When in Saudi Arabia

Kabsa night with my kids

It's not always work in Saudi Arabia, one of the top activities in Saudi Arabia is eating hehe! Yes, eating is also classified into different varieties like teatime or coffee time, dinner time with family or friends, and even company official meetings are mostly held in restaurants or take outs. There is also a sisha time, it's a somking with water vapor and it has flavours like the famous vaping nowadays.

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Living with Family in Saudi Arabia, Is It Still Okay in 2022?

We have been living in Saudi Arabia for many years now - I don't want to elaborate on how long, so you just have to take my word for it. If you happen to pass by here to find out if it is still good to live here in Saudi Arabia, then you came to the right place.

Before we go to more details, I would like to thank you for dropping by. If you are living or planning to live in Saudi Arabia with your family, here are the things you have to consider or you have to expect. These are things you have to prepar:

Residence Permit - you don't have to worry about this because sponsors should be the one to shoulder payments on renewal of residence permit. 

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A Quick Pictorial with Noah

While I was tidying up things in the living room, I saw Ize's old pair of shades that looked like a goggles or pilot goggles so an idea came to me. I think it will look great on Noah and while he is wearing his Kuya Ize's old leather (not really) jacket. So after I gave him a bath, I let him wore his Kuya Ize's old jacket and the pair of shades. I took pictures using my Nikon D90 and the pictures are just below. I only posted the best ones.

By the way, to all my non-Filipino readers, kuya means older brother. I am just a hobbyist in photography but not on career level or professional so I am open to any suggestion if you have any. By the way I used an AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens. My model is Noah Caleb Libed Ablon, a 1 year old cute boy who is turning 2 on Nov 11.

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Lunch with Family at Uptown

Last Aug 27, I treat the family for a lunch at Uptown Restaurant here in Jeddah. Uptown was formerly known as Casper & Gambinis. We've been to Casper & Gambinis before and I can pretty much say that they both have the same ambiance. It's seldom we eat lunch on an upscale restaurant so I can't tell if the crowd is pretty much the same at night and during noon time -- that particular lunch time, it was mostly a business crowd. I thank God til now for granting me the privilege to be with my family and also the privilege of having to dine-out with them from time to time. I know not all OFWs have the same privilege as I have now.

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Breakfast in Buhayrat Open Beach

While our Muslim friends celebrate their Ramadan Eid Holiday, many expatriates here in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia celebrate their holidays with their friends on different places. One of the best places people go is the open beach found in Buhayrat. It's actually a private property which lies next to a beach and since it is summer, people indulge themselves to a dip in the sea. In the morning, the water is cold which just suits the hot weather while on a cold windy night the water is warm which is also perfect.

It took us more or less an hour to drive from the city of Jeddah to the outskirts of Buhayrat but it was nothing compared to the experience we had in Buhayrat. We left our meeting place around 5 am and we arrived the place while it was still dark. We set our mats on the ground and prepared for our breakfast and when all was set, we took our quick breakfast and went for a dive.

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QT10023: Psalm 23: 6 (Keep Dwelling on Him)

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Last Sunday, I was on my way to our old house to fetch some of our remaining stuffs when I had an accident. I always made sure to pray before I go on my way to wherever I go. I was on the highway that time and almost passing a branching road when a taxi starts swerving left and right. A pick-up truck was in front of me and in front of him was the swerving taxi. I immediately turned my hazard lights on and started slowing down while still paying attention to the pick-up truck in front of me. When the pick-up truck stopped, I just stopped nonchalantly. Suddenly, I heard a thud and the car shook, I knew I was hit by a vehicle behind me. I checked my side-mirror and saw a taxi. Well, if you are not aware, taxis here in Saudi Arabia has a habit of tailgating and it really is annoying and quite alarming when you are the one in front of them and you are in a highway.

Me, my youngest son Noah and our Chevy Cruze.

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Driving in Saudi Arabia

Before, I heard a man said "When you can drive in Saudi Arabia, you can drive anywhere!" and based on my experience, I believe it is true. I've prayed for a driver's license for more than five years and now I know the reason why God didn't allow me to drive as soon as I prayed for it - coz I am not yet ready to face them. I've failed to get a driver's license many years ago and once I've tried, I always end up failing on the Eye Examination. To tell you the truth, the last time I attempted to acquire a driver's license. I failed the eye exam again and I almost collapsed when I heard it but instead of being sent-out and asked to try again, the doctor told me to proceed to the driving range for a driving exam. After the exam, I was told to take a 5-day driving course since I have a driving license back in my country. To make it short, after I passed the computer exam, I was told to come back and get my license. My heart leaped with joy and I knew this was really the time God allowed me to drive here.

Back in Manila, there is courtesy in driving unlike here in Saudi Arabia. Some will give way for you but most of them I think don't like the idea of being left out. You will truly practice patience once you are on the road. The only tip I can share to you in driving here is, if you think they want to go first - let them go first because the minute you race them, you'll end up on a collision with them. Most of the taxi, bus and truck drivers don't have courtesy so be careful of them. Also be on a look-out of corners, most cars just pop out without decelerating.

I've also heard a lot of injustices on the traffic violation, specially when in an accident. I try to really be careful in driving coz I don't want to experience this so called injustices. Learn to be a defensive driver and practice your patience but before you drive take a minute to pray - you'll need it.

If you failed to get a driver's license, just try again and be patient. The right time will come and when that time has come, you'll be ready as well. God bless to all and take care in driving specially during the Ramadan season.

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A Great Birthday Experience at Sakura

Last May 30, my wife gave me a treat at Sakura Japanese restaurant here in Jeddah. Sakura Japanese restaurant is Crowne Plaza Jeddah Hotel's signature restaurant. It's not my first time to eat at a Japanese restaurant so I can definitely say that compared to my previous experience, we had a great experience even for my wife who just had her first Japanese food experience. Their price is quite reasonable compared to my past experience.

Nothing really beats Japanese food presentation and with regards to the ambiance, although the place is small, it still looks elegant. I just wish that they have something to offer children too. I am quite afraid to let my eldest son try the Japanese food because of the raw ingredients mixed into it and it might upset his stomach. The only food I made him try was the ramen and dumplings.

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Residence Permit Application for New Babies in Saudi Arabia

If you are a Filipino or an expatriate in Saudi Arabia and you just had your new baby, then congratulations to you! Anyways, you might be wondering how your baby can have their iqama (residential permit). Here are things you might want to prepare before going to Jawazat:

1. Your baby's new passport and photocopy.
2. 2 pcs picture (Iqama size).
3. Original and photocopy of Birth Certificate - Saudi issue (You can get it at Saudi Civil Service I think). If you don't have an idea what it looks like, just check the picture below.
4. Original Marriage Contract and photocopy (with arabic translation)
5. You and your wife/husband's original and photocopy of iqama.
6. If you have another child before that was born in the kingdom, it would be best to bring his/her original Saudi birth certificate too.
7. Jawazat form - get it from the front desk

Saudi Birth Certificate of Noah.

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Loved or Used

I just saw a nice status message and I'd like to remember it always. Here is what it says:

People were created to be loved.
Things were created to be used.
The reason why the world is in Chaos;
          is because things are being loved
                     and people are being used.

No, this has nothing to do with the phrase. I just did this awhile ago and I wan't to share it.

My iqama (work permit) just expired yesterday. A lot of things are affected when iqama has expired and it is very troublesome since it gave me limits to what I can do. Here are what's affected:

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