ONE EXPAT FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA
Today was a kind of lucky day. It rained and poured for awhile. The kids ran and splashed and tried to catch the drops on their tongues. Some parents were afraid of lightning. I didn't see any until later, and only one time. The sky was cloudy since morning and it had apparently rained during …
Continue reading "Today it rained! Not often this happens in April!"
The day was off to a good start. I had 9 hours of solid sleep, dressed up a bit more than usual, even my hair cooperated. When making breakfast, everyone seemed to know what they wanted to eat, those not fasting, for today is the start of Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak! But then things changed. 30 …
I've got a little video to start off this blog. It was taken on our compound with a very chirpy sparrow in the background, during the daytime. You can see the basil that just roots itself around our place naturally, and growing in pots are 5 corn stalks (looking a bit wilted), and tomatoes. This …
Continue reading "#4) A Garden Experiment, Corn and Radishes in Containers"
There is a new art and light festival in Riyadh! It is something new to attend, that is fun and interactive. It runs this year until April 3rd, this coming weekend. So you still have a chance to experience, "More than 30 light installations will showcase this weekend, with over 60 international and Saudi artists …
Continue reading "Night Festival of Lights in Riyadh–Noor Riyadh"
The best way to see Medina, is the City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off bus. We decided to try the double decker tour bus as an easy way to get to know the city and the sights. At this posting, adults cost 80 SAR and kids are 40. If you are a family of 4 …
Continue reading "Madinah (Medina) Sightseeing Bus Tour –videos"
If I pick a staple food crop that merits investigation, oats would be the one. Oats possess characteristics and nutritional attributes that are attractive in human nutrition and prevention of disease. Additionally they have environmental advantages in agriculture. Oats are consumed as a whole grain cereal unlike wheat and rice, etc. which have more processed …
Continue reading "Oats, Breakfast Food of Champions, Especially Kids"
A recent article in The New York Times from summer of 2020 addressed the problem of malnourished children and the gut microbiome. It's one of the many new articles exploring the world of our bodies at the microbial level. The food you eat may have a bigger impact on your health than even your genetic …
My kids were all excited this afternoon and told me to come fast. They had spotted a large caterpillar crawling in the yard. At first I thought, oh they probably just found a large black slug, common here at nighttime. However I was in for a surprise when I went out the front door and …
Continue reading "Discovery in our garden, Striped Hawk-moth caterpillars!"
Saudis love the tradition of camping out in nature, the desert. You will see many families and especially groups of guys, take a car ride out from the cities, or go to a public park and spread a blanket to set up the meal and enjoy being next to the earth. There is usually a …
Continue reading "Riyadh desert glamping experience is expensive, but popular with Saudis"
This past weekend my family enjoyed a trip out to the desert, north of Dammam in the Eastern Province. This was our first experience going out into the desert to visit a camel farm and to see what life is like, to use a modern term, off-the-grid. We joined a group adventure that is advertised …
Continue reading "Our trip to a camel farm/falcon show in Eastern Province"
Date Palms & Camels 