tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69786759342520495702024-03-15T13:38:28.228+05:00Ersatz ExpatCoping With Expat Life in Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Elsewhere.Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-23523582384319094802019-03-29T15:49:00.002+06:002019-03-29T15:52:41.304+06:00Maden Saleh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Maden Saleh has been in the news a lot recently (at least here in Saudi Arabia). Most people will have heard of Petra, the famous Nabatean site in
Jordan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly Jordan is not a place we
have ever been able to visit, although it is on our bucket list, but we hear
from people who have been there that Petra is a truly amazing location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maden Saleh is its ‘little sister’, the
second and southernmost city of the Nabatean empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQVyhHqBCTo/Wyz7TsaZODI/AAAAAAAAD8U/4vWcoigq-VAFuQ3ZsImEZx_RkOVybcUSwCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN8217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Al Ula" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQVyhHqBCTo/Wyz7TsaZODI/AAAAAAAAD8U/4vWcoigq-VAFuQ3ZsImEZx_RkOVybcUSwCEwYBhgL/s320/DSCN8217.JPG" title="Maden Saleh" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B4EALutDO9c/Wyz8pMbFGqI/AAAAAAAAD80/MM5dEoXbQDIx6oXBCllTDNnJ1upKNiA7ACEwYBhgL/s1600/FNUY5737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Al Ula" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B4EALutDO9c/Wyz8pMbFGqI/AAAAAAAAD80/MM5dEoXbQDIx6oXBCllTDNnJ1upKNiA7ACEwYBhgL/s320/FNUY5737.jpg" title="Maden Saleh" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had wanted to visit this mysterious place, 800 kilometres
to the north of Jeddah and close to the town of Al Ula for some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little while ago we heard that it had been closed but nothing ventured nothing win and a request to the Royal
Commission for Al Ula for a permit for a weekend visit proved fruitful.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFDxc8xuHgk/Wyz193_7xPI/AAAAAAAAD68/JqiPaFD6D9UH4YHt5Z9oD3SdFAz_bAQUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/DNSV4875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Al Ula" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFDxc8xuHgk/Wyz193_7xPI/AAAAAAAAD68/JqiPaFD6D9UH4YHt5Z9oD3SdFAz_bAQUQCEwYBhgL/s320/DNSV4875.jpg" title="Maden Saleh" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pRfDBIn5fLg/Wyz18nkC6iI/AAAAAAAAD6w/gSdXteDbx803DBY8FcacDBhV2ubClxvyQCEwYBhgL/s1600/DNER4165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Al Ula" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pRfDBIn5fLg/Wyz18nkC6iI/AAAAAAAAD6w/gSdXteDbx803DBY8FcacDBhV2ubClxvyQCEwYBhgL/s320/DNER4165.jpg" title="Maden Saleh" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The drive north was long, over eight hours in total, but not
dull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The costal motorway up to Yanbu
soon gave way to smaller but well-maintained roads into the interior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Camels, a significant hazard, wandered in
front of the car and we moved from the flat scrub to mountains to stony desert
to true sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, by the end
of the journey our hotel, nestled in a canyon, was a welcome relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LF_TJY37sAA/Wyz_bjYgbBI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/wquZuP6OlEkg1v-6dji_xYgdeoM4M-bpwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LF_TJY37sAA/Wyz_bjYgbBI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/wquZuP6OlEkg1v-6dji_xYgdeoM4M-bpwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_5838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n8uIADXG6Dk/Wyz9LLmibII/AAAAAAAAD9E/-_tblXTqSRQMSdv74DGpVhWPn2CELrB1wCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n8uIADXG6Dk/Wyz9LLmibII/AAAAAAAAD9E/-_tblXTqSRQMSdv74DGpVhWPn2CELrB1wCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_5738.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next morning, we were up early to beat the heat and make
our way to the Maden Saleh complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first thing to greet us was a railway station – Al Ula was a major station on
the Ottoman sponsored/German built Hejaz railway (of T E Lawrence fame).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was here that three great Hajj routes met
and pilgrims took a break to restock their supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Germans built not only a station but a
complex of outbuildings and an engine shed a the location and these have all
been lovingly restored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some engines
have also been fixed up and proved a big draw for the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2ueAFl5OQE/Wyz3pqbLoCI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/cbdm0zinJRQgLizGDI_wSI5VZvNxeWjPgCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN8154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hejaz Railway" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2ueAFl5OQE/Wyz3pqbLoCI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/cbdm0zinJRQgLizGDI_wSI5VZvNxeWjPgCEwYBhgL/s320/DSCN8154.JPG" title="Hejaz Railway" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kIoFLMDTIGw/Wyz43aBE_dI/AAAAAAAAD7w/D_y6-ZkYvn8IMu5630_1gTGv8ceVERPLACEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN8160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hejaz Railway Station" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kIoFLMDTIGw/Wyz43aBE_dI/AAAAAAAAD7w/D_y6-ZkYvn8IMu5630_1gTGv8ceVERPLACEwYBhgL/s320/DSCN8160.JPG" title="Hejaz Railway Station" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The engine shed has been fitted out as a museum showcasing
the history of the railway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funded by
subscriptions from the Muslim faithful around the world it must have made the
difficult journey to Makkah so much easier and the photos of the inauguration
ceremonies at different stations along the line show the real pride that those
who worked on the project had in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had not seen any sections of the railway before (although I once lived next to
that other Ottoman/German rail collaboration the Berlin Baghdad line) but my
father, who was visiting us, had been to a museum of the railway in Syria in
happier times for that nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the railway we walked over to an Ottoman fort – small
it might be but this fort was strong, well designed and built around a well
which must have made it a fabulous stronghold in the old days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it is set to a more peaceful purpose and
serves as a museum of the Hajj.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The well
is said to be the well of the she -camel who is connected to the story of the
Prophet Saleh and the rather unpleasant people of Thamud (Maden Saleh) as
narrated in the Koran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cM1aW6SWOUk/Wyz153JTigI/AAAAAAAAD6s/RrcEg_B0lXQdoWqqvNoOttu6RwKlpXjWgCEwYBhgL/s1600/AVRY7975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cM1aW6SWOUk/Wyz153JTigI/AAAAAAAAD6s/RrcEg_B0lXQdoWqqvNoOttu6RwKlpXjWgCEwYBhgL/s320/AVRY7975.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmOkDHwz1QY/Wyz6DN5yxoI/AAAAAAAAD8A/DAh8Czco-yM6GGYMKePXi6Z25Jwk6Q6YwCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN8187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Museum of Hajj" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmOkDHwz1QY/Wyz6DN5yxoI/AAAAAAAAD8A/DAh8Czco-yM6GGYMKePXi6Z25Jwk6Q6YwCEwYBhgL/s320/DSCN8187.JPG" title="Museum of Hajj" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Little remains of the town of Maden Saleh but the site is
famous for its tombs (it boasts over 130 carved into the rock hillsides, many
more depressions are cut out of the tops of the rocks as well, - possible
pauper graves perhaps).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We looked around
some of the smaller tombs before walking over to the main complex in the hill
underneath the chamber of the girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
story is that the chamber is so named because a princess was locked up there by
her father as punishment for her refusal to marry the man of his choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nSgD24mTdiQ/Wyz6EMaZbKI/AAAAAAAAD8E/KBAv80A2EooO5Hs-0ign2qyuH0X-hI_CwCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN8212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maden Saleh" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nSgD24mTdiQ/Wyz6EMaZbKI/AAAAAAAAD8E/KBAv80A2EooO5Hs-0ign2qyuH0X-hI_CwCEwYBhgL/s320/DSCN8212.JPG" title="Al Ula" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWnCGEFF20g/Wyz8mInhDYI/AAAAAAAAD8w/zBgtUrkeZ98bL_9_a3k7xc6FOiZm-e2PgCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN8236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maden Saleh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWnCGEFF20g/Wyz8mInhDYI/AAAAAAAAD8w/zBgtUrkeZ98bL_9_a3k7xc6FOiZm-e2PgCEwYBhgL/s320/DSCN8236.JPG" title="Al Ula" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MIFLIYtbjZE/Wyz9KcZDlII/AAAAAAAAD9A/KUA-HHaVPnsU-rmGYAwd4hClOH29AV-0ACEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN8242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maden Saleh" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MIFLIYtbjZE/Wyz9KcZDlII/AAAAAAAAD9A/KUA-HHaVPnsU-rmGYAwd4hClOH29AV-0ACEwYBhgL/s320/DSCN8242.JPG" title="Al Ula" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Tombs are carved into every section of this
hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many are topped by a face which we
were told represented Baal and an eagle which represents Dushra, the supreme
god of the Nabatean religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eagles
have been beheaded but other than that much of the carving survives including
many inscriptions, written in Aramaic, showing who built and is interred in the
tombs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGt4ntBUuZE/Wyz-BNtoccI/AAAAAAAAD9s/CwESGgBSTfoaBVJQtAwSeeIOSHoz4hTHwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maden Saleh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGt4ntBUuZE/Wyz-BNtoccI/AAAAAAAAD9s/CwESGgBSTfoaBVJQtAwSeeIOSHoz4hTHwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_5759.JPG" title="Al Ula" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Lel_3a3m40/Wyz-IacsdkI/AAAAAAAAD90/0Lw9TdTLlmMS8pAMQAbLS0SLHE2hkGQ9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Lel_3a3m40/Wyz-IacsdkI/AAAAAAAAD90/0Lw9TdTLlmMS8pAMQAbLS0SLHE2hkGQ9gCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_5781.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A little further on the Divan is also well preserved and
from there a cool, dark siq leads to spectacular red rock formations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We climbed up the hills to look at the site
before driving on to the most famous of all Maden Saleh’s tombs, the Qasr al
Farid, alone in the middle of the desert, huge and unfinished this tomb is
truly something very special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
most fascinating things about the tomb was the fact that, in its unfinished
state, it showcased the building methods of the Nabateans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stonemasons started at the top and worked
down, it is impossible to know why this tomb was never finished, what led to
its being abandoned – perhaps the untimely murder of a she camel… we will never
know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0myLiKmbzvo/Wyz-f1wN2VI/AAAAAAAAD-I/rjxU4IMExc8pMiJdOFCW5ql2B2iRsHHSwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maden Saleh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0myLiKmbzvo/Wyz-f1wN2VI/AAAAAAAAD-I/rjxU4IMExc8pMiJdOFCW5ql2B2iRsHHSwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_5795.JPG" title="Al Ula" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6h4_kgZ-1A/Wyz-egSTCGI/AAAAAAAAD-M/G7fHftajVDYNBAofGu3xhtYPUm2-L1EsQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maden Saleh" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6h4_kgZ-1A/Wyz-egSTCGI/AAAAAAAAD-M/G7fHftajVDYNBAofGu3xhtYPUm2-L1EsQCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_5798.JPG" title="Al Ula" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SmdY7asZh0/Wyz-miXoJQI/AAAAAAAAD-M/i3faO7p0268VQCTROYOqRzia3wNC1hF6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maden Saleh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SmdY7asZh0/Wyz-miXoJQI/AAAAAAAAD-M/i3faO7p0268VQCTROYOqRzia3wNC1hF6ACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_5801.JPG" title="Al Ula" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maden Saleh was one of the most unique experiences of my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it is officially a closed site
we had the whole place to ourselves, the only other time I have ever been lucky
enough to see a site without hoards of other people was a visit to <a href="http://bit.ly/1Kr0DNx" target="_blank">NemrutDag</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dry desert atmosphere and lack
of human impact (many people believe the site is cursed and so do not wish to
visit) have ensured that it is phenomenally well preserved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the infrastructure is there – the coach
parks, the (empty) shop, the bathrooms, the information plaques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With recent developments this site is now opening up again and is to be one of the cornerstones of the new tourism projects for Saudi Arabia. Indeed media is full of photographs and information about the site and a concert was held in the nearby town of Al Ula just recently.<br />
<br />
We were lucky beyond belief to see the site
as it is now, lonely, hot and unforgiving yet mysterious, beguiling and
beautiful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I2VW26bYxRg/Wyz19FsPe-I/AAAAAAAAD60/26Ob5rMbvOYjuvJgybgOVLmXE1QHmO08QCEwYBhgL/s1600/DFKA9873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I2VW26bYxRg/Wyz19FsPe-I/AAAAAAAAD60/26Ob5rMbvOYjuvJgybgOVLmXE1QHmO08QCEwYBhgL/s320/DFKA9873.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SAY8DHqduT0/Wyz15vF5wgI/AAAAAAAAD64/wM4qGU11GDwkbmy8W88ZnwrrDBmt9VC0ACEwYBhgL/s1600/BRMA1661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maden Saleh" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SAY8DHqduT0/Wyz15vF5wgI/AAAAAAAAD64/wM4qGU11GDwkbmy8W88ZnwrrDBmt9VC0ACEwYBhgL/s320/BRMA1661.jpg" title="Al Ula" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
For more posts on life in Saudi Arabia please do click on the photograph below.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com8Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250480000005220.540000000000003 37.901611300000049 22.431622 40.483398300000054tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-15856603939051054012018-03-16T02:49:00.000+06:002018-03-16T02:50:32.025+06:00How to be an Expat in Saudi Arabia: Weddings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love weddings – not only are they a celebration of the
start of a life together etc etc but they are also a fantastic insight into the
character of the people celebrating the marriage and the culture from which
they hail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were lucky enough to be
invited to weddings in Kazakhstan, Turkey and Malaysia and we have, of course,
also attended weddings in our home countries of the UK and Ireland and I have
celebrated, from afar, the weddings of many more friends around the world that
I could not manage to get to in person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-YH5HgrewU/WqracGzMkOI/AAAAAAAAD4k/iIgI3IfXGWkr36e92Tq4kLYX0gqNfd5wgCEwYBhgL/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-YH5HgrewU/WqracGzMkOI/AAAAAAAAD4k/iIgI3IfXGWkr36e92Tq4kLYX0gqNfd5wgCEwYBhgL/s320/image1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No event in Saudi is complete without coffee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most weddings involve a ceremony and a party and guests do
not, of course, always attend all parts of the event. Here in Saudi Arabia things are slightly
different in that there are two wedding celebrations – the bride’s celebration
and the groom’s celebration. A few months ago I was invited to a bride’s party – the daughter of a friend of a friend was
getting married and the mother of the bride very kindly extended an invite to
me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RQskJVnmZME/WqradgHbwZI/AAAAAAAAD4s/XqVMjz8-80gH75QeoxhAcAhp7vDreEXqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/image5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RQskJVnmZME/WqradgHbwZI/AAAAAAAAD4s/XqVMjz8-80gH75QeoxhAcAhp7vDreEXqQCEwYBhgL/s320/image5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was a little concerned about what to wear – wedding
etiquette is a minefield wherever you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My friend told me the usual dress code was anything you liked but
preferably black tie over cocktail and no need for white tie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of my black tie dresses were bought when
we lived in Kazakhstan and so are definitely not demure, I would not wear them
in mixed company here in Saudi Arabia or indeed in any Gulf country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sent some photos to my friend and, to my very great surprise, was told
they were perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XclyIohjk-Q/WqrabJI_OcI/AAAAAAAAD4c/Xj7Cs7xGHxML9RwMRQ_aTVsAHSgtz4EnwCEwYBhgL/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XclyIohjk-Q/WqrabJI_OcI/AAAAAAAAD4c/Xj7Cs7xGHxML9RwMRQ_aTVsAHSgtz4EnwCEwYBhgL/s320/image3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some things seem universal - confetti everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Weddings here are very much a late night affair. My friends and I arrived at the wedding at about 11:30pm – some of the
first to turn up. Having walked past the modesty screens that stand behind all doors to womens only areas here we discarded our abayas at the concierge and walked into a room full of
women dressed to kill and dancing the night away. All the staff, from the DJ to the waitresses
were female. Having given our
congratulations to the mother of the bride we settled down to people
watch. Women were socialising, dancing and generally having fun, none of us were really keen on dancing so we spent the time comparing wedding traditions from our respective home countries. I must admit that I still don't have a real understanding of how weddings work here - from what my friends describe a process by which the parties set out the rules of their married life and the protections and rights of the parties. The bride and groom must marry in court although there is also a religious blessing/wedding as well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRVzo0CCbIQ/WqracoHnEzI/AAAAAAAAD4w/sVHrAhYumXYozEyAQ7IqJdoCtV8UJ0ZRACEwYBhgL/s1600/image4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRVzo0CCbIQ/WqracoHnEzI/AAAAAAAAD4w/sVHrAhYumXYozEyAQ7IqJdoCtV8UJ0ZRACEwYBhgL/s320/image4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tables set up for the meal - A friend grabbed <br />
this photo just before everyone else came through.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About an hour later we got the
call to cover if we wanted to as the groom was coming (the groom attends the bride’s celebration for
a short while but the bride does not attend the groom’s). A long ululating cry sounded as the bride in
a beautiful white dress and groom in formal traditional dress started their
slow walk from the entrance to a double chair set on a stage at the front of
the room; guests threw silver confetti on the couple. There was time for photographs of the couple
with female family members and the bride and groom cut the cake and had a quick
dance before he left. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apparently cake
and a first dance are not traditional but are becoming more and more popular amongst families who spend time abroad. We were served cake and then, invited into the gardens to
enjoy a meal outside, by this time it was past 2 in the morning and I must
admit that I struggled to eat very much, for most other people, however, the
party continued in earnest. It was a wonderful
evening and a fascinating insight into an aspect of life and culture here that
I had not yet experienced. As I said I
love weddings and I wish the couple every happiness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Click on the photo below for more posts about expat life in Saudi Arabia<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com9Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-73203504335842798562017-11-17T19:40:00.000+06:002017-11-17T19:44:52.804+06:00Bessie 29 May 2001- 10 November 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those of you who read my posts from time to time might
remember our beautiful dog Bessie and the hurdles we faced <a href="http://bit.ly/2hNJmns" target="_blank">moving her </a>from
Malaysia to Saudi Arabia. Aged 15 our
brave girl survived a near mortal illness and the advance of old age to make her
way to us, finally arriving with our other dog, Perdita, on Christmas Eve. She suffered a stroke on the journey and we
were worried that she would not last long but our vet reassured us that she had
a year to go.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7SmNakmAI4/Wgr3moKG0wI/AAAAAAAAD3U/HU0bJrfDQAcFNic-Wv5aWyQAcchlV_5UgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/DSCN3994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7SmNakmAI4/Wgr3moKG0wI/AAAAAAAAD3U/HU0bJrfDQAcFNic-Wv5aWyQAcchlV_5UgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/DSCN3994.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bessie took the challenge, within a few days she was walking
again and enjoying life with her family.
Still very much top dog she brought endless joy to all of our
lives. That said over the last month she
started to sleep even more than was usual and quite obviously felt in a lot of
pain, much of the time the dementia that had started to creep in during our
time in Malaysia was very evident, she often knew me and Master EE but no one
else. Her once beautiful fur was sparse
and hard to keep clean. We spoke with
our vet who promised that he would try to find a lethal injection (they are
strictly controlled here and home deaths are difficult to arrange) The weekend
before last she seemed to be her old self again. She knew the whole family, ran around the
garden with gusto and seemed to be taking real pleasure in life. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X7MBgTdI7zw/Wgr2S6RWHzI/AAAAAAAAD24/hMfZiTl1diYN9px49fuV2Zrlgiq38rJRACLcBGAs/s1600/2008%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X7MBgTdI7zw/Wgr2S6RWHzI/AAAAAAAAD24/hMfZiTl1diYN9px49fuV2Zrlgiq38rJRACLcBGAs/s320/2008%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We thought this was probably a swansong and we were proved
right. On Tuesday last week she
collapsed in the hallway and was unable to get up without assistance. We made sure she was comfortable while we
tried to sort out the necessary end of life arrangements. We were able to spend the last few days
ensuring that someone was always with her.
A hand on her head, a comforting word in her ear. She had (turkey) ham to eat and we poured our
love into her. The night before she died
I slept with her on her bed, my head with hers the way we used to when she was
well enough to jump on our bed at night.
<br />
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dwKjiI-dNhQ/Wgr30aTPlkI/AAAAAAAAD3U/NVJOe-Q0vkYvEQqsuRQhkGCbWLep3d3rwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Warner%2BFAmily%2BDay%2Bout%2B090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dwKjiI-dNhQ/Wgr30aTPlkI/AAAAAAAAD3U/NVJOe-Q0vkYvEQqsuRQhkGCbWLep3d3rwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Warner%2BFAmily%2BDay%2Bout%2B090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She died on Friday morning, my hand on her face and my
forehead on hers the way it was at every vet visit, Mr EE holding her paw. We wrapped her up in a white tablecloth and
placed her in the bottom half of her travel crate (with live animal stickers that tore
at my heart) for transport to her grave.
The children came home and picked flowers to place over her and put in
her bowls and her favourite ‘Mr Mallard’ toy.
She is now at rest under a tree in a stable yard. A peaceful and happy spot for our beautiful
girl.<br />
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9I9bArtW-4E/Wgr3mvCSVRI/AAAAAAAAD3U/5ms4BHzU-1MPZXdPYDlR-s5BkRDLW97IgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/DSCN4003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9I9bArtW-4E/Wgr3mvCSVRI/AAAAAAAAD3U/5ms4BHzU-1MPZXdPYDlR-s5BkRDLW97IgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/DSCN4003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bessie was with us from the day after we returned from
Honeymoon more than 16 years ago, she moved with us to four different international postings, she adopted Perdie and Kismet and loved them as her own. We have had her so long that we don't even have any digital pictures from when she was a puppy, they are all, old fashioned film photos in family albums back in the UK.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmLy2wQOuw8/WSsw-cb3ChI/AAAAAAAADyY/VR9OG8FOw0EXOeADb_rO2kGww8uY_4KXACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmLy2wQOuw8/WSsw-cb3ChI/AAAAAAAADyY/VR9OG8FOw0EXOeADb_rO2kGww8uY_4KXACPcBGAYYCw/s320/2011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
She was one of the greatest joys of my
life. A support when times were hard,
unconditional love, my very best friend.
The children have never not known a life without Bessie, she loved and
guarded them from the moment they came home from hospital. They don’t quite know what to do and watching
them grieve makes our hearts break all over again. Kismet the cat, a clever creature knew the
moment Bessie died, she climbed into the crate with the body to say her
goodbyes and has stuck very close to us ever since. Perdie, who is not clever, didn’t understand
what had happened at first but has grieved for the dog who raised her ever
since. She has been extremely clingy and
has had a fair few accidents in the home.<br />
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5xL3XjJu6w/Wgr4rkbkJBI/AAAAAAAAD3g/E0Tr5Purm288V0bSR2nHE82cCKKjz7wBQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/DSCN7661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5xL3XjJu6w/Wgr4rkbkJBI/AAAAAAAAD3g/E0Tr5Purm288V0bSR2nHE82cCKKjz7wBQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/DSCN7661.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1044223993"></span><span id="goog_1044223994"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life will establish a new normal, we will have to learn how
to get along without Bess but there will never be a moment in time when we do
not feel her absence in our lives. We are so profoundly grateful to have had her for 161/2 wonderful, magical years and looking at the pictures we have of her we see they radiate a wonderful joie de vivre. I know I will see her again, her fur long and shiny, her nose wet and her tail wagging exuberantly.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hpc8VS1qEoc/Wgr2Y0DVqEI/AAAAAAAAD3E/huwnBPFWrYAFrGYawuChJDuuZ-gc3aN9gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/2014-12-28%2B02.50.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hpc8VS1qEoc/Wgr2Y0DVqEI/AAAAAAAAD3E/huwnBPFWrYAFrGYawuChJDuuZ-gc3aN9gCPcBGAYYCw/s320/2014-12-28%2B02.50.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Power of the Dog,</b> <i>Rudyard Kipling</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="CENTER" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: #000020;"><tbody>
<tr><td>THERE is sorrow enough in the natural way</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="1"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>From men and women to fill our day;</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="2"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>And when we are certain of sorrow in store,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="3"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Why do we always arrange for more?</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="4"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware</i></td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.</i></td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="6"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td>Buy a pup and your money will buy</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="7"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Love unflinching that cannot lie—</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="8"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Perfect passion and worship fed</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="9"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Nevertheless it is hardly fair</i></td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="11"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>To risk your heart for a dog to tear.</i></td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="12"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td>When the fourteen years which Nature permits</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="13"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="14"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"></td></tr>
<tr><td>To lethal chambers or loaded guns,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="16"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Then you will find—it’s your own affair</i>—</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="17"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>But … you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.</i></td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="18"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td>When the body that lived at your single will,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="19"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"></td></tr>
<tr><td>When the spirit that answered your every mood</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="21"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="22"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>You will discover how much you care,</i></td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="23"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>And will give your heart to a dog to tear.</i></td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="24"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td>We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"></td></tr>
<tr><td>When it comes to burying Christian clay.</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="26"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Our loves are not given, but only lent,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="27"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>At compound interest of cent per cent.</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="28"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Though it is not always the case, I believe,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="29"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve:</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"></td></tr>
<tr><td>For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="31"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>A short-time loan is as bad as a long—</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="32"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>So why in—Heaven</i> (<i>before we are there</i>)</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="33"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iash4IwajzY/Wgr4cyIAUPI/AAAAAAAAD3g/r7qSbdufWfsNQK0IFINj7c4eh2SJfQGpACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iash4IwajzY/Wgr4cyIAUPI/AAAAAAAAD3g/r7qSbdufWfsNQK0IFINj7c4eh2SJfQGpACPcBGAYYCw/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span id="goog_1395833678"></span><span id="goog_1395833679"><br /></span></i></div>
</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="34"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #000020;">Posted to the Animal Tales Linky hosted by the lovely Rosie.</span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #000020;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://eco-gites.blogspot.fr/p/the-animals-tale.html" target="_blank"><img alt="ANIMALTALES" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gT0ttySxugA/VGsNjdqfIcI/AAAAAAAAF8E/ALOUcdRSZTw/s1600/Animal%2BTales%2BBadge%2BFinal.jpg" /></a>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #000020;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #000020;"><span style="background-color: white;">Click on the picture for more posts about Expat Pets</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #000020;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/ersatz-guide-to-expat-pets.html" rel="nofollow" title="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets"><img alt="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JoGNLWdpXwk/VkyMe-1ECYI/AAAAAAAACZY/bWbULS7xeQg/s1600/expat%2Bpet.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #000020;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com9Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-47702953386963491952017-09-25T12:52:00.000+06:002017-09-25T12:52:40.553+06:00Riyadh Rambles: Burjairi and the National Museum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
During our trip to Riyadh earlier this year Mr EE and I followed the advice of friends and, after our visit to <a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/2017/05/riyadh-rambles-masmak-fort.html" target="_blank">Masmak fort,</a> took a car out to Burjairi, the gateway to <a href="https://scth.gov.sa/en/Antiquities-Museums/InternationallyRegisteredSites/Pages/Historical-diriya.aspx#5" target="_blank">Diriyah</a>. A short drive from the centre of Riyadh, Diriyah was the initial home
of the Al Saud family and the capital of the First Saudi State (1744). The town is in the process of being
redeveloped with the aim of turning the old capital into an open air museum. It is not yet open to the public (we had
heard that it is possible to book private tours we had not got round to
arranging something) but it is possible to view the walls from the Burjairi
quarter. Designed to manage visitors
when Diriyah is open it is a pedestrianised area with gardens and a
lot of picnic spaces it is the perfect place to while away a few hours walking and enjoying the open spaces of an evening before choosing a restaurant for supper. In truth, until the museum opens there is not really much else to do. We eschewed the highly rated Najd House restaurant with its beautiful
décor and private dining areas, mostly because although it receives rave reviews
neither of us really enjoy the traditional foods it offers. For those who do, however, it would make the
perfect place to spend an evening. We will certainly be back, probably with the children, once the museum is fully open.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88oXzGlpS4A/WcigRmi8JmI/AAAAAAAAD1c/s8y8C-z9LVgq1Am1WHTX8GKJfcTLROkygCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Burjairi, Riyadh, Diriyah" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88oXzGlpS4A/WcigRmi8JmI/AAAAAAAAD1c/s8y8C-z9LVgq1Am1WHTX8GKJfcTLROkygCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_0307.JPG" title="Burjairi Quarter, Riyadh" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burjairi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following day we decided to visit the National
Museum. The museum site is huge and sprawling, it took us half an hour to find the entrance. This highly rated museum was,
sadly, almost empty and other than a VIP guest being guided through by minders
and security, we had the place to ourselves.
Entry costs are low, SAR10 per person and allows access to all eight
exhibition halls. These encompass: Man
and the Universe, Early Arabian Kingdoms, The Pre-Islamic Era, The Prophet’s
Mission, Islam and the Peninsula, The First and Second Saudi States, The
Unification and the Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques. Again this will be a place we return to, not least because Master EE is studying neolithic life in Saudi Arabia as one of his school topics this year.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia9Fxtcdhtw/WciiSdfYCkI/AAAAAAAAD1s/quWflMj4KlwyBx4hDY29cQVF7S9PxhibwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="National museum, Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia9Fxtcdhtw/WciiSdfYCkI/AAAAAAAAD1s/quWflMj4KlwyBx4hDY29cQVF7S9PxhibwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_0401.JPG" title="national museum, Riyadh" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al the sections were interesting but the stand outs for me
were the displays about the Early Arabian Kingdoms and the Pre-Islamic
era. They were well designed and
informative. The section on the First
and Second Saudi states and the Unification were also very interesting, like
the Masmak Fort the day before it told us a lot about a period of history we
knew little about. They were not quite
as well presented or as rich in detail as the displays at Masmak, however,
which was a shame. The museum’s final
hall is dedicated to the Hajj and the two Holy Mosques and includes two huge
replicas of the Mosques. As non muslims
we are not permitted to visit Makkah or Medina so these replicas are the
closest we will get to seeing these beautiful and historic buildings. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94l2qhDtHuM/WciiPjqqVUI/AAAAAAAAD1o/ihnBAgKRFeg83X8NmYlqy7WSbjcdH-UBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94l2qhDtHuM/WciiPjqqVUI/AAAAAAAAD1o/ihnBAgKRFeg83X8NmYlqy7WSbjcdH-UBgCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibition Hall in the Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We spent a little bit of time exploring the grounds (and
sneaking a peek at the car collection of King Abdul Aziz which is housed in a
different building) before going back to the hotel to get ready for the
evening, the event which had necessitated the trip in the first place. We had hoped to have the time to see the view
of Riyadh from the Sky Bridge in the Kingdom Tower but by the time we got there
it had closed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4LLZ09swwF8/WcijjVo6LuI/AAAAAAAAD10/rg5VvfpGD8YGMwgGnc44iB6mOUXP7dGuQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="National museum, Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4LLZ09swwF8/WcijjVo6LuI/AAAAAAAAD10/rg5VvfpGD8YGMwgGnc44iB6mOUXP7dGuQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0440.JPG" title="National museum, Riyadh" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Museum Complex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We enjoyed our time in Riyadh and we will certainly return as there is lots to see and do there. Mr EE was back there a few weeks later,
however, and said that it really was not as much fun on his own, feeling rather
bleak and unfriendly. Like most places I
think, it is the people you see it with that make it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3-dZ_SPPenw/Wcik6irwQ9I/AAAAAAAAD18/0jUEQSFPqN0kDOxeSKTIJ_qhOARO6hOzgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="National museum, Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3-dZ_SPPenw/Wcik6irwQ9I/AAAAAAAAD18/0jUEQSFPqN0kDOxeSKTIJ_qhOARO6hOzgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0432.JPG" title="National museum, Riyadh" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Museum Complex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Click on the picture for more posts about life in Saudi Arabia</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com7Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-44972832174324083942017-09-04T17:22:00.000+06:002017-09-04T17:36:30.870+06:00Expat Stopovers - Sri Lanka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been a long time since my last post, the summer is
not conducive to blogging! We have had a
busy few months from the children’s school break up mid June to their going
back in a week’s time. Part of that time
included a two week holiday in Sri Lanka.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M8c-P1_-xN8/Wa01ZopT_2I/AAAAAAAAD0M/VrDad2PcQaMU94udlf6MXwLGN2z_xniEgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M8c-P1_-xN8/Wa01ZopT_2I/AAAAAAAAD0M/VrDad2PcQaMU94udlf6MXwLGN2z_xniEgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sri Lanka</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-We82ZXtH5pQ/Wa0wLoOmIcI/AAAAAAAADzw/IDnxfuc8ZEIh0WpS40bxyVEdvhUzDaCUwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sigiriya" border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="1600" height="166" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-We82ZXtH5pQ/Wa0wLoOmIcI/AAAAAAAADzw/IDnxfuc8ZEIh0WpS40bxyVEdvhUzDaCUwCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_1835.JPG" title="Sigiriya" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sri Lanka</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At just over 4 hours flight from us it makes for an ideal
expat stop over. Mr EE and I have long
wanted to visit the island and the children were won over with the many photos
of elephants. Other than a few short
breaks and trips back to the UK we have not had a family holiday for some years
and so we thought we deserved a good break.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZNeC-oWxT0/Wa0s-xhHZRI/AAAAAAAADys/2JOgnPx07ew8Levdas2mGfcwFKgdAMvuwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Viharamahadevi Park " border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZNeC-oWxT0/Wa0s-xhHZRI/AAAAAAAADys/2JOgnPx07ew8Levdas2mGfcwFKgdAMvuwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1402.JPG" title="Viharamahadevi Park " width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sri Lanka certainly delivered that, from enjoying time just
walking around the beautiful Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to the many
friendly people we met on our journeys round the island it was a relaxing and
enjoyable break.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kU14xEyQckU/Wa0tF4pSAMI/AAAAAAAADyw/Zh2aOvGjSg8bB2BtYj_CMCtRVrlsFbUOACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Elephants at Ude Walawe" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kU14xEyQckU/Wa0tF4pSAMI/AAAAAAAADyw/Zh2aOvGjSg8bB2BtYj_CMCtRVrlsFbUOACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1474.JPG" title="Elephants at Ude Walawe" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants at Ude Walawe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Colombo is not the most enticing of capital cities but we
had to spend a few days there to sort out car hire and driving licence
validation. The rest of our holiday was
spent driving around the island. We stayed
mostly in Air BNBs as we find these suit our large family and holiday style
more than a hotel. We had only one
negative experience, a villa in Kandy that we had rented as a whole house and
turned out to be a private room stay that was owned and managed by a different
person to the one who managed it on Air BNB.
The website refunded our monies almost immediately and we found a
different place to stay via a web search.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EW5eTexygdo/Wa0ts3oeQcI/AAAAAAAADy8/6lRZue73ueMpEzaJEhfLB6Da_c9VweGyACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Buduruwagela" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EW5eTexygdo/Wa0ts3oeQcI/AAAAAAAADy8/6lRZue73ueMpEzaJEhfLB6Da_c9VweGyACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1625.JPG" title="Buduruwagela" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buduruwagala</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Colombo we went to Ude Walawe for an elephant safari. This was, hands down, our favourite day of
the trip, we came close enough to these wild giants to almost touch them. It was a pleasure and a privilege to see them
in the wild, living their normal natural lives.
Another highlight of our stay there was the opportunity to see the
Buduruwagala Buddhas, a frieze of 7 Buddhas the tallest at 16m carved into a
rock face in the middle of nowhere.
These spectacular carvings are at least 1,000 years old and are still a
site of worship today. From there we drove to the mountains near
Ella, staying in Bandarawela in the mountains stopping at the spectacular
Ravanna falls for a cooling paddle and a bite to eat from a stall along the
way. This is a highlight for many people
but while we enjoyed visiting the tea plantations (including a wonderful tour
at Halpewatte that allowed us to go onto
the factory floor) and the botanic gardens at Hakgala (originally a cinchona
plantation) we were happy to move on. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KtUWv-4s5Ms/Wa0t00yBblI/AAAAAAAADzA/iqWIMpiuFuM0ocyWLlMOtYJFFE1ei3kDACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ravanna Falls" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KtUWv-4s5Ms/Wa0t00yBblI/AAAAAAAADzA/iqWIMpiuFuM0ocyWLlMOtYJFFE1ei3kDACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1546.JPG" title="Ravanna Falls" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ravanna Falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other than Ude Walawe our favourite destination was
Habarana, here we stayed at a lodge near a water tank, set in a plantation we were
able to sleep out in the open, the children loved it. We used this as a base for our visits to the
5<sup>th</sup> century citadel at Sigiriya and the abandoned monastery at
Ritigala. Sigiriya sits on top of a huge
rock projecting from the plains, my telephone told me that we climbed the
equivalent of 74 flights of stairs to get there. It was worth the climb! We took it in turns, Master EE climbed with
me while Mini EE, being too old for a carrier and too young for the precipitous
stairs, remained below with Mr and Miss EE.
We swapped after our return to the ground where Master EE and I were
more than happy to enjoy a drink of water and wander round the water and rock
gardens at the base of the hill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WyXDn8hjxHQ/Wa0tpyvWUxI/AAAAAAAADy4/ESCYVO7HfRY44A7nJc6-h8CMlRm7Ia0PACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sigiriya" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WyXDn8hjxHQ/Wa0tpyvWUxI/AAAAAAAADy4/ESCYVO7HfRY44A7nJc6-h8CMlRm7Ia0PACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1801.JPG" title="Sigiriya" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sigiriya - the citadel is on top of the rock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3M4WPNLfl0/Wa0uj-wxO4I/AAAAAAAADzI/Vh_OVFrsV-04_WyS1kx6ptrAdZISv4SpgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sigiriya" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3M4WPNLfl0/Wa0uj-wxO4I/AAAAAAAADzI/Vh_OVFrsV-04_WyS1kx6ptrAdZISv4SpgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1820.JPG" title="Sigiriya" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final climb up the lion paw staircase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeDis1bdKZc/Wa0u39j5K8I/AAAAAAAADzM/wl6rH9DmBr8gEbfZV-tI60LfeCLPhPorQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sigiriya" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeDis1bdKZc/Wa0u39j5K8I/AAAAAAAADzM/wl6rH9DmBr8gEbfZV-tI60LfeCLPhPorQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1910.JPG" title="Sigiriya" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock gardens at the base of the citadel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ritigala monastery, built in the 1<sup>st</sup> century BC
and abandoned to the forest was another fascinating day. A walk of approximately 2km into the forest
took us past a huge water tank, along a paved walkway and through courtyards
and raised meditation platforms. We got
the impression that the accessible areas form only a minute percentage of the
actual site.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-8emd0MLAs/Wa0vdn1nr0I/AAAAAAAADzU/6tIkJ_XwJRgo1Lil-v6fxRpGZke85c_EwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ritigala" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-8emd0MLAs/Wa0vdn1nr0I/AAAAAAAADzU/6tIkJ_XwJRgo1Lil-v6fxRpGZke85c_EwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1999.JPG" title="Ritigala" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ritigala monastery ruins are in the middle of the forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ysxqtYoatAI/Wa0wTtrkgVI/AAAAAAAADzs/QVlkpZgBhEsxCjPsxRIx34lFM8jOeJNUwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ritigala" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ysxqtYoatAI/Wa0wTtrkgVI/AAAAAAAADzs/QVlkpZgBhEsxCjPsxRIx34lFM8jOeJNUwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2036.JPG" title="Ritigala" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resting mid walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaPqUMf-WtQ/Wa0vlxw_A6I/AAAAAAAADzc/e9ANDmKzDOsdUjW4aUIH_9zH9EbVsQRLgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaPqUMf-WtQ/Wa0vlxw_A6I/AAAAAAAADzc/e9ANDmKzDOsdUjW4aUIH_9zH9EbVsQRLgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2124.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walk is long (2km in each direction) in the heat<br />
but relatively easy, even for little feet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While in the region we also visited the Dambulla cave
temples, another vertiginous and lengthy climb.
The temples with their many many paintings and statues of Buddha were
beautiful but not a patch on the many spectacular temples we had seen (and
lived close to) in Ipoh, Malaysia. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our final destination on this tour was the ancient capital
of Kandy, home to the Temple of the Tooth.
The temple is the most important religious site on the island and as
such is the premier tourist destination.
Other than Sigiriya we had had most of the sites we had visited to
ourselves (a perk of going in low season) but the Temple was very busy. We nevertheless enjoyed our time there, the
temple itself is beautiful (and has been restored seamlessly following the
terrorist attacks in years past). Kandy
itself is a bustling city and while there we enjoyed a local dance show (at
Miss EEs request), visited a local factory to see how local wooden masks and
other items are made and visited some of the many gem shops. Sri Lanka is famous for its gems, sapphires
in particular and the many shops selling beautiful jewellery are well worth a
look round. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eR62G-7p0xM/Wa0w7BYstFI/AAAAAAAADz4/BUPRxWydAHg-PBqVBoyHEvv166tqrL4xACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Temple of the Tooth" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eR62G-7p0xM/Wa0w7BYstFI/AAAAAAAADz4/BUPRxWydAHg-PBqVBoyHEvv166tqrL4xACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2183.JPG" title="Temple of the Tooth" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance way, Temple of the Tooth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdx8wfKeuxw/Wa0wOwM20HI/AAAAAAAADzo/h7Z2wcUPPC8oCBv1nCxYgab2ZiPdofVUQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Temple of the Tooth" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdx8wfKeuxw/Wa0wOwM20HI/AAAAAAAADzo/h7Z2wcUPPC8oCBv1nCxYgab2ZiPdofVUQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2168.JPG" title="Temple of the Tooth" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of the Tooth, all bomb damage repaired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0p8cdSuoCc0/Wa0xFq0g9bI/AAAAAAAAD0A/OVc-t5bCRF8CP3qUEIrrLsyKedDBiGH5wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0p8cdSuoCc0/Wa0xFq0g9bI/AAAAAAAAD0A/OVc-t5bCRF8CP3qUEIrrLsyKedDBiGH5wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2231.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Kandyan dancer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sri Lanka was a very friendly destination, the children,
Mini EE in particular, were welcome everywhere.
In fact Mini EE was taken off our hands for cuddles, fuss and treats pretty much as soon
as we arrived anywhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Good to know<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Remember to get visas before you travel. These are available online and generally come through within a few hours although they can take up to two days.<br />
<br />
Most visitors prefer to hire drivers. Despite a bad reputation the driving on the
island is easy and relatively safe, in fact the only really bad drivers are
those in the tourist mini busses. If you
want to drive yourself make sure you have an IDP, if you don’t (ours had
expired a few weeks before we arrived) you will need to get a Sri Lankan
driving permit, easy enough but time consuming.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t use Waze, no matter the settings it will always try to
send you down a narrow field roads and tell you to take the least direct
route possible. Google maps proved more
reliable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1878-b_vsc/Wa02K2BZNjI/AAAAAAAAD0s/UszAfcEJxF0W5kTAg_566rRi-3fR6Xw3ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1878-b_vsc/Wa02K2BZNjI/AAAAAAAAD0s/UszAfcEJxF0W5kTAg_566rRi-3fR6Xw3ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1635.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More suited to a TukTuk than a car....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you want to buy gems make sure you have the time to have
them checked by the Assay office in Colombo before you buy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sri Lanka is good value but it is not cheap compared to a
lot of south Asia. Foreigners pay
significantly over the local price to enter sites of interest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sri Lanka is, despite the monsoon, a year round
destination. European summer is monsoon
season on the west coast but dry season over on the east, this means you can
plan your trip accordingly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While famous the Elephant Orphanage at Pindawala seems to be running itself more for the benefit of the tourists who flock there than the Elephants who live there. We wish we had not gone.<br />
<br />
Click on the picture below for more posts on expat life<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/how-to-be-ersatz-expat.html" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGmuT-t4wlk/VkAC3hHmL2I/AAAAAAAACUI/iEFCct9wt60/s1600/Expat%2BLife%2BButton.png" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com24Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-66759861535596410602017-06-22T01:53:00.001+06:002017-06-22T01:53:33.658+06:00Sweet Sixteen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Bessie celebrated her 16th birthday a short while ago. Very few dogs live to see such advanced age, she was born so long ago that we did not even have a digital camera at the time. The few, precious, photos we have of her as a put are in albums in our storage container. After our long separation and her health worries last year we never thought she would not see her next birthday. When she arrived in Jeddah in December last year we thought she had joined us only to say goodbye. Since then she has shown how strong she is, she lives for the moments when the family are together and she can be with us all, she visibly deteriorates when people travel abroad, perking up again as soon as they get home.<br />
<br />
People who see Bessie now see a dog that is bent and bowed, who has hardly any fur and whose skin sits in wrinkles on her hunched and skinny frame. She was a beautiful dog in her prime and to us she is beautiful still. Our honeymoon puppy, the dog who has followed us around the world and who has helped to care for all our children. Happy birthday to the very best dog in the world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XKA94026BCs/WSswDZxp33I/AAAAAAAADxw/DgeH2JvivpU6aE6quDkzp8LlgOmUh_sPQCLcB/s1600/15940366_10154869340282203_1867348244950844091_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XKA94026BCs/WSswDZxp33I/AAAAAAAADxw/DgeH2JvivpU6aE6quDkzp8LlgOmUh_sPQCLcB/s320/15940366_10154869340282203_1867348244950844091_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4rlX-_nYkw/WSswDAJtZhI/AAAAAAAADxs/k5e-VIARQ2ot9hBbgj5KwPOndtEks-5yACLcB/s1600/IMG_9156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="960" height="238" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4rlX-_nYkw/WSswDAJtZhI/AAAAAAAADxs/k5e-VIARQ2ot9hBbgj5KwPOndtEks-5yACLcB/s320/IMG_9156.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C5-xw1-BpFc/WSswaX0Aw-I/AAAAAAAADx0/D-3aJzhlk7QWf_-o3KHx1qX4zXSj0twvwCLcB/s1600/IMG_8879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C5-xw1-BpFc/WSswaX0Aw-I/AAAAAAAADx0/D-3aJzhlk7QWf_-o3KHx1qX4zXSj0twvwCLcB/s320/IMG_8879.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pONW0MgRROI/WSsw0_LijdI/AAAAAAAADx4/4OeULr5AlQM5jMQNuoZN1tYLBeKKfSGVwCLcB/s1600/2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pONW0MgRROI/WSsw0_LijdI/AAAAAAAADx4/4OeULr5AlQM5jMQNuoZN1tYLBeKKfSGVwCLcB/s320/2007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uniXJ85KB9s/WSsw1P7BZlI/AAAAAAAADx8/9YjwzvXwJ1EZdmzrrIt7cXLvyL05ejAxwCLcB/s1600/2008%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uniXJ85KB9s/WSsw1P7BZlI/AAAAAAAADx8/9YjwzvXwJ1EZdmzrrIt7cXLvyL05ejAxwCLcB/s320/2008%2B4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8p0gqTpbuA/WSsw2SBDL0I/AAAAAAAADyA/mHLOj_L4EFIqd3C3hysoL8izO21SnTrwwCLcB/s1600/2011%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8p0gqTpbuA/WSsw2SBDL0I/AAAAAAAADyA/mHLOj_L4EFIqd3C3hysoL8izO21SnTrwwCLcB/s320/2011%2B5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmLy2wQOuw8/WSsw-cb3ChI/AAAAAAAADyM/5DiNwAJocC48Z_6e22-2K9XubN-thdmwQCLcB/s1600/2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmLy2wQOuw8/WSsw-cb3ChI/AAAAAAAADyM/5DiNwAJocC48Z_6e22-2K9XubN-thdmwQCLcB/s320/2011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xNTPnr5w_v8/WSsw4D10ivI/AAAAAAAADyE/52RsUipXEngQa3dnC9fSynmPK3oX8O69gCLcB/s1600/2014-12-28%2B02.50.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xNTPnr5w_v8/WSsw4D10ivI/AAAAAAAADyE/52RsUipXEngQa3dnC9fSynmPK3oX8O69gCLcB/s320/2014-12-28%2B02.50.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWmYkFe11vM/WSsw-QH8x-I/AAAAAAAADyQ/oK1fDguUuKYchU9Up1WAzPD6Yn7MXv6qwCLcB/s1600/2015-05-19%2B00.35.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1280" height="239" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWmYkFe11vM/WSsw-QH8x-I/AAAAAAAADyQ/oK1fDguUuKYchU9Up1WAzPD6Yn7MXv6qwCLcB/s320/2015-05-19%2B00.35.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YC1ATtR00jI/WSsw72YK_2I/AAAAAAAADyI/_OyO3nlLD50-DFqT6wQpp-wXwBs1XscwgCLcB/s1600/Bessie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YC1ATtR00jI/WSsw72YK_2I/AAAAAAAADyI/_OyO3nlLD50-DFqT6wQpp-wXwBs1XscwgCLcB/s320/Bessie.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XlE_fX2VrZc/WSsxRudxyrI/AAAAAAAADyU/DTZR_Dva2n0BYZk-_i0oW7xh2ts96KUrwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XlE_fX2VrZc/WSsxRudxyrI/AAAAAAAADyU/DTZR_Dva2n0BYZk-_i0oW7xh2ts96KUrwCLcB/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Click on the photograph for more stories about and advice on Expat Pets<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/ersatz-guide-to-expat-pets.html" rel="nofollow" title="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets"><img alt="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JoGNLWdpXwk/VkyMe-1ECYI/AAAAAAAACZY/bWbULS7xeQg/s1600/expat%2Bpet.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
Posted as part of the fabulous Animal Tales Linky<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://eco-gites.blogspot.fr/p/the-animals-tale.html" target="_blank"><img alt="ANIMALTALES" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gT0ttySxugA/VGsNjdqfIcI/AAAAAAAAF8E/ALOUcdRSZTw/s1600/Animal%2BTales%2BBadge%2BFinal.jpg" /></a></div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com9Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-33682588329480178772017-05-29T01:22:00.000+06:002017-06-22T02:12:07.407+06:00Riyadh Rambles - Masmak Fort<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Riyadh is not the first place you think of when you talk
about a romantic break. Mr EE is not
someone to do things the easy way, however, and nor, really, am I. A few weeks ago, during the school holidays, he
had an evening meeting/social event scheduled in Riyadh and I had been asked to
attend as well. The date was close to my
birthday so we decided to make a break of it.
The meeting was in the evening and not child friendly so we arranged for
someone to stay at home with the children and pets and left the house at 3am
for a romantic break in the most conservative capital in the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TATG3b3TI5w/WSsWg-PeMhI/AAAAAAAADwI/fNqV67ZxTgg15lhLT4Dd0aS7T-5fjTTYwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TATG3b3TI5w/WSsWg-PeMhI/AAAAAAAADwI/fNqV67ZxTgg15lhLT4Dd0aS7T-5fjTTYwCLcB/s640/IMG_0251.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masmak Fort, Riyadh. Where the Third Saudi State was born.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeddah is, by Saudi standards, very relaxed and
cosmopolitan. Life here is pretty easy
going but we had heard that Riyadh was much more buttoned down. When we canvassed opinions of what to see and
do we got a mixed response. Half of our
friends (local and expat) said we would be wasting our time, the other half
have us a list of must see places.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIMnwPk-VFA/WSsWfGgcXYI/AAAAAAAADwE/r-_MWqOrp3gImAnEH0mfbUQaQ-1urSP6QCLcB/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIMnwPk-VFA/WSsWfGgcXYI/AAAAAAAADwE/r-_MWqOrp3gImAnEH0mfbUQaQ-1urSP6QCLcB/s320/IMG_0259.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walls of the fort are made of Adobe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wklSGJt_Qok/WSsXpg3JshI/AAAAAAAADwQ/whXjkhdsmlc21As77waZl8-AJzTXRCFRgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wklSGJt_Qok/WSsXpg3JshI/AAAAAAAADwQ/whXjkhdsmlc21As77waZl8-AJzTXRCFRgCLcB/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior of the Fort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr EE had been a few times before, but as is typical of
business trips, had seen practically nothing of the city. The city itself reminded me very strongly of
Astana. Set on a flat plain in the
middle of nowhere with futuristic buildings.
Even the dry climate was very evocative of Kazakhstan; with a spring
temperature in the mid 30s it reminded me of Astana on a mid summer day. That is where the resemblance finishes,
however. Astana is a young city in every
sense of the word and exudes an air of fun that was missing from Riyadh. As
always first impressions start when you step off the plane and into the
airport. Riyadh airport was swanky,
particularly compared to Jeddah (which was voted last year the worst airport in
the world although to be fair I have been in much, much worse). The atmosphere, however, was very different,
much more restrained. I had packed my most
sober abayas in consequence but did have to laugh as I was approached a few
times by women who wanted to know where they could get something similar, I am
clearly a fashion trend setter! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjDjuEnz8TU/WSsT_iGYh8I/AAAAAAAADvw/cnhju_l1unsf2N8-8e7n2-_EYLnegttAwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjDjuEnz8TU/WSsT_iGYh8I/AAAAAAAADvw/cnhju_l1unsf2N8-8e7n2-_EYLnegttAwCLcB/s320/IMG_0254.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the interiors are decorated in traditional style</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKF3mevkIls/WSsY-AwKPAI/AAAAAAAADwY/a05PPCir3xkK0w1k17B5of8UYSjIJFQcACLcB/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKF3mevkIls/WSsY-AwKPAI/AAAAAAAADwY/a05PPCir3xkK0w1k17B5of8UYSjIJFQcACLcB/s320/IMG_0267.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Others have museum displays. Most have detailed information. <br />
This one was a bit of an (amusing) let down with the 'small, medium and <br />
large cannon balls'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We went straight to the hotel for breakfast and a
sleep. After midday everything shuts
down until about 4pm anyway (very civilised in my opinion) so we didn’t feel
bad taking the time to rest after our horrendously early start. Refreshed we took a cab to the Masmak
Fort. This compact mud brick fort was
built by the Al Rasheeds who had taken control of Riyadh from the Al Sauds in
the late 19<sup>th</sup> century. In 1902
the future king, Abdulaziz Al Saud took control of the fort. This was the start of the fight to establish
the Third Saudi State. These days the
fort is a museum, entrance is free but certain times are restricted to men only
so you have to check in advance to make sure that entry will be permitted to
families (ie women). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtxmpBFq8ck/WSsaVRJ-qTI/AAAAAAAADws/CmZEqFdJrPMWBFbTGDuPZQGzt1TSMDUagCLcB/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Doors Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtxmpBFq8ck/WSsaVRJ-qTI/AAAAAAAADws/CmZEqFdJrPMWBFbTGDuPZQGzt1TSMDUagCLcB/s320/IMG_0287.JPG" title="Doors Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zXfT17-JK2c/WSsVtly7V8I/AAAAAAAADv8/S5ovqmf8kZM2FQWpSprN7wJRxL9xEBTbQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zXfT17-JK2c/WSsVtly7V8I/AAAAAAAADv8/S5ovqmf8kZM2FQWpSprN7wJRxL9xEBTbQCLcB/s200/IMG_0255.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUiGF2ZnwB8/WSsZSqFGn9I/AAAAAAAADwc/h8ADzQMKMdIdAkmbytw6gG4EbBb2O_-dgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUiGF2ZnwB8/WSsZSqFGn9I/AAAAAAAADwc/h8ADzQMKMdIdAkmbytw6gG4EbBb2O_-dgCLcB/s200/IMG_0265.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y7xZSCwaGRk/WSsbR5Jfw2I/AAAAAAAADxA/kMszVEOfw7ULdZDGMMFObiMGeNqH71MfgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y7xZSCwaGRk/WSsbR5Jfw2I/AAAAAAAADxA/kMszVEOfw7ULdZDGMMFObiMGeNqH71MfgCLcB/s320/IMG_0350.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The doors in the fort are heavily and beautifully decorated in typical Najd style.</span></div>
<br />
The museum is self guided and if you follow the ‘tour’ it takes you through most of the ground floor. The information is detailed, well laid out, and provided in both Arabic and English. We spent a happy two hours learning about an event in history about which we knew almost nothing beyond the bare bones. One of the real treats of expat life is learning, not only about the culture that hosts you, but also about the history of the country you call home, something you might otherwise never do.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ll08SpiI9uc/WSsbFdHyLiI/AAAAAAAADw4/8cFXx5J92ag7U0y5T2Sw9t1T8aYdbnQ2QCLcB/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ll08SpiI9uc/WSsbFdHyLiI/AAAAAAAADw4/8cFXx5J92ag7U0y5T2Sw9t1T8aYdbnQ2QCLcB/s320/IMG_0347.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The interiors are cool, dark and mysterious.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_XzqMXgo3GI/WSsbA23KM2I/AAAAAAAADw0/JEwrWjFQlRIIhhnIL8gMVNeCYtoz-lLOwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_XzqMXgo3GI/WSsbA23KM2I/AAAAAAAADw0/JEwrWjFQlRIIhhnIL8gMVNeCYtoz-lLOwCLcB/s320/IMG_0292.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cafe is sparse but comfortable</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RdMb7sTXzAU/WSsZ-Y4GhFI/AAAAAAAADwk/BD6p_gZtIBMqGdNMRrcOx5AmDQZpCOrJwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RdMb7sTXzAU/WSsZ-Y4GhFI/AAAAAAAADwk/BD6p_gZtIBMqGdNMRrcOx5AmDQZpCOrJwCLcB/s320/IMG_0285.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fort was served by a well, allowing it to resist sieges. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are number of artefacts, mostly weapons and armour, on display and almost all the doors are sumptuously decorated in typical Najd style. The museum also hosts a small gift shop and a café area. By the time we had finished looking around we had hit Maghrib prayers so, rather than looking round the adjacent souk (no different to the ones in Jeddah) we used the time to take a few pictures of the sunset before taking a taxi onwards to our next destination.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UY3uOWe37qk/WSsbW3yLZvI/AAAAAAAADxE/0SAGez2PJTsg72TDdDcMMhzborO02Jc-ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UY3uOWe37qk/WSsbW3yLZvI/AAAAAAAADxE/0SAGez2PJTsg72TDdDcMMhzborO02Jc-ACLcB/s320/IMG_0359.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The evening light gives a beautiful warmth to the walls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EdVbij82lGU/WSsc7w118VI/AAAAAAAADxQ/92wR1AS1FSAvQLlp6NPb6u_jpAKptnVQgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Masmak Fort Riyadh" border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EdVbij82lGU/WSsc7w118VI/AAAAAAAADxQ/92wR1AS1FSAvQLlp6NPb6u_jpAKptnVQgCLcB/s640/IMG_0298.JPG" title="Masmak Fort Riyadh" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masmak Fort at Sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
lease click on the picture for more information on life in Saudi Arabia<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com5Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-91645521615717066232017-05-24T18:47:00.001+06:002017-06-22T02:11:45.830+06:00How To Be An Expat In Saudi Arabia: Ramadan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are coming up to the start of Ramadan, the fasting month
for Muslims worldwide. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have lived in many majority Muslim countries and in most, business continues as usual for the month.
In some fasting is a matter of personal conscience, in others a legal
requirement for all Muslims. In Saudi
Arabia fasting in public is obligatory for all, even non Muslims. Children are, of course, allowed to eat and
drink during the day but for everyone else the fast is mandatory, not even a
sip of water is allowed (until you reach the privacy of your own home). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life in Saudi changes completely during Ramadan. Working hours are curtailed, roads are busy (and
the driving even more erratic) in the hour leading up to Iftar and then
uncharacteristically empty as families gather to break their fast. Charitable obligations are taken particularly seriously during Ramadan with many people donating food packages to those in need. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FkqPQeepaxI/WSV_cWsf5FI/AAAAAAAADvY/cGX9e7vuxzoa78FZ-8UV5l44tWfpp1HDwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ramadan lanterns Balad Jeddah" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FkqPQeepaxI/WSV_cWsf5FI/AAAAAAAADvY/cGX9e7vuxzoa78FZ-8UV5l44tWfpp1HDwCLcB/s320/IMG_5806.JPG" title="Ramadan lanterns Balad Jeddah" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shops and homes are decorated with Ramadan lanterns.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life becomes nocturnal. Restaurants do not open until after the Maghrib
prayer and then remain busy all night, supermarkets and some shops are open
during the day to allow people to get the food needed for the evening but only
really come to life after Isha and Taraween prayers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The night is full of life, from the corniche to the streets
of old Balad or the precincts of the modern malls. The schools close (national exams were moved
forward to before Ramadan to accommodate it) and families aim to spend as much
time as possible together. Our children
go to an international consular school and therefore are not impacted by the
closures although their days are shorter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even as non Muslims, Ramadan here in Saudi Arabia has a big
impact on our lives. Day to day we still
have to be up for work/school and this means that the children have to go to
bed at their normal time. The result of
this is that although Mr EE and I can go out and enjoy events around the city
in the evenings or join in any Iftar celebrations we are invited to, there is very little we can do with the children; they are in
bed and asleep before anything is ready to start. Pretty much every attraction is shut during the day, last year
we did take them on some walks but while the children were ok Mr EE and I really felt
the lack of water in the heat. We will
stick to the compound and spend most of their weekends in the swimming pool.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ramadan is an important time for our Muslim friends and
colleagues and we wish them all Ramadan Kareem.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
lease click on the picture for more information on life in Saudi Arabia<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com1Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-89108078896681254812017-05-06T00:59:00.001+06:002017-06-22T02:10:51.509+06:00Balad Historic Festival<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have written about Jeddah’s UNESCO heritage site of the
old city of <a href="http://bit.ly/1VuuqHE" target="_blank">Al Balad</a> before and with good reason, it is one of the most
interesting parts of the city and one of our favourite places to go for an
evening out. A few weeks ago the city
municipality had arranged a historic festival to take place over a few
nights so Mr EE and I decided to go down
to investigate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4Mjf-6ASIM/WQzEToOjioI/AAAAAAAADt4/8T9c9sTkevw5kHG8I3lgir4L82BgQV0dgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bait Naseef Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4Mjf-6ASIM/WQzEToOjioI/AAAAAAAADt4/8T9c9sTkevw5kHG8I3lgir4L82BgQV0dgCLcB/s320/IMG_0124.JPG" title="Bait Naseef Jeddah" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bait Naseef</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Due to the festival the traffic, typically horrendous on any
evening, was truly atrocious and it took us over an hour to get down to the old
town. We walked up
the Souk Al Alawi historic path to the Mecca Gate, the route taking us through a rather modern
looking underpass and into the centre of the old town proper. There is a lot of reconstruction work going
on in an attempt to preserve some of the more important historic buildings
before they crumble into nothing. A lot
of progress has been made in the year we have been here, however, and it is
good to see the municipality looking to preserve rather than to build new.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uH-sYeo53jM/WQzEMAdKXeI/AAAAAAAADuw/Be2OsTw2Pn4BzN0hXEp7uU2OkER99w16QCEw/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bait Naseef Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uH-sYeo53jM/WQzEMAdKXeI/AAAAAAAADuw/Be2OsTw2Pn4BzN0hXEp7uU2OkER99w16QCEw/s320/IMG_0130.JPG" title="Bait Naseef Jeddah" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bait Naseef</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Walking up the historic path brought us to the ‘gun square’
presided over by the Bait Naseef, (once a Royal residence of King Abdul Aziz
and worthy of a post in its own right) and a neem tree reputed to be the oldest
tree in Jeddah. As part of the festival
a beautiful vintage fire truck had been parked by the side of the square, I
meant to get a photograph of it but decided to wait until we walked back. A mistake that I now regret. What I did photograph, however, were the
light projections onto the façade of the house.
Changing every few minutes from one pattern to the next the designs were
quite mesmerising. While we were in the
square the mosques started the Athan, the call to prayer which is such an
integral part of life here. Shopkeepers
hurried to close their doors and people started making their way towards the
nearest mosque while others congregated on the
street to make their devotions, public prayer mats provided for the
purpose. We walked on, moving from the square
down one of the side roads towards the Al Shafi mosque.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ll2gqbit-mk/WQzEKrsVHZI/AAAAAAAADuw/SByGjuDqDpogmIGvlehHLNNOkPfIpVNDACEw/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Balad Historic Festival 2017" border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ll2gqbit-mk/WQzEKrsVHZI/AAAAAAAADuw/SByGjuDqDpogmIGvlehHLNNOkPfIpVNDACEw/s320/IMG_0147.JPG" title="Balad Historic Festival 2017" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the way we came across a courtyard filled with
artists. This courtyard, dilapidated and
tumble down is usually nothing special, something we have walked past numerous
times and given it no more than a casual glance, had been transformed with
ribbons and lights, into an open air gallery.
We wandered from stall to stall, some of the art was amateurish, other
items were good in and of themselves but not to our taste. One artist really impressed us, we bought one
of his oil canvasses and will look out for another piece that he has not yet
finished. I have no idea if the piece
really is any good or not but we are over the moon with it and it will provide us with a wonderful memory of that evening for many years to come. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HByK_4RY1iI/WQzEx_sVGBI/AAAAAAAADuw/OpbjuKKN_zsQpa6O-VGJLeVCfsv7laPvACEw/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Balad Historic Festival 2017" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HByK_4RY1iI/WQzEx_sVGBI/AAAAAAAADuw/OpbjuKKN_zsQpa6O-VGJLeVCfsv7laPvACEw/s320/IMG_0150.JPG" title="Balad Historic Festival 2017" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moving on we came to the Al Shafi mosque
itself. The mosque, dating from around the 13<sup>th</sup> Century,
is said to be the oldest in Jeddah. Made
from mud and coral it is designed as an open square with a single minaret. The mosque was restored relatively recently
and is therefore in excellent condition.
Mr EE and I, as non-muslims, are not allowed inside but from glimpses
through the doors have seen that it is very beautiful. As we were outside during prayers we did not,
however, look in this time opting instead to enjoy the light shows playing over the walls and minaret.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXSZY4b-AJI/WQzEqaL-JOI/AAAAAAAADuw/t3RceiQuXBADSFqP-RyyUAKHxBlvWmQdACEw/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Al Shafi Mosque, Balad, Jeddah" border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXSZY4b-AJI/WQzEqaL-JOI/AAAAAAAADuw/t3RceiQuXBADSFqP-RyyUAKHxBlvWmQdACEw/s200/IMG_0154.JPG" title="Al Shafi Mosque, Balad, Jeddah" width="150" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UdphgCoFs0/WQzEzIXF2pI/AAAAAAAADuw/Ot7mNNpSiVAiNwq-M8Ins5-x1FjGBKj4wCEw/s1600/IMG_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UdphgCoFs0/WQzEzIXF2pI/AAAAAAAADuw/Ot7mNNpSiVAiNwq-M8Ins5-x1FjGBKj4wCEw/s200/IMG_0162.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROxnoSVSyn4/WQzFRZ_2EZI/AAAAAAAADuw/ZwikEhQKlZshTmH0jthAv-gaAAn6FfHngCEw/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Al Shafi Mosque, Balad, Jeddah" border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROxnoSVSyn4/WQzFRZ_2EZI/AAAAAAAADuw/ZwikEhQKlZshTmH0jthAv-gaAAn6FfHngCEw/s200/IMG_0164.JPG" title="Al Shafi Mosque, Balad, Jeddah" width="150" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3CXcE2Savw/WQzGRMOEXzI/AAAAAAAADuw/9LEm8GzkjsMDMlKkiuNBUZwuYiKg6C1jgCEw/s1600/IMG_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Al Shafi Mosque, Balad, Jeddah" border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3CXcE2Savw/WQzGRMOEXzI/AAAAAAAADuw/9LEm8GzkjsMDMlKkiuNBUZwuYiKg6C1jgCEw/s200/IMG_0201.JPG" title="Al Shafi Mosque, Balad, Jeddah" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Al Shafi Mosque</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We walked from the mosque towards the Bab Makkah. This was once the start of the last and most
difficult part of the pilgrimage to Mecca.
In the old days Jeddah was surrounded by city walls punctuated by garrisoned
gates. The walls have long since
collapsed but the gates remain standing.
Pilgrims would make their way through the city and, as they went through
the gate, would see nothing but desert stretching out in front of them. Old pictures give a real sense of just how
stark the contrast was. These days the
city has expanded a long way beyond its initial limits and the Bab Makkah is
nothing more than a traffic island where boys play football and some
unfortunates find shelter for the night. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XeX63Rn9TMI/WQzGjEWT2qI/AAAAAAAADuw/N6CopQ2LbwwIH5XTQNnAqt9m_MQYnI9FQCEw/s1600/IMG_9018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bab Makkah (Mecca Gate), Jeddah" border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XeX63Rn9TMI/WQzGjEWT2qI/AAAAAAAADuw/N6CopQ2LbwwIH5XTQNnAqt9m_MQYnI9FQCEw/s320/IMG_9018.JPG" title="Bab Makkah (Mecca Gate), Jeddah" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bab Makkah Once the edge of the desert, now a traffic island.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The real joy, however, of a trip up to the Bab Makkah is the fruit and
vegetable souk along the way. Crowded
with carts selling every type of produce you can imagine the street is heaving
and cheerful. The odd (brave) driver
inches through the crowd but by and large this is a pedestrian zone of
organised chaos and a good place to buy a bottle of water and banana or orange
to refresh energy levels that almost always sag in the night time humidity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4it_LXnQXwE/WQzGmsFkNkI/AAAAAAAADuw/uEuTf5-tk3sCuFe2VG32w01ReNgXKfCsACEw/s1600/IMG_9020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Balad, Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4it_LXnQXwE/WQzGmsFkNkI/AAAAAAAADuw/uEuTf5-tk3sCuFe2VG32w01ReNgXKfCsACEw/s320/IMG_9020.JPG" title="Balad, Jeddah" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit and Vegetable Souk near the Bab Makkah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leaving the souk we made our way through the quieter back streets towards the
festival area again. We found more open
air art galleries where ruined buildings were transformed into showcases, a
dance and music display and, rather incongruously, a Toyota stand promoting
their latest models. Further on there
were stalls selling a range of antiques from old keys and locks to bicycles and
ancient record players. Everyone wanted us to stop and chat, a chance for a sale of course always in their mind but also a desire to talk, to find out why we were there, what we thought of their city. There was more,
much more, to the festival but by this stage we were exhausted and made our way
home for the night passing recreations of old fashioned pilgrimages on the way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bRPNmUMQJeY/WQzFdZM2K8I/AAAAAAAADuw/5Jp05_DG0OU7-5YMstai6UEU2AD8-LekACEw/s1600/IMG_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Balad Historic Festival 2017" border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bRPNmUMQJeY/WQzFdZM2K8I/AAAAAAAADuw/5Jp05_DG0OU7-5YMstai6UEU2AD8-LekACEw/s200/IMG_0179.JPG" title="Balad Historic Festival 2017" width="150" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yt-YtRMZ0IY/WQzF1gM0KJI/AAAAAAAADuw/18fa5rMuuYEtg1DGLJHYmBmq1v6NoMO3ACEw/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yt-YtRMZ0IY/WQzF1gM0KJI/AAAAAAAADuw/18fa5rMuuYEtg1DGLJHYmBmq1v6NoMO3ACEw/s200/IMG_0187.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mv-7FCwjR2U/WQzFgG-4PgI/AAAAAAAADuw/NGWpz_gdzQsEUHxLjh-RB8L0qr6rBPK5ACEw/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Balad Historic Festival 2017" border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mv-7FCwjR2U/WQzFgG-4PgI/AAAAAAAADuw/NGWpz_gdzQsEUHxLjh-RB8L0qr6rBPK5ACEw/s200/IMG_0182.JPG" title="Balad Historic Festival 2017" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I doubt people who have not lived here would imagine Saudis enjoying festivals like this, gathering together to celebrate history and culture and welcoming visitors into their midst at the same time. While it is hardly an every day occurrence festivals like this are not unusual here (there was a food festival running concurrently and nearby towns had flower and rose festivals at around the same time). Jeddah has a reputation as a rather dull posting but, when you start to really look for things, there is a lot going on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3fD4Ea_iws/WQzGGADSvuI/AAAAAAAADuw/a-aZtgongDMRFuiCQjYJDEkHsm0-xOnEgCEw/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Balad, Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3fD4Ea_iws/WQzGGADSvuI/AAAAAAAADuw/a-aZtgongDMRFuiCQjYJDEkHsm0-xOnEgCEw/s320/IMG_0194.JPG" title="Balad, Jeddah" width="240" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2IL41FksTE/WQzGRhX3WmI/AAAAAAAADuw/tWUa2jAJLIoZcSmIZ3AoXz1b9Xz2J9fowCEw/s1600/IMG_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Balad, Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2IL41FksTE/WQzGRhX3WmI/AAAAAAAADuw/tWUa2jAJLIoZcSmIZ3AoXz1b9Xz2J9fowCEw/s320/IMG_0191.JPG" title="Balad, Jeddah" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
lease click on the picture for more information on life in Saudi Arabia<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com1Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-91821661314523320842017-04-27T02:37:00.002+06:002017-06-22T02:10:32.404+06:00How To Be An Expat In Saudi Arabia: Compounds.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are two options when it comes to choosing accommodation in Jeddah, you can opt
to live on a walled compound or chose to live ‘In Arabia’. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The former is, naturally, more expensive than
the latter, not least because the houses typically come unfurnished and when
they say that they mean it. Friends
living outside have to provide their own kitchen units and white goods and even
AC units as well as meet the more typical furniture expectations. Houses in a compound cost more to rent but
come furnished. As well as meaning that
new arrivals do not need to find a budget for kitchen units the costs cover
provision of security, corner shops and exercise/relaxation facilities as well as all utility charges. When we arrived we moved straight into Mr
EE’s predecessor’s house to make things simple.
It gives us a base for the first 6 months which will allow us to look at
the different housing options available to us.
We have since moved in to our own, larger, home complete with a bedroom
for each child and a garden for the pets.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0li_q_Y-QM/WQECSBKly_I/AAAAAAAADtM/Om_A32C7p6UtUZ5b7hGSg4XokDJoPoKMACLcB/s1600/IMG_5336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0li_q_Y-QM/WQECSBKly_I/AAAAAAAADtM/Om_A32C7p6UtUZ5b7hGSg4XokDJoPoKMACLcB/s320/IMG_5336.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I would normally prefer to live away from other expats in a private home in a more local district that choice is not really practical for our life here in KSA. As I cannot drive I would have to take a taxi to and from school every afternoon to collect the children, I would need to wear an abaya just to step out of the house, could not send the children to collect last minute essentials from the corner shop and not be able to swim to my heart's content in a public swimming pool. The latter issues are, of course, minor but the driving and transport was the deciding factor for us. Most of our friends who live off compounds have no or older children and so are not limited in the same way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our compound is attached to Mr EE and the children’s
school. This makes for an easy 2 minute
commute for Mr EE in the morning and means he can pop home for supper and to see the children before
going back to work again in the evening.
Given the proximity of the school and home we also allow Master and Miss
EE to go to and from school by themselves and one can do after school clubs while the other comes home and vice versa, they are not stuck waiting for eachother.
This independence is fantastic for them and it means that they are
learning to be responsible for their own timekeeping. Mr EE drops Mini EE off at her crèche every
morning and I pick her up just before the older children get home. The school run in our last posting took up a
significant portion of my day, at one stage Master and Miss EE had different
pick up times so I would spend 3 hours on collection duty just in the
afternoon. If Mr EE was away and unable
to do the morning drop off I had another hour.
I find that I am so much more productive here because of this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AfEjSP_BGA/WQECVrIvtcI/AAAAAAAADtQ/Ls4KJDbqHecfPY_UpaphlmPLWD8qblUfQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AfEjSP_BGA/WQECVrIvtcI/AAAAAAAADtQ/Ls4KJDbqHecfPY_UpaphlmPLWD8qblUfQCLcB/s320/IMG_5599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our compound has a small shop, some exercise facilities, a
library, recreation room and 2 pool complexes.
It also provides a shopping bus twice a day so that it is easy to go and
get groceries or run errands while private lift share cars such as Uber and Careem are allowed onto the compound to drop me at my door. Some of
the other compounds have larger shops, restaurants, travel agents, beauty
salons and hairdressers etc (some even have a bowling alley and one a vets). They are, to all intents and purposes, small villages in
their own right. Each has their own character but while it might be nice to be able to pick and choose the reality is that almost all the good compounds have long waiting lists particularly for family sized homes so most people go where their employers put them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because there are heavy restrictions on mixed social activities in KSA the compounds, alongside the consulates, become the hub of expat activity. A quick google will make Jeddah seem like an activities and cultural desert simply because no one posts anything online. Once you arrive, however, and start to get to know where to look, there are things to do everywhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The greatest upside and the saddest downside of life on the compound is that we are massively insulated from real life in KSA. We live a life of luxury cocooned from the outside. I think it would be possible for someone to come to live in Jeddah (or any other Saudi city for that matter) and never really realise what life is like in the city. Of course many of our friends and contacts are other western expats and most of the organised social events are arranged with these interest groups in mind so we have had to make a particular effort to connect and become friends with locals and long term expats, to read the local news and try to stay in touch with what is going on outside the expat community. This means we catch glimpses and hear snippets of what life is really like at both ends of the spectrum, the grinding poverty of the sub continent expat labourers and the nonchalant opulence of life for the super rich. There are times we regret that circumstances force us into our bubble. Then pragmatic reality reasserts itself and I am thankful for the short commute and the swimming pool.</div>
</div>
lease click on the picture for more information on life in Saudi Arabia<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com27Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-75235927474315305542017-02-15T23:01:00.001+06:002017-02-15T23:01:45.960+06:00Jeddah's Fakieh Aquarium<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
We often spend weekend’s enjoying the atmosphere on Jeddah’s
corniche. We usually go to the middle
corniche park but a little further north and closer to home there is another
section of the which houses some restaurants a planetarium and Jeddah’s
aquarium. I heard about the aquarium on
my first day in Jeddah, I was introduced to a very staid and polite member of
Mr EE’s staff who shocked me by saying something along the lines of ‘F*** You’. Shocked for a moment I was relieved to hear
he was telling me I should take the children to the Fakieh Aquarium.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RIRbYUlIde8/WJlRHcJRn7I/AAAAAAAADqM/pkBMQvdQ-5MENZ8d40YGEKu6MVd98h9NACPcB/s1600/IMG_9200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RIRbYUlIde8/WJlRHcJRn7I/AAAAAAAADqM/pkBMQvdQ-5MENZ8d40YGEKu6MVd98h9NACPcB/s320/IMG_9200.JPG" title="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Miss EE had been to visit on a school trip a few months ago
and raved about her time there. I had
been quite unwell and the older two children had really stepped up, making their
own supper, cleaning the house and generally pampering me so we thought they
deserved a treat. They chose to visit
the aquarium. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PmorV2EQHZU/WJlRIEp6b4I/AAAAAAAADqM/_glDK6_okX8Uz04C-9eOZVl_gd0twKDAwCPcB/s1600/IMG_9191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PmorV2EQHZU/WJlRIEp6b4I/AAAAAAAADqM/_glDK6_okX8Uz04C-9eOZVl_gd0twKDAwCPcB/s320/IMG_9191.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
There are three different types of ticket available, one for
the aquarium, one for the dolphin show and a combined one. The tickets are SAR50 (about £10/$13) per
person. Miss EE had been to see the
Dolphin show on her last visit, Mr EE and I are against these shows because of
the potential for cruelty, we spoke to the children about the issues
surrounding the use of Dolphins and Seals in this way and they agreed that they
did not want to go and see it. Before
going into the aquarium itself we took the opportunity to sit by the water and
enjoy the sea breeze while eating some rather delicious cakes.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5J0rwPESeiA/WJlTONTrRrI/AAAAAAAADq8/_i6gdTBOmmM6qle5zvz3oWe8Y1GT2m7_gCPcB/s1600/IMG_9240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5J0rwPESeiA/WJlTONTrRrI/AAAAAAAADq8/_i6gdTBOmmM6qle5zvz3oWe8Y1GT2m7_gCPcB/s320/IMG_9240.JPG" title="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The aquarium itself is small but very well laid out. It concentrates on life from the Red Sea and the
big tunnel (all aquaria seem to have them these days) is modelled on the
environment around Elphinstone Reef off the coast of Egypt, a dive Mr EE and I
had done a few (more than 10!) years ago.
Sadly, like most of the aquaria we have been to recently, there is not a
lot of information about the fish themselves, the signs concentrating on one or
two species per tank. We should look out
our old Red Sea Fish ID slate. All the
favourites are there, sharks (mostly Black Tips), Turtles, Parrot Fish, Clown
Fish, Eels, Seahorses and Jellyfish.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0L7TITv_ceM/WJlRXNOwUnI/AAAAAAAADqc/024Ve3lb-f0Rhj8WqBnAwdFkP70XwOjtQCPcB/s1600/IMG_9219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0L7TITv_ceM/WJlRXNOwUnI/AAAAAAAADqc/024Ve3lb-f0Rhj8WqBnAwdFkP70XwOjtQCPcB/s320/IMG_9219.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XRa9VeqQjMk/WJlRa9U7oXI/AAAAAAAADqg/LwrfiQn8YJUz4ysc15u-i2qtAcXMUyrgACPcB/s1600/IMG_9223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XRa9VeqQjMk/WJlRa9U7oXI/AAAAAAAADqg/LwrfiQn8YJUz4ysc15u-i2qtAcXMUyrgACPcB/s320/IMG_9223.JPG" title="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
At 21/4 and having ditched the buggy completely Mini EE
thought the aquarium was the most wonderful experience. She walked from tank to tank taking in the
different fish and watching with a huge grin on her face. She has been to some before, the spectacular
KLCC Aquarium as a baby and the offerings in Dubai last year but this time she
really took everything in.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMZqR9cie1Y/WJlTTt2IfJI/AAAAAAAADq8/4kSHcjcDiMwCwSXqvbVPlAQbfspFxZRTwCPcB/s1600/IMG_9244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMZqR9cie1Y/WJlTTt2IfJI/AAAAAAAADq8/4kSHcjcDiMwCwSXqvbVPlAQbfspFxZRTwCPcB/s320/IMG_9244.JPG" title="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tw8cPAlBWzE/WJlTnuqphbI/AAAAAAAADrM/pnyUv4DUTFAzxBvOXAZLlMXXq7EM15mBgCPcB/s1600/IMG_9251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tw8cPAlBWzE/WJlTnuqphbI/AAAAAAAADrM/pnyUv4DUTFAzxBvOXAZLlMXXq7EM15mBgCPcB/s320/IMG_9251.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Half way through you have to walk through a sweet shop,
beautifully designed to maximise pester power.
After many years’ experience Master and Miss EE know that any requests
are futile but we did see a number of parents succumb.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc3aIROrHVs/WJlRx0MqV_I/AAAAAAAADqg/T0d5p7kdW4ojJ-595jfw3W0dEXVjKxqKQCPcB/s1600/IMG_9238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc3aIROrHVs/WJlRx0MqV_I/AAAAAAAADqg/T0d5p7kdW4ojJ-595jfw3W0dEXVjKxqKQCPcB/s320/IMG_9238.JPG" title="Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the shop there are some smaller exhibits including
octopus, an eel garden and the (again now ubiquitous) illuminated
Jellyfish. There was also another huge
shark tank with a number of impressive specimens including a rescued Bull Shark
that looked like it had had a run in with a propeller. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nFW74Pj8fNw/WJlRr1ttpiI/AAAAAAAADqg/klqgmT2VqtQtxP2Jg6zTuiErRAPlD2dcwCPcB/s1600/IMG_9235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nFW74Pj8fNw/WJlRr1ttpiI/AAAAAAAADqg/klqgmT2VqtQtxP2Jg6zTuiErRAPlD2dcwCPcB/s320/IMG_9235.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The aquarium tour over we took the chance to walk along the
corniche and watch the sun set to the sound of the athan before grabbing a bite
to eat when the restaurants opened up again. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2u7DzMX2n8/WJlUB2sfK5I/AAAAAAAADrU/z-nseKZEbacttz66kEee1eD9kTqYGV6aQCPcB/s1600/IMG_9296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jeddah Corniche" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2u7DzMX2n8/WJlUB2sfK5I/AAAAAAAADrU/z-nseKZEbacttz66kEee1eD9kTqYGV6aQCPcB/s320/IMG_9296.JPG" title="Jeddah Corniche" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Please click on the picture for more information on life in Saudi Arabia<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Posted to Animal Tales </div>
</div>
<a href="http://eco-gites.blogspot.fr/p/the-animals-tale.html" target="_blank"><img alt="ANIMALTALES" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gT0ttySxugA/VGsNjdqfIcI/AAAAAAAAF8E/ALOUcdRSZTw/s1600/Animal%2BTales%2BBadge%2BFinal.jpg" /></a></div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com11Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-16272316868916460802017-01-19T17:34:00.003+06:002017-01-19T17:34:57.674+06:00Senior Dogs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our expat dogs have been <a href="http://bit.ly/2hNJmns" target="_blank">with us a few weeks now</a> and have settled back into family life very well indeed. Our house is finally a proper home again. Given the rigour of their journey one of the first things we did was register them with a local vet and arrange for them to have a once over.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAnUazeYkec/WHXNAD2dGsI/AAAAAAAADmc/CRmNWeW0P5I8_Id2-607devBNyDEJDMsgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAnUazeYkec/WHXNAD2dGsI/AAAAAAAADmc/CRmNWeW0P5I8_Id2-607devBNyDEJDMsgCLcB/s320/IMG_8812.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/1MIuo8Q" target="_blank">Finding a good vet</a> abroad can be difficult. I had spoken with a local animal shelter and some friends with dogs and they all recommended the same man. We went with him; luckily given the state of Bessie's health, he does house calls. We were a little worried when, on observing Bessie, he told us she did not have long left. We knew this, we explained, and we wanted to make sure that she knew him and vice versa so that she was not put to sleep by a stranger when the time came. Not to worry, we were told, she could have up to a year longer. This cheered us up no end.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DzE4QrO0Ek/WHXGeTocVsI/AAAAAAAADmA/o5cU-auzodg9TUFBBpOKE4FP4YCjjjaYQCEw/s1600/IMG_8934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DzE4QrO0Ek/WHXGeTocVsI/AAAAAAAADmA/o5cU-auzodg9TUFBBpOKE4FP4YCjjjaYQCEw/s320/IMG_8934.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the things I have noticed is that, in many countries, vets and those who care for animals are much more reluctant to advise on euthanasia than those in the UK or Europe. Probably because they see animals often treated as a commodity, more akin to a convenience or a working animal as opposed to a cherished pet and family member. We have found it very hard to get good guidance on how to assess when the time will be right to make that very hard decision ie when it is best for Bess and not out of convenience for us. It is not something that we want to do, nor is it a decision that we want to rush but we do want some guidance on what aspects to consider when making it. It does not help that neither Mr EE nor I have been at home when parents' dogs have had to be put to sleep so we have not observed the 'tipping point'. Friends and family in Europe and Hong Kong who have had to make these sad decisions have advised us on what changed in their pet to make them decide that the time was right. Memorably and kindly a vet friend of a friend took the time to write and reassure me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_h5C4mcZCA/WHXILXauz2I/AAAAAAAADmU/0DUNwCELenM4Mtvjj2iG6NFrjiCBGrLngCEw/s1600/IMG_8906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_h5C4mcZCA/WHXILXauz2I/AAAAAAAADmU/0DUNwCELenM4Mtvjj2iG6NFrjiCBGrLngCEw/s320/IMG_8906.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
As the days have gone by we have become more and more confident of our decision which we are basing on a combination of gut instinct and the following points:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>She is not in pain;</li>
<li>She takes pleasure from her environment;</li>
<li>She takes pleasure from her food;</li>
<li>She takes pleasure from her family;</li>
<li>She is not passive in those pleasures, she seeks them out.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_BExB-ivP0/WHXIIuPdAWI/AAAAAAAADmU/vUST8zOlnxQZVxnur9P2uM-8LcQ1nuthQCEw/s1600/IMG_8879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_BExB-ivP0/WHXIIuPdAWI/AAAAAAAADmU/vUST8zOlnxQZVxnur9P2uM-8LcQ1nuthQCEw/s320/IMG_8879.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In her first week home Bessie gave us a lot of scares. She was getting stronger and then, suddenly, one day she became incontinent, unable to move at all on her feet and crawled into a corner. With tears streaming down our faces we decided that, should we not see any improvement the following day, we would call the vet in. The next day she was better. This week she is better still, she can't get up on her own and needs support to walk on the tiled floor but once up she can manage a wander around the carpet and choose where to curl up. She needs support to get out to the garden but once there the support straps (improvised from wide, soft leather belts of mine) are a back up only. Her bedsores have also healed enough for me to allow her to spend some time asleep in the garden without worrying about her getting bothered by flies.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_4fXRtDMGk/WIBP1qHRfKI/AAAAAAAADnw/e809s6WWV68UCqk61lZaoDB4pkoVocx6ACLcB/s1600/15941102_10154869340277203_8358346518692747741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_4fXRtDMGk/WIBP1qHRfKI/AAAAAAAADnw/e809s6WWV68UCqk61lZaoDB4pkoVocx6ACLcB/s320/15941102_10154869340277203_8358346518692747741_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
She is still very much a key family member. A few days ago Miss EE had a bad argument with her brother while they were out playing and stomped home, tearful and upset. She went to sit with Bess, stroked her for a while then told me she was in the wrong and was going to apologise. Master EE spends a lot of time sat with her, just talking and petting her head. As Bess can no longer come upstairs to bed she sleeps in the hallway. The first thing everyone does when they come down is to greet her and pet her. During the daytime and evening we lift her onto a sofa in the living room so she can be with us all, there is enough space for Perdie or some humans to join her, or for her to be on her own and snooze if that is what she prefers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qitzlFc-vY/WIBO9yJHr_I/AAAAAAAADng/ohzeUnrwiw4hz9-jWckCDXhHdxidAgt9QCEw/s1600/15940366_10154869340282203_1867348244950844091_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qitzlFc-vY/WIBO9yJHr_I/AAAAAAAADng/ohzeUnrwiw4hz9-jWckCDXhHdxidAgt9QCEw/s320/15940366_10154869340282203_1867348244950844091_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Bessie's co-ordination has improved enough to allow her to wag her tail and she actively nuzzles for attention now as opposed to just looking doleful when a hand is removed from her head. The other pets still defer to her as 'top dog' and Perdie is returning the care and love she was given as a puppy by grooming Bess from time to time, even, on occasion, trying to entice her to play.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wgvyp7R-78w/WIBPMcNJmFI/AAAAAAAADno/SQRbWbnIUjQ_coeVMVJbHseRQeKv5krBACEw/s1600/IMG_9064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wgvyp7R-78w/WIBPMcNJmFI/AAAAAAAADno/SQRbWbnIUjQ_coeVMVJbHseRQeKv5krBACEw/s320/IMG_9064.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
We are facing the joyful reality that she may be with us for a while. As we had resigned ourselves to a few bittersweet weeks only this is a great relief and very much worth the back pain we have both developed from having to help her move around. We will have to make a few adjustments to our daily lives. It may mean that we will not be able to travel abroad as a whole family for the moment, we certainly could not kennel her, it would be too cruel and I would worry about getting someone in to look after her, firstly she is hard work. We have to lift her and walk her outside four times a day and she is a heavy dog. She is less coordinated than usual so she has to be cleaned every day to catch the stuff she misses, her medication is extensive and confusing. I know how I would feel if someone's pet died while they were in my care and I had to dispose of the body (there are limited options here in Jeddah), I would feel awful. No matter how much we would reassure someone it was ok and expected my guess is they would feel terrible and we could not do that. We will have to see what happens and how things go but we remain so grateful that we have the chance to make these decisions.<br />
<br />
Click below for more posts on Expat Pets and how to care for them<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/ersatz-guide-to-expat-pets.html" rel="nofollow" title="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets"><img alt="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JoGNLWdpXwk/VkyMe-1ECYI/AAAAAAAACZY/bWbULS7xeQg/s1600/expat%2Bpet.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Posted to the wonderful Animal Tales</div>
<a href="http://eco-gites.blogspot.fr/p/the-animals-tale.html" target="_blank"><img alt="ANIMALTALES" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gT0ttySxugA/VGsNjdqfIcI/AAAAAAAAF8E/ALOUcdRSZTw/s1600/Animal%2BTales%2BBadge%2BFinal.jpg" /></a>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com7Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-69517857489631491662017-01-11T13:27:00.000+06:002017-06-22T02:10:06.267+06:00How To Be An Expat In Saudi Arabia: Driving And Getting Out And About!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Driving is a big ticket issue here in Saudi, the only country in the world where women
are not allowed to drive. Many locals and residents protest the status quo which is a real problem for families. Women have to either use taxis or hire a
foreign driver to take them places which is expensive, particularly for those
on lower incomes. It also means that
women have to plan their lives around the availability of transport. Arguments against allowing women to drive
include that it would leave them vulnerable to attack if they broke down and
that male drivers would seek to intimidate them. I have also seen claims that the driving seat acts as a vibrator and gives women guilty pleasures, I can't say I have ever noticed this but perhaps it only applies to cars in Saudi. It may go some way to explaining the distracted driving we see on the roads!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--y1Ejfte6VU/WHXXuBSrcuI/AAAAAAAADms/e9XPhFUJ2u48NtcRjbRXC9oN1tG8PlpBwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--y1Ejfte6VU/WHXXuBSrcuI/AAAAAAAADms/e9XPhFUJ2u48NtcRjbRXC9oN1tG8PlpBwCLcB/s320/IMG_7530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know some expats, mostly women and some men who say they would never feel comfortable driving here. I disagree, I love to drive, I love the freedom it gives me and I loathe being dependant on others. With the exception of Mr EE and some other family members I hate being driven. Even when the roads and other drivers are bad I prefer to rely on my own skill as opposed to those of people who may never have been taught to drive properly. Nevertheless the situation is what it is and my opinion will not change anything. I always think expats should be careful when commenting on local issues, at the end of the day it is not my fight to fight, and there are many Saudi women (and some men) advocating for the end of the restriction. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DphY48597Xg/WHXXu2zJYFI/AAAAAAAADm0/iKo19jHwLW8j4timuEdaeOCm2C_s9nmOwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DphY48597Xg/WHXXu2zJYFI/AAAAAAAADm0/iKo19jHwLW8j4timuEdaeOCm2C_s9nmOwCLcB/s320/IMG_5213.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The driving in Jeddah can only be described as
‘fruity’. While it is not the worst
place I have ever seen (Lagos wins on that count) drivers are very aggressive,
probably because they are all male and the roads seem to run on
testosterone. The roads are generally wide and well maintained but, because of the lack of public transport, there are a huge number of cars using the roads at any one time (the photograph above is a quiet Saturday afternoon, in rush hour the same road is blocked). Most people drive the biggest car they can afford to ensure that they can see and be seen. We have seen the odd Kia Picanto or similar but they must be a very uncomfortable drive. Light cycles on junctions are long. There are a few roundabouts to ease traffic flow but roads are generally managed by legal U turn lanes. These are few and far between so you can find yourself driving a few kilometres in the wrong direction in order to get where you are going to. Main roads will have a parallel access road (you can see one above), most of these do not filter onto the main road as such, there are access/egress points at regular intervals and it is not uncommon to see two cars racing, one to get on one to get off waiting to see which one will give way first. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fines for infractions are high and have recently been pushed up, a friend told us he was caught going through a light as the amber changed to red. He now chooses to stop on amber and will prefer to be shunted than fined. Mobile phone use while driving appears to be obligatory, while use of indicators is optional. Weaving in and out of traffic, standing on breaks, jumping into a stream of fast moving traffic from a standstill, filtering into a 'lane' without looking and of course undertaking are all expected. Less common, but not unusual, is for the driver to hold a baby or toddler on their lap. While it all looks rather chaotic I suspect, as with all places, that there are local conventions that make driving easier which you only find out when you are the driver, like flashing your lights to someone to go ahead in the UK or making eye contact with a driver to be let into traffic on a main road in Kazakhstan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-lVrd6vvhI/WHXYdjqqPUI/AAAAAAAADm8/kSxMSh2e2-gmZ9ZktWN0aQcSlFFr5kgngCLcB/s1600/IMG_4989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-lVrd6vvhI/WHXYdjqqPUI/AAAAAAAADm8/kSxMSh2e2-gmZ9ZktWN0aQcSlFFr5kgngCLcB/s320/IMG_4989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In terms of our own transport practicalities I don’t need to take
the children to and from school as we live in compound that is connected to
school. Mr EE has a (very good and extremely competent) driver for all work
related travel and we can use him for the odd private trip as well. The compound runs a bus to various
destinations twice a day and I can take that for free if I want to. Alternatively if is very easy to hire a taxi
through the Uber or Careem apps on my telephone. The app
tells me how long I will need to wait, directs the driver to my exact location
by GPS and then tracks our journey home.
It is safe and the cars are all very well maintained, most drivers speak some English but it is a good idea to learn directions in Arabic just in case. You do get the odd very poor driver and as the law here does not require seat belts in the back and I can't sit in the front with a 'strange' man I do feel vulnerable at times. If they are really bad I stop the ride and order a new cab. We book 'executive' cars when we travel with the children as they are more likely to have functioning seatbelts. Whether or not these apps will continue to work well is not certain. There is a move to restrict the right to drive an Uber or Careem to Saudi citizens only. This will, at least in the short term, reduce the number of cars available for hire as many of the drivers are expats.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hope to be able to buy our own
car as this will allow us to explore further afield. The real pain for us will be that as I will
not be able to take over when Mr EE is tired we will be restricted to shorter
distances than if we had two drivers available.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How to get about in Jeddah:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>There is no public transport.</li>
<li>Street taxis are plentiful and identified with a standard livery, I rarely use them. Negotiate a price before setting out and if you are a woman alone be very obvious about texting the number plate to a friend (I do this as a matter of course with street hails in many countries).</li>
<li>Install Uber and the local (better) equivalent, Careem, on your 'phone. These are tracked apps and therefore safe, you do not need to carry cash or if your card is not registered to the app you can pay with a large note and have it credited to your account.</li>
<li>Buy a car (and hire a driver if you are a woman).</li>
<li>Walk! Obviously this is more difficult in the summer when the temperatures get very high and it is not really common to see women out walking on their own as you can be hassled but it is fine for short distances or with your family or a group. Jeddah is not pedestrian friendly, there are very few designated road crossings and traffic is busy. It is difficult to walk and cross roads with a pushchair.</li>
<li>If you are buying a car be aware that expat ownership of the larger 4x4s is restricted, only expats with larger families may purchase them.</li>
</ul>
<div>
In other words there are plenty of options but you will need to plan.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
lease click on the picture for more information on life in Saudi Arabia<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com2Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-1986494657633497482017-01-03T19:39:00.001+06:002017-01-03T19:42:34.268+06:00The Best Gift In The World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Readers who have popped by this blog more than once will know that when we left Malaysia to move to Saudi Arabia, our pets were not able to follow on immediately. They stayed with our vet, a good friend who took on their care for us and we blithely hoped that our two dogs and the cat would be able to join us in a few months time. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ud3u_fg4GzI/WGulg3HtKpI/AAAAAAAADlQ/UBjHavm-qMsUXkPpNIuxw1MDThEV6UgtACLcB/s1600/IMG_8750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ud3u_fg4GzI/WGulg3HtKpI/AAAAAAAADlQ/UBjHavm-qMsUXkPpNIuxw1MDThEV6UgtACLcB/s320/IMG_8750.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home at last</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sadly the import process was beset with delays, none of which were anyone's fault really but were intensely frustrating. For example the first permits were issued within 6 months but did not get to us until they only had 3 days validity to go, so not enough time to sort export protocols in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
Bessie, our older dog and Kismet the cat got their permits in late August and were due to join us in September. Bessie, who at 15 years old is most definitely a senior dog, became <a href="http://bit.ly/2cbUK9Y" target="_blank">very sick in KL</a> and I had to fly back to Malaysia as we thought she would have to be put down. Our wonderful vet drove all the way down from Ipoh after work, took her back home and nursed her better for us. We will never be able to thank her enough. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb1LrpW6_w4/WGuodgDRh2I/AAAAAAAADls/ooIXV7ohS9k-Q1TfdQ2kakr-UBQZY9FAgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb1LrpW6_w4/WGuodgDRh2I/AAAAAAAADls/ooIXV7ohS9k-Q1TfdQ2kakr-UBQZY9FAgCLcB/s320/IMG_8737.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No longer an only pet... and annoyed to boot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/2dt6Lu4" target="_blank">Kismet</a>, thank goodness, made it home OK and has enjoyed her status as a solo pet for the last 4 months. In December we got the news we had been waiting for, the permits had been issued and we started export procedures in Malaysia. Given our previous experience our vet decided that it would be better for the dogs not to board in KL but for her to do all the export permit work in Ipoh with the documents couriered to our handling agents in KL to arrange translations and shipping. We had a few false starts but on 23 December the pets were put in a truck and taken to the airport, scheduled to arrive in Jeddah on the morning of the 24th.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-piLtAgPdEK8/WGuk2BXJofI/AAAAAAAADlE/AUTIezjDoQ8nGM4IV1GxYgQANm9iRM7pgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-piLtAgPdEK8/WGuk2BXJofI/AAAAAAAADlE/AUTIezjDoQ8nGM4IV1GxYgQANm9iRM7pgCLcB/s320/IMG_8695.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Given all the delays and problems we could still not quite believe that the pets would arrive in Jeddah and, of course, nothing quite went according to plan. Delays and scheduling issues meant they did not land until the early evening. We spent the day tracking flight paths on our phones, desperately worried about what the delays would mean for their connecting flights and checking in with the cargo office in Doha. <br />
<br />
The flights did land of course, and as soon as they were taken from the plane into the pet handling area Mr EE got them out of the cages for a walk and some water and they were overjoyed to see him. Bessie, however, was so weak that she was unable to stand; this obviously gave the handlers some concern and they expedited the dogs' release into our custody. 30 minutes later, at about 10.30 at night, the dogs finally made it home, 1 year and 22 days after we left them. Mini EE had fallen asleep at her usual time but Master and Miss EE had stayed up to greet them. Perdie launched herself back into family life with an ebullience that was a joy to watch. Bessie, sadly, was so tired from the journey that she could do nothing more than lie there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x5lN8E3azY0/WGulhu86aOI/AAAAAAAADlU/xKP2bBRsbwELGdp0notSwYIRTNNX-VsLACLcB/s1600/IMG_8747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x5lN8E3azY0/WGulhu86aOI/AAAAAAAADlU/xKP2bBRsbwELGdp0notSwYIRTNNX-VsLACLcB/s320/IMG_8747.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recovering</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I had last seen Bessie she was very ill indeed so her condition was no real shock to me. The others, however, had left her as an old but healthy dog. As she tried, and failed, to nuzzle and lick us all they started to realise just how very old and sick she now was. Her back legs, cramped from the crate, would not support her, she had no control over her tail, for years our reunions with her had been dominated by a wag that started at her nose and shuddered through the length of her bdy, now she could only twitch the very tip of her tail. Her long and beautiful fur has been cut very short in order to help keep her clean and she had bedsores from the crate. We worried that we had put her through too much stress, had been too cruel and brought her home for our own reasons. Had we seen someone else with a dog like this we would have counselled them to put her to sleep. As we sat there with her, however, her head nestled in each lap in turn we realised that she was happy to see us.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vqY5Jt4Vsw/WGunj3M2NdI/AAAAAAAADlk/gLDI40WUnbMw2tC9m4mr3Mj-hgqLAUvHACLcB/s1600/IMG_8868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vqY5Jt4Vsw/WGunj3M2NdI/AAAAAAAADlk/gLDI40WUnbMw2tC9m4mr3Mj-hgqLAUvHACLcB/s320/IMG_8868.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting stronger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We gave them a quick wash and some meat and then let them roam in the garden, Bessie supported in a sling under her hips. She quite obviously enjoyed being outside sniffing the grass and her legs started to remember they could walk. Back inside Mr EE and I settled her on a fluffy bath mat laid on a thick foam playmat, sent the children to bed and sat with our pets, their return the best gift we could ever hope to have received and knowing that our family was complete once again.<br />
<br />
For more posts on Expat Pets please click the picture below.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/ersatz-guide-to-expat-pets.html" rel="nofollow" title="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets"><img alt="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JoGNLWdpXwk/VkyMe-1ECYI/AAAAAAAACZY/bWbULS7xeQg/s1600/expat%2Bpet.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Posted as part of the Animal Tales Link Up hosted by the wonderful Rosie of A Green and Rosie Life/ Eco Gites De Lenault<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://eco-gites.blogspot.fr/p/the-animals-tale.html" target="_blank"><img alt="ANIMALTALES" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gT0ttySxugA/VGsNjdqfIcI/AAAAAAAAF8E/ALOUcdRSZTw/s1600/Animal%2BTales%2BBadge%2BFinal.jpg" /></a></div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com8Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-4466342312073669032016-12-21T19:36:00.001+06:002017-01-03T18:30:19.835+06:00Seasonal Foods<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
December is a month where traditional foods come very much to the fore and these are easy enough to make (with some modifications) wherever we are in the world. I am taking the time to teach Miss EE (Master EE is not interested in cooking more than he has to), how to cook various recipes that have become a family tradition at this time of the year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-THT5sLLM8eI/WFpqhmxmhpI/AAAAAAAADkE/B8lliv9SRkULpKDEk5EXsLK1o-N9yNTSACLcB/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-THT5sLLM8eI/WFpqhmxmhpI/AAAAAAAADkE/B8lliv9SRkULpKDEk5EXsLK1o-N9yNTSACLcB/s320/IMG_2527.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Malaysia: Yorkshire Pudding, Festive Vegetables<br />
Roast Potatoes and Duck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We only rarely eat Turkey and prefer other meats if we can get it, duck or goose being a particular favourite. December also tends to be the time when we eat a lot of traditional English foods including red cabbage, roast potatoes, stuffing, roast carrots and so on. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVDo3yKU_Fs/WFpqXuzd1wI/AAAAAAAADkA/-_2a78BkwfUwZkgbl2OHIzVToR2dqF_dwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVDo3yKU_Fs/WFpqXuzd1wI/AAAAAAAADkA/-_2a78BkwfUwZkgbl2OHIzVToR2dqF_dwCLcB/s200/IMG_2502.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meats do not always come as fully prepared in some host countries<br />
as at home. Over the years Mr EE has learned to behead and defoot ducks and<br />
detestical (and deinnard) geese.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fruit cake made a long time in advance and 'fed' with brandy or other fortified wine is also traditional at this time of the year. When I am unable to get alcohol I cook the cake closer to the time it will be eaten and use tea instead. The tea will moisten the cake but of course will not preserve it in the same way. A properly made cake will last for years. In fact, a few years ago I made one for my father which he did not get round to eating, 9 months later and the day before he married my stepmother they told me they did not have a wedding cake. English wedding cakes are made from the same type of fruit cake so I simply removed the icing, fed it some more to moisten it up and redid it as a wedding cake. Versatile indeed!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KPxaF486dS4/WFprKH5ODTI/AAAAAAAADkY/ucUSCEq6bZ00VqSulKBIgLD6gAn88oNRQCLcB/s1600/IMG_8604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KPxaF486dS4/WFprKH5ODTI/AAAAAAAADkY/ucUSCEq6bZ00VqSulKBIgLD6gAn88oNRQCLcB/s320/IMG_8604.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruits infusing in tea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have always used <a href="https://www.nigella.com/recipes/christmas-cake" target="_blank">Nigella Lawson's</a> Cake recipe and it comes out perfectly every time. It is versatile enough to allow me to substitute fruits depending on what I have available. This year I was unable to find candied peel and had no time to make my own so I bunged in a similar weight of dried apricots and cranberries. The cake will taste different but just as good. I have also made a <a href="https://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-pudding.html" target="_blank">Pudding</a>, again without alcohol and using frozen grated butter in place of suet which I have not seen on sale and cannot describe to our butcher and played around with some alcohol free, suet free <a href="https://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/2013/11/mincemeat.html" target="_blank">mincemeat</a>. We found some alcohol free wine in the supermarket which will be perfect for mulling, mulled wine being one of the real pleasures of this time of the year. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5x9dtVgSkF0/WFpp3ooFebI/AAAAAAAADj0/rQ1fWYleBNwCmDNCIVeRFl4cK5HjuD9MQCLcB/s1600/christmas%2Bboxing%2Bday%2B09%2B008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5x9dtVgSkF0/WFpp3ooFebI/AAAAAAAADj0/rQ1fWYleBNwCmDNCIVeRFl4cK5HjuD9MQCLcB/s320/christmas%2Bboxing%2Bday%2B09%2B008.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Decorations on the Cake lasts for<br />
an hour or so before the cake is devoured.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here are some festive recipes I have been teaching Miss EE to add to the ones featured in the links above and for inspiration. All are versatile enough to allow for substitutions depending on what is available wherever you are celebrating.<br />
<br />
<b>Mulled Wine</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>A bottle of wine (cheapest plonk in the shop or alcohol free);</li>
<li>A slug of brandy or orange juice depending on what you can get;</li>
<li>two clementines, cut in half, squeeze the juice into the wine then stud the halves with cloves and toss in the pan;</li>
<li>sugar or syrup to taste;</li>
<li>a few cinnamon sticks;</li>
<li>a handful or raisins.</li>
<li>Warm gently on the stove then serve either in beautiful elegant glass mugs or, more realistically, whatever you have to hand.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Fancy Sprouts</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most people eat Brussels Sprouts out of protest but my family really like this recipe.</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>wash and prepare the sprouts then simmer gently until cooked through, they should be firm not mushy. A cross cut in the base will help them cook more evenly;</li>
<li>fry some bacon bits, pancetta cubes or a bacon substitute (breakfast beef or turkey bacon) in a saucepan;</li>
<li>add some chestnuts, coating them in the oil released from the bacon/bacon substitute;</li>
<li>drain the sprouts and add to the pan.</li>
</ul>
<div>
If you are a vegetarian or don't like to eat bacon or bacon substitutes you can use butter to give a pleasant taste to the sprouts/chestnut combination. You could also add other vegetables such as peas or string beans to add variety and taste.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gs7APLraNjU/WFprHnRpT0I/AAAAAAAADkU/uEPoifELdBYoocU1sdX1WTxu_-MaMXvHwCLcB/s1600/IMG_8611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gs7APLraNjU/WFprHnRpT0I/AAAAAAAADkU/uEPoifELdBYoocU1sdX1WTxu_-MaMXvHwCLcB/s320/IMG_8611.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiced biscuits, pleasingly and elegantly plain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b>Spiced Biscuits</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
These lovely biscuits taste very similar to the Kruidnoten I ate as a child in the Netherlands and I sometimes keep back some dough to form them into tiny little button noten, just for old times sake. Sometimes we pop them on the tree, sometimes the children decorate them with icing and sometimes we eat them as soon as they are cool from the oven. </div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Heat the oven to about 175 degrees;</li>
<li>Combine 150g Flour with 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and add cinnamon, cloves, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and pepper to taste, I like my biscuits spicy so tend to use 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 of everything else and a grind of pepper;</li>
<li>Cream 50g butter with 50g muscovado sugar then, in the mixer, add to the dry ingredients;</li>
<li>slowly add a beaten egg and then enough golden or maple syrup to allow the ingredients to combine to a soft dough;</li>
<li>roll out the dough and, using a cutter of your choice, cut out the biscuit shapes. If you want to hang them use the end of a straw to pick out a hole in the top of the shape;</li>
<li>Put the shapes on a lined baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes until firm through but not ultra hard;</li>
<li>If you are going to decorate them let them cool on the rack before bringing them out and letting the children have some fun;</li>
<li>The biscuit is firm enough that you could use it to make a gingerbread house if you wanted to.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xVUC1jiUNXM/WFprZPpz_wI/AAAAAAAADkg/wGLDV8-FIbYXZ-zFj0PRL6pupRs-ciq-ACLcB/s1600/IMG_8612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xVUC1jiUNXM/WFprZPpz_wI/AAAAAAAADkg/wGLDV8-FIbYXZ-zFj0PRL6pupRs-ciq-ACLcB/s320/IMG_8612.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And jazzed up by the children.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Bread Sauce</b></div>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
The first time I had this quintessentially British sauce was at my mother in law's house. The idea of bread soaked in milk and mixed to form a sauce sounded so disgusting that I was struggling to take a taste, I am so pleased that my parents trained me to be able to eat unappealing food because while it might look revolting this food is truly wonderful. I make mine on the hob because I only have a single oven but my mother in law makes hers, to great effect, in one of her smaller ovens.</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>peel and quarter a white onion and stud with cloves, I love the taste of cloves so use more than most English people, the traditional recipes tend to call for 4-6 I use about 10;</li>
<li>add the onion, a large bay leaf (I will occasionally use myrtle leaves for a change) and some peppercorns (traditionally people use black but I prefer pink for this, sometimes I use juniper berries, particularly if I am using myrtle leaves) to about 300 or so ml of milk (I do it by eye in my pan so this is a guess) and a bit of cooking cream. Heat the mix to a simmer then turn off the hob, put on a lid and let it sit for a while;</li>
<li>Take some cheap sliced white bread, cut off the crusts and tear into small pieces or stale it a little and blitz into breadcrumbs;</li>
<li>Add the bread to the milk mixture with a knob of butter and put it all back on a gentle heat, stirring to incorporate all the bread into the milk until it is mushed together. Grate some nutmeg over to season it;</li>
<li>Some people fish out the onions and bay leaves before serving (some even strain the milk before adding the bread) but I often leave them in as I rather like the look.</li>
</ul>
<div>
This sauce works beautifully with duck, goose and other birds and compliments cranberry sauce rather well.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aRvu53evSL4/WGuZCSqaCsI/AAAAAAAADk0/cMs-7AI1wl4wdc2CVp0R0ZnTn6ONqBxpQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aRvu53evSL4/WGuZCSqaCsI/AAAAAAAADk0/cMs-7AI1wl4wdc2CVp0R0ZnTn6ONqBxpQCLcB/s320/IMG_0086.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bread Sauce, Cranberry Sauce, Roast Potatoes, Stuffing, Yorkshire Puddings<br />and more. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Roast Potatoes</b><br />
<br />
Proper roast potatoes can only really be made with the Dutch Bintje potatoes which go wonderfully fluffy when shaken in the pan after boiling. You can get the same effect though by boiling your table potatoes for slightly longer (I know a lot of people parboil before roasting, I give a proper full boil), bashing them about in the pan and dusting with flour once dry. I often boil my potatoes the night before I am going to roast them. I have found that people who will eat only a few boiled potatoes will eat up to five times the amount if they are roast (or mashed) so make sure that you serve plenty.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Cut the potatoes into even pieces. My sister maintains that the more sides the potatoes have the more crispy bits you get so as roasties are all about the cripsy bits I cut them into odd shapes;</li>
<li>Boil the potatoes until fully soft. Drain and ensure they are completely dry then add some flour to the pan to cover the potatoes;</li>
<li>Place a pan of non smoking fat in a hot oven (230 degrees). Goose fat is traditional but groundnut oil also has a high smoking point, don't whatever you do use olive oil, it smokes terribly and does not roast well, you can add a rosemary sprig for flavour if you wish;</li>
<li>Once the oil is good and hot remove the pan from the oven and place on a hot hob top to maintain the temperature of the oil;</li>
<li>Use a slotted spoon to transfer the potatoes to the oil. Turn them so that all sides are covered. The hot hob will ensure that the oil does not lose heat;</li>
<li>Return to the oven and cook for about 25 minutes or until crispy. Half way through turn the potatoes in the oil to ensure even cooking. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Red Cabbage</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Red cabbage is one of my favourite foods of all time, I eat it plain, in sandwiches and as an accompaniment to just about everything. I usually cook it with apples but at this time of year I often add some cranberries as well.</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>dice a red onion and place in a pan with a small amount of butter, once the onion has softened and sweated a little add two diced red apples;</li>
<li>Add a head of shredded red cabbage slowly, allowing the pieces to wilt down as you add it.,</li>
<li>cover the mixture with a half and half mix of fruit juice (cranberry or cherry juice is tasty) and water; </li>
<li>add sugar to taste and some cinnamon;</li>
<li>simmer for about three hours minimum. You can cook the night before, leave covered on the hob and warm it up again to eat. Sometimes I roast it in the oven, sometimes I just serve it as is.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<b>Gravy</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
I cannot make gravy; my mother, grandmother and mother in law have all tried to teach me. My home economics teacher at school tried to teach me, I have tried so many recipes but for some reason it always turns out appalling. I just don't bother serving it, relying instead on a festive trio of cranberry sauce, bread sauce and cinnamon spiced apple sauce. If anyone has a guaranteed foolproof recipe for gravy please let me know.<br />
<br />
For more posts on cooking as an expat click on the picture below<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/the-ersatz-kitchen.html" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LNsldC4e4Yc/VkAC3m3bcRI/AAAAAAAACUY/YF6PquSn3GQ/s1600/EE%2Bkitchen%2Bbutton.png" style="border: none;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="practical-mom-button" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 200px;">
<a href="http://www.practical-mom.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Practical Mom" src="http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s550/swapnalatkar/button%20new%20wip1_zpsar8pa3ls.jpg" height="200" width="200" /> </a> </div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com7Farnham, UK51.214321 -0.7988020000000233351.214321 -0.79880200000002333 51.214321 -0.79880200000002333tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-41354543811895640162016-12-08T16:15:00.000+06:002016-12-08T16:54:42.828+06:00Travel At Home 11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
Welcome back to Travel At
Home. <span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0in;">Wherever you are in the world there are probably so
many wonderful and fascinating things to see. If you are anything like my
family it becomes all too easy to ignore the sites close to home, falling prey
to the belief that they will 'always be there'. Familiarity breeds
contempt and we hanker after the exotic. But the truth is that what is home for one
person is exotic to many others. As an
expat family we get to be at home in a wide range of different places and we
try to make sure that we make the most of any place we are living right now,
getting out and exploring as much as possible. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">Travel at Home is the
linky for people who want to write about their home (or host) location and all
the places that don't make it into a guide book (but really should). You
don't have to be an expat to participate, just someone with a passion for their
local area. The link will be open for a week so there is plenty of time
to add your post (or posts). If you notice that something does not work as
it should or you think I could improve something please do let me know.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;">Last month we travelled to Africa and the Middle East. My favourite post was Africa Expat Wives' Club post on her visit to <a href="http://africaexpatwivesclub.com/2016/11/girls-trip-lamu-old-town-kids/" target="_blank">Lamu </a>. It reminded me very much of the old town in Jeddah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">There are just a few
rules:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Share your
post - it can be a new post or an old one you want to share with a new
audience.</li>
<li>You can
write about anywhere you have a strong connection, home country, current host
or former host.</li>
<li>Add the link
up button and code to your post so that people can navigate back easily</li>
<li>Comment on
some of the other posts on the link up (the more the merrier)</li>
<li>Tweet/share
your link. If you include me (@ErsatzExpat) in your tweet I will retweet.</li>
<li>Add your
post to the Travel At Home <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ersatzexpat/travel-at-home/" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Pinterest Board</span></a><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> contact me via Pinterest and I
will add you to the board.</span></li>
<li>Spread the
word - the more the merrier and everyone is welcome.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Monthly link ups will go in the main feed but will then be linked to a tab (see above) for reference. Thank you in advance for linking up and I look forward to enjoying some vicarious visits in the next few days.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="padding: 5px;">
<img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VedEaPC5E5w/VjM2hDd94jI/AAAAAAAACL4/Zt1JL2uit9k/w105-h140-p/Travelathome.jpg" title="Ersatz Expat" /></div>
<pre style="background: none; border: none; padding: 0;"><textarea style="background: #f0f0f0; border: solid 1px #cccccc; color: #777777; display: block; font-size: 100%; height: 50px; margin: auto; padding: 7px 0 2px 5px; text-align: left; width: 90%;"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VedEaPC5E5w/VjM2hDd94jI/AAAAAAAACL4/Zt1JL2uit9k/w105-h140-p/Travelathome.jpg" alt="Ersatz Expat" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
</textarea></pre>
</div>
</div>
<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<br />
<div class="InLinkzContainer" id="683409">
<a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=683409" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div>
<script src="https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end InLinkz script --></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com7Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-67041132535966415052016-12-08T16:14:00.003+06:002016-12-08T16:22:32.492+06:00The Old Smokehouse, Malaysia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday my personal facebook feed brought up some memories
on its ‘time hop’ feature. I love seeing
these memories. These memories were even
more special because this marked the anniversary of our penultimate day in
Malaysia. Today is exactly one year
since we left our home in Ipoh and flew into another new expat adventure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7GoRVcciGu8/WEkizyHPgKI/AAAAAAAADjQ/vKQzBr_pnnEtBgCqQkYoQI9cLOIlM6_2wCEw/s1600/IMG_3184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7GoRVcciGu8/WEkizyHPgKI/AAAAAAAADjQ/vKQzBr_pnnEtBgCqQkYoQI9cLOIlM6_2wCEw/s320/IMG_3184.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An English cottage in the heart of Malaysia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Malaysia was not the best posting we have ever had but we do
retain a fondness for it, in the way expats often do for countries they have
once had a very close connection to. I
had to go back a little while ago and that was a thoroughly<a href="http://bit.ly/2e9HrVx" target="_blank"> bizarre experience</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lVmxMhx7Htk/WEkhT7HXsoI/AAAAAAAADic/Vx3u-i9C-dg-YxEnJkUlb3AkvJ8Qi0NRgCEw/s1600/IMG_3171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lVmxMhx7Htk/WEkhT7HXsoI/AAAAAAAADic/Vx3u-i9C-dg-YxEnJkUlb3AkvJ8Qi0NRgCEw/s320/IMG_3171.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The southern parts of the Cameron Highlands are more picturesque than the North</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The period between getting the notification that you will definitely
be leaving and actually sitting on the plane is hectic, this one particularly
so as starting requirements for the new job gave us just a few weeks to pack up
and leave. However, once the hassle of
packing was sorted, the children had spent their final days at school and Mr EE
had handed over his work we had a few days to do as we wanted. We became, for want of a better word,
tourists in our own home and we went to as many of the places we had always
wanted to see but never quite managed as we possibly could. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdrZcV5tAA0/WEkiTjaOIPI/AAAAAAAADjQ/g394LvJSZ-kRfn_e-wKHaUO3D5LKIyfqwCEw/s1600/IMG_3179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdrZcV5tAA0/WEkiTjaOIPI/AAAAAAAADjQ/g394LvJSZ-kRfn_e-wKHaUO3D5LKIyfqwCEw/s320/IMG_3179.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old Smokehouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the places we made a point to go and say goodbye to
was the <a href="http://bit.ly/1Mz5ngC" target="_blank">Cameron Highlands</a>. Ipoh is
situated just to the North and we would often drive up for the day to have tea
and buy fresh temperate <a href="http://bit.ly/1PWCBbA" target="_blank">vegetables </a>and strawberries, an unbelievable luxury in
the tropics. A colleague had recommended
a hotel called ‘The Old Smoke House’ in the southern part of the highlands but
we had never had the time to visit, we were determined to see it before we
left.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OANb8WqBhD4/WEkhvq0kK9I/AAAAAAAADic/wez3CmVxBRcOvpPJztNYNHip9wAmqy0ngCEw/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OANb8WqBhD4/WEkhvq0kK9I/AAAAAAAADic/wez3CmVxBRcOvpPJztNYNHip9wAmqy0ngCEw/s320/IMG_3176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We drove south on the main Penang/KL motorway to the
southern junction access point and then up the steep switchback roads to the
Cameron Highlands proper. This route,
being closer to KL, is much more popular than the northern access road which we
normally used and was jammed with a lot of coaches stopping off at scenic
waterfalls and roadside stalls. Once we
reached the highlands tea fields were more in evidence in the south than the
lines and lines of polytunnels that hug the hillsides in the north making for a
more scenic drive. It was not long until
we saw the sign for the Old Smoke House.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNYYq00SBzM/WEkiCloEvCI/AAAAAAAADjQ/8Sr6V3SduKYTwFBJsckZ7fqUhDTrfqfHACEw/s1600/IMG_3174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNYYq00SBzM/WEkiCloEvCI/AAAAAAAADjQ/8Sr6V3SduKYTwFBJsckZ7fqUhDTrfqfHACEw/s320/IMG_3174.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a truly dislocating experience. Designed like an old English Cottage, complete
with lawn and flowerbeds and a red telephone box the hotel was a perfect simulacrum
of an English pub. It was too cold to
eat on the terrace so we enjoyed a lovely if slightly pricey and stingey cream
tea in the conservatory. The bars and
sitting rooms had been decorated for Christmas and we wandered through the
public rooms soaking up the atmosphere.
Although we were flying back the next day it had been over 2 years since
we were last in the UK and even longer since we had been in the UK for Christmas
so Mr EE, the older children and I felt an unexpected burst of nostalgia. Mini EE who at just over one year old did not
remember the Christmas tree from the previous year, was entranced by the lights.
The barman was amazed that we had driven up from Ipoh, it turned out his
parents lived just down the road from us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U-yWjw_5JBw/WEkiaaNHBII/AAAAAAAADjQ/QtVW6KweN6AGU0qe-An-Rvu-9xIIvZsaQCEw/s1600/IMG_3180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U-yWjw_5JBw/WEkiaaNHBII/AAAAAAAADjQ/QtVW6KweN6AGU0qe-An-Rvu-9xIIvZsaQCEw/s320/IMG_3180.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zk-7mCwOO4s/WEkjMmbCzmI/AAAAAAAADjQ/cTXBSX05zuIQ5kRdJ-R9TQQsMXKHpdgBACEw/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zk-7mCwOO4s/WEkjMmbCzmI/AAAAAAAADjQ/cTXBSX05zuIQ5kRdJ-R9TQQsMXKHpdgBACEw/s320/IMG_3193.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the light faded we drove north through the larger settlements
of the Camerons until we got to the area we knew well and then the long steep
road down into Ipoh and home for one last night, last minute packing and the
next step on our personal adventure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-apJRn0-c2iQ/WEkjURZfhiI/AAAAAAAADjQ/VjoR3lfUqlM-v0h_5oc5Rudc5zQfTvY5gCEw/s1600/IMG_3250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-apJRn0-c2iQ/WEkjURZfhiI/AAAAAAAADjQ/VjoR3lfUqlM-v0h_5oc5Rudc5zQfTvY5gCEw/s320/IMG_3250.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For more posts on Malaysia please click on the photo below.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/ipoh.html" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NxMM76rUHFE/VkAFmogUusI/AAAAAAAACUk/zaPxkIwIHtc/s1600/Malaysia%2BButton.png" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Posted as part of the Travel at Home Series</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VedEaPC5E5w/VjM2hDd94jI/AAAAAAAACL4/Zt1JL2uit9k/w105-h140-p/Travelathome.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com6Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-68295552163637008702016-11-30T16:53:00.000+06:002016-11-30T16:57:31.185+06:00Expat Stopovers: Bishkek<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are so many places that you get to go to as an Expat
that you might not otherwise decide to visit.
I would hazard a guess that not many people based outside of Central
Asia would choose to go to Kyrgyzstan on holiday. That is a real shame as it is a beautiful
country with amazing alpine scenery and an interesting history. It is also visa free for many nationalities.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFmA1FbDFro/WD6lGofdk5I/AAAAAAAADhI/ootZn5bQstka7gKfPp2H6gnshWQiaLYqgCEw/s1600/DSCN7311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFmA1FbDFro/WD6lGofdk5I/AAAAAAAADhI/ootZn5bQstka7gKfPp2H6gnshWQiaLYqgCEw/s320/DSCN7311.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bishkek, Capital of Kyrgyzstan on a rather overcast day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The capital, Bishkek, is only a short flight from Astana so
a few years ago we decided it would be the perfect spot for a short break for
Nauruz (Persian New Year) at the end of March.
I was 15 weeks pregnant at the time so a short hop was ideal. At that time Astana is usually still on the
cold side although winter is loosening its grip. Bishkek is quite a bit further south and very
close to Almaty (the former capital and largest city of Kazakhstan) and has a
much more temperate climate. The downside of this is that unlike Astana which is typically dry with wide blue skies, Bishkek can be overcast and wet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7tA4mutqaM/WD2eB5eZyDI/AAAAAAAADg0/UkGHFDTRN-MpKXEL7Mud9pH4DgjCOQxIACEw/s1600/DSCN7378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7tA4mutqaM/WD2eB5eZyDI/AAAAAAAADg0/UkGHFDTRN-MpKXEL7Mud9pH4DgjCOQxIACEw/s320/DSCN7378.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mTpejzDTruk/WD2bNYRcOKI/AAAAAAAADg0/1KW6BtdePhUGYwH1fpOzRtxCFg73QxYWACEw/s1600/DSCN7362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mTpejzDTruk/WD2bNYRcOKI/AAAAAAAADg0/1KW6BtdePhUGYwH1fpOzRtxCFg73QxYWACEw/s320/DSCN7362.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traces of the Soviet past are still in evidence.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bishkek, unlike Astana, is a low rise city, all the better
to enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. It is very typically Soviet in its design looking
very like Karaganda and other similar cities (broad boulevards lined with
apartment blocks). The city is very
green and there are ample small parks for children to play in or people to
stroll through. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mgj3HYbIlnA/WD2TaRPQXLI/AAAAAAAADfk/9wRVLpHGk7UGpMi0kK-E263FL_jHgJ_OwCEw/s1600/DSCN7320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mgj3HYbIlnA/WD2TaRPQXLI/AAAAAAAADfk/9wRVLpHGk7UGpMi0kK-E263FL_jHgJ_OwCEw/s320/DSCN7320.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parks and open spaces can be found all over the city.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our rental apartment was
about 45 minutes walk from the centre of town we decided to orient ourselves to
the city with the short walk to Chuy Prospect, the central artery of the city. After lunch (Bishkek has excellent
restaurants at very good prices) we took in the main sites. These are mostly clustered around Ala-Too
Park and include the Krgyz White House (Parliament), the National Flag (much
smaller than its equivalent in Astana) and many statues in typical Soviet style
including a very large one of Lenin. After
that we went on to the market. This bazaar was refreshingly
unpretentious, there were, of course, a few stalls selling
national costumes, magnets and the like but many more selling pieces of tack
for horses, plumbing equipment, babygrows and so on. There were even doctors’ offices operating
out of the market.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QAp5ebpgcUA/WD2UxTBlP-I/AAAAAAAADfk/gRKybheCufgiZ-2G7tnkLOHeXPo1ruy9wCEw/s1600/DSCN7337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QAp5ebpgcUA/WD2UxTBlP-I/AAAAAAAADfk/gRKybheCufgiZ-2G7tnkLOHeXPo1ruy9wCEw/s320/DSCN7337.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Burana Minaret is a short drive out of the city</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PblEtNH-gCE/WD2UxzA2QcI/AAAAAAAADfk/xerSOClhrnMynzSnda66tGq0fPNjmkNcgCEw/s1600/DSCN7335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PblEtNH-gCE/WD2UxzA2QcI/AAAAAAAADfk/xerSOClhrnMynzSnda66tGq0fPNjmkNcgCEw/s320/DSCN7335.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now restored the tower was in a very poor state<br />
when the Soviets took over the country.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQa36zG5s4s/WD2Ys1CohiI/AAAAAAAADg0/4AKKGUoDKnUkR_2lMJoIk_6vr0LFBgimQCEw/s320/DSCN7355.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all aspects of the restoration have been well done...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQa36zG5s4s/WD2Ys1CohiI/AAAAAAAADg0/4AKKGUoDKnUkR_2lMJoIk_6vr0LFBgimQCEw/s1600/DSCN7355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQa36zG5s4s/WD2Ys1CohiI/AAAAAAAADg0/4AKKGUoDKnUkR_2lMJoIk_6vr0LFBgimQCEw/s1600/DSCN7355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mYT4MYG2OZA/WD2YJVzT1SI/AAAAAAAADgQ/mPwPkxH4ejMNzlBkhHacN3K8XfWnSwhzQCEw/s1600/DSCN7353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mYT4MYG2OZA/WD2YJVzT1SI/AAAAAAAADgQ/mPwPkxH4ejMNzlBkhHacN3K8XfWnSwhzQCEw/s320/DSCN7353.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside climb is steep and narrow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following day we hired a driver to take us out to the Burana
Minaret about 80km from Bishkek. This
tower is all that is left of an old Krgyz city on the silk road. The site is fairly open and, along with the
tower it is possible to look around some old mausoleums and grave markers. There is a small museum on site which gives
details of renovations that have been undertaken since the 70s and information
on the artefacts excavated in the area.
The babushka in charge was extremely friendly and more than happy to
talk about the place and her experiences during her time there and the restoration work that has been carried out. The tower has been repaired and can be
climbed. Miss EE was keen to get to the
top and took Mr EE with her. Master EE
and I stayed at the viewing platform half way up and watched a Krgyz bridal
couple on their photo tour come to have shots taken at this iconic site. Unfortunately the bridal party started the
climb in the narrow upper section of the Minaret before Master EE and I could
take our turn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAZC644z0_I/WD2WIEPu28I/AAAAAAAADfw/qNBNLo5XQlkL9DcTsYbLNoV9zkDQ6PR4gCEw/s1600/DSCN7342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAZC644z0_I/WD2WIEPu28I/AAAAAAAADfw/qNBNLo5XQlkL9DcTsYbLNoV9zkDQ6PR4gCEw/s320/DSCN7342.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Markers cover the ground surrounding the minaret</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jhOchwjwNBo/WD2WAZRQs9I/AAAAAAAADfk/0xEEmdp-1yYkegk2uAb4iqGYrZoD22c-wCEw/s1600/DSCN7345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jhOchwjwNBo/WD2WAZRQs9I/AAAAAAAADfk/0xEEmdp-1yYkegk2uAb4iqGYrZoD22c-wCEw/s320/DSCN7345.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The complex is large and covers a lot of ground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFcjPlvYfVo/WD2bVKU0A1I/AAAAAAAADgQ/f15QkjHpZYYWrYd_j3CPAr8AolB5Tdi7wCEw/s1600/DSCN7357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFcjPlvYfVo/WD2bVKU0A1I/AAAAAAAADgQ/f15QkjHpZYYWrYd_j3CPAr8AolB5Tdi7wCEw/s320/DSCN7357.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is a favourite spot on bridal photo tours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLt3yHSR5q0/WD6oLbF7rQI/AAAAAAAADhU/UEyN4FyN6Rc1eyhvRFJXfRPUoWYqlD9WwCLcB/s1600/DSCN7350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLt3yHSR5q0/WD6oLbF7rQI/AAAAAAAADhU/UEyN4FyN6Rc1eyhvRFJXfRPUoWYqlD9WwCLcB/s320/DSCN7350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The city must have been impressive in its time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following day our friendly driver took us out along the
old silk road (now a rather unromantic and poorly maintained highway) towards lake Issyk-Kul. One of the largest (10<sup>th</sup>)and
deepest lakes in the world it is slightly saline and never freezes despite
being exposed to some very cold temperatures. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oseK2BdHfAc/WD2efL61Y0I/AAAAAAAADg0/ve0Z4StMHn4vitxLlUwbStmuOo3KO28NwCEw/s1600/DSCN7388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oseK2BdHfAc/WD2efL61Y0I/AAAAAAAADg0/ve0Z4StMHn4vitxLlUwbStmuOo3KO28NwCEw/s320/DSCN7388.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The modern silk road...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jQ2qPS9BQuA/WD2gT1Y_hdI/AAAAAAAADhA/j4Ae4JwiG5o02IJWoNv1O4Q3VOxAhjjrgCEw/s1600/IMG_0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jQ2qPS9BQuA/WD2gT1Y_hdI/AAAAAAAADhA/j4Ae4JwiG5o02IJWoNv1O4Q3VOxAhjjrgCEw/s320/IMG_0621.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In training to be a security guard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The lake was used a naval test site in Soviet years and a portion is still leased to Russia (and I think, India although I am not sure) for these purposes. It was also a very popular Soviet tourist destination and the shores are dotted with old sanitoria. There is excellent hiking and trekking in the area and had we not had the children with us we might have stayed the night in order to indulge in some mountain walks to view the famous petroglyps that abound in the local area. Instead we went to the town of Cholpon Ata where we spent some time in the small museum which documents what life was like in the area from prehistoric to pre soviet times. We bought some fruit, grown in the orchards that pepper the local area to keep us going on the way home and as a gift for the wife of our driver.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOAVkhq8TVg/WD2ffTuyj1I/AAAAAAAADg0/M16RO7z5LyQUIGpHnIYXNNgp7ris5vJIACEw/s1600/DSCN7393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOAVkhq8TVg/WD2ffTuyj1I/AAAAAAAADg0/M16RO7z5LyQUIGpHnIYXNNgp7ris5vJIACEw/s320/DSCN7393.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring is still low season so the sanitoria are left for the animals to enjoy,<br />
a few months later and the beaches will be teeming with holiday makers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELBYSTMFyHM/WD2f27pJrpI/AAAAAAAADg0/ALmgLwdqKcUImoxIRAavE6YvyxnW3G1oQCEw/s1600/DSCN7400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELBYSTMFyHM/WD2f27pJrpI/AAAAAAAADg0/ALmgLwdqKcUImoxIRAavE6YvyxnW3G1oQCEw/s320/DSCN7400.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just saline enough to prevent the lake from freezing in the winter<br />
local livestock still find it potable.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the way home we stopped off to see the monument to Pyotr Semyonov Tian Shansky, a chair of the Russian Geological Society and the man responsible for much of the initial exploration of the Tian Shan mountains, the surprisingly lovely monument is surrounded by a small park and shows the gentleman as a young man and explorer.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KVIcha_CTJA/WD2guA6qqJI/AAAAAAAADhA/5JAhdBmVtfsOHsG2viV4RHKNa8WY3xmqgCEw/s1600/DSCN7406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KVIcha_CTJA/WD2guA6qqJI/AAAAAAAADhA/5JAhdBmVtfsOHsG2viV4RHKNa8WY3xmqgCEw/s320/DSCN7406.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pyotr Semyonov Tian Shansky</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Miss EE came down with a horrible bout of tonsillitis running a very high temperature, she was so bad that the insurers said that had we been in Astana they would have wanted her in the clinic, as we were in Bishkek where they were not comfortable with the facilities on offer they gave us the option of driving to Almaty in KZ (just the other side of the mountains) or taking care of her ourselves and bringing her in for a check up on our return to Astana. I have found that insurers tend to err on the side of caution by a massive degree and while she was clearly ill and in need of antibiotics we thought she would be able to wait 24 hours. I always, always, travel with children’s medicine and this was the one and only time I could not find it. Mr EE went out to find a 24 hour pharmacy. There were plenty available but the one he went to operated on an intercom system and as any expat or traveller knows a lack of face to face contact makes communication very difficult when you are not 100% fluent in a language. Whether they did not have it or whether the intercom scrambled his accent too badly they did not give him ‘children’s paracetamol’ but ordinary tablets. A quick call to the insurers told us how much to give per KG though and we were able to grind them up in some juice to give her some pain and fever relief<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PXYemkwNhY/WD6uUQSeUyI/AAAAAAAADhk/oZDvNykQEtULADRsTZDKp3XVZx2-OTn3wCLcB/s1600/DSCN7382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PXYemkwNhY/WD6uUQSeUyI/AAAAAAAADhk/oZDvNykQEtULADRsTZDKp3XVZx2-OTn3wCLcB/s320/DSCN7382.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed a tour of some of the other city centre sites while cafe<br />
hopping for Miss EE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9kIRZSD-ZE/WD6uVmhGINI/AAAAAAAADho/2TGU9OPnJPMmH4LiYYLKIj-L0WwxoRiAACLcB/s1600/DSCN7413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9kIRZSD-ZE/WD6uVmhGINI/AAAAAAAADho/2TGU9OPnJPMmH4LiYYLKIj-L0WwxoRiAACLcB/s320/DSCN7413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We stayed in the apartment for as long as possible the next
morning before dropping the bags and getting a taxi (for Miss EEs benefit) into
town. Once there we went straight to a
pharmacy to get some children’s paracetamol and ibuprofen syrups. We then spent some time
in the rather fascinating museum devoted to the history of the Kyrgyz people,
Mr EE and I taking turns to walk around
with Master EE while the other sat with Miss EE asleep in our laps. Unsurprisingly a large portion of the museum
was taken up with the history of Soviet rule.
I always find it interesting to look at things from a different
perspective, to see how the people who lived (and prospered and suffered) under
Soviet rule view it with the benefit of hindsight and compare it to the view we
have from the west. Museums such as this
one are a wonderful resource. Once we
had exhausted all the museum had to offer we were at a loose end. While there was much we would have wished to
see in the City we could not really make poor Miss EE walk around any more than
she needed to. We therefore decided to
engage in a sort of café crawl, looking for places with comfortable sofas where
she could sleep in between being dosed with medicine. The crawl took us slowly but surely back to
our bags and onwards by taxi to the airport, home and antibiotics.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Good To Know</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The currency is the Som and the cost of goods is very
cheap. Be aware that most ATMs only take
Visa, our Kazakh bank cards (Mastercard) were next to useless to get money out
although we could use them to pay for goods by PIN. Luckily our English bank cards are Visa
supported and we were able to use those to take out money. English is not widely spoken away from the
main hotels so be prepared to communicate in Russian.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hired a driver because it worked out cheaper than a car
hire over a short period. I understand
self drive rentals are easily available.
Petrol was more expensive in Kyrgyzstan than Kazakhstan at the time of
our visit, we were surprised at how expensive it was compared with goods like
fresh food which was much cheaper than KZ.<br />
<br />
We went in the early spring for two reasons, firstly we wanted to visit in a quiet season and secondly it was the time we had available to devote to a trip there. The weather in spring is warm (15 degrees) but can be wet and overcast. Winter will not be too cold (ie more alpine as opposed to Astana style cold) and summer is warm and sunny but busy.<br />
<br />
For more posts on expat life please click on the photo below.<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/how-to-be-ersatz-expat.html" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGmuT-t4wlk/VkAC3hHmL2I/AAAAAAAACUI/iEFCct9wt60/s1600/Expat%2BLife%2BButton.png" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com2Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3395957 37.946657199999926 22.2312177 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-34651404869065504752016-11-03T10:44:00.000+06:002016-11-03T10:46:22.588+06:00Travel At Home 10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
Welcome back to Travel At
Home. <span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0in;">Wherever you are in the world there are probably so
many wonderful and fascinating things to see. If you are anything like my
family it becomes all too easy to ignore the sites close to home, falling prey
to the belief that they will 'always be there'. Familiarity breeds
contempt and we hanker after the exotic. But the truth is that what is home for one
person is exotic to many others. As an
expat family we get to be at home in a wide range of different places and we
try to make sure that we make the most of any place we are living right now,
getting out and exploring as much as possible. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">Travel at Home is the
linky for people who want to write about their home (or host) location and all
the places that don't make it into a guide book (but really should). You
don't have to be an expat to participate, just someone with a passion for their
local area. The link will be open for a week so there is plenty of time
to add your post (or posts). If you notice that something does not work as
it should or you think I could improve something please do let me know.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;">Last month we travelled around Africa, Europe and the Middle East. My favourite post was <a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=30529451" target="_blank">Eco Gites of Lenault</a> on the commemorations of the Battle of Hastings from the Norman Perspective. Visit the website to see more on the fascinating history of Normandy, I know I would love to book a stay there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">There are just a few
rules:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Share your
post - it can be a new post or an old one you want to share with a new
audience.</li>
<li>You can
write about anywhere you have a strong connection, home country, current host
or former host.</li>
<li>Add the link
up button and code to your post so that people can navigate back easily</li>
<li>Comment on
some of the other posts on the link up (the more the merrier)</li>
<li>Tweet/share
your link. If you include me (@ErsatzExpat) in your tweet I will retweet.</li>
<li>Add your
post to the Travel At Home <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ersatzexpat/travel-at-home/" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Pinterest Board</span></a><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> contact me via Pinterest and I
will add you to the board.</span></li>
<li>Spread the
word - the more the merrier and everyone is welcome.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
Monthly link ups will go in the main
feed but will then be linked to a tab (see above) for reference. Thank you in advance for linking up and
participating in this venture. I
look forward to enjoying some vicarious visits in the next few days.<span style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div align="center" style="padding: 5px;">
<img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VedEaPC5E5w/VjM2hDd94jI/AAAAAAAACL4/Zt1JL2uit9k/w105-h140-p/Travelathome.jpg" title="Ersatz Expat" /></div>
<pre style="background: none; border: none; padding: 0;"><textarea style="background: #f0f0f0; border: solid 1px #cccccc; color: #777777; display: block; font-size: 100%; height: 50px; margin: auto; padding: 7px 0 2px 5px; text-align: left; width: 90%;"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VedEaPC5E5w/VjM2hDd94jI/AAAAAAAACL4/Zt1JL2uit9k/w105-h140-p/Travelathome.jpg" alt="Ersatz Expat" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
</textarea></pre>
</div>
<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<br />
<div class="InLinkzContainer" id="675166">
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=675166" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div>
<script src="https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end InLinkz script --></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com2Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3396167 37.946657199999926 22.231196699999998 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-80518663035095115832016-11-03T10:40:00.000+06:002017-04-20T03:22:08.851+06:00Monasteries in Mardin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My Travel at Home piece for this week is a retrospective,
dating back to our time in Turkey.
For various reasons we were not always able to drive far from Diyarbakir
but when we did manage to do some exploration it was always a <a href="http://bit.ly/1Kr0DNx" target="_blank">memorableexperience</a>. In August 1995, to take my
mind away from my impending A Level results and whether they would be enough to
allow me to start university that October (they were fine) some family friends,
one of whom, a lawyer, I did work experience with during my holidays, joined us
on a drive down to the town of Mardin on the Turkish/Syrian border.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UzD4FOmULgg/WBnEVJHqj9I/AAAAAAAADeo/k8lcXSD005kbu6azj69vFJRBK3tUrcxrgCEw/s1600/TWKS6503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UzD4FOmULgg/WBnEVJHqj9I/AAAAAAAADeo/k8lcXSD005kbu6azj69vFJRBK3tUrcxrgCEw/s320/TWKS6503.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View across the border into Syria beyond.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mardin is an old town, there has been a settlement there
since the Bronze Age. It is also very
beautiful, watch the spectacularly
enjoyable film Ek Tha Tiger (a Bollywood James Bond type film but so much
better than the Hollywood versions) and you will see the town featured in the
opening sequence. It has a commanding
presence on the hillside and the plains of Syria stretch out below. Back in 1995 Syria was peaceful, 20 years on things
are very different. Mardin became Christian
during the Roman period and was a seat of a Bishopric (it is still a titular
Catholic See). Following the Ottoman
conquest the region became Muslim but given the tolerance of the Ottomans for ‘people
of the book’, Christians were allowed to continue to practice their
religion. Mardin became a centre for
various Christian sects including Armenian Catholics, Syriacs and Chaldeans, the churches nestled in amongst the mosques of the town.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVRZkqfylXk/WBnEVd5amWI/AAAAAAAADes/TCvr-MymRUs9yAcN3R18tMM27SrBdgcrQCEw/s1600/SHWC5734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVRZkqfylXk/WBnEVd5amWI/AAAAAAAADes/TCvr-MymRUs9yAcN3R18tMM27SrBdgcrQCEw/s320/SHWC5734.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Saffron Monastery on the outskirts of town.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was still a small but devout Catholic community at the
time of our visit and the churches were open to visit. We stopped at the Catholic Church of
Meryemana (Mary), similar to most Catholic churches it fascinated our Turkish
friends who wanted to know about the forms of worship and meanings behind the
decorations and took the opportunity to quiz a member of our party who had
grown up Catholic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XOyU5K5cM-g/WBnDwkqWUmI/AAAAAAAADeg/MR80CKLJ1rs1wuTBjDrq8L01ECf8vJBBwCEw/s1600/CJVI4125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XOyU5K5cM-g/WBnDwkqWUmI/AAAAAAAADeg/MR80CKLJ1rs1wuTBjDrq8L01ECf8vJBBwCEw/s320/CJVI4125.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The monastery gets its colloquial name from the yellow colour of the walls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From there we went on to the real object of our visit, the Syriac
Monastery of Daryo d-Mor Hananyo also known as the Monastery of St. Ananias or
the Saffron Monastery. Like the town it lies near, the Saffron Monastery has had
a long history. The site was originally
home to a Temple dedicated to a Sun God (the remains of which can still be seen
in an underground vault). The Romans
turned it into a citadel and when they left in the 490s this citadel became a
monastery. The monastery has been rebuilt several times and even abandoned for
periods in the intervening centuries but the dedication to Mor Hananyo is in
memory of a Bishop who carried out renovations in the 8<sup>th</sup> Century. In the 12<sup>th</sup> Century the Monastery
became the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
The seat moved to Damascus in the 30s but much of the official regalia
is still held by the Monastery and several Patriarchs are buried there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rtisUYswBr0/WBnEAtJqIdI/AAAAAAAADeg/Njsm0UN0aq8GD5SezYjc-XhSXhsWZmMXACEw/s1600/IITH8452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rtisUYswBr0/WBnEAtJqIdI/AAAAAAAADeg/Njsm0UN0aq8GD5SezYjc-XhSXhsWZmMXACEw/s320/IITH8452.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-itCn3YeDSzw/WBnD79llQPI/AAAAAAAADeg/axBxLCRcx_gN8xyaJDPmwzjk40p_0oANwCEw/s1600/GFXL6298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-itCn3YeDSzw/WBnD79llQPI/AAAAAAAADeg/axBxLCRcx_gN8xyaJDPmwzjk40p_0oANwCEw/s320/GFXL6298.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Syriac Orthodox Church claims descent from some of the
earliest Christian communities. It has a
large presence in countries such as India and Sweden but very few still in
Mardin. Some are still in residence, however,
and it remains a working monastery. One
of the residents was happy to take us round and talk to us about the history of
the Monastery which amongst other things had housed the first printing press in
Turkey. The monastery was clearly in need of some renovation which, I understand, has now taken place. It was, nevertheless beautiful and impressive, the Church of the Monastery in particular which at the time of our visit was dark, atmospheric and impossible to photograph. After our tour we were invited
to enjoy the grounds and picnic in the groves of Apricot Trees, a peaceful and beautiful place.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3H7a_UJZ-Jk/WBnDs5rX_GI/AAAAAAAADeg/5Zb3B3oOwSA3aZ_FCGb2k_ifs93yBgH4QCEw/s1600/EPTY0663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3H7a_UJZ-Jk/WBnDs5rX_GI/AAAAAAAADeg/5Zb3B3oOwSA3aZ_FCGb2k_ifs93yBgH4QCEw/s320/EPTY0663.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1SO2Axlywc/WBnEAAd_VeI/AAAAAAAADeg/LtfMAJh5yjYXurS7PQw-Nsh-WVwlVus2wCEw/s1600/LCDG4560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1SO2Axlywc/WBnEAAd_VeI/AAAAAAAADeg/LtfMAJh5yjYXurS7PQw-Nsh-WVwlVus2wCEw/s320/LCDG4560.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking back at the photographs I realise that we only have 11 or 12 to mark our day there and very few are good quality. We did not get any pictures of the spectacular interiors of the Churches we visited, film was expensive to buy and even more to develop. How different to today when we would have 30 or 40 each on our telephones, taking a chance on whether or not they would come out. The place is, however, deeply ingrained in my memory, perhaps more so than if I had been able to photograph everything we saw.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6r2KXmYihIY/WBnEY_Mzz4I/AAAAAAAADeo/nH6nZBTZSt8cFJqFko47E3fQkOO2E0gmgCEw/s1600/XALY1372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6r2KXmYihIY/WBnEY_Mzz4I/AAAAAAAADeo/nH6nZBTZSt8cFJqFko47E3fQkOO2E0gmgCEw/s320/XALY1372.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmy, our Nigerian rescue dog came everywhere with us and<br />
enjoyed his picnic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Posted as part of the Travel At Home Blog Link Up, click on the link to see posts from other bloggers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VedEaPC5E5w/VjM2hDd94jI/AAAAAAAACL4/Zt1JL2uit9k/w105-h140-p/Travelathome.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com2Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3396167 37.946657199999926 22.231196699999998 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-404955294045799942016-10-26T19:01:00.001+06:002016-10-26T19:01:14.360+06:00How to Learn Arabic In Jeddah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some expat postings are easy in terms of languages, some are
more challenging. In four of my postings
I have been lucky to speak a language
that is either the national language or extremely widely spoken. Others have required me to learn to
communicate in another tongue. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I tend to approach languages by getting an introductory ‘teach
yourself’ book or app and then, when I have enough basic information, just
start to converse. In Venezuela my
parents gave me a language book to read then told me I had ‘volunteered’ to translate to and from Spanish for the English, German and Dutch children at company summer camp. It was a real ‘in at the deep end’ moment but
it did work, by the end of the week I had some basic facility in the language,
albeit with a very strong local accent! In
fact I have always made the best progress in a language when living somewhere
where people do not speak English (nowhere else really speaks Dutch!) as it
forces me to learn. I adopt a pragmatic
approach. I don’t need to speak a
language perfectly but I do need to be able to communicate. Once I can do that I can start to improve and
find that people are generally happy to help.
One fruit stall holder at a market in Astana used to reward me with a
piece of fruit if I had improved since she had last seen me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arabic has not been so easy to learn, partly because on a
day to day basis most people we come in contact with speak perfect
English. Colleagues, all parents at
school and most residents of our compound do, most shop keepers, Expat or
Saudi, do too. I have tried to learn
using apps but the dialect here is very different to the language used in them and because of the way the letters of the alphabet change depending on their
position in a word it has been almost impossible for me to self teach.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqQ9vhIPh38/WBCl2fqN3-I/AAAAAAAADdc/LXy1fh3SlakeSlSWGXNd8h92-lJujBDFQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqQ9vhIPh38/WBCl2fqN3-I/AAAAAAAADdc/LXy1fh3SlakeSlSWGXNd8h92-lJujBDFQCLcB/s320/IMG_7747.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confusing is not the word!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was over the moon, therefore, when I found a language
course offered by a local institute (<a href="http://www.jcec.com.s/" target="_blank">The Jeddah Cultural Exchange Centre</a>). The course is broken into parts and I was
able to register for the beginners’ sessions.
The aim of these was to gain familiarity with the alphabet and learn
some basic vocabulary. The course was
quite intensive, three nights a week for four weeks. The course was taught in English which was
perfect for me although I have a huge amount of respect for the pupils for whom
English is a second language! Our
teacher, a Syrian lady now living in Jeddah, started by teaching us the 28
letters of the Arabic alphabet and how to recognise them, not just as a stand-alone
letter but when we saw them at the beginning, middle and end of a word. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought Cyrillic, with its multiple letters for Y, was
challenging but for someone used to the Latin Alphabet Arabic is a whole new
level of difficult. There are 4 or 5 different forms of the letter T, some are
distinct but others are impossible for my ear to distinguish from each other,
the two Ks are equally confusing. The 2
(or 3) Ds are, at least distinct (in written if not in spoken form) as are the three forms of S, the two As and
the two different H’s. Yet more letters
do double duty. The Y can stand for Y or
E and the W for W and O. There are even
more letters that are only used at the ends of words. Short vowels (A, I and U) are modifiers used above or below the word to
change the pronunciation of a letter ie Ba, Bi, Bu, but these are not typically
written so you just have to ‘know’ which vowel is used where. A lot of the letters look suspiciously
similar when written; a misplaced dot can mean the difference between a J and a
K or a Z and an R and whether or not a loop is coloured in can change a GH to
an F. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSKGULW42DU/WBClRuohUHI/AAAAAAAADdQ/8OfA_Ba8iAc8--HsNQcr5IC9dgQIZg_6gCLcB/s1600/IMG_7574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSKGULW42DU/WBClRuohUHI/AAAAAAAADdQ/8OfA_Ba8iAc8--HsNQcr5IC9dgQIZg_6gCLcB/s320/IMG_7574.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was enough to give me a headache, gradually, however,
things started to make sense. I have
started to be able to read simple words (I was over the moon to read Balsamic
on the vinegar bottle and Cocoa on the cocoa tin). The course has been a success because it does
not concentrate on the written form of the language to the exclusion of
everything else (a common aspect of language courses here). Our teacher has also worked hard to
make sure that we are able to communicate.
The other day I clarified a measurement length of an Abaya in Arabic and I felt
ridiculously pleased. The lady in the
shop did too and gave me a huge grin. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The course has a secondary benefit as well and that is the
chance to get to know other people in Jeddah.
Participants registered on the course are from all over the world, India,
South Africa, UK, Philippines, Turkey, US and Malaysia. We have all come to Jeddah for very different
reasons but it is lovely to get to know each other. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNir2zRYKbA/WBClyhH3R2I/AAAAAAAADdU/rYOOui_roBUuzx3vit9rIcWzVMnxRctewCLcB/s1600/IMG_7596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNir2zRYKbA/WBClyhH3R2I/AAAAAAAADdU/rYOOui_roBUuzx3vit9rIcWzVMnxRctewCLcB/s320/IMG_7596.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
There is a long way to go, building vocabulary (and
retaining it) is challenging because I do not have to use the language every
day. I have registered for the second
level course to try to keep the momentum in my studies. <br />
<br />
For more posts on life in Saudi please click on the photo below<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com8Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3396167 37.946657199999926 22.231196699999998 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-13164036133881373962016-10-13T13:57:00.001+06:002016-12-16T13:57:14.730+06:00Revisiting Past (Expat) Lives: A Wrenching Echo or a Beautiful Swansong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some postings are ones that you get to return to again and
again, even after you leave. Others you
expect, for one reason or another never to see again. Warri (Nigeria) and Maracaibo (Venezuela) are hardly tourist destinations to bring the family to for example.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVXzRsHW3_k/V0Cr47xDp1I/AAAAAAAADQs/Ng46tGDv0awBfMae00-7NnK72e18iOSaACPcB/s1600/YEWM4492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVXzRsHW3_k/V0Cr47xDp1I/AAAAAAAADQs/Ng46tGDv0awBfMae00-7NnK72e18iOSaACPcB/s320/YEWM4492.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nigeria was beautiful but not the easiest posting to return to.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My many postings fall into a variety of those
two categories. I go back to the town we
lived in when we were last in the UK an awful lot because, by a complete
co-incidence, we ended up living 5 minutes from where my parents had bought a
house many years before and where they chose to retire. These days, going back to visit my father and step-mother
is strange, I was a local councillor there for 6 years so relatively well known
to a number of people through my party and through campaigning. I often run into old colleagues of my
husbands or old pupils of his. It is
home (the children and I stayed there for a significant part of the 4 months we were waiting for Saudi visas), and yet it is not. My mother loved
the town, she was not English but it was where she chose to settle and live out her days. This town was the place she returned to every year from around 1992 when my
parents bought the house and we spent most of our short half term holidays
there from around that time to leaving school. It is more home to me than any other place on earth ... and yet....
I see her ghost everywhere I walk and it is incredibly painful; harder
now to go back than it was to live there after her death. I love seeing my father and my step-mother
and the children adore their visits there but I find it very, very sad. I wonder if people who have lived in the same
place all their life have a similar response post bereavement, do they suddenly
want to move away or is it just my complete and utter lack of true ties to any place? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NObiXPdGEMg/V_4tDLW7jMI/AAAAAAAADc4/ZDBFVH0ea6UOo1fIBnsd--2Da1Y7OyQFwCLcB/s1600/IMG_3799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NObiXPdGEMg/V_4tDLW7jMI/AAAAAAAADc4/ZDBFVH0ea6UOo1fIBnsd--2Da1Y7OyQFwCLcB/s320/IMG_3799.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful old home town in England</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had a similar feeling when, following a visit to my Uncle and
Aunt in their home town in the Netherlands, I drove to show Mr EE and the older
children the place where Oma & Opa had lived.
I spent a lot of time with them as a child, living with them for long
periods and often visiting them for short holidays when I was first in boarding
school. I was ok in the town, it was rather fun to walk in my old steps, but when we
went to the building their flat had been in I broke down, racked with
sobs. I still don’t really know why (I don’t
have the same reaction when I see my other grandparents’ house in Dublin or when I wander around Den Haag, the town where I was born and where I lived 4 times in my life),
perhaps it was a realisation that a place that had been so pivotal, so
important to me, now has no connection to me at all other than an ageing uncle and aunt. The ripples my life had made on the surface of the Assen pond have almost disappeared for ever.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycKmM3wc8T8/V_4ria1q3OI/AAAAAAAADc0/LLKoN--OQUUIBnTTVRpwJse9YVX8g5f9wCEw/s1600/IMG_7018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycKmM3wc8T8/V_4ria1q3OI/AAAAAAAADc0/LLKoN--OQUUIBnTTVRpwJse9YVX8g5f9wCEw/s320/IMG_7018.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Revisiting past pleasures in Ipoh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other than that, by and large when I leave a posting I
leave, I put it to bed in my mind and look forward to the next one. I rarely hanker after the life that has been.
I have been back to some of the other countries I have lived but never to my old
homes (except on Google Maps) or even cities until last month. When I had to <a href="http://bit.ly/2cbUK9Y" target="_blank">rush back</a> to Malaysia to see
our very sick dog I ended up in our old town.
It was a strange visit because it has not been long since we were there,
Ipoh was our home until December last year.
In between seeing to the dogs I revisited old hunting grounds, traces of
our life there were everywhere. My hair
needed colouring so I went to my old hairdresser, I was still on record. On the two evenings I was there I ate at two
of our favourite restaurants. I was
welcomed back to both by name and asked if I wanted ‘my usual’, when I parked
at the mall (I treated myself to a cinema trip, something we can’t do in Saudi)
the mark made when our power steering fluid suffered a catastrophic leak in
August last year could still be seen in our favoured spot. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBTgev5otkc/V_4sG4WSlqI/AAAAAAAADc0/UK5emCQB3w8YcC0BCiezcTju-tEYvjR8QCEw/s1600/IMG_3106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBTgev5otkc/V_4sG4WSlqI/AAAAAAAADc0/UK5emCQB3w8YcC0BCiezcTju-tEYvjR8QCEw/s320/IMG_3106.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our old home had the most amazing view.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a whim I went back to our old home. We lived in a gated development with some
beautiful park land and the guard, remembering me, waved me through with a big
smile. Our old house was occupied by a
new family but I parked nearby and walked around the running track where we had
walked the dogs every day (the plan had been to scatter Bessie’s ashes there if
she had had to be put down). The fish,
the monkeys, the monitor lizards were <a href="http://bit.ly/1LxznGN" target="_blank">all still there</a>. Sadly there is a lot of development going on at
the theme park across the lake and I can see that we were lucky in our time
there. Unlike the feelings of sadness I
have when visiting my old home in the Netherlands or the UK I felt a feeling of
closure that I have never sought and had not expected to want or need. <o:p></o:p>Our ripples are still there, though fading fast, they will be gone before long but, unlike Assen, I feel no sense of sadness about that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were happy to leave Ipoh, it had only ever been a temporary
posting and had we remained in Malaysia we would have been in KL by now but we
left with a short turn round, with Mr EE being asked to start his new job very
quickly (6 months notice is more normal in education). Whenever we relocate we try to spend as much
time as possible fixing memories of our posting, memories that will last us a
life time. We do our favourite things
and make the most of our remaining time there.
In Ipoh the time we had to do this was very short. The little swansong visit was, in many ways,
the perfect way to put that posting to bed. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Have you ever returned to a previous posting? How did it make you feel?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For more posts on Expat Life please click the photo below.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/how-to-be-ersatz-expat.html" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGmuT-t4wlk/VkAC3hHmL2I/AAAAAAAACUI/iEFCct9wt60/s1600/Expat%2BLife%2BButton.png" style="border: none;" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Posted to the Expat Family Linky hosted by Seychelles Mama</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.seychellesmama.com/my-expat-family-new-linky/" target="_blank" title="Seychelles Mama"><img alt="Seychelles Mama" src="http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag244/Seychellesmama/Image_zps04194192.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com8Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3396167 37.946657199999926 22.231196699999998 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-76981815484715483112016-10-06T16:36:00.000+06:002016-10-06T16:36:05.307+06:00Jeddah Corniche<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeddah is a coastal city and, as such, has an extensive
waterfront. The corniche is divided up
into a number of discrete sections, all slightly different in character and all
equally charming and enjoyable. One of
our favourite parts is the Middle Corniche Park. This is quite some way from our home and can
take up to half an hour to get there but it is worth it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-clojhDLEK-4/V_YfpaQcvFI/AAAAAAAADcQ/qzeyb_ld8pwWwfOxVEab8J7Am7_Se0OHwCEw/s1600/IMG_5701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-clojhDLEK-4/V_YfpaQcvFI/AAAAAAAADcQ/qzeyb_ld8pwWwfOxVEab8J7Am7_Se0OHwCEw/s320/IMG_5701.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the scenery at the Corniche Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nestled at the end of Falastin (Palestine) street, this park
is home to some quite tracts of grass, a walk way, some play grounds, sculpture
and views over the King Fahd fountain.
We like to go down towards evening time, aiming to get to the park about
15 minutes before sunset prayers. This
gives us time to get a bottle of water or an ice cream from a snack vendor
before they close up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhwfFpz-nu4/V_Ydy4m6peI/AAAAAAAADbg/mQEZgXrqv5o_4ZjNKXjFTjkXi-PkDf_CQCEw/s1600/IMG_5617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhwfFpz-nu4/V_Ydy4m6peI/AAAAAAAADbg/mQEZgXrqv5o_4ZjNKXjFTjkXi-PkDf_CQCEw/s320/IMG_5617.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are plenty of vendors selling treats for children<br />
and picnic essentials like cushions and carpets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As non Muslims we are, of course, not required to do
anything other than not disturb those at their devotions. All shops close down by law and restaurants
close their doors to new customers. In
the park roll out carpets are available for those who wish to pray. We tend to take the opportunity to walk
quietly through the park, enjoying the scenery and the sunset. The gardens are well maintained and full of
sculptures although to my untutored eye they do not appear to be the best quality.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-woglGY94nLw/V_YdnK7VGzI/AAAAAAAADbg/r0_WHpXs4gwZi0bNOaH5TUUOKe7Tv7gogCEw/s1600/IMG_5635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-woglGY94nLw/V_YdnK7VGzI/AAAAAAAADbg/r0_WHpXs4gwZi0bNOaH5TUUOKe7Tv7gogCEw/s320/IMG_5635.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The park is quiet during prayer time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QUj0Kv14nEk/V_Yd-yGZJMI/AAAAAAAADbg/zFwYQ85OKT0fTfgxLKEw_YJGIrk-NGMtwCEw/s1600/IMG_5644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QUj0Kv14nEk/V_Yd-yGZJMI/AAAAAAAADbg/zFwYQ85OKT0fTfgxLKEw_YJGIrk-NGMtwCEw/s320/IMG_5644.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But full of life at other times.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As prayers come to an end families break out picnics and
barbeques on the lawns, children cycle or roller-skate down the path, married couples
stroll hand in hand and hopeful young men cast their fishing lines. In the cooler weather you see people out for
a run, men in their sports wear and sometimes even the odd woman in her abaya
(although given the difficulty of running in one women tend more towards power
walking).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVCQlCSG2fA/V_YeqU5uhCI/AAAAAAAADbs/gMYjlp9q4UkdFMYvdSi-IoCQ1NCaIhSvACEw/s1600/IMG_5647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVCQlCSG2fA/V_YeqU5uhCI/AAAAAAAADbs/gMYjlp9q4UkdFMYvdSi-IoCQ1NCaIhSvACEw/s320/IMG_5647.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The park is a pleasant place for a romantic stroll</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7yFroy7YmT8/V_Yep0sys9I/AAAAAAAADbs/rREyGk0fhDYMu4d9Ufk4F8NMOaGUHZmQACEw/s1600/IMG_5655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7yFroy7YmT8/V_Yep0sys9I/AAAAAAAADbs/rREyGk0fhDYMu4d9Ufk4F8NMOaGUHZmQACEw/s320/IMG_5655.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strange sculptures abound</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVAzEWfu3WM/V_Ye1bMX9mI/AAAAAAAADb0/__b-BcsvdrYdbsAQ7qvop4wshPf6ygH0QCEw/s1600/IMG_5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVAzEWfu3WM/V_Ye1bMX9mI/AAAAAAAADb0/__b-BcsvdrYdbsAQ7qvop4wshPf6ygH0QCEw/s320/IMG_5649.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are not even sure what these are!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunsets in Jeddah are often less than spectacular; we don’t
get enough cloud cover for the really striking skies that I loved in Brighton,
another seaside town I called home for many years. Nevertheless it is the best time to enjoy the
spectacle that is the King Fahd fountain.
Built in the 1980s it is the tallest fountain in the world, shooting
seawater up to around 300m high. It is
so imposing that can be seen from the aircraft as they come in to land at the
airport and it can be seen at the other end of town (if you are high enough).</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iF4ZwUFvvy0/V_YfVxMF6PI/AAAAAAAADcQ/vi9yXs8JuIoM32J9J6axcdr1Ok8b3LuBgCEw/s1600/IMG_5665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iF4ZwUFvvy0/V_YfVxMF6PI/AAAAAAAADcQ/vi9yXs8JuIoM32J9J6axcdr1Ok8b3LuBgCEw/s320/IMG_5665.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children play in the many well equipped parks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J77lwGFRnn4/V_Yfky31cLI/AAAAAAAADcQ/U7RnXoS6HN0wa5gSaTVc2jx9smkaBLkTQCEw/s1600/IMG_5666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J77lwGFRnn4/V_Yfky31cLI/AAAAAAAADcQ/U7RnXoS6HN0wa5gSaTVc2jx9smkaBLkTQCEw/s320/IMG_5666.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People gather to enjoy convivial evenings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This section of the corniche is only a few kilometres long
so once we have walked to the end and back we just have time to nip into a
restaurant on Falastin before they close the doors for the night time prayers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6_QMaHvCcq0/V_Yfq7aJCRI/AAAAAAAADcQ/k1sA27-mfVA6xn8hK8ouJCgLsMRdz8KyQCEw/s1600/jf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6_QMaHvCcq0/V_Yfq7aJCRI/AAAAAAAADcQ/k1sA27-mfVA6xn8hK8ouJCgLsMRdz8KyQCEw/s320/jf.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset is the best time to enjoy views of the fountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vwIJvzeW4E/V_YfxJWL6SI/AAAAAAAADcQ/SIqDi9PbyQgtKczsGimGkGqnxQtjSzp3gCEw/s1600/IMG_5674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vwIJvzeW4E/V_YfxJWL6SI/AAAAAAAADcQ/SIqDi9PbyQgtKczsGimGkGqnxQtjSzp3gCEw/s320/IMG_5674.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It dominates this part of town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This park is, for us, a perfect example of how life here is
like and yet unlike anywhere else.
People enjoy the seafront in seaside towns around the world. Watching children eat cotton candy and learn
to roller-skate on promenades (as I did in Brighton all those years ago) and
seeing couples stroll and families barbeque it could be the seaside in Miri,
the riverside in Astana; and yet… it is quintessentially Arabia.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Posted as part of the Travel at Home Blog Link Up<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VedEaPC5E5w/VjM2hDd94jI/AAAAAAAACL4/Zt1JL2uit9k/w105-h140-p/Travelathome.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For more posts on life as an Expat in Saudi Arabia please click on the photo below<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.com/p/er.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ersatz Expat"><img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lqwZrKWNVY/V1e7zV7FSxI/AAAAAAAADTY/ZWbSiRb-bt8d-dco-3Xs6MLT5o14-L0rgCLcB/s1600/jf.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com4Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3396167 37.946657199999926 22.231196699999998 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-64442216580937358312016-10-06T15:04:00.000+06:002016-10-06T16:41:10.106+06:00Travel At Home 9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
Welcome back to Travel At
Home. The linky has been absent for a few months, firstly I was away, then I had internet problems and then I had to make a last minute <a href="http://bit.ly/2cbUK9Y" target="_blank">dash to Malaysia</a> to visit my dog. The linky is now back up and running and looking forward to your stories.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">Wherever you are in the world there are probably so
many wonderful and fascinating things to see. If you are anything like my
family it becomes all too easy to ignore the sites close to home, falling prey
to the belief that they will 'always be there'. Familiarity breeds
contempt and we hanker after the exotic. But the truth is home for one
person is exotic to many others. As an
expat family we get to be at home in a wide range of different places and we
try to make sure that we make the most of any place we are living right now,
getting out and exploring as much as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">Travel at Home is the
linky for people who want to write about their home (or host) location and all
the places that don't make it into a guide book (but really should). You
don't have to be an expat to participate, just someone with a passion for their
local area. The link will be open for a week so there is plenty of time
to add your post (or posts). If you notice that something does not work as
it should or you think I could improve something please do let me know.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">There are just a few
rules:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Share your
post - it can be a new post or an old one you want to share with a new
audience.</li>
<li>You can
write about anywhere you have a strong connection, home country, current host
or former host.</li>
<li>Add the link
up button and code to your post so that people can navigate back easily</li>
<li>Comment on
some of the other posts on the link up (the more the merrier)</li>
<li>Tweet/share
your link. If you include me (@ErsatzExpat) in your tweet I will retweet.</li>
<li>Add your
post to the Travel At Home <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ersatzexpat/travel-at-home/" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Pinterest Board</span></a><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> contact me via Pinterest and I
will add you to the board.</span></li>
<li>Spread the
word - the more the merrier and everyone is welcome.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
Monthly link ups will go in the main
feed but will then be linked to a tab (see above) for reference. Thank you in advance for linking up and
participating in this venture. I
look forward to enjoying some vicarious visits in the next few days.<span style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div align="center" style="padding: 5px;">
<img alt="Ersatz Expat" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VedEaPC5E5w/VjM2hDd94jI/AAAAAAAACL4/Zt1JL2uit9k/w105-h140-p/Travelathome.jpg" title="Ersatz Expat" /></div>
<pre style="background: none; border: none; padding: 0;"><textarea style="background: #f0f0f0; border: solid 1px #cccccc; color: #777777; display: block; font-size: 100%; height: 50px; margin: auto; padding: 7px 0 2px 5px; text-align: left; width: 90%;"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/" rel="nofollow" title="Ersatz Expat"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VedEaPC5E5w/VjM2hDd94jI/AAAAAAAACL4/Zt1JL2uit9k/w105-h140-p/Travelathome.jpg" alt="Ersatz Expat" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
</textarea></pre>
</div>
<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<br />
<div class="InLinkzContainer" id="668664">
<a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=668664" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div>
<script src="https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end InLinkz script -->
</div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com1Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3396167 37.946657199999926 22.231196699999998 40.528444199999932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978675934252049570.post-38530123675531860322016-09-28T19:49:00.000+06:002016-09-28T19:49:23.601+06:00Kismet Comes Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wrote, recently, about the<a href="http://bit.ly/2cbUK9Y" target="_blank"> awful experience</a> we had with
our older dog Bess. She is still in vet
care in Ipoh but is getting better and stronger all the time. Our vet hopes to move her back to her own
home soon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I was in Malaysia I was able to spend some time with
our other pets, with Perdie at the vet’s
home and with Kismet just a few hours in an office in KL before her flight to
Jeddah. She flew a few days before I
returned home and because Mr EE was at work she spent her first few hours in
Jeddah in the corner of his office. We
were worried this would stress her but she seemed quite happy to be among
people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIEmN19zLlE/V-vIY0TAqSI/AAAAAAAADas/un9nvQEPiIU5e5LTjwZQurWHLEmex_gKgCEw/s1600/IMG_7329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIEmN19zLlE/V-vIY0TAqSI/AAAAAAAADas/un9nvQEPiIU5e5LTjwZQurWHLEmex_gKgCEw/s320/IMG_7329.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kismet is settling in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We put all her things in a small room, our plan being to
allow her her own space to settle in and get used to the family again without
being overwhelmed by all the people in the house. We had instructed the children not to fuss
her and to leave her to settle. We needn’t
have worried one bit. Kismet sniffed at
a few bits and pieces that had been in the house in Malaysia and went straight
to the sofa to sit next to Mr EE and lick him to pieces. She clearly remembered him and was keen to
re-establish family bonds. She was happy
to see the children but wary of Mini EE who has grown an awful lot since they
last saw each other.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NCcFTzjFyNA/V-vIKtMhTGI/AAAAAAAADao/E5jl_pZByuksLucXxeusvpV1u0dgRs89ACEw/s1600/IMG_7187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NCcFTzjFyNA/V-vIKtMhTGI/AAAAAAAADao/E5jl_pZByuksLucXxeusvpV1u0dgRs89ACEw/s320/IMG_7187.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She has settled into family life as though she has never been away</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I arrived a few days later I found a house with a cat
who behaved as though it had always been her home, which, of course, it
has. Our family has been her home since
she was a little kitten and she clearly does not mind about the gap. Within minutes of my arrival she was sitting
on my knee and purring her distinctive, loud, motorcycle impression. We know dogs remember people they love for
their whole lifetimes, we were worried that cats would not. Clearly and happily, we were wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the days have gone on Kismet has become more independent and
less clingy. She has always been a house
cat and although she enjoys looking outside we are wary of letting her out incase
she gets into a fight. For her part she
talks, through the window, to cats that
visit the garden but has not asked to go outside. She slept on our bed the first few nights,
chasing our toes as we slept and curling up in the smalls of our backs. As time has marched on she prefers to sleep
downstairs and do the rounds of all the bedrooms for a few minutes every
night. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KLZnD6vO-AU/V-vHnzbqcMI/AAAAAAAADac/XQQYK5GxkJQPm7xkastu9ZNRNvwLmfDxQCEw/s1600/IMG_7180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KLZnD6vO-AU/V-vHnzbqcMI/AAAAAAAADac/XQQYK5GxkJQPm7xkastu9ZNRNvwLmfDxQCEw/s320/IMG_7180.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She talks to the local cats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T2YM7gZFgg0/V-vIB-SWR1I/AAAAAAAADag/pZJRhVIKpkgepmmwLjvpFsf2CcO-cTvyACEw/s1600/IMG_7215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T2YM7gZFgg0/V-vIB-SWR1I/AAAAAAAADag/pZJRhVIKpkgepmmwLjvpFsf2CcO-cTvyACEw/s320/IMG_7215.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeps us company in the evenings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a house full of dog people that<a href="http://bit.ly/1SCgKWF" target="_blank"> just happened </a>to find
themselves with a cat Kismet has exceeded all our expectations as a pet. Clearly, unlike the dogs, she is self
sufficient and has not suffered from our absence in quite the same way. She loves us but does not need us. She is, however, genuinely good company. She talks to us, sits with us, plays games
and makes us laugh with her antics. 8
months older than when we had to say goodbye in Malaysia the worst excesses of
kittenhood are past and she is a calmer (though still mischievous) cat. Mr EE was away on a trip for most of last
week and her presence in the house made the evenings far less lonely. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfznwI_5fYM/V-vIg4ZrtSI/AAAAAAAADaw/INrGaNE1vTsHhNYgdaWQphImxbL-zGhHQCEw/s1600/IMG_7318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfznwI_5fYM/V-vIg4ZrtSI/AAAAAAAADaw/INrGaNE1vTsHhNYgdaWQphImxbL-zGhHQCEw/s320/IMG_7318.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Makes sure that we don't forget to pet her</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jLj4QUZAlg/V-vIHG0za6I/AAAAAAAADak/_2Jz2pnUHMEVyWpcIn30E87u6vyWTeAUgCEw/s1600/IMG_7189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jLj4QUZAlg/V-vIHG0za6I/AAAAAAAADak/_2Jz2pnUHMEVyWpcIn30E87u6vyWTeAUgCEw/s320/IMG_7189.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and keeps us warm at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People here, both expats and locals told us we were crazy to spend money importing a cat to Jeddah when there are so many here that we could adopt and then leave when we leave. We don't agree, we made a promise to a little lost kitten that we took into our home, we promised that we would be her home for the rest of her life and nothing short of a disaster would make us renege on that promise. Kismet has come home and her presence has, in turn, made our
house feel more like a home. We had not
quite realised how empty it was until she came to fill the ‘pet void’. We now need to try to get the papers in order
for Perdie and, if Bessie is strong enough, get the certificate reissued for
her so that we can finally be together again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For more posts on expat pets please click the link below.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ersatzexpat.blogspot.my/p/ersatz-guide-to-expat-pets.html" rel="nofollow" title="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets"><img alt="The Ersatz Guide To Expat Pets" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JoGNLWdpXwk/VkyMe-1ECYI/AAAAAAAACZY/bWbULS7xeQg/s1600/expat%2Bpet.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Posted on the Animal Tales link up hosted by Green and Rosie Life. Click the picture below for more pet posts.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<a href="http://eco-gites.blogspot.fr/p/the-animals-tale.html" target="_blank"><img alt="ANIMALTALES" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gT0ttySxugA/VGsNjdqfIcI/AAAAAAAAF8E/ALOUcdRSZTw/s1600/Animal%2BTales%2BBadge%2BFinal.jpg" /></a></div>
Ersatz Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715056719284523304noreply@blogger.com8Jeddah Saudi Arabia21.2854067 39.23755069999992920.3396167 37.946657199999926 22.231196699999998 40.528444199999932