I just got back from Riyadh a few hours back—where I picked up my new BB Bold 9700 just before Isha prayers when the long-bearded mutawas hauled ass around each and every store in the plaza making sure not a single one was open.  And for the few that were open and had customers—the mutawas would lecture them on the importance of prayer and how it’s more important than this materialistic world and that if you didn’t pray you’d face the fiery flames of hell.

I’d rather face those flames than have to endure a lecture from these bin Ladenesque, self-rightous Islamists.  I still don’t understand how people are forced into praying?

Nevertheless, I did go into a mosque and forced myself to bow before God and asked him to put some sense into these dumbf**ks.  As I was standing in one of the rows with fellow Muslims who—like me—were coerced into being there, I couldn’t help but think that we were all zombies taking orders from folks whose interpretation of Islam was worse than, say, Britney Spears. After prayer I went outside the mosque and was surprised to see so many range rovers, BMWs, Mercedes and even a couple of Bentleys parked in the mosque lot. Maybe their forced prayers do get answered?

Soon after that, I headed to Chili’s with a few Saudi friends—mmm mmm.  Those fajitas tasted great after weeks of falafels and shawarmas.  We talked about how the pulsating heart of the Muslim world needs an overhaul—one that’ll probably take a century or two—in order for it to be more tolerable and more livable—like our neighbours to the east in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (though they still have a long way to go.)

Then we had Starbucks outside on the patio—the weather amazing. 

Now, I need to get this BB all set up and head to bed.

The #weekend ends today in #KSA, which sucks considering it’s beginning in Toronto.

In any case I’m planning on getting a new phone.  My Nokia has hit the ground too many times and it might be radiating lethal cancerous frequencies as a result.

This time, I want to get a smartphone, either the iPhone or the Blackberry. The thing with the iPhone is that if I drop it, it’s done. And I have a tendency to drop phones.  Blackberry seems to be more hardy, like the country it’s designed in.

How superficial and pointless all this sounds compared to what’s happening in Haiti. I’m surprised this oil-rich country I’m residing in isn’t sending any cash.  Then again, it’s better to send nothing than do what the International Monetary Fund is doing—indebting Haiti with another $100 million, crippling the country further and continuing the cycle of debt-dependency that has led Haiti from being the richest colony in the Americas to where it is now.

On another note, I have roughly a month and three weeks left in this country, after which I’ll do some traveling before heading home.  Egypt and Jordan are near.

I should start preparing myself for the reverse-culture shock back home.  In the meantime, I’ll go to the orthodontist.  Until next week…