So its Wednesday and already day 5 of the working week. Well...well don't wonder, weekend definition is different in different countries. Folks in west have weekend around Sunday, cause that's the day to go to church and attend prayers. For Muslims that day is Friday, so should be no surprise that an Islamic Kingdom has weekend around Friday. But then its not uniform across all countries in region. For instance, Saudi Arabia's working week is from Saturday to Wednesday while in UAE this is Sunday to Thursday. This may beg another question, why does a "Secular" India have a office work week from Monday to Friday (am excluding local markets which work differently) excpet that its a continued legacy of our colonial past.
Anyways moving away from discussion on days of the week, start to the day was usual, reaching office and starting meeting, minutes etc. But around noon I see a female sitting in office area for the first time...Not that it should be a surprise in other parts of the world but this is different. I then figure out that there is a separate section where "men" cannot go for females and it has a separate female only entrance as well. No wonder we could not even see a connecting entrance from inside. This was very similar to the door seen yesterday for one of the big fours.
Today's lunch in food court that I had was a mix of Cantonese Noodles and Persian style potatoes. Well for those who know me would also know how much i love "potatoes". Post lunch explored the mall further bit for a few minutes and what do I see, we cannot enter the 3rd level of the mall. Its a ladies only section, with Jewellery stores, beauty clinic etc etc.
Back to desk, out for evening tea and one of our colleague tells us that he needs to shop today as tomorrow he expects its a "family day" and singles (read single men) would not be allowed. Now we knew about family days in festivals and fairs, but in malls for groccery shopping and other stuff. Wanted to be sure, so checked with an English speaking shop keeper and he clarified nothing in malls. It was only for a local festival. Phew, thats a life savor, this was the closest food court as its connected to the office building else would have had to look for another place for lunch. Not that I planned to be in office, but then it was just couple of mins walk from the hotel too.
Back to the hotel and changed. We decide to walk to a farther market today to have some good food. While the walk to the restaurant was uneventful, on return we hear some sports bikes zipping through the traffic, lot of convertibles out on the road and for the first time a car playing music.
Well, this is one thing that was conspicuous by its absence so far. No Music in lifts or malls, no music even in restaurants or any other public place. I was told by a local only time they hear some music is during festivals that too vocal accompanied by some drums and its also an exception. Again it goes to their religious tradition. But yes I heard music in Riyadh for the first time in 5 days. Super.
Now the problem is where to go next 2 days. Well will figure out tomorrow, backpackers like me do not need to think much.
Anyways moving away from discussion on days of the week, start to the day was usual, reaching office and starting meeting, minutes etc. But around noon I see a female sitting in office area for the first time...Not that it should be a surprise in other parts of the world but this is different. I then figure out that there is a separate section where "men" cannot go for females and it has a separate female only entrance as well. No wonder we could not even see a connecting entrance from inside. This was very similar to the door seen yesterday for one of the big fours.
Today's lunch in food court that I had was a mix of Cantonese Noodles and Persian style potatoes. Well for those who know me would also know how much i love "potatoes". Post lunch explored the mall further bit for a few minutes and what do I see, we cannot enter the 3rd level of the mall. Its a ladies only section, with Jewellery stores, beauty clinic etc etc.
Back to desk, out for evening tea and one of our colleague tells us that he needs to shop today as tomorrow he expects its a "family day" and singles (read single men) would not be allowed. Now we knew about family days in festivals and fairs, but in malls for groccery shopping and other stuff. Wanted to be sure, so checked with an English speaking shop keeper and he clarified nothing in malls. It was only for a local festival. Phew, thats a life savor, this was the closest food court as its connected to the office building else would have had to look for another place for lunch. Not that I planned to be in office, but then it was just couple of mins walk from the hotel too.
Back to the hotel and changed. We decide to walk to a farther market today to have some good food. While the walk to the restaurant was uneventful, on return we hear some sports bikes zipping through the traffic, lot of convertibles out on the road and for the first time a car playing music.
Well, this is one thing that was conspicuous by its absence so far. No Music in lifts or malls, no music even in restaurants or any other public place. I was told by a local only time they hear some music is during festivals that too vocal accompanied by some drums and its also an exception. Again it goes to their religious tradition. But yes I heard music in Riyadh for the first time in 5 days. Super.
Now the problem is where to go next 2 days. Well will figure out tomorrow, backpackers like me do not need to think much.
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