Riad Imourane Tamraght

... made their way to ‘Passport Control’. Once at passport control, there were clearly signposted several lanes. There were queues for GCC citizens, first time visitors and second time visitors. Once a foreigner has received his residency permit then he can use the ‘Second Time Visitor’ lane and this speeds up things quite a bit. But of course, I was joining the longer queue. When, after 45 minutes, I was called forward my passport and visa details were ...

... their own cars, men that is as women aren't permitted to drive. But Glenn and a couple of his work colleagues like having a driver they know and trust to taxi them around. Makes life easier...

On the drive to the compound i had a chance to look at the scenery....buildings are large, I was surprised at how much english language is around, lots of new buildings going up. Kingdom Tower ...

... passed through Mina and Muzdalifah, which if you're familiar with the annual Hajj rites, is where the large tent city is that the Hajjis stay in. Looking at the tent city, it is easy to see how perilous it could be if people try to have open fires, and while regretting the tent city fire a few years ago, one can only wonder that there haven't been more accidents. The scope of the public services necessary for accommodate the millions who come for ...

When you are entering Riyadh from the east, you pass a lot of agricultural spots -- date farms, dairy farms, fields with modern irrigation equipment. Leaving the city heading west it's as if you have come to the edge of a vast cliff and are now headed down into an enormous valley. Our ears ...

... small barrier to the families' entrance, and back in again. I shared a small chuckle with the staff as they were the same people, they had just shifted down the counter a bit. I was also the only customer in the store, on either side.

Large mocha chip Frappucino in hand I felt ready to face the next ten hours or so of drive time. We drove quickly along the city highway, not much traffic but still considerable winds and a lot of sand blowing around.

... spinal anaesthetic, must remain in recovery UNTIL IT HAS FULLY WORN OFF!!! I feel sorry for the caesar patients who just want to go back to the ward and be with their babies, but can't because "no, you cant move your legs properly yet". And we transport our patients back to the ward after they are recovered. We also quite often look after royals and VIP's - there is an entire ward especially for these patients. The rooms are amazing, like 3 separate rooms ...

Well, I'm settling in pretty well to life here in Riyadh! Am finally finished orientation, and am about to start working in PACU tomorrow, which I'm really looking forward to. The girls in recovery work pretty hard, here. Its a 44 hour week, and they are pretty understaffed, so overtime is pretty much expected. But, aside from this, they seem to be a really great bunch of girls in there, really friendly and welcoming so far. I went shopping in the Kuwaiti souk ...

... closed all the doors for 40 minutes :P I'll try to put up some more photos of random things when i get that net working properly! Im having a bit of trouble with the connection that I bought... Big dissapointment, as I cant seem to get online a lot of the time, which means I can't use skype as much as I would have liked, which makes me sad :( Aaaaannnnnddd........Thats about all I can tell you for now, I think! Kat Ps - sorry for the long winded story... hard to shorten the msg, wrote too bloody much!

... her at home with a month old baby, and she hasen't forgoten her part of this expearance yet. I traveled to Al Kobar,Jidda,and Daharan. Keeping the King's Beer cold, I was in the refrigeration buissness back then. I met Brit's, Sir Lankans, and Koreans. all trying to improve there lives with the Saudi oil mony. On my return trip I stopped in Switzerland and England.

... ma poisse légendaire, personne à l'arrivée. Non, pardon, plein de personnes avec des cartons et les noms marqués dessus, mais walou me concernant. Je tourne, je tourne, les taxis viennent me demander si je veux aller qqpart, je refuse, confiant dans l'organisation et surtout que j'ai pas d'argent local et j'ai pris qqs billets de 100$ et je me vois pas comment récupérer le change avec les taxis. Je vais voir à l'arrivée des vols domestiques au cas o ...