Supermarket Shopping and Fancy Dresses

Went to check out another mall today and thankfully the shops were closed so I did not spend any money.  They are closed every day from 1300-1600 for prayer as well as the two other night time prayers for about 45 minutes each time - so one must carefully plan shopping trips. You are allowed to stay inside the supermarket during prayer - they just turn off the lights and lock you in.  All the other shops you have to wait outside until they open again.

The supermarket was something quite amazing - a bit sad to get excited over a supermarket, the americans tell me its like a Wall-Mart.  I have never seen so much of everything in one place.  Each isle is full of just one type of food and so much of it.  We must have spent a good two hours looking around.

Tuna of any kind

Pasta and this is just one side of the isle

Toothpaste - you can see the price tag 3.75 Riyals which is about $1AUD

So many toothbrushes

Censorship of woman

Fancy shoes 

(if you click on the images they become bigger and you can see more detail)

Window display

This one is quite nice

Not bad

There is apparently a souq called the Princess Souq - its where the princesses take all their dresses that they no longer want - so I imagine that this is what they would look like.

Magazine Censorship

I bought the Hello Magazine today and found it had been censored!!!!  But only some pages - obviously someone has a quick flick through the magazine and then chooses a few pictures to sticker!!

But this is a vast improvement from when I was here in 2002 - back then you could not even buy these type of magazines so things are getting better slowly.  And at least all of the pages are intact some magazines they just rip the pages out - maybe thats when they run out of stickers.

Wonder if there are many RSI cases in the censorship industry!!!!

To censor or not to censor!!

This page slipped through the censors!

Looks like they used the last sticker.....

Streets of Riyadh

Just some random pics of the city.  Its quite hard to get pictures as most of the time you are in a car - its not really the done thing for woman to walk the streets (and especially in 50c).

So most of these pictures are taken by a friend of mine who has done alot of walking around the city in the time we have been here.

The inside of the Riyadh Gallery Shopping Mall - lots of water and lots of stuffed animals - sort of feel like you are in a zoo.

These two are taken from inside the taxi - this is the Kingdom Shopping Mall.  You find all the designer shops here.

Another mall - Faisalia, the globe is a restaurant.

First 'Hash' Walk in the Desert

Today I went on an organised Hash Harriers run/walk.  You put your name on a list and are given a meeting point (its all quite secretive as no woman are allowed in cars with men unless they are their husbands or with a married couple)

Then a convoy of 4x4's pull up and then you just jump in and off we go.

So you have no idea who these male drivers are (god you'd never jump into a strangers car back home)

The drive is usually about 30-45 minutes but as it happens we were in  a line of cars that took the wrong turn somewhere along the way.  So 1.5hrs later we arrive at the meeting point - so we got to see a little more desert than others.

The desert was more rocky than sand.

These are the 'crazy' people who decided to run or take the long walk in 44c heat.

Our rides

The half way point - watermelon/peaches and cold water - never tasted such good watermelon

I opted for the short walk

The scenery out here was just amazing

The crazy people climbing their way down the hill

Our treat at the end of the walk - ice cream galore, mountains of toppings.  Two plates later and I felt so sick.  Got home and thought I was going to die in the night - combination of too much ice cream, dehydration and heat - but alas I did survive the night.

Can't help but  think how it must feel to be lost in the middle of the desert looking at this vast open space.

Carpets and Pashminas

Last night we went to the souqs again...looking for abayas (will end up with more abayas than normal clothes)  Went into a carpet shop - saw the most beautiful carpets, just might have to invest in one before I leave.

Carpets, carpets and more carpets

Jo trying out her haggling skills

And more carpets

These shelves are full of pashminas - we all ended up buying one.

First Night Out in Riyadh

To celebrate the end of our first week in the Kingdom a group of us went to the local Turkish Restaurant for dinner.  The restaurant is a bit of an icon here.  Delicious food and oh so cheap.  It cost us $10 AUD each for starters/breads/mains/drinks and we did not eat all the food - so great value for money.

This is the Faisalia Mall - when we all pass out medication exam we are going to treat ourselves to high tea in the globe on top of the building.

Waiting outside the restaurant for prayer time to be over.  The restaurants/shops close for every prayer.  If you are inside the restaurant you can stay but they will not serve you anything.

(Catherine/Maria - Ireland/UK)

Inside the restaurant waiting for our table. (Veronica and Jo - Ireland)

Table laden with food

Our fab waiter - he was just so funny- reminded me of Basel from Faulty Towers.

Monica and Terri - US

All the restaurants/cafes here have mens and family sections.  Single ladies  dine in the family section.

Mens Thobes

We ventured into a chocolate shop and were greeted by these lovely men who presented us with trays of chocolates and arabic sweets to try while in the shop.

Girls in Black.