Hey Awesome ppl

imraan007 wrote:

Studying

bummer whatcha studying ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXraQxNj2fM


dance with me ?
Pjs party haha!
oh man i cant believe its only 11:39 and i am already in my pjs ready 2 sleep

Maya Maya wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXraQxNj2fM



oh man i cant believe its only 11:39 and i am already in my pjs ready 2 sleep

You kidding?  At 11:39 I WAS sleeping

Maya Maya wrote:

imraan007 wrote:

Studying

bummer whatcha studying ?

Biostatistics

I went the Janadriyah festival last night. It was really awesome!

hey any of u guys going to the festival and when?

I'll be going next Wednesday (Family Day).

I heard some bad news, however; there won't be any  national music or dancing this year.  The King has decreed that due to what's happening in Syria, Saudis shouldn't be too publicly festive.

ok so there is like a singles day and family day
so i will not be able to go family day?

imraan007 wrote:

ok so there is like a singles day and family day
so i will not be able to go family day?

Singles day is for men who are by themselves.

Family day is for 1. married men who attend with their wives (couples), 2. men-women-children (families) or 3. single women.

Somehow single women  qualify as 'families' all by themselves!

cool...u guys have all the fun...hanging out with married men, exciting stuff

There's music and some dancing there, but probably toned down compared to previous years (I wouldn't know ).

So many 'forbidden' things at the festival!! Scandalous.

Singles are able to attend until the 12th, from what I read online.

erich214 wrote:

There's music and some dancing there, but probably toned down compared to previous years (I wouldn't know ).

So many 'forbidden' things at the festival!! Scandalous.

Singles are able to attend until the 12th, from what I read online.

Well, I heard music/dancing won't be happening at all this year due to the Syria situation and I heard it from a Saudi friend so I think my information is pretty good.  We'll see. 

As far as other forbidden things, actually the festival is amazingly 'free' on family day.  There is like 'mixing' all over the place because it's so CROWDED!  You're pressed into crowds of people and it's pretttty tight moving through, trust me on this!

And let me make this remark about 'Family Day.'  All it means is that men are accompanied by families.  Many of these men may  be single and leave their families (mothers, sisters) once inside the gate.

When I went on Family Day last year, male and female colleagues went together as a group and we were accepted as a 'family' !

understood...coz i'll be driving downn and dont want to go for nothing

Wow, I just remembered something somewhat interesting.

It happened several times there that teenaged Saudi boys approached me and wanted to take their picture with me.  I said 'no' but noticed that they were taking my picture regardless.  I guess I'm on their FB page

One other interesting thing:  there was a guy there who had to be 8 feet (almost 3 metres) tall!  A crowd of kids was following him as he--a giant!--walked through the festival (poor guy) but he just ignored them lol

And finally, I was harrassed only one time by a guy who told me to cover my head.  He was sitting on the ground at the entrance to one of the exhibits.  I continued walking past him, figuring he wouldn't make the effort to get up ... and I was right.

Oh and Erich,  so you went last night and there WAS music?  Good! Hope there is when I go, too.  This will sound strange, maybe, but I actually love to see the guys doing that old fashioned 'sword dance' !

Alliecat wrote:

Maya Maya wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXraQxNj2fM



oh man i cant believe its only 11:39 and i am already in my pjs ready 2 sleep

You kidding?  At 11:39 I WAS sleeping

it was Thursday night come on :p!

Alliecat wrote:

As far as other forbidden things, actually the festival is amazingly 'free' on family day.  There is like 'mixing' all over the place because it's so CROWDED!  You're pressed into crowds of people and it's pretttty tight moving through, trust me on this!

that means i wont be going
i hate hate tight crowded places

Alliecat wrote:

Wow, I just remembered something somewhat interesting.

It happened several times there that teenaged Saudi boys approached me and wanted to take their picture with me.  I said 'no' but noticed that they were taking my picture regardless.  I guess I'm on their FB page

One other interesting thing:  there was a guy there who had to be 8 feet (almost 3 metres) tall!  A crowd of kids was following him as he--a giant!--walked through the festival (poor guy) but he just ignored them lol

And finally, I was harrassed only one time by a guy who told me to cover my head.  He was sitting on the ground at the entrance to one of the exhibits.  I continued walking past him, figuring he wouldn't make the effort to get up ... and I was right.

Oh and Erich,  so you went last night and there WAS music?  Good! Hope there is when I go, too.  This will sound strange, maybe, but I actually love to see the guys doing that old fashioned 'sword dance' !

LOL@ the teenagers story i wonder what they said about you on FB :p
me and that 8 feet guy need 2 hangout haha!

Yeah, there were several musical performances spread around the grounds!

I guess they meant by 'no music' referred to the generic music broadcasts across the grounds?

erich214 wrote:

Yeah, there were several musical performances spread around the grounds!

I guess they meant by 'no music' referred to the generic music broadcasts across the grounds?

There's never music broadcast in KSA.  That's one of the things that I had to get used to--no music in stores, elevators.. nowhere!

But I did find out what the 'no music' refers to.  It seems there has always been some kind of 'opening night' extravaganza and it was that which the King cancelled.

i think one of the locals can help us with the definition of what type of music is allowed. From my observation, most types of music is available in Saudi.
I think there may be some part of the society objecting to SOME forms of music...my understanding is that musical instruments isn't allowed. but if the singing is with a voice and accompanied by the beating of drums, it is OK.
Again, with the Saudi Culture, SOME may consider a women singing in PUBLIC as not appropriate...especially if it's like alluring and seductive type of dancing. But in private (women only or with their husbands) anything goes...BUT i am no expert...and what about that belly dancing moves...phew looks painful...just kidding

imraan007 wrote:

and what about that belly dancing moves...phew looks painful...just kidding

Painful?? Dude that is simply awesome! Had gone over to Bahrain once and saw this show. three words describe the whole thing - "jaw on floor".

looool...i am sure there was some salivation Red...Pavlov's theory. and its what i meant a lot of pain and suffering for men...heheh...guess u had fun.

I'll tell you what looks painful:  a man in spandex shorts

looool...ouch, as long as he is not watching a belly dancing girl he will do fine

imraan007 wrote:

looool...ouch, as long as he is not watching a belly dancing girl he will do fine

imraan007 wrote:

looool...ouch, as long as he is not watching a belly dancing girl he will do fine

i went 2 a lot of cafes and restaurants that play music
ummm english music too!

Alliecat wrote:

I'll tell you what looks painful:  a man in spandex shorts

This is probably one of the worst ways to enter a conversation but spandex shorts aren't so bad.....at least if you're the one wearing them that is. o_O

Naughty naughty
So here is one case where men and women r not equal

LegendaryKTC wrote:

Alliecat wrote:

I'll tell you what looks painful:  a man in spandex shorts

This is probably one of the worst ways to enter a conversation but spandex shorts aren't so bad.....at least if you're the one wearing them that is. o_O

So...ummmm.. the word 'spandex' caught your eye? lol

Alliecat wrote:

LegendaryKTC wrote:

Alliecat wrote:

I'll tell you what looks painful:  a man in spandex shorts

This is probably one of the worst ways to enter a conversation but spandex shorts aren't so bad.....at least if you're the one wearing them that is. o_O

So...ummmm.. the word 'spandex' caught your eye? lol

After years of wrestling, I guess you just get used to it.

Reminder for myself: I probably should think about the things I say before I say them. lol

Alliecat wrote:

One other interesting thing:  there was a guy there who had to be 8 feet (almost 3 metres) tall!  A crowd of kids was following him as he--a giant!--walked through the festival (poor guy) but he just ignored them lol

BTW, I saw that guy again last night!!!  Lucky for him, there wasn't a crowd of children following him at the time but they probably were by the end of the night.

Maybe he works there
Unless he likes the place

how was everyones weekend ?

Boring

weekend was Okay :\ too much arguile (sheesha)

imraan007 wrote:

Boring

So you didn't get to the J. festival??  Guess not.  Too bad because it was a great night!

Yeh didn't go
Looks like I'll be stuck studying for few weeks but our group will go next week without me
Hmmmm only the lonely 

imraan007 wrote:

Yeh didn't go
Looks like I'll be stuck studying for few weeks but our group will go next week without me
Hmmmm only the lonely 

Oh come onnnnnnnnnnn.  You can take a few hours off!

Remember, 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'!

Allie,

Did u mean this guy was there at the festival