Okay now 2 days gone and third day starting. But before proceeding onto Day 2, let me clarify about the image in Yesterday's post. That image was not taken by me or from the office. The building in focus is Kingdom Center/Tower, in Riyadh where our office is located. More about that here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Centre.
Let me just tell you that this place is amongst the most progressive areas of Riyadh right in center of Business District.
Now onto Day 2. Well would say another uneventful day, but it was a Sunday and we all were heading for a meeting. Meeting on a Sunday!!. Well, in this part of the world, work week is Saturday to Wednesday and Thursday - Friday constitutes the weekend and for obvious reasons.
Anyways, the time we entered the Country till now, one thing was clear role for both genders is very different. No Females on the front desk or hotel support staff, cafe or restaurant floors. But does that mean that hotel does not employ females. No, that is not the case, when I did room reservations the calls then were answered by female staff.
Well females again not allowed in Public Swimming pools and Gyms. Am sure there will be segregated spaces for these for females as well. Onto office for meetings and time to take some prints. Well Outside the work room, "Male work room". Its required to be segregated per the writ of the land. Same happens in food court, segregated areas for Singles (read males) and families. Well females cannot be single (meaning alone) unless foreign. All others have to be accompanied.
Well had read an article in the morning focuses on notices to close shops selling lingerie if all the staff is not female. And it also had a deadline to have all female staff in store selling other female stuff like Make up etc etc has to be female before end of July. In mall all such shops were clearly labeled "Families only". Well atleast this generates employment on shop floor for which has been missing till now.
Well now back to the other stuff, few of the folks from India have been here for a few days, couple vegetarian and desperate for some Indian food, so lot of R&D on where to find decent Indian food. One person specifically wanted South Indian food. Well this was not possible in lunch but the search was early so that they can find a place before Dinner. Lunch was in the food court in the building. Atleast here there is no dearth of options, particularly if you do not mind Non-Veg. The foods available here included, Mexican, Persian, Chinese, Indian, Arabic, Sandwiches and Juicies apart from the standard fare of McDonalds, KFCs, Star bucks etc etc. (The Indian was typical north indian fare and primarily Non Veg and the reason for the search mentioned above).
Moving on, post lunch couple of discussions and return to hotel post meetings to change. Later it was time for dinner and our friends had found a place some 1.5 Kms apart. That is not that far. We all decided to walk, about 8 of us. Again in a food court with cusines from Arabic, Chinese, rolls/sandwiches, Pizza's and Indian (south Indian Included). The Indian guy had Dosa's, Biryani et all. Most preferred Indian, except the 2 of us. I went for arabic and another person for Chinese, rest for Indian. What we realized after food was that this place had prices which were almost 1/3rd of what we were paying near our office/hotel. Well just 1.5 Kms from the main district and on a side lane, the mall housing these had less foot fall and so much price difference. Good for all I guess.
Returning back we took the inner lanes and found a bank with door heading "Ladies Branch" so you guessed it for the ladies only, no male allowed. It was same for another office of a telecom company but then by now we were getting used to this.
End of the day, some calls to my local cell number here from a person who was probably speaking Arabic and we just could not communicate. He called a few times. But then you cannot communicate on phone when you cannot speak the same language. Lets see whats in store on Day 3.
Let me just tell you that this place is amongst the most progressive areas of Riyadh right in center of Business District.
Now onto Day 2. Well would say another uneventful day, but it was a Sunday and we all were heading for a meeting. Meeting on a Sunday!!. Well, in this part of the world, work week is Saturday to Wednesday and Thursday - Friday constitutes the weekend and for obvious reasons.
Anyways, the time we entered the Country till now, one thing was clear role for both genders is very different. No Females on the front desk or hotel support staff, cafe or restaurant floors. But does that mean that hotel does not employ females. No, that is not the case, when I did room reservations the calls then were answered by female staff.
Well females again not allowed in Public Swimming pools and Gyms. Am sure there will be segregated spaces for these for females as well. Onto office for meetings and time to take some prints. Well Outside the work room, "Male work room". Its required to be segregated per the writ of the land. Same happens in food court, segregated areas for Singles (read males) and families. Well females cannot be single (meaning alone) unless foreign. All others have to be accompanied.
Well had read an article in the morning focuses on notices to close shops selling lingerie if all the staff is not female. And it also had a deadline to have all female staff in store selling other female stuff like Make up etc etc has to be female before end of July. In mall all such shops were clearly labeled "Families only". Well atleast this generates employment on shop floor for which has been missing till now.
Well now back to the other stuff, few of the folks from India have been here for a few days, couple vegetarian and desperate for some Indian food, so lot of R&D on where to find decent Indian food. One person specifically wanted South Indian food. Well this was not possible in lunch but the search was early so that they can find a place before Dinner. Lunch was in the food court in the building. Atleast here there is no dearth of options, particularly if you do not mind Non-Veg. The foods available here included, Mexican, Persian, Chinese, Indian, Arabic, Sandwiches and Juicies apart from the standard fare of McDonalds, KFCs, Star bucks etc etc. (The Indian was typical north indian fare and primarily Non Veg and the reason for the search mentioned above).
Moving on, post lunch couple of discussions and return to hotel post meetings to change. Later it was time for dinner and our friends had found a place some 1.5 Kms apart. That is not that far. We all decided to walk, about 8 of us. Again in a food court with cusines from Arabic, Chinese, rolls/sandwiches, Pizza's and Indian (south Indian Included). The Indian guy had Dosa's, Biryani et all. Most preferred Indian, except the 2 of us. I went for arabic and another person for Chinese, rest for Indian. What we realized after food was that this place had prices which were almost 1/3rd of what we were paying near our office/hotel. Well just 1.5 Kms from the main district and on a side lane, the mall housing these had less foot fall and so much price difference. Good for all I guess.
Returning back we took the inner lanes and found a bank with door heading "Ladies Branch" so you guessed it for the ladies only, no male allowed. It was same for another office of a telecom company but then by now we were getting used to this.
End of the day, some calls to my local cell number here from a person who was probably speaking Arabic and we just could not communicate. He called a few times. But then you cannot communicate on phone when you cannot speak the same language. Lets see whats in store on Day 3.
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