Saudi Arabia aka: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Diving off the red sea is breath taking.

I really liked it. I started in Jeddah which was quite humid and as you can imagine hot. Went to a great lebanese restaurant which had amongst other things brains, tongue etc on the menu. The locals were very accomodating and had an unexpected good sense of humour.

After that Riyadh, it was amazing to be in a shopping mall when the call to pray goes out, literally all muslims must go to pray or else they will get taken my the relious police (muttawa). Every quite shop door way will be taken by people praying in the direction of mecca.

The Kingdom tower dominates the skyline, a plane can fly through the gap at the top, unfortunately i was too knackered to go up there when i had a chance.

Every hotel room has a sign on the ceiling telling you which way the holy city is. Stayed in the intercontinenial in Riyadh and it was absolutely first class.

Its hot here but dry, the highest temperature hit 52 degree C!

I then drove across country to Hofuf and finally Damman. Its more relaxed here and only a drive across the causeway to Bahrain where you can have a drink.

Will be going back in the next few months and i want to explore further. A great interesting place.

most of the Kuwaiti family’s have a friend or one of their family’s there.

I had the best fun ever!!! What a place to go to!!
Really different!! The food is yummy, some malls are fabulous, and the people are just plain friendly!! Its not as the media depicts it at all!! Definitely worth going!!

If you go there, be respectful of the local customs…

Operation Southern Watch – 421 Fighter Squadron – Return to the Voo Doo Lounge Tour 1996

I love Saudis, their government is another thing. I would love to go to Makka and Madina. I’d love to live there!

Im sure there are nice places in Saudi, but I did not have the chance to see them. I don’t think I will ever go back-too hot!!

My goodness, I lived here for five years and I miss it a lot now that I’m gone. If you ever get the chance to swing by Saudi I recommend you do it. But be careful! When I left it was getting awfully dangerous for westerners.

The thing I liked the most about Saudi was driving out into the desert on camping trips. It was always very scenic, and since Riyadh is on an escarpment there was always something for me to climb around or go “exploring” along.

It is simply the most beautiful country in the world.

Golden Arabian Sand in Medina (City of the Prophet)

Climb the mountains that use to be the Prophets (pbuh) spiritual retreat.

Go shopping for gold, rolex watches and designer gear, no value added tax (cheap as chips)

The Mosques are beautiful and there is grand Mosques on every other street.

Ride camels in the desert

Best of all is the Ka’aba, Im not a practising Muslim but i felt something in my heart when I saw the Ka’aba.

InsahAllah I will return.