Abaya Finder: Dirah Souk 2/2

And we're back in Dirah Souk...

The clocktower in Dirah is a good landmark to find your way.

Parking area outside the Swaigah Center and in front of the Musmak Fort

Apart from abayas, there are so many other stuff that you can buy here, particularly in this one-floor building known as Swaigah Trade Center. This is like Tutuban in the Philippines were shoes, bags, and clothes can be found. I won't say that the items are cheap because come to think of it, I can already buy a pair of shoes on SALE in the mall for SR 50 but then again, the malls are not always on sale.

Dairah's maze of stores

Shoes and bags in various styles and colors

Those shoulder bags are cuuute!

RTWs, blouses, dresses, skirts...

Embellished jalabiyas

Maxis in different fabrics and patterns

Fabric stores

You have to be a smart shopper when buying from these stalls. Make sure that the goods are of good quality. Inspect the items thoroughly. We will be disappointed if we find out you did not haggle with the vendors and salesmen. C'mon, you know the drill! 

Eyecandy has been telling me of a building or store near the Deira Souk where she used to buy school supplies and craft supplies. We didn't get a chance to visit it so maybe next time.

The Musmak/Masmak Fort/Castle (so many options on how to call it)

When you visit Deira, take the time to visit the Musmak Castle. You'll also pass by the Deera Square aka Justice Square aka Chop-Chop Square, where public executions take place. Yes, they do happen after Friday prayers and for your sanity, please do not (and we mean DO NOT) try to watch how the Saudi justice system metes out its punishment in this place (like ermn, beheading). They say you'll get nightmares for days, or for a lifetime. Walk away, stay away.

This way please… back to the Musmak Castle…

The Musmak Fort on a Thursday afternoon glow

Visit the museum inside.

The Musmak Castle, also known as Qasr al-Masmak or Masmak Fort) is a fort made up of clay and mud with four watchtowers and thick walls. This is where the recapture of Riyadh led by Ibn Saud happened on January 14, 1902 (yes, Riyadh is fairly a "new" city). Today, Musmak Castle is a museum open from 8:00AM-12:00NN and 4:00PM-9:00PM with schedules divided into men, women, and families. It's closed on Fridays. For the specific schedule, please click here.

The Musmak from the Deirah souk

The grand mosque and the muttawa headquarters are also just around the corner. So even without telling you ladies, please cover your your hair! Especially when you're within this area. ;)

Home of the CPVPV

We enjoyed going around Dirah and seeing it after years. We discovered a lot and bought a lot few abayas. I also got to learn that Musmak Castle is just right beside it (I've always thought it was quite far from the city center)! Anyway, that's it for our Dirah entry. I hope you enjoyed our "tour." Next time, you already know where to buy abayas... with a historical spot to boot. ;) ~ Sundrenched

Abaya Finder: Dirah Souk 1/2

The first time I set foot in Dirah five years ago to buy my second abaya (the first was bought for me by my father before I arrived Riyadh for the first time), I told myself that it's the first and last I would venture into the place. I held that promise… until two weeks ago when I, together with Shoegarfreeruby and Eyecandy, visited Dirah to buy -- what else? -- abayas. 

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Dirah. (There is something wrong with me for being too lazy to venture out that same way again.) As a matter of fact, it's one of the places I would suggest a traveler to visit first in Riyadh because I believe in the saying that in order to get to know the country you're visiting, you have to immerse yourself in its bustling bazaars. Next to Batha and Haraj, this is the bazaar you have to see in Riyadh. The thing is, I'm not just visiting Riyadh five years ago, I am staying… so Dirah is one place that is just there; popping up once in a while in conversations with friends and in questions of readers where to buy this and that, waiting to be revisited but saying "take your time in discovering new places and wandering somewhere else first."

A souk in the heart of the old district

Dirah Souk (also spelled as Deera, Deirah, or whatever pleases you as long as it's pronounced as Di-ra) is also known as Soul Al-Thumairi. It is located in the center of the old district of Riyadh. The simplest way would be to take King Fahd Road and head to South (direction of Ministry of Interior and Batha) and exit just before you reach Salam Park. Turn left and go straight and you'll see the souq to your right. Or, if you're cruising along Olaya Road, just head straight to Murabba via the King Faisal Road and when you reach the Al-Deerah Cemetery, turn right. You'll see it in your left. (I know that it's kind of hard to visualize that but here's the map. Utilize the "Get Directions" feature of Google Map.

Anyway, we chose to go on a Thursday afternoon, around 4pm, which is, if I may say so, just the right time. This is after the asr prayer, when most stores open and Dirah is not yet packed to the brim. Come night time, you'll be elbowing your way among the throng of people in the area. Parking can be difficult and the religious police swarm the place because their building is just a stone's throw away. Dirah also gets crowded and noisy and dirty as the day wears on so afternoon is your best bet.

Vendors getting ready for a day's worth of work

I find it easier to navigate Dirah during daytime. Among The Pink Tarha ladies, I'm the one in-charge of directions thus preventing us from being lost because believe me, if you get too fascinated with what you see and enter a lot of stores, you'll lose your way into the alleys and nooks that would seem like deja vu every time you turn a corner. We visited the Swaigah Trade Center where most abaya stores are.

Where most of the shopping happens.

Abayas stores are everywhere in Swaigah. Some of the stores have a black fabric hiding a a third of its door making the inside dark. We couldn't see the designs clearly and every time I go out of the store I had to blink to get my sight bearing back. Not sure why they had to do that (maybe because of their female customers? Or maybe sneaking on what designs are available and what kind of selling tactics work is a no-no?).

It's like some kind of secret shopping.

Abaya prices range from SR 120 to SR 200. Haggling is a must so don't be shy.

Welcome to abaya land.

The way they display the abayas are kind of scary, hehe.

It's all about the designs.

So many choices aaaaagh!

There are abayas on the rack outside the stores and here you can find really cheap ones. Just less than SR 100. Most of them are just SR 60.

Cheaper abayas are displayed outside. From SR60-SR80.

You will definitely get carried away with the abayas here. There are so many designs to choose from. Do you want embellished? Laced? Embroidered? Studded? 

Here are some designs that caught our eyes (warning: there will be a lot of black in these photos :P):

Like I told you... a lot of blackness over here. :P

Abayas with Chinese collar and glimmery designs

Colored fabric + lace (around SR 150)

Gold design on the lining (around SR130)

Rosettes on the sleeves (around SR 120)

Like a Tudor royalty: lace overload on the shoulder (around SR 150)

With a cinch on the waist, like a robe (SR 130)

We have this kind of abaya but we got it from Al-Akaria Shopping Center. This design in Dirah is all-black while the ones we have have a colored fabric underneath.

Silver embroidery with studs (around SR 200)

Old rose lace on the sleeves (this is what R bought)

Other colors of the lace (around SR150)

The Ms. Universe abaya (around SR200)

I named this "Ms. Universe" abaya because it has  sash-like feature in a different color. And the huge gem that gathers it, acting like a brooch. The fabric is a bit clingy. It's a bit heavy and follows the shape of the body making the wearer lean and model-like. It pretty much negates the concept of an abaya but this would be perfect for special events.

The "million dollar" abaya.

This abaya is not exactly priced at a million dollars. Actually it's just SR 350. But it's the most expensive one we've seen in our trip to Deira. And we quite like it. If the price is just SR 200, I might have gotten this. The embroidery is delicate and fine and the fabric is amazing; the kind that is easy to clean and doesn't wrinkle. 

Sometimes, it's all about the design in the sleeves:

What pattern would you like on your sleeves madam?

Ornaments in an abaya?

Tribal and colorful

The usual silver and gold

Lace, jewels, different fabrics

Studded!!! Hello, fierceness! This is E's choice.

It's better to invest in one abaya priced over SR 100 than fill your closet with a few cheap ones. The problem with the cheap abayas is the fabric. I bought one with interesting sleeves: black floral lace over a hot pink lining. While the design is nice, the fabric is not. It's a bit thin, sags rather than flows, and attracts dirt easily.

I have to cut this entry right here because it's getting too long, especially with the number of photos I have to cram in here. Other stuff that you can find in Deira and places you can see around the Swaigah Trade Center on the next entry! By the way, forgive me if some of the photos are blurred. You probably know by now that I'm just doing commando shooting with my iphone. As usual. ;) ~ Sundrenched