16 February 2010

Carletonville

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Office Admin

The weather would rate pretty high – I love the sun. And also the shopping malls are out of this world. Some items cost the same as in SA, but others are really cheap. There is also no income tax in Saudi Arabia, which makes a difference ! Oh yes, and petrol costs R1.20 a litre, not that it helps me because women are not allowed to drive!

Saudi Arabia is a totally Muslim country. Because of this, women must wear the abaya (the long black Muslim dress) in public. Western women are not required to cover their heads or faces, although some feel more comfortable doing so.

1.The modern city of Riyadh is surrounded by desert and there are many 4x4 drives to places of interest or just simply to experience the desert. 2. A little further afield is the ancient city of Mada’n Saleh which is carved from the rock and a miniature of Petra in Jordan. 3. 40 minutes outside Riyadh, if one is very lucky in the spring (and patient – one sometimes has to sit for a whole day), the wild iris plants open, suddenly, and carpet the desert with their azure beauty. 4. The city itself hosts ancient Arabic buildings next to gleaming glass skyscrapers – Kingdom Tower is the best known of the modern additions. The view from the top is stunning, the whole city laid at one’s feet.