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Sheikh N Bake
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours
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 Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:49 am Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
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| What would those advantages be, Cleo? |
Riyadh is the capital and the country's 'showpiece', as well as being the richest city in the Kingdom. That means the city is fairly well-maintained and there are plenty of shopping centres and other facilities, as befits a capital city of over 4 million people. |
Riyadh also has the worst airport I've ever seen.
Seemed like everyone I knew in Jeddah was into scuba diving and ogling the coral all weekend. Arguably difficult to do that in Riyadh.
On the other hand, Jeddah was filthy and overall hideous in appearance. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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I agree that Riyadh airport is a dump. Jeddah airport is more chaotic, but also less unpleasant.
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| Seemed like everyone I knew in Jeddah was into scuba diving and ogling the coral all weekend. Arguably difficult to do that in Riyadh |
Well, d'oh! Obviously if you're into beach-related activities Jeddah is a great place to be. But as I've asked at least once on this thread already, other than going to the expensive beach clubs, what exactly can one do in Jeddah that one can't do in Riyadh? It's all very well to say, in vague terms, "Jeddah is more liberal". I'm sure it is, but on a day to day basis, what actual tangible difference does this make for your average ESL teacher who isn't interested in beach culture? |
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Sheikh N Bake
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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From my tone, you could see that I was also not into sleeping with the fishes. Also that I dislike Jeddah. To play the devil's advocate, however, you shouldn't discount the Red Sea proximity as irrelevant to the discussion. I would argue that such proximity has a profound effect on the character of a city, good or bad. Would San Francisco be San Francisco 10 years later if you had picked it up and moved it to the Nevada desert? That's a rhetorical question. NO.
I think up until '96, when I last left the kingdom, women had to have heads all cozy and covered in the capital. Nowadays at least the foreigners go about with hair in glorious display.
That Riyadh airport, though...Jeez Criminy. Qassim airport now has connections straight to Cairo; from now on I'll bypass Riyadh for Euro/American flight connections.
Last edited by Sheikh N Bake on Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I think up until '96, when I last left the kingdom, women had to have heads all cozy and covered in the capital. Nowadays at least the foreigners go about with hair in glorious display, at least in supermarkets. |
Some non-Muslim women cover their hair in Riyadh, but many do not. I usually cover my hair because doing so makes me feel less conspicuous in public, but those women who prefer to leave their hair uncovered can almost always get away with doing so in Riyadh these days. |
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Sheikh N Bake
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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Sometimes I'd like to cover my "blond hair and blue eyes" so 007 and a few similar nitwits here would leave me the f*** alone. Who do I look like--Peter O'Toole?
That was another rhetorical question, with a "no" response assumed. |
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superfly snuka
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:28 pm Post subject: You must be talking to foreigners |
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| Jeddah has a population of well over 3 million - it's hardly a small town |
!"
Its alot smaller than riyadh isnt it? Stop arguing semantics. I also lived in Jubail and aside from the vast array of foreigners in jeddah, I dont see much of a difference between the 2.
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| You left out the nature of the people. even saudis will tell you: citizens of riyadh are from all over saudi, citizens of jeddah are usually from jeddah. |
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| Actually, most people say more or less the opposite: |
BS
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| most Riyadhis are from the conservative Najdi heartlands, while Jeddah, being a port city and the gateway to Makkah, has a much more cosmopolitan population, including the descendants of hundreds of years of Hajj overstayers. |
Im talking strictly about saudi's not foreigners. Are the najdi heartlands outside of Riaydh? then youve made my point!
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| Anyway, my point is that the dichotomy between Riyadh, the (supposedly) dour mutawwa-city, and Jeddah, the (supposedly) free-wheelin' beach town, isn't as sharp as many people think, and that there are many advantages to living in the capital. |
name one advantage of living in riyadh over jeddah! the dichotomy is like night and day.  [/quote] |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: You must be talking to foreigners |
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| superfly snuka wrote: |
| name one advantage of living in riyadh over jeddah! the dichotomy is like night and day. |
And totally opinion... everybody has one...
VS |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Its alot smaller than riyadh isnt it? |
It's smaller than Riyadh, but not 'a lot' smaller.
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| Stop arguing semantics |
Pointing out that a city with a population of well over 3 million is hardly a small town is now 'arguing semantics'? And it took you nearly a month to come to that conclusion?
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| name one advantage of living in riyadh over jeddah! the dichotomy is like night and day |
I mentioned plenty throughtout the thread. Perhaps if you calmed down enough to read them - and check your own punctuation - you'd have managed a more coherent post.
Anyway, your excitement and defensiveness seems a bit out of place. Some people prefer Riyadh, others prefer Jeddah. Either way, differeing opinions on two Saudi cities hardly seems the sort of subject to get overwrought about.
Last edited by Cleopatra on Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:39 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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Could someone pls. tell me how to spell "troll"?
NCTBA
P.s.- An' while yer at it, tell me why folk would induge the aforementioned entity? |
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superfly snuka
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:20 am Post subject: arrogance |
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| It's smaller than Riyadh, but not 'a lot' smaller. |
now who's arguing semantics? Its more than half the size.
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| And it took you nearly a month to come to that conclusion? |
because I have a life.
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| I mentioned plenty throughtout the thread. Perhaps if you calmed down enough to read them - and check your own punctuation - you'd have managed a more coherent post. |
I solemnly swear to check my punctuation for you as it obviously easily offends your sensibilities (Sarcasm off) 
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| Anyway, your excitement and defensiveness seems a bit out of place. Some people prefer Riyadh, others prefer Jeddah. Either way, differeing opinions on two Saudi cities hardly seems the sort of subject to get overwrought about. |
You became overwrought by disagreeing with my OPINION. And you did so by arguing semantics and commenting on my punctuation. If you disagree, then do so with a moticum of respect and I will do the same. You like Riyadh? Excellent, but not many would agree with you. And since you took the pains to highlight , in another post , about what is so great about riyadh, please let me know just one point!
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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| If you disagree, then do so with a moticum of respect |
Exactly how big is a 'moticum'? About the same size as a 'small town' with a population of 3.6 million? |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: arrogance |
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| superfly snuka wrote: |
You like Riyadh? Excellent, but not many would agree with you. |
I like Riyadh I have visited and worked in other cities and actually prefer Riyadh. The infrastructure/ roads are more developed. Also prefer the dry heat of Riyadh rather than the horrid humidty of the coast. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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Dear superfly snuka,
I'm also a fan of Riyadh over Jeddah ( 4 years in Jeddah; 15 in Riyadh.
I agree with what cmp45 wrote, and I'd add that excursions into the desert (i.e. collecting "desert diamonds," fossils, etc) are great fun.
It's strictly a matter of opinion, but your assumption that not many would agree is, I'd say, unfounded.
Regards,
John |
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superfly snuka
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject: cleopatra try going what the others have done.. |
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...and answer the question. they have given me reasons. like good roads(this is true) dry heat(true again) but of course I prefer the humidity of jeddah.
But instead you correct my spelling. so sorry! "Modicum" which comes from the word moderate. You are the mutaweenie of the ESL world. a purist who cant communicate unless the other person has dotted all his I's and crossed all his T's.
Is English your first language? because such anal retentiveness comes usually from those who are still learning "the rules".
Do you understand what a "small town feel" means or should I express that another way: Though Jeddah is a large city by Saudi standards , it has more of a small town feel to it than Riyadh. People are friendlier, more accomodating, and generally want to help you in any way they can."
Ya get it now? Oh, sorry ! Do you understand now? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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| OOh, you ARE rude ! |
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