#Abby is Abroad in Riyadh

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Riyadh's Aviation Museum - Saqer Al-Jazirah Royal Air Force Museum

Easily one of the best-kept secrets of Riyadh is the Royal Airforce Museum, located on Eastern Ring Road. With tickets being just 10 SAR per person, and there being enough displays, simulations, and airplanes to view, you could easily pass 2 hours, it's worth a visit.

There are lots of airplanes on the grounds outside the building to walk around and explore, making it a great destination during cooler weather. Sometimes, the employees will even open the planes up to give a tour.

Inside, there are more planes, models, and even a feature on Saudi's first astronaut Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. There are a few flying simulations to try out as well.

Museum hours are 8am-12pm and 4pm-8pm on weekdays. Weekends, the museum opens from 4pm and closes at 8pm.

Find the location on google maps here.

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Saudi Games - 2024

This year's Saudi Games have oficially kicked off and I had the honor of walking in the opening ceremony, representing the Climbing and Hiking Federation. It was a beautiful celebration of sports and culture, with a unique blend of opulence that only Saudi does best. An hour-long replay is available here on Youtube.

A Melting Pot of Talent and Spirit

The Saudi Games is set feature a stunning variety of sports, featuring all 94 federations. Athletes from all over the Kingdom, both citizens and residents, will come together to compete in everything from traditional games to modern athletic events. Some of the more traditional games include balot, a Saudi card game played with a specialized deck ofcards, and camel racing.

More futuristic events include Robotics and Remote Control as well as E-Sports. Despite this, most of the events are what one might expect from a modern Olympic-style sporting event, such as gymnastics, beach volley ball, basketball, and ju jitsu. Overall, the games are bound to be a thrilling experience, blending the past, present, and future.!

The Energy Will Be Unmatched

This year, the games are hosted at Boulevard City in Hittin, giving them a central feel, situated in the middle of the city and the epicenter of events in the winter season.

An Opening to Athletics

What truly excites me is that the Saudi Games are not just about the competitions; they are also a platform for cultural change. In the short time I've been in this country, I've seen a change in attitude towards athletics. This growing importance and incorporation into daily life is due in no small part to the government's 2030 Vision, creating more avenues for exercise and athleticism, opening of gyms, and inviting sports academies to come set up shop in the country.

Community and Collaboration

Overall, it's a wonderful place to meet and gather together as a community, meeting other athletes from your sport and those who are passionate about others. Last year I had the opportunity to meet climbers from other parts of the country and we were able to create more awareness and exposure for climbing as a sport in Saudi.

If you have the time, it's worth attending the events and it's only 100 SAR for a pass to attend all events for the games. You can arrange your tickets through WeBook.

— Abby

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24 Hours in Alhasa - A Weekend Guide to Alhasa

About 3.5 hours from Riyadh by car, it's definitely worth a visit, even just for a day trip. My mom came to visit me in May for the second time and since she had seen most points of interest in Riyadh on her first visit, we decided to venture out to see a bit of life outside the capital.

We decided to leave Riyadh on a Friday late morning, stay the night, and drive back on Saturday morning.

Where to Stay - Al Koot Heritage Hotel

This quaint hotel is an old house renovated into guest rooms with a lovely enclosed center courtyard that houses the restaurant. It was a perfect way to give my mom a taste of what a traditional house would look like structurally and it was centrally located as well. There's only street parking for the property, but it wasn't difficult to find. We ate breakfast in the hotel the morning we left and it was delicious.

What to do - Al-Qarah Mountain, Pottery Shop, Ibrahim Palace, and Qaisariyah Souq

Al-Qarah Mountain is famous for its caves and rock formations. My mom was expecting the style of cave where you descend into the earth. This mountain is different in that you walk straight into the slots and canyons formed in the mountain. It's very beautiful and they have lots of fairy lights, mirrors, and seating areas near the caves of the mountain, so you can expect to spend some time here enjoying the atmosphere.

The Pottery Shop is a traditional pottery place on the other side of the entrance to Al-Qarah Mountain. It closes at 6pm every day, so if you're planning sunset at the mountain, make sure to go to the shop before. Merchants accept cash as well as card and you can wander through several vendors' crafts to find a unique and beautiful hand-crafted souvenir. I went home with a mug and a traditional water jug which are certainly prized posessions.

Ibrahim Palace is an incredible place with a long history, dating back to the Ottoman period in the 1500's. It's located close to Al-Koot Heritage Hotel and we were keen to explore. Unfortunately it was closed for renovations despite the information we found on Google. Hopefully it will re-open to the public in the next year.

If the pottery shop doesn't provide you with enough souvenirs, Qaisariyah Souq is also close to Al-Koot Heritage Hotel. There you can shop to your heart's content.

Regional Food to Try - Hasawi Bread

Stop at this bakery to pick up a red bread that is unique to the Eastern province. It's hearty and made from dates, wheat, saffron, and cardamom. The dates are what give it its color and set it apart in flavor from other breads throughout the country.

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Riyadh Coffee Culture (My top 5 coffee shops in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia):

Saudi is opening, with tourist visas being issued and their grand 2030 plan to make the Kingdom’s tourism industry as robust as that of the UAE and others, not to mention, 1/3 of the country’s residents are expats. If you’re coming to Saudi for business or pleasure, you’re likely to stop in Riyadh, the capital city which has more than 5 million residents.

With daytime temperatures averaging over 100°F in the summer, Saudis tend to stay up all night when the weather is cool(-er) and sleep during the day. To keep them going all night long, they need a lot of coffee. Coffee culture is very strong in Riyadh, with unique shops all over the city. However there are plenty of your familiar chains available if you’re needing a taste of home, such as Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, Dunkin Doughnuts, Caribou, and Cafe Bene.

But this post is dedicated to my Saudi-exclusive coffee joints. I’ve done my best to link to their instagrams as best I can so you can check out their websites and locations from there. (Links are in the names before the pictures )

1. Wavy Ice

Located in Al Mughrizat Plaza, along with Starbucks, Dunkin, Doughnuts, and Cafe Bene this coffee shop has personality and a great cup of coffee. My go-to drink is a vanilla latte, but be warned: their’s is on the sweeter side, so a plain latte does suffice for me. The booths are wide, plenty of outlets for you to charge your laptop or phone, their walls are covered in local artwork which they swap out regularly, giving it a unique and personal feel. They do play music (not a given in Saudi) and sometimes even host events in the evenings.

Personal ancedote: I thought their stickers were cute and asked if they were for sale. They weren’t, but the barista gave me a handful (literally) for free, taking them off the paper and handing them to me, leaving me with no where to put them. I think we both thought the other was a bit odd 😂

2. 12 Cups

On our way out of the city, driving to the Safari put on by Riyadh Season, we stopped at 12 Cups. (I believe they also have a location in the DQ.)

A sleek, modern, coffee shop with several 20-somethings working on their laptops and the smell of fresh beans, this shop had a lovely atmosphere and I wished we weren’t just popping in for a takeaway. But alas, we had places to go, so we snapped a quick pic with the angle wings on the wall while they whipped up our drinks and we dashed off to our plans.

The coffee was one of the best in terms of quality and the ascetics were on point too. 10/10.

3. Pandemic Coffee

Honestly, I didn’t love their coffee. They had a lot of unique flavors on their menu, but it just wasn’t quite my taste.

HOWEVER, it is a must see purely for the aesthetics and vibe. I mean, what could be more relevant right now?

Stepping through the massive steel door is like entering a night club with the music pounding, low lighting, walls painted black, and cherry blossoms growing. It’s such a stark contrast to life outside and anything else you experience in Riyadh, that it’s worth the other-worldly culture shock.

If I remember correctly, their wifi wasn’t working 😬😬😬

But it seems like enough people like them for locations to open in Tabuk and Dubai, so maybe it might be closer to your palette. 

4. Bearista

A cabin-themed coffee shop, looking like something out of a USA road trip to the mountains, with faux-brick walls and tree-stump tables, BEARISTA is a cozy coffee shop located across the street from the Hayat mall and within walking distance of an Enjaz, so you can transfer some money, pop over for a quick coffee break, and then go off to do some shopping.

We went on a Thursday afternoon and slipped right in before prayer time. It was lovely to relax and sip our coffee while waiting for shops to re-open. The staff was nice and of course, the coffee was delicious. 

(I couldn’t find their instagram, but I did link to their foursquare page).

5. Caffe Bene

Okay, so I know I said this list was dedicated to Saudi-exclusives, but I HAD to include this global chain. I discovered Caffe Bene last summer in Japan and have been a fan of the vibe ever since. While the coffee quality might be a bit watered down for my personal taste, the instrumental music, array of seating, and low prices keep it high on my list of go-tos, especially when looking to pass a few hours in the afternoon or on the weekend with a book or laptop.

In pre-COVID times, my friends and I were regulars at this particular location. Loads of seating, free wifi, tons of natural light, and again low prices! Even with a 15 % VAT, a medium iced vanilla latte is only 18 SAR.

Not to mention their staff is always kind and lovely. Unlike Starbucks, they play music! While they don’t close for prayer, so you can sit inside and enjoy a wonderful respite from the heat when all other shops are closed, their employees do take a break during prayer times. At my favorite location, Caffe Bene also recently removed the divide between men’s and women’s sections (or as they’re know in Saudi “Single” and “Family Sections”). Yay steps toward gender equality!!

In COVID times, employees wear masks and gloves, perform temperature checks at the door, and require social distancing among customers.

Disclaimer: be wary of the baked goods... they can be a bit dried out, but this is Saudi, so I don’t really fault them so much as lack of humidity.

What are some of YOUR favorite coffee shops in Riyadh? Where do I need to go next? 😊☕☕☕

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Riding Quads at the Red Sands outside of Riyadh:

In February a group of friends and I were itching to do something different for the weekend, so we called up our driver, piled into his van and set off on an hour driver outside the city to the Red Sands. (Location linked on Google Maps here).

The views leaving the city are BEAUTIFUL as always. Saudi’s cliffs are stunning, transporting you a true desert.

When we arrived, they had shelters and tables set up, so we could eat some food in the shade before hopping on the quads. We enjoyed our snacks, stopped by their port-a-potties (make sure you bring your own wipes and sanitizer!), then they set us up with our own quads and let us loose for an hour.

~~ 💸���PRICING 💸💸~~

As with most businesses like this, haggling is the way to go. A good price would be 70 SAR per person, however a REALLY good price is 45 SAR per person.

Be kind, recognize they need to eat and feed their families, but don’t pay more than what it’s worth. 😊

When planning your own trip:

1. Make sure to bring LOTS of water, even in February it was HOT.

2. Bring and wear LOTS of sunscreen. The sun is FIERCE out here.

3. Bring something to cover your face so you don’t breathe in any sand.

4. Have FUN!

We ditched our abayas for the day and couldn’t be happier!

Make sure to bring a mask so you’re not breathing in any sand!

Got stuck and definitely got a quad workout getting un-stuck.

LOOOOOOVING the view of the cliffs behind me.

We finished the day with loads of sand in our shoes and smiles on our faces… can you say cheesy? 😂

If you want to check out my friend’s video about our trip, you can find it here:

For more of my Saudi Adventures: #AbbyIsAbroadInRiyadh

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Visiting Riyadh’s Aviation Museum:

As of June 21st Riyadh is officially OPEN and in its new normal. After waiting a few weeks to venture out we decided to combat our cabin fever with a visit to Riyadh’s Aviation Museum [official name: Saqr Aljazeera Aviation Museum]. I’ve been dying to visit since I moved here, but have never made the time.

We decided to go on a Thursday around 4pm and it was empty except for staff, so we had the place to ourselves, which was perfect for social distancing! Our temperatures were taken and everyone was wearing masks. 

We felt so safe and comfortable at the museum. The staff were so kind and even gave us a tour of the museum. They have several flight simulations which are closed due to the virus so we didn't get to play with them but hopefully they'll be able to reopen soon. The staff also opened several airplanes for us and gave us a tour of the insides. 

Inside one of the planes. You can see the employee behind me wearing his mask and keeping a safe distance.

Even if you're not an airplane buff I would highly recommend going as there's lots to learn about Saudi Arabia's history and planes. Upstairs they have an exhibit on Air Force uniforms and on Saturdays in space. I didn't know that a Saudi Prince had been to space so that was really exciting for me to learn.

Outside there are loads of airplanes sitting on made up runways and this is perfect for exploring and getting up close and personal with some planes which you might not get to see in another context. There is a Saudia airplane for passengers which is massive. Even though I've flown in so many planes throughout my life seeing them away from an airport is such a different experience. While the outside of the museum is great for exploring it's also perfect for an insta photo shoot. Here are some of my pictures which will hopefully inspire you. I won't be getting on an international flight anytime soon so this was a fun way to be close to some airplanes.

Exploring the planes outside.

Planning your trip:

Cost:  11 SAR per person

Getting there: you can take a Careem which will drop you off outside of the main gate then a guard will let you in and it is a 2 minute walk to the entrance of the building. If you drive you might be able to find parking on a side street nearby.

Google map location: linked here

Hours: 4pm-9pm Sunday-Saturday

The main entrance to the museum.

 We had such a fun time and I highly recommend visiting the aviation museum the next time you're in Riyadh!

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Donating Clothes in Riyadh

Corona has left us with our worlds upside down and with many expat communities all over the world suddenly empty. Saudi is no different. One of my close friends was unable to return from the states which tasked me with finding new homes for most of her things. Ultimately I was left with a lot of clothing that I would have given to Savers or Goodwill at home but I had no idea what to do with here.

GOOD NEWS: YOU *CAN* DONATE CLOTHES IN RIYADH!!!

According to my extensive googling, a few years ago, mosques in Riyadh used to have donation boxes outside for clothes and other items, but they were removed.

There do remain a few charities around the city where you can bring your goods.

I’ve listed below the details of the place I found where you can take your things instead of throwing them away! Let’s live more sustainable lives out while we’re away from our countries of birth, as the whole world is our home 😊

How to donate: 

Name: North of Riyadh Alber Charity

Location: King Abdullah Branch Road

Google Maps Location: here

Hours: 8:30am-10pm Sun-Thurs, 3-10pm F, 9am-10pm Sat

Advice: Go into the building and ask the employees for help! I went in the evening as they are open until 10pm but their donation bins were not out. We had to ask a few people where we could give our things, but eventually we found someone who was willing to help. It’s a different experience from donating at home where things are more clearly laid out and obvious.

This is the building from the outside.

The parking lot with donation bins is down this road.