What Not to do in Saudi

musicman wrote:

We need more English teaches back home, puddy tat

Yeah..............that's true Allie

Don't drive on the left like I did

I think you mean never drive safely..

It looks like never drive in Riyadh..

Oh God I really want to Drive on Riyadh roads at least once:D

Gents, please don't wear upper knee shorts! Recently my husband had to visit the local prison to help one guy get out of there. Imagine the guy had to stay 3 days in jail only because he wore very dicent  upper knee shorts in Kingdom Tower and had bad luck to encounter with muttawa.
We, Ladies, are more lucky as we are enjoying our right to wear  whatever we want!

expatmama wrote:

Gents, please don't wear upper knee shorts! Recently my husband had to visit the local prison to help one guy get out of there. Imagine the guy had to stay 3 days in jail only because he wore very dicent  upper knee shorts in Kingdom Tower and had bad luck to encounter with muttawa.
We, Ladies, are more lucky as we are enjoying our right to wear  whatever we want!

Thanks for that first-hand update, mama.  People tend to dismiss me as being 'over cautious' when I warn about things--but things DO happen here and it's not internet myth.  At least the man wasn't sent home, but on the other hand he could now be Bubba's GF, and that's worse!

expatmama wrote:

Gents, please don't wear upper knee shorts! Recently my husband had to visit the local prison to help one guy get out of there. Imagine the guy had to stay 3 days in jail only because he wore very dicent  upper knee shorts in Kingdom Tower and had bad luck to encounter with muttawa.
We, Ladies, are more lucky as we are enjoying our right to wear  whatever we want!

Oh my God thats crazy!!!! Rules are rules I guess :p

nonz wrote:

Oh God I really want to Drive on Riyadh roads at least once:D

The other day I drove our vehicle on the Compound and was planning just to meet friends at the entrance at security to give them a lift to the villa.  Boy oh Boy, did that freak our the security or what!  The guy was holding his head in his hands and shaking his head profusely saying NO, NO, NO, and made me turn the vehicle around and go back home!  I thought we could drive on Compound and felt like a real naughty school girl being severely rebuked by the teacher .  Gave me quite a surprise I can tell you.

I have absolutely no desire to drive on the roads in Riyadh (or Saudi), not the way they drive - women driving with road rage - receipe for imprisonment if you ask me!

The Mrs has taken the wheel on a few occasions on the highway to Makkah from Riyadh. So far so good, shes managed to keep the vehicle on the same lane and not get hit by the flying traffic on either side, nor even attracted the local security. In the days gone by we never had checkpoints or traffic patrols.

The above picture taken from a speed camera mounted on low bridge.

...or when the car came to a halt

gowiththeflowUK wrote:

nonz wrote:

Oh God I really want to Drive on Riyadh roads at least once:D

The other day I drove our vehicle on the Compound and was planning just to meet friends at the entrance at security to give them a lift to the villa.  Boy oh Boy, did that freak our the security or what!  The guy was holding his head in his hands and shaking his head profusely saying NO, NO, NO, and made me turn the vehicle around and go back home!  I thought we could drive on Compound and felt like a real naughty school girl being severely rebuked by the teacher .  Gave me quite a surprise I can tell you.

I have absolutely no desire to drive on the roads in Riyadh (or Saudi), not the way they drive - women driving with road rage - receipe for imprisonment if you ask me!

Oh really!!! I was at some fantasy land last thursday and it was full of locals and I literally begged my hubby to drive and guess what"He was reluctantly OK with it"and i literally speedily rushed and jumped on driving seats and drove for around 15 min and Locals were gazing me like anything (but i enjoyed that of course:rolleyes:)but I want to drive on Riyadh roads

I've driven in CA for over 35 years.  Driving here is not fun and games.  I avoid it if I can and choose low traffic volume hours.  If I were you, leave the desire to drive here for another day and save the experience for more civilized roadways.

For sure locals will be shocked if they  only  see a woman just sitting on the driver's place. I tried it once and people were looking at me like at the ghost. Indeed Saudi Arabia is the worst place to drive if even women were allowed to drive I wouldn't risk to be at the wheel.

CivEngr wrote:

I've driven in CA for over 35 years.  Driving here is not fun and games.  I avoid it if I can and choose low traffic volume hours.  If I were you, leave the desire to drive here for another day and save the experience for more civilized roadways.

I am from Karachi and this city has no driving ethics and traffic rules are not followed at all.

This is a link of a busy street of Karachi city.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9WsAm_KPjc

I drove in worse situations so Riyadh should be peace of cake

Ive driven in Colombo, Bombay, Bangalore and Karachi. Jeez, driving there could be even worse with all those tuk-tuks, bicycles, mo-bikes, rickshaws, and humans on the highway. They tell me Cairo is something else. Haven't seen that yet.

musicman wrote:

Ive driven in Colombo, Bombay, Bangalore and Karachi. Jeez, driving there could be even worse with all those tuk-tuks, bicycles, mo-bikes, rickshaws, and humans on the highway. They tell me Cairo is something else. Haven't seen that yet.

Well, you have all of the above in Cairo plus the fact that the city is one HUGE parking structure

Very true about Cairo.  The streets weren't  built to accommodate a large volume of traffic (like Riyadh's were) and intersections aren't wide so there is constant 'grid-lock.'

Add to that the incessant blaring of horns ...

Well, you get the idea!

Yeah, I get the picture. There's nothing that would get me to drive there!

But in the DQ... I could manage. I know a lady who drives here every now and again. No trouble so far.

I still wouldn't risk it. Not that I'm afraid of the traffic, but for the consequences of getting caught.

I was thinking of getting a motorized skateboard next time I'm home Would that be considered 'driving' ??

I can just see the faces of the mutawwas or guards when they see a lady "driving" that!

Alliecat wrote:

I was thinking of getting a motorized skateboard next time I'm home Would that be considered 'driving' ??

[img align=l]http://www.motorizedskateboard.net/tamiimg/ctt.jpg[/url]

That's just too funny!  Maybe an electric scooter would be better, 'cause sitting on this with an "abaya" would be a challenge

noooooooooooo.. cause that could legitimately be considered 'driving'!!!

I think the motorized skateboard would stymie them!

Even better, if it were under my abaya, they wouldn't know--they'd just thing I was one helluva fast walker hehe

Alliecat wrote:

noooooooooooo.. cause that could legitimately be considered 'driving'!!!

I think the motorized skateboard would stymie them!

Even better, if it were under my abaya, they wouldn't know--they'd just thing I was one helluva fast walker hehe

LOL!

except of course if the wheels start squeaking in case you forgot to oil them?

PPL'll think, it's bad joints.  Arthritis can get bad like that!  :p

Super Shell will do the trick

Alliecat wrote:

noooooooooooo.. cause that could legitimately be considered 'driving'!!!

I think the motorized skateboard would stymie them!

Even better, if it were under my abaya, they wouldn't know--they'd just thing I was one helluva fast walker hehe

Oh that's not a bad idea,get one for me I 'll pay u good money for this:lol:Then we can go together for our Brisk walk:P

It's a deal, nonzie!  If I get one for myself, I'll pick one up for you, too

By the time you gals get your rollers the traffic police would probably start issuing driving licenses here.

FYI - The scooters (and bikes) both powered and non-powered were used to get around in Lausanne & the surrounding areas of Switzerland.  It was quite a sight to see several pp (young and non-so-young) using these things in while in their business suits. 

The trains in country are the main means of transportation and they go everywhere!  And if you stay in the Lausanne area, you are giving a free pass to use the rail system for your entire stay.

CAF wrote:

FYI - The scooters (and bikes) both powered and non-powered were used to get around in Lausanne & the surrounding areas of Switzerland.  It was quite a sight to see several pp (young and non-so-young) using these things in while in their business suits. 

The trains in country are the main means of transportation and they go everywhere!  And if you stay in the Lausanne area, you are giving a free pass to use the rail system for your entire stay.

Well, the Swiss have that sussed eh, very efficient all around and what a beautiful country (visually).

musicman wrote:

By the time you gals get your rollers the traffic police would probably start issuing driving licenses here.

Look at him him Allie,such a mean guy..he cant see us having fun on Riyadh Roads


MM ...here is deal ,she will get 2 extra pair so u can join us too (but u must b in abaya too)

deal, and i can wear the Mankini that Allie designed, underneath

Alliecat wrote:

expatmama wrote:

Gents, please don't wear upper knee shorts! Recently my husband had to visit the local prison to help one guy get out of there. Imagine the guy had to stay 3 days in jail only because he wore very dicent  upper knee shorts in Kingdom Tower and had bad luck to encounter with muttawa.
We, Ladies, are more lucky as we are enjoying our right to wear  whatever we want!

Thanks for that first-hand update, mama.  People tend to dismiss me as being 'over cautious' when I warn about things--but things DO happen here and it's not internet myth.  At least the man wasn't sent home, but on the other hand he could now be Bubba's GF, and that's worse!

Bubba's GF.. That could be whats about to happen to a saudi prince in the uk.. Oddly it's not in the news here??

yes.... oddly it's not!

What I just saw on way back from store.  Three guys walking w/ traffic across a bridge (no sidewalk) wearing black when it is completely dark.  Real smart!