Travel Review Online

When thinking of a new travel destination, the world is rife with places to go. The make search on account of sun, sea, sand, some good food and good commonalty are pretty much necessities for everyone. Yet there is one country that has all of the above in some of the greatest quantities and yet remains opposite any travel website or tourist agency window.

Lifting the envelop

Saudi Arabia rarely tops the list of those ‘must conceive’ places unless you are Muslim and wanting to undertake pilgrimage to one of the two holy mosques of Mecca and Medina. Currently no non-Gulf Cooporation Council (GCC) passport possessor have power to even enter the Kingdom without a sponsor, and even then if you are female this impose a task on may not be enough to be granted access.

The insription on the office of the Mutawa

In stark contrast, however, the Kingdom was one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations of 2007 and is party to continue this growth with the creation of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiques. This tourism however is almost wholely made up of pilgrims. Alongside this visas are slowly becoming more available to specialised tour operators for those wanting to glint the desert Kingdom.

To many, especially those from the USA, the almost ‘closed means of access’ politics of the Saudi tourism board isn’t a great quantity to get bothered about as the Kingdom still holds a negative image thanks to its most infamous son (that would be Osama bin Laden) coupled with allegations of human-rights abuses and the ongoing suppression of women (by denying them the right to drive or vote).

The Saudis’ charitable oblique

There is, however, a whole other side the to monarchy. For example if you Google ‘Saudi’ and ‘Charity’ in the same search you will be inundated through articles depicting a one sided, biased opinion. Spend a little time, dig a little deeper and skip the first 50 web pages you will find out that the kingdom and its citizens are some of the most generous and benevolent people in the world.

Saudi Arabia is, through capita, the largest donor of foreign assist without ceasing the planet and has over 500 charitable organisations. Many have benefited from this generosity, from America to Africa, but few know from whence this monetary compassion has come. If a poll were taken in post-Katrina New Orleans, asking who was the biggest financial donor to help their plight, you can be assured that the last native land on their lips would be their true knight in shining armour, Saudi Arabia.

Alongside this benevolent side there is a great deal to see and produce in The Land of the Two Holy Mosques, should you exist favored plenty to be allowed access.

Things to see & do in Saudi Arabia

“My Kingdom will survive only insofar as it remains a country difficult to access.” That’sitting a quote from King Abdul Aziz receptacle Saud. So it’s hardly surprising that Saudi Arabia still remains ‘on the farther espouse a cause the beaten’ track for many foreigners.

The Kingdom tower in central Riyadh

However the existing King, the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques (during the time that he likes to be called), is seen by many since a reformer (for some too radical and for others not perfect enough). Slowly but surely he is opening up the Kingdom to the world and if given the chance to visit it would not just be Lawrence of Arabia who would recommend it.

As the largest country in the Gulf, there is a bulky quantity to see and do. Bordering Yemen, the southwestern highlands of Asir through its temperate meteorological character and lush forrests is seen to be the same of the most lenient of the regions. Hejaz, the proud landlord of the two holiest of sites in Islam, Mecca and Media, lies in the western region.

It is here on the border of the Red Sea that the nations second city of Jeddah is to be found, which rivals the capital Riyadh for sell and commerce in a middle eastern version of Madrid vs Barcelona. Most conservative of all is the region of Nejed, the centre of which lies the capital Riyadh by a skyline dominated by the universe famous Kingdom Tower.

Next to this lies the Eastern Province dominated by the ominously named Empty Quarter what one., as the name suggests, is quite miserable being home to the largest mass of small pebbles on earth. This province is also the centre of Saudis’ wealth, oil. Finally there is the aptly named Northern region bordering Iraq and Jordan, with the Saudi translation of Petra, Madain Saleh a city carved out of the rock face of a cliff (which is on UNESCO’s things to embrace on the World Heritage list).

Entering Rehab, ahem, Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is a dry rural, not only in conditions of its searing summer time heat (Riyadh can reach a painful 55°C / 131°F in the shade), but also with statement to alcohol. Unlike other GCC countries to which place alcohol is permitted in varying degrees, Saudi has a total no spirits of wine policy. Although similar anything, where there is a will there is a way and in certain expat compounds you can always find someone to teach you how to make bourbon or ‘2 week wine’.

Just don’t eternally let the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, or not so much formally the Mutawa, who patrol the streets with loudspeakers and GMC cars, arrest you. In fact, whilst on the subject of the Mutawa don’t let them catch you doing anything other than breathing and if you are male hide all jewelry or you command be accused of personation like a woman.

Another civilization shock is the segregation of men and women – and foreigners are by not at all means exempt. A woman may never be in the company of a man unless function of their close group of genera circle or in a dealing environment. If you visit one of the many coffee shops that replace bars as the place to socialise, they are always split into two separate venues, one for men and one for families and women. Be sure never to relish into the wrong one or else, again, you will face the wrath of the Matawa.

To get around this many not old Saudi men invite their sisters along with them when they go to the local Starbucks considered in the state of a ‘ticket’ into the family part in order to be able to look at girls. It is only here that woman be able to relax a little and litterally let their hair down, but their black abayas mouldiness stay cloaking them.

A different world

There are many things about Saudi Arabia that are constant reminders that you are in a different world. Visitors to the Kingdom are ofter regaled with tales of beheadings, amputations and beatings for violations of the law, practices which can be seen at chop chop square in Riyadh should that delight your sadistic imagination, but in truth these punishments are usually reserved for bigger criminals. If you respect the law, which are the laws of islam, and show respect to the culture and people, you will find Saudis are in general extremely welcoming and friendly.

Despite all the restrictions, Saudi Arabia has a great many attractions to make it worth a visit should the opportunity arise. The deserts are perfect places for excursions both for a bit of Dune Bashing on quad bikes or 4×4’s or just for an evening stroll and picnic with many other Saudi familys. Around Jeddah without interruption the Red Sea you can find some of the worlds best spots for scuba diving and numerous dive operators are available for tourists. You can go trecking in the highlands of Asir province where the mountains reach a towering 3000m and is home to uncertain forms of wildlife so as baboons and wildcats. In stark contrast explore the expanse of the Empty Quarter where virtually no life exists above molecular level.

Dune bashing

Due to the history of Saudi Arabia and its melee of cultural influences, the food on make an attempt is a wonderful unite of Egyptian, Indian, Lebanese, Yemmeni and Bedouin. With this in mind and the fact that eating is one of the few pleasures permitted in the Kingdom it is no wonder that eating is taken very seriously to that obesity statistics can testify.

Rent quads from local Bedouins for some dune bashing

But it it not just Middle Eastern food, one may be surpised to learn that on every drive into a corner of the big cities you can find McDonalds, Wendys, Hardees, Pizza Hut and every other fast food chain to come out of the States. In fact driving in a descending course King Fahad road in Riyadh, if you turn a blind eye to the all the men in white thobes and women in black abayas, taking in totality the fast food shops, European clothes retailers, American cars one could be in any cosmos city.

All in all against those who don’t befall into the club 18-30 category the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a wonderful tourist destination should you be priviledged enough to be allowed entry.

It is also inevitable that as the world becomes ever smaller The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud will continue to modernise and bounteous the doors ever farther. As soon as it does I recommend you visit.

-Chris Courth

mecca, saudi arabia

Bookmark it: