Crackling mud

Shwarma chefs hard at work - Riyadh

Late-night shwarma restaurant - Riyadh

Kabsa rice being served - camping style

Kapsa rice being served - camping style
Originally uploaded by BoydJones

During the picnic, the kabsa was served on the ground (on top of a carpet, then plastic, then tin foil) after which we ate "con mucho gusto" with our right hands (as per tradition).

Saudi Life Hack - #8 - 02.08.09

When in the desert with no soap, use sand to rip the grit off of your hands (washing off with water).

Taliah Street + Farouqe = Mo'hiat

New Year's Resolutions / Wish List for Riyadh and Saudi Arabia in 2009

1. Purchase road sweeping / cleaning machines and hire people to operate them daily.

2. Hire more traffic police to enforce traffic laws.

3. Start a campaign to encourage people to fasten seat belts in the front seat.

4. Start a campaign to encourage people to use baby seats and not sit with babies in the front seat

5. Start planning public transportation – busses, subways, light rail – this will also boost the economy too.

6. Start a recycling program citywide. More jobs.

7. Curb the feral cat population. More jobs.


For the entire super sunny Gulf and Middle East:

* Implement a solar energy program - did you know Israel has solar water heaters on every rooftop?

Randow walk through Riyadh

Riyadh - October 2008 Photo Album

Riyadh - October 2008

Stray garbage cats of Riyadh

Feral garbage cats of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Juices + Pink Pickled Stuff

Wonderful juices at a Lebanese restaurant. Plus some pickled pink stuff. And a setting sun and the breaking of Ramadan fast upon the customers.

The exotic (to some extent) juices are a real treat after a day of fasting and due to the general desert dryness of Riyadh.

I had some of the raisin juice. Yes, raisin juice. They take raisins and rehydrate them. Then create a juice. I did not care for it. Sicky sweet. A bit like cough syrup. However, I am told it is an acquired taste.

My favorite is a mix of kiwi and orange.

Siwak

During Ramadan, some people purchase small fragrant twigs called "siwak". Below I have a high-end version. The idea is to brush one's teeth during the daylight fasting hours to keep "fasting breath" away.


 
 
 
 

Pickled pink something-or-other in Lebanese restaurant

Pickled pink something-or-other in Lebanese restaurant
Originally uploaded by BoydJones

Setting sun through Lebanese restaurant

Setting sun through Lebanese restaurant
Originally uploaded by BoydJones

One can see the setting sun and people lining up to buy food for the breaking of the Ramadan fast.

Arabic sweets in Riyadh

Arabic sweets (3)
Originally uploaded by BoydJones

A friend took me to one of the best desert shops in Riyadh (I'll get the name later). He loaded me up on a variety of sweets. Yum!

Combo Arabic, South Asian and Sudanese meal

Combo Arabic, South Asian and Sudanese meal
Originally uploaded by BoydJones

Unfortunately, this meal bought at three different greasy spoon restaurants in Riyadh made me very ill -- right before an international flight.

But it tasted good going down...

Kingdom Tower from close up

Drive to Riyadh's First Chinese Restaurant.

Slice of life view of a drive to Riyadh's First Chinese Restaurant:

Crossing the bridge between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia

Camels & Convoy

Surreal juxtaposition -- Nik playing Convoy while we pass camels in Saudi Arabia on the way to Bahrain.