Friday, 14 December 2012

Friday Evenings at Al Batha, Riyadh.....



Friday’s in Riyadh is the day that the working population of Riyadh go about their weekly shopping, Al Batha is the area where all the emigrant population of Riyadh come to buy and sell, its full of souks and stalls of all sorts and an incredible atmosphere on a Friday evening, where the place is jammed full of people from all parts, particularly, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sudan and Philippines among many others. 

Markets called Kerala Market and Manila Plaza gives you a hint of the mix of cultures and people in this area of the city, It’s a real cosmopolitan place with a great vibe about it..


You can find traders selling clothes from wheelbarrows, fruit and veg lying on the ground, mobile phones, electronics, you name it……

It’s a great atmosphere and in stark contrast to the modern and flashy Shopping Malls throughout Riyadh favoured by the Saudi’s, this is a very much an area in the city primarily for the emigrant community.

You can get someone to fix your shoes, fiddle with your mobile phone to do all sorts of magic things, get your hair cut, buy socks, fruit and vegetables, basically, whatever you need, you can get it in Batha.

Here are some photos I took this afternoon, which probably don’t do justice to the wonderful chaos and mayhem……..








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11 comments:

  1. syed22 December 2012 at 15:38

    Great Pictures, I usually try to avoid going anywhere near Batha on the weekends, actually, now that I think about it, I avoid going anywhere on the weekends in Riyadh!

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  2. Unknown22 December 2012 at 16:07

    Hi Syed,

    Thanks for the positive comments, I really like the buzz and chaos of Al Batha, though I know what you mean about not doing too much at the weekends in Riyadh, you have to seek out things to do as there isnt that much to do in the city

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  3. Jo Malcolm22 March 2013 at 11:09

    Hi Noel-I'm a fellow Celt (Scottish), and have just arrived in Riyadh. I read this article before I got here and it has inspired me to get out and about in that part of town asap.It will be interesting to see some 'real life'. All the best- we may cross paths one of these days! Jo

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    Replies
    1. Unknown23 March 2013 at 09:56

      Hi Jo,

      Thanks for the positive feedback, contact me through Facebook or Twitter if you need any help getting to know people in Riyadh, InterNations is good as is the Embassy scene and connecting with other ex-Pats is important, Theres lots of decent restaurants also at fair prices for the weekend, I actually work with a Scot here also !- enjoy Riyadh, I hope its not too much of a culture shock... All the Best - Noel

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  4. Anonymous8 April 2013 at 23:35

    Greetings Mr. Noel.
    I passed by the blog and I wanted to put a small comment. Knowing it's a small area, but there are a lot of simple and nice people from around the world. And I think it's in great need of attention by the city municipality as well as visitors, for everyone to find a nice weekend place.
    And I think Al-Batha means the soft gravel place in a valley.

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    1. Unknown9 April 2013 at 08:50

      Hi Anonymous,

      Thanks for visiting the blog, Al Batha certainly could do with some attention, and with some imagination, could become a real focal point in Riyadh given the energy of the place, and yes, I agree, I have met many nice people from all over the world at Al Batha, and its good fun doing business with them...

      The situation regarding litter is an obviosu starting place....

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    2. SANAT B JOHN 25 December 2013 at 19:32

      Hey All , batha has many stores to tell , Once i travel in batha markets ,i saw my office teaboy Munavar is selling perfumes on the street , And he is working in my company for Visa and he earn more in the weekends , Munavar is a great Arabic singer speak only arabic :) . By the way its an Interesting blog , AND ANYONE WANT TO VISIT BATHA , PLEASE WRITE ME , AM AN INDIAN EXPAT IN RIYADH ,I USE TO GO BATHA EVERYWEEKEND , AND WITH ME WE CAN MEET MANY LOCALS OVER THERE
      (I am a couchsurfer , so my service will be 100% free) :) Sanat sanatclt@hotmail.com

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    3. SANAT B JOHN 25 December 2013 at 19:33

      :)

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  5. Janinha5 February 2014 at 03:24

    hi, i'm brazilian and invited to work in Ryiad, i'm married planning to travel with my wife. In this pictures I do not see womens, Am I correct

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  6. Unknown1 March 2014 at 15:35

    Hi Janinha, Saudi society is conservative and has its norms and traditions, yes, not many women in these pictures, in this culture, the sexes are segregated except within the family home so generally women work and shop separately, e-mail me if you have any queries that I can help with, noel@noelscanlon.com

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    Replies
    1. Dirk19 March 2014 at 02:07

      I've been staying in a hotel in Batah last week and this and it's definitely my favourite place to stay in the Malaz area currently for proximity of everything. The sugar cane juice is definitely something not to miss out on.

      But Batha is also a great place for the little extra buzz if you got bored. If you're up for the thrill, walk along a main road after around 11pm and then try to escape the notorious Saudi gay guy that now keeps persistently following you. They are determined hunters and not easily put off by you walking detours through pedestrian-only passages and they will keep circling the area if you try to hide. Level 2: Establish eye contact right when you have first-time detected them. It doesn't matter how you communicate back to him (friendly declining, annoyed, aggressive), the fact that you noticed him will convince him you are interested. Take full appreciation of the gestures locals find appropriate to signal you to board their car. Level 3: Do this after 12am and choose between secretly avoiding the hunter by using a completely dark, dirty, narrow side road with garbage everywhere and no way of escape or passing his car within a meter while wondering from how far away chloroform still works.

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