Slices of This Desert City (2 of 2)

This is a long delayed post. I feel like...because of all the lakwatsa that Sundrenched and I have been doing (apart from other aspects of my 'social' life, *ahem*) that I'm been complacent with writing my entries for the blog. Sundrenched is right in saying that we've been spending a LOT of time together wandering the city every weekend. We just finished taking a month-long photography course and this June, our calendars are PACKED with activities! Anyway, let me help wrap up this series on our Tour of Riyadh. One of the highlights was the Hanging Bridge.

The 'Golden Gate' or 'San Juanico Bridge' of Riyadh (?)

They call it the "Hanging Bridge" for the apparent 'suspension' effect of the steel bars that appear to be holding the bridge up. It's not very long at all. You could probably yawn from start to end and the cross is over. Haha. I'm not too good in estimating distance by numbers.

Members of our tour group trying to get a closer look of the bridge.

Under the bridge.

The bridge is in the far south of Riyadh's city center and bridges the gap between a 'dam-like' area where confiscated vehicles from the city are stocked and piled up. You can see how many bad drivers are there in this city by the number of cars lined up at that joint! There are cars as far as the eye can see, I tell you!

This is the closest I could get to the edge of the cliff. Those teeny weeny "granule-looking" objects below are the confiscated cars.

With us posing by the bridge, we were sure to stop traffic! Haha! I remember that a lot of the cars were honking at us as they passed by and the entry way of the bridge got clogged up for a good 2-3 minutes with drivers intrigued by the group of people scattered around in a remote area in the desert taking photos. I waved back, confident that they are too far away to actually see my face anyway. Just for kicks. ;)

Sundrenched and Eyecandy @ The Hanging Bridge.

Til our next out and about trip...

Cheers!

-ec-

A Trip to Riyadh's Cultural Sweet Spot (PART I of II)

Who says you can’t have a little adventure in Riyadh?

More than two weeks ago, Sundrenched and I, along with my beloved brother, spent our weekend in a not-so-usual manner. By that I mean, we didn't lounge around within the confines of our homes, exercising with the refrigerator doors and playing thumbwrestling with the remote control. We actually went on an outing, hopped on a bus and went to a place we've never been before.

We’re lucky enough that our office’s Employee Social Club sponsors local (and international) trips for quite a reasonable fee. One of this month’s trips was to the Riyadh National Museum and the King Abdulaziz Historical Center. It was a good idea to shake up our weekend routines and see the sights of the Riyadh. (This is quite embarrassing on my part since I’ve lived here all my life yet I haven’t seen this landmark until then!)

Riyadh’s National Museum is right beside King Abdulaziz Historical Center and it hosts a large park area where cultural booths, playgrounds and food vendors can be found. We arrived at around 4:30 in the afternoon and were psyched to the core! Being with a tour group gives me license to take photographs and carry a big camera around my neck without having to worry (as much) with the religious police breathing down my neck. The people at the area seem to understand that it's a tourist spot, still, I was surprised to know that I was free to shoot my heart out. Yay!

Sundrenched is making faces. :) Behind is the open area where all the cultural booths are set up.

We arrived at during the late afternoon. It was a sweet spot for me because it wasn't crowded just yet and was able to chitchat with some of the vendors. Shoufti (Look):

A Saudi vendor, offering cashews and nuts for SR5 per half-kilo. A munchy snack while walking around the area.

A Bedouin woman showing off her skills with a ball of cotton (?) and a stick.

Ladies of Riyadh in their natural habitat: clothed in abayas and searching for a good buy.

Souvenir paintings and magic carpets for sale! :)

A tribesman selling teeny, tiny, silver weaponry.

Once we wrapped up roaming around the booth area, we headed on to the museum proper. Sundrenched will give you the low down on the must sees of the museum on the Part II of this entry. :)

A stroll in the park, headed to the museum. That's Sundrenched btw.

Sneak peek: Mountain climbing anyone?

Banners of the Kingdom's treasures (inside the National Museum).

We finished up our tour of the museum come evening time. When we stepped out, I was overwhelmed to see the number of people spending their Thursday evening at the park. It was PACKED! It's been a while since I've been amidst an almost-roaring Saudi crowd. Families were sitting everywhere possible, talking, eating and simply enjoying the company of the rest of the crowd. For a minute there, I felt like I was at Intramuros (in the Philippines), taking in a deep, cultural breath of Saudi life.

Facade of the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center

Come evening time, the park area was packed with people!

Ako na ang malakas ang loob! Taking a photo in front of a police car! *hehe* You can see one of Riyadh's landmark, the Water Tower standing prominently at the back.

The place is such a hotspot, media people are around to interview the Saudi public on how they enjoy their weekends. :)

Sundrenched was obviously my muse throughout the entire photowalk! Here she is, enjoying a not so-usual night, surrounded by all these people! :D

There was a lot of walking involved, but for the most part, we were just so happy to be OUT! Not only out-out, but out and about among the Saudi public. It was like watching them in their natural habitat...and seeing how a simple their joys are.

Sundrenched will be putting up a more detailed account of the museum trip itself, so watch out for that!

For now, ta-ta!

-ec-

Parking 101

We're curious where in the world did the drivers of these cars learn how to park. If they can't follow the simple rules of parking, we do not want to imagine how they follow the rules of traffic.

The yellow lines are made for parking properly.

This parking lot is huge but this does not give you the right to own two lanes.

We're offended for the yellow bar. It's placed there for something! You gotta respect it too, yannow.

Maybe you've seen worse parking antics, this place sure reeks of driving school nuts. So nuts they're one of the five a**holes you meet on the road. We'll introduce all five on the next Life Line.

I Saw The Signs

Another collection of weird signs and labels around the city:

Guys will surely have a fiesta... but they're selling jewelries you pervs! ;P

Is Freez made from freshly-squeez fruits?

We pity the "I." It probably feels so out of place. Aww.

What do you think will happen to my clothes if i bring them to your landry?

This maybe the fountain of love and happiness! Drink (and pucker) up!

The Globe Visit

Abot ko ang mundo!!!

Last week, Sundrenched, Mary and I (along with two other Riyadh chums) were treated to a spectacular view of the city from the base of Al-Faisaliyah's "The Globe". We got there at around 5pm and it couldn't have been a more perfect time to visit as the sun was getting ready to set.

To give you an idea of how high up we were, have a look at this:

Photo credits: Third Eye from Kuwait

Al-Faisaliyah is not as high as Kingdom Tower (seen on the background) but I certainly found their observation deck more appealing than the Skybridge (The 99th floor of Kingdom Tower). The entire structure houses 44 floors of commercial, hotel and business spaces with the gold glass sphere itself having a 3-level, luxury restaurant.

A view of "The Globe"

I think this is the exclusive cigar lounge, housed at the topmost level of The Globe. Posh people may enjoy annihilating their healthy lung cells with imported, premium tobaccos (such style!).

Once you get there, you'll find a wide space where you are free to roam around and get a panoramic view of Riyadh city. There are a couple of benches there for visitors to sit and enjoy the sight. Being there at sunset can dab some sentimental value on you. Just check out these three:

Ahem, Anong drama to?

We went ahead just in time for dinner (No, we didn't dine at The Globe. We're not THAT rich). While waiting for the elevator, we viewed some of the memorabilia associated with the making of Al-Faisaliyah at The Globe's lobby.

Prototype designs for the tower. The architects were from a UK company called "Foster and Partners"

If you're in town, this is one must-see place. Just enter through the Al-Faisaliyah Center entrance and look for the express elevators. There are ushers there to guide you, just tell them that you'd like to visit the observation deck, or "R1" as they call it. The ticket to the base costs SAR25 and is paid at the lobby of The Globe.

Happy viewing!


Cheers!
-ec-


PS
Special shoutout to our friend, Mookies who sponsored this visit. :)

Riyadh Turns Orange

Did a million horse riders decide to visit?

Is it the apocalypse already?

They're coming!

Time to grab my mask!

Shouldn't I be hiding now?

I'm turning into a Cheetos!

I can feel an asthma attack coming...

*cough, gag, cough*

This is Riyadh today. This is probably the weirdest sandstorm that hit this city.

Photos from Jorge, Val and Co.