Just Another Week

Relaxation?

Last week I went for a massage because I have aggravated neck injuries from an old motorcycle accident (’79).  I got the ‘back and neck’ treatment.  Over my shoulders, where the pain is, felt like a bag of marbles was being moved around – bump, bump, bump… ouch!  I had been sore for 2 weeks and thought that I would try out the brand new (what isn’t around here?) men’s salon.  At first we were notified by email that there was a barber shop opening and then later word got out on the grape vine that it offered massage and when I was in there, I saw tanning beds – in Saudi Arabia no less!  I have a feeling that their market research was lacking.

Talking about marketing, the new yet-to-open book store, is a disappointment even before it opens.  I looked though the windows at the stocked shelves and saw that they are full of Arabic books.  This is OK, but as a rule, the people from this region do not have a literary tradition as their recent history is oral-based.  This means that the books that are printed serve a purpose more of decoration than reading material – having LOTS of gold on the bindings and many in hard cover.  Gazing though the window I saw shelf upon shelf of gold leaf gilt books.  8-/  The other books on display were computer programming books, university standard-exam preparation books (everyone at the university has passed these exams because they are Masters or PhD students) or table-top picture books.  BUT…. The majority of people on the university campus are readers by nature and well educated.  The manager of this bookstore did not do his homework!  Which brings me to lack of marketing research and strategy again.  I did him a favor and suggested that maybe a good thing to stock up on could be travel books for the region.  His eyes lit up and he though that this would be a good idea.  Actually, I was hoping that there might be a book on Jordan when I went there.  So disappointing! 

Normality is coming

I see they have defined the ‘target range’ at the university now.  They have painted the zebra crossings on the road between the university buildings and the community.  Many times this past week I tested the drivers, intending to see if they understand what the crossing lines mean.  They all passed with flying colors.  NOT ONE slowed down or stopped for me.  I believe that we can safely conclude that traffic habits are the same inside the campus as outside and in Jeddah.  Look both ways, stop, look again, wait a bit, and then RUN!   

Taxi drivers

Last weekend Arindam and I went into Jeddah again.  We went in on the Shopping Bus and came back in a local taxi.   I needed to get a telephoto lens for my SLR camera and some shoes.  We wanted to get around a bit so after the first mall we flagged a taxi and went to another.  During the drive, we got to know our taxi driver and mentioned that we wanted to go back to the university and he agreed to wait for us and take us on after our second mall episode.  On the way back to the university we learned that the driver (a strapping, young man from Morocco) used to be a body guard for one of the Saudi Princes and traveled around the world with him for four years.  He was in the employ of a company that provided him as a contractor to the prince. He had been to the US, China, London, Korea, Australia and many other places.  He was quite proud that he never carried a weapon but relied on his training as a martial arts expert.

The Cruise

Not sure what the water temperature was, but it was quite warm.   About 30 of us traveled out about 10 km from the university (straight West – you can zoom in on the Google Map location) on the university’s catamaran last weekend to anchor in some shallow water where the coral reef was close to the surface.  The colors were not as spectacular as my scuba diving lessons location but the fish were plentiful.  I especially enjoyed stopping during my one-hour snorkel tour, and watching a school of about 100 small 3 cm-5cm iridescent orange fish float up from the insides of a coral-head, like sparkling stars and then quickly disappear.  I thought that odd and looked around and a predatory fish (bonito) swam by.  A few moments later, the fish reemerged and floated up from their hiding place again to swirl about just above their home.  Wonderful!  I also saw a stingray, a Puffer Fish, Parrot fish and many other colorful coral dwelling fish.  I think the most beautiful colors were those seen on the lips of the large coral clams (here is an example of what I saw).  As I moved over them their ‘eyes’ along the edges of their colorful lips saw me and they retracted into their shells.  Nature is amazing for sure!

Just before we were permitted to swim, the boat crew designated the free-swimming area with floats and anchors off the back end of the boat, mainly for the children that were along.  Our snorkel trip went outside this area.  There was food and pop for all and hand-line fishing off the front of the boat.  I got lots of bites but caught nothing. 

Rain

Sunday November 22nd it rained!  I was sitting on my bed getting ready for the day and heard an odd sound outside.  Looking out the window I saw that the road was wet.  I quickly went outside and took some pictures.  One has to capitalize on these opportunities because they come seldom in these regions!  It rained for about 5 minutes and then stopped. Actually, it had stopped even before I got out of the house.  My house is the fourth back from the corner on the left hand side.