How To Spend New Year's in Saudi Arabia

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I spent my first New Year's Eve in the Philippines last 2007. Growing up, I had no recollection of playing with "lusis" or even seeing a "Sinturon Ni Hudas" tear itself apart, much less a "Goodbye, Philippines." Nevertheless, I grew up with a phobia for anything that explodes (Long story. Next time, I'll tell), so imagine my fright as I witnessed my fist ever New Year's Eve in my adult life outside Saudi soil. To say that I was freaked out, would be an understatement.

But you all know what it's like to spend New Year's in the Philippines, or in any other country for that matter. This entry is about how I spend the New Year's in this side of the world.

1. It's QUIET. If most Asians share the belief that making loud noises on New Year's Eve will ward off evil spirits/bad luck, then they might think that Saudi Arabia is just welcoming all of them in on New Year's night. But no, it's just that it's not celebrated here. Plain and simple. Saudi Arabia is set with the Hijra calendar and they celebrate their version of the New Year during the Eid -- so we expect noise and festivities by then. But on December 31st, expect a standstill--and the people you'll find walking around the neighborhood, nonchalant.

Though from personal experience, my brother and I would collect "mga takip ng kaldero" (cooking pan covers) minutes before midnight and bang them all for at least a minute after the clock strikes twelve (along with a high jump, in a superstitious hope of growing taller in the coming year). We do it locked in our rooms of course -- and this ladies and gentlemen, is our version of a "noisy" New Year.

2. No fireworks. No exploding items. Apart from Saudi Arabia not practicing New Year's like the rest of the world does (except China maybe), traditions known to us such as igniting a "pla-pla" or setting off "kwitis" is strictly prohibited. Heck, I don't think they even sell those here. Nevertheless, witnessing a fireworks display would be nice (they do some during Eid). What me and my family used to do would be to turn on CNN and watch the fireworks display from different parts of the world on TV. Kumusta naman diba? Yep, that's New Year's in KSA for me!

3. We eat. We have round things. We throw coins. Any New Year's tradition that we can do within the confines of our house is fine, as long as it's quiet and nothing has to explode (which is really quite remote if you think about it). Food is so abundant here that we can easily get our hands on any round-shaped fruit in the market. In my family, we'd have our aunts, uncles and their families over at our place (sometimes theirs) and just be together when the new year begins (taking photos with the round fruits before eating them). One fun thing my relatives also got to teach me about Filipino New Year's tradition while growing up was the throwing of coins in different parts of the house so as to invite good fortune in the family. However, this year, it looks like the collection of halalas is scarce. I mean, we hardly get our hands on any anymore...does that mean we might end up penniless this year? I hope not. :P

4. Roam the city. Go out of town. For other OFWs who may not have the luxury of having relatives here with them, they would usually opt to be out in the town, surrounding themselves with friends, or even strangers, just so they can veer away from the lonesome feeling in their housing units--especially in this cold weather. For the all-boys crew, weekend trips to nearby cities like Jeddah and AlKhobar are at a high too, just so they can do something "new" for the New Year. Meanwhile, most ladies opt to divert themselves to the mayhem of the Sale season inside shopping malls during this time of the year. The rationale: new year=new clothes/bags/shoes. ;)

So there you have it. It's not much, but that's the usually scenario whether we like it or not. We make do with what we can here in Riyadh. It may not be no Times Square event or a Sydney Opera House fireworks display, nevertheless, a new year IS a new year -- and how we welcome it doesn't come up to par to how we eventually make the most of it.

I say do away with the whole resolutions bit -- especially if it has proven ineffective for you in the past couple of years. Just DO what you have to do -- do whatever needs to be done to make life worth living. And I'm sure, you will not regret it.

May you all have a bountiful New Year!

xoxo

Cheers!

-ec-

Season's Greetings!

This is perhaps a late, yet still, a heartfelt message from The Pink Tarha...

Share the gift of TIME. The gift of SERVICE. And the gift of LOVE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

The Pink Tarha Mother's Day Special

They are the life of our homes and the source of our strength. They are the firm hand that holds and the open arms that welcome. Each and everyone of them is our own heroine. They are our MOTHERS. There is no profession as challenging and as rewarding as that of a mother -- and yet it is the one job that there's no school or diploma for. The only measure of a mother's success is how much her children love her. And in this light, The Pink Tarha ladies proclaim the remarkable love we have for our mothers in this special entry attributed to them. We feature a speech written by our very own Eyecandy, which she recently delivered in a public speaking engagement (E is an active Toastmasters member, but more on that on a later post). Here is her speech lovingly dedicated to her mother:

"Mad Moms"

Who among you here are mothers?

I’m sure all of us here tonight are all either sons or daughters. So let me ask you...

When was the last time your mother drove you crazy? Does her actions usually lead you to believe that she’s out of her mind? When was the last time you brought her to the hospital to have her checked “up there”?

Let me tell you something about mothers. Something that I don't get to say as much, but most often than not rings true: Mothers are slightly insane. I should know. I have a mother. I suppose this condition started during their first trimester, when all of their hormones started acting up, affecting their brain. And while they watched their children grow, this only made them go insane even more. Saying that my mother is insane can be an overstatement. But it's true! Oh, let me recount the ways.

You should know that my mom is a huge fan of gadgets – computers, celfones, the works. But there is one thing my mom does not trust technology with -- Money. My mom prefers human tellers over automated teller machines. Even though ATMs are there to make our lives easier, she would rather take a number and line up behind a queue to the human tellers. Why? She says that when something goes wrong with an ATM, you can't blame it as much as you can a human teller. She also likes managers. A lot. She always wants to look for them when we're in a store or a mall. One time, our family was at the grocery store while I was looking through some items, when I hear an argument erupting from the other side of the aisle. There she was, holding a pack of meat, squabbling with the grocery's butcher and saying "I want to see the manager!". Apparently, the butcher was reprimanding her to not poke the packed meat, when in fact, she was just trying to read the price - which she couldn't read without her glasses. Because of her “fondness for managers”, my brother and I have dubbed her a “warfreak” since she keeps getting into arguments in public over the littlest things. Like getting bubble gum/candy as change instead of actual money. Or cashiers who complain they can’t break her hundreds. Or a taxi driver who doesn’t want to turn the A/C on. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

In restaurants, my mom likes to “bond” with waiters too. A lot. Not because she thinks they’re good looking and certainly not because she wants a discount or free starters. (okay maybe, just sometimes). She would call them back to our table almost a dozen times. First to take our orders. Second, to repeat our orders. Third, to follow up our order after 5 minutes. Fourth, she’d ask where the bathroom is. Fifth, she’d come back to say that the bathroom wasn't clean enough and that she wants to see the manager about it. Sixth, she'd ask for the menu again to gauge how much we'd be spending. Seventh, she'd ask for condiments or extra ice. Eighth, she wouldn't remember why anymore, she just does it out of habit now. If you were to be our server for the evening, welcome to my world. Yes. My mom is the master and I am the slave, which I don't mind really. It's just that she is painstakingly repetitive with everything. She would call me, "(yelling my name), turn off the lights on the porch!" and I'd say, "Okay." A little while later she'd yell again, "(yelling my name again)…did you turn off the lights already?" I'd yell back, "Already done mom!" Three minutes later, she'd be popping in my room asking me personally, "Hey, are the lights off now?" and I would just respond with a ridiculously blank stare. She'd retort, "Don't look at me like that. All you need to do is say YES. Even if I have to ask you a thousand times."

See? What did I tell you? Mothers ARE insane!

I have reason to believe that this insanity is also chipping away some of her memory skills. I don't know if the painstaking repetitiveness is a symptom it, but I can't help but think about the numerous times my mother seems to be forgetting a lot. One day, she lost her glasses. She looked everywhere to no avail. And so, she went out to buy a new one. Only to come home later and accidentally crushing her old pair which she set foot on our living room floor. Let that be a lesson to you, don’t look for something when you don’t have your glasses on!

My mother also tends to forget my name. Can you imagine? Her own flesh and blood! She tends to forget it especially when she's angry. I can tell how angry she is when she starts forgetting who I am. She'd refer to me as "You, young lady, my daughter…" and then end up calling me by my brother's name. Instead of being miserable of a scolding, I manage a smirk at this instance.

At the dinner table one evening, we were eating together as a family and my mother told my brother, "Jethro, eat some vegetables." So my brother, who is also a slave like myself, follows orders and ate some vegetables. Later on, she commanded him again, "Jethro, eat some more vegetables." "But I already ate some." replies my brother. "I am telling you eat some more". And so, left with no choice, he ate some more vegetables. As dinner was coming to an end and we were in the middle of a delicious dessert, my mom suddenly quips in, "Jethro, eat some more vegetables." We all paused for a second for my mom to realize that we were now eating flan and not steamed broccoli anymore. And then we burst into laughter.

Oh my mother, she can be a "war-freak", a slave driver and have memory lapses for all the world to see. But she is still my mother and I her daughter. Saying that mothers are insane, couldn’t be more true. Mothers would go insane for their children. Think about it. Who else in the whole world would defend you in front of others, even if she knew you were wrong? Who else in the whole world would forgive you of even the gravest mistakes? Who else in the whole world would carry the heaviest of burdens just so you wouldn’t have to carry them yourself? Only an insane person would do such things. Only a mother can do that.

And I should know, I have a mother.

And she is right here with us in the audience today, please welcome my insane mother, Ms. --------. Thank you for being such a great sport mom. I love you!

-0-0-0-0-

Here are The Pink Tarha ladies with a message to the most beautiful women in their lives:

Eyecandy: "I could only hope that someday, I will be half the woman my mother is. Her life is an amazement to me and leaves me wondrous of how and where I would ever accumulate the same amount of love, courage and faith to overcome life's challenges. I am the quivalent of all her hard work, patience and sacrifice. Words will never be enough to declare my love for you mamita but I'll keep trying. Happy Mother's Day!"

Maryhadalittlehump: "Happy Mother's Day mommy! I love you so much even though I'm not vocal in saying those three words to you, I know you feel it too. Even sometimes, we have petty quarrels, still, you love me too. Thank you for all your advices and kind words. I thank God for giving you to us for you are the best mommy in the whole world kasi even if you are laging pagod from the school, you still have time to cook food for us and thank you for your tender loving care. Again, Happy Mother's Day....muah!"

Sundrenched: "My mother would be horrified if she found out her photo is posted in the intrawebs. She's shy like that (like me, lol!). She's simple, understanding, and patient (except to my father's playful hirits). My mom has always been in the backseat when it comes to us, her children. She chose instead to become the wind beneath our wings. She gives us her full trust, lets us do whatever we want but never leaves our side when the going gets tough. I thank her for loving me unconditionally, for inspiring me and for not giving up on me. How I wish I can be like her someday. But in my case it would have to be in some other way. I love you mama! Happy Mother's Day!"

Shoegarfreeruby: My mom and I in one of her last photos before she passed. My encourager and best support, I will forever miss her. To my mom: "I am very blessed to have spent my first 25 years having you around. They were just the best. It was never the same after that. I will forever love you because you are the first who taught me how to love. Thank you for giving up everything to raise us with the best care and love you can ever give. I love you."


Are you teary-eyed yet? We sure are welling up. But hey, it is a day of celebration and let us all smile at the thought that in our lives, there is always that one person who will love us unconditionally against all odds. A big cheers to all of our Mommy readers and with that, The Pink Tarha greets...

A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOTHERS!

Season's Greetings!

Greetings to all of our readers!
The Pink Tarha would like to greet all of you a....

Wherever you are in the world, we send you our warmest greetings! We hope you are having a wonderful and meaningful Christmas. :)

With much love,
The Pink Tarha

The Pink Tarha Wishes For...

Friends, Moms and Dads, generous benefactors, lend us your ears! (by that, we mean 'eyes' :D). Your Pink Tarha ladies are high on the Christmas spirit of receiving giving, ergo we are featuring each of our "wish list" this holiday in hopes that our loved ones will have the heart and capacity to make at least one of our wishes come true this Christmas. Unless Santa Clause is also reading our blog. :P Oh well, libre naman mangarap diba? So here's The TPT's TOP 5 Wishes for the gift-giving holiday season.

From Shoegarfreeruby's wishing well:

1. Sony Ericsson Xperia X10

2. More Minna Parikka (Ginger Bag)

3. Pear eyeglasses

4. Chanel Jumbo

5. MORE SHOES! Minna Parikka Edith shoes, Flower shoeboots, and Louboutin "LOVE" flats

From Maryhadalittlehump's dreams:

1. Blackberry Bold

2. Blazers from Topshop and Zara

3. Roxy Baggage set

4. Ballet flats from Crocs

5. Chance by Chanel

From Sundrenched's imagination:

1. All-expense-paid Trip to Greece (Ambisyosa level!)

2. Sun Jar (it 'traps' sunshine in the jar and can be used as a lamp in the evening)

3. Steve Berry's "The Paris Vendetta" and "The Alexandria Link" books

4. Nars "Orgasm" Blush

5. "Return to Tiffany" Heart Tag Charm Bracelet

From Eyecandy's illusions:

1. Actor Ed Westwick aka Chuck Bass on show Gossip Girl (Sige na Bro, kahit one night lang!)

2. Black, military-style jackets from H&M and Promod.

3. Any of the following albums: Foo Fighter's Greatest Hits, Kings of Leon's Only by the Night and or Alicia Key's latest album, The Element of Freedom

4. Jimmy Choo for H&M heels

5. Any cosmetic set from Smashbox.

Tee hee hee. Are those too much to ask? :P There are less than four days to go. There is still time to rush to the mall and show us your love. Hahaha. What are you waiting for? Go, go, go! :D

Earthly possessions aside, We truly, deeply wish and pray for our friends' happiness, our family's good health and peace in each other's hearts. We wish all those in Saudi Arabia bliss and may they feel the spirit of Christmas even though most of them are not with their loved ones 'tis season. Oh, and we also wish for a teeny, weeny prize at the PEBA Awards (if we're lucky). Kung wala man, sana may maka-abot na gift bags sa amin...(if there are any). Hee hee. ^_^

About the Pink Tarha

It was January this year when we, four Pinay friends, ventured out into the world of blogging. Individually, we are way too different from each other but as a group, we jived well enough to form a "shopaholics" team that wrote about our (mis)adventures in what else? SHOPPING. You may think this is an ordinary blog of girls who go gaga over fashion and sales, it is... but with a twist! We are living and working in RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA... arguably the most conservative country in the world! So this is not so ordinary after all. ;)

Welcome!

Life in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia isn't that bad. In fact, we happen to cherish it.

We are 100% Pinays currently working here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As far as we're concerned, we're making the best out of it. This blog is about the lighter side of our stay in this city amidst the desert. Our daily life includes: work, friends, family and things that we enjoy--fashion, shopping, food and cute guys-- all will be a regular topic. So, let us become your handy guide to a light, fresh, and kikay lifestyle in Riyadh.

What's it like for 20-something Pinays in a city like Riyadh? Find out from your resident kikay bloggers:

Shoegarfreeruby, our 100% Pampaguenia bloggera, is a certified shoe addict. She will work for shoes. Seriously. She loves everything girly from untrendy to sassy. Her freetime is mostly spent scouring through racks of stuff on sale and ending up with a good find. Her morning coffee is a daily maintenance to keep her neurons intact. She adores the vintage-style but could not afford to keep old stuff.

Raised and aged in the city of Riyadh, it was until the age of 16 that Eyecandy first set foot on her native land. It was her five-year stay in UP Los Banos that awakened her sense of nationalism, freedom and independence. Shopping and fine dining are her therapeutic traditions to a boring or stressful day. Year-end sales are considered a personal holiday from budgeting duties. Makeup and accessories are her favorite style features.

True blue Bulakenya Maryhadalittlehump loves to shop and bond with her loved ones. She's a cyber addict and an IT enthusiast who cannot live a day without facing her monitors. She is also a lady with a prodigious dream of travelling across the globe to explore its every nook and corner.

Sundrenched, a native of La Union, was a normal kid who loved siopao for snack when she was 6, cursed when Peter Pan got off the air when she was 8, and got embarrassed frequently when she was 11. She kindda grew in high school. Sundrenched loves writing... and spending during the sale season. As if that's two similar passion she can mix and match.

We are all living and working in Riyadh, a city which we mostly refer to as "hot and haute," "ironic," and our own "city of lights."

*The "TARHA" refers to the veil, also known as hijab, used with the abaya usually worn by women when going out in this part of the world. And the "PINK" is, well, anything sugar and spice and everything nice!

DISCLAIMER: All entries are the views and opinions of the contributors/authors of this blog. Offense in whatever form is not intended.