City in the Desert

Most people will ask questions like “do you live in a desert?” or “do you ride camels when you travel?” when they learn that you are a student from Saudi Arabia. It is kind of funny as it shows how little people know of that country. Although, we cannot blame people on how they perceive the place. Some movies and shows portray what the Middle East stereotypically looks like. With that, people mistake which country is which.

The usual things that people know about Saudia Arabia are deserts, camels, gold, and oil. However, it is more than that. You see, it is not just a desert. It is also full of vibrant cities and provinces that will make you feel in awe.

Jeddah is a city located in Saudi Arabia. Jeddah came from the word “Jidah” which means “grandmother” because people believe that Eve, from the Creation Story, is buried there and that she is their grandmother.

Instead of the usual sand, many buildings also tower and gleam during the evening. There are no dull nights in Jeddah as the city lights shine brighter than the stars.

Night Life

Compared to the Philippines, malls and other stores close between 9 pm and 11 pm. But in Jeddah, 9 pm is when people flock to the streets. They are more lively in the evening than in the morning, especially when it is Ramadan-a month of celebration for the Muslims, where they fast as a form of sacrifice in their religion. Also, during that time, stores are open until 3 am.

The beautiful city lights will make you feel alive, especially with the sales going inside the malls and stores. When it says sale, it is a sale. You will enjoy the luxurious life there because branded things are cheap, especially when they are on sale. So if you love shopping, Dubai is not the only place to go to but also Jeddah.

Cuisine

Restaurants have many offers and discounts, which will make you taste restaurants that you do not usually dine in the Philippines unless you have a big budget. Some of these restaurants are TGIF, Fuddruckers, Applebees, and other restaurants that the average Filipino do not usually eat. But because of lunch discounts or offers, you can try and enjoy them.

Often, people think that there is no Filipino food there since they believe it is a desert and what they eat is just Arabian food. Fortunately, there are also the usual fast-food chains that we always see in our country. Fast-food chains, such as Chowking, Jollibee, and McDonald’s have been operating there for years already.

Of course, there are also Filipino restaurants opened there for the Filipinos and Arabs alike. Some may think that maybe Arabian food is not palatable since it is rare to see restaurants that serve middle eastern cuisine here in the Philippines. And if sold, it is somehow expensive.

In reality, their foods are delicious, especially their shawarmas, kabsa, kebab, and other food they offer. Their dishes have this distinct taste. When you try them, you will immediately think that it is theirs.

Transportation

Another thing that people think about when they hear Saudi Arabia is that people there use camels for transportation. Although that is somehow true, that only happens in the desert part of Saudi. You will be amazed at how luxurious and beautiful cars are in the cities of Saudi Arabia.

In Jeddah, it is common to see sports cars on the streets. There is this place here called “Tahlia Street”. You can find where high-end brands on this street. It might seem impossible, but those expensive cars drove by ordinary people in Saudi Arabia. Even Filipinos operate the latest model of famous car brands. Sometimes, newly released models are just being used as a service car by some companies.

Besides the expensive cars, taxis, and buses also another mode of transportation. However, women do not usually use the buses. If they do, they are always sitting on the back since Saudi is a strict and conservative country. Men and women who are not related cannot have any other type of skinship. You should be either married or siblings.

There are also things like “Kareem” and “Uber” there, which is equivalent to the “Grab” and “Angkas” that we have here. There is also a train there, but it is only for really long-distance travel.

Diversity

The city of Jeddah is just like Manila. There are also children selling flowers on the streets and many other things, and even vendors selling peanuts on the streets whenever there is traffic. Although, it is rare to have traffic in Jeddah. Whenever that happens, it somehow feels like home since it is a common scenario in the Philippines.

Furthermore, the Filipino community in the Middle East is vast as there are also many Filipinos staying there for years. When you visit Saudi Arabia and its cities, you will meet more foreigners than actual Arabian people. Most people also came from different parts of the world, especially from India, Pakistan, Egypt, and other neighboring countries.

Saudi Arabia, specifically Jeddah, is far from the desert and camelback rides that they think of. It is truly fascinating how there is a city in the desert because it is unusual. A beautiful place is to be in a city and drive for some mile, and you will see the desert. And there is yet to unfold in this city in the desert.