Desert Life: What They Don't Know

Riyadh City at dusk,
viewed at 300 m. above sea level.

When you tell people you work in Saudi, it is common to hear a reply like, 'What? Why did you choose that country!?' or 'You are too smart to work there.' or worse, 'There is no life in that place! No freedom for women like you!' 

If I were not able to stay and live in Riyadh for several years, I might believe them and really look at Saudi the way outsiders imagine it to be. Good thing, I have experienced the kingdom life first hand. Truly, it is not a paradise of freedom and nightlife, but, Saudi has so much more to offer than what meets the eye.

So, how do people living in a deserted place live life and celebrate it? Based on my personal experience, there are several attractions and activities that people enjoy. 

Take a look and discover the not-so-well-known beauty of the kingdom.

Food. Mostly, people living in the kingdom celebrate every occasion with a lot of food! For one, it is inexpensive. Grocery sales happen every single week. You will always have something good to buy with your Saudi Riyals. So cooking and trying something new has been a day-off habit of most people working here. There are also a lot of restaurants to choose from, ranging from Asian to Western to Middle Eastern cuisine. It's a multicultural nation so you wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of food choices on the menu.

People in the Kingdom loves to eat.
They enjoy having sumptuous meal after shopping,
especially during weekends.

A typical Filipino Party Buffet .
Most invited guests brings a viand or two
and share it with everyone at the party.

Gold.Gold jewelries are also part of the kingdom's many assets. Have I told that you can haggle on a gold price? Yes, you can! Gold sellers here are very friendly and accommodating. They offer their product taking into consideration the buyer's budget. And when you become their loyal customer, they will even give an instant gift or a few riyals to buy shawarma. Sounds unbelievable, but it's true! I am one lucky person to experience that myself!

Gold displays in a shop at Al Batha.

Al Batha. This is a go-to place of many Filipinos and other Southeast Asians who missed their local products. I, myself, feels excited whenever I come here. Almost everything that you have back home can be bought in Batha. There are also restaurants that serves Filipino all-time favorites like Bicol Express, Pansit Bihon, fish fillet, kilawin, Kare-Kare siopao, halo- halo, and a lot more. What makes it more of a Filipino town is the presence of a Jollibee Fast Food Store. Truly, we feel closer to home just by walking around Batha.

Even some establisments in Al Batha are named in such a way that Kabayans will feel like walking in the streets of their own country.

Amusement parks. People also enjoy strolling in the park. Amusement parks are seen everywhere in the city. Especially during colder months, families spend time relaxing at the park.

The entrance to one of the most-visited park in Riyadh City.
It is located in King Fahad Road, Riyadh.

Inside Salam Park is this beautiful artificial lake.
 It is the main attraction in the park where you can enjoy fishing and boating.

The lush green wide lawns at the park, very suitable for picnic.

Esteraha. These are private places for relaxation. Usually, a group of people will rent this place for a day or two. Here, they can enjoy the swimming pool, sing-along bars or play sports. 

Wide, green lawns provide enough space for visitors to play the sports that they love.

Women, families alike, can enjoy the esteraha all day  because of the privacy it offers to its customers.

Road Trips. This is one great adventure in the kingdom. Outside of the city are a lot of picturesque view that one would think can be a good setting for a movie or novel. Rise up early, prepare your drinking water and your up for a perfect tour of the country road.

Front view! Breathtaking rock formations, with cool music and good friends,
road trips are something we always look forward to.

Side View! The scenic mountain of rocks in Riyadh.

Another amazing view!
An herd of sheep we passed by on our way to the Sand Dunes.

An encounter with the camels.
Camels in this part of the country can freely roam around to the delight of the visitors.

Sand Dunes. Of course, the kingdom is mostly desert. So sand dunes are just so accessible. The Red Sand Dunes in Riyadh is the most visited. Its name came from the fact that this wide area is covered with red,fine grains of sand. The road going to this place is also so captivating. You'll really enjoy the view all throughout the ride. 

The Red Sand Dunes at the Northeastern part of Riyadh.

A very popular weekend or holiday destination among Saudis and expatriates who are fond of the desert

Visitors can rent an ATV to enjoy the humps and bumps of  the Red Sand.
 For the many expatriates, this is a go-to place to escape the busy streets of the city.

The Hidden Valley. It's not really 'hidden' like its name suggests. But it is only known to a few people, and a bit inaccessible to visit. But again, the trip is all worth it! It's like seeing a wallpaper in front of you. Visitors also love to have picnics under the shed. It's an escape from the busy streets of the city and its high-storey buildings. 

Looks like your desktop wallpaper? Not really! This is the view at the Hidden Valley!

Breathtaking Hidden Valley View! 

Here we are, enjoying an ice cream after a fun-filled morning! 

So if you happen to know someone working in the Kingdom, don't think that there life is all about work. More often than not, they have a lot of stories to tell. Who knows, they might be living life in a more exciting way than you do! ^^

At this point, I leave you with this realization : 

See beauty wherever you are. Even huge rocks and tons of stones can create a picture perfect view.

 In the middle of a desert is an oasis you'll surely find, when you keep looking at the bright side of life!