On the compounds (I can't speak for the rest of Saudi), there are 2 faucets at the kitchen sink...regular tap water, and what they call "sweet" water. Both of these water sources are crap (IMO)...even though the sweet water has lower mineral levels, the regular water, which some people call silt water (it's salt water, desalinized...yea, right...I trust that process)...is heavy in minerals, leaves a film coating on your body, and can cause your hair to fall out (Ms. Mel...this is why I'm using bottle water to wash my face, hair, and to brush my teeth). I have a filter on my shower head in the bathroom; but it's getting old...and I can not locate water filters here (just one more thing I have to bring back from the states). Some people have been known to try and re-route the water so that they can shower in so-called "sweet" water. However, if you're caught doing this...it's a $1000US fine. And, they actually do surprise inspections to try and catch offenders. Or, as I would prefer to call them, "defenders" of their health.
Between the lack of organic product, the pesticides they use on the produce (pesticides banned in the US), the water; this is why I'm going on a 14 day raw food, juice fasting detox, once a year...for every year that I'm living here. And, what better place than Thailand. Hence the reason why I'm going back to Thailand, again. Since of course, this is going to turn me into a complete crazy person (detoxing does this to you), and a grouchy bitch; I might as well be lying on the beach in Koh Samui, Thailand (which as some of the best beaches, and most of you know I've traveled to many beaches; hell I pretty much grew up on the beach) with a young thai coconut, and a $8.00US 1-hour massage.
You can check out more here: http://www.thesparesorts.net/
8 comments:
Note: I think blogger.com ate my post so please excuse me if I have done multiple postings of the same thing. Also, could you please inform me if my previous post in this entry got through or not?
Hello BP: This is the only comment I've received from you today. It appears that blogger was hungry.
Hope all is well.
Ahh stupid Saudi internet.
I'll try to type my original message from memory:
What's wrong with desalinated water? :(
Most bottled water in Saudi Arabia is actually desalinated. The reason not all water is that pure is simply cost.
I didn't even know you had two types of faucets on the compuond. We just have regular silt water all over but we've been using filters from ages now so I don't know how you couldn't find any. We've actually installed a very large filter on the main water pipe that feeds into the house so we're good to go. :D
Also! Pesticides! Is this true? I know most of Saudi Arabia's food is imported so I always thought it depended on which country we got it from.
I don't drink desalinized bottled water. It's a known fact that Silt water will make your hair fall out, skin break out, etc.. I will look harder for water filters. However, I'm in the states regularly...so I do have other options.
In regards to the pesticides in the food. Come on...please tell me you know they spray the food with chemical compounds (i.e. insecticides, etc.) regardless of where it comes from is almost irrelevant. This is not an attack on Saudi (it would be nice if the KSA had some type of regulation on it's food products and people had the option to purchase food not grown with chemicals)...the same crap slips into the US. The pesticides in the foods is about chemical companies getting rich. This post isn't about the unavailability of non-organic food and there is not enough time/space for the education. However, here is something, not so brief for you to read:
This is an article about pesticides in food in the USA. With our global markets...you can ban a chemical in one country; but use it in another, then that food is imported back into the country where the chemical is banned. IT IS IMPORTANT TO EAT ORGANIC PRODUCE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS!!.
Pesticides that are banned in the US, such as DDT, are being used in some other countries freely. Illegal pesticides are being used on crops that we eat everyday. It is estimated that a person eats illegal pesticides 75 times a year just by following USDA's recommendation of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if these are purchased in regular supermarkets. Vegetables grown in developing foreign countries such as South America and Africa find their way back to our dinner table in this global community. Pesticide residues have chemical structures that are similar to estrogen. These are eventually passed onto humans. Produce with the most pesticides reported in A Shopper's Guide to Pesticdes in Produce include strawberries (contain vinclozolin, a known endocrine disruptor), bell peppers, peaches, apples, apricots, and spinach. Foods with the least amount of pesticides include avocados, corn, onions, sweet potatoes, bananas, green onions, broccoli, and cauliflower. If you are eating non-organic fruits and vegetables, peel and wash them well with diluted vinegar. This will help to reduce pesticides on the surface. Needless to say, this will not help to rid of the pesticides inside. Discard the outer leaves of leafy vegetables, and trim fat from meat and skin from poultry and fish that tend to collect residues.
Pesticides in the KSA:
http://www.astra-agri.com.sa/Pesticides-IN.htm
http://www.mobeed.com.sa/news%20and%20events.htm
Hi,
1st of all, nice blog :) and just for everyone to know you are an exceptional person ! friendly & loving & this is not the norm of the average American
People will think Americans are that nice !
Anyways, I wanted to ask you some questions about moving to Saudi but couldn't find an email to do so?
Hello Luxx,
Thanks for the compliments. I don't know that I'm exceptional...but...hey...if you want to give it to me...I'll accept LOL =)
A lot of Americans are nice. I'd like to know why you think otherwise, and about your experience in regards to interaction with other Americans. I prefer to keep my email under wraps, as I started email communication with someone through my blog, it ended terribly, and have since decided to keep my communications through my blog; unless there are extremely compelling reasons to do otherwise.
So...ask away. And, depending on the questions, I may create a post to answer them.
Thanks!!
You might want to look up if Saudi customs have a problem with traveling to Thailand. Saudis for example are barred from traveling to Thailand with a stamp on their passports that states that along with Israel, Afghanistan and Iraq I think.. I think it had something with an execution of some Saudi nationals there or the sex tourism... I can't put my finger on it. For Saudis they will probably get barred from traveling for a couple of years. I am not sure of Exapts but I hope you guys have no trouble.
Most areas without underground Water reserve have indeed a lot of minerals in the water because its from sea water refineries.. I really don't blame the fines to be honest Terri. You need to look up the effort they need to bring that water here and how the nationals and residents undermine it's value.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Saudi_Arabia
Hello Pisk...Yea...I won't have any problems going to Thailand...as I've been there before, and I had no problems getting into Thailand, and I also know expats who are living in SA who go to Thailand regularly. Nothing compared to what is the case had I ever gone to Israel...in which case I might be denied entry into SA.
Yea...I get it regarding the water...however, it's part of living here that I have to deal with (as with living anywhere....there is always something; however this is about living in the KSA)....therefore, it makes the blog. =)
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