Riyadh: My Own Discovery PART 1

As we traveled to Riyadh last June 28, 2010, I couldn’t remember how many times I said to my parents how happy and excited I was since I would have a complete family now. Although my parents never failed on giving me orientations on what to expect when we arrived, I couldn’t help to feel the excitement to see everything with my two eyes.

This is the second country I visited next to Singapore. Questions like… “Are there any similarities between the Philippines and Saudi; Will I like the food there?; Will I have many friends there…how about bullies?...these are just some questions kept bothering me during our travel.

The moment I stepped my feet in the airport, I noticed already the difference. There’s some kind of distinct smell I couldn’t describe. My parents told me, it’s common when many Arabs, Indyans or Pakistanis gather together.

Then, my mother looked for the ladies toilet to wear her Abaya and Tarja. This is a requirement among women in Middle East. Wearing Abaya and Tarja is one way of protecting women against abusive men. When I first saw my mother wearing one, I remembered her advice to hold her hands every time we go outside since I couldn’t easily recognize her anymore because all women wear Abaya and Tarja.

My Mami buying curtains in Batha

Not all women here need to cover the entire face. In fact, many Asians and Caucasians (non-Muslim) don’t wear tarja anymore when they go to malls or other public places. That’s one easy way to identify a Filipina here. My parents told me that those who cover their entire faces are usually the conservative Saudi ladies who comply very much with the Saudi rules. By the way, my Mom is not comfortable not wearing her tarja whenever we go outside. She’s been looking for a tarja with a “Hello Kitty “design on it to recognize her easily. Ha, ha, my Dad told her to go to Japan and have it customized.


HOUSES:

It’s very common here that 2-3 families occupy one big house. Just like in our house, we are two families here plus 2 single ladies in the third room. There are 2 toilets and 1 kitchen. Every house has different features. You will notice the simplicity of houses externally.

The payment of house rental is done yearly. Water bill is yearly as well. Electricity is every 3 months. Water and electricity are not as costly compared in the Philippines. Though there are occasional water shortage and transient brownouts in isolated areas.

If you are a Filipino then surely you can’t live without TFC connection. TFC or The Filipino Channel of ABS-CBN is one of the means of alleviating homesickness of OFWs here in Saudi.


ROADS and TRANSPORTATION:

If you love driving then you will surely enjoy driving in the roads in Riyadh.

The roads are smooth and wide. Drivers are following traffic rules. There are cameras also in most traffic lights.

Although there are traffics in some areas but it is not too congested just like in the Philippines.

There are public transportations here such as taxis and busses. But take note, only men can use busses for public transportation. Women only use taxis.

Renting a car is affordable. In fact that’s what my father does whenever we go to Filipino gathering every Friday. By the way, weekends here are every Thursday and Friday instead of Saturday and Sunday.

Gasoline is very cheap. A full tank cost only SR10 or P120. So if you have a private car then worry not if you want to travel most of the time.

ATMOSPHERE:

The temperature here as of this month is quite hot. In fact whenever we go out at night to do some grocery around 8pm, temperature is between 42-47 degrees Celsius. My Dad told me that it will eventually lower. And when it's cold…it’s really
cold. It usually happens sometime in September till April.

Despite the hot temperature, I still enjoy going out and witness everything I can appreciate in Riyadh.

I surely appreciate the minimal air pollution here. I don’t see vehicles emitting dark smoke here. Even the oldest and ugliest car I guess won’t emit dark smoke. My Dad told me it’s because of the cheap price of gasoline here that everyone can afford to consume premium gas.

                                                        .......(to be continued)......