Saudi Arabia : No Woman's Land

I just got back from visiting my dad in Saudi. It was the first time for me to go there and I couldnt help but wonder HOW women were living in such a country! I mean the country is VERY rich and the city itself is clean, wide, modern but the culture was too difficult for me to swallow. I mean, as an independent girl I felt trapped there. I have to wear a 3abaya when I go out, I cant go down alone, I cant drive, I cant work...it was just too suffocating for me. Most of the buildings as well have windows that you cant look through so as not to look at anyone else in the other houses! And to shop, there are no changing rooms in the stores! You'd have to do your shopping, go to the bathroom, or go home, try on the clothes then get a bigger, smaller size or get your refund. It was just weird. Of course the shops/restaurants close at prayer time which I can understand but then again they close for 30 mins in every prayer time and if u r in the shop/restaurant when they are closing up you are locked in till they open again...so its absurd when you think about it. I know women who used to live there and they loved it...but they loved it coz they had zero responsibilities...they had a cook, a driver, and a maid. They had all the money in the world to shop, travel, and do whatever else with. Plus they could go to other girls houses and wear as they please and do as they wish. If they enjoy this lifestyle good for them, but for independent girls like me...its just too much to accept. But, it has opened up in one sense, in some Saudi cities girls dont have to wear the head veil anymore but in others you are still forced to do so. In general it was an interesting trip and it made me think about how people can be so different even though they share your same religion and ethnicity. There's a pic of me in Starbucks with the 3abaya (no head veil needed in that city) and I got locked in for about 30-45 mins due to prayer time.