A Beautiful Date

IT'S THE ONLY "date" that we're legally allowed to have here in Riyadh and it is high-time that we finally dived into this delectable dessert with Bateel dates and Bateel Cafe. 

The date, which is known to be the Holy Fruit of Arabia is in fact, the national fruit of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Born out of  the date palm tree (iconic in most Saudi Arabian emblems), this fruit is a part of the Arabian tradition and was even frequently mentioned in the pages of the Qur'an. From dessert to snacks, it's also a famous fare during Ramadan where it is usually the first thing eaten during the Iftar dinner (you will notice that most of the food they serve during the breaking of fast starts with a plate of dates).

But we won't be talking about your average grocery/street dates here, we're going to be featuring the big name (if not the biggest) in the field of gourmet dates: Bateel who has been a plush merchant of these since the early 90s. 

It wasn't until late last year that I had a hefty serving of Bateel dates, although I have heard of them before. I visited their branch in Kingdom Mall while touring some visiting foreign colleagues and the salesman was more than happy to orient us about the different kinds of dates that they offer:

The most popular kind of gourmet dates: Khidri.

The Khidri dates are soft and chewy in texture and are considered to be the healthier choice when it comes to sugar content since it has less sucrose than the other dates. It is also their most popular item. 

Khidri dates also come in other variants, with different stuffings to choose from: Orange, Lemon Peel, Ginger, Caramelized Pecan and Almonds. I personally like the Khidri with Orange because of the balance of sweet and tangy in its flavors. The lemon proved a little too tangy for my liking. The caramelized pecan stuffing is also another favorite.

Trivia Trivia, Only in Saudi Arabia!

Back in the good ol' RP, we have certain aspects of our culture that are truly unique and can only be found in our mother nation. Like our use of "po" and "opo", the jeepney, the balut, the parol --these are just some of the things that we consider to be "Only in the Philippines".

Here in Saudi Arabia, you'll learn that they have some cultural and societal aspects as well that can really be deemed as "ONLY IN SAUDI ARABIA!". The following is a first look at the things that will probably blow your mind about Saudi Arabia.


1. Welcome to the 15th Century! Seriously.
Believe it or not folks, the current year recognized in this part of the world is not 2009...it's 1430. Yes. you read it right...1-4-3-0. No, it's not time traveling, it's just the way it is. See, Saudi Arabia, being the cradle of Islam, follows what they call the "Hijra calendar" which is a lunar calendar. When Prophet Mohammed (PbUH) and his followers first migrated to Mecca from Medinah (which is dubbed as the "Hijra"), it paved the way to establish the first Muslim-state and that's the point of reference that they have agreed to use for the Islamic calendar.


2. Not your ordinary weekend.
Thursdays and Fridays are the official weekend days here in Saudi Arabia. In other Muslim countries, they may vary, but still, Friday (called "Al-Juma'a" in Arabic, meaning "The gathering day") is a sacred day dedicated to spending time with the family and attending holy prayers. It's basically the Islamic counterpart of Christian's Sundays. I remember when I was younger, the parking lot of the big mosque beside our house would always be jam-packed with cars on a Friday afternoon and on the evenings, the parks in our neighborhood will be filled with families enjoying a picnic.

A typical calendar you'll find here. Looks confusing eh? The blue numbers are for the Gregorian calendar, and the red numbers are for the Hijra calendar.

So, here in Saudi Arabia, we're not faced with Manic Mondays, but rather with Sacre bleu! Saturdays...the fast food chain should be renamed "TGIWs (Thank God It's Wednesday!") and not TGIFridays...and as for the song, it would be sung here as... "...that's why I'm eassssyyyy...eassssyyyy on a Friday morning..." :P


3. Pray all Day.
If you are new here, you might jolt out of your bed at past four in the morning to the sound of throat-clearing or mic tapping via a very loud mega-phone. Don't be alarmed, it's just the Imam (Priest of Islam) beginning his call for morning prayers. It's a very pious nation and you will find that Saudis and Muslims here pray FIVE times a day. There are mosques (with large mega-phones) located at every block, to ensure that any man is always in walking distance to a house of prayer. So there is no excuse for them to NOT pray. These five prayers also indicate that since people should be praying, then no one should be doing anything else. Therefore, all business establishments close their doors during prayer time, or what we call as the "Salah/Salat".

Photo by Agencia Brasil.

The five prayer times:

Fajr (Dawn)
Dhuhr (Midday)
Asr (Afternoon)
Maghrib (Sunset)
Isha'a (Evening)

To find out the Salat/Prayer Time in your part of the world, click on this link.

The longest Salat is the Isha'a and it lasts for 30-45 minutes. Usually, most people go out of their houses after this prayer in the evening so that they can better enjoy their night out on a restaurant or mall, because if you're out there and prayer time hits, you better be prepared to sit it out.


4. Read the opposite way.
You are reading this sentence from a left-to-right orientation. Arabic language does it the other way around. Yes, try not to be confused. Since Arabic uses a totally different character system, it can very well manipulate how it should be read (you know, like how the Japanese reads downwards?). It is also the language used in the Qur'an (Islam's Holy Book).

This is how my name is written in Arabic, those who can read, it will be OUR secret!




Want to see how your name would look like in Arabic? Check out this site. Wanna learn it yourself? Try this one.


PS. I've always wondered this, and please, if anyone can answer this question, feel free to bombard the comments box with your intellect....Though Arabic words are read right-to-left, how come in reading numbers, they're read from left-to-right???


5. Roll out the red carpet please?
By the way, we are living in a Kingdom. As in a KINGDOM...like the place you only read in fairy tales when you were little. Yes, that's where we live right now. The official name of the country still is, "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". However, in recent years, a lot of media channels have opted the use of just "Saudi Arabia". Saudi Arabia follows an absolute monarchical form of government. We have a King and his name is King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The Royal Family is made up of the descendants of the first monarch of the country, King Abdul Aziz Al Saud. Trivia: the word "bin" means "son of", so our King Abdullah's full name is King Abdullah, son of Abdul Aziz Al Saud. Most Saudi names follow the format using "son of" or "daughter of" (as in "bint").

HRH King Abdullah bin Abul Aziz Al Saud

I have yet to see them wearing their crowns, though (if they do have an actual coronation ceremony, I am not aware of it). And sadly, there are no apparent castles (like those we see in Europe), but there are what we call the King's Palaces. They are huge and luxurious estates belonging to the Royal Family.


So, that's it for this first installment of "Only in Saudi Arabia". We're cooking up more bits of trivia because there is a lot more you may not know about this desert country. Keep posted!


xoxo,
-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-

The Basic Don'ts (How To Survive In Saudi Arabia)

Every country has its culture to be followed and to be valued. And these cultures are comprised of customs, traditions, rituals, practices, beliefs, religions, events, and qualities that characterized their difference with others.

Living here in Saudi Arabia is not unusual, because like living in the Philippines we have our own culture and traditions that are being followed by everyone. But living in the most conservative country in the world will put you through a culture shock that will literally shock you to make a 180 degree turn - clockwise, counter-clockwise, repeat 3x! Your patience and understanding will be tried and your sanity questioned. However, we Filipinos are known for being chameleons. Having gone under influences of different cultures since time immemorial, we learned to adapt to changes and to turn challenges into stepping stones for progress. So... when confronted with Saudi Arabia's oddities, take a deep breath, utter a quick prayer and chant, "Kaya ko 'to!"

Keep this in mind: "Hindi pwedeng maging siga dito sa disyerto dahil kung hindi, sa kulungan ang bagsak mo! Kaya sanayan na lang!" ["Do not be a bully in this desert because if you are, you'll land in jail! Learn to adjust!"] Remember that you're the visitor or the guest in their country so it will be really helpful to prep yourself.

So, for all you Filipinos planning to visit and work in the Kingdom, we're providing some of the basic Don’ts that we think can help you in surviving this undulating, unforgiving desert.

WARNING: This list contains some images that are quite disturbing. You have also probably read these rules before. This just goes to show how important it is to follow them. Seriously.

1. Do not bring and eat PORK.

Bringing in and eating pork and pork products is a no-no in Saudi Arabia because of their religion. The prohibition is stated in their Holy Qu'ran. So before you go here, stuff yourself silly with lechon, pork sisig, bacon, and dinuguan so you'll not miss them. They will not be found here. Also, do not be pasaway in bringing in canned pork products. Yes, that includes pork and beans (even if the pork is not visible most of the time)! Be prepared to eat chicken, beef, fish, chicken, beef, fish. Feel free to alter the sequence weekly.

2. Do not drink alcohol.

Unlike in other countries where consumption of alcohol is acceptable, here in Saudi Arabia it is prohibited. Drinking of beer or any kind of alcoholic drinks (wine, spiked beverages, etc.) is forbidden. In other words, huwag dalhin ang pagiging sunog-baga dito sa Saudi Arabia! If you know you're an alcoholic yet you're bound to go here, prepare yourself for a gut-wrenching withdrawal process. If you're an average drinker, then start drowning yourself with beer days before your flight. You will really miss it. And oh, avoid asking for alcoholic beverages in the plane okay? You're not supposed to arrive drunk! (Well, alcoholic beverages might not be available on their menu anyway, beh!)

3. Do not practice your own religion.

photo credit: http://www.sweden.se

Unless you are Muslim, you cannot practice your religion here. Saudi Arabia is the seat of Islam. The two holy cities of Mecca and Madina are found here. This country has a population of 20 million and all of them are Muslims so please, avoid practicing your religion outright. We know most Filipinos are devout Catholics and we practice our faith by going to mass, making the sign of the cross, praying the rosary, celebrating sacraments and holidays, etc. but we cannot freely do these here. First and foremost, there are no churches and priests around. There are other ways of showing our devotion. After all, worshipping and praying can be done within ourselves. It just takes the heart and the soul to do it. He will understand.

4. Do not bring illegal drugs.

photo credit: http://www.photobucket.com

Of course illegal drugs are prohibited anywhere but just be extremely cautious here in Saudi Arabia. If you are caught with illegal drugs, it will cost you your life. You can choose between beheading and life imprisonment. Sounds fun, yes? So please, if you value your life and your family's lives, do not have anything to do with illegal drugs. For first-timers, be cautious of people in the airport who will make pasuyo in bringing in items for them. Who knows what's inside that envelope or gadget box? Say "no" politely or come up with an excuse such as "Ermn, my luggage is already full" or "Sorry, I'm really paranoid with stuff I didn't pack myself. That might lead me to trouble" and eye the item suspiciously.

5. Do not engage in PDA.

photo credit: http://blog.thestar.com

Married or not, avoid showing public displays of affection. It extremely irritates the muttawas. Yep, it's better to be livid and boring than be romantic and passionate... in prison, and apart. So control those lovey-dovey emotions while shopping, doing the grocery, strolling, picnicking, etc. Reserve them for the comfort of your homes. Yes, KJ na kung KJ! But, holding hands is acceptable for married couples. Okay na yan kesa wala? :P

6. Do not bring pornographic materials with you.

Hold it in guys, hold it in. If you are caught having or bringing films, magazines, photographs or other materials that contain sexually explicit materials, you'll face imprisonment. Better to leave your stash of FHMs and Maxim in the Philippines, boys. It's also advisable that when bringing in USBs, laptops, DVDs, and hard disks in the country, erase all photos and videos that might be deemed "pornographic" like your summer photos in Galera where you were wearing your fantabulous swimsuit while sunbathing or photos and videos of you smooching your bf/gf (that you wished to become a scandal of some sort in Pinas). They randomly check this stuff in the airport and who knows, baka ikaw ang maswerteng mapili for the day!

7. Do not mix and match.

Simply put, guys and girls who are not related in any way cannot be seen together in public. Oh yeah, even if you're related like being brother-sister or cousins, you cannot still be together in public. Do not mingle. Avoid making too much eye contact. Married women must be in the company of their husbands and single ladies must be accompanied by their fathers/sponsors when going out. Mostly, nurses go out through their company's transpo services but they must at all times be with women companions only. In going out, women must only be driven around by their designated drivers aka and husbands.

8. Do not engage in pre-marital fornication.

photo credit: Aexton

Obviously, we're trying to be modest in saying "fornication" when all we want to say is premarital sex. This is a rule for all of us everywhere but of course, we have different stands and views on pre-marital sex. It's just that here in Saudi, your views on it don't matter. When caught engaging in pre-marital fornication, you'll be punished with up to 100 lashes. And when you're single and you accidentally got pregnant, consider yourself doomed. Or okay maybe not as long as you leave the country pronto. But if not, you'll have a hard time giving birth in the hospitals here (and manghihilots are not that easy to find).

Committing adultery is a different matter but we just want to say that if caught, you'll be stoned to death. As in. Stoning is as old as time but believe it or not, they still practice it today. (This is Saudi Arabia so you better believe!)

9. Do not forget to wear the abaya when going out.

photo credit: http://www.nowpublic.com

This is their take on being dressed modestly... by covering yourself up! So ladies, please do not forget to wear the black overgarment when leaving the house. We know the urge to dress fashionably and all but let's follow their rules mmmkay? After all, we chose to be here, so we chose to adhere to their rules. Besides, just seeing how the religious police enforce the dress code will make you hide literally. Wear the tarha (veil) as well. Just think of this as a challenge. How can you strut your stuff and be fashionable while wearing the abaya?! Hmn, tough stuff? We Pink Tarha girls don't think so! Kahit na ano pa ang damit mo, nasa pagdadala lang yan.

10. Do not drive.

photo credit: http://www.theglobalvoice.com

We're talking to females here. Saudi Arabia is the only country on earth where women are not allowed to drive. It has always been a great debate why and when this right should be given so while they're at it, let's not drive. Besides, if you see how some maniacs men drive here, you'll be grateful for this law. But of course, it will be great if women are given the right to decide for ourselves if we want to drive or not.

Respecting one’s culture is so basic, it shouldn't even be discussed but if you're a new member of a society like Saudi Arabia, you need to be extra respectful and cautious. Learn to adapt and adjust. Be prepared! Ignorance is not an excuse. Besides, their culture is already established even before we were born so DEAL WITH IT!

Surviving here doesn't really require you to OUTWIT, OUTPLAY, OUTLAST. You just have to BE SMART, BEEF UP, and ADJUST!

This is the fourth of the Life Line Series. For other guidelines, click here.

Eyecandy in Jeddah

Nadagdagan ang magaganda sa Jeddah.

For three days that is. ;)

An international symposium related to my job prompted me be a representative of my office at this event that was held at Intercontinental Jeddah. My primary duty was to be "eyecandy" really--to get the participants interested/informed about one of our medical journals by giving out its copies and flyers. As mentioned in my profile, I work in publishing so there you go, I produce these materials and was proud to get the chance to show off these babies. At first I was pretty much wrecked over the preparations and having to travel on my own in a place I've never been to before. But hey, I'm not one to say no to an adventure. Especially if it's paid for! :P

My booth by the Exhibition Center @ the Intercon

I had a very generous sponsor who booked me a room at the Radisson SAS (along Medina Rd) and had me fly business class via Saudia Airlines. That setup alone set the tone of my trip: Posh in Jeddah. And how posh the trip was! Devouring smoked salmon and prawns for lunch at the Intercon, joyriding through the boutiques of Tahlia St. and dining aboard a (mini)ship while cruising Jeddah waters at Mashar Al-Aham, Obhur--were just some of the "posh" things I did while I was there.

My hotel room @ The Radisson.

Smoked salmon and fried prawns for lunch. (hidden shot)

Aboard the mini-ship that took us around Obhur Creek
(eastern side of the Red Sea, I'm told)

Of course, I did not miss King Fahad Fountain, Jollibee and Al-Baik! Thanks to the friendly kabayans who offered to show me around these places. Special shoutout to Ms. Arlene Luna and Mr. Ador Javier! You guys rock!! My Jeddah visit would not have been as complete if not for your sincere kindness.

The friendly crew at Jollibee were all smiles in welcoming the "tourist" = "me". :D

Jollibee....parting is such sweet sorrow! :'(

Al-Baik broasted chicken at 1 in the morning. YUM-Oh! Again, thanks to Ms. Arlene for insisting I try these!

Suffice to say, I was mixing (a lot of needed) pleasure with business. Being eyecandy is hard work but I'm not complaining. I just felt renewed at the opportunity to have been able to smile all day and meet new people from all walks of life. And of course, promoting our journal. :) The symposium had over 1,200 participants, so clearly, the surroundings had a stark difference from my regular days of sitting in front of the computer as my only form of "social life".

Other than that, I found Jeddah to be relaxed and pleasant. What struck me above all was the attitudes of the people, especially the Saudi folks. I never thought I'd meet a decent Saudi guy in my entire life (maybe because they're all in Jeddah! *haha*) But I did, perhaps three or five of them. I found our conversations equally platonic with no malice/seduction intended which is such a relief coming from a place that deems eye-contact as a form of flirtation already.

This is what a decent Saudi guy looks (and acts) like.

This is what a decent AND funny Saudi guy looks like. :D

Jeddah was almost "normal". For me it was friendly, fun and refreshing. The trip may as well have been a blessing in disguise. Prior the 23rd, I was reaching new heights of haggardness. Now, I can't even remember what I was fussing about. That trip did me goooood.

However, I still consider Riyadh as my home and Jeddah...well, Jeddah was the next great escape.

Cheers!

This is Out of Town 2. Enjoy other Out of Town entries here.

What To Do, Yaani*?

I shot this cartoon from the local paper a couple of months back. It's a pretty odd scenario but it does touch on the issue of how several school girls have perished in some schools around the Kingdom due to lack/hindrance of immediate rescue operations in schools for girls. As most of you know, all, if not, most institutions here are mandated to separate the sexes and are only amenable if both people are related family.

Unfortunately the Fire Departments around the country are all males and if a scenario such as a fire does occur in an all-girl facility, there are no women firefighters (that i know of) that can save their lives. And even if the male firefighters do arrive, they are faced with an "ethical" dilemma, if you will, on how they will be able to do their job without breaching religious traditions.

I'm sure the experts and critics of Riyadh community has debated about this issue for a period of time. I am but a bystander in all of these. I just want to post this as one of (what I see as) the snippets of the many cultural dilemmas of this growing nation.

Can you think of any solutions? Or has the cartoon solved the dilemma already?


*Yaani is an expression I usually hear from Arabs when I am speaking to them in English. They tend to incorporate it in their sentences to mean as "it's like that/as to say/it means/meaning"when they want to emphasize/expound what they want to say.