Camel Souq!!

Last weekend we went to go visit the Riyadh Camel Souq.  We saw 4 different types of camels and ended our tour with a camel ride.

The bus picked us up at the hospital bus stop and I met a few new friends from Australia, England & Spain.  We drove about 30 minutes until we got to the Souq.  There were so many farms that had adult & baby camels.

Camels drinking

Some of the most beautiful animals I have ever seen - their best feature...their gentle eyes and long luscious eyelashes.

Enjoying the sweet farm aromas!

These are used to hold either camel poop or hold the udders up.  I also learned that sometimes camel herders often sleep under the camel...they pitch a hammock and so that they don't get pooped/urinated on, they cover those camel parts with these sacks!

Enjoying delicious Saudi coffee and dates from the camel herders

Saudi women make handicrafts that are placed on camels and are available to be purchased by locals & tourists like us!  

Goodbye camels!

KSA - Riyadh National Museum

One of the most beautiful museums I have every seen is located in Riyadh city.   Inside the National Museum, Riyadh, you can find a captivating display of Saudi Arabia's culture in past and present forms. There are different types of antiques, manuscripts, documents and display boards that showcase an era.

  Walking through The National Museum was like taking a walk through Arabia's rich history and the evolution of its culture.


The Saudi National Museum, is part of The King Abdul-Aziz Historical Center.  It was built to celebrate 100 years since the Saudi Unification.  The museum covers 28,000 square meters and includes exhibition halls, featuring artifacts, documents, manuscripts, display boards, multi-media presentations, films and documentaries which take you through Arabian history.

Palace corridors..incredible

 look what I found..ancient gold .. jewelry and coins

The museum takes you through history as it displays major influences which shaped Arabia and eventually the unification.. Pre-Islamic Era, Arabian Kingdoms, The Prophet's Mission, Hajj & The Two Holy Mosques, Unification of the Kingdom, First & Second Saudi States, Islam & the Arabian Peninsula.

Lush gardens inside and outside the palace grounds, this is where families gather on cool desert nights enjoying late dinners.  

The KSA Riyadh National Museum is a must for any traveller to Riyadh.. highly recommended!

First Week in Beautiful Riyadh!

Finally landed in Riyadh!!!

At the airport we were greeted by King Faisal Research Hospital staff.  You know when you are getting off the plane and you see people holding name cards for other passengers and you secretly wish it was your name?  Well that is how we were greeted!  What wonderful hospitality.  I got a SIM card for my phone right at the airport - which was so convenient and the driver loaded our luggage and with my apartment key in hand we headed off to KFRH!

We arrived around 5 am to the apartment, unpacked, and at 11:30, I was greeted by the program coordinator Ruby who brought coffee and Dunkins Donuts (exactly what we needed).  My orientation began soon after.  Ruby took me around to see the hospital facilities and showed me the Training and Development center where I am currently teaching.   It really is wonderful to have some one show you around! I spent the first week - getting my ID badge, social club membership, access to logins, touring facilities, meeting other faculty, getting my internet and cable set up.. so much accomplished in one week!  Thanks Ruby!

King Faisal Research Hospital!  WOW
A large facility, with a very diverse employee population.  I believe that you can find almost every single nationality working here.  Marble floors and long hallways, several eating facilities, salons, convenience store, employee social club, swimming pools for staff, gyms...these are only some of the amenities provided here.  I find the hospital to be unique and welcoming - it seems as though there are thousands of employees working here.  It is like a city within a city..

   

I am sure that many of you are wondering.. do you have to wear the abaya?  The answer is yes!  In the hospital, I wear a lab coat over my clothing but, I do also have to dress modestly as it is an Islamic country.  Alot of the women here also cover their faces revealing only beautiful brown middle eastern eyes.  Karen lent me her abayas to wear until I got my own!  Shopping for Abayas is another thing all together.  I thought - how difficult can it be to buy an abaya?  But...I have been to over 20 abaya stores and have yet to find a couple that I can truly be happy wearing - there are so many designs and they vary in cost...anywhere from 80 riyals up to 6000 riyals!  ( 1 Canadian Dollar = 3.75 Riyals).  I figure, if I am going to buy an abaya - I want to go allll out!  I will keep you posted on my first abaya purchase!

I got to meet my students the day after I arrived.  They were so wonderful - 7 women and 3 men.  All are hospital employees completing the Exec Admin program offered through Niagara College at the hospital.  This will be my second week teaching them and I am enjoying them more and more each day.

Stay tuned for my next blog about seeing some old friends who I missed dearly and all of the wonderful places they took us to in just one week!

Also...stay tuned for the Camel Souq (Camel market!), Riyadh tour, seeing the Edge of the World!

I will leave you with photo of the week.....Can you guess what I am holding?!

Evil Eyes...Istanbul Airport

After a very interesting flight on Turkish Airlines, I finally landed in Istanbul!

I would have loved a wait time between my flights that was long enough to leave the airport and be able to walk around the streets of Istanbul, but unfortunately....I only had a 4 hour until my flight to Riyadh.  Istanbul's airport was unique..there was a bazaar where they gave away all different kinds of turkish delight! Naturally, I tried each one...more than once!!! LOL

Evil Eyes..
Call it superstitious, but I never felt safer than when I walked into the Bazaar and saw hundreds of blue eyes looking at me..thats right..the Evil Eyes..  They were on wall decorations, bracelets, pottery, bookmarks, mousepads, ipad covers, you name it.  So if you ever feel the need to keep evil away from you, look no further..just fly to the Turkish airport and stock up.  They were so beautiful - almost all were an Azurian blue..

Turkish Ice Cream..
Of course..I had to try it when I saw the man using this long utensil to stir the ice cream and then place it on the cone so perfectly!  I tried Pistachio Turkish Ice Cream..it was fabulous..

Loved the Turks at the airport..but I am excited to land in Riyadh!  Off we go!

Getting ready for Riyadh!

If you saw me during the last three weeks before leaving Canada for Saudi Arabia - then you will know  what a busy time it was for me!   I tried to see my friends, finish my work and most importantly...spend time with my family.

I guess so many things ran through my mind leaving everything I love behind to take on this wonderful opportunity to travel and see Saudi Arabia.

While I was planning my travels..I decided that I was going to take a few extra months for self 

discovery and personal development.  Even though I have been fortunate to see so many countries around the world, I feel that life is just too short not to see the rest of it.

I hope you join me over the next few months while I travel to different parts of the world!  My first adventure begins where I will be working at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia!