Our Journey through the Land of Midian in Saudi
When I was a child, learning about Moses in Sunday school and watching VeggieTales and The Prince of Egypt, I thought of places like the Red Sea and Mt. Sinai to be so far away and foreign that they were almost fictional. I never could have imagined I would one day live in that same […]
Staying in a Saudi Cave
Toddlers and ledges and caves, oh my! We followed the harrowing gravel road up the stone mountains of Lower Shada Mountain in the Al Bahah region – not in search of a wizard to whisk us home (although that would have been handy sometimes) – but to a cave resort paradise where we and another […]
Taif: Our Go-To Weekend Escape
Ah, Taif, you breath of fresh air, you. Always there to unburden our senses which have been coated with a layer of Jeddah car pollution and dust. Reminding us that Saudi has farms, greenery, mountains, and animals other than pigeons. We’ve been to Taif several times in our 3.5 years in Saudi –with other expats, […]
Our Pandemic Travel Experience (with Kids)
We took to the skies a week and a half before Thanksgiving (Nov 15th) as Saudi had somewhat opened their borders, finally allowing international travel (for non-Saudis) for the first time since March. As all of our previous 2020 travel plans and visitations had been foiled, we were aching to introduce Abel to family and […]
Saudi Staycation: What To Do In Al Bahah
Borders are still closed in Saudi, which has led everyone to set their sights within the kingdom for vacation this summer. My feed has been filled with people embarking on road trips across the country, flocking to the cooler mountains of the south, and hopping aboard boats for snorkeling and diving trips in the northwest. […]
10 Things that Surprised Me About Caring for Newborns in Saudi
Cultures always have their own beliefs and practices that seem odd to an outsider. Some practices are so deeply ingrained through generations that it’s extremely difficult to change, even if science disagrees. I’ve learned a ton from Saudis about different ways to care for newborns – some of which baffle me and other points that […]
The Art of the Saudi Picnic
Saudis originated as a nomadic Bedouin people, which is why I think their picnic game is so strong. They create the most beautiful outdoor setups and I aspire to reach their level of natural picnickery (should be a word). I’ve seen families park a car by the sea or by a park and, within minutes, […]
Lights, Camera, Action! Cinemas Open in Saudi
Movie theaters shutting down during the pandemic is annoying, but can you imagine them staying closed for 35 years? That’s what happened to Saudi in 1983 when an Islamic revival prompted authorities to ban cinemas. We were here when cinemas made their grand reopening in the country in 2018. First there was one in Riyadh, […]
Piping Hot Tea by the Roadside
Continuing with my trend of things we see on the side of the road (fake construction workers, shepherds), my eyes are always peeled for tea stands. The humble setups usually consist of a grill with copper kettles, a cooler of herbs, and a couple men sitting in lawn chairs. You pull your car up beside […]
Do I Feel Safe in Saudi as an American?
Isn’t it dangerous there? Aren’t you afraid? – We get these questions anytime we’re back in the US. To cut to the chase, I actually feel safer here, day-to-day, than I did in America. :: Petty crime is certainly not as common here, and absolutely not to the extent I experienced when I was in […]
