Tacky Souq

After hearing so much about the "Princess Souqs" we decided to go check them out. This is the place where the princess's are supposed to take their clothes after wearing them only once and giving them away. Thought we might be in for some designer bargains!!!

Unfortunately I did not get any pictures of the clothes - as all the women's clothes were hidden at the back of all these stalls - just think really tacky.

This would be the ideal place to go if you needed an outfit for a party themed tacky with a capital T.

And its not really a place for western women to be hanging out - and especially if u are blonde and forget to take a scarf with you!!!!

(click on images to make them bigger)

There were loads of stuff just thrown on the ground.

Rows and rows of carpets and cushions

Teapots galore, pots, aircon units, ovens alsorts

A renovators paradise maybe.

Teri and a lovely old sewing machine - my grandmother used to have one just like it.

More teapots - some were actually quite nice

Sheds full of carpets

Teri

Some really tacky designed lounge suites - quite comfy though

Tacky!!!

Plastic plants

This shop has some really good homeware stuff inside

Now I was stupid enough to leave my scarf at home (usually I am very good at taking it everywhere) and being white and blonde drew alot of attention. A car with two mutawa (religious police) drove passed us and told us to cover - so this plastic bag had to do until they disappeared.

Post princess souq lunch at the turkish restaurant. The best food ever and oh so cheap.

Yummy food and bread - but our eyes were bigger than our bellies.

Great Saudi Trinkets

Went shopping at a dodgy mall last night (well I thought so - probably the snob coming out in me) but did find a few bargains. But found this fab shop with great Saudi trinkets in it - so will have to return and buy a few things as they really are something else.

A selection of stained glass lighting

My friend Teri

Love this camel - I have been looking for one like this for a while - its made of leather.

Can't come home from Saudi without a camel.

Flower shop come pet shop - these poor lil chicks have obviously had a bad day at the hairdresser.

Arabic Dinner

We all went out for dinner to a traditional Arabic restaurant - it was the best meal I have had since I have been here thats for sure.

The building resembles a fort and its set outside - but undercover, so you would not go there when the weather is hot.

The "Family Section" - families and women can only visit on a Friday.

You sit on the floor and eat - just like the locals. We did not have to eat with our hands we were given the luxury of cutlery.

Pouring Arabic Coffee. (Don't fancy it myself)

This does not look like much food at all but believe me this was a tonne of food - it easily could have fed at least ten people. It did not look like we had even touched the food.

And yes there was camel - it was yum!!!

Outside

Eid Celebrations

Well Ramadan is over for another year and the Eid celebrations begun for a week - Eid is like our christmas. It is a time to throw out the old and buy all new stuff - like clothes!!!

(Time to be heading to the Princess Souq to maybe grab a bargain or two - this is where they take all their clothes etc...

These photos I hijacked from a friend - they are Eid celebrations taking place in "Chop Chop" Square (where the beheadings/hand chopping take place - yes it does still happen)

They are great pictures as its quite unusual to see this much colour - everything here is so boring and plain. But as you can see not a woman in site - this was a men only celebration.

See no woman!!!

This is the traditional Saudi dress for men - they all wear it.

Hash - September 11, 2009 - Al Amariyah

Well I decided to brave the heat again and go walking in the desert. It was not nearly as hot as the first time - only 37c at about 6pm.

This time I did what they call the long walk and it was great - really enjoyed it.

New members of the Hash group about to be gunged.

You can just make out the cars in the distance

Lovely Kristian from Ireland