How To Wear The Pink Tarha, Literally (And World Hijab Day!)

Hello, Riyadhizens! It's me, Sampaguita Pride! Remember me? Hehe. It's been quite a while since I last posted anything for the blog and I just want to say that I'm really happy to be writing again. I missed you all! Oh, I'm still here in the Philippines, but I just had to share this with you. As a Pink Tarha, how can I not write about this? :)

February 1 is World Hijab Day! It is a special day where Muslim ladies and non-Muslim ladies alike, wear a hijab to promote awareness and understanding of why Muslim women wear their hijab. It also aims to enlighten people that the hijab is not a form of oppression for Muslim women. According to BBC News, the movement was initiated by Nazma Khan from the US and is observed in more than 50 countries across the globe. You can read more about World Hijab Day and stories of Hijabis on their website: worldhijabday.com

Let me just clarify that this is not an Islamic holiday, but rather a worldwide effort to shed positive light about the Hijab and to promote peace and understanding. But whatever our beliefs may be, let's take a moment to appreciate the bright and courageous women under the veil. Let us not forget that underneath the Hijab is a woman, a human being, who deserves respect and courtesy regardless of her religion and beliefs. Just like everyone else. Don't let appearances alienate us from one another. Let us support diversity. As the saying goes, Don't be an Angry Bird. :))

For those who live in Saudi Arabia, we all know that it's customary to wear the Abaya and Tarha in public even if you're not a Muslim. It's part of the package of living and working in Saudi Arabia. Back then, I didn't know how to wear the Tarha. I just draped it around my head when I was told to cover my hair. I felt that it was just something that I had to do to comply. But deep down, I knew it had its benefits. Plus, I always thought that the tarhas worn by some Syrian and Jordanian ladies were really pretty. 

Ironically, I learned to wear the hijab when I stayed here in Manila and embraced Islam. Now I wear my hijab or Tarha on a regular basis. When I first wore the hijab here in the Philippines, I immediately noticed that men would promptly lower their gaze or look away. Random people would greet me, "Asalamu' Alaykum", even non-Muslims. When I ask for directions, people would take the time to answer me and remind me to be careful and be safe. Isn't that wonderful?

The Hijab is not just a piece of cloth. It is the wholesome way that a woman presents herself to others, in her thoughts, attitude, action and speech. Wearing the hijab became a personal reminder for me to moderate how I behave in public. I try to speak softly and be more patient with people around me.

So in support of World Hijab Day, I want to share a simple tutorial on how to wrap your Hijab or Tarha. It's really simple and pretty.

Me wearing a pink hijab!

There are a lot of ways to wear the hijab but this is my favorite. I normally wear an inner hijab bonnet or "ninja" inner but this is optional. In fact, you can even wear it without pins and brooches. I use pins because I like my hijabs securely fastened to my inner bonnets. This way, I don't have to keep adjusting my Hijab in the middle of the day. But I have heard of mommies veering away from hijab pins, for safety reasons. :)

Here's what I use for this hijab style:

What you need.

This style is easy and can be done in just 3 steps but I made a detailed tutorial for those who are completely new to this. (I still can't believe I'm making a tutorial, hahaha!) Here goes my first ever tutorial:

Step 1: Tie your hair into a bun and wear an inner hijab or a bonnet.

Step 2: Fold your rectangle scarf or pashmina so that it's 2/3 of its actual width.

Step 3: Put it on your head, folded side facing out. Make sure that one end is shorter than the other. For me, the shorter end is usually on the left. But you can choose whichever side you prefer. :)

Step 4: Pin the hijab in place using a safety pin or a no-snag pin.

Step 5: Pull the shorter end of the hijab up and over your head.

Step 6: Secure the shorter end on top with a small pin. Be careful not to hurt yourself.

Step 7: Now pull the longer end of your hijab across your chest.

Step 8: Pull the longer end up and over your head closer to your inner hijab. 

Step 9: Pin in place.

Step 10: Arrange the folds accordingly.

Step 11: Use a brooch or a regular pin to secure the hijab close.

Step 12: And you're done! Smile, it's charity! :)

Easy right? You can also check YouTube for tutorial on other variations and styles. Maybe you'll want to wear a pink hijab too just to show your support for World Hijab Day. If you do, don't forget to post it and tag us, okay? :)

I hope you liked this tutorial and thank you for reading our blog! :)

Much Love,
Sampaguita Pride

The Pink Tarha For You 1/2

I was tearing up on the third response (and the first one was the test response I did which just said "test")... that's the effect of your replies to The Pink Tarha's Fifth Anniversary Ultimate Giveaway survey to me. I honestly have to refrain from reading further because I was still at work. That's a problem not only because crying out of nowhere will elicit weird stares in my direction but also... what am I doing reading non-work stuff during working hours?! Haha! Anyway, I settled not to read the responses sheet until the contest time expires (12 midnight of January 24). But then again, I don't exactly have the EQ to stop myself (I swear I have EQ most of the time, please don't judge). And what do I read next? 

I didn't see the name of the commenter immediately so this weird comment baffled me at first: 

"OMG! G R R R... I lurveee this blog! Nyahaha! Anyway, this blog is so madaya. Bakit di ako pwedeng sumali sa contest na ito eh reader din naman ako?! At Riyadhizen din naman ako?! Paki-explain? Love you. Wahahaha! :)"
[Translation: Oh my god! Grrr! I love this blog! Nyahaha! Anyway, this blog is so unfair. Why can't I join in this contest?! I'm a reader and I'm also a Riyadhizen! Please explain. Love you.] 

I swear I blinked a couple of times before it dawned on me to look at the name of the sender. It said "brother/driver/bodyguard of Sundrenched." I laughed out loud! Okay, so this is my younger brother commenting about The Pink Tarha (because the older one is on vacation)... finally! I knew he was such a fan. Haha! He definitely serves as my driver and bodyguard sometimes when I had to go to an obscure store or restaurant looking for whatever. 

I posted The Pink Tarha Ultimate Giveaway in my personal Facebook page and mentioned there that my brothers can't join because well, they're family and most contests don't let their first degree family members join so I had to prohibit them. Not that I think they would actually join but oh well. It's so funny. By the way, the brother wants to read all about the lugaw (congee) in Batha and the suman (rice cake) in Batha and Suleimania. He wants me to do a review! Hahaha! Thanks, bro! I can always share with you my Entertainer coupons because you won the sweetest comment, hahahaha!

So the questions in the survey were: What do you think of The Pink Tarha and our social media sites? What do you want to read next in The Pink Tarha? What can you suggest to make The Pink Tarha better?

I simply asked you, our readers, to write them in creative, unique, and substantial manners. I obviously made the judging difficult for me because what am I basing my decision with? I didn't have a criteria on the selection of winners. Well, you all know that The Pink Tarha is personal for me. The other ladies are always saying that The Pink Tarha is Sundrenched's baby. It's true. So I decided to go with gut feel. I decided to read the answers and the ones that struck me most will be the winners. 

I had to give the second runner-up award to Hygeia Abellanosa because she did not only give the longest answer, she gave one of the most substantial one. 

“I remembered back then, during the very first time I bumped into your blog, I was searching into how and where I can send money back home. I found myself reading the article from this eye-catching blog. I didn’t even notice that I spent so much time reading your other articles. I became one of your avid fans, to the point of stalking Eyecandy when I saw her in Panda before. LOL! My search for Enjaz and Telemoney had somehow led me to a great and inspiring blog which made my stay in Riyadh a whole lot different.” 

You think that’s long enough? There was more!!! Well, I couldn’t put everything in here but Hygeia went on describing who the The Pink Tarha is for her (statements in clauses are mine, because I couldn't help making side comments, really, haha!): a. Living GPS (that’s my mad direction skillzzz!), b. Crafty Cultivators (I knew many people love Sharpies!), c. Shopping Mamarazzis (I thought she was referring to us as “mama” [mothers] already, good thing she cleared it up or else… haha!), d. Pig-Out Hunters (did she just say pig this time?! LOL), and e. Ready Jet Set Go!!! (She likes our vacation entries, I like them too.)

Every title was explained well. She also wants to read a lot of future topics. Her suggestions include monthly meet-ups with The Pink Tarha ladies, an event in the Philippine Embassy, trainings and tie-ups with sponsors, and a blog magazine. Wooow, we’d love to but you all know that The Pink Tarha is not our day job right? Hahaha! Some of you share her suggestions. More events, more workshops, more contests… We want them all too! We will try our best to do some of your suggested happenings this year. *cross fingers* 

First runner up Mohammed Ameenuddin won me with his poem. I mean, it’s a stanza but it’s a stanza written by a man so it’s a winner in my books already. Effort! Here are his four lines for us: 

"Pink Tarha, you girls are really best in the desert land
With your blog, I barely feel the boring heated sand
Knowledgeable, interesting you bring a lot of smiles
I am sure you guys will move ahead a million miles" 

See, it's so simple but I asked for a unique feedback right? This one is the most unique. ;) I just wished he used "girls" instead of "guys" but oh well, we're cool. We're good. LOL. He wants the Pink Tarha to organize women meetings because he believes that our amount of experience would help women, especially the new ones. Again, why not? We will try our best, promise! ;) 

And the ULTIMATE WINNER’s answer really got to me. It shed some light on what The Pink Tarha is now to others, how some people are really taking our suggestions at heart and living it. It’s interesting when people just say we’ve inspired and influenced them in their shopping and traveling choices. It’s much more amazing when it comes to life choices. 

Ammarah Zafar shared this: 

“I accidentally stumbled upon The Pink Tarha blog while researching online about Riyadh, the day I found out about my husband being offered a job in Riyadh. My first reaction to the offer was “no thank you!” I did not want to move to a veiled society where I had no information about anything. When I started reading your blog, it helped me calm down and I realized maybe it wasn’t such a bad place. I remember that was in 2012, I immediately emailed the link to my husband who was at work in Lahore, Pakistan. I think we read your entire blog that night. It’s one of the deciding factors for me to finally say yes to the move.  

And even now that I’ve been here for 7 months, The Pink Tarha is my comfort zone. I know it sounds funny but every time I’m down or depressed (which happens way too often in Riyadh), I read your blog and your Facebook page. It cheers me up and helps me plan things. It reminds me that this place has a life too and it’s not too bad. I’ve written to you a few times for advice and information. Thank you so much for just being you. And thank you for helping people like me who feel a bond with you in a faraway land.” 

Wooow, just wow. When we wrote our first blog post back in January 2009, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. And now here we are… influencing and inspiring others huh? It’s amazing and interesting to know that we’ve become a part of someone's deciding factor in going to Saudi Arabia. It shows me how far the blog has come in the five years that we’ve been online. It’s also scary, of course. To influence people on their decisions, especially ones that involve moving to Saudi Arabia. I remember one time when we received an email from a Moroccan lady asking us if we think marrying her Saudi boyfriend is a good decision, I got anxious. What will our reply be? It’s like holding one’s life, one’s future in our hands. And the funny thing? We don’t even know her personally and she’s a thousand miles away from us. 

The aim of The Pink Tarha is to inspire others with our writings.We want to provide as much value as we can. And also, to bring to light the good things in living in Saudi Arabia. Like what I wrote in our anniversary post, Riyadh is not exactly the best place to be in but we're already here so let's make the most out of it. 

We’re being surprised at how much our words are lifting and helping them. Truly, sharing our stories and experiences with each other helps us feel less alone in this land faraway from home. 

The rest of the comments were very enlightening too (and I'll write part 2, promise!). I must admit, sometimes, writing for the blog gets repetitive and tiring but getting your comments boosts my confidence and motivates me to write again, and again, and again. Our readers are awesome!!! YOU ARE AWESOME!!! This blog is no longer just our diary. It’s yours too. You’ll always find an online home with us. Cheers to more years of sharing and inspiring each other! :) ~ Sundrenched

PS. Our anniversary cake is from Nadia Tariq of Bakefresh, the first homebaker in Riyadh we featured in the blog in 2009. I sent her the idea that I had and she created this beautiful, beautiful cake! Look at the amazing details here:

The first one are real flowers, the inspiration of the anniversary cake. 

The Pink Tarha is FIVE!

FIVE YEARS. The Pink Tarha blog has been online five years. It's been five years since we started sharing our thoughts and experiences with you, dear readers. And I am put in a spot wherein I think I have a lot of things to say but feel like there are no more worthy words to say them. I will try nonetheless. ;)

I am speaking in behalf of the other Pink Tarha ladies in telling you all how much grateful we are to all of you for reading the Pink Tarha and following our social media sites. What started as a love for shopping evolved into a love for a flexible Riyadh lifestyle that works not only for us, but also for you. We've been molded and shaped by Riyadh, the city we see as our second home. It hasn't been easy because let's be frank: it is challenging to live in Riyadh. Even among all the cities in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is strict, controversial, and smothering sometimes. BUT it's also smart, engaging, and adventurous. If it's so easy to live here, then might as well lead a perfect life (which doesn't exist huh). No matter where we are, we are trying every day to create the kind of self we want to live with all our lives. No matter how many obstacles and trials we face, we persevere and pursue our goals and dreams in our own ways. Most of us, especially expatriates, see our life in Saudi Arabia as a sacrifice. We are here because we're doing this for our families back home. Then just remember that great achievement are usually born out of a great sacrifice and is never the result of selfishness. 

Thank you very, very much for reading and supporting The Pink Tarha! We cannot express our gratitude enough. We have been so blessed for the five years we've been online. Some are saying that we've been influential in their lives but I'd like to hear more people say we've inspired them. So yes, The Pink Tarha wants to be INSPIRING. I guess for me, inspiring is a better word. It portrays what the objective and goal of the Pink Tarha is. 

Personally, The Pink Tarha has been (and is still is) a journey for me. Writing has always been my passion and now, The Pink Tarha being an avenue of my writing (I hope you're not bored or tired of my writings yet), has become my passion as well. What I learned in the five years that The Pink Tarha has been online is that if you're not passionate about something, you tend to give up somewhere along the way. Thank you for being in this journey with me, with us. THANK YOU for being our inspiration, for giving us boosts of confidence with your comments, emails, and messages, for riding along our crazy ideas. I hope you continue being with us until the time we decide it's time to move on. (Hopefully not soon huh?) 

Because we're celebrating our fifth anniversary, (and I love you so much I had to rush my way into gathering prizes as soon as I got back my vacation, haha!) we're having the THE ULTIMATE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY! Wow, will you look at that. Haha! In our years in living in Riyadh, we've already discovered our favorites in some aspects of living in the city. So, we're giving away ONE huge anniversary package containing our "favorites" to ONE lucky reader!!!

Just answer the questions you'll find HERE. The most creative, substantial answer will win ALL of the following: 

• 1 pink infinity tarha (scarf). There's only one of this veil around. The Pink Tarha ladies don't even have this so you're really lucky when you get this because you can use this tarha in a lot of ways (you can click here to see some ideas). If you're a guy winner, then give it to a woman you love. ;) 
• 2 Pink Tarha mugs + 1 Pink Tarha eco bag. These are special to us because we only gave them to participants in our The Pink Tarha Mornings events. And they're the last pieces. Exclusive na rin, hehe!
• 1 full access of the Entertainer Riyadh 2014. An app filled with BOGO coupons to restaurants... what's not to love?! Read more about the Entertainer here. 
• 1 pack of Curio art supplies (worth over SR 500). Curio is our favorite art supplies store in Riyadh. Personally, I get my Sharpies, pens, and Moleskine here. Artists can definitely find high-quality stuff here. And Curio's owner has been very generous in giving us stuff for our anniversary! Let Curio ignite your creative streak here.
• 1 voucher from Piatto (worth over SR 300, good for 4 persons). Oh Piatto, how can I even say how much we love Piatto? When you win this, don't miss their chicken mushroom risotto, meatball pizza, bacon and potato pizza, and chicken mushroom dish. Muy delicious! We've written about Piatto here.  
• 1 gold-plated bracelet from Camel Couture. I love Amber of Camel Couture! She's so friendly and creative as seen in her Camel Couture's first product. This camel bracelet is gorgeous and for expats, it's the perfect souvenir from Saudi Arabia for your lady friends. Check out Camel Couture here. 
• 2 dozens cookies from All Kinds of Cookies. I was surprised when Sarah of All Kinds of Cookies gave us a huge cookie cake last year for our anniversary. Just out of nowhere. And throughout the year, she's been surprising us with freshly-made cookies in delicious flavors! You have to try her S'mores; it's my favorite! And Sarah is one of my most favorite persons in Saudi Arabia! Get to know All Kinds of Cookies here. 
• 1 sans rival from Cielo's Sweet Treats. I haven't tried Cielo's sans rival but if it's anything like the quality of her coconut macaroons, creme puff, and cheesecake... then I'm sold! You're lucky to be tasting this sweet creation. More of Cielo's Sweet Treats here. 
• 1-year subscription of Destination Riyadh Magazine (including back issues). Yes, one of our best friends in Riyadh, is the editorial manager of this magazine but it's not the only reason why we read it. This magazine is chockfull of insights and best-kept secrets of Riyadh. It also has a directory of popular stores and restaurants. Handy! Check out Destination Riyadh here. 

If I'm not a Pink Tarha, I would want to win all of these! Hahaha! But wait, there's more!!! I'll be choosing 2 more winners who will win the following: 

RUNNER UP PRIZE A: 

1 full access of the Entertainer Riyadh 2014 

1-year subscription of Destination Riyadh Magazine 

RUNNER UP PRIZE B: 

1 voucher from Piatto (worth over SR 300, good for 4 persons) 

1 gold-plated bracelet from Camel Couture

All these and more!

Of course, we have a lot more favorite stuff in the city but my time was limited in gathering them so I hope you like these! By the way, you have to live in Riyadh for you to win okay? Again, click this link and answer the questions as honestly as possible for a chance to win! Your answers will help us improve the blog and our social media sites. We'll close the form at 12am, January 24.

Again, thank you very, very much dear readers! Please continue reading and supporting The Pink Tarha! Cheers to more fun, fab years! Remember our motto for this year Riyadhizens... For women: Act like a lady, think like a boss! For men: Act like a gentleman, period! Haha! 

We love you! Hugs and kisses from all of us! ~ Sundrenched

Top 5 Skin Care Tips For Winter

I didn't experience the 0 degree weather in Riyadh this winter season because thankfully, I escaped to my tropical home country before the cold bit me. It's still quite cold in the desert nowadays with the temperature ranging from 10 degrees above. The mornings and evenings are the most harsh; I feel like I undergo botox every time the wind blows on my face. Not that I've tried botox, haha! It just feels like my cheeks are frozen and couldn't move (isn't that the effect of botox? Haha!). I feel for my skin but I don't really make any changes to my skincare routine in the morning thinking that the winter season will be short and will go away any time soon. 

Turns out I should pay more attention with my skin during the cold weather. And so should you. Here are some tips I got from Dr. Lilian Khan, Pond's Arabia's dermatologist and brand expert. She said that there is a need to change cleansers during winter because our skin is not that oily from the heat and humidity that summers bring. So a change of state needs a tweak in skin care regimen even for just 3-4 months, or as long as winter stays. 

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! 

All skin types will need moisturizers during winter - even those who have acne-prone skin. If you're suffering from acne, choose hydrating lotion and labeled "non comedogenic." If you have dry eczema prone skin, choose hypoallergenic non irritating moisturizer. The key to this is reading a product's label and choosing those which are specific to your skin type.

Moisturizers and creams

2. Wear sunscreen. 

The sun is always shining so don't think just because it's cold, that the sun has let up its powerful rays. Wear sunscreen whatever the season is. Wear sunscreen every day! A broad spectrum sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB with the recommended SPF 30 and above is still mandatory. A good option is Pond's Flawless White BB+ Cream with GenActiv formula that brightens natural skin tone. It provides both coverage and sunscreen.

A BB cream that works wonders.

3. Use milk. 

I'm not saying you buy milk from the grocery and use them to take a bath. Unless you're Cleopatra (or Gretchen Barretto), you don't need to waste as much milk. Just look for milk or lactic acid in the ingredients of the products you'll use and that's effective already to make your skin soft, smooth, and hydrated.

Kitchen skin recipes

4. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! 

Say goodbye to dry skin by using a nice honey and sugar combination (these stuff are easy to find in your pantry!). Honey acts as humectant and reduces inflammation and sugar, when massaged on the skin, increases circulation and acts as mild exfoliant. Use this mixture once per week to elbows and knees to make them softer and brighter. When using exfoliating tools like scrubs, rub mildly. 

5. Shower for 10 minutes only. Yes, 10 minutes only because even if you want to take a longer hot shower and bath because it's cold, the longer you take a bath, the dryer your skin becomes. Make sure that you use of water that is slightly colder in temperature on your last rinse. Also, use shower oils! They're a solution to dry, flaky, irritated skin. 

So there you go, simple skin care steps that will help you go through the cold, dry winter. Personally, I also carry with me a tube of hand cream all the time because my hands get really dry especially with all the washing it undergoes on a daily basis. Let me know if you have more skin care tips and we'll be glad to share them in our Facebook page. ~ Sundrenched

A 19th Century Burger Lands In Riyadh

Please let me write this one already because I'm kind of excited to write a restaurant feature. I'm properly armed this time around! One of the few things I got myself when I was on vacation in the Philippines is a guide book on the dining scene in Manila. It really wouldn't serve its purpose now that I'm back in Riyadh but I bought it for the hope of gleaning words and style in writing food and restaurant features. Remember when I got sick of using the word "delicious"? Hopefully, I brought with me an arsenal of new words that would describe my next gustatory experience. And here comes one now...

The first adjective that I'm going to use is one of my favorite words too: simple (I know, not the most creative of words). That's the first thing that came into my mind when I went to 19th Century Burger in Tahlia Street. You will only choose from 4 items in the menu! I usually get stumped when I go to the more fancy burger houses in Riyadh but in this joint, you only choose from four... beat that! And two of them are not even the usual burgers: one is their chicken burger and the other is their hotdog sandwich. So basically, two options only: 19th Century Burger and Country Burger. Now, that's simple.

The 19th Century Burger

I naturally went for the signature burger: the 19th Century Burger (SR 27) which has 100% certified beef with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, white onions, and their super secret 19th Century sauce. There are several add-ons that can be chosen from: bacon, egg, mushroom, more onions, more cheese (in swiss or cheddar), etc. I opted to add an egg and remove the tomato (I am not a fan of tomatoes in my burger). I have the burger sliced into two because I am a prim and proper lady who doesn't just chomp on her big, fat burger without class. Joke. Haha! Of course I attack my burger like a madman especially when hangry (angry at being hungry, haha!). I just find a half of a burger easier to handle. Anyway, so I was really excited to eat my huge burger which is good to share if you're generous and on a diet. 

Not a century old.

It's interesting to note that 19th Century, a Saudi brand, makes its patties every day from scratch. They also bake their own buns. I love food grown made in your own backyard. They're freshly-made. The beef patty is definitely heavy and thick. You'll notice that they made use of the best, high quality ingredients they can get their hands on. However, there's a lack of seasoning. My companion, who has eaten in the place when it opened, had the same observation. They seemed to have held the salt and pepper. Well, as a consolation, you have salt and pepper canisters in your table. And the small tub of sauce, which they call the 19th Century Burger sauce (now that's creative!) that gives a tangy, garlicky flavor to the burger. Don't overdose on it though so it won't overpower the beefy goodness of the patty. 

The Country Burger is not that different from the 19th Century Burger. It just has a thinner, lighter burger patty with two slices of swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, white onion, and 19th Century sauce. It's SR 25 a piece. The Chicken Burger (SR 24) has a whole chicken breast with the usual toppings while their Hotdog sandwich (SR 23) features a classic grilled beef hotdog in between a soft, sliced bun. 

Yummy starters!

All orders come with french fries, which you can switch to potato wedges or onion rings for SR 3. Now, you have to know this beforehand because you might feel offended when your starters land on your paper table mat without so much ado (after all, they say it in the mat itself that something will "land" in there). Yes, they dump the fries and onion rings in your table mat. I was amused. Of course, who needs utensils in eating finger food right? Just pick up and dump in your ketchup! 

These onion rings just landed on my table mat!

You should try their Cheesy Fries (SR 17) too! It's oozing with melted cheese (seemed commercial for me but tasty nonetheless), their sauce, bits of beef bacon, and fried onion rings. Don't worry, it comes in its own plate and doesn't get dumped on your paper mat. Haha! I love this because I am a fan of soggy, tasty fries topped with condiments. The fries retain their crispness after being doused with the sauce for a while so it's still good for those who like their fries with a bite. 

The fries took a sauce bath!

19th Century Burger offers good quality burgers that are easier on the pocket than other specialty burger stores. The restaurant is devoid of too much decoration and is swathed in browns and leather. What is it with burgers being associated with macho men and things associated with them (hello cowboys!)?! You don't think we ladies can take on a burger?! Haha! 

Okay, okay, if you're hankering for burger, try the ones that came from the 19th Century. It doesn't taste old, promise!

Super secret chos sauce!

Oh, btw, don't ask for mayonnaise. ~ Sundrenched

19th Century Burger
Tahlia Street,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
T: 920033900
W: www.19thCB.com
FB: www.facebook.com/19thCB
Twitter: @19thCB

The Entertainer Riyadh (+ Eastern Province) 2014

Fond of dining out and traveling like The Pink Tarha? Or maybe not as much as we do but do you like eating out with your families and friends? Imagine spending SR 225 and saving almost SR 173,000!!! You might be asking how can that happen?! Well, I know I'm bad at Math but read on to find out how to pay SR 225 and save more than you paid for! And also having discount coupons right at your fingertips! Well, this is what The Entertainer is all about!

The Entertainer is a Dubai-based international company founded in 2001. They distribute 2 for 1 offers of over 10,000 merchants located 23 destinations and 16 countries through Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Fortunately, they have one for Riyadh (bundled with the Eastern Province). So basically, The Entertainer is a book of Buy One Get One coupons ranging from fine dining restaurants to casual dining, cafes, informal dining, attractions, beauty and fitness and so much more!

The Entertainer, the book

It is the perfect "book" for The Pink Tarha ladies, don't you agree? I agree wholeheartedly! Haha! With our love for going out, food, beauty, and traveling, the Entertainer Riyadh which also includes the Eastern Province is such a worthwhile buy for us! Last year, we had the Entertainer Riyadh 2013 book and we've used various coupons to our heart's content. Imagine going to Burger Fuel and buying one of their scrumptious burgers... and getting another one for free! I gave a coupon for the Garden Barbecue Restaurant in Alkhozama Hotel to my brother who's celebrating an anniversary with his wife so he can they can enjoy two buffet meals for the price of one! A buffet meal in Garden Barbecue is worth SR199 per person. With the BOGO coupon, my brother only paid SR199 instead of the SR 398 he was supposed to pay for him and his wife's buffet meals. Now that's a huge saving considering that the full Entertainer book is only around SR 200! With 3 vouchers per merchant, we can visit one restaurant more than once or share the coupon with our families and friends.

Last year, we got the book but this year, the Entertainer came up with a mobile app. Good thing because I can't imaging lugging around the book again (because I usually never know when the urge to eat out strikes!). Now, I carry all coupons with me... in my mobile phone in the form of an application which is easily downloadable in iTunes (for Apple products), Google Play (for Android), and Blackberry World.

Ready for the mobile app?

Here are some things you need to know about the Entertainer mobile app:

1. The Entertainer App is free to download! You don't have to buy the Entertainer Riyadh and Eastern Province 2014 immediately. You can try the offers for free until the end of January to ensure that you like the redemption process. 

2. Share the product with family and friends. Just because the digital coupons are in your device, it doesn't mean you're the only one who can use them. You can approve up to three additional usernames to access your offers.

3.  Exactly the same offers as the book. You can still avail of the Entertainer book if you wish (it's available in Jarir Bookstore) if you want the feel of paper but the offers you have in the book? They're also in the mobile app! And well, I don't have to enumerate the advantages of just using the mobile app, yes? 

4. Easy to locate restaurants and easy to track savings! Maps and contact numbers of featured restaurants are available in the app. You can even view restaurants and shops by location! Also included is a Savings Calculator so you keep track on how much you're saving (or maybe not because for sure, you'll be buying something else with your saved money, haha!).

5. Jetsetter-friendly. With a supplement containing BOGO hotel offers, your ideal staycations or exotic vacations are now within reach! No more excuses not to travel. Also, if you travel to the 23 destinations which the Entertainer caters to, then you get dibs on member offers too! 

So how do you use the Entertainer Riyadh 2014?

What's your choice?

If you have the book, just browse it for a coupon that you want to use. For example, you and a friend want to eat in Trader Vic's. Just tear the coupon of Trader Vic's in your Entertainer book and present it in Trader Vic's! You can now order a main course and your friend can order another one. You only have to pay for the dish which is higher in value and the second one is free! Easy right?

If you have the mobile app, just buy the Entertainer Riyadh & Eastern Province 2014 in the app. You will have to sign up and pay with a credit card. After purchasing it, you will get an email and you need to wait for maybe 15 minutes for the app to recognize your purchase and refresh. Once you open it again, the coupons will now be available for you to use. Just open a coupon and show it to the restaurant to redeem it. You will need to input your 4-digit password. The same way that the restaurant waiter/rep will enter theirs. (Make sure that you have a net connection when you want to use the app though!)

You can check out all their partner restaurants, stores, shops, and hotels here: http://theentertainerme.com/ksa/pdf/Riyadh.pdf Yes, you can get BOGO on most of them and the best thing? You have 3 coupons for each restaurant!

Wondering why we can "afford" to eat out most of the time? Then this is one of the reasons. I really enjoyed using my Entertainer 2013. We saved bucks by using it. And so can you! The Entertainer Riyadh and Eastern Province 2014 is only SR 225 (SR 203 if you buy now and avail of the SR 22 discount)!!! 

But, for 5 lucky Pink Tarha readers, you won't be needing to buy one if you win! Stay tuned for the contest mechanics in our Facebook page from Monday to Friday (January 20-24, 2014)! It's The Pink Tarha's FIFTH ANNIVERSARY so we're feeling generous! ;) ~ Sundrenched

Go Ahead, Take A Bite!

​I love the use of witty names for stores, shops and restaurants. In the Philippines we have a lot of those like Cinna Von Laundry (which is a cool use of Cinnabon, the cinnamon rolls company, and 'sinabon' which means getting soaped in English), Goldilooks Barber, and Bread Pitt (a bakery). I usually laugh out loud when I come across one. Or maybe go down and actually eat in the restaurant just because it made me smile. In Riyadh, since most restaurants are franchised from different countries, there's a lack of witty names and slogans. And then I come across "Bite Me!" It's a sandwich and salad shop. And the name's not only the cool part about it. Add their slogan and you've got, "Bite Me! Before somebody else does!" Fun eh? 

Of course the fun doesn't end with the name and slogan. It's only beginning. Bite Me! mainly delivers but it has a relatively unassuming store in the corner of Al Maather street and the Nasriyah roundabout. Its logo, featuring the words Bite Me! flanked with swishes and curls of decorative lines, is charming and enticing. Bite Me! delivers gourmet salads, sandwiches, and desserts and also caters to events, meetings, and parties promising a bite that won't be your last. Naturally, I want a first bite of it so I went ahead and ordered for pick-up.

The Bite Me! store

Their Caprese and Date Salad (SR 27) with freshly-sliced buffalo mozzarella with avocado, baked dates, cherry tomatoes, and toasted pine nuts drizzled with balsamic pesto is one of their bestsellers but I opted for what I think are unique and newer mixes.

I love the color of this salad!

Pouring the Asian-inspired dressing

The Thai Beef and Apricot Salad (SR 28) got me with their soy garlic dressing... woot, Asian-inspired! The tender beef is marinated in a Thai-inspired sauce and partnered with dried apricots, crushed cashwe nuts, spring onions, and mixed greens. I love the greens because they're really crispy. The dressing was a bit salty for my taste but the apricots stabilized the taste with its smooth, subtle sweetness.

Refreshingly light and tasty

Salmon, couscous, and avocado... delicious combo!

The Salmon Couscous with Avocado Salad is new to me but the various flais of flavors it presents deliver and satisfy. I like the texture of this salad. The greens are fresh and crisp; the salmon is smoky and robust, the couscous is a fluffy but a bit gritty (which I like), the darkly-colored dressing is slightly sweet and tart. The salads came in paper boxes that hold them well together. They come in generous servings (can be shared by 2) and is fresly-prepared.I plan on trying the Raspberry Goat Cheese Salad (SR 26) and Curry Chicken and Pineapple Salad (SR 26) next time. They seem good in the menu and I heard that salads with the goat cheese are also favorites in Bite Me!

Both sandwiches came in brown bread

When it came to my sandwich selection, I went for something classic and something a bit more modern. The classic came in the form of Steak and Mushroom Sandwich (SR 29), which seems to be a must in most sandwich shops. Bite Me!'s version is filled with grilled steak, cheddar, lettuce strips, and basil mushroom relish. The brown bread roll it came with is a bit hard and needs a good chewing but it's filling.

Steak and Mushroom, a classic sandwich

New in my tastebuds is the combination of lightly grilled chicken breast with mango slices, spicy avocado, red chili, coriander found in the Mango Chicken and Spicy Avocado Sandwich (SR 22). It's interesting; with its unique play of flavors from all the ingredients used. Up in my to-try list is the Zesty Smoked Salmon and Shrimp, Guacamole, and Halloumi sandwiches.

Look at those slices of mango!

Nutritious!

Check out Bite Me!'s menu here and salivate just by reading the descriptions of their offerings. Their desserts are not listed there but their gallery has pictures of red velvet cake, carrot cake, and cheesecakes. There are also juices. Bite Me! is open from Saturday to Thursday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. Orders outside these hours needs 24 hours notice. Call in advance!

Bite Me! is not only witty; it's also fresh, light, and healthy! ~ Sundrenched

Bite Me!
King Khaled Road
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
(see map here)
T: +966-54-4794133 or +966-11-440-4222
W: www.biteme-ksa.com
FB: www.facebook.com/wholesomebites
Twitter: @BiteMeKSA
Instagram: @bitemeksa

The Certified Riyadhizen Checklist

Hello 2014, Riyadhizens! It's a bit silent in our blog yeah? Don't fret, I just came back to Riyadh and hopefully, I get to churn and weave more entries than I ever did in the 5 years of The Pink Tarha's existence. Wait, did someone say 5 YEARS?! Oh my goodness! What an online existence! We will celebrate it, just wait for a bit. It ain't happening until January 24... so just mark your calendars for now. But I tell you, we have something up our tarhas sleeves for our anniversary week! Yipeee!

Before celebrating our fifth anniversary (I can't believe it's the fifth! O.O), I'd like to elaborate on the term "RIYADHIZEN". We've been using it for the longest time and we haven't exactly explained what it is. Well, simply put, a Riyadhizen is a person living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. You think it's more complicated than that? Na-ah! Whether you're a local or a foreigner as long as you're here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, then... congratulations, you are a Riyadhizen! Eyecandy came up with the word after finding out that Riyadhi and Riyadhites are already frequently used. You see, there is always a need for originality. So Riyadh + citizen = RIYADHIZEN! :P

Now we understand that each and everyone of us has his/her own experience and life stories in Riyadh. As for me, I've been here in the desert for 6 years (6 years!!! Wut! Where did all those years go?!) while Shoegarfreeruby has been working here for more than a decade now (I will refrain from using exclamation points). Eyecandy and Sampaguita Pride practically grew up here. So, what's your story?

I prepared a list of things that will make you a "Certified Riyadhizen" in our eyes. It doesn't matter that much if you've done, plan on doing, or doesn't want to do all the items in the list but it would be awesome if you've ticked them all wouldn't it? We've compiled some of our experiences in living in Riyadh and all the other stuff we still want to do and decided to share them with you. (Yes, bored much!) You are free to do them, you are free to ignore them. We don't exactly give out a certificate that say you are a certified Riyadhizen so yeah... up to you! I'm pretty sure you've done or experienced some of the items below.

Here goes in no particular order the things you can do as a (or because you are a) Riyadhizen:

• Eat shawarma with lots of garlic sauce (if you can request it)
• Eat kabsa with your hands.
• Drink Suntop with a zaatar croissant.
• Eat Kwality ice cream from the bakala on a cold, winter morning.
• Know who Captain Majid is.
• Drink 3 cups of ghawa/khawa.
• Try the different kinds of dates and determine your favorite.
• Take a picture with a camel (because everyone back home expects you to).
• Ride an ATV in the red sand dunes.
• Attend a Saudi wedding without dropping your jaw at the grandness of it all.
• Pick a place beside a road and have a picnic with your family and friends. Like, anywhere!
• Make use of Kiri, the soft cheese in triangular packs, in 3 kinds of sandwiches.
• Visit the Skybridge and shout "I'm at the top of the world" somewhere in the middle.
• Use an overpass in King Fahd Road.
• Teach a cab driver your native language (or let them teach you the directions in theirs).
• Brave the traffic during the Saudi National Day (and get home without ever blowing your top).
• Cheer for Al Hilal (get to know the team first).
• Go shopping until 2:00 am during Ramadan.
• Have suhoor in a restaurant as 4:00 am.
• Smile at a muttawa.
• Ride the train from Riyadh to Dammam and vice-versa.
• Take a photo of yourself in the traditional garb in Diriyah or the Ushaiger Village.
• Collect at least 3 gums as change in your neighborhood bakala.
• Build a castle using the desert's sand.
• Dance under the 'once in a blue moon' rain in Riyadh.
• Donate blood in one of the government hospitals.
• Travel to one place outside Riyadh... that is not Al Khobar, Dammam, or Jeddah.
• Give your officemate a compliment. 
• Go on a 30-day fast... not during Ramadan.
• Have breakfast in IKEA. Just breakfast... no going around the whole store. No buys either.
• Learn a foreign language. 
• Go to Janadriyah 2014.
• Finish a book inside Jarir Bookstore (sit in one of their chairs).
• Run a marathon.
• Attend a coffee morning... while drinking coffee for good measure.
• Marvel at the duplication of words (shweya shweya, sura sura, khamsa khamsa, etc.).
• Learn diving... in Riyadh.
• Attend a Pink Tarha event.
• Take a day off and spend it with yourself.
• Walk/jog/stroll around Prince Sultan University or King Fahd Medical City.
• Navigate Batha like a pro.
• Find a beautiful abaya in Souk Taibah or Dirah Souk.
• Haggle in Haraj souk until the vendor actually gives you the item for free!
• Survive a sale season... meaning you don't get to buy any thing.
• Learn how to cook curry.
• Get lost in finding a store or a restaurant (told you, look at the maps after our entries!).
• Jot down the variations of "barber shop" you'll see.
• Draw the Riyadh skyline.
• Add one item in this list.

If you've done all these, then good for you! Because I personally haven't and I would like to meet someone who already did. Haha! Again, we don't discriminate; if you haven't done all or any of the following, then fine. You are still a certified Riyadhizen in our eyes. Not as experienced though. Hahaha! Kidding! We love you still! Not kidding! 

Onwards to 2014 shall we? HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! ~ Sundrenched