How To Find Your Way in Riyadh

How do you address the address situation in Riyadh? It's not easy to remember places. Believe me, when I first went on my trip in the city center on May 2008, I muttered to myself, "I will never ever be able to navigate this city!" Riyadh is a grid of long and wide roads, boxy and low-rise housing and villas, and a ramble of Arabic-named stores. Fast forward to today, I can pretty much go out on my own (of course, equipped with taxi tips from this blog: here, here, and here)  and I can pretty much find addresses, no matter how vague they may seem.

Here is The Pink Tarha's ONLY tip:

Hire a reliable car/taxi driver that knows his way around. ;)
A good and knowledgeable driver can save us from haggardness and stress. Most of you probably have your own drivers but for those who don't have, pick your own suki from the drivers of taxis you've ridden. Choose the one you're most comfortable with (and someone whom you can trust your life with).

Of course, our reliable drivers are not know-it-alls. No one knows where every store or house is so it's really a good thing to have good drivers who'll be patient enough to take you round and round an area to find the specific location you're looking for. ;)

Now you may ask, what if our drivers don't know where to go? Or what if I have a husband (aka driver) who gets cranky when I ask him to go to this place but I don't know where that place is either? Or the taxi driver keeps on saying "mallum" (I know) when I asked him if he knows this place and suddenly becomes clueless when I'm already inside?

Well, here are our other tips when the ONLY tip doesn't work for/doesn't apply to you:

1. Never leave your house or workplace without knowing where to go. If you have a restaurant or store in mind, look up their address in the Internet. If the address is as vague as "Tahlia St. Riyadh, KSA" then call their contact number and ask them where it's located. If they don't have a contact number or no one is answering, ask The Pink Tarha. Hahaha. Chances are, we've already visited the place, or have seen it in our lakwatsas. Ask in our Facebook wall so we can answer faster. :P

2. Memorize major streets and highways. If they're major, they're popular! Check if you know where these are:

Can you see the Faisaliah Tower up ahead?

^King Fahd Road

Newly-constructed!

^King Abdullah Road 

Try if you know the following streets and visualize them in your mind:

Makkah Road

Khurais Road

Oruba Road

Olaya Street

Tahlia Street

Takhasussi Street

Thalateen Street

Dabab Street

3. Remember prominent buildings. They will serve as your landmarks, guides to your trips in the city. And we're not just pertaining to the Kingdom Tower or Faisaliah Tower. All the big and popular malls can serve as landmarks. Or those establishments which have huge, catchy signs in the major highways or those with unusual shapes or structures. Remember hotels and government buildings (hello, Ministry of Interior!) too. Associate these landmarks to the major streets. 

In your neighborhood, try looking out your window (I hope they're not too screened) and see the stores or eating places around you. Your building will probably have a number too. I thought ours doesn't exist but it was right in the center, just above the doorway of our building! Haha. What if you're in a residential district where most houses/villas are the same? Chances are, you have a number outside. Or take note of the color of your gate and walls. Draw maps to your house so you can guide relatives and friends over. Speaking of maps...

4. Learn to navigate maps. I know, I know... it's so old school. But they're helpful! What isfthe only available address in the Internet for the newly-opened store you're looking for is on Wikimapia? When Sugar Sprinkles in Takhasussi was new, I looked up the store in the Internet and found this map:

Where you at?

That little red box is where it's at. Now, if you look at surrounding details, there's not much to go on. Er, an empty lot? There are a lot of those here. Wow, the building near it has a pool. Nice! Okay, so you can't find it looking from above so what you do is to zoom out a bit until you can see the surrounding areas in a wider scale. To give you that perspective, here's what it looks like zoomed out:

Click to see larger image.

I spotted the Kingdom Center a few frames below. Hello, would I know where that is?! You bet! Now that I know where it is, I scrolled down a bit more to know that Faisaliah is way below (South) so Riyadh Gallery must be up that map (North). I can already clearly see the roads in my head and they're like puzzle pieces forming into a picture.

From King Fahd Road, I will just turn left to Oruba (where the ornate  AlGarawi building is in the corner) and head to Takhasussi. From there, turn right and drive straight. From that time on, I'll already be on the lookout for the Sugar Sprinkles on my right side.

This visualizing and analyzing is easy if you have mastered tip numbers 2 and 3. Don't worry, you'll get there. Just be observant when you're out and about Riyadh. :) Thank goodness, the street signs in Riyadh are also translated in English now. There was once a time when I just stared helplessly at those Arabic green signs and arrows looming overhead. I could only translate the numbers then.

5. Use a GPS device. My father would have laughed at me if I told him I'm still studying and consulting maps when the coordinates are clearly in the page too.  From the Wiki, it says Coordinates: 24°44'7"N 46°38'54"E for Sugar Sprinkles. With the right GPS device, it will be easy for you to find the place.

Hi-tech navigation!

However, I don't own a GPS device and the father is not always around. I'm guessing you have the same fate with your fathers and husbands so it's always handy to heed tip number 3. However, most guys will benefit from this tip because they're the ones using these devices. The Pink Tarha are actually thrilled to receive questions from guys asking us for the GPS coordinates of a place (ex. Edge of the World, Red Sand, etc... sige na, kayo na ang may GPS device!) but sorry guys, we don't have a GPS device and we don't even know how to use it. Besides, where's the fun in using that in a city?! Lol.

Do you have your own tips and suggestions on how to find your way in Riyadh? We'd love to hear them. We'd like to read 'lost and found in the road' stories too so do share.

Hope our tips above can help you. If all things fail, ask and you shall be answered. :P

*Click on photo for photo sources and credit.  

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Addressing Adresses

Eyecandy and Sampaguita Pride grew up in Riyadh. Shoegarfreeruby has been here for 10 years. Me? Nearing 4 years. And you know what's odd? We still don't know where we live exactly. Uhuh. Let me explain.

When you ask one of us where we live, we will answer you with "at the back of Nafoura Restaurant" or "near King Fahd Medical City." There's no specific answer. Because like everything else you'll find in Riyadh, KSA, the address/location system is unique and one-of-a-kind.

Folks who are living outside Saudi Arabia, here are a few things you need to remember about an address here in Riyadh.

1. We live in P.O. Boxes. Okay, not exactly LIVE there because we wouldn't fit but addresses are P.O. Boxes. There are no flat numbers, apartment numbers, and street names like normal addresses have. Most of us use the P.O. Box of the companies where we work instead of where we live (houses and flats) because we don't avail of our own.

These are not the usual P.O. Boxes in Riyadh. I hope.

For example, a nurse working in King Fahad Medical City can use this address:

[name]

[department]

P.O. Box 59046

Riyadh 11525

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Take note that you don't even have to specify the hospital or company. The P.O. box number and zip codes are the important things to put there. Most companies and hospitals have their own mail room that sorts and distributes mails and packages. If it was following the Philippine address system, it would have went like this:

[name]

Department of Pediatrics

Room 62, Building 26

King Fahad Medical City

Abdul Aziz Bin Musaed Bin Julowi St.

Suleimania, Riyadh

11525, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

It is longer so having a P.O. box has its own advantages. One disadvantage though of having a P.O. box as an address is when we shop online. Some stores do not ship to P.O. boxes. Sometimes, I have to contact their customer service and tell them that hey, it's all we have here in Saudi Arabia! So I hope stores like that are reading this.

2. Houses and buildings have no identification numbers. They have numbers alright but they're mostly ignored. You will not usually see them in our address. We just know them and would use that to direct relatives and friends who are coming over. I use all prominent landmarks around our place to direct people. For example... here's a conversation I have when ordering for delivery.

Resto Guy (RG): Hello.

Me: Hi, I'm ordering for delivery. Here's my order (blah blah).

RG: Where are you located?

Me: In Dabab St., turn right to Ar Razi St. The street going to Military Hospital.

RG: Where exactly?

Me: Uh, building 25, flat number 3.

RG: Where is that? Near Military Hospital?

Me: Uh, a few blocks away from the hospital.

RG: Blocks?

Me: I mean, not so near. I mean, a little bit. (HUH?!)

RG: Uhhhh...

Me: The building is beside DHL, across Little Ceasar's...

RG: Okay, I will just tell the driver to call you.

It gets frustrating that's why whenever we order for delivery, the father insists that I call. Why does it always have to be me?! Hehe. Of course, that would've been easier if I can speak Arabic or the operator (or the driver) can speak English. Some delivery guys find the right street and just cruise up and down until they find the right building. Btw, that in the conversation is a true location but it's not where our flat is located so please don't stalk. Hahaha. Jk.

3. Street names here are long and winding roads. Imagine saying to someone, "We just live in the corner of Abdul Aziz Bin Musaed Bin Julowi St. and Al Amir Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz St... kuha mo?!" Most popular roads have, thank goodness, shorter names like Olaya, Mecca, and Oruba. Some have nicknames which are totally unrelated to their real names seen on maps. For example, Abdul Aziz Bin Musaed Bin Julowi St. is better known as Dabab St. while Al Amir Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz St. is better known as Thalateen St. The parallel street named Al Amir Mohammed Ibn Abdul Aziz St. (spotted the difference?) is known as the hip and happenin' street of Tahlia. Confused much?

Oh, and if the confusion is not enough, they're also spelled in various ways. Tahlia can be Thalia, Tahaliya, Talia... Takhasussi can be plain Takasusi, complicated Thakhassusi, or longer Takhassousi. Spell them however you like to pronounce them. Go! :)

4. Floors are counted as ground floor, first floor, second floor, etc. It's different from how we count in the Philippines where we consider the ground as first floor and so on. Sometimes there are some buildings who follow that so to each his own. No one said there's uniformity around here. Haha. Thankfully, no one lives in sky-high condominiums with 40 floors. Not yet.

Eeenie meenie miny moo, to what store should I go?

5. Most store signs are in Arabic, especially the ones in the older areas of the city. It makes it more difficult to find the right store for foreigners and expats unless it's a common store for something. Some stores look like offices from the outside and it's upon you to guess what they are correctly. Hope the store keeper or manager speaks English.

And just to remind you... Riyadh is not just a city. It's also a province. So there's a Riyadh City located in Riyadh Province (ArRiyadh). It's like Tarlac City in Tarlac province in the Philippines. There's also a "Riyadh Center" symbolized by a circle with a dot in the middle on most road signs. We don't really know what is within the city center and where it ends but we just take it as this: if you're near the Faisaliah and Kingdom Towers (two highest buildings in Riyadh), then you're still in the city center. Once you get out of range of the two (meaning if you see them in your horizon like needles sticking out of the sand), consider yourself out of the center and into the outskirts.

The faraway hazy area? That's the outskirts and beyond.

Needless to say, it's confusing to find a specific address here unless they're prominent and famous. It's always been a must to provide maps to a specific destination, especially if we're talking residential. We wonder how ambulances, fire trucks, and police find the places when they get emergency calls. We guess local knowledge really helps a lot. But what if you're new in the city? What if you don't go out as much? What if you rely on Google Map, Wikipedia, and GPS coordinates?

HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR WAY IN RIYADH?

Do it the Pink Tarha style! Tips on the next entry! Hope you don't lose your way before then. ;)

*Click on photo for photo sources and credit. 

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A Filipina's Food Trip (1 of 2)

Call me your resident "Foodiva" or we can stick to "WooF (Woman of Food)". Either way, I simply love food and I want to share the love. :) 

After three years of quiet hibernation and re-rooting myself in the country where I grew up, I finally went back to the Philippines to re-discover the motherland and feel what it's like again to roam free and unafraid of the world around me (but then again I already feel that way about Saudi Arabia), but like they say, "Iba pa rin sa sarili mong bansa!" I'll tell you about the places I visited later, for now, let's go on a FOOD TRIP shall we?

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when coming back to the Philippines is "Yay, Pork!" hahaha! But I guess, growing up here in Riyadh never had me appreciate the glistening and sought-after Lechon skin or say, the hot and steamy Sinigang na Babs on a rainy day. Though through college, I've learned to love Sisig and Pork Siomai as easy student meals. This time for me, I was more excited to try out lots of restaurants - as I feel like I've already eaten at almost every single restaurant here in Riyadh. And my, was I overwhelmed! In the Philippines, I could spend an hour at the mall just thinking about where to freaggin' eat coz there's a gazillion of options! Of course now that I am off the student budget, I have the liberty to pick whatever and wherever I want to eat -- which is excruciating! 

So as to help you not suffer the same ordeal, let me give my two cents worth of the places and dishes that my mouth and I found deserving around the Metro and then some. Be warned: The following photos may cause excess saliva, food (or)gasms and strong desires to fly back to the Philippines right away for a quick bite. 

Here we go...in true dining decorum, let's start with some entrees:

Deepe-fried, crunchy Kangkong and Okoy from Kabisera, Bonifacio High St.

Call me oblivious, but until that day I ate at Kabisera ng Dencio's - I had no idea that you can deep fry kang kong and dip it in some delicious mayo-honey-mustard dip. The Okoy is also great with their special Ilocano vinegar. Visit Kabisera at The Fort for an authentic Filipino dining experience. 

Garlic Fries at Stackers, Resorts World, Paranaque

Even before coming back to the Philippines, I already started reading about this new French Fry craze called 'Garlic Fries' and actually, I was smitten by this one store that's dedicated to garlic fries called, 'Eat My GF', but I couldn't go to their actual store so while at Stackers, which is an Australian burger joint, I decided to try out their version of garlic fries and well, while it's not 'Wow!' it is something new at the very least. :D 

Flaming Cheese at Cyma, Greenbelt 1

This is not only a delicious dish but also an entertaining one. The Flaming Cheese is one of the bestsellers at Cyma, a Greek-slash-Mediterranean restaurant. Why? Because every time somebody orders it, the server who will bring it to you will ignite the sizzling plate with flames and then shout very loudly, "OPAH!!!" (Just like they say it in the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding). If you like being the center of attention, you'd like this one. ;) 

Gỏi Cuốn Rolls from Pho Hoa, Glorietta 5

This was my first time at Pho Hoa even though I've passed by it a million times back in college. One of the unique dishes I had at this Vietnamese place is their summer rolls, which are wrapped in this paper-like rice wrappers. Not like our fresh lumpia version, but something else. The sauces option cap off the perfect combination (depending on your taste buds). More specific details of this dish can be found here. 

Crispy Tawilis

Hito Flakes

Buttered Scallops

The last three entrees are all from the chic and quite affordable, Mesa at Greenbelt. Their food is mainly Filipino fusion, with a modern twist. Take that Crispy Tawilis and Hito Flakes for example. These are very traditional ingredients and yet they cooked it in a way that is quite upscale and probably aimed for the more probing palate. I particularly LOVED the Hito Flakes with that green mango and bagoong+sili on top! Ack, I want more! Hito is catfish by the way. :) I also say affordable because for the five of us who ate there that night, we were really surprised that it only cost that much (coz it would appear that their food is expensive, but in reality, it isn't). 

On to some heavier entrees, bordering on main courses:

Tonnos Salata from Cyma

Coriander-crusted seared ahi tuna with mixed greens, feta cheese, baked onions, Gavros (homemade anchovies), roasted bell peppers, black olives, marinated potatoes, green beans and boiled eggs, served with Cyma’s Summer Herb Vinaigrette. In short, YUM!

Buffalo Wings from Don Henrico's

These babies are the truest Buffalo wings I have ever met - unlike them other restaurants claimin' they got 'buffalo' wings - Don Henrico's is the real deal! A piece of this is bigger than your palm! It's still as good as I last tasted it. Prepare for some serious finger-licking after this. Good for sharing too, btw. 

Chicken Wings from Yellow Cab

Yellow Cab's chicken wings are juicy and crunchy, with enough hints of spice that will make you want s'more - especially when served hot! It's not as big as a buffalo wing, but it's close. GMOs FTW! LOL.

Pork+Shrimp Siomai at Eat Well!, Taguig

These are as good as they look! Probably the best siomai I've tasted in the Metro that's really worth your buck - heck, there's even caviar on top! Eat Well! is a little resto right across JP Morgan Chase in Taguig and I hear it's a favorite of a lot of employees around the block. I was sold! :D

Baked Tahong at Kabisera, Bonifacio High St.

Oysters Americana from Murray's New Orleans at Bonifacio High St.

If you're not watching your high blood pressure, getting high on mussels and oysters is up for grabs in the Philippines. Being that such produce is very scarce albeit expensive here in the Kingdom, it's always open season back at home. My mom had such a craving that when we were at Murray's New Orleans Bourbon Street Steaks and Oysters (Whaatta long name!), we ordered three plates of different oyster dishes! Theirs are fresh daily and you wouldn't have to worry about angering your tummy - in fact, ours were very happy! 

Chicken Carbonara with Premium Beef Strips from Greenwich

Sweet & Sour Pork Lauriat at Chowking

Let's talk fast food now. A couple of things have changed since I was back - like the prices! Haha, talk about inflation rate Philippines! Other than that, most fast food chains have phased out a lot of old favorites like for me, was Greenwich's Chicken Quesadillas, which I learned that they don't serve anymore (I think the waitress was wondrous for a second and thought, where have I been the last 5 years asking for a phased out item?!).  My brother and I tried their carbonara and it's heavy - good option for the boys. Meanwhile, I also took my mom and grandma to Chowking, which is their favorite, and ordered their famous Lauriats. Same taste as years ago, higher price. :P 

All four sinangags at SEX (Sinangag EXpress)

After one of my heavy partying with friends at the Makati area, they brought me to a famous tapsilog place fondly referred to as 'SEX' (stands for Sinangag EXpress) to nourish ourselves post-party (you know how it is. ;p). AND NO, I DID NOT EAT ALL THOSE FOUR BY MYSELF Thank You Very Much! Hahaha. It was a cool place, a lot of call center employees apparently eat there and they have free  water and unlimited rice so, solved! Haha. I'm laughing a lot coz I remembered what went down that night....hahahaha! Anyway........

Seafood Mix from Mango Tree Bistro, Trinoma

My family celebrated my brother's birthday at this hip Thai restaurant in Trinoma called Mango Tree Bistro and we thoroughly enjoyed all of the things we ordered - except for this new pork curry dish that was too tough for us to chew (which they gladly replaced btw). All of the seafood dishes that we ordered was a hit, particularly this one above. I will definitely go back there again. :)

Kare-Kare from Max's

I ate at the Max's at Intramuros, which has bit of an ancient feel to it. I'm not sure if it's where the first Max's restaurant was, but it sure felt like it One of my favorites there is their Kare-Kare. Given that Max's is such an institution already, I'm sure most of you have already tried it. If you haven't, then try it! :) 

Sushi selections from Saisaki/Dad's/Kamayan, Megamall

I was with Sampaguita Pride on her birthday and she treated me and few other friends at the Dad's Buffet in Megamall wherein they have a package that let's you crossover to their other sister-restaurants like Kamayan and Saisaki. Of course, I first headed to the sushi bar and indulged my sushi desires. For like 700+ pesos, their buffets are really worth it. But with these things, the key is to pace yourself so that you can enjoy everything. :))

Peri Peri Chicken, Megamall

If you're opting for a change of chicken scenery, there's Peri Peri Chicken, a Portugese-themed restaurant and it's how they cook their chicken that actually makes it special: It's roasted for 30 minutes then exposed to spit fire before actually serving it to the customers. The term "peri-peri" refers to the spice that's used to create the dish (they also have it in condiment form). If you're not a fan of spicy chicken, fret not for they have other options for you to enjoy.

Hot Pot anyone? 

Yummy, yummy, yummy. 

Right along Roxas Blvd, there's a number of Hot Pot restos and my family and I tried one of them after watching the theater. Sorry here folks, but I totally forgot the name of the place. But, it is your usual shabu-shabu-type of resto with refreshing hot vegetable soup with selected seafood to boot cooked right in front of you. It's a different way to spend dinner with the family. :)

Yellow Cab's Charlie Chan Chicken Pasta

Hands down, this is my all-time favorite dish from Yellow Cab. It has the hot and spicy ninja kick, the crunch of 'em hot nuts, tender chicken bits and the somewhat sweet+salty combo sauce of the pasta - very oriental of a taste for a New York franchise, but it's amazing and I love it. I think I ordered it like five times throughout my whole vacation. :P

Lechon Kawali from Andoks

Pork Sisig from Kabisera

Of course, food trip in the Philippines isn't complete without pork overload!? I sure indulged til I surrendered (which was about two weeks into my return). While stuck in traffic one night, I was sitting inside the bus, imagining a hot, freshly chopped lechon kawali from Andoks on a plate, pouring gravy all over the it like a blanket then chopped chilis sprinkled over it while the wisps of steam from the newly cooked rice floats through the atmosphere. AHHHHH! I got home and did exactly that -- and that my friends is a dream come true. ;)


--


Let's take a quick break from here and digest what we've tripped on so far. I need to get back to work now, but when I come back, I'll bombard you with even more photos of the desserts and drinks that I had while in the Philippines.

Til our next Food Trip! 
Eyecandy

The Case of Pancakes

This is The Pancake House I've always known:

Orange interiors, warm lighting, comfort food

For our non-Filipino readers, this is Pancake House in Manila. It serves mouthwatering plain and flavored pancakes and waffles. They're also the best in my book for comfort food. I long for their chicken, spaghetti, and taco combo we used to have for lunch in the old work place. When I received bad news in 2009, I remembered sitting in Pancake House, Pasong Tamo and munching on chocolate chip pancakes to tide away the sadness. It is the ultimate comfort food place!

I was overjoyed when I heard Pancake House is opening in Riyadh. The joy proved to be short-lived because it wasn't the Pancake House I was expecting. It was a different Pancake House but since it still serves pancakes, my friends and I decided to give it a try. We might discover another wonderful brunch place!

This is The Pancake House in Riyadh...
(disclaimer: it's NOT related to Pancake House in Manila)

Soft-hued walls, bright natural lighting, comfort food

Just a reminder before I go on: the entrance of the family section is at the back. It's not the door beside the entrance to the bachelor's. That's the door to the kitchen. I know because I made the mistake of opening it and coming face-to-face with the stunned chef and kitchen staff. LOL.

I love the simple and elegant scheme in this restaurant's interiors. Our welcome committee of enticing photos did not help our hunger... just look at that pancakes smeared with chocolate! How could you give us tooth ache just by looking at you?! Haha. We were surprised to find The Pancake House full in the morning. We nearly fought our way to a table that was already reserved to us but someone claimed as hers. Being the nice people that we are, we just gave way. We didn't want to ruin our morning for because of people who didn't know what a reservation is. Anyway, the glass walls that welcomed sun rays in the morning creating this very homey, sunny vibe helped in making us giddy and happy again. The well-lit dining place was perfect for my food photos! 

Natural lighting FTW!

The decorations are not that frivolous. The soft light blue wall and chair cushions contrast nicely with the browns and whites.

On to the food... a good thing is they serve breakfast all day long and they serve their non-breakfast items all day long too! All their dishes are available all day long! So, we got the following:

Stack 'em!

Of course, this is the pancake house so we ordered... pancakes! We expected more from this because well, this is the Pancake House. However, we were disappointed. The stack is fluffy and ample but they actually don't taste like buttermilk pancakes. Did our taste buds go wrong? It tasted more like bread. No amount of butter and maple syrup salvaged this. So we went to the next dish...

LOADED!

I can't finish an omelet by myself. I tend to share but since eating a piece of this omelet, I wanted to snatch this away from my friends and keep it. Yes, talk about being a generous friend. Haha. My friends didn't seem to mind because they were contemplating on ordering another one. The omelet was savory and had a serious amount of steak bits, unlike other omelets we've tried where the eggs took the center stage and back. This omelet is loaded with ingredients bursting the thin layer of fried egg wrapping it.

Mr. Smiley, I need to eat you. Sorrrrry!

How cute is this? If you have this smiling back at you, are you still willing to eat it? Do you have the heart to wolf it down? We did. Unfortunately, it's still food so we cut it up and took hearty bites (sorry smiley!). This waffle is thin, crispy, and light. It's not the usual waffle I know. I kindda thought waffles use the same batter of pancakes but are shaped differently, haha. It's good but I'm not really fond of airy waffles. And please, I want more bacon with this. :)

We wanted to try a non-breakfast food so we ordered their sampler consisting of quesadillas, onion rings, and calamari. 

Crunchy, saucy, lovely.

Our favorites!

We like everything on this plate. The rings are crispy and tasty; the quesadilla was savory.

A wonder-full cup of cappuccino.

Overall, I like the food and setting in The Pancake House. I wish it doesn't get too filled with people though so I can enjoy a quiet morning. (This is my selfish side speaking so please ignore.) I also wish they improve their pancakes after all, it is The Pancake House. (I just have to point out the obvious redundantly, haha!) It's nothing near Pancake House in Manila but it's all right. I think I can live with this version. Besides, I have yet to try a lot of items in the menu.And I want to take more photos. Their natural lighting is beautiful, did I tell you that already? :D

The Pancake House

King Fahd Road

(near NCB and Kingdom Tower)

T: 01-2016816

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Top 5 Fitness Centers for Women in Riyadh

Who's raring to go to the gym these days? Did you know that according to Forbes, Saudi Arabia ranks 29th on a 2007 list of the fattest countries with 68.3% of its citizens being overweight? Yessir! It will probably go higher if you include The Pink Tarha ladies expats in those numbers. :P I think we were ones of the few expats who kept on complaining that there's no form of exercise that are available to us immediately. How come guys have many gyms at their disposal? 

Anyway, we eat a lot but we don't move around a lot because our jobs consist of being glued in front of the computer 8 hours a day. But who are we kidding? It's our fault that we're not into physical activities mostly. Well, we did try. A few months ago (or years pa yata), we were going to the gym in the workplace but we got busy with other things (including eating Riyadh). So, for those who don't have gyms in their workplaces and are willing to shed moolah to become fit, healthy, and fabulous, we scouted Riyadh for gyms and fitness centers for women. Admittedly, we're not the best persons around to advise you on fitness so let these professionals be your guide.

Here's the top 5 fitness centers for women in Riyadh (in no particular order because we don't have the right and capacity to rate them; we haven't tried them personally).

1. KINETICO 
Kinetiko is a one-stop center. We haven't seen the place but according to their website, they offer wellness training programs and performing arts. They also have a cafeteria that caters nutritious and healthy dishes that are fit for their patrons. They also have an internet access and a sportswear boutique. Their Fitness Klub has a lot of classes that focuses on what you want to improve on: BodyBalance, a yoga-taichi-pilates program that helps build strength and flexibility, KardioKombat, an intensive body workout using boxing and kickboxing moves, Triskel, a strength training class using the Lotte Berk method, and the new trend in fitness, Zumba which combines mambo, reggae, and merengue. And there are more types and other formats of classes that suits what you want and need. The Fitopia Akademy  uses dance to make you fit. Classes include the Classic (barre exercises), Fame (hip-hop), and Latino'd (rhythms). If you want to get the best value then the Smartpack which combines more than one type of class, is for you. Kinetico has different membership packages ranging from one month to a year. We asked via email and their one-month membership known as the Kinteco Klub Basic is worth SR1,200 (all-inclusive). It's a little steep compared to what we pay for in our workplace's gyms but our gym doesn't offer all these different classes and more. Contact them here.

2. CURVES 
Curves is one of the newest fitness centers in Riyadh and Sundrenched recently visited the branch in Panorama Mall to know more about it. One thing that is noticeable in Curves is the lack of the usual gym equipment and machines like the treadmill or the elliptical. Curves offers a 30-minute workout through an interactive circuit that has 8 machines using hydraulic resistance targeting specific areas of the body and in between the machines are recovery boards that lets you walk, run, jump, and jog in place. To see what we're saying here, click this link.  

The 30-minute workout

Curves in Panorama is a little bit smaller than most gyms but since you'll only need the circuit, then it's fine. They have lockers and changing rooms too. The advantage of going here, aside of course from becoming fit, is that it's located in Panorama's Ladies Section where a beauty salon, coffee shop, and fashion boutiques and stores are within reach. This program will be more fun if you do it with your friends. When S went there, she noticed that most patrons are young ladies. Of course, women of all ages are welcome. A 3-month membership is SR2,700. But the more than SR5,000 annual membership is said to be the best plan with its various benefits and perks. Contact Curves here. 

3. YIBREEN 
Yibreen is said to be the ultimate indulgent experience as it combines the relaxing benefits of a spa and salon and the rejuvenating benefits of a gym all in one place. Yibreen, a name referring to a lush desert oasis in the heart of Saudi Arabia, has a lot of fitness programs and classes. Programs include fitness evaluation, personal training, nutritional therapy program, and swimming lessons. Classes include Kick Aerobics, Funky Step, Mat Pilates, Ashtanga Yoga, Liquid Bliss (aquacise), Body Blitz (circuit training), Arabian Belly Dancing, and Kick Boxing. Combining all of Yibreen's services, you have to shell our SR9,500 for their annual membership package which gives you a personalized fitness evaluation and program, 20% discounts on all spa and salon services, 6 guest passes, 3 personal training sessions, and 1 nutrition consultation. If you want lesser on the three latter benefits, then membership fee is down to SR7,000. Contact Yibreen here.

4. AL-MANAHIL 
Al-Manahil is more known for their spa and salon services but they also have a sports complex that caters to women's fitness and health needs. They've undergone renovations recently and has upgraded their services and facilities. Like the other fitness centers, Al-Manahil's staff are ready to assist you in losing weight, toning up, and making you feel good. Fitness classes include Step for agility and stamina, Step N Tone for firming, Cardio Combo for aerobics, Retro (a combination of dances like hip-hop, jazz, salsa, and more), Tae Bo, Oriental ( a combination of hip-hop and belly dancing), and Spin (indoor cycling). They also have the Walking Club which lets you burn calories and enjoy the sceneries in and around the Diplomatic Quarters. Al Manahil also offers swimming, tennis, and taekwondo classes. A 1-month membership is SR1,900 while a 3-month membership is SR2,500, which is a better value for your buck. Contact Al-Manahil here. 

5. ELLE ET VOUS
We don't know much about Elle et Vous because there's little info on their Facebook page. All we know is that it's also primarily a beauty salon with a gym inside. We do think that it's a good idea to combine a beauty salon and gym. In that way, women can find every thing they need to remain beautiful and healthy. Elle et Vous boasts of a professionally-trained staff and state-of-the-art tools and equipment. According to their site, they just opened fitness classes so that's a good thing.

There's one called the Al-Multaqa Centre for Women in Riyadh but we haven't found any extensive info on it and it's not located in the city center so we'll just add any thing once we learn more. We heard Luthan Hotel and Spa might also have a gym as most hotels have in-house gyms but we doubt if they have fitness classes.

We want to go to the gym and enroll in fitness classes but looking at the prices, they're a little bit more expensive than what we imagined. Some of you might find the prices steep too so we have other "free" fitness ideas for you... WALKING! Walk around King Fahd Medical City or the bigger Prince Sultan University. You can ask your friends to come with you and after a round or two, you can go to Mama Noura for some shawarma fix. Kidding! Have a healthy fruit juice instead! You can also join a hash (walking/running/traveling in the desert organized by a club) or the Riyadh Road Runners.

Okay ladies, let's get physical! And a-one, a-two, a-three...

The Joys of Jordan: Petra, The Dead Sea and Mt. Nebo

And so the Part 2 to Part 1 finally finds the light of day...

Last May I went to visit the bustling country of Jordan for the District Toastmasters Annual Conference, part of which was to receive the many awards our Toastmasters Club (PICPA Riyadh Toastmasters Club) garnered over the last program year. The gala night gave all Toastmasters from the Gulf region a chance to reap the fruits of their labor and enjoy a night of good food, good company, and most of all, dancing! 

It was an honor to accept these in behalf of PRTC.

During gala night, with equally fashion-forward Filipino Toastmasters from Riyadh.

After the glitz and glamor of the conference, my friends and I spent the last two days of our stay in Jordan touring the highlights: Petra and the Dead Sea. I was told to prepare myself for the long walk that it entailed, but boy oh boy, did I underestimate what the words "long walk" truly meant. Here I am still all smiles as we left the apartment early that morning: 

Sunblock is on and the necessary heat protection.

We even filled up our stomachs before the heading to Petra. Shawarma, anyone?

Our ticket to Petra. Roughly around 265 SR.

In case you haven't heard of Petra before, Petra is one of the most unique ancient cities in the world having been mostly carved out of rocks (Al Batra is the Arabic for "rocks") and the whole city is made up of red-rose colored rocks (sometimes pink-like) most obvious especially during sunset. 

It has been a World Heritage Site since 1985 and was also shortlisted in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. A little trivia: this site has been featured in numerous Hollywood blockbuster movies including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. ;) Cool ei!? 

Every journey begins with a single step.

Given that we were on our last days of the vacation, our funds were running low. So, we couldn't afford renting the horses and donkeys being offered upon our entry of our Petra tour. I didn't mind because though the sun was high, the wind was cool - perfectly conducive for a day out in Petra, walking and sightseeing (at least, what I first thought).

Welcome!

The first grand sight to behold is The Siq, which is a steep and narrow gorge which serves as a waterway for the Nabateans who inhabited the city of Petra in ancient times. Just look at how huge those sandstone rocks are!

See how tiny humans are compared to those rocks! We're practically ant-like! 

This part is sooo cool - as in literally. You don't need an A/C.

The next attraction is coming up!

Towards the end of the Siq, you can slowly start seeing The Al Khazneh, or "The Treasury." It is an architectural wonder in the sense that this facade was built purely out of the rocks that it stands on (as most of the amazing sites to be found in Petra) and the details carved unto them are truly remarkable for having been done in a time and place as ancient as Petra.

With fellow tourists from India and USA.

The Colonnaded Street

Halfway through our climb headed to the most coveted spot in Petra, which is the "Ad Deir" or The Monastery, I was already feeling the strain of walking (two hours in). But luckily, the sights were still keeping me amused - like the Colonnaded Street. I imagined how many feet have traversed these sand-laden ruins and how native Nabateans must have come to and fro this area to attend events in the amphitheater or even en route to bury their dead.

At this point, I was already growing envious of the people riding camels instead of walking. 

Here I am, headed UP to the monastery! Exhausted na!

From the base of the mountain (if I may call it that), it took us another approximately one hour and a half to finally reach the top where the monastery stands. Now it was a grueling climb - especially for me. The farthest I walk to on a regular basis here in Riyadh is from my office to the bathroom. And there in Petra, I think I walked enough office-bathroom routes to last me five years! Plus, the only real workout I more than often engage myself with in Riyadh is "malling" but in Petra, mahn oh mahn, do they mean the real deal. I should've known so that I could have trained for this kind of climbing before coming here - heck, I've never officially hiked in my life until that day in Petra. On one hand, it was a once in a lifetime experience, and I can truly say that I reached the Monastery, drenched in sweat and tears by merely using my God-given gams. But on the other hand, I couldn't help but think that I had could have saved myself the torture by riding a donkey on the way up instead (which wouldn't be as rewarding but less tiring, nonetheless). 

The things I'd do to proudly wave this pink scarf on this site!

And there you see it, The Monastery of ancient Petra. One would wonder (such as myself), why in the world was this monastery built so far away from the city center? And why oh why would they make it so hard for their people to reach the top?! One of my friends answered, "Para daw mapagbayaran mo na yung mga kasalanan mo on the way up." (So you can pay for your sins and repent on your way up). Tiring as it may have been, a little further away from the facade is a resting spot - rightly deserved by those who have braved the heights and a little shack that sells drinks and snacks. I think I gulped two bottles of ice cold water by the time I got there as I was panting breaths. Sitting by the rest area, with my two feet up the seat, I took some photos and in true 21st century fashion, claimed to the world that I was in the middle of an ancient wonder -- by posting it on my Facebook. Yes, there is a 3G signal there and you can Facebook atop a world wonder. 

One of the many steps going back down. See how rose red the rocks are?

We stayed at the Monastery for a good thirty minutes or so to regain our strengths (or what was left of it).  Until it was about time to head back. It was already around quarter to four and we needed to start walking since the Petra site is closed by sundown. 

You would think that heading down would be easier, but the fact is, it couldn't be any more different on the way up. The walkways are steep and if you are not careful, you can easily trip and break your skull on the rocks. My thighs were slowly surrendering. Then my knees. Followed by my ankles. It took me a full two hours to walk (nay, drag) my body towards the end and really, I was like a snail - honest to goodness, no  kidding you here! Two of my friends were already in the car and it took me a good twenty minutes to follow suit. By the end of the trail, I wanted to literally kiss the gravel road (I settled for a hug) - and thanked the heavens for whoever invented flat, gravel-laden surfaces. I have never appreciated a piece of street as much as I did that day. Really. 

Petra was amazing. But I can only do that walk once. If I ever go back there, I will load up on cash and have a freakkin' carriage to take me wherever I wanna go. 

--

On our last day in Jordan, the group and I went to a place one must also not dare miss while in Jordan: The Dead Sea. As early as 7 a.m., we were already at one of the resorts, ready to experience what the Dead Sea had to offer.

We were the first customers that day!

The Dead Sea is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Jordan. It is famous for its Biblical references and for being one of the saltiest bodies of water in the whole world. Fact: It is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. 

First natural body of water I have seen in three years!

By the shore of the Dead Sea. 

Now, they ain't kidding when they said you can't swim in the Dead Sea. You simply float. That's because the density due to the saltiness is so high, the water will simply push you up - no matter how heavy or light you are. Hmmm...does that mean one cannot drown in the Dead Sea? Well, I sure did not try to (Tanong ko, sagot ko). But I will say this, follow the rules very carefully - and you'll live.

Typos aside, they ARE helpful warnings. 

The Pink Tarha at the Dead Sea.

We immersed ourselves for a while in the waters, and yes, it was deadly salty. My friend just got one drop, one single drop of the water in his eyes and it had him running to the swimming pool to wash it off with some fresh, chlorine-induced water. We all laughed at him but sooner or later, all of us suffered the same fate.

We were hoping to try out the mud thing (the one where you're supposed to rub mud all over your body before hitting the sea) - but since it was way too early in the morning, the resort staff said they haven't prepared the mud yet. Hm, I had no idea mud was that hard to prepare. Anyway...

If you see the background of the picture above, that on the farthest side is already Israel. We were kidding that "Hey, why not we all float towards Israel?" -- and then my friend answered that within line of sight, we would already be shot at by the soldiers manning the shore. 

After our the Dead Sea visit, we decided to drop by Mt. Nebo, which is a holy site. Stories have it that when Moses was looking for the Promised Land, he stood upon those very same grounds. 

Pope John Paul the 2nd once visited here as well.

The place where Moses stood. Of course, the map wasn't there that time. 

Atop Mt. Nebo, they are currently in the middle of building a Franciscan church - which will hopefully allow Christian/Catholic followers to pray and gather in mass. It was a very solemn site up there and I lit a candle in one of the rooms and said a little prayer for my family and friends. 

Pink really goes well with the dessert, don't you think?

That afternoon, on the ride back to the airport, I can't help but be amazed by how wonderful Jordan is, especially culturally. I love how the old and new lives and thrives at this time and even how the people - Muslims and Christians alike, live in harmony and in respect of one another. I ended up thinking, why can't the same thing happen in Saudi Arabia? (Well, that's another story).

Thank you Jordan!

I love Royal Jordanian Airlines! Especially because of their logo, which resembles the symbol of my name. The flight back was quite heartwarming, armed with the stories and experiences I've gathered in my week-stay there. I would be more than happy to come back Jordan! (If you will have me :P).

Next up, I'll tell you all about my vacation in the Philippines.





To more travels!
Eyecandy