Ernst in Singapore

My first foray to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been an interesting trip.

This is Saudi Arabia's tallest building in the heart of Riyadh, the 1000ft tall Kingdom Centre - otherwise known as the "Can Opener"


Riyadh is a chaotic mess. There are too many cars and not enough roads/parking places and traffic laws are completely disregarded. Yes you can find crazier drivers in other parts of the world like India/Egypt, but the traffic there moves so slow and their cars so old and small that their maniacal driving habits do not pose a threat to your life. Contrast this with a careless Saudi cruising at 60mph in his (and it is only HIS, as women are not permitted to drive) Hummer H3 and deciding to make a left turn from the right lane of a 4-lane street. "Defensive" driving is the only way to survive here. There is no such thing as "small car" or "fuel economy" in Saudi Arabia so everyone drives tank-sized SUVs. Even if that is not your cup of tea you have no choice as you can't risk one of these monsters broadsiding your Toyota Corolla and crushing it.

Riyadh is smack in the middle of a giant desert and dust/sand is everywhere. Don't bother shining your shoes because the minute you step out of the hotel they will look like you just bathed them in dust. Washing cars is a pointless exercise as your car will look like this after driving a few blocks.



The other really odd characteristic of Riyadh is that there are NO women. You do not see them driving cars, working, eating - you may catch a glimpse of them gliding through a shopping mall like wraiths - completed shrouded in black, but that's it. I don't think I've seen a woman's face in over a week - it's like a different planet.

Everything is segregated - all restaurants/coffee shops have a "family section" and a "singles section" where the unaccompanied males have to sit. Banks have a separate "Ladies Center". Even McDonalds has a separate ordering section for Men/Women.



On the positive side, you never have to worry about which bathroom to use - there is only "toilet" - and it is exclusively for men.