Diesel, Guns and... Kitchen utensils!

One of the best things about living here in Saudi Arabia is that a lot of expat social life is centered on embassy based events. And so it was that the Coolabah Club attached to the Australian Embassy held a “Community Night” couple of weeks back. It was an ideal excuse to get back to Riyadh again. We also took with us Dr. Bruce Wells who lives on our compound and is a lecturer here at PMU. He is a fellow Ozzie and it was his first trip to Riyadh.

The evening at the embassy was excellent. It was actually held in the ambassador’s residence and was a great opportunity to mix and meet a lot of other fellow Ozzie expatriates. I was particularly impressed by a painting in the Coolabah clubroom of a Ozzie rules footy. It was one of a high mark being taken by no less than a Saints player. These people sure know their football.

Riyadh as usual provided to be a treasure trove of things to see and do but that will be in another post.

On the way to the Edge of the World we had to stop at a petrol station. No big deal you may think. Well you have never been to a petrol station till you have been to a Saudi one. They are an oddest mix of supermarket, army disposal store, music shop, camping and outdoors shop, beauty parlour, general store, hardware store, toy store and anything else that you can think of.

There is an amazing range of snacks, foods, drinks and other travel oriented condiments. But the most fascinating is the range of gun holsters, whips, pummelers, clubs and other assorted assault weapons right next to a great range of kitchen utensils and coffee pots etc. Why not? After all, when one has been hunting, bludgeoning and pulping some poor unfortunate soul one may as well sit down and cook a hearty, nourishing meal to replenish the energy and prepare one for the rigours of the following day.

Here are some examples of what is to be found in these magic places. Oh and by the way, you can also refuel your vehicle here J

Gun holsters and kitchen utensils - A natural item grouping

Of course we should not forget the kids. If they start to annoy with their infantile "Are we there yet??" mind games just get them one of those plastic bikes and send them on their way. Toys galore at these petrol stations.

Now if they still persist with these silly games just try and bribe them with copious drinks and snacks of a mind boggling variety such as these (Only a small sample shown here)

If the bribe and corruption utterly fails then there is still the option of battering them into submission with one of these handy pummeling artifacts. Just what any petrol station needs to sell.

But alas all we did was fill up and get on our way. I have still not overcome the sheer glee of filling up a 79 Liter tank with 95 RON premium petrol for the grand sum of $21.34. Ahhh the guilt of it all.


Even paying for petrol here is different. Gas attendants fill your car and then take cash. No card payments or EFTPOS here. And it is a unique sight. They whip out a wad of banknotes that any crack dealing pimp would be proud off from which they will peel off the change.


For anyone who has ever been in Saudi this will bring a smile to their faces.

All in all these places are truly unique and almost a tourist attraction of their own. Only in Saudi :)