Today was a day that didn’t really go to plan for most of the day. We drove out to a city called Al-Hasa that was about 2 hours outside of Dhahran. We were supposed to go to Garah Mountain, but we stopped off at a pottery village to see a man making and selling his pottery. This was a great experience, but it did take a while longer than we thought it would. In the first picture below you can see the man throwing a pot on a wheel. Then, you can see a date tree. The small little fruits hanging from the tree are the dates that Saudi Arabia is so famous for.
We then had to spend less time at the Garah Mountain because we were running behind for our lunch. But, we did get to see some amazing sights there.
After that we needed to get to lunch, but we wanted to see the Castle of Ibrahim. It turns out that this was a several hundred year old castle that has been restored, but it was closed for maintenance, so no luck there! We then had a quick but very nice lunch at the Intercontinental Hotel before heading back to Dhahran. I did get some good pictures of Saudi life, like the one below:
And, in this photo, notice the Saudi woman walking in the full abaya and face covering. This is something I am still not used to seeing.
By the way, if you were to want to use the restroom in Saudi Arabia, I hope you would know which one to enter!
We drove back to the hotel, at great speed with our police escort I think, and had to pack very quickly in order to be ready to fly to Jeddah this evening. We got to the airport and got through in time to board the 747 that we took to Jeddah. The flight was about two hours long. One interesting note is that they said a prayer for travelers over the plane speakers just before we took off! It was in Arabic, so I don't know what the words were. Once we landed in Jeddah we collected our bags and checked into the fabulous Intercontinental Hotel. The first surprise was that they had fruit juice awaiting our arrival in the lobby. Then, when we got to our rooms we had fruit and drinks awaiting us as a welcome. The rooms really are amazing, and they have a great view as you can see below:
Once I was settled, I called into my class for about 30 minutes to do a question and answer session. Then, since room service would be our dinner tonight, I ordered lamb chops and Saudi Champagne. This was quite a day, and now that we are in Jeddah, we will begin to see more of Saudi Arabia. In Dhahran were were mostly kept in the Saudi Aramco compound, so now being in another city will allow us to see some more of Saudi Arabia. And, just for fun, take a look at the poster below. In Indiana we dodge deer, in Saudi Arabia they dodge camels!
We then had to spend less time at the Garah Mountain because we were running behind for our lunch. But, we did get to see some amazing sights there.
After that we needed to get to lunch, but we wanted to see the Castle of Ibrahim. It turns out that this was a several hundred year old castle that has been restored, but it was closed for maintenance, so no luck there! We then had a quick but very nice lunch at the Intercontinental Hotel before heading back to Dhahran. I did get some good pictures of Saudi life, like the one below:
And, in this photo, notice the Saudi woman walking in the full abaya and face covering. This is something I am still not used to seeing.
By the way, if you were to want to use the restroom in Saudi Arabia, I hope you would know which one to enter!
We drove back to the hotel, at great speed with our police escort I think, and had to pack very quickly in order to be ready to fly to Jeddah this evening. We got to the airport and got through in time to board the 747 that we took to Jeddah. The flight was about two hours long. One interesting note is that they said a prayer for travelers over the plane speakers just before we took off! It was in Arabic, so I don't know what the words were. Once we landed in Jeddah we collected our bags and checked into the fabulous Intercontinental Hotel. The first surprise was that they had fruit juice awaiting our arrival in the lobby. Then, when we got to our rooms we had fruit and drinks awaiting us as a welcome. The rooms really are amazing, and they have a great view as you can see below:
Once I was settled, I called into my class for about 30 minutes to do a question and answer session. Then, since room service would be our dinner tonight, I ordered lamb chops and Saudi Champagne. This was quite a day, and now that we are in Jeddah, we will begin to see more of Saudi Arabia. In Dhahran were were mostly kept in the Saudi Aramco compound, so now being in another city will allow us to see some more of Saudi Arabia. And, just for fun, take a look at the poster below. In Indiana we dodge deer, in Saudi Arabia they dodge camels!
14 comments:
Hi Mr. H,
If I was there I be caught in the girls bathroom more then how many hairs I have on my head!
Mr H,
Make sure not to hit a camel on your ride(s).
Why is there a poster with a camel on it? Or is it a movie about a very stupid camel that cot hit by a car and was very sad and then got hit again and died?
Mr. H, is it better there or in Indiana judging by (restroom and their signs), hotel rooms, cars,.. ? Witch one has better food? Which one has cleaner (restrooms) hotels, restrants, ect. ? Well Just Check'n in, bye.
Dear Mr.Heiden
Did you like the lamb chops,and did you ever try the dates?
Sincerly,
Jacob
Jackson, you are quite the funny guy...and the poster is just to make Saudi men aware that they should be careful to avoid camels when they drive.
Jacob, I did like the lambchops...very good. I have had dates almost everywhere I have gone!
Doging camals that would take a wile. At first when I saw the bathrooms I thought the boys was the girls!
From,
Josh
Dear Mr.Heiden
Today we had the egg drop in science club. Mine was very nice but my egg broke. I also didn't get any other awards.
Sincerly,
Jacob
Dear Mr. Heiden,
Are Saudi Arabia's hot wings any good? If they are say Jackson and Cody invented them. If they aren't say Jackson and Cody helped invent them.
From,
your two best students,Cody and Jackson
8945462655565465565645656565221302547400, that says in code I don't like your pen name you evil alien or are there chicken wings there?
The only student better than Jackson and Cody Nicholas R.
Dear Mr.Heiden
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. Mr.Heiden BLAH BLAH BALH BLAHBLAH. Hope u hve a gr8 time.
Christian
Dear Mr. Heiden,
Why do women have to be covered from head to toe? Yesterday we had the legendary science club egg drop, and MY EGG DID NOT BREAK!
Sincerely,
LE
LE, congrats on your egg not breaking--that is great! Women have to be covered here because of Saudi Arabia's interpretation of Islamic law. They believe that women need to be covered to protect men from seeing them. I think it is foolish, but that is just my opinion....
dillon
is MCDS the same
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