The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

SAUDI ARABIA At A Glance
al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya
Capital (and largest city): Riyadh
Holy cities: Mecca and Madinah
Other popular cities: Al-Khobar, Dammam, and Jeddah
Currency: Riyal (SR)
(for the Pink Tarha blog's purposes, SAR1=PHP12.6)
Religion: Islam
Government: Monarchy (King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz)

What do you know about Saudi Arabia aside from what wikipedia tells you? While most of the information about Saudi Arabia's geography, history, government, economy, and culture are true, half of the information you need to know must be experienced here. You should be in the Kingdom to know it. The most interesting bits and pieces are not the facts you can read anywhere from books to online encyclopedias. It's the experiences of the Arabs and expats that matter much.

Like, did you know that the Filipinos are only second to Indians when it comes to the largest expat population in the country? So if we Filipinos are planning on world domination through migration, then we're still being beaten by the Indians (and the Chinese). Did you know that a liter of gas here only costs 50 halalas (equivalent to PHP6.00)? Did you know that it only rains here twice or thrice a year? Did you know that restaurants are separated into a single section and a family section? Oh, what do you really know?

Yes, Saudi Arabia is a country that pumps irony as much as it pumps oil. A Filipino who lands in the Kingdom will experience culture shock to the nth level if unprepared and clueless. What you read in the newspapers about abuse and human rights violation in this country? Probably true but... there is another side to the stories. Let us enlighten you a bit. The Pink Tarha girls will tell you everything they know about this country, its culture, and its people based on their experiences. Here and now.

Girls, what can you say about Saudi Arabia?

Eyecandy23 says Culturally for me, Saudi Arabia is pretty much like any other dysfunctional family. You have the stern, authoritative father, the conservative but tolerant mother and the eager, rebellious children. As time passes, I can only dream that the family can grow and meet in the middle.
Maryhadalittlehump says Saudi Arabia is my second home.
Sundrenched says Saudi Arabia is a country that can make or break you. But which country cannot make you feel this way? This country is pretty much like any other country outside your own. You just have to adapt and get used to it.
Shoegarfreeruby says

Of course, we do not know everything! Feel free to comment and share your own experiences in this desert. For your specific questions, contact the team at thepinktarha@gmail.com.