The National Museum in Riyadh

Once in a while, we try to focus on broadening our cultural learning of the Kingdom and yesterday, we finally made it to the National Museum. We had previously attempted to find the place…in vain, so when the compound organized a bus, it was our sure way of getting there and back. I expected to visit a museum but was awed more by the park setting around the museum than the museum itself. We found a huge complex of parks, trees, laws, water features and interactive water games for children.

Being a weekend, hundreds of people were there, many spending the afternoon around a blanket/rug and picnicking in the park. Kids had brought their trikes and bikes and were having a blast while their abaya clad mothers, nannies and older sisters were sitting, watching over their brood and sipping on their tea.

The National Museum of Riyadh’s goal is to showcase the country's educational and cultural development and giving an insight into the history of the Kingdom. The Exhibits are centered around themes- Man and Universe, The Arabian Kingdoms, The Pre-Islamic Era, Prophet Mohammad's Mission, Islam and the Arab Peninsula, The First and Second Saudi State, The Unification of the Kingdom, The Hajj and Two Holy Mosques. We spent about one hour in the museum and felt like we were the only ones there. While the park was busy with people and occupations, very few entered the museum and browsed its galleries. We were able to see all the displays, alone, just like a VIP visit. I personally marveled in front of the various samples of Arabic writing throughout the ages. Alex loved pushing all the buttons on interactive map displays and Worth liked the rocks and minerals displays founf in Saudi. Unfortunately, it never was indicated whether displays were original or reproduction nor were they dated. The signage was bilingual Arabic and English which helps tremendously with the visit, but movies presented were only in Arabic.

A lot of the historical exhibits were linked with the Koran, having timelines representing historical facts at the times of Prophet Mohammed, Jesus, Abraham and Moses. Islam and its spread are so intertwined with the story of the Arabian Peninsula that it sometimes is impossible to explain history without talking religion.

All in all, I recommend a visit of the National Museum but I also suggest that you come early, bring your picnic and enjoy the park. In the warmer month, kids could even probably wear swimsuit and thoroughly enjoy all the water games.

Date Night

This past Thursday night the family went to the mall, which in itself is not that uncommon. It's always nice to just walk around the huge mall and finish up at the food court where all can make their own choice...and we do usually end up ordering from 4 outlets! So, all four of us have our food and are sitting, enjoying the meal in relative peace and quiet.


One thing I do miss is the people watching, as most women are covered. However, this weekend I did some great people watching and one lady caught my eye. She was sitting alone, at a big table. She slowly uncovered her face, taking her niquab (face cover) off and showing off her beautiful complexion and a perfect smile. Since she was alone, with no food in front of her, it was quite peculiar! Then, I looked at the table right next to hers, occupied by a man who was sitting so he was face to face with the woman and it hit me! She was showing her face to him! And he was rewarding her with the biggest smile. They started talking too... each sitting at a different table and separated by about 5 meters. After a few minutes of this, she put her niquab back on and left the table, to return to one occupied by her friends.

Is this an elicit Romeo and Juliet tale a la Saudi? Not quite sure, but what was certain is that the two were looking at and talking to each other in perfect anonymity...and we were witness to it ;-)

Tahra Tying Lesson

Today, before the photography club started meeting, a couple of girls were playing with their scarf/tarha and one had masterfully tied hers to only show her eyes. I’ve been in the Kindgom 18 months and still hadn’t figured out how to tie it and have it stay there! Well, good thing since today, I learned it from a 9 year old! I am now officially able to cover my face when going out in public.

To cover or not to cover...

Breaking news: Sheikh Ahmed al-Ghamdi, the Mecca head of the branch of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (or in short the Saudi Religious Police) has criticized the kingdom’s ban on gender mixing, the fact that Saudi women who are made to wear the veil and the Saudi law banning women from driving. Not just one but three aspects dealing with women’s life and women’s rights in the Kingdom are being challenged. In the past few weeks, we’ve noticed a lot of talk about women working at cash registers in some stores. Of course, we are not seeing them in Riyadh yet, as this is mainly happening in liberal Jeddah, but even there the people are quite divided. Some are lauding it as progress for women across the kingdom, others are outraged at women working and checking out men’s groceries in stores.


Consider this: many women are graduating from university and find themselves unemployed because a law is not allowing them to mix with unrelated men on the workplace. Plus they cannot drive themselves to work and have to rely on drivers to take them anywhere, so it really isn’t easy being a Saudi woman trying to work here.

I’m not sure where all this will lead, but I just hope that women will be able to do as they please, to cover or not to cover if they decide to and maybe, one day, to get in their car and drive themselves wherever they want. All these changes will take time and I doubt I will still be in the Kingdom when they happen!

"No need" for women to cover...  click this link for the article itself and to read comments to it!