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LanGaidin (1509 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Saudi Arabia
My wife has been invited to speak at King Faisal Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and they're also willing to fly me there as well. Looking beyond the knee-jerk reaction that visiting the Middle East is unsafe for westerners, is there anyone here that has been there recently; and if so, how comfortable were you visiting/traveling there? I'm personally pretty damn exciting about the chance, but I don't want to wear either rose or black covered glasses (so to speak).
Acosmist (0 DX)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Do you know what they do in SA?
LanGaidin (1509 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
I suppose that would be relative to "they".
Acosmist (0 DX)
18 Nov 09 UTC
The, you know, regime of Saudi Arabia. That is what I meant.
stratagos (3269 D(S))
18 Nov 09 UTC
I was going to make some type of snarky comment, but I unfortunately do not have anything useful to contribute except this:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1012.html

Thucydides (864 D(B))
18 Nov 09 UTC
I think it's basically okay... my dad went there on business. Just don't try to get into Mecca lol
Acosmist (0 DX)
18 Nov 09 UTC
I suppose concerns could be divided into two categories: those about your safety and those about the human rights record of Saudi Arabia. You started the thread seemingly about the first category; does the latter matter at all? If no, then disregard my posts.
Thucydides (864 D(B))
18 Nov 09 UTC
Well... I don't think just by GOING to a place you're really endorsing their human rights record.
Acosmist (0 DX)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Really? All right then.
LanGaidin (1509 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Yes, the concerns were related to safety as opposed to human rights violations or socio-political issues/positions. Thanks stratagos - that had a lot of information in it; I had intended to visit that site as the departure time got closer.

@ thucy - how long was he there for? What did he think of the experience?
LanGaidin (1509 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
I agree w/ Thucy there; this is not a tourist trip (for her at least) to spend vacationing dollars. It is related to medical research.
orathaic (1009 D(B))
18 Nov 09 UTC
it's probably safe for American visitors, the regime has a strangle hold one the country.

9th largest military spending in the world from the 46h most populous country (huge american military support effectively means that in exchange for oil the US provides the Monarch in Saudi Arabia with money to buy weapons, (mostly from america)

(note: that is 9th after the 5 permanent security council members, Germany, Japan, and Italy - spends more than india, who have the second largest population in the world)

it spends ~10% of gdp on military, which is the 3rd highest in the world.

otherwise, Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country, and defers to religious law on most issues. Thus women are not equal to men (though perhaps in a hospital/research centre the atmosphere will be different) I suspect that you being there with your wife will make things easier for her.

I have a few female friends who have vsited/lived in egypt and they have found egyptian men's advances on the street rather objectionable. (them being asked where their husband is... assumptions that all western women are sluts because they have sex before marriage...) I believe Saudi Arabia is culturally similar.
orathaic (1009 D(B))
18 Nov 09 UTC
strangle-hold on the country, even.
Acosmist (0 DX)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Avoid carrying around any cartoons and your head should remain firmly attached.
LanGaidin (1509 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
@ ortho. I believe that's also part of the reason that they offered to fly me there. Following their custom basically means that I have to give her permission to go from the hotel to the medical center (if I understood things correctly).
LanGaidin (1509 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
@ acosmist - Yes, methinks that I will definitely need to refrain from any jolly bantering while I'm there:)
LanGaidin (1509 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
A week w/o any Monty Python references..... that will be tough.
Geofram (130 D(B))
18 Nov 09 UTC
Saudi Arabia wants to clear their image and is trying to bring in more tourism. As long as you respect their customs and don't flaunt your own, you'll be fine. Agents at the airport or border will make sure you understand the rules when you arrive.

But orathaic is right, you being with your wife will make the trip more comfortable for her regarding the culture differences.
I would sure as hell bring a sidearm.
orathaic (1009 D(B))
18 Nov 09 UTC
@LanG: i think he was refering to danish cartoons of the prophet mohamed...

Monty Python mostly took the piss out of their own customs/religion, you might be safe there... at least in content, if not principle.

@TMW: sidearm? are you freaking serious? I don't know how the Saudia's would feel about foreign nationals bringing weapons into their country, but i know for certain that my country would not allow it. Also the fact is they have their own security forces, and i don't think there have been many recent incidents of terrorism (those keen on destroying the symbols of US imperialism have of late found it easier to go to iraq and blow up american troops.)
sean (3490 D(B))
19 Nov 09 UTC
As far as terrorist attacks go i think its a really safe country.

its a piece of shit nation that should be thrown out of the UN and the olympics but.

stonings ofr moral crimes ,public beheadings, no freedom of religion(dont bring a bible! i think its illegal to seel/buy them in SA) of course NO drinks, no talking to women who are not your family without their family present, your wife would not be allowed to leave the hotel without you by her side, no driving for her. its basically stuck in the middle ages, if the princes didnt have oil money to buy off the public and buy weapons it would make Afghanistan look like a stable modern nation
positron (1160 D)
19 Nov 09 UTC
My son has been there since August. Getting a visa is tricky. The boundaries between western and Saudi culture are stark. Within the hotel/compound one set of rules, outside another. If you're looking for a vacation, forget it. Adventure, well why else?


21 replies
Cyrano (354 D)
19 Nov 09 UTC
Shakedown!!!
Trying to create a live game here, anybody interested?
3 replies
Open
sk2185 (100 D)
19 Nov 09 UTC
Live game!
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=15568
0 replies
Open
obiwanobiwan (248 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Dog-gone Funny Tails
I love my aquarium fish- and I love dogs, too, and am happy to report I'm (the family is) getting two new Shih-Tzu puppies, two brothers, on Friday! Getting them to commemorate Sparky, our loveable porch-hound Golden Retriever that just died... but we had some great times. What're YOUR dogs and good dog stories?
12 replies
Open
denis (864 D)
17 Nov 09 UTC
It's kind of funny..
I imagine all of you as white people... the tipical American/Brit but what are all of you guys? Latino? Black? Asian? White?
74 replies
Open
denis (864 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
LIVE GAME!?!?!?!?!?!?
any takers
hold on let me create it
4 replies
Open
z76z76z76 (100 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Live Game tonight?
any1 up for it ??
13 replies
Open
PBSmassacre (0 DX)
18 Nov 09 UTC
A live game might be pleasant
3 replies
Open
denis (864 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Reply to the forum
hello this is coup and i assume control of the forum
10 replies
Open
orathaic (1009 D(B))
16 Nov 09 UTC
Art? Controversial
apparently Damien Hirst said in a news interview...
31 replies
Open
C-K (2037 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
New Game. Join Now!
Let's play.
3 replies
Open
Spaak (522 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Anyone in for a fast game?
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=15546
0 replies
Open
Rooster Man (0 DX)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Semi Large Pot Anon Game
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=15540
0 replies
Open
ryno19 (100 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Noobish question
How do you leave a game? Is there any benefit to leaving rather than just ignoring the rest of the game?
12 replies
Open
doofman (201 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
leaving the game
okay in retort to noobish question...
6 replies
Open
Tru Ninja (1016 D(S))
18 Nov 09 UTC
reply to "reply to 'posting in the forum' "
my suggestion is to start a coup in retaliation, find out where these individuals live and lynch them.
2 replies
Open
rlumley (0 DX)
18 Nov 09 UTC
reply to "posting in the forum"
What do you think we should do about it?
0 replies
Open
Tru Ninja (1016 D(S))
18 Nov 09 UTC
reply to "posting in the forum"
i totally agree. people who do that are plain ridiculous.
0 replies
Open
rlumley (0 DX)
18 Nov 09 UTC
posting in the forum
okay in retort to leaving the game
1 reply
Open
pi r round (0 DX)
07 Nov 09 UTC
Resignation
Does anyone know how to resign?
42 replies
Open
indiegiraffe (100 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Live game?
Anyone up for it?
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=15541
0 replies
Open
tilMletokill (100 D)
18 Nov 09 UTC
Live Game with comm.
gameID=15535
WTA 5min
4 replies
Open
hellalt (24 D)
16 Nov 09 UTC
Apology to Noob179
oh Noob179
I'm so sorry that I hurt you.
27 replies
Open
IKE (3845 D)
17 Nov 09 UTC
GUNBOAT 2-2
For those who played in this game, thanks for a great game.
Sorry Gary for the stab near the end, but it was for the win.
1 reply
Open
tilMletokill (100 D)
17 Nov 09 UTC
Live game
Post here if intrested. I will be offline for about twenty mins. I will reveal password when I get back.
1 reply
Open
Bearnstien (0 DX)
17 Nov 09 UTC
Bigger Bet gameID=15455
As they all say, Join, should be a good one.
0 replies
Open
Geofram (130 D(B))
16 Nov 09 UTC
Player is revealed when leaving an anonymous game.
When a player leaves an anonymous game before it has started, it is announced in everyone else's homepage including their name. Any reason for this?
12 replies
Open
Wolf89 (215 D)
17 Nov 09 UTC
support failed - how is this determined?
Support fails. When?
7 replies
Open
z76z76z76 (100 D)
17 Nov 09 UTC
live game
anyone interested in a live game right now?
20 replies
Open
fetteper (1448 D)
17 Nov 09 UTC
live game?
anyone interested in a live game?
1 reply
Open
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