Every Other Weekend Fun

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Thursday May 10th and Friday May 11th, 2012


What do you know about "sid"? Lucky for most of you.....probably not a lot but since I am becoming more acquainted with it let me share a little information about. Sid, short for siddque (an Arabic word that means "my friend") is the black market, home brewed alcohol that you will find on many western compounds here in Riyadh. I have to say, as long as you mix it right (as in with lots of juice and stuff like that) it tastes just like real alcohol. However, I find that the next day (or sometimes in the early hours of the morning) "sid" leaves a lasting impression in the form of the worst headache in the history of the world (mine woke me up at about 0430 and lasted until 0830 when I was finally able to go back to sleep). Anyway, "sid" was an important guest on this Thursday afternoon/evening.


My friend Coralie (who works with me in the hospital) is leaving so it was time for a Masalama (that's goodbye). Lucky for all of us, she isn't actually leaving the country, just our unit so it really was just more of an excuse for a bunch of people to get together and have a poolside BBQ.


Coralie technically lives in MCV (the hospital complex I live in) but actually lives at the nearby Al Khuzama compound with her boyfriend. That meant western style fun for the rest of us.

Lola and Coralie preparing food and drinks early in the day.

Dan making Pina coladas. They were so good.....probably a little too good.

A little fun by the pool.

The day started at about 1400 (2pm) with some drinks and some swimming but went well into the night with a BBQ and more drinks. Lola (another girl I work with)and I had to take a nap at one point in time (we've both been on night shifts and our internal clocks are not treating us very well at all) but other than that, it was a good time had by all.

Lola and Tamara (who also works on C3) enjoying the evening.

Dan and Coralie. The pool never closes so late night swims were in order.

A bunch of the nursing girls at the party. Most of us work on C3. Lola, Yin Yin, Tanya (the one non C3 staff member), Laura, Marta, Coralie, Me and Naomi.

Eventually we had to head home (after a long wait for a taxi ride). Our weekend was not over. Friday afternoon many of us headed off to the Hash. It was a very warm day and the group was small but it was a nice afternoon in the desert. Lola actually didn't make it after she got in a vehicle with an old couple, who had no idea where they were going. They got lost so ended up just going home. Naomi and I did make it and met up with Coralie and a few others out in the desert.

It's nice knowing people with cars and camping gear etc. We had a very nice shaded area set up. Yes, there are a couple boys in pink shirts. Today the Hash was raising money for breast cancer research so everyone was asked to wear something pink.

Heading out on the long walk. No one wanted to do the long walk on this day (they say due to the heat, I think it was hang overs from the night before) however Tony (in the white hat and billabong shirt) and I gutted it out and did the long walk. So glad we did too.

The other brave souls heading up on the long walk.

Watch the ledge.  Pretty narrow spot to walk along but really good.

Ummmm yeah it really is that steep. The worst part of the hike. Once up at the top though it was perfect. A nice breeze and flat path and then nothing but downhill.

At the top. No that is not my hat. I totally forgot mine but borrowed it from one of the guys (who didn't do the walk at all and was under the shade the whole time so didn't need it) and was very glad I had it. I also had to borrow some sunscreen from Naomi. I was not very prepared for this Hash.

Heading back down the hill. It was a very nice trip down.

Once the walk was done it was BBQ time (again....and of course one of the best parts of the hash). Always some good food and good conversation. Eventually the sun goes down and we had to head back home.

And that summarises another weekend of fun here in Riyadh. Never a dull moment.

Julie

Hail...No Rain......Wait....I'll Take a Sand Storm Please

Graffiti Rock, Outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Friday, April 13th, 2012


Well today is Friday the 13th so I thought it was about time that I headed out on a Hash again. I know it's been like 2 months but I've been busy. Plus after my trip to the Edge of the World I have learnt NOT to go hashing when I'm hungover. Yes, I did attend another Marine House Party last night, but we went home relatively early and I was looking forward to being outdoors for a few hours.


The trip out was very interesting. Once I found a ride, along with Katie (another girl from my nurse orientation group) with Andy and Sharyl (think Charle but in a french accent) we started the roughly 1.5 hour drive to the Hash site. While on that that ride we drove through sun and rain and sand storms and hail and sometimes all of those at the same time. We also found ourselves in a very small little village after we missed a turn (pretty sure the Saudi man who waved at us from his doorway as the hail was falling was not sure what all us westerners were doing in his little 2 house town).


Eventually we made it to Graffiti Rock and got signed in and paid our fee etc. Katie and I decided to head up Graffiti Rock while we waited for everything to get started. Graffiti Rock is an area that is about 5000 years old and so named for the markings on the rocks. Not sure you can authenticate them all but always interesting to see. The area is also home to some old tombs, one of which is circular and the other a line tomb. As I'm sure you know the information we receive at these sights is pretty limited but I did learn that much. Not much info when I googled it either but here are some pictures from the day.

From the top of Graffiti Rock. That's a kite coming out of that guys head, being flown down below by my friend Coralie.

A look at that little village we found ourselves in a little bit earlier. Ok. maybe it is more than 2 houses (but not more than 4) but still very small.

After going up Graffiti Rock we climbed the adjacent hill to check out the tombs. This is close to one of those tombs.

That's Graffiti Rock and all the cars at the site. Not a huge turn out today. I think the strange weather caused some people to turn back.

A look at that circular tomb.

And this is the line tomb.

Camels!!! Have I mentioned that I really like camels? These ones must have belonged to the houses or village near by as they were just wandering around. Camels tend to return home (some sort of internal homing beacon) so no concerns they were lost. I like the little ones. So cute.

A look at some of that ancient graffiti. Don't ask me what it says.

The walk was pretty quick and lucky for us no more rain appeared and we were able to enjoy some decent weather. And then we heard the words you don't want to hear while in the middle of the desert "SAND STORM, SAND STORM, SAND STORM". And what a sand storm it was. I never knew that a wall of sand could move so quickly but it was on top of us in about 5 minutes. Needless to say it made the drive home interesting. Most of us were not sure what to do once we were inside the storm. Driving conditions were similar to winter white out conditions back home. Very difficult to see anything. For a bit all the hash cars just sat off the road until it appeared apparent that it was not going to clear up anytime soon. So in a convoy of slow moving vehicles with 4 way flashers on, we made our way onto the highway and back to Riyadh.

Sand storm on the horizon. I thought they were clouds until we were warned about the storm heading our way.

Didn't take long for that wall of sand to over take the rock itself.

Yes, many of us stopped to take pictures. How could you not? It really was cool to see.

Many of us tried to outrun it. It was not going to happen. In a few seconds the storm completely engulfed us and the world turned that eerie orange colour I posted pictures of a few weeks ago. Not very long after that it just went dark as the sun went down. It was a very interesting drive back into town.

 The drive, nothing short of interesting along with the weather. Super glad I made the trip out. Can't see me experiencing anything like that anytime soon.


Julie

Eerie everytime.

Visiting The Edge of the World

The Edge of The World, Saudi Arabia
Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Hash Friday arrived again and after another night at Eskan (don't worry, I'll tell you all about Eskan another day) it came a little to early. I decided however that no matter how tired and well, probably still a little drunk I felt, I was still getting up and going on the Hash. Plus I had made arrangements that night before for a ride, and he kind of needed me to be his "Plus-one". Ok a short introduction, Eskan is a US Military Compound here in Riyadh (home to the Army and the Air Force.....the Marines are in the Diplomatic Quarter and the Navy is in Bahrain or someplace with water) and when they leave the compound to go anywhere there needs to be at least 2 people in the vehicle. Nate, an Army Medic who was planning to head to the Hash (his girlfriend also works at King Faisal but didn't come out to Eskan this weekend), needed to get to the pick-up spot and so did I so I was his "Plus-one" and everything worked out.

This week's Hash took us to a location called The Edge of the World. It has a very good reputation of being a fabulous spot. There was concern that we couldn't go there anymore because the area was closed but turns out it has only been closed to Saudi citizens. Apparently they like to use it as a source of firewood and the government has named it a protected area. There are still many Bedouin in the area (those would be semi-nomadic people who live in the desert) so you could see why firewood is needed.....with the lack of trees and everything.

Anyway, The Edge of the World is a lot farther away than most of the other Hash trips which meant we had to leave Eskan at 0730......which was a little early considering I only went to bed at about 0530. They don't go to Edge of the World very often however, so I sucked it up and made the trip. A full 2 hour drive by the way.

I was kind of hoping we were heading up that way, but it was here that we left the road and hit the desert. Good thing the guys at Eskan are issued big 4 wheel drives. We were entertained the whole drive out by a couple of the tiny little cars that took and the risk and made the drive. I was impressed that none of them got stuck.

My view from behind Nate. A few seconds after I took this the dust got really bad and the path disappeared. Once again very happy I can't drive.

About 40ish minutes of desert driving (and a few wrong turns that we can't blame Nate for since we all thought he was following someone who had a map) we arrived at our destination. A short climb up and we got to see what everyone talks about.

Not quite at the top but the reason why they call it the Edge of the World.

A few steps behind me it is straight down.

Not at all what I expected to find in the desert.

Ok there is a whole lot of world left to look at but it is a very steep drop off and a long way down.

We were heading out to that point.

About half way to the edge. A really amazing spot.

A little bit closer to the edge.

This is Amber (Nate's girlfriend.....from Toronto by the way).....and those are a few fellow hashers behind us. Always a friendly group.

As close to the edge as I was getting.

Ok, so I got a little closer and Nate took forever taking this picture. Vertigo is just about to set in.

We had to be out by 1600 (4pm) or risk being locked in for the night so we cut our socializing pretty short after the hike. It was still 2 hours back to Riyadh from this location and we were all a little tired. Nate, Amber and I did make one more stop before they dropped me off at home...McDonald's Drive-Thur. Pretty much just like home......except that you can order a McArabia......and it's a whole lot cheaper. Hit that spot on this day.

And my desert adventure continues.

Julie

Going on the Hash

Somewhere Outside Riyadh (It's a secret)
Friday, January 27th, 2012

Today I took part in my very first Hash Run. For those of you who do not know, the Hash is an activity (that you will find in many different countries around the world) that involves getting directions to a secret location, joining a bunch of other people there and then going for a hike/walk/run through the desert.

There are a few rules........the largest being is that you cannot be a national of the country you are in.....as in your must be an expatriate. So for example....if you are a Saudi Arabian citizen, you cannot attend, but since I am a Canadian citizen I am more than welcome.

Of course there is a big challenge since we (as in women) are not allowed to drive, so if you want to attend The Hash, you just send an email to the hash ride people and tell them you need a ride. There is a pick-up spot just down the street from my place (outside the hospital) where you can meet and find a ride. Others going to the Hash who can drive (like men) volunteer to drive people to and from.

Watching some of the scenery fly by the window.....very, very quickly.

So a bunch of us from our GNO (that's General Nursing Orientation) decided to go this week ( a few had gone last week as well) so we met at the required spot and hopped in with Ewen (pronounced like U.N.) from Scotland who drove 5 of us out. It was a very interesting ride to say the least. Traffic here is pretty crazy and then we hit some very not so paved roads. The drivers get a not very accurately hand drawn map to the location so getting there is half the fun.

A little video of the the drive. All part of the experience.

Once you reach the hash location, you need to sign out (very important) so they know who and how many people are on the trail (of course when you get back it is also very, VERY important to sign in or they will think you are missing), pick which trail you want to do (the short walk, the long walk or the run) and then after some speeches etc. everyone heads out. Of course there are "hares" on the trail who lead the way and a few who will check up on you as the walk progresses. One of them is also required to carry the full first aid kit and that kind of thing.

A look at a few of the vehicles also heading to the hash. At this point in time no one was sure if this was the spot or not. It wasn't here but there was a little gate everyone had to go through, but it was full of soft sand and a little car had gotten stuck. No rules as to the vehicles that you need to get to the spots but I totally recommend something large, preferably with four wheel drive.

Basically you can walk as slow or as fast as you want, take pictures, meet new people (actually that is a requirement), stop for some oranges about half way through and then finish. When you get back to the parking lot people do different things. Many of the drivers bring out food and drinks, some have fires, almost all will sit and socialize for at least a few minutes. Today the group was celebrating Australia Day so there was a BBQ (only cost 10 SR.....a very cheap meal, even though my time in the Northern Territory means I don't really celebrate the holiday) and it seemed many people were taking part.

That's Carol and Sameera heading to find a bathroom....A.K.A up over the hill and behind a bush.

When the sun goes down the temperature gets a lot cooler and that is usually the first cue people take to start making our way home. Not to worry, whoever you came with will also take you home so there is no concern you will be trapped in the desert.

Our ride. I took a picture of it so we would remember where to come back to.

As I read this I realise it doesn't sound like much but it really is a very important part of Riyadh socializing.....especially for women. As no Saudis are allowed, Saudi rules do not apply. We can wear what we want and we can talk to who we want. For a few hours, it's like being back home.......except in the middle of the desert.

Heading out on the hike. That's Carol in front of me, as well as a whole bunch of other people. A pretty good hike. 

Part way through the hike. Not what you might expect from the desert. Not as flat and boring as they show in the movies.

You actually had to be a little bit careful on some stretches. These aren't marked and smoothed out trails. Just areas that at least one person has walked through before. Lots of loose rocks though so you had to watch your step.

Carol and I find this nice sandy spot just before the end of the hike. It was so nice and soft. Like a beach just without the water.

Carol and I enjoying the sun.

Carol liked this one. You can see the contrast in how much sun we get. HAHAHA......poor Irish girls.

Watching the sun begin to dip below the rocks. Such a beautiful spot.

It is a weekly event (there is also a Hash on Thursday) so it will be easy to say that attendance will be common. They also organize trips to other countries. Many are heading to Lebanon in a few weeks to do some skiing. I didn't realise you could ski in Lebanon. I can't go for two reasons. The first is I'm working. The second is I'm not allowed to leave the country until my 90 day probation period is up.

A great day, a great little hike and a great place to meet a few new people. Looking forward to the next one.

Julie