A Photo A Day 7

To the uninitiated, this is pretty much the closest we can get to having a visual representation of an actual Saudi lady covered in hijab (unless we can let a Saudi lady friend of ours pose for the camera). Can anybody guess where this sign is used? Plus points to those who can read out what the Arabic says.

This sign used to be found around the city but nowadays, the photo of the lady is no longer used with it. Can anybody recall the Michael Jackson incident in Dubai? Go figure.

Forgive the photo, this was taken in public, so we had to rush it.

Only in Saudi Arabia.

Exposing "Haraj"

Are you a bargain hunter? Don't mind the hand-me-downs? Or are you just plain thrifty when it comes to purchasing furniture, appliances and/or clothes? There is a worldwide recession so you should at least consider answering a 'maybe' to one of those questions. Either way, the Pink Tarha Ladies are going to show you where you can get a cheap yet good (and sometimes even great) finds.

Say hello to "HARAJ". It's Riyadh's best-kept, open-secret for all things used and unused for a knockout price. It is the Ukay-Ukay Headquarters of Saudi Arabia. The mecca of Garage Sale aficionados. The melting pot of anything and everything you want thrown out and sold again. (Okay, I am running out of idioms). But you get the picture. Not yet? Well, S and I went on a mission to save you the fantasy trip of what this place we talk of looks like by going there ourselves and stealthily* taking photos just for you to 'get-the-picture'.

Here's some primary views of Haraj (click on the image to enlarge):

Ok, at first glance, it looks like a dump. BUT this place is like SM. They've got it all for you!

Streets are lined up with stalls filled with junkyard goodies. Don't be misled because in this place, you have to keep in mind that one man's trash, is another man's treasure. And if you are patient enough (with a strong immune system), seeing beyond it's apparent appearance may just bring you some good finds at an extremely affordable price.

A parking lot turned garage sale.

As you can see, most of the rummaging happens under the clear blue sky. It is often advised though, to visit Haraj on the early hours of the morning because when the sun hits high, you're gonna sweat it out big time. It is also encouraged to visit during the pre-winter to winter seasons since it's more convenient in terms of the weather and usually, it's around the same time as the Eid holidays so a lot of "new" items arrive (because most Saudis get rid of their old stuff prior to Eid to have something new).

CLOTHES

Check out those racks!

There is a particular area in Haraj where all the used clothes' stalls are stationed. When you get there, you will find almost any kind of clothing you could imagine. From baby's clothes to old granny panties (Believe me, I've seen them hung out on hangers outside the stalls). Usually they're segregated by kind: Children's Apparel, Ladies and Men's Clothing, Jackets/Coats, Shoes, Sleepwear and Underwear (sometimes!).Back in the day you can get clothing items for 1SR to 2SR each. When the sellers realized how much of a hit it was to the Filipinos, they started hiking up. Nowadays, it's either a 3 items for 10SR or 3SR-5SR per item.

GOWNS

Who's gonna know these came from a second-hand shop?

One profitable form of business that has spurted out from Haraj is the gown-rental business. A lot of Filipinos come to Haraj to scavenge for beautiful and/or presentable-enough gowns which they later on have dry cleaned and sent to the Philippines to be rented by paying customers (usually those who joins beauty pageants). As you can see from those above, you'd have to admit it's an ingenious idea! I'm not part of such a business endeavor, I just like cheap finds. Gowns are priced between 10SR-50SR, depending on kind and style. See the first on the left? It's a Zara, off-shoulder goddess-drape dress just for 10SR! It's now hanging clean and fresh inside my closet. ;)

ACCESSORIES

Fancy jewelries and even a tiara!

You can glam up those gowns if you purchase these sets of fancy jewelry. And if you are going to use those gowns for entering a beauty pageant, then there's also a studded-tiara for sale! FTW!

BAGS

Piles and piles of bags!

Everything may look a bit disconcerting, but like I mentioned, given that you are patient and with a strong immune system, you might as well find a barely used designer bag in there. I''ve had friends discover some chic bags at Haraj. Just look at what S picked up (last one on the right). Not too shabby, imho. Bag prices range from 3SR-10SR. Make sure to get a good bargain!

HOME NEEDS

Sofa Land.

This strip stretches out towards the whole block, filled with different kinds of sofas: from the retro style to the victorian touch. They got couches, loveseats, sofa-beds and even dining tables with chairs. One cool feature of this section in Haraj is that should you be interested in purchasing any set that you'd like to have in your house, the owners of the store can arrange for pick-up trucks for rent that can deliver the items to your home. Some Filipinos go as far as sending one whole set via cargo shipping to the Philippines. (So I heard).

Plug me in and I'm yours.

You will also find rows of appliances available in Haraj. Most of them are not even used, just liquidated items from factories. And they still work. Here you see a family of vacuum cleaners and a line-up of washing machines. They also have oven stoves, refrigerators, toasters, microwaves and other electronic gadgets. With a good haggle, you could get yourself a decent deal!

PHEW! What you saw is probably just a third of the whole Haraj area. There are still a lot to see in there. We were just too tired already from the 3-hour hustle and bustle amidst the madding crowd. Just remember these few tips should you decide to visit:

1. Mind your health. When in Haraj, keep in mind that you will be going through a lot of used and stocked items as well as rubbing shoulders with a whole lot of people (especially during peak seasons). It will be dusty, dirty and a melting pot for you to catch some form of virus. If necessary, bring latex gloves and a face mask (some people really do this) since you're going to be rummaging through items that have come from who knows where. Bring your own water too; it's good for dehydration and washing your hands.

2. Keep your valuables safe. Unfortunately, Riyadh is not safe from petty thieves and with an overcrowded area, you can expect that a lil' devil is lurking somewhere, scouting for an unguarded purse or mobile phone. They are usually referred to as "Ali Baba". Also, beware of perverts. They are also lurking around for weak targets. So be street-smart and better yet, have a male relative to accompany you.

3. Bring an extra BIG bag. If you're hitting Haraj on a mission to get a whole lotta' stuff, I suggest you bring one big mommy bag, or a giant paper bag to put all your purchases in. A bayong of-sorts, if you may. Vendors just give out their items in little plastic bags and if you plan to buy lots, it can be a hassle for you carrying several little plastic bags. With an extra big bag, you can just throw in your purchases in them and carry on with your 'second-hand' shopping spree. ;)

I hope you learned a thing or two from our "expedition" to Haraj. We will feature our purchases one of these days, we just have to arrange a photoshoot for that. Meanwhile, if any of of you have experienced going through this junkyard-jungle, let us know about your cheap yet great finds. It's not everyday that someone finds treasure from another one's 'trash'. ;)

Happy weekend everyone!

Cheers!
-ec-

The Allure of Al-Khobar Part 3 of 3

Why hello folks, still catching up with us? Okay, time for me to tie loose ends on my Eid trip to the Eastern province. This is the third and last entry of my Al-Khobar feature. I'm hoping you're still with me on this one.

I guess Saudi Arabia is big on street art. I know Jeddah has huge street monuments done by prominent artists. They have the Ad-Darrajah (The Bicycle), As-Sofon (The Ship), At-Tayyarah (The Airplane), Al-Falak (The Orbit), and Al-Jawad Al-Abyad (The White Horse). These I have yet to see.

Riyadh doesn't have a major street art though. The city leans more towards landscape like the one in the intersection of King Fahd Road and Mecca Road which features a well-lit landscape, whose meaning [if there's one] eludes me. There's a series of er, rocks assembled like the Stonehenge and stages illuminated and highlighted by dancing lights of various colors. Of course the date trees are understandable. But the rest... can someone please explain to me what the landscape portrays? Anyway, let's leave this segue way portion behind muna and go back to Al-Khobar...

Al-Khobar, on the other hand, has its share of street art prominently displayed on roundabouts (traffic circles). I enjoyed looking at the structures during our ride around town on our Day 3.

Rainbow in Doha Road.

Er... wings?

Sails? Remind me of our very own Mindanao 'vintas.'

Sort of a machine?

Golden pearl? This one is special because it's in the middle of a fountain.

These are the only ones I managed to capture. I'm not sure how many I've missed but by the looks of it, these designed roundabouts are such a trend. The companions hated the roundabouts though. We made a couple of mistakes entering turns which led us to roads further from our destination. LOL. One time, because the lead car in our small convoy was confused on which road to take, it stopped abruptly causing us to do the same. The pick-up behind us nearly bumped into our vehicle. Good thing, the driver had a good reflex but was in a foul mood after that. He kept on honking at us 'til we were out of sight. (Okay, okay, we got the point! It was our fault! Please stop ruining our eardrums!) The kicker was both roads led to the same road in the end! Gah!

Here are some more scenes from the corniche:

Tower, playground, tramvia.

I'm very happy seeing Saudi families having their picnics on the lawns, parks, and gardens scattered along the corniche, especially at night. It's something I do not normally see in Riyadh. (Most of the grassy patches you'll see in Riyadh are beside major thoroughfares.) Too bad, we didn't have the time to stroll on the Baywalk-like area because it was a very hot noon and we were checking out of our hotel. We didn't have a photo in that area. Huhu. Well, no worries, it might be the perfect reason to go back! We also ate at a Filipino restaurant in Al-Khobar's "Batha" area but I wasn't able to take photos of the food. I didn't even got the resto's name! Too.hungry.to.think.

After three days, it's time to head home for us. Even if I enjoyed Al-Khobar, I cannot stay any longer. The life and work is in Riyadh so we bid ma'asalamah to Al-Khobar at 4 in the afternoon and journeyed across the desert again.

Where to? Riyadh is not in the choices, LOL.

Camels from a distance.

Desert sunset.

Al-Khobar certainly has its charms that endeared it to a lot of Filipino expats. I can see that clearly with my trips to the sea city. I know I haven't given enough justice to the beauty of this city, as per its residents, but I hope I got there near enough. If you have other things/stuff/places to add, please feel free to comment.

I can't wait to go back for another swimming trip to Al-Khobar but for now, I'm happy to be back home in Riyadh where the towering Mamlaka and Faisaliah beckon. And of course, where the Pink Tarha awaits.

This year's Eid moon over Riyadh City.

How To Spend Your Eid Vacation

RAMADAN IS COMING to an end and the whole country is gearing up for the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations. For us Filipinos, this usually spells out at least three days of time off from work (woohoo!). But for those who practice Islam, Eid Al-Fitr is so much more than a mere break from the hustle and bustle of one’s worklife.

“Eid” as we usually call it, is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal (Shawwal is the tenth month of the Hijra calendar, falling on the 20th of September) and it is considered as a national holiday for the entire nation. It is when the season of Ramadan has officially ended and Muslims from all over celebrate this holiday with elaborate festivities, visiting friends and relatives, and they tend to wear the best outfits that they can find in their closet. It’s basically their version of “Christmas”, so to speak.

So while they enjoy their blissful holidays, what do the rest of us expats do? Here's a rundown of what you can do with your time (and money) while the vacation button is ON.

1. Road Trip!

Eid is one of those few paid leaves that call for a family (or friends) get together out and about the country (or outside of it!). Top tourist destinations at this time are usually the Red Sand (for picnics), Al-Khobar, Dammam, Jeddah (all three are mostly visited for their beaches), Abha (Baguio-like) and Bahrain (for the more lax atmosphere *winks*).

Push the pedal to the metal..just don't be too fast, or too furious! :)

For trips like this, it’s best that you have them planned beforehand. Secure your assigned driver and his alternate. Make sure that you’d have a place to stay at because the Eid season is a PEAK season. Most hotels/villas are reserved ahead of time. Otherwise, be prepared to sleep in a tent! So, fasten your seatbelts, pack those lil’ travel pillows and make sure you don’t forget the camera! It’s a good way to spend some quality time and R&R with family and friends.

2. Join the festivities.

If you prefer to not join the exodus from the City Center, no worries! The city usually holds public celebrations especially at popular establishments. Last year, there was a fireworks display at the Kingdom Tower. The parks are filled with vendors and it’s gonna feel like a fiesta! The parks here will also feel like Luneta, except women are donned in black (but you’re used to it now, yes?). So feel free to loiter around and discover what the city has to offer this time of the year. Sure, there aren’t any parols. But the people are just as cheerful and generous. (Check our Out and About series for ideas on where to go within the city).

Visit the nearest park in your area and enjoy the bustling crowd.

3. Hunt for Hand-Me-Downs.

During Eid, Muslims usually get new clothes to dress up for the celebrations. Some of them would either throw out or give away their old stuff. Even if they’ve only been slightly used. Ergo, knowing how extravagant these people are…even though it’s Chanel, they’d let it go and buy another one. The ultimate place to look for second-hand stuff is Haraj, one of the largest junk souks in the world. Best time to go there is around 6:00am (or earlier), seriously. (Which reminds us that we’ve been promising to do a feature on Haraj… hah! We’ll go there next week. Riyadh peeps, see you there! ;)

4. Be a homebuddy.

Do you see this as an opportunity to have some “ME” time? Do you prefer being swallowed by the comforts of your bed, getting up only to pee? Well, you can do that too. We advise you though to stock up of food items or pick a book to read or have tons of movies to boot so that you won’t bore yourself to death. But don’t just be a couch potato. This is also the perfect time to do your house cleaning. C’mon, move it!

Homebuddy's Hobbies: MovieTrip, SoundTrip, FoodTrip and TulogTrip!

5. Visit your relatives and friends.

Stop being too busy. Relax and enjoy your afternoons and nights visiting the flats of your relatives and friends. Say hi personally instead of just simply texting or calling, especially when their flats/villas are accessible to you. It’s time to catch up on their desert lives and time for them to hear from you. Don’t forget to bring something to chow on so you can have impromptu parties. Just turn the volume of the videoke down a bit and your get-together will be oh-so-fine. (Avoid the song “Nobody” at all cost. We heard “Nobody” is the new “My Way.”)

The now-famous Wonder Girls. Have you practiced those dance moves yet? You have the whole of Eid vacation to perfect it! :P Photo credits from here.

The malls will probably be closed during the Eid week so no chance to do some shopping but count on the Pink Tarha Ladies to be up and about Riyadh. We’ll see you around!

We wish you a blessed celebration.

PS. Because of the Eid Holidays, the Pink Tarha Team will now have time to improve our blogsite (it's about time!). So, we'll be "tweaking" things up a bit, soon!

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-