Ramadan 1431

Here's a very interesting link: Boston.com's The Big Picture, shared by Susie's Big Adventure (we love her blog!). These are fascinating photographs of Ramadan 2010 from cities all over the world. Pick your favorite pic! These ones captured our attention:

Jerusalem

Cairo

Mecca

Quezon City

London

Jakarta

Damascus

Such beautiful pictures depicting Ramadan! We have yet to get a photo of Riyadh. :)

26 on the 26th!

Guess who's birthday it is? ... *drumroll please*

She's the resident prim and posh Pink Tarha lady, keeping this blog afloat AND she is celebrating her 26th birthday today, August 26!

Just as we always say, this blog wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for the crafty mind of this gem of a lady. Lately, she's been big on OPI nail polish, online shopping and eating oranges for lunch.

Apart from her role here in Pink Tarha, she's a friend who you can always count on to tell you what you need to hear (and not what you want to hear), a strong and brave soul that can easily inspire the people around her and will always be there when you need her. The rest of the PT ladies greet our dearly beloved friend a...

Happy, Happy Birthday S!!!

Q&A Portion 6

Oopsie, questions are piling up in our Formspring account. Sorry folks, the Ramadan fever is getting into us. Okay, so here goes:

1. Hi, I really appreciate your blog. I asked a question a month ago about beauty parlors in Riyadh but you told me about Filipino parlors. Actually, I am a Pakistani and looking for Pakistani parlors. Can you please help me out in this matter?

Hi there! Oh, amazing that we have another Pakistani reader. Yes, we did give you parlors that are manned by Filipinos but we're sure they are open to every nationality, whether you're a Saudi, a Pakistani, etc. Please don't hesitate to go to the salons we suggested. Some parlors have Arabic names but once you're inside, you'll find out that their hair cutters, nail technicians and beauty specialists are of different nationalities.We're sure they'll accommodate you nicely. But if you really want an opinion of a Pakistani, you may want to ask our beautiful and creative baker friend, Ms. Nadia (whose delicious pastries we feature here). We're sure she'll be happy to give you a concrete answer.

2. Hi Pink Tarha! Can you please tell me about any parks here in Riyadh? And do you know where is the dolphin show?

There are a lot of parks (theme, amusement, picnic, leisure, etc.) here in Riyadh though they're best enjoyed during the winter time. You may want to visit the Al-Khaima Recreational Park in the Al-Worood Disctrict. This is the oldest and largest entertainment park in Riyadh that boasts of gardens and waterfalls. The Fantasy Land in the Al Mu'anasia Disctrict is the largest tourist resort in the Kingdom. It has swimming pools, games area, and a performing arts center. It has also opened the most modern water entertainment section in the Kingdom. This is where you'll see the dolphin show. Other parks good for picnics are Saalam Park (with horses, greeneries, and a boating lake), Olaya Park (playground for kids), and Al-Foutah Park (picnic grounds). Make sure to check the schedules of the parks though because some days are open for men only and families only.

3. Hi there! I love your blog a lot!! ^_^ I'm in Riyadh for some bonding time with my parents and I'm wondering where I could buy some (a lotta) nail polish which isnt' so pricey. I like doing some nail art too so if you've a guide to help me out, please share!

Wow, perfect timing! Sundrenched is a nail polish addict, but she's just starting her collection. She loves O.P.I nail polishes because they glide smoothly and are long-lasting (and most nail polish lovers swear by this bran d). They're pretty expensive at SR30+ but they're worth it. They're available in Nazih Trading Co. beside Centria Mall in Olaya Street. Maybelline nail polishes, available in Debenhams at SR27 a piece, are also good. If you want to practice with more affordable polishes, go to Claire's (located in popular malls like Hayat). Their polishes are in cute bottles and they have a lot of bright colors. For DIY nail art, we recently discovered a Konad branch in Riyadh Gallery. Try it! Fabulous nail stamps that are too cute and fab for words. Thanks for reading our blog and we hope you enjoy your time here.

4. Hi! It's Jin again. Just wondering if you can give some tips on what to wear underneath the abaya, or even without it while in the compounds or in the ladies' floor in the kingdom tower. Do you guys know anyone who works at KAMC? Thank you!

Hi Jin, you can wear anything underneath the abaya! Any regular clothes that you want! Lol. (We even go out in our pajamas! Haha!) They can't see it anyway, unless of course, you're in the ladies floor of the Kingdom Center. You wear whatever outfit you want but try to be modest in your clothing choices. But if you're in a compound of foreigners/expats, you can be yourself and wear any fashion style you want.

For your second question, are you talking about the King Abdulaziz Medical City? It's also known as the "National Guard Hospital." We have friends working there as nurses and secretaries.

5. Hi. Do you know where King Saud University is located there in Riyadh? Are the research centers located inside the university? Such as their Obesity Chair?

The King Saud University is the oldest university in Saudi Arabia. It's near the Diplomatic Quarters. Their research centers are inside their huge campus but we're not sure if they have other branches outside. Here's the website to King Saud University for more information.

6. I'm moving to Jubail in a few months with my 1 yo daughter. Will it be difficult for me to find a live-in nanny for her? What are the processes and paperwork involved? I would prefer a Filipina nanny. Thanks! - Kala

Hi Ms. Kala! Acquiring live-in nannies (or even maids) should go through the procedure of employing one from the Philippines (go through an agency and POEA). They need to be sponsored (either by your husband or his company) and have legal documents and residence permits to be employed. When you're already in Jubail, beware of hiring maids/nannies who escaped from their (Saudi) employers. They do not have the legal papers to work for someone else. If the authorities find out that you're keeping a "takas" (as what most Filipinos call them) in your house, you'll be imprisoned too. A part-time babysitter is easier to find but this is for those parents who both work and are away from their homes most of the time. They leave their children in the house of some Filipina full-time moms who are working as babysitters. Good luck on your move! :)

Malling 'Til 2AM

Ok, has the Ramadan schedule cramped out your weekend night outs?

We've sure been feeling the pinch.

Most stores are open during the day at 1PM to 4PM...but expect food chains to be closed. Last Thursday, S and I, along with our friend, A, had to get our repressed shopping souls free after restraining ourselves after the SALE Season. S called the phone nos. of malls like Granada Mall, Sahara and Hayat just to know what time they'd be open (Yes, we're addicts like that. But wait, there's more). For some reason, S got hold of the info that Hayat is open by 6pm. So, we scooted off as soon as we could arriving to the vicinity at around quarter to seven. This is what we found.

Abandoned.

An empty parking lot in both Sahara and Hayat Mall engulfed us. I have NEVER seen this place so empty as this is always jam-packed with cars and heavy traffic. But lo and behold, you could drop a penny in this place and hear it hit the ground a hundred yards off. We couldn't do anything but laugh at ourselves really. Half-funny, half-scary. Half-funny 'coz of the absurdity of it all, and half-scary because the whole place was like a scene from Dawn of the Dead horror flicks. I mean, look at that trolley! lolz.

But hey, we're hardcore Pinays right? So what do we do? Kodakan na! Hahaha.

E-M-P-T-Y!

Mas empty pa sa Empty Quarter.

S and E.

Jump shot!

Feeling nasa EK?

We were able to have dinner at Tony Roma's in Hayat, [By the way, if you're ever there, don't bother ordering the ribs (they've been out of ribs for 2 months!) and they also don't have corn (which S and A were craving for but na-dah!)]. Srsly, TR at Hayat, if you're reading this, your service has gone waaaaay down, bordering on underground since I first ate at your branch there. Better close your branch if you don't carry your supposed MAIN course items. DOH!

Anyhoo, we had to endure the place until stores opened at 9 PM. And by then, we were like a bunch of rats scrambling for the shops! Oh yeah, and we were scrambling and strolling til half past 1:00 AM! AND, naisipan pa namin pumunta ng Kingdom! Gawsh, the last time I was out THIS late was during my party days in college...in the Philippines! We mainly bought make-up and beauty products from MAC and The Body Shop. But take note, the main goal of our trip was supposedly help our friend find a dress! Haha. That is what you call diversion.

There you have it folks. We opened Hayat Mall and closed Kingdom Mall (at 2:00 AM). We plan to make this past-midnight rendezvous a weekly habit this entire Ramadan schedule. Next week, we hope to hit IKEA. All night long baby, all. night. long.

How's that for shopaholics?

Cheers!

-ec-

A Photo A Day 12

The Pink Tarha is on a break. We're having an ice cream break from the heat!

Riyadh is one big oven during summer. Our A/Cs have been cranked up to the highest level... They'll probably break down any minute now. We are taking refuge in food. Cold food.

Ice cream anyone?

The most accessible ice cream brand to us is Cone Zone. Can you guess what flavors make the Pink Tarha ladies squeal in delight? The scoops in the photo are four different flavors and we all like them. Mary and Sundrenched particularly like what Eyecandy calls the "toothpaste ice cream"... mint choco chip! Lol. Too bad, the Cone Zone branch near us doesn't offer it anymore that's why it's not in the photo. There's always a good sub though. Guess, guess! :)

Oh okay, after this, we're taking a breather in posting food photos too because Ramadan starts tomorrow. Our Muslim friends will be fasting. To non-Muslim Filipinos, please refrain from eating in public. (This is the perfect time to go on a diet mode.) Check our expat's guide to Ramadan.

RAMADAN KAREEM!