You & Me & Mickey D!

Yes folks, there really are McDonald's here in Saudi Arabia. There are also Pizza Hut, Chili's, Burger King, Hardees, KFC, etc. They may despise our morals but they love our food. Add this to the caffeine consumption I watched at the mall and it adds up to the beginnings of globalization even here. The Mall of Dharhan has a Seattle's Best, Starbucks, and Costa Coffee all within eyesight of each other and all were packed.

The food is the same as in the land of the big PX but it's got a few differences. As part of this truly segregated society of always visible men and almost invisible women all the restaurants have two completely different sections. One is for "Singles" and one is for "Families". What that really means is that one is for men and one is for any group with women and/or children. The only place I have seen any mix is in the food court at the Mall of Dharhan.

I have attached a shot of of our local Mickey D so you can see it. Take the different entrances, add the kooky hours with all the closings for prayer time and such and you will find that you really have to make an effort to eat here.

Pictures say a 1000 words, what about flags?

"There is only one god, Allah and Allah's prophet is Muhammad". The flag makes quite a statement doesn't it? It is the only national ensign I am aware of that makes quite so religious a statement. Of course the King's title is pretty cool too. He is not "The KING". He is "The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques".

It's a good thing I have been here before. I deal with it but it is really tough on others. I'm off tomorrow and will be out in the greater Dhaharan area. If you hear about a diplomatic incident down that way it wasn't me.

My Digs

Here is where I live for the next few months. A lot of the other guys complain but I have my own room, TV, Internet, and don't have to share my shower or toilet with anyone else. Of course if the toilet seat and lid matched it would be a much better situation but I make do.
No boom, boom but I do have a street lamp that just blares through my window at night. I think I'll find a cheap blanket somewhere to put up and try to block it out.

Testing 1 . 2 . 3

Allah Akbar, welcome, bienvienedos, wilkommen.

I will use this blog site to chronicle my time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Everyone here refers to it as "The Kingdom". Thanks to an Australian blogger who responded to one of my posts on thosewackyiraqis I have decided to call this blog "The Magic Kingdom".

I guess it reflects on my time living in California as well as what exists here. In CA the Magic Kingdom is Disneyland. You know the place! It is the "Happiest Place on Earth!" Well, maybe to the well heeled but what about those who can't afford it or those who have to work there? Everything in Disneyland is fake, a image of what they want you to believe.

So to it is here. It's not so bad if you have some coin but the vast majority of folks here who toil away in the endless summer can't afford the niceties and are in most cases, indentured servants. The buildings and structures here are symbols of the unbelievable gift that these people were given by having all this oil but the facades are already crumbling away. The money is unevenly distributed, the wealthy are despised, and it is a hotbed of fundamentalism.

Where is Mickey when I need him most?