cleopatra in the abaya

The abaya "cloak" (Arabic: عباية‎ ʿabāyah or عباءة ʿabā'ah, plural عبايات ʿabāyāh) is an overgarment worn by some women in parts of the Islamic world. It could be described as a long-sleeve robe-like dress. It is the traditional form of hijab, or Islamic dress, for many countries of the Arabian peninsula such as Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates, where it is the national dress.

Traditional abayat are black and may be either a large square of fabric draped from the shoulders or head or a long caftan. The abaya covers the whole body except the face, feet, and hands. It can be worn with the niqāb, a face veil covering all but the eyes. Some women choose to wear long black gloves, so their hands are covered as well.

Saudi Arabia requires women to cover in public.^[1] Covering is enforced by the religious police, the muṭṭawwi‘īn (also known as the muttawwa). In Iran the cover is often referred to as a chador. In South Asia, it is known as a burqa.

Abayat are known by various names but serve the same purpose, which is to cover. Contemporary models are usually caftans, cut from light, flowing fabrics like crepe,georgette, and chiffon. Styles differ from region to region: some abayat have embroidery on black material while others are brightly coloured and have different forms of artwork across them.^[2]

in saudi i walk in the abaya and after sometime i found comfort in it.

coming from cairo where what we where takes sometimes hours to figure out i felt the easiness and beauty of the abaya. Throwing the black light abaya on over leggings and a wife beater you can not help but appreciate the comfort.

In parts of Saudi you can show your hair and your head scarf can slip and fall and people do not mind, although you must always be in the Abaya.

So I really appreciated that freedom of showing my hair, if you think about it it is fun walking in a loose garment and ballerinas, it is not so bad.

being here for awhile although not for the pilgrimage, can be a great break from the hectic life in Cairo.

God knows how much I wished to be in mecca now but sometimes life can be funny that waybringing you so close to your dreams but testing your patience and will to accept your circumstance.

Do not come to Saudi and complain about the way things are regarding the norms, rules and traditions.Go anywhere else if you can not handle the rules.

i learned to respect any place i visit and with pleasure follow the rules.

segregation between men and women succeeded only to create a great deal of curiosity and tension.

in my opinion i think it is fantastic how things are here, it is exciting to experience the segregation, although man and wife share a table for dinner like anywhere else. for the married couples life is just more peaceful and women are more private.

in the abaya you feel mysterious, safe and comfortable, in order to fit in you must be able to apply the famous kohl.

i do not think women are not given rights here, i think they are being treated like goddesses.

actually the way the bachelors are treated is somewhat degrading.

they are secluded from society, in every restaurant they have their own place where they are segregated from the families and the girls who go out to dine together. girls smoke and go out alone, they have fun here, it is the men who are treated like second class citizens when they are single.

they are treated like they are dangerous and disgusting they need to be caged alone it is kind of funny actually. the married man in saudi suffers less for he is welcomed everywhere and nobody fears his presence.

in saudi the man's ticket to heaven and a normal life is marriage if he is single he has more chances of joy in any other country, bahrain is a better option for him.

at-least the saudi woman will not be harassed by a truck driver while she is driving alone on the high way, because she is not allowed to drive in the first place. every woman has her driver here, which is in many cases a dream for most girls not a compromise. it is really fun toexperience the pampering the saudi women are granted.

i realize i am not being feminist at all. i realize if i paint here my paintings would be prohibitedfrom shows because they involve many figures, however it is extremely charming living the saudi

life.

there is nothing much here, mostly desert and a few new hotels,and malls but knowing there is nothing much to do is so relaxing and there is no pressure.

No one can blame you for laying around all day as a visitor, sleeping in is also one of the rewards of life here as a visitor.

there are a few great hotels here with amazing dining and pampering that is similar to service in the far east.

at the indian restaurant in the new moven pick of Khobar i tasted indian heaven.

indian food that takes your soul to food heaven and gives your taste buds joy they did not know existed.

walking around all covered up i felt like i oozed a sort of divine vibe, like i am strong and powerful and i did not have to be annoyed by men's eyes drifting in the wrong places making me sick.

If you think women are treated badly in Saudi, you are wrong, the staff in the hotel treat me with respect and fear, when i ordered the room service i could feel the man's fear of bringing the tray in the room.

he respected my privacy and he asked can i come in madam. i really like it when people keep

their space and when they only look at my face when i speak.

no people on earth are as hospitable as the Saudis, since the beginning of time they hosted the pilgrims who came from everywhere,. in the art of hosting they are the masters. when you are hosted by a saudi you feel like you found your long lost father or mother, you feel like a baby,safe in the arms of your mother they will be so kind and generous like the kings and queens of ancient arabia and nothing you might dream of will be kept from you.

for a few days you will feel like royalty, it is a deep part of their belief, being good hosts, and you

feel like you are in great hands, that you do not have to worry about anything.

with dates and arabic coffee at every corner, what could possibly go wrong?

it is a blessed life where food always tastes good and sining is a hassle to go through.

you can find malls in Khobar and just a bridge away is Bahrain which is a smaller version of Dubai,. Saudis go there to breathe freedom where no abaya is supposed to be worn and even alcohol is an option.

the first time i came here it was hard for me to follow the rules i felt choked and bored but now

that it is my second time in Khobar I am actually loving it.

my dream will always be mecca and medina but i can appreciate life here and i can adjust to the rhythm of it. i even found freedom and peace in the abaya.

My art history professor at A.U.C told the class once that he thinks there is nothing more

mysterious and sexy like the abaya and now i understand and agree. although the main reason

behind it is the opposite it often serves the opposite purpose and creates so much mystery and curiosity that it becomes sexier than a backless dress. less is more.

in the abaya i found happiness and joy. here in the desert i found peace of mind, the smells of

the in-scents, the taste of the spiced foods and the way the guests are treated takes you back to

the times of legends like Aladdin and Shahrazad,it gives you a feel of the luxuries of the nomads

life, the life of the prophets we love so much .