Riyadh Living

We've been your lifestyle guide for 3 years now and we love doing this for all of you. Hopefully you get a lot of tips from us and we've made your life in Riyadh a little bit easier. Of course, we don't magically let information appear in our fingertips and blog about it. We have resources too for events, sales, restaurants, and happenings in Riyadh and we're sharing them with you today. We're not paid in making this list (we just wish, lol... just kidding). Here are some guides which can help you in living here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

CITY GUIDES

ArRiyadh 

Everything about Riyadh... and KSA in general

It's all about Riyadh! Obviously... Lol. This website by the High Commission for the Development of ArRiyadh is very helpful in all aspects but it's mainly focused on tourism. They have the links to events and government ministries, information on tourism and sports and directory in their sidebar. And thank goodness, the website is in English! They have a pretty informative sidebar on the attractions found on the various regions in KSA. We usually visit this site just to get a glimpse of the tourist spots in other provinces... places which we can't visit as of now... like the Al-Wahba Crater in Makkah  or the Asir National Park  or the Relica of the Nabataean Empire in Tabuk.

Riyadh Events 

What are you doing for the weekend?

With that site name, you don't have to wonder what's in it for you when you visit. Riyadh Events lists down festivals and conferences in the city complete with their date, time, venue, and contact details... in English! Sometimes, we just visit the site to find out what festivals are celebrated in other places (because we're curious like that). Filipinos are not the only ones who celebrate feasts and festivals according to the region's products! For example, they're having a Honey Festival in Al-Baha and Summer Festivals in Najran, Al-Jawf, and Qassim. Who would've thought, right? If only we can visit each festival, then we're on our way! Now na!

Riyadhciti.com 

RiyadhCiti, a lifestyle magazine

This website is a lifestyle regional guide that delivers business and local events, courses, and lifestyle tips. They mostly focus on new happenings, launches, and news. Launched in 2009, this site is clean, sleek, and simple. We think that their main target readers are Saudis because most events featured are for them but it doesn't mean that expats cannot glean any info focused on them. There are a lot of tidbits for us too. So if you're interested in no-fuss reports on exhibits, conferences, and launchings of new products and services in Saudi Arabia, RiyadhCiti will point you to the right direction. They just don't update often but it's still worth bookmarking.

Riyadh Today 2011

We've featured Riyadh Today in this blog already. This handy book has everything too. So if you're not online most of the time but still wants to know every thing about Riyadh from directions, store contact numbers and basic information on Riyadh living, then this is the guide for you. Sundrenched likes to peruse the book once in a while. The directory and the shopping guide map prove valuable to her. For SR20, this book is sulit!

FOOD GUIDES

My Saudi Guides 

Yummy, yummy!

Indecisive on where to dine to next? Click on this site and you'll be lead to where you have to go. Though the site looks jumbled from all those letters and words in both English and Arabic, it has a good list of restaurants in the city with complete details and photos. They also have reviews and comments from diners so you'll have a grasp of how good (or bad) the resto is. We usually consult MSG when we want to eat in a new restaurant. They give first dibs on the newly-opened resto or bakeshop in the city. And if they do, we're there pronto! LOL. The Pink Tarha also contributes photos here. My Saudi Guides has a beauty guide called Oh La La Beauty but it's not as stocked as the Yummy Yummy Guide just yet.

Riyadh Eats 

An online restaurant guide

Still at its beta stage, Riyadh Eats is proving to be just as informative as its sister site Jeddahfood.com. We've been wishing for a Jeddahfood-like website for Riyadh and we're glad that the creators of Jeddahfood made our wish come true. They don't have many resto reviews yet but at full throttle, Riyadh Eats might just be as popular as its sister site. We love its simple yet elegant look. We like the concise yet substantial reviews and the photos used are eye-catching too. The site is giving away an iPad 2 at the end of the month. Click here for more details. 

DISCOUNT GUIDES

Cobone Riyadh 

Seal the deal!

Groupons have landed in Riyadh and Cobone is at the helm of this new deals phenomenon. Cobone features a daily market-focused deal on the best things to do, see, eat and buy in cities across the Middle East. We love the overall look of the site and everything is easy to understand. They have unleashed some really worthy deals from restaurants in Riyadh. Their first one was a lunch deal in Ketchup, which we think is worth it! There are current deals on Pane Piatto and Pizza Company. And if you're planning on having a vacation in Dammam and Jeddah or any major city in the Middle East then look for deals in their connecting sites too. Their Destinations deals are awesome and very tempting.

Balaash 

Deals, discounts, and freebies!

Balaash means FREE in Arabia so who wouldn't be amazed? No, they don't actually offer every thing for free but they make sure we get the best value for our money... and discounted at that! More sale coupons, woooot! Balaash provides specific sale alerts for specific items and brands in specific stores. So specific, right? Lol. So you don't even have to scout every newspaper or catalog in the city. You get to see them in Balaash's sites. Their discount deals and coupons are currently in their Facebook page but they also provide a link for to download coupons easier. Just print and present! We like their recent Al-Manahil Spa promo.

Burnt Deals KSA 

A gathering of deals and discounts in the city

This is somewhat new so we don't know what they're focused on. If our assessment is right, this site will gather all the best deals in the city daily and present them in the site. Let's stay tuned for more!

Okay, so that's it for now. We'll be coming up for a part two with Insider Guides this time. Hope you don't forget The Pink Tarha once you explore these sites, orayt? Happy living in Riyadh! :D

The Kaya Experience

It was Sampaguita Pride who informed us about Kaya Skin Clinic. If you notice in some websites you visit in the Internet, even Facebook, Kaya Skin Cilinic has advertisements in their sidebars.  Kaya Clinic is the largest international skin care clinic chain in the Middle East with branches in UAE, Oman, and KSA. They have three here in Riyadh. Their website looks professional and photos of their clinics show clean and sophisticated receptions and rooms. I needed an appointment pronto!

The clinics are uniform in their interiors and design. (Photo from kayaskinclinic.me)

Now, I'm not vain or anything near that but I throw a fit (hindi raw vain) when I see pimples in my face. But please understand that when I was younger, I had acne of the rather worst kind, of the traumatic kind that trumped my confidence during my high school and college years (if I had confidence in the first place). Thankfully, I got over it when I graduated college through several visits to a dermatologist in Makati. The pimples rarely appear in my face now but there's nothing I can do about the scars. I still get mild breakouts from time to time and I panic because I get the huge, red, ugly (and papansin) kind of pimples. So yeah, my face is miles away from being perfect.

Last month, I decided to change my facial wash and toner... what a mistake! I had four huge pimples popping out in my cheeks and jaw overnight. (Wow, sensitive ang skin! Lol!) Since I haven't been to a derma in a long time, I clicked one of the Kaya advertisements when I encountered it in one website and signed up for a free consultation. After a few days, I received a call from one of their agents in Jeddah. I told her I'm in Riyadh. She told me to wait for a call from their Riyadh branch. I received a text message two days after. It says that I will only have to show the text message to their receptionist in their clinic in Oruba Road to get my free consultation. I didn't took a chance of showing up in their doorstep without an appointment so I called the branch in Oruba Road and booked.

It was a Thursday afternoon when I visited the Kaya clinic. Their reception is a little bit small but it's directly in front of the door. The two receptionists didn't seem to know what they'll do with me at first. Lol. One gave me an information sheet which I answered in their female waiting area. The interiors of the clinic is clean, bright, and sleek. After a while, I gave back the sheet and I waited in the lounge again. Someone offered me drinks but I declined. After a few minutes, they called me and I entered the office of their resident dermatologist, Dr. Wael Abou Diab. He's known as one of the best dermatologists in the Middle East.

The consultation lasted 10 minutes. He looked at me, asked what my skin problem was, and took out his prescription pad. He asked me to buy a new facial wash and toner. And I should come back after a month. He also told me that I can book for a facial if I wanted but that it wasn't that necessary. When I was out the door, I'm relieved that there's no major thing to be done but I kept on thinking "That was it?!" I didn't come to Oruba alone on a Thursday afternoon without some thing done to my face pronto! (I lack EQ!) I signed up for their Kaya Advance Facial just because. Ayun, dahil sa lack of EQ ko, I paid SR300 for it! Expensive! 

Mataray ang kagandahan n'ya! (One of the models in a Kaya ad.)

The Kaya Advanced Facial includes microdermabrasion to give your skin a radiant look that regular facials cannot achieve. Microdermabrasion exfoliates away the dead skin cells. Next, a Viennese facial massage is performed, to both relax and rejuvenate the skin. Blackheads and/or whiteheads are then removed with the aid of a comedone extractor. Finally, a lightening face mask is applied to brighten your skin.

I didn't wait long. A Filipino nurse ushered me in a well-lit room with a few machines around a medical bed. The process was straightforward, nothing too fancy. The Filipino (hello Louis if you're reading this!) told me that Kaya actually started in India. The biggest branch is in Mumbai. The services are rather expensive because they use the latest in skin technology and they use imported skin products (made in France and USA). They only get nurses as skin practitioners and they were trained for three months in Mumbai, India. O diba, bongga! (Hindi daw nila nakita ang Taj Mahal kasi malayo ang Agra sa Mumbai, hehe. Talagang tinanong ko daw!) The comedone extraction was a little bit painful but I already expected that. (Nateary-eyed ako habang inaalis ang mga blackheads and whiteheads! Ugh!) After the 1-hour procedure, I had a rosy glow (sabi ko nga baka dahil namamaga lang ang mukha ko, haha!). I didn't expect much from my first facial but my face feels cleaner and brighter. This is good if you want a radiant face for an event happening asap. 

To really see the long-term effect of a facial, it should be done on a monthly (or twice) basis. But with the price, hindi ko carry ang maging habit ang facial. Lol. But I might be back to try their painless hair removal laser. Kaya is known for that service and they have a lot of customers. They have a wide array of anti-aging, acne and hair loss treatments. The clinics are also open for men. Even princes and princesses visit Kaya for their result-oriented skincare. 

So, you don't have something better to do on a Thursday? Here's a suggestion:

If you've visited Kaya, share your experience in our comment box.

Batha Comes Undone

This topic is special to The Pink Tarha. However, it took us this long to write about Batha, the famous hang-out place of Filipinos in Riyadh. We've mentioned Batha a few times in entries yet we stall writing about Batha itself. But even though we've procrastinated for so long, we cannot not write about Batha. And this article, which detaches from our usual light, funny way of writing, will tell you why.

How do we capture the spirit of Batha? On its own, it emits a rhythm different from the rest of Riyadh. And the Filipinos know the tune by heart. Some say that you haven't been anywhere unless you've set foot, immersed in, and left Batha. For the other nationalities, Batha is just a place but we Filipinos give it an extraordinary meaning. This labyrinthine souk gives a sense of exhilaration; both jaded and hopeful. For us, Batha is a culture.

The place, the way of life.

Growing Roots

There has always been an inevitable pull, a need to go to Batha because most Filipinos go there and you need a place to grow roots in. It's a place where you find yourself hopelessly lost in the pockets of the familiar and the unfamiliar. You see it and you remember what it was like in the Philippines - busy, crazy, fascinating... nostalgic in a way.

On a Friday night, especially during the salary weekend, Batha is filled to the brim. You cannot go in because police cars are stationed in every entrance forcing vehicles to find other entrances to no avail. They close the place. Seriously, Batha is like a shop that they can close on hours they like because once Batha is packed, you'll wonder how on earth will you survive a stampede. Just in case there is one. Once the onslaught of vehicles containing Filipinos and other nationalities arrive, you cannot find a tiny spot in the huge parking lots that is empty. Not even for a half of your car. The sidewalk no longer caters to the masses but is an extension of the parking lot. You must be nuts to enter Batha at a time like this but Filipinos who know the drill, like die-hard fans, arrive as early as 4:00 in the afternoon (after the asr prayer) and never leave until the place empties out well into the night.

Goodies from the homeland.

What will you do in Batha? A lot, if you're up to it. For one, you'll find the familiar brands of grocery items in your list. The Pinoy Supermarket, one of the more familiar ones, offer a lot of products that are embedded into your soul, brands that you grew up with and settled in your taste buds like Oishi and Jack n' Jill. Or maybe choco mallows and krunchies. Lily's peanut butter and Star margarine perhaps? Or Philippine mangoes, saging na saba, and durian. You can even find these in the Arabic-named supermarkets like Al-Rajhi and Al-Swalim. They cost an arm and leg but what the hell. They're comfort food and comfort is scarce thus expensive in this side of the world. Freshly baked bread (oh heavenly pan de sal) and rice cakes are available too. Fresh meat and seafood can be found in small alleys and unpaved streets at the outskirts. This alley keeps a Quiapo. See, a Quiapo in Riyadh. How can this be? Quiapo is a restaurant though and just one of several restaurants that offer Filipino food in the area. All your food cravings are satisfied but of course, you will still feel incomplete: an ingredient missing, a sauce tasting different, if not far, from what you were used to, a gustatory experience losing its bite. Everything is from the Philippines but they're not just the same. You expected better but you take what is there. At least they're there.

Quiapo right here!

Everything seems to be cheaper in Batha, except the Philippine brands, that's why Filipinos go there for cellular phones, laptops, and appliances... you name it, they have it. Most salesmen are Filipinos too so you can discuss and ask for opinions and, more importantly, discounts. They will almost always give you presyong kabayan, even under the glare of their ibang lahi (other nationalities) counterpart. You can buy pasalubong for your vacation - from perfumes to slippers (er, flip-flops), sneakers, clothes, and chocolates. You buy them from your suki or from those perennial irritating but somewhat amusing ibang lahi shouting "Suki! Suki! Bili na, suki!" in their unique accent. They try hard and you try hard to stiffle the laughter because you've never bought anything from them yet they call you suki. Do they even know the meaning of the word? Nevertheless, it's really interesting so you go on your way with a smile.

But the most important thing why Filipinos go to Batha (and I'm appalled why I didn't bring this up there before talking about food), is of course, remittance. If you combine the lines (or what seems like lines) in remittance counters in Batha every salary day, you'll get a Wall of China. It's crazy seeing the lines and it's crazier lining up. The wait will test your patience but it is needed to be done first and foremost. Before you buy your groceries or make chismis with your friends over shawarmas from CFC, you line up at the remittance centers and you don't care how long, how time-consuming, and how boring this task is. Not to mention, back-breaking from the start. You do it because it is the number one priority. Of course you can also pay your SSS, Pag-Ibig and what-have-yous here.

The crowd will soon swallow you by the end of the day. Whether you’re alone catching up with friends or you came with your friends, you soon discover that Batha is a piece of the homeland. In the midst of other Filipinos, you’re somewhat home. It’s not it but it sure feels like it.

Peeling Off The Charm

You feel at home in Batha because you see a lot of Filipinos, people like you. You share a lot of things in common. You see yourself in them and you see Batha as Divisoria or Tutuban or Quiapo or Monumento. And then you see snippets of Saudi Arabia merge and interweave with what you know, shaking you to the core, and making you surrender within a call of the salah. You're home but not in your own house. It still retains the dry air of an Arabian city - different, suffocating, beguiling.

The notorious religious police roams Batha like hawks out to catch their prey - men and women flirting, a woman without a tarha (veil), a man in need of a haircut, a woman with too much make-up on, a man to be converted. They see you; they see right through you. You hear all the urban legend and you heed the pieces of advice. Don't talk to the other gender. Don't look at them in the eye. Avoid using your cellphones (or else they might think you're in an eyeball of some sort). Don't wear red lipstick. Don't wear shorts. Stick with the group you came with. Don't pick up a stray piece of paper crumpled to make like innocent piece of garbage; scrawled inside is a set of numbers. You get the drift. Just don't, don't, don't. So many rules, most of them unwritten. Take everything with a grain of salt.

An infamous mosque in Batha sits in the corner, opposite the Pasalubong/Quiapo alley. Our Muslim friends thrive in the sacred ground and for the non-Muslims, it's a place to be slightly avoided. Feared, maybe, but certainly not ignored. For one, there's a huge television showing a sheikh, his Arabic speech resonating within a few meters of the area, preaching those who want to listen. You stare at it, listen for a minute and grasp what's being said. Maybe you were raised on a different religion in the homeland so you can't easily digest what you're hearing and you go on your way and resume your errands. When you pass by it a second time, you're enthralled with the whole set-up again; a realization on how really strong one faith is in this part of the world dawns.

Jam-packed!

And so you find telltale signs that no, you’re not in the Philippines. Not even close. The warm, dry air envelops your being and reminds you that you’re a mere visitor in this kingdom.

Wrapping It Up

A part of Batha is dedicated to the Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis but the area hugged by Manila Plaza, Electron building, Telemoney building, and the Pinoy Supermarket is where you’ll see many Filipinos, a domain of some sort. This is where fear, faith, aspirations, materialism, humility, and pride meet. This is where the Filipinos’ hopes and dreams converge; making the place worth a thousand volumes of stories that render you speechless and that never end. Here in this bustling side of the hot desert you'll find boundless hospitality and friendly faces. Your very own.

Where to next?

Sometimes, you go to Batha, look at it, immerse a little and find out the crowd suffocates you, the dust gets in your eyes, the trash reminds you of the slums... you don't like the place. But then you return because it already grew on you. And your roots have grown in the place. Either you come and leave, or don’t leave or return at all. There's nothing like Batha. It means a lot to Filipinos in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It means a lot to you. Even if you don't admit it that much.

So the Pink Tarha loves the malls but when it comes to newbie Filipinos in Riyadh asking where to go first in the city, we definitely put them to the test, the same way each Filipino in Riyadh has been initiated with... "Go to Batha!," we answer with a grin. We'll applaud once this place gets under your skin.

The Flight of the Butterfly {PEBA 2011}

Japan sees the butterfly as a personification of a person's soul. Butterflies flying together is a symbol of love in China. The Philippines sees the butterfly as the symbol of a soul visiting or rebirth or good luck. In Greek mythology, a butterfly is related to fire. You know what the Pink Tarha associate butterflies with? The Overseas Filipino Workers. Us.

And why not? The three main characteristics of the butterfly also apply to the OFWs and Filipino expats all over the world. First... polymorphism, the occurrence of more than one form. From an egg to a larvae to a pupa to an imago, butterflies undergo differences in appearance and state. They change their looks, too, according to their location and the seasons. Filipinos, in a way, are like that. We change ourselves according to where we are to adapt and adjust, but we're still Filipinos. Just like the Filipinas in Riyadh wearing the abaya and the tarha. We wear them outside because we're in Saudi Arabia but inside, we're still Filipinos. Second, mimicry. The butterfly imitate other species to enjoy the protection of an attribute they do not share with others. We global Filipinos do not necessarily imitate other nationalities but we abide and respect their culture, tradition, and laws because we're in their country. And lastly, migration. We, like the butterflies, are capable of long distance flights to thrive and settle in other places. Do we need to elaborate this more?

So, it's not surprising to see the butterfly as the symbol of the Pinoy Expats/OFWs Blog Awards. PEBA has used a butterfly, in the colors of the Philippine flag, logo ever since and the Pink Tarha hasn't really put a thought into why. So we hope we're correct in our interpretation (or maybe close to it?). Choosing the butterfly is a brilliant idea, don't you think? The butterflies are really dainty, fragile creatures but they possess the most amazing attributes. They're stronger than what you think. Like all the Filipinos worldwide.

 The fourth season of PEBA.

The Pink Tarha is in full support of this year's PEBA with the theme, "Ako'y Magbabalik, Hatid Ko'y Pagbabago" (I Will Return, I Will Bring Change). This is not only a motto but a challenge to all global Pinoys to return to the Philippines and bring CHANGE. True, we already help with our remittances but this year, PEBA urges us to go beyond that. We, armed with our skills, talents, and knowledge, and the experiences from the countries we've been to, are being challenged to act and contribute in the different aspects of the Philippine society.

Wear this badge in your blog's sidebar. 

Heroes' Homecoming Towards Change. Despite the varied reasons why Filipinos go abroad, nationalism is still evident on the narratives of the 12 million Filipinos scattered all over the world. PEBA has witnessed how OFWs take pride of our Filipino roots, our culture and our race. Filipinos abroad, after they have followed their dreams, have chosen to return, evident on how we are called... "Balikbayan." They return to share their talents, skills and fortunes in an effort to bring change to the families left behind, communities and country. Thus, PEBA 2011 is dedicated to our "balikbayans", the unsung heroes of our time. Their homecoming brings a spark of change to the lives of their loved ones and their homeland.

We call on our Filipino expatriates around the world to continue their roles as Global Ambassadors of our country in foreign lands by promoting and patronizing our locally-made products, making the Philippines the first stop destination for holidays and investing in the home country. We ask them to teach their children and their foreign spouses on the positive Filipino values and the Filipino language. Let’s be proud of our race, for nationalism knows no time and bounderies. [more]

The Pink Tarha believes that the OFWs are heroes but more than being modern heroes, we can become mavens --- trusted experts in various fields who seek to pass knowledge and skills on to others! Imagine the possibilities! But then first, we need to come home. To return not simply for a pleasurable vacation but to return with a more nationalistic, community-centric purpose and approach. We implore you to become mavens in your own right. Start by joining the PEBA 2011!  

We urge you to follow the flight of the butterfly... start slowly, then spread your wings, and see the world. No matter how small or frail you are, have the courage to go the distance!
 

Butterfly photos from The Gilded Bee.

Easter, And Then Some

Hi dear readers, we'd like greet you a...

Fresh beginning for everyone!

May love, forgiveness, and gratitude reign in our hearts. :)

We're also taking this time to announce that the Pink Tarha blog will be under maintenance starting Thursday, April 28, 2011. Don't fret when you see the sign that the blog is for "invited readers" only orayt? Hopefully, when you wake up on a May morning, we'll have the blog up and running again.

Watch out for Metamorphosis V.2!

If you need to reach us, kindly email us at thepinktarha@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page. 

Thank you very much!

Photos (blog stock) from puglypixel.

Oh My Jarir!

There are a few places outside the house where you can leave me for hours and I will never ever complain: the mall, the supermarket, and the bookstore. I can walk for hours in these places but my eagerness and curiosity in the things I see can't be satiated. Walking and seeing beautiful things is one of my life's simple joys. Reading is at the top of that list that's why I love being left for hours in a bookstore the most. (Pero hindi naman tipong malock-up magdamag ha!)

A bookstore is like a kid's candy store to me. I'm giddy and bursting with excitement whenever I go to a bookstore. I have so many things I want to buy there, sometimes beyond logic and reason and financial capabilities. Why do I need to hoard all the books of Baldacci, Grisham, and Berry? Why would I need a coffee table book? Why would I need a camera again? Why would I need a netbook when I have a laptop? Being in a bookstore weaves dreams in my head and stirs my imagination and creativity like crazy. When I step into a bookstore, ideas pop all over the place and they ceremoniously enter my head creating a storm inside it. It drives me nuts to think about reading books, scrapbooking, looking at gadgets, etc. all at the same time but it also unleashes a positive energy I don't feel when I'm working (may positive energy ba sa working?! lol) or eating. It's kindda magical. Doesn't reading this paragraph show you how addicted I am to bookstores. I LOVE BOOKSTORES! See? Obsessed. Passionate. Hyperventilating. About Book Stores. Yes. IKR.

Last week, I realized I've been to one bookstore three times within four days. So I decided to write about this bookstore because it serves as one of my oasis in this desert. Whenever I'm inside Jarir Bookstore, I'm happy. Sometimes disappointed and exasperated too when I can't find the specific gadget or the book I want. But almost all the time, I'm simply happy in Jarir. Being in Jarir again last week reminded me how the book "The Rescue" bought in Jarir on my first week in Riyadh saved me from initial bouts of boredom and nostalgia. And my first experience of salat and sandstorm happened when I was visiting the Jarir Bookstore in Exit 5. That experience even inspired an article I wrote for a magazine in the Philippines about living in the Kingdom. Jarir Bookstore is definitely not just a bookstore. Especially for me. It's my "happy place."

Jarir Bookstore is the leading bookstore chain in the Kingdom. Jarir is named after the street in Malaz where the first branch was built in 1979. Think of Jarir as Saudi Arabia's National Bookstore where you'll find office supplies, school supplies, I.T. products, computers, phones, and books. It doesn't carry as many products as NB but they have the basics and the essentials ensconced in an air-conditioned, carpeted, and well-lit branches. If I have my way, I would sit in a corner of the books section and read like there's no tomorrow. The branches I've been to have enough space to accommodate voracious readers in their books section. But there are chairs so might as well sit there. :P

[You see, I'm so distracted whenever I'm in Jarir, I didn't even get a single photo of the place! I will have to take photos of Jarir soon. I can't even find good (and large enough) photos in the Net!]

The computer and gadget sections tend to get crowded but most of the salesmen, when they see you looking around, ask if they may be of help. The office and school supplies are stocked adequately but some items are more expensive than what you might have budgeted for. Their crafts section features a lot of materials for artists, painters, DIY moms, and scrapbookers. Again, with the expensive, imported stuff. Their brochures and catalogs (in both English and Arabic) are great tools in accelerating the decision process. (I still have a hard time deciding though because I'm fickle-minded. :P)

Of course what I most love about Jarir is the books section. Though I can't find every book I want, most of them are there. I tend to be the girl who's always asking the salesman if they have this book or that. And then I go and browse and then come back again to ask another title. Yes, I'm persistent. Lol. I even call sometimes and I sign up for books that are out of stock. (Sinong makulit?!) Nowadays, most books are available online and I don't have to bother checking in Jarir but see, I am an old soul. I love reading books the old-fashioned way. I like the texture of the covers and pages. I like the smell of newly-opened books. I like scouring books in bargain bins. I like seeing photos in print. Books, not the digital ones, appeal to me greatly. I feel for the authors, maybe because I want to be one myself.

What I came home with.

What I want to buy next.

This too. I am into Middle Eastern novels.

If I have a wish list, I'm sure most of the items will be found in Jarir. I'm sure you have one thing in your house bought in Jarir. Some products in Jarir are more affordable somewhere else but with Jarir, you don't have to look that far. Shopping here is convenient and easy. Are you a Jarir Discount Card holder? Most Filipinos are. I should be too but I didn't get around to signing up because I heard the cards don't arrive anyway. Hmn, maybe I should try again. After all, I have a book collection to fill.

If you're not doing anything this weekend, Jarir is the place to be. Baka mapagastos ka nga lang. :)

Which branch is nearest to you? Check here. The other ladies frequent the Olaya and Panorama branches but I mostly go to the North Ring Road showroom with the family.

At the comment box, share what your best finds in Jarir! :)

§undrenched

Q&A Portion 10

Whew, it's been a long time since the last Question and Answer Portion. We have a handful of questions from our very lovely readers today which we'll try our best to answer. If you're going to ask us what's going on in Saudi Arabia right now, we can just say that it's pretty much normal. And we hope it stays this way. Anyway, let's all keep calm and move on...

1. Where is the biggest New Look in Riyadh?

The biggest branches are in Hayat Mall and Olaya Street. They have two floors and lots of selections! You can also visit other smaller branches in Granada Center and Riyadh Gallery. The Rollasoles we featured in our Facebook page came from New Look and they're located in the Accessories section, together with the wallets and tights, so go before designs and sizes are gone.

2. Which mall in Riyadh has both Centrepoint and City Max?

Riyadh Gallery! It even has Debenhams so that's three department stores in one mall. Have fun shopping! There are Citymax and Centrepoint branches near Sahara Mall too but you need to cross busy streets and intersections to get there.

3. I so LOVE the blog. You guys keep it up! Kudos to all of you! I was wondering if you guys know where to buy/find marzipan icing for fondant cakes? I'd like to practice making fondant cakes but don't have an idea where to get the marzipan icing. Thanks!

Thank you very much for the kind words. We hope you continue reading our blog. As for your icing needs, there's Baker's Rendezvous in Dabab St., just beside Mama Noura. For more baking tips in Riyadh, the beautiful and creative Ms. Nadia of Bake Fresh is probably the best resource person. She'll be offering classes soon so check her Facebook site as well. If you want to ask other bakers in Riyadh and learn more information, here's a link of home bakers in the city from Riyadh Yummy Yummy Guide.

4. Hi, do you know the name of the mobile store somewhere in Sulaiman street?

Unfortunately, we don't even know where Sulaiman St. is. What we do know is mobile stores are scattered all over Riyadh. You can start your search for gadgets in Batha (Electron Center) and Mursalat. For a more convenient shopping experience, Jarir Bookstore and HyperPanda have their own gadget corners and displays.

5. Do you know any Bed&Bath branches in Riyadh? The one in Sahara Mall has already closed.

We haven't seen another branch except the one in Sahara which you mentioned. There are other bed and bath essentials stores. Try Home Centre and IKEA.

6. Hi! I would just like to know if you have any infos regarding King Khalid University Hospital? Also about Taif Military Hospital? I would like to know which one is the best. Thank you.

Hi there! We don't usually give advice in which hospital is the best for you to work in because we don't have a lot of information about hospitals here and it's a huge decision for your career life so we don't want to meddle with that. However, we can just give you an overall view of the places where both hospitals are. The King Khaled University Hospital is the King Saud University's hospital, one of the biggest here in Riyadh. Taif Military Hospital... well, are you talking about the Al Hada Armed Forces Hospital? If yes, then the only difference we can tell you is that the hospital is in the agricultural province of Taif, about 7 hours away from Riyadh. Since both are hospitals under the Ministry of Health (MOH), they're probably one of the best hospitals (as compared to private ones). It's just a matter of the location where you will thrive best: the urban area where it's bustling and hot (Riyadh), or the rural area where it's laid back and somewhat cold (Taif)? No matter what hospital you choose, we're sure there are a lot of Filipinos there to help and guide you. (Of course we're partial to Riyadh because we're here. LOL!)

7. Hi! I love reading your blog. I would just like to know if you have any information about Al Hammadi Hospital in Riyadh? I have a job offer as a nurse there. Do you know any one who works there?

Again, we don't really want to play a big role in a life-changing decision such as your question. We can only give you what we know from our friends who have information about these hospitals. The Al Hammadi Hospital is one of the biggest and best private hospitals in Riyadh. We're not sure how they treat their employees though but there are many Filipinos working in Al Hammadi. Of course, the entry-level salary is not as competitive as the military hospitals.

8. Hi Pink Tarha! Very excellent blog, ladies. I literally spent my whole day yesterday reading through all of your entries. Really informative in a very COOL way! Btw, I just need to ask if you have any idea how much does it cost to have a kitten vaccinated? How much does it cost to get the kitty documented (travel docs, etc.). We are buying an 8 week-old cat with no vaccinations and papers yet. Thanks a bunch!

Wee, another cat lover like Eyecandy! A cat vaccine usually costs 80-100 riyals ($25) in pet shops. As for the documents, when your cat is vaccinated for the first time, the pet shop vet usually just gives you a card that serves as your cat's document. That's what we know so far. Eyecandy goes to the Pet Village in the old airport road but we heard that it closed recently. You can try Life and Nature Pet Center in King Abdul Aziz Road (0505444905) and Riyadh Veterinary Clinic near exit 7 (+966-1-456 - 8736). We don't have personal experiences on these shops though. Thank you very much for reading our blog and loving the entries. :)

So there you go. We apologize if it took us a few weeks to answer your questions. We'll be faster next time. Ask and you shall be answered! :)

How to Pay Your SSS and Pag-IBIG

Hi Filipinos in Riyadh, are you an SSS and PAG-IBIG member? Do you even know what these are?

I'd like to elaborate but I'm not an expert in these things. I just recently found myself sorting out my SSS and Pag-IBIG membership plans because I know I need to.

When I was working in Makati two years before I went to Riyadh, my employer was in-charge of my SSS and Pag-IBIG contributions. They get automatically deducted from my salary each month and I didn't have to do a thing... except obtain the SSS and Pag-IBIG numbers online, which is a one-time thing. When I went abroad, I completely forgot, okay ignored, my contributions because it's such an effort to pay it and I wasn't really thinking clearly that time (tantamount to saying I don't want to have an idea how). Now, I realize they're important for all the right reasons. Maybe I need a loan? Maybe I'll retire soon (like 30 years soon, hehe)? Maybe I just need a back-up plan? It's been almost three years since I ignored them and I didn't know where to start because one, I did not have any document with me that states what my SSS number or Pag-IBIG number and two, I'm abroad. I decided to act on it.

I started with the SSS. I spent an entire day browsing the SSS website looking for answers to my "case." Okay, maybe it was just an hour but not finding a concrete answer in the site frustrated me to the point of giving up. But I'm not easily swayed by frustrations. Rightttt. So I did what I should have really done first: check their international branches. And hallelujah, I found email addresses for their Riyadh branch. I emailed sss_riyadh@digi.net.sa and sss_riyadh@yahoo.com (dalawa para sigurado) to ask how to pick up from where I left in my contribution and how to go from there. Being a government agency, I did not expect a prompt reply (because I'm biased like that and I've suffered countless waiting hours in some government agencies just to process papers and clearances). Surprisingly, I got a reply asap and the help that was provided to me was beyond my expectation. I didn't know it was that easy. If only I had known, I should have continued paying since I got here. So since I don't want you to suffer the same late realization I had, here's what you have to do to pay your SSS. (These tips are for OFWs and their dependents in Saudi Arabia.)

1. Your SSS number is your lifetime number. It can't be changed and it can't be doubled. You should only have one SSS number. If you already have one but have forgotten it or doesn't have any documents that has it, then you can email . (I apologize to Mr. Danny Calape, SSS representative to Riyadh, KSA, if his email address gets clogged because of this advice, hehe) to ask for an update on your record of contribution.
2. If you don't have an SSS number yet, you can get it directly from the SSS website.
3. SSS are paid by schedules. It doesn't have to be monthly though. You can pool your money to pay two or three or more months per visit to payment centers. You can also pay in advance.
4. The amount of contribution depends on your choice. Here's the schedule:


5. To pay, visit any branch of Skyfreight, Telemoney Center, or Tahweel Al Rajhi. In short, visit Batha. You'll find all three there. Hehe. Although of course, to avoid the crowd there, here are other branches: Skyfreight (not mentioned in the website is their new branch at Abu Bakr Ar Razi St., Suleimania, near the Military Hospital [RKH]), Telemoney, and Tahweel Al Rajhi.

Those are just some tips and guides. And since I'm probably just babbling, the first step is actually all you need regardless of what your question is. Email Mr. Danny Calape. I'm sure he'll be happy to help.

As for Pag-IBIG, there's also just one step needed. Email Mr. Philip Raymund Salem at balian_boy@yahoo.com for your questions. I know you;re curious but please don't ask him why he's email address is like that. Hehe. Jk. To answer your basic questions, though here's a simple step-by-step on how to enter the Pag-IBIG Online Membership Registration (Pag-IBIG 1 Program):

1. Visit the official website of Pag-IBIG Fund at www.pagibigfund.gov.ph.
2. Click "Member Services."
3. Click "Online Membership Registration."
4. Click "Register as a New Member."
5. Click "Continue."
6. Enter the code shown.
7. Click "Proceed."
8. Fill out the needed information. (Answer all blanks marked with *)
9. Click "Submit."
10. Click "Print MDF."
11. Submit the printed MDF to the Pag-IBIG representative at the Philippine embassy through a. submitting personally or via an authorized representative or b. send a soft copy of the MDF to balian_boy@yahoo.com.

Easy, yes? Wait, you need an Internet Explorer to proceed with the registration so I suggest you use IE. And a printer should be at hand to avoid any inconvenience. And please, be patient. Payments can be made through the Pag-IBIG representative at the Philippine embassy and at Skyfreight branches. There are more information available like payments and loans which we can email you if you need it. Otherwise, email Mr. Salem for all queries and concerns.

Visit the SSS website and the Pag-IBIG website for more information. Read especially on the section where they discuss the benefits of paying these. You might need the inspiration and the force to make this a monthly habit of yours. :D

Welcome Back, Jollibee!

It's like magnet. It pulls you in without you knowing; that even physical limitation will not stop you from being drawn to it. It sucks you in and the next thing you know, you're there being smothered by a crowd of other "iron" not willing to let go.

Yes, JOLLIBEE is like magnet. It attracts you with an invisible force. No matter how long the lines are, you will still go and you wait your turn for a taste of what you grew up with... the Chickenjoy. Or maybe the Yum Burger. Or the Burger Steak. Or the Jolly Spaghetti. We will not even attempt to explain Jollibee's charm and legacy to Filipinos here because if you are a Filipino, you already know. (For other nationalities, Jollibee is like the Philippines' McDonald's. It's one of the biggest fast-food chains in the Philippines, if not the biggest.)

The girls learned that Jollibee is opening in Riyadh from random friends in Facebook. We were excited for a taste of the familiar Chickenjoy but truth be told, no matter how we were salivating, we are not that hell-bent in going because of the crowd. We imagined the crowd on opening week and we said, "Forget it!" The Filipino community in Riyadh has been waiting for Jollibee for quite a while now after the branch in Batha closed a few years ago. Some troop to Al-Khobar or Jeddah and get their Jabi fix there. Sometimes even bringing the pot bucket of gold chicken for eager family and friends in the Kingdom's capital. We felt deprived and neglected that among all the other areas in Saudi Arabia, Jollibee was nowhere to be found in the capital. Why oh why?

And then we wonder no more. Jollibee is now open in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! The first branch, located in Batha, opened last February 6 and the crowd is, as we guessed, crazy! Crazy in numbers as lines snaked its way to nearby establishments. We shunned the opening day but we can't wait a little longer for the crowd to disperse into the following months so we thought of almost impossible ways to cut in (including conjuring spells like Harry Potter's "Evanesco!" to make the crowd disappear ). We sighed and wished and hoped. Until, an invitation came! (This is one of those times we really felt super proud writing The Pink Tarha!) The Pink Tarha ladies were invited by Joliibee KSA's marketing officer Mr. Billy Junn Tabares to visit the newly-opened branch in Batha, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! We were overwhelmed with gratitude!

Scratch that, we were not only overwhelmed. We were beyond joy! We were shouting and crying of this new-found luck. Eyecandy was so jubilant that she said she's excited to meet the mascot whose name is Henrietta. We were all like, "Who is Henrietta?!?!?!" Apparently, she was referring to Hetty Spaghetti. LOL! (Please forgive E. She did not grow up in the Philippines.) We are so happy with the invitation that the four Pink Tarha ladies (all of us!) decided to go out together after a long time. (S and E are usually the only ones going out ever since M transferred office but for Jollibee, we are "all for 1, 1 for all!" Lol.) We restrained ourselves from going during the opening day for the fear of stampede but we decided to go on a Wednesday afternoon, after the 3pm prayer. We thought we can escape the crowd because there was no line on the entrance but we were amazed that here were already lines in the counter! There's one counter for the bachelor area and another for the family. They were both jam-packed!

Ooookay, they're not kidding about the lines!

The family section

We were overwhelmed with the hospitality of Billy and his assistant, Cesar. We also got to meet the managers and staff of Jollibee Batha. We skipped the long and many lines in the counter (Sorry kids, but you should blame those who ordered 20 pieces of Spaghetti and 10 buckets of Chicken Joy... they are prolly having a Jabi party, hehe), we ate for free (but we insisted in paying, promise! Er, did we? :P) and we got take-out too! And the most important part of all, we met Jollibee (the mascot)... and took pictures with him too! (Again children, we apologize for tearing Jollibee away from you but you see, we're still kids. Kids at heart. No, really. :) We are so honored to be graced by Jollibee's presence. Okay, you might be thinking we're such lucky ladies. Indeed, we are! :)

Guess what we ate!

Lugi si Jollibee sa'min! :P
(L-R: Sundrenched | Eyecandy | Maryhadalittlehump | Shoegarfreeruby)

The infamous Chickenjoy (and a sign for TPTL)!

More space for dine-in customers

JOLLIBEE!!! Can he dance too?!
(Our friend G's coat served as our signal that we are The PINK Tarha. Lol!)

With our wonderful hosts Billy and Cesar... a huge thank you!!!
(Spot Cesar on this entry whom R unwittingly took a photo of in her visit to Jollibee Jeddah two years ago.)

Anyway, we enjoyed our dining experience in Jollibee and we get to interview Billy. We're not publishing the interview transcript, of course. So the next entry will answer almost all questions you have about Jollibee in Riyadh. (We can't cram it in this entry because it'll get longer than the line in Jollibee... or maybe not.)

The Red Tarha

We know we're not supposed to celebrate because we're in Saudi Arabia but we can't help but wear red to feel the LOVE! (Of course we're not wearing red today.) And so, happy heart's day, everyone! Don't forget to bring the missus to our suggested places. ;)

Eyecandy says S is the popular girl in class. She is the nerd. And R is the teacher. Lol.

On Sundrenched: Heart headband GREENHILLS Necklace NEW LOOK Red dress DOROTHY PERKINS Shoes F&F MODE

On Eyecandy: Glasses NEW LOOK Necklace NEW LOOK Black cardigan NEW LOOK White dress NEW LOOK Chucks CONVERSE Lipstick MAC Ruby Woo

On Shoegarfreeruby: Glitter headband H&M Earrings H&M Necklace MS. SELFRIDGE Cream blazer TOPSHOP Red dress OASIS Shoes IRREGULAR CHOICE Heart purse BLANCO

Happy V-Day from your Red Pink Tarha ladies*!

*Maryhadalittlehump is MIA because she was not available on the day of ze shoot.