Snapshots of Buraidah

Last month I took the plunge and headed over to Saudi Arabia to live for a while. I have found myself working in Buraidah, a provincial city in Al Qassim. It is known for being the heartland of Wahhabism - an ultraconservative form of Islam - so as you can imagine things are rather different here compared to anywhere else I have lived. It is the polar opposite of South Korea.

Have a look for yourself...


It gets extremely hot. Daytime highs of 40ºC in September. I'm glad I wasn't here in the summer.


You don't see many people in the streets as it is way too hot. Pretty much everybody drives except some migrant workers.


Hot sauce galore!

It can get a little dusty.


The sunsets here are unparalleled. Every night I take a walk over to my gym as the sun goes down.


Believe it or not, this is a new build.

The malls here have Mango and Zara. All the women shopping in the malls are wearing the niqab. It's bizarre to know that they are shopping for clothes that are in complete contrast to what women are expected to wear in the streets.

Eid. The only people I see walking the streets are Indians and this rogue fellow.


Arabic numerals. Even the speed signs are in Arabic. Well, there are no tourist visas after all.


Junk food rules in Saudi Arabia. I try to avoid these places at all costs. I confess I did try out Little Caesars. It is not the same as in the States unfortunately.

The eighties called. They want their ring pulls back!

Pumpin' vibes.

There are so many mosques you can hear the call to prayer being announced from every angle. They are not synchronised so it gets a little intense and disorientating.

If it's too hot to carry your groceries, just take the trolley. There are some guys who do the rounds and collect them.

Clouds!


Stay cool. Stick a rug on it.