20/01/2024
What can I say about my time in Saudi Arabia? 🇸🇦
Since this is my 95th country, I often don’t experience a lot of culture shock. Experiencing Saudi Arabia has been interesting, and although I was intimated at first, I ended up having a great time.
As a tourist, I do not have to cover my hair or wear an abaya. I did cover my hair during my time in mosques, obviously, but not otherwise.
I did not have to wear an abaya, but I did, because 99% of women that I saw were wearing one, so I felt that I should. Plus— I have several now, and they are gorgeous, and I wanted to wear one.
Every tour I tried to book was cancelled, so I navigated the spots I wanted to see on my own, with Ubers and Google maps. My hotel was right on the Corniche, making it easy to walk around.
Walking the streets in Al-Balad, I got a ton of stares. Men and women took pictures and videos of me, and some men even hissed at me. However, I experienced a lot of excitement from shop owners when telling them I was American, and had a warm welcome to the country from them.
I sat and observed a lot, and saw a lot of family togetherness. Huge families set up lunches or dinners on the Corniche. The adults played cards and watched their children run around. It was great to see.
Would I return? Absolutely. I’d love to explore more, and I owe this country more than a stopover.