sliding Doors. Does it all hinge upon whether or not to catch the train that one fateful day? I suppose my plot line could be something along the lines of, young boy living in middle America fancies a 60’s love song which sets into motion a trip to Saudi Arabia for his daughter nearly 60 years later. I know, but bare with me. *** ... read more
My Aunts Before a Dance
Grampy and My Aunt as Homecoming Queen
Dad

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh January 30th 2022

Capita spesso nelle grandi città saudite di guardarsi attorno e domandarsi "ma in che paese mi trovo?", poichè a volte di arabi se ne vedono in giro davvero pochi; la zona di Al Batha, a Riyadh, è stata giustamente definita una "Little Bangladesh" poichè la maggior parte delle attività commerciali è in mano ad operosi immigrati bengalesi; in centro a Yanbu si notano solamente gli svolazzanti salwar kameez degli infaticabili operai pakistani, mentre gli autisti di autobus della SAPTCO sono quasi immancabilmente filippini, e così via dicendo, tra una grande quantità di indiani, yemeniti, indonesiani, sudanesi, egiziani, somali ed anche qualche privilegiato lavoratore occidentale. Sarebbe facile ironizzare sul fatto che quando si entra in argomento di lavoro non c'è quasi mai l'ombra di un saudita, ma non vorrei scadere in un facile e scontato luogo comune; ... read more
Dammam in una giornata di sole
Tarout island: la spiaggia di Darin
Riyadh: chop chop square

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh November 14th 2021

Saudi Arabia has only just opened up to tourists, the first visas becoming available in 2019 for just a few months before Covid struck. We start in the capital city of Riyadh where the temperature when we land on a November evening is 25c. Riyadh is still a work in progress. There is already some great modern architecture but the city's metro is just a series of bridges and holes in the ground. The only way to get around is to walk or drive and almost nobody walks. There are lots of shopping malls, all rather empty of shoppers and two more malls are being built, both claiming to be the largest in the world. Above one mall rises the Kingdom Tower, a 99 story twin tower with a bridge between its spires. When built it ... read more
Buraidah camel market
Local farmer
Nabatean tomb

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh December 6th 2014

In urma cu doua saptamani am facut o vizita in Al Jouf, o provincie aproape de granita cu Iordania. La ora 4 dimineata eram in aeroport, si la 7,30 dimineata am aterizat in Al Jouf. "Intr-o lume unde culturile se schimba datorita revolutiei din technologie, pentru a-ti descoperi originea trebuie sa calatoresti in trecut" - spunea ghidul turistic primit la intrarea in hotel. Intr-adevar, Al Jouf iti ofera o astfel de calatorie in trecut. Unele locuri vizitate sunt din perioada paleolitica, iar favoritul meu a fost Al Rajajil, o mostenire misterioasa a unui popor antic necunoscut. Mai multe grupuri de pilari din piatra, asezate intr-o oarecare forma circulara, m-au incarcat de o energie misterioasa. Mi-am facut si eu pentru prima data un selfie, rezemata de un astfel de pilar, vechi ca si sufletul meu. Castelul Qasr ... read more
hotel Al Nusl - o piatra antica
hotel sala de primire
in interiorul unui serai (tot hotelul)

Middle East » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh May 21st 2014

De vreo doua saptamani ma tot pregatesc sa scriu despre o vizita facuta in Al Majmah, azi m-am decis sa-mi fac timp. Intr-o tara ca si KSA nimeni nu e sigur cat poate ramane. Mi-am inchipuit mereu tot felul de motive care ar putea "scurta" vizita noatra aici, dar ca de obicei, realitatea bate imaginatia. Azi a aparut intr-un ziar local o informatie potrivit careia guvernul saudit nu mai vrea sa faca afaceri cu Olanda, din cauza unui parlamentar olandez fara respect pentru lumea musulmana. Guvernul olandez nu confirma inca informatia. Lumea politica pare uneori, cel putin pentru mine, ca o groapa de nisip in care se joaca o puzderie de copii rasfatati, fiecare aparandu-si jucaria favorita. Al Majamah e un oras nu departe de Riyadh, o oaza de curatenie si verdeata. Un loc in care ... read more
strazile sunt pline de amintiri
inainte de a intra verific tavanul:)
turnul de apa




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