Help - New to Riyadh!
 

Hi all

I have been in Riyadh since the middle of October, from the UK and female (yes I know a bad combination in Saudi!) and am pretty much on my own out here!

I am really keen to find out if there is anything I can do at the weekend that does not involve shopping!

Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions (clean please lol) would be greatly appreciated, only here for 6 months total and get to go home monthly so not so bad.

Only seem to see people saying how crap the country is so would really appreciate some positive thoughts please, feeling a bit low being on my own anyway so could do without the negative thoughts! Would really be good to hear from people with ideas.

Thanks in anticipation!

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

As you are already stuck there, I will try and be helpful. Do you live on a western compund? If not, try and find somebody who does. There is usually a nice swimming pool, bowling alley and the occasional bar available to residents and guests. Luckily for you, the weather is pleasant. How about a weekend swimming/diving at Jeddah? Also, Dubai is only a short flight away. Plenty of amusement parks in Riyadh if my memory serves me right. Other than that, you always have the internet and satellite TV to keep you entertained. Not very helpful, but that's all I can think of unless you hook yourself up with a local and go dune bashing.

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

Ahh thanks for the reply! Only on a 6 month secondment and home monthly so not so bad, just the weekends that loom!
I have colleagues in Dammam and Jeddah so planning a visit to each as well as a Dubai trip so not so bad but just wondered if there was anything else.

Living in a hotel - nice one but still a hotel - compound not a great option as so few with spaces and those with are awful or a long way from work!

My biggest problem is actually getting to meet anyone as in work all day - team are all Saudi and whilst really lovely not used to western things! Outside of work I go to the hotel and live in my room!

Tried the 'dune bashing' and was halloween weekend - really nice people but not sure all of the activities are for me!
As for diving - well old, fat & unfit so not an option! Not sure they do wet suits for a butt the size of mine but cheers for the thought!

Thanks and maybe I will get some thoughts, either that or will be stood outside a mall with a sign saying, british, desperate and please be my friend if you live on a compound and wish to invite me over! :lol:

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

Hey Lynne

What do you like doing back in the uk and I'll try and help?

Where in the uk are you from?

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

Hey thanks for the post!!

To be honest there is nothing major I like doing, just spending time with my husband, eating out etc but as I am on my own out here those things are not really the same!

Therefore looking for suggestions, most important to me is meeting people and having some company as spend my day with my staff who are all lovely but all Saudi and have their own families and lives and then spend the evenings and weekends in my room!

My ideal would be to be able to sit by the pool and read my book and have a swim every so often - rather like holiday mode I guess!! But failing that just a way to have a bit of company and make a few friends!

Any thoughts & suggestions gratefully received.

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

Which hash did you go on? Thursday one or Friday one? Which activities did you not enjoy? They just go for a walk and something to eat after don't they?

I did a camp out with the hash group the other day and I have to say it was great fun. Also, sleeping out under the stars was very cool. I lost count of the amount of shooting stars I saw! I think I finally fell asleep as the sun was coming up so slept for about half an hour. Drove home that morning and fell asleep for most of the day.

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

Sounds good, unfortunately I am not particularly fit and have a huge aversion to anything with 8 legs and camping! (well unless that camping is in a 4* hotel lol) so that bit is not for me I am afraid!

Everyone was really nice but with so many people there and so many who are obviouly regulars it is really difficult to meet people, however, I will go again and persevere as it does seem like a good way. A lot of people go as a family or small group so they already have friends to talk to so can be a little difficult but well worth the effort I am sure.

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

an option is a hotel on a compound - seder compound has a motel which at least lets you sit by the pool with expats and read a book. Although not that popular with winter approaching. Problems with Deer may be cost and location.

www.sedervillage.com/

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

Deer = seder = where did this automatic spelling corrector appear from ?

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

THanks for that, could be worth a look, probably a bit too far away from my work to make it viable but nice to have another option so thanks for the help!

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

Seder Village Motel is mega expensive. It says ontheir website SAR500 per night with discount for longer but it's up to SAR600 per night with no discounts! Nice if you can afford it.

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

I am actually really lucky and my company are paying all my costs as I am only here on secondment. We are actually paying SAR700 a night at present which is about half of what we were paying so they would be fine with that cost!

THanks for the help I really appreciate it!

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

If you get onto Seder I know somebody there that will look after you.

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

The hotel on Sedar was closed down for a while earlier this year as it was used as a red light entertainment venue. i left riyadh some 9 monthsd ago and it was still closed then, maybe it has reopened under new mangaement !!

Re: Help - New to Riyadh!
 

PMSL not sure that would be something I would be interested in! Can't see me funding an alternative lifestyle!!

LOL thanks for the info, rather far from where I work anyway unfortunately, proably take me 2 hours each way due to the joys of Riyadh traffic and that is a bit far even for the freedom it affords! Oh well back to the drawing board and thanking everything that I get to go home so often!!

Cheers for the info!