Marhaba

Its gruelling summer in the kingdom for the last few months and many people have set off elsewhere to escape the heat. Likewise, I left the kingdom mid June for my trip to India, Singapore and Phuket. After a month of being away, it was good to be back to home, where hubby dearest is. He was managing for slightly short of a month alone in the kingdom. Not that I have not left him behind on my trips back home.. but this is somehow different. The social life we have here is very minimal and the only source of entertainment being the tv.

I returned to a more quiet than usual compound with many people still away on their summer breaks. The heat is still gruelling but I think I have gotten used to it. Anyway, I avoid stepping out in the afternoon for fear of melting under my abaya. What I did get this time was an air humidifier which would aid some humidity and reduce our nose bleed. The air here is so dry, its unbelievable.

Its coming to 5 months since I've come to Riyadh and I don't think there is much to complain of. I have learnt to take the idiosyncracies of this countries in good spirit, sometimes even laughing over certain things. We've travelled a little around the region, with the best being Syria.

We had been to Istanbul, Dubai and Syria over the last 5 months and each city/country has been nothing short of spectacular. It has opened my eyes to various ways of lives even within the Muslim community. Makes me wonder sometimes why Saudi Arabia can't learn a thing or 2 from its neighbours. Anyway, the stay here is enriching as it exposes to a way of life that is vastly different from what the rest of the world is exposed to.

Right now, sales are on. Every mall/shop is boasting massives reduction in prices. I have tried to spend my wkends shopping but to no avail. I am finding it highly inconvenient to buy garments without being able to try them on. Of course, I could buy them, get home, try them on, and return for something else. But why should I buy something for the sake of it? I have yet to find a way out of this. Perhaps I should begin asking for changing rooms within the room and demand a refund if the outfit doesn't fit.

As I type this, I am waiting for the husband to get home to start playing the newly acquired wii.

Till I get more stories to share, adios