A lot of Saudi girls were quite cheeky and daring, giggling "hi" as they walked by, in for a serious telling off if one of the long-bearded religious cops caught us, or worse.
Cycling along the corniche I would often pass big groups of women sitting around on the landscaped lawns, about 30 metres from the big group of male relatives, having a picnic and on seeing me would sometimes shout out "hellooo" and "how are you?" followed by cackling and giggling.
Using Joey's Friends catchphrase, I always wanted to shout back "How you doing?" similiar to the philosophy employed by a bloke I knew down the pub who went to the disco with the attitude that 'the more birds you ask to dance, the more chance you have of scoring'. Success rate (approx) 1 in 10, but he went home happy.
Two girls in black once engaged me in conversation while waiting for Pizza Hut to re-open after prayer time. "Should we be doing this?" I asked, perturbed. "No," they giggled back, "But it's fun. Don't worry." I did worry and reluctantly had to tell them to stand further away.
Amazing that, via religion, men believe a woman's place to be in the home, while when it's a question of work and business the woman's place is to sit on the ground outside under a blazing sun in a black sack.
- must have a need for doing this work, or the community she lives in requires her to do this job, such that there cannot be found any man that can do the job.' CUE rolling about on the floor in laughter
- for that last line.
The Pakistani or Indonesian house driver will drop the MBOs off and wait in the car park, sipping sweet tea while the chicks spend the husband's/father's salary. If you have four wives and ten kids, life ain't cheap my friend, even if you are lucky enough to get a decent paying job.
Nb. The Girls of Riyadh is an interesting view on the life of spoiled Saudi chicks written by a cool, albeit spoiled too, Saudi chick who defied serious intimidation and abuse, mostly online, from religious wackos and men in general.
Is that permitted by the religion too?
The worst story that reached me in Jubail was of a maid who was being abused by the boys of the house. She escaped to the bathroom where the mother locked her in for three days. She escaped by jumping from a first floor window, breaking a leg then crawling to Jarir Bookstore where she got help. I doubt anything happened to the family. They would have blamed the maid for something. All her fault for being raped. She deserved it.
The most horrific story that did make the press was this one.
Yeah, like any god made that up.