Day 3- Riyadh

I am still thinking about Day 1 in Riyadh where I had the great displeasure of bumping into a Muttawa. A Muttawa is the name given for the government-authorized or -recognized religious police of Saudi Arabia. They belong to the "Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vices." Often accompanied by a police escort, they have the power to arrest unrelated males and females caught socializing, anyone engaged in homosexual behavior or prostitution; to enforce Islamic dress-codes, and store closures during the prayer time. They also enforce Muslim dietary laws, disallow the consumption or sale of alcohol and pork. These guys are hardly seen according to people here. In fact, V, in his two months in Riyadh had not come across one.

So, we were at Euromarche Supermarket that day getting stuff for the home. A guy comes along escorted by a police man shouting at me, along with several women who hadn't covered their heads to cover head. It was frightening...his demeanour..plus whoever thought I would bump into 1 just hours after landing in Riyadh.

Back to today..headed to the gym and found it really pathetic. I mean a gym has to look fully equipped and presentable. This one...was really sad. Might have to look around for gyms outside of the compound.

I am raring to go check out the glitzy glamorous malls here. Infrastructure is awesome and there are loads of western restaurants. Waiting for the weekend for all of this.

Adios

Day 2- Riyadh

Day 2 in Riyadh was uneventful. Stayed home for most bits doing some studying, freelance work and unpacking. My system is a wreck with the time difference and all. Not that its a huge time difference. But its me..When am I not sleepy?

Had a wadrobe malfunction and laughed my head out. Before stepping out, I threw my abaya over my clothes only to realise much later when I was in a shop that I had worn in inside out. I mean, thats the only thing people see of your body and I got it ALL WRONG! Anyway, covered the boo boo up with a shawl so that no seam would show.

Cooked dinner at home with minimum utensils.. Pretty satisfying. I must say I feel like a new bride setting up a home all over again.

Adios

Here I come, Riyadh

After 2 months of waiting for the immigration processes to be completed, I finally got my visa to Saudi Arabia 3 days before I had planned to join V in Riyadh. So there I was in the flight making my maiden journey to Saudi Arabia with lots of anxiety and anticipation. By the time I had got onto the flight, I was already missing my family back home. The flight to Riyadh from Singapore is about 10 hours with an hour transit in Dubai. I was half-minded about getting off at Dubai for 40min just to see what the airport looked like. But having decided against it, I stayed put while thinking what to expect once I land in Riyadh International Airport.

I reached Riyadh at about 11.15pm (Singapore time) and as soon as I disembarked I was relieved to see V waiting for me. A staff promptly took my passport n whisked us past immigration, collected my nine bags and we were soon on our way to a place called home. Home is a 2 storeyed villa with ample space for us to dance, hop and skip if we so wished. The house is huge but that means more place to keep my things :) Shortly after arriving home, I put on my abaya to head out for dinner and supermarket shopping thereafter. While it did seem odd to wear the robe over my clothes, I was genuinely relieved that at least my head and face were visible. Scores and scores of women in abayas and faces covered and men in their traditional Saudi outfits soon became commonsight.

1st meal in Riyadh had to be Indian and thereafter we headed to Euromarche, a HUGE supermarket. After spending a bomb there, we headed home. I was off to bed in anticipation of Day 2 in Riyadh.