| Page Views: 7,530 Last Visit to Saudi Arabia: May, 2004 I Used To Live Here | Sand, Souks, and Saudia by shelnlin - last update: Mar 17, 2006 |
When I was little, I always had an image that Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East was like part of 1001 Nights or Ali Baba and the forty thieves. I even thought that there were magic carpets and it was a mysterious place that seemed so different to my home.
Well in some ways I was right, Saudi was different to New Zealand. But there wasn't any magic carpets, there were carpets but they were not used as a mode of transportation and it even had a restaurant called 1001 nights at the Rashid Mall in Al Khubar.
Saudi Arabia is a place which is a little cut off from the rest of the world. There is no tourism here and its really sad that everyone cannot jump on a plane and come and visit it. It is a place which where east meets west and it is a place I will never forget. Saudi Arabia has a melting pot filled with all sorts of interesting cultures and it wouldn't be uncommon to share your compound/apartment building with a mixture of different people.
Saudi Arabia has suffered its fair share of flak over the years and it is a shame that alot of people down trod on it. There are good and bad things to say about this place but I mean which country in the world is considered 'good'?
The people of Saudi Arabia are some of the most hospitable I have ever met. They are generous people who will do anything to make you feel welcome and they are terrific hosts. They are giving and at the same time humble. I loved their kindness and their enquiring minds.
I hope these pages give you, the reader a glimpse into what was my home for two years and I hope you enjoy reading the little things that they often never cover on the news. I will continue to add more to this page as there is still heaps for me to write about this place even though I have now. For a bit more information on the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia, have a look at my Al Khubar pages.
"When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable" `Clifton Fadiman. |
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| Pros: | "Great shopping, Friendly communities, Something different" | | Cons: | "Prayer times, Shop Opening Hours, Mad drivers" | | In A Nutshell: | "It is not as bad as it sound's" |
shelnlin's Saudi Arabia Travel Tips
shelnlin's Saudi Arabia Travelogues | | | |
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Comments for shelnlin about Saudi Arabia | | | | |
MichaelRees Wed Jun 10, 2009 09:31 UTC Useful information about life in Saudi Arabia | sunnibeam Wed Dec 5, 2007 14:50 UTC I agree with all of the above, i too live in AL Khobar and the only extra advice i can give is try not to put western values onto certain things here in the middle east, that way you will get an understanding of the way of life. | Manyana Fri Oct 5, 2007 09:35 UTC hey shelly, this's a very informative page/s. interesting to see a non-saudi point of view...salam from arabia,a:^) | JessH Mon Sep 3, 2007 05:58 UTC Hello Richelle. Very nice and informative tips & personal insights here... ah yes, the Arab men and their "little bits of paper". Seems to be the same all over the Middle East :-) Greetings from Dubai / Jess |
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