Hi, my name is Eduardo, Filipino, living in Neom Community for 11 months at the time I posted this blog. I moved here when I accepted a work contract for a retail environment in one of the ambitious projects of the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SINDALAH, part of NEOM. At first it was so strange to me how I see the community though I've researched about the project and what it has to offer, it was surreal and unexpected to come and still has to experience such a luxurious offer. I admit that it was far different from the city I came from and have lived for more than 15 years, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was in August 2024 when I flew to Saudi Arabia through Saudia Airline bound to Tabuk with a couple of hours of stop over flight via Riyadh airport. It's a mix of feeling of excitement and tiredness from sleepless night before the flight because of farewell moments in Dubai with friends and colleagues. I travelled with four other new employees who received an offer for the same project. Luckily, I travelled with a longtime companion named John which makes the move in Saudi Arabia not so difficult, and we've met Diana, Rafika and Hazem who is a Romanian, Tunisian and Egyptian, respectively. It was in Tabuk Airport when we gathered together and met each other because we were seeking for the same driver who will send us to our accommodation in NRC1, Neom Community.
Inspite of the turbulence we've experienced, we still saw the energy from each other and managed to go directly and tooked medical test in Tabuk Medical center as a requirement before going to the camp. After we've waited for two hours and a half, we were directed by the driver to STC Telecom to secure a SIM card which will be our official contact number in Saudi Arabia. I was surprised how the process of seeking these two minor requirements in terms of time and service received from the locals (which I will write in the next coming blogs). After we gathered both medical and SIM, we were asked if we need anything from the nearby mini stores, like personal things or essential that we need because it will be hard for us to seek in Neom Residential Community 1 (NRC1) once needed. I took few essentials that I think is required which I think I do not have from my belongings. Afterwards, we were asked if we want to eat so we decided to go to one of the recommended restaurants nearby before heading to a so-called long drive. And it was a real long drive.
We took about three and a half hours of not seeing so much of the view because it was already late and kind a dark on our way. What I only saw was a dark yet comfortable roads all the way to the NRC1. I saw many mini communities lighted with a lots of post lights in the middle of nowhere. I can't describe anything because it's far from the roads, but the beautiful lights centered from the darkness. After so many roundabouts, straight ahead roads, and no traffic lights, we've reached the NRC1 camp at passed 12 midnight. We were headed to the housing office entrance and given the key for our assigned rooms, then the time I saw my room, I just dump my baggage's head to the washroom and took a bath and laydown the bed and immediately fell asleep. I woke up the next day and has been called by John saying "Hello Eduardo, let's go to the dining hall" ...
... to be continued.
... please subscribe for the next post.
EDUARDO'S FISH BE WITH YOU
Comments
Post a Comment