The Pulse of Saudi

Saudi oil well going up.  (Can you tell it is in the middle of a shamal.  This is taken at 13:30)

Garden Plants

There are numerous garden shops but these outside ones by the Al Rashid Mall are fun to visit.

 

Ras Tanura Camp

Here are some random photos of the Ras Tanura camp.  It is significantly smaller than the Dhahran camp but is right on the water.  The beach is amazing and facilities are nice.  To see more of the camp look at this earlier post Ras Taura Beach .

RT Camp

Bakers Paradise

This is a small store in Dammam.  It had everything you might want for baking in one location.  Spices, nuts, candy, baking supplies and more.  It was a neat shop and the photos don't do it justice.  (No real camera   just the phone.)

 

 

 Candy

Trash Galore

This is one of those things that just breaks you heart.  I know that the Saudi Government is working on preserving their history and artifacts and is restoring many things.  They are doing a great job on that and as a result I believe this will get better but to drive around and see so much trash just pilled in the desert is sad.  My kids said on one of our most recent drives "Saudi really isn't very nice.  There is too much trash."  That statement made me sad because they have some beautiful things to see and I believe they will get the trash situation under control in the future but at the moment it is just nasty.  

Fire Wood

Firewood is not something you think of finding here in the middle of a desert.  We drove by a huge market selling it though.  It also looked like they had charcoal for sale.  Will have to try it out sometime.  

Balloons

The fifth grade class made hot air balloons out of tissue paper.  Then on one of the cool mornings here released them into the air.  The entire school came out to watch.  What a great way to support the students and make them feel special.  The kids did a wonderful job!

Sexy Eyes...

Oh No!!  You can see those "Sexy Eyes" and the abaya's not black!

Found on the store shelf in Khobar.  The Sexy Eyes bit comes from this article a while back.  

http://jezebel.com/5860660/helpful-saudi-arabian-committee-suggests-women-cover-their-sexy-eyes

Defensive Driving!!

And this is why you have to drive defensively in Saudi Arabia!!  A divided highway going the wrong way at 120 km!  

Ghutra

Can you tell the difference? Ghutra are the scarfs worn my Saudi men on their heads.  This is from a shop in the souk area of Khobar.  

Saudi Aramco Bike Rally

This was Saudi Aramco's 5th Bike Rally.  It was a miserable day.  A shamal (dust storm) blew the day before and was still just churning.  The bike rally is always fun.  They have games for the kids, bounce houses, face painting, a live band, vendors and so much more.  

All of the bikes with the schamal in the back.  This is at 10 am not night!