Dammam- a perfect get away!

As I have said I would spend a week in Dammam, and so I did. At first I couldn't quite picture this little paradise on the gulf of Saudi Arabia. However, I was praying that it would not resemble anything like where I have been staying for the past 7 months, otherwise I would ask the Saudi Airlines and the Tulip Inn hotel for a refund.
I was very pleased with Dammam  the moment I arrived there. The taxi driver who ended up being my personal shouffer for my entire stay in Dammam was a real doll.

Most of my friends would know that I am terrible at planning any trip anywhere. The only thing that I am good at planning is the flight arrangement, making sure I have enough cash in my bank card and to make sure that my back up plan credit card is near me. Anyhow, I hate planning for trips, I think it takes all the fun out of discovering a new place. Adding to that, I hate booking into fancy schmancy hotels that hold nothing about the place.

When the taxi driver picked up me up at the airport, I gave him a list of possible places that I would like to stay at for the week I would be spending in Dammam. He looked at me as if I am crazy. He asked me "no booking? no telephone number?" I said "No". Clearly he got the message that this girl is either dumb or is easy-going.
We found the Boudle hotel, which was across the gulf sea. Unfortunately it was full. Then we proceeded to the next hotel called the Tulip Inn. Luckly they had a room available and they gave me a discount since I am a teacher and from South Africa. Me and the Bangladeshi bell-boy had a fierce argument about cricket, which is a beloved sport in our countries. He told me that Mkayanti is a great bowler but a poor batsman. I looked at him and said, "maybe you can make that comment when you beat us at the next tournament. We laughed. He escorted me to the room and it was a beautiful suite. It had a flat screen TV, a "HUGE' kitchenette and a beautiful designer bathroom and room. I was happy to have arrived in Dammam. The first thing that I wanted to do was to sleep, since I was travelling late night early morning. He left me in peace and quiet. After Magrib (6:30). I decided to explore and to look for Starbucks coffee shop. Yes, I love Starbucks and so does my fellow South African teacher. Me and the driver drove all around Dammam not being able to find it. I started getting mad at him for not knowing this location.....IT IS HIS JOB TO KNOW!!!. Anyhow, after failing at our search, I asked him to just drive me around so that I can get something to eat and to just see Dammam.

Dammam is beautiful, much more beautiful than Riyadh by far. I mean, Dammam's building are beautiful, logical, strategical, the city itself looks like a plan. There are many traffic circles or as the Brits would call it "Round Abouts". The shopping malls are huge, there are a variety of coffee shops, Western restuarants and things to do.
On the second day in Dammam, I was lucky to meet up with another fellow teacher, we sat at Starbucks and drank delicious late and had tight conversations. It was nice to do something like that. I have to be honest, the one thing that I miss by far since I have been in Saudi are my coffee shop moments. Just sitting outside with friends or alone, having my laptop on, drinking my Earl Grey or Chai Latte and enjoying  the fresh air. In Dammam I could do that with no fuss. At night I managed to make my way to the beach for a nice long walk. It was beautiful, peaceful and just nice. By far that was the best thing I did in Dammam, the very thing I went to Dammam for.
On the 3rd and 4th day I enjoyed good shopping therapy! I bought a designer abaya, bought beautiful clothes from Promod (yes, in South Africa I wouldn't be able to afford even entering Promod). I ate delicious KFC and MacDonalds. It was beautiful.
By the time I left Dammam, I left half broke. So, be sure to know that in these nice places you need some serious cash.
However, my trip was really good. The flights were great and I met an Italian man on my way to Riyadh. I told him that I am planning to go to Italy and enjoy the food and the culture. He gave me a beautiful story about Italy and ofcourse like an Italian he was passionate with his words. We got on to my favourite topic, food. He gave me a few simple recipes on how to make delicious pasta with garlic and oil, tomato, onion and oil and to make my own tomato sauce. He said once you go the natural route of foods you will never do tinned and bottle sauces every again. Amen brother!
When we arrived in Riyadh, both our flight were late at night, so we decided to share a lunch, chat and getting into the history of things. He has 4 sons and a wonderful wife. He invited me to go join his family for a lovely vacation in Italy. He told me that life is beautiful and that we should always have a target in life. I was captivated by his charisma, his age of experience and appreciation of life.
When it was time for him to go, he gladly gave me his contact details and told me to please keep in touch and to let him know about my plans whenever I decide to go to Italy.
I got onto my flight to Jawf and by far I was thinking about all the good people I met on my trip, the lovely things I saw and did and I am grateful to be able to do all of this at this young age.
Yes, life is too short to get pissed off, just enjoy it and live it. As my first boss told me "there is not such thing as bad or good experiences, life is just an experience!".
Now, I can't promise you that you will have an awsome time as I did in Dammam, but what I can promise you is that Saudi is big and beautiful. It is a good thing to go to the different places instead of trying to find the first flight out of here. There are many things to do, lots of beautiful things to see and to enjoy the food.

Happy Holidays.

ps: If you do go to Dammam, I have placed a list of good hotels that are in the Corniche area aka near the sea. They are not too pricy and you can always strike a deal with them.

1. Boudl Hotel, Al Shatea Corniche, Dammam. Make sure to do some more planning than me with this Hotel. It seems to be popular and fully booked during the summer season.
2. Tulip Inn, Al Shatea Corniche, Dammam. I stayed in this one. There is another one that is not in the Corniche area, but in the middle of town. They have 5 star rooms and if you are just a backpacker there are rooms ara available at a good price.
3. Juman Suites Hotel Dammam, Mubarkiah Area, Abu Huraitah Street. It is also a 3 star hotel...I have no idea how great or bad this one is.:)