A golden moment with some Saudi women
Chris and me with new friends in the supermarket
Chris and I had a wonderful encounter with five local women in a supermarket in Hafar Al-Batin in northeastern Saudi Arabia.
It started with my quest for a bag of boiled lollies, preferably mint-flavoured. They’re a treat on the bus, great for a dry throat and a good thing to share. But everything in the supermarket seemed to be chewy and toffee-like or chocolate.
So I used my out-of-date Arabic to ask the woman at the nut counter for some help. It all unfolded from there. Eventually, she called in fellow saleswomen to help in the search.
They were convinced I needed a sugar-free-for-diabetics version, but I kept saying sugar was okay.
My rusty Arabic got a good work and so did their English. We shared laughs, photos and conversations.
Chris said the one thing she didn’t like about them being covered was that she couldn’t see their beautiful faces. So one of them shared a Snapchat pic of herself with long blonde hair and a pink gown. Wow, what a knockout!
As for the lollies, there weren’t any to be found. Who cares. What a memorable experience.
Six of us couldn’t find boiled lollies. Photo by Chris
Where to next? 
As mentioned earlier, you continue to encounter good people. We both feel they are everywhere, but your encounters tell me something is good about you too.
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Aw, thanks. I think a smile goes a long way.
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Thanks for sharing this idea Anita
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You are most welcome.
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The best part of travel!
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It sure is.
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I remember how friendly the Saudi people are, and the women particularly are so gregarious. I had the opportunity to join a women’s evening while in Riyadh and was amazed at how dressed up everyone was – gowns, full makeup and lots of jewellery. There were lots of questions for me, especially about fashion. It was a different evening in the best way.
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What a fabulous experience for you. I have another couple of weeks here. Maybe it will happen for me too.
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To touch a sensitive point – do the ladies seem to mind your loose hair and ‘Western’ dress? Absolutely gorgeous photo !!!
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I have been totally accepted the way I am. That said, sleeves should go to the mid-forearm and trousers to the mid-calf. I wear a head scarf to go into a mosque.
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Whatever those covered women lost in aesthetics,
They certainly have saved on the cost of cosmetics!
😀
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I think they wear more make-up than I do! We just can’t see it.
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Lucky you. What a wonderful and unforgettable experience. It’s these magical moments that make travelling to other countries such a rewarding experience.
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It was truly wonderful. I still need boiled lollies, so maybe it can happen again.
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I LOVED this serendipitous encounter. Meeting up with people when you travel is truly wonderful. It allows you to connect with locals and experience the destination in a more authentic way. Thank you for the most excellent photo – iconic.
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Thanks. I feel so blessed to have had this experience.
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This brings me so much joy! It’s the best thing about travel- the unexpected encounters! So nice to see your beaming smile too Peggy!
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Thanks. It was one of those stand-out moments in a journey.
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Great Stuff. I must admit I didn’t meet any women in Pakistan in 1995. However, Denise — who was declared an honorary man for the trip and whose behaviour was the determinant of whether we were respectable or not! Denise had a marvellous experience in the Swat Valley. We were staying in a sort of hostel or private home. The man recovering from typhoid and I were kept well away from the women. However, Denise after a couple of days — and deemed respectable — was invited into the inner sanctum, where once the husband had left, the women played with make-up, dressing up and trying to help poor Denise who was childless not to lose her husband (me). She said she had a fantastic couple of hours.
Tony
https://www.breadtagsagas.com/
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Thanks for sharing that story, Tony. I can imagine Denise’s day. Truly memorable.
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An enjoyable photograph
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Just looking at it makes me smile.
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Everyone looks so happy. Good to read something positive about Saudi Arabian society.
Best wishes, Pete.
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We’ve been impressed by how friendly everyone is.
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I really liked the sense of fun, Peggy. It’s a good reminder of the humor that exists in all cultures, even when it’s hidden. Great photos.
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I hope my next search for boiled lollies is as enjoyable.
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I have to confess, Peggy, I had to look up what boiled lollies are. 🙂
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LeggyPeggy,
Great photos of your encounter with some very nice women. To bad they were all covered up and you could not see their smiling faces… and might be wearing fashionable clothing. Was there not a story when you were in Taiwan and about lollypops of some kind… Once again, it is so nice to meet friendly people!
Sy S.
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Every now and then we see women fully covered (its called a niqab) but the lower half is floating open and they are wearing jeans or a dress or even a track suit. The shops sell evening gowns.
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I used to often be on the hunt for humbugs for mum! Even in Canberra they can be hard to find when you really want them!
Enjoying your travel stories, Peg!
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Thanks Dewi. The boiled lolly hunt continues without success.
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I love these interactions with local people, and they probably loved it just as much as you! Maggie
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Yes indeed. It was special for all of us. We’ve had so many wonderful interactions with local people on this trip.
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I notice you are all united by your love of sensible footwear!
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I’m so glad you noticed. I’ve seen very few pairs of high heels on these travels.
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ha ha a perfect observation Emma.
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