A friend sent a facebook message the other day asking how things are going here in KSA and whether or not I'm (K) running around the city in an abaya. The answer is yes and no. Let's take the yes first.
Yes, I am going around town in an abaya. All women are required to wear an abaya whenever outside of a compound. The abaya is a long black robe designed to cover the female curves. Saudis I’ve seen around in shopping malls cover their hair and face as well. Most Saudi women only leave their eyes uncovered. Foreigners are not required to cover their hair or face, unless you happen to run into an eager muttawa.
I should mention that the abaya is not uncomfortable at all. Sure, it’s not something that I’d normally wear, but it’s loose and doesn’t restrict your movements at all. It’s not hot at all inside because the air-conditioning seems to be on max in just about every shopping mall. In fact, the other day at Ikea I was hoping I’d worn a bit more underneath it because it was quite cold inside. Outside it’s a bit warm, but then again sitting at the compound pool today I was a bit warm in a summer skirt. There is no need to spend any time outside in the abaya. The only time you need to spend outside wearing it, is walking from your car to a shop or vice versa.
Then to the no part. I'm not running around the city because there is no public transportation at all. That’s none. Nada. The only way to move around the city is by car and distances are so big that it’s not really possible to walk. So far I’ve seen three pedestrians. People you see outside are clearly waiting for rides, they are not walking anywhere.
Yes, I am going around town in an abaya. All women are required to wear an abaya whenever outside of a compound. The abaya is a long black robe designed to cover the female curves. Saudis I’ve seen around in shopping malls cover their hair and face as well. Most Saudi women only leave their eyes uncovered. Foreigners are not required to cover their hair or face, unless you happen to run into an eager muttawa.
I should mention that the abaya is not uncomfortable at all. Sure, it’s not something that I’d normally wear, but it’s loose and doesn’t restrict your movements at all. It’s not hot at all inside because the air-conditioning seems to be on max in just about every shopping mall. In fact, the other day at Ikea I was hoping I’d worn a bit more underneath it because it was quite cold inside. Outside it’s a bit warm, but then again sitting at the compound pool today I was a bit warm in a summer skirt. There is no need to spend any time outside in the abaya. The only time you need to spend outside wearing it, is walking from your car to a shop or vice versa.
Then to the no part. I'm not running around the city because there is no public transportation at all. That’s none. Nada. The only way to move around the city is by car and distances are so big that it’s not really possible to walk. So far I’ve seen three pedestrians. People you see outside are clearly waiting for rides, they are not walking anywhere.
Any insight as to why there is no public transport at all?
ReplyDeleteI suppose that since petrol is dirt cheap, it is very cheap to drive a car, but then I heard before women are not allowed to drive, so it would be nice if they could take a bus/train/sandbuggy.