How To Spend New Year's in Saudi Arabia

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I spent my first New Year's Eve in the Philippines last 2007. Growing up, I had no recollection of playing with "lusis" or even seeing a "Sinturon Ni Hudas" tear itself apart, much less a "Goodbye, Philippines." Nevertheless, I grew up with a phobia for anything that explodes (Long story. Next time, I'll tell), so imagine my fright as I witnessed my fist ever New Year's Eve in my adult life outside Saudi soil. To say that I was freaked out, would be an understatement.

But you all know what it's like to spend New Year's in the Philippines, or in any other country for that matter. This entry is about how I spend the New Year's in this side of the world.

1. It's QUIET. If most Asians share the belief that making loud noises on New Year's Eve will ward off evil spirits/bad luck, then they might think that Saudi Arabia is just welcoming all of them in on New Year's night. But no, it's just that it's not celebrated here. Plain and simple. Saudi Arabia is set with the Hijra calendar and they celebrate their version of the New Year during the Eid -- so we expect noise and festivities by then. But on December 31st, expect a standstill--and the people you'll find walking around the neighborhood, nonchalant.

Though from personal experience, my brother and I would collect "mga takip ng kaldero" (cooking pan covers) minutes before midnight and bang them all for at least a minute after the clock strikes twelve (along with a high jump, in a superstitious hope of growing taller in the coming year). We do it locked in our rooms of course -- and this ladies and gentlemen, is our version of a "noisy" New Year.

2. No fireworks. No exploding items. Apart from Saudi Arabia not practicing New Year's like the rest of the world does (except China maybe), traditions known to us such as igniting a "pla-pla" or setting off "kwitis" is strictly prohibited. Heck, I don't think they even sell those here. Nevertheless, witnessing a fireworks display would be nice (they do some during Eid). What me and my family used to do would be to turn on CNN and watch the fireworks display from different parts of the world on TV. Kumusta naman diba? Yep, that's New Year's in KSA for me!

3. We eat. We have round things. We throw coins. Any New Year's tradition that we can do within the confines of our house is fine, as long as it's quiet and nothing has to explode (which is really quite remote if you think about it). Food is so abundant here that we can easily get our hands on any round-shaped fruit in the market. In my family, we'd have our aunts, uncles and their families over at our place (sometimes theirs) and just be together when the new year begins (taking photos with the round fruits before eating them). One fun thing my relatives also got to teach me about Filipino New Year's tradition while growing up was the throwing of coins in different parts of the house so as to invite good fortune in the family. However, this year, it looks like the collection of halalas is scarce. I mean, we hardly get our hands on any anymore...does that mean we might end up penniless this year? I hope not. :P

4. Roam the city. Go out of town. For other OFWs who may not have the luxury of having relatives here with them, they would usually opt to be out in the town, surrounding themselves with friends, or even strangers, just so they can veer away from the lonesome feeling in their housing units--especially in this cold weather. For the all-boys crew, weekend trips to nearby cities like Jeddah and AlKhobar are at a high too, just so they can do something "new" for the New Year. Meanwhile, most ladies opt to divert themselves to the mayhem of the Sale season inside shopping malls during this time of the year. The rationale: new year=new clothes/bags/shoes. ;)

So there you have it. It's not much, but that's the usually scenario whether we like it or not. We make do with what we can here in Riyadh. It may not be no Times Square event or a Sydney Opera House fireworks display, nevertheless, a new year IS a new year -- and how we welcome it doesn't come up to par to how we eventually make the most of it.

I say do away with the whole resolutions bit -- especially if it has proven ineffective for you in the past couple of years. Just DO what you have to do -- do whatever needs to be done to make life worth living. And I'm sure, you will not regret it.

May you all have a bountiful New Year!

xoxo

Cheers!

-ec-

RED-DY, RED-SET...GO!!!

This is the SALE Report live from Hayat and Sahara Mall as of 12PM this afternoon (Yes, we were at the mall that early on a Wednesday!). You must know by now, that RED is our second favorite color (Pink being the first :P).

It's officially the SALE SEASON PEOPLE!!!!

Stradivarius - for the Boho Chic

GAP - for classic picks.

Terranova - for all ze bagets and size 14 below. :P

Koton - for Women and Men.

Aldo - for more grown-up accessories.

Bershka - for the young and young at heart.

Nine West -- for those boots you've been wishing on!

...and......Za-raaaaaaa! (say it Oprah style!)

Other stores on sale but not pictured: New Look, Promod, MNG, Etam, Papaya, G2000, Guess, Replay, New Yorker, Urban Behavior, Splash, Centrepoint, Attitude and CityMax.

What are YOU waiting for!!!?

Season's Greetings!

This is perhaps a late, yet still, a heartfelt message from The Pink Tarha...

Share the gift of TIME. The gift of SERVICE. And the gift of LOVE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

A "Bazaar" Day of Fun!

TWO WEEKS AGO, I joined my mum and my two aunts to go to a "Christmas Bazaar" in one of the compounds here in Riyadh. For security purposes, I won't be able to name the place publicly, but let's just say that it is a very spacious, very open compound, wherein you would feel as if you weren't in Saudi Arabia at all. For me, it was a slice of "freedom." Even if I had to wake up as early as 6 am on a Friday morning to get to it. See entrance to this place is exclusive, and the security check is hard core. Gotta get there early.

The person who invited us to the bazaar is a friend of ours and I believe their compound holds this every year, with the proceeds of the entrance fee going to a charity. I wasn't sure what to expect or if I'd buy anything at all...I just came to spend the day with my family. But I ended up going home feeling wildly amused with myself. Towards the end of this write-up, you''ll know why.

When we got in, we were greeted by the numerous stalls lined up across the wide parking space. There were trinkets, jewelries, clothes, decor, furniture, books and lots of food! Most of the items were Chritmas-related -- as you know, we ARE in Saudi Arabia, and finding decent Christmas accents in commercial centers is a hoot -- so, my mum and my aunts went off to scavenge their way to some good finds. Meanwhile, my uncle and I, along with my second cousin, strolled along. Apart from the stalls, there was a jumbo-bouncy-castle thing where the kids could play, right in the middle of the grassed area. That's where all the kids went crazy for. On the side, there was a Seattle's Best booth which saved me from my groggy disposition. Not that hearing shrieking kids woke me up, no, not at all.

As the sun's rays grew stronger and with the help of caffeine, I began to mingle and small talk my way in and out of booths. I found some really funny greeting cards made in the UK, 3 for 10SR -- which was all I could afford with the money I had at the time. However, my mom and aunts found these items more to their liking:

Candy canes, snowflakes and snowman trimmings.

Santa hats, mittens and organic dog treats (upper left).

Now these are unique items, and they look like they can be family heirlooms!

I believe this is Santa's cousin, who is selling the merchandise.

I was pretty much food-tripping with my uncle, trying out grilled "Bratwursts" for the first time (they're huge, German sausages), homemade cupcakes from an Irish recipe, plus some regular Indian food -- the ones where you dip bread in curry sauce. Sorry, no pictures of that, we were too excited to eat it! :P

As I finished my hearty morning meal, I noticed a bunch of kids lining up by the Harley Davidson booth (they were selling apparel+accessories) and apparently, a bunch of biker boys were taking the kids for a ride around the parking lot for 5SR each. Something in me just clicked and I decided that I wanna have a go at it! So, there I was lined up with a bunch of eight-year-old-somethings, waiting for my turn. And what could make this imagery more ridiculous is that I had my mom right there beside me waiting in line -- coz I needed someone to take a picture of me while on the bike. Meanwhile, all these tweens were just on their own! Hahahaha! But at the time, I didn't care. I wanted an adventure!

So here I am:

A nice capture don't you think?

We rode in and out of the parking lot and since I was much older than the kids who usually ride it, the guy I was with went a little faster than usual. Which was great! It was a sunny, winter morning, and the breeze was flowing through my hair. Ahhh! It was such an exhilarating experience! Most especially because the week leading to that Friday has been very stressful for me, and venturing on that wild abandonment kinda brought me back to life, so to speak.

Call me "mababaw" or whatever, but the thing you should know about me is that I also don't know how to ride a bike. Much less a motorbike like a Harley Davidson. So for me to have experienced this, is kind of a big deal already. :)

We left the place at around noon, after watching a traditional Scottish dance performance. (Yes, t'was also my first time to see men in 'kilts').

On our way home, I can't help but feel like it was a one-day vacation away from the realities of my day-to-day life in Riyadh. I was full with all the food we tasted from different countries. The view was awesome, everyone appeared 'normal' - in normal clothes, and sometimes, not so normal (i.e. kilts). My aunts got some great Christmas stuff, AND I got to ride a Harley! :)

I guess one of the Pink Tarha mottos CAN really do me some good these days: "Do something new everyday." Feel free to use it yourself one of these days!

Cheers!

-EC-

A Letter From E

Dear Pink Tarha readers,

Hello all! How are you this cold, yet festive holiday season? :)

It's me Eyecandy holding the fort for the rest of The Pink Tarha Ladies. S is enjoying the of Quirino Highway as we speak, whilst R and M are quite preoccupied with their work and families. I, too, am juggling several activities with my two bare hands, however thanks to the recent (hyper)activity on our Facebook page, I was reminded that we have a blog with a steady following, and it would not do the readers justice to just stop writing about the beauty and wonders of living in Riyadh.

Having said that, please bear with me for the next month and a half as I try to uphold some Pink Tarha blog lovin.'

Meanwhile, in behalf of The Pink Tarha ladies, I would like to congratulate the recently concluded PEBA 2010 Awards Ceremonies. I personally watched it live via Ustream and we applaud all the efforts contributed by all bloggers and blog-lovers worldwide! Ain't that amazing?

So stay tuned dear readers as I churn my creative juices...


xoxo,
E

Mayhem in Metropolis

What else can you see inside a Riyadh Mall? An amusement center. Yes, amusement centers, just like a mini version of Star City and Enchanted Kingdom. And we're writing an amusement center experience. You might think we only took the children of our acquaintances in one and then write this experience from an onlooker point of view. Well, you see our dear readers, there are a lot of things we do for this blog. Crazy things. Like riding rides. In our mid-20s. In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In our abayas.

Let the madness begin...

There's a new mall in the intersection of Takhasussi and Tahlia Streets. It's hard to miss because it's the biggest building in this part of the city. Also, at a certain angle, the building looks like waves and is fitted with glass windows. The Panorama Mall's interiors are wide and clean. You can even do cartwheels without interruption for a few good minutes (or until spotted by the guards). Almost all shops are now open. The food court too. The Panorama Mall is the newest hangout of the Pink Tarha ladies, particularly Trader Vic's (a review coming up!). But it was an experience in Metropolis, the mall's amusement center, that was etched (forcefully) in our minds. The experience was hysterical and crazy!

We were attracted to the colorful amusement center. We were too shy to try the rides at first because we're not sure if ladies are allowed. We haven't seen our type (20-somethings and in our abayas) have a go at it. It does seem pretty awkward in our imagination. But because we love our dear readers and we want to bring you every possible 'good' and new things in Riyadh (also to channel the inner children in us), we decided to ask the men in charge of the rides if ladies are allowed. They said we should come at an earlier time when there'll be fewer people around. And that's what we did. We returned.

When we did, we had our game face on. We were hellbent on trying every ride available to us. We went to the concierge and bought a pass card which sells for various denomination. We got the SR100 card and picked our first ride...

The Apollo.

It seemed like an innocent ride and the children who went before us seemed to have a good time. What could be so bad about flying a smaller version of EK's Fly Away (one of my favorite rides in EK!)?! What's so bad about being thrown round and round in the air? Well, everything!

This is the Apollo in motion.

Eyecandy and I rode one carriage each. The ride started out slow but the next thing we knew, we were flung in the air in an instant! There was barely enough time to react and adjust. And then the carriage we were on started going up and down too, like in an Octopus ride. It was fun at first but it got dizzying the next. When the ride was finished, our shouting stopped but the cursing began. Lol. We were surprised at how the Apollo shook us. It could've turn into a puke fest. Fortunately, it didn't. Unfortunately for us, we realized that this is not our thing anymore. We're too old.

To pacify ourselves, we decided to play at the arcade. We picked a random shooting game and went at it.

Determined to gun down the zombies of The Silent Hill.

On the way to our next ride, we spotted this "perya" looking game where you throw the ball and hope it falls into one of the marked circles. It's SR10 for four balls.

Perya game. :P

I holed a ball on the first try and I won this:

Yey! A pink leopard for a Pink Tarha!

The other ladies also won their own stuffed toy after the second try. I decided to name this pink toy "Jamaica"... Why? Well, it's in honor of the next ride:

E and S at the Jamaica.

This is more innocent-looking than the Apollo because you just have to sit down and the whole "bench" will go in circles. Again, we were stupefied by the force. No time to react as the beast goes on and on in a clockwise motion. If not for the handle bars that were keeping us in place, we could have been thrown to the roof and beyond. Actually, we were losing control of ourselves; our bodies swaying in and out our seats and our legs beating hard. We were shouting our lungs off. It was embarrassing because those who were near the ride (or okay, almost everyone in Metropolis) were looking at us. Yeah, we know what they were thinking but we kept on shouting louder as the Jamaica went for its counter-clockwise spin. Akala namin tapos na! When the ride was over, Eyecandy couldn't even reach the nearby bench anymore. She slumped at the railing of the Jamaica and refused to move. Our hair were flying in all directions.

What's more embarrassing though is watching two kids, as in teeny weeny little kids, thoroughly enjoy the ride while we looked beaten at the bench nearby. Bummer! We are sooo old! Lol.

We needed a break from the madness so we ate at the food court first before going to the last ride for the evening (and probably our last ride in Metropolis ever!). We forced Eyecandy to join us at the 4D Cinema even if she was threatening to beat the crap out of us if she'll go dizzy in there again. We assured her that we will just sit down, put on special glasses, and watch a mini movie in a large screen. No need to scream death threats. Lol. We forgot to mention the part where our seats move in relation to the movie and that special effects like a swoosh of air will be felt physically. She got dizzier after. :P

We did not bother with the other rides. We were done, through, finished, kalas! But for those who are interested, there's the Drop Tower and a huge, inflatable slide. Also wall climbing and ice skating. There's even a barbershop for the kids. We're sure kids will enjoy Metropolis. Obviously, we adults had a grand time humiliating ourselves. Hahaha. We'll take it easy from now on. We're not going back unless we'd like to air our angst and frustration through valid shouting and cursing.

We'll settle for this na lang.

So even if we turned out to be such wimps in the Metropolis, we found out that hey, ladies can actually "enjoy" the amusement centers in the mall. They're not for men or for children alone. Also, we found out that once in a while, it's okay to give in to madness. You'll never know what's in store for you.

§undrenched

PS. If you happen to be in Metropolis the same time we did and saw our antics, NOPE, those ladies were not us, lol remember that we're more poised in real life. Heheh. Do join us in our next crazy adventure! :P

Kikay Camels

Look what we found in the souvenir stand in our workplace:

Pink Tarha camels! Lol.

These camels are so kikay! Can you match the Pink Tarha lady to their camel counterpart?


We'll leave you to ponder on that for a moment. Apart from these four, there are other cool and cute designs:

Lost in Saudi

They cost SR15 each and are perfect souvenirs and giveaways to family and friends in the Philippines. There are ref magnets and paperweights too. They're really unique items depicting Saudi Arabia's, er, national animal (may gan'to ba?!). However, why are we not surprised that they are...

:D

Q&A Portion 9

How was your Eid holiday? The Pink Tarha ladies went out a few times but spent most of our vacation at home. However, we completely ignored this blog because lounging around and doing almost nothing was easier. Hehe. Anyway, we're back! Hope you have your working and blogging mojo back too.

We received a few questions on where can you find certain products. Some of them we already have the answers (because we've encountered them in our mall detours) but some, we're clueless. We hope to get back to you on those.

1. Hi, my husband is now in Riyadh up to January. I am so desperate in finding size 11 flipflops here in Manila. Is there any store in Riyadh that sells this size? Thanks.

We usually see size 10/11 (that's what is written in their tags "10/11") in Ipanema and Havaianas here. Maybe this will fit you? Ask your husband to go and scour the shoe stores in Batha and Al-Akaria area. There are other flipflops/sandals brand out there. And tell him to do so asap. These particular size is hard to find. They're always the fastest to go OOS. Any chance of you joining him here? Do come! :)

2. Hi, I would like to appreciate you for a great job [in your blog]. Could you please tell me when does the next sale season or winter sale season start especially in Claire's and Centrepoint. Also, where can I find great, affordable handbags?

Thank you very much for liking our blog. The next huge sale is January 2011. A trickle of sale signs might be seen on the least week of December. You gotta save for this one! The Pink Tarha ladies love this particular sale season because discounts are huge! Also, you'll be able to scour autumn/winter items that you can use for the next seasons to come. Centrepoint, along with CityMax, usually has their sale earlier than the malls and you'll be seeing their sale ad in The Arab News. For affordable handbags, try New Look and Parfois (30% off now). If you're really on a stingy budget, try Souk Mubarak in Umalhamam and Haram Center in front of Kuwaiti souk.

3. Hi girls! I've been on the net for about an hour now just because I wanted to know if there's a place in Riyadh that carries Smashbox cosmetics. Then I figured, why not ask the Pink Tarha girls? So here I am. Btw, I love your blog.

Smashbox cosmetics can be found in Al-Sawani stores, particularly the one in Faisaliah Mall (S bought her Smashbox Photo Primer there). Enter at the gate in Olaya Street and to your right is the XOXO and United Colors of Benetton displays. Inside, you'll find a wide array of perfume and cosmetics counters. The Smashbox counter is towards the back near Benefit. Thank you for the blog lovin'. :)

4. Hi, maybe you girls can try and visit the ASEAN Bazaar at the Malaysian Embassy on the 9th of December? Entrance tickets is at SR5, which also entitles you to a raffle draw.

Thank you for the invite. We'd love to go! This is the first time we heard of a bazaar in Riyadh, and featuring ASEAN products at that. Very interesting.

5. Do you know where one can buy handmade things/clothes in Riyadh? Such as scarfs/shawls/pashminas, dresses...etc? Thanks.

We haven't heard of any indie/handmade businesses here. We get our scarfs and shawls from the usual commercial brands in the malls. Try Kuwaiti souk along King Fahd Road. And try going to the ASEAN bazaar at the Malaysian embassy (above). There might be unique finds there. :)

6. I'm just looking for some direction to "Eyes of Al-Seeh" when 'Mr.Google' topped your blog (which i should be thankful for). Thanks guyz/mare(s) for these very useful tips from you. Good luck mga kabayan... I love your blog ^__^V - Jeff

Wow, thanks for reading our blog, Jeff! We're not sure if we helped you with the directions to the Eyes of Al-Seeh because uh, S's entry on that one was about how they lost in going to it. Haha. She remembers though that you will have to take a right turn on a stoplight just after passing the tower (pictured in the entry) and before entering the town proper of Al-Kharj. That's how far she remembers it. After that is a mish-mash of U-turns and a dry water duct running through the middle of the road. Plus, the ice cream vans. :P (PS. The Pink Tarha are all girls. No doodz here.)

You know the drill, guys. If you have any questions, Ask The Pink Tarha!

Khamsa-Khamsa!

It's the Haj vacation! For the Pink Tarha ladies, that'll be 10 non-working days! Yey!

Where are you going this Haj season? Well, there's always Al-Khobar or Jeddah. If you want something nearer, Red Sand and Wadi Hanifa. And there's Khamsa-Khamsa!

We didn't know what this is at first, apart from the English translation of the Arabic word "khamsa" which means FIVE. What's up with five-five?! My father even wrongly heard it as "khabsa-khabsa." Khabsa being the chicken and rice dish that is popular here in Saudi Arabia. The conversation went something like this:

Father: Where are we going next? (after the Eyes of Al-Seeh escapade)
Friend: Sir, sa khamsa-khamsa na lang.
Father: Ah o sige. Okay dun.
Me: Nakapunta na kayo dun?
Father: Hindi pa pero gutom na ako eh.
Me: Gutom? May pagkain ba dun?
Father: Syempre, khabsa-khabsa nga eh!
Me: HUH?! Ang sabi, khamsa-khamsa!!!

Another LOL moment after the meteorite sighting in Al-Kharj. So what is Khamsa-Khamsa exactly? It turns out that it's sort of a place, a mini resort in the area of Hair where Filipinos go to unwind over the weekend. And why khamsa? Because you need to pay SR5 as entrance fee.

Picnic huts

There are a lot of things to do here but people primarily flock to have picnic and grill some chows, play "street" basketball at a dirt, rough court, and belt it out in the videoke. And of course, have kodakan moments (lots of it). When we went there last Eid vacation, there was even halo-halo for sale. The weather was warm and the sun was shining ablaze! It's better to go during the Haj vacay because the winter is slowly creeping in the city (brrrr!).

Great for BBQing!

If the picnic ground is full, you can take your vehicle on a dirt path near the cliffs and settle on make shift sheds beside boulders and rocks.

Parang fiesta lang sa barangay! :)

If you don't have time to stay, just gaze upon the low ridges and cliffs located on the other side. The gorge is dry but the scenery is different from the usual sea of sand.

Where's the hanging bridge now?

Our impromptu tour guide told us that it was more beautiful before. There was a wishing well and a hanging bridge. The well is dry now and the bridge has been reduced to merely scaffolding. We left the place early so we did not know any other activities that can be done there. Any other khamsa-khamsa frequenters here? Share your experiences in the comment area. And please do share what you are doing during the Haj vacation.

§undrenched

PS. Just an info guys, malls will be closed on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, as per Eyecandy's friends from her fave shops. ;)

Q&A Portion 8

Another round of questions and answers... We're on a roll here. :)

1. Hi there! I am from South Africa and would like to work in Riyadh. I can only speak English and is a qualified nail technician. Where do I start to search for work? Is it possible for a woman to go there alone?

We're not sure how they process it in South Africa, but in the Philippines, any one who wishes to work in Saudi Arabia for any position goes through an agency. The agency will be in charge of processing your employment papers and will guide you to the steps you need to do and undergo (interviews, medical exams, etc.). There's no problem for a woman to go here alone once your employment papers are already done. Just make sure that your agency and employers are legit, legal, and will compensate you well.

2. Where can I buy MAC lipsticks?

MAC branches are available in Sahara Mall (ground floor) and Kingdom Center (second floor). There's also a MAC counter inside the Harvey Nichols store in Faisaliah Mall.

3. Hi! I'll be flying to Riyadh soon. Can you tell me if I can bring a bunch or two of dried curry leaves in my luggage? It's the key ingredient to some of our dishes and I didn't find it the last time I came. I know poppy seeds and nutmeg are banned but I'm not sure about curry leaves. Thanks.

Poppy seeds and nutmeg are banned in the Kingdom because of their narcotics properties (a high dosage can make you 'high' so to speak). Saudi Arabia has very strict regulations on drugs and they impose heavy sanctions on those who violate this rule. On the other hand, curry leaves are widely-used in cooking in the Kingdom so we don't know know any reason why they should be banned. Curry powder are available in almost all groceries and stores. Just to be sure though, ask your embassy about it. There are cases that some produce are banned for certain reasons (like curry leaves imports were restricted in UAE in 2009 because of cancer-causing pesticides in some batches).

4. Will I be violating any company rule when I get a part-time job? Where can I look for part-time jobs in Riyadh?

It depends with the policies of your company. Technically, you cannot take any job if you are employed full-time in a company because your iqama is bound with them. But some people are allowed as long as the schedule will not interfere with your real work here. Restaurants who are short on staff and crew usually accept part-timers but they won't really announce openings publicly. Ask your waiter/cashier friends and acquaintances, they usually have more inside info than we do.

5. How to find a maid in Riyadh?

Find one through agencies. The process is long and tedious but that's the legal way of hiring one. Most maids here are under the sponsorship of other employers so it's upon their discretion to give permission to their maids to work outside (with other families).

Got more questions? Hit the ?Ask the Pink Tarha button right over there! ;P

The Kablogs Journal's 8th Issue

The Pink Tarha ladies once again invite you to read the eighth issue of The Kablogs Journal.

For this our 8th Issue of The Kablogs Journal this November 2010, we remember 'death' and we honor our 'heroes' . In the Philippines, all feet lead to the cemetery come November 1 . It's a somber yet festive remembrance of our dearly departed as all cemeteries are lit with candles and the niches freshly painted and adorned with beautiful flowers. We also remember during November the birth of Andres Bonifacio, the hero that best represents us OFWs.

Our very own Sundrenched, who's serving as managing editor of TKJ, writes about the heroes in her life. Also, over at the PEBA 2010 side, the PT ladies have been chosen as judges! Akalain mo naman yan! Lol. Eyecandy and S will be reading the entries during the Hajj holiday. We're excited to read and be consumed by the poignant and beautiful entries of this year's PEBA nominees. If you haven't visited the site and voted yet, go now go! Thank you!

Oh, Pain D'or!

Why hello there, November! 49 days to go 'til Christmas, people! The Pink Tarha ladies are currently avoiding Christmas songs and carols because they tend to make us nostalgic. Eyecandy tried listening to them one time and she got teary-eyed. Oh, Christmas! Anyway, speaking of Eyecandy (and I'm segway-ing now to the true subject of this entry)...

It was Eyecandy who tipped me in buying a loaf bread from Pain D'or when we were at the newly-opened branch in Suleimania (across Jazeera Supermarket). And I fell in love with the bread because it was like the brand Gardenia. We also got a scoop of their delicious cheese cake ice cream. Heaven! We ogled at the bread, pastries, and sweets displayed at their counters and before we walked out with breads and cups of ice cream, I grabbed one of their leaflets. Just in case I get bored at home and need something to look at and read. (Yes, reading leaflets, brochures, and catalogs is a habit I have.)

This weekend, the mother and I can't go out of the house because the father is out of town. I can but I'm too lazy to call a private cab and go somewhere. Plus the mother won't let me out with all the recent news we've been hearing about missing Filipinas. (One hearsay is that a Filipina was snatched in our area. In our area!) I have no problems being at home during the weekend *cough* but we're running low on groceries and supplies. Ergo, we don't have anything decent to eat. Sure we have our canned stash and processed meats but they get pretty lame after a while. And so I thought of having something delivered. At home, I'm the delivery queen. A week will not pass by without me ordering something and having it delivered in our doorstep. Having most Pinoy restaurants and fast food (McDo, KFC, Pizza Inn, Caesar's etc.) within our neighborhood helps. Lol. And so I perused my stack of menus when I suddenly remembered Pain D'or. It's something new and maybe they deliver?

And indeed they do!

I called immediately (excited much) after poring over their not-so-long menu. I want to order everything just so I can taste test them but of course, that's impossible (running low on cash too, hehe). So I ended up with the following:

Chocolate pastry (SR6) and apple strudel (SR6)

I wanted the almond pastry but they were not available so I settled for chocolate. It's good for those who like a little dark chocolate on their pastries. The pastry is flaky and crispy on the outside and chewy and moist on the inside. That's how I like my pastries so they're right on spot! The apple strudel was heaven-sent. It's in my dreams until now. The filling is just in proportion with the yummy bread. I loved it so much I had another batch delivered! (More on this later.)

Lasagna, SR30

The anatomy of Pain D'or's lasagna.

The lasagna is oozing with cheese and meat. The top was crusty and a little bit hard but that's orayt because I like it that way. The layers below were cheesy and soft. It could have been better if it's more meaty. The serving is good for two.

Almond Crispy Chicken Breast

+ Potato Gratin

I ordered this one out of curiosity. Maybe it's like Ketchup's pistacchio-crusted chicken breast too. They're not. I'm surprised to find two chicken fillets with strips of veggies and a little bit of sauce. Where's the almonds? Well, the almonds were pounded and mixed with the thin breading coating the chicken. It made it crunchy! The chicken was a little bit hard but the whole dish combined is flavorful and delicious. The potato gratin was a first for me. It looked like lasagna, only harder and studier (and made of potatoes, of course), but it's great with the chicken. Bet it's great with steaks too. It's a different take on side dishes made with potatoes. At least it's not fries or baked potato this time.

Tiramisu

I don't hate tiramisu but I don't love it either. The mother ordered this for some sugar rush and I only had a small bite. I can taste the too bitter coffee syrup and it just didn't sit well in my tongue. Love the personalized Pain D'or chocolate though.

And so we enjoyed a hefty dinner of Pain D'or. The next day, the apple strudel was still haunting me. It was so good I phoned another order again. This time, I want my strudel to be a la mode so I tried ordering their ice cream. The crew taking my call already knew me and he remembered that I asked about their ice cream the first time I called. He said then that he cannot deliver ice cream because it might melt on the way so I left it at that. But because I really, really want an apple pie a la mode, I tried asking him about it again. The guy was irked that I'm asking again. Lol. He said that my ice cream will turn into "soup" if I persist. But persist I did! Hahaha. I calculated in my mind how far Jazeera was to our place and concluded that hey, it's not that far! (I'm not so sure about this but WTH?!) The crew told me, "mam, it's your responsibility if the ice cream arrives as soup." I laughed and said, "I'll place it in our freezer." He sighed and said okay.

Well, my ice cream arrived looking like it came fresh out of their freezer! It didn't melt at all. See, you shouldn't give up when it comes to cravings. :P

Cheese cake ice cream, 05.kg SR25

Donuts, SR3 each

I don't fancy their donuts much. The filled ones don't have jam fillings. The donuts were dry compared to Krispy Kreme or Dunkin.

And more apple struddels, yey!

I like it sooo much! They arroved hot and fresh from the oven. The delivery was late for a few minutes because the strudels were still being baked when I phoned in my order. I'm not complaining! Love the warm strudel with the cold ice cream!

One major disappointment is their Alfredo pasta with aged parmesan. I'm so disappointed I didn't even bother taking its picture. It's bland, bland, bland. I remembered that Tony Roma's chicken alfredo was bland too. Why can't they get it right?! Oh well...

So, that's my weekend adventure with Pain D'or. Their delivery is good. They found our flat fast (thank goodness for delivery guys who know how to speak in English fluently) and they keep a record of it so the next time I called, I didn't have to repeat. Oh and going back to the first product that I loved in this bakery... the loaf bread is very good for your sandwiches. It's good to be eaten on its own too. They're widely available in supermarkets and groceries. :)

How was your weekend?

§undrenched

Q&A Portion 7

Miss our question and answer portion? We've received questions over the weekend and two today that prompted us to publish our 7th compilation. Here yah go!

1. As a single female in Saudi with an iqama, if I want to fly to Riyadh, do I need to book transportation in advance? Will they let me out of the airport alone? Could you recommend a taxi driver? Great blog by the way.

Eyecandy traveled from Riyadh to Jeddah via Saudi Airlines before for a business trip and she did not have any problems so we're guessing you're allowed to do so. Only married women without their guardians (husbands) are probably questioned but if you're single and your iqama is that of an employee (not a dependent), then you're allowed to enter other KSA provinces and there's no interrogation counter in the airport to ask you. You will, however, go through a local customs stall for stuff you need to declare. There's a taxi service in the airport and you can just approach the concierge for your transpo needs. We also know of Hala, the taxi service used mostly by hospital employees but can also be used by visitors (or anyone in Riyadh). You can call them in advance at (01)442-7244. Thank you very much for reading our blog and we hope you enjoy your stay in Riyadh!

2. Hi! Mabrook! I love your blog. Keep it up! Anyway, I just want to ask you if you can suggest any affordable and nice flower shops in Riyadh. Thanks.

There are a lot of flower shops in Riyadh and most of them are found near hospitals (i.e. Military Hospital in Abu Bakr Ar Razi Street). A single long-stemmed rose from these flower shops go for SR5 each. A nice bouquet is SR50 and above. For imported and first class flowers, there's Gardenia (01-2166886). We happen to pass by the store in one of our forrays into Tahalia Street, the busiest, most popular cafe street in Riyadh. We got curious and went inside. The shop sells elegant black roses which go for SR60 a piece! (You also need to buy them in bulk.) The roses are so expensive but you get what you pay for. The roses are beautiful and exquisite. They also have tulips from Holland. For flower arrangements for events, try Unique Brothers (01-8101631). Thank you for reading our blog!

3. I am searching for Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion Kit. Can you help me where to purchase it. I'm from Al-Kharj. Thanks.

We've seen a lot of Olay products in groceries and hypermarkets in Riyadh, particularly in Hyper Panda. There are also some in the nearby bakala (stores). But we haven't seen the Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion Kit anywhere. Or maybe, we were not also looking hard enough because no one among us uses it. We also looked at the Olay Arabia site and the kit is not available there. To be sure, you may want to contact Olay Saudi Arabia's consumer service at 800-244-0039 or +966-2-657-4751 (Jeddah). Good luck! When we happen to not find in the Kingdom the beauty products or tools that work best on our skin, we ask friends who are going home to the Philippines to buy them for us and take the products with them back to Riyadh or... we just buy them in Ebay. Lol. Please keep reading our blog! :)

4. Hey, I love your blog. Do you know any tattoo artists in Riyadh? Good ones?

Hi there, thanks for liking our blog. Nope, sorry. We do not know of any tattoo artists in Riyadh. And we are not sure if tattoos are even permitted here. Most people who have them usually hide their tattoos because tattoos are frowned upon in this side of the world.

5. Hi Pink Tarha, I just moved to KSA from the land Down Under, Australia. I would like to get my acrylic nails done. Can you tell me where in Riyadh I can get this. Cheers! - Denise

Hi Denise! Hmn, we are not aware of any acrylic nails services but some beauty salons might offer them. Call Yibreen (01-4411115), Lavania (01-4429966), or Elle et Vous (01-2932002) beauty salons and ask if they offer this service. For nail products, visit Nazih Trading Co. along Olaya Road. It's beside Centria Mall and Habitat furniture store. They offer O.P.I nail polishes, hand and nail care sets, and beauty salon products like scrubs and facials.

6. Hello. I am staying in Jubail now. I am an Indian and looking for Indian beauty parlors in Jubail. Can you please help me out in this matter?

Hi, we really wish we can but the Pink Tarha ladies are living in Riyadh. We haven't been to Jubail (but we'd love to visit this industrial city soon). We'll be able to help if you're in Riyadh but since you're not, we can't vouch for any beauty salons there.To our readers in Jubail (if ever we have one), please recommend beauty salons you go to.

So that's it for our seventh installment of Q&As. We also answer questions from our readers in Facebook. Head on over to FB and like our The Pink Tarha page. Pretty please? Thank you very much! :)

Taxi Tales Addendum

Forget the commercial guide books and phrase books. They don't know what they're saying. Lol. What we mean is, when you are in Riyadh, you need to immerse yourself in the place. If you're out in the streets, you gotta talk their talk!

Here are some colloquial terms and phrases that will be handy when riding a cab in Riyadh, courtesy of Eyecandy, our official spokesperson when riding taxis:

ARABIC - ENGLISH

Inta aref (insert name of place)? or Inta ma'lloum (insert name of place)? - Do you know (insert name of place)?

COMMON PLACES

• Mushtashfa - Hospital
  Examples: Mushtashfa Askari - Military Hospital (also known as Riyadh-Al-Kharj Hospital or the Armed Forces Hospital), Mushtashfa Malik Faisal - King Faisal Hospital (KFSH&RC), Mushtashfa Malik Khaled - King Khaled Hospital, etc.
  

• Tariq - Street or road
  Examples: Tariq Malik Abdullah - King Abdullah Road, Tarik Malik Fahad - King Fahad Road, Tariq Olaya - Olaya Street, etc.
  

• Souk - Market
  Examples: Souk Azizia - Azizia Market, Souk Tamimi - Tamimi Market, Souk Euromarche - Euromarche Supermarket)
  

• Masjid - Mosque

HELPFUL PHRASES

Kam fulus? - How much money?
Aiwa - Yes
La - No
Mumkin - Possibly
Istanee Shaweya - A minute
Mafi Mushkila! - No problem!
Shukran Kateer! - Thank you!
Afwan - Welcome

DIRECTIONS

Yameen - Right
Yassar - Left
Sida'a - Straight
Alatoul - Go
Bas - Stop
Hina - Here
Thani - Next
Ba'd - After
Gareeb - Near
Bid - House
Ba'eed - Far

OTHERS

Mukhaib - Aircon
Sakr - Close
Ifta - Open
Sadik - Friend
Oku - Brother

Here are the numbers:


Some taxi drivers know how to speak English, but just the basic ones so don't expect to be understood when you launch into a litany of directions and places. Also, ask how much is the fare first before climbing into the cab. Near places (almost walking distance) go for SR 5 but the "basic" fare for other roads or streets is SR10. Surprisingly, even if gasoline prices here are rock bottom, taxi fares are steep. But because we're Filipinos, we're sure eveyone knows how to haggle so haggle! :)