PLEASE READ THIS FIRST:
Please DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use the photographs here or share this post on social media as the site visited by me belongs to the Government of Saudi Arabia and we are under instructions NOT TO POST THE PHOTOS ON ANY SOCIAL WEBSITE.
As I said in my third post (see THIS), the evening had a lot more in store for us. After we had taken a cup of qahwa, we were escorted through the replica of a genuine Riyadh town as it may have been a hundred years ago. We were shown construction activities, a road-side osteopath setting a fractured forearm of an injured person, a flea market with stalls selling food, rugs, vegetables, fruit, looms, herbal medicines, and similar other stuff. We were also shown homes of that era, wells that were attached to adjoining homes to draw water, animal husbandry areas, agricultural areas and so on. In short, they had erected an entire rural landscape for us to feast on, complete with living human models. Here are some pictures:
After this, we were led out on to a large ground. There was a make-shift kitchen here where they gave all the guests a chance to sample traditional Saudi food being prepared afresh by a dozen-odd cooks. The fare included Saudi bread, a form of dal, stuffed rotis (stuffed either with cheese or some form of meat) and a mixed-vegetable that tasted great. We then sat down to watch a Saudi martial dance rendered by well-appointed dancers - all males, naturally. They also invited the conference speakers to join the Saudi dancers, who danced with swords and knives (not the real thing, but blunt models). Here are a few pictures of the same:
After watching the dance, which, frankly, was entertaining but had little music as such, we were all invited to an air-conditioned tent where we partook of a beautifully laid out dinner, ice swans and all! The dinner consisted of both, traditional items and modern stuff and was served by helpful Indian and other south-Asian personnel.
Eventually, we started back for the Conference suites at a little after 11.30 p.m. From the suites, I got a lift from a Sudanese chap who reached me to Mufaddal's house where I went to sleep before half past twleve. I was looking forward to the final day of the conference.
Thank you all for reading this post. Do comment.
Please DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use the photographs here or share this post on social media as the site visited by me belongs to the Government of Saudi Arabia and we are under instructions NOT TO POST THE PHOTOS ON ANY SOCIAL WEBSITE.
As I said in my third post (see THIS), the evening had a lot more in store for us. After we had taken a cup of qahwa, we were escorted through the replica of a genuine Riyadh town as it may have been a hundred years ago. We were shown construction activities, a road-side osteopath setting a fractured forearm of an injured person, a flea market with stalls selling food, rugs, vegetables, fruit, looms, herbal medicines, and similar other stuff. We were also shown homes of that era, wells that were attached to adjoining homes to draw water, animal husbandry areas, agricultural areas and so on. In short, they had erected an entire rural landscape for us to feast on, complete with living human models. Here are some pictures:
 |
| Approaching the second palace where we would be entertained next |
 |
| The inside of a toilet on the ground floor of this palace |
 |
| An alcove in the wall |
 |
| Preparation of qahwa |
 |
| Qahwa being served by a bearer in ceremonial dress through a silver amphora |
 |
| A general view of the open market inside "Riyadh Town" |
 |
| A well between two homes |
 |
| That triangular thing is a sort of preserving vessel that also keeps pests away from hanging fruit/vegetables |
 |
| This man is "selling" carry-"bags" - cane carriers to take your merchandise home |
 |
| Selling hats made from cane |
 |
| Those are drums -I don't know if he is selling them or will play them for a price |
 |
| He is selling cotton-stuffed pillows and mattresses |
 |
| Weaving a floor mat |
 |
| The osteopath - the patient acted fantastically and screamed with "pain" as the care-giver ministered to him. |
 |
| Spice bazaar |
 |
| Agricultural area? |
 |
| Using donkeys to draw water from a community well |
 |
| The school - the first one in Saudi Arabia, according to the guide |
 |
| Brick-makers |
 |
| The bricks made by those guys in the previous photo |
After this, we were led out on to a large ground. There was a make-shift kitchen here where they gave all the guests a chance to sample traditional Saudi food being prepared afresh by a dozen-odd cooks. The fare included Saudi bread, a form of dal, stuffed rotis (stuffed either with cheese or some form of meat) and a mixed-vegetable that tasted great. We then sat down to watch a Saudi martial dance rendered by well-appointed dancers - all males, naturally. They also invited the conference speakers to join the Saudi dancers, who danced with swords and knives (not the real thing, but blunt models). Here are a few pictures of the same:
Eventually, we started back for the Conference suites at a little after 11.30 p.m. From the suites, I got a lift from a Sudanese chap who reached me to Mufaddal's house where I went to sleep before half past twleve. I was looking forward to the final day of the conference.
Thank you all for reading this post. Do comment.
No comments:
Post a Comment