Random/Stupid Questions????
Jan 13th 2009, 11:53 pm
#1
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7
Random/Stupid Questions????
Ok some of these might be stupid and if other readers have some to add please do so - but here are mine to ponder...in no particular order of importance.
1) Internet - Can i get the usual sites from inside Saudi compounds - You tube, bbc, itunes, facebook, skype, gmail blah blah blah
2) What do most ex-pats do - lease/rent/buy a car, given that it appears maniacs rule the highways and damage apportion seems to be based on ethnicity - does this mean it makes sense to drive a heap of $h1T until I am on more forgiving roads elsewhere?
3) Can UK friends/family visit me with ease - and what if said friends are not blessed with a winky
4) Do most workers have wages paid into saudi bank accounts?
5) Can I bring western DVDs/CDs into the country - not talking porn here but should I leave the odd one behind where 'it was necessary in terms of the plot' that a man should express his love to woman or vice versa?
6) Is it that hard to find you way about? Do sat navs exist/work?
7) Do the local laws of the country apply on diplomatic soil?
Enough from me as seven Q's is more than enough for one post.
Jamie
1) Internet - Can i get the usual sites from inside Saudi compounds - You tube, bbc, itunes, facebook, skype, gmail blah blah blah
2) What do most ex-pats do - lease/rent/buy a car, given that it appears maniacs rule the highways and damage apportion seems to be based on ethnicity - does this mean it makes sense to drive a heap of $h1T until I am on more forgiving roads elsewhere?
3) Can UK friends/family visit me with ease - and what if said friends are not blessed with a winky
4) Do most workers have wages paid into saudi bank accounts?
5) Can I bring western DVDs/CDs into the country - not talking porn here but should I leave the odd one behind where 'it was necessary in terms of the plot' that a man should express his love to woman or vice versa?
6) Is it that hard to find you way about? Do sat navs exist/work?
7) Do the local laws of the country apply on diplomatic soil?
Enough from me as seven Q's is more than enough for one post.
Jamie
Jan 14th 2009, 9:55 am
#2
Concierge
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29,625
Re: Random/Stupid Questions????
Ok some of these might be stupid and if other readers have some to add please do so - but here are mine to ponder...in no particular order of importance.
1) Internet - Can i get the usual sites from inside Saudi compounds - You tube, bbc, itunes, facebook, skype, gmail blah blah blah
2) What do most ex-pats do - lease/rent/buy a car, given that it appears maniacs rule the highways and damage apportion seems to be based on ethnicity - does this mean it makes sense to drive a heap of $h1T until I am on more forgiving roads elsewhere?
3) Can UK friends/family visit me with ease - and what if said friends are not blessed with a winky
4) Do most workers have wages paid into saudi bank accounts?
5) Can I bring western DVDs/CDs into the country - not talking porn here but should I leave the odd one behind where 'it was necessary in terms of the plot' that a man should express his love to woman or vice versa?
6) Is it that hard to find you way about? Do sat navs exist/work?
7) Do the local laws of the country apply on diplomatic soil?
Enough from me as seven Q's is more than enough for one post.
Jamie
1) Internet - Can i get the usual sites from inside Saudi compounds - You tube, bbc, itunes, facebook, skype, gmail blah blah blah
2) What do most ex-pats do - lease/rent/buy a car, given that it appears maniacs rule the highways and damage apportion seems to be based on ethnicity - does this mean it makes sense to drive a heap of $h1T until I am on more forgiving roads elsewhere?
3) Can UK friends/family visit me with ease - and what if said friends are not blessed with a winky
4) Do most workers have wages paid into saudi bank accounts?
5) Can I bring western DVDs/CDs into the country - not talking porn here but should I leave the odd one behind where 'it was necessary in terms of the plot' that a man should express his love to woman or vice versa?
6) Is it that hard to find you way about? Do sat navs exist/work?
7) Do the local laws of the country apply on diplomatic soil?
Enough from me as seven Q's is more than enough for one post.
Jamie
Jan 14th 2009, 10:14 am
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: The Island of love
Posts: 882
Re: Random/Stupid Questions????
Here goes with my two halala's worth . . . .
1. yes you can get internet on the compuonds and off them too I would think
2. don't know - we rented for ages, then bought as we get an allowance - so whatever we sell for we get to keep . . . .
3. non-winky friends have to be relatives, it's mainly relatives who get visitors vias I think - for those non-winkies you'd be best meeting up for a holiday in Dubai or Maldives, seychelles etc.
4. dunno
5. none of our stuff was checked, but some containers are taken apart, cd/dvds etc. taken away for checking, try it - they will only confiscate it
6. Easy to find your way about - even for a navifationally challenged twit like me - sat navs do work apparently
7. No. But if you step off said diplomatic soil pissed you could be arrested . . .
Hope this helps
N
1. yes you can get internet on the compuonds and off them too I would think
2. don't know - we rented for ages, then bought as we get an allowance - so whatever we sell for we get to keep . . . .
3. non-winky friends have to be relatives, it's mainly relatives who get visitors vias I think - for those non-winkies you'd be best meeting up for a holiday in Dubai or Maldives, seychelles etc.
4. dunno
5. none of our stuff was checked, but some containers are taken apart, cd/dvds etc. taken away for checking, try it - they will only confiscate it
6. Easy to find your way about - even for a navifationally challenged twit like me - sat navs do work apparently
7. No. But if you step off said diplomatic soil pissed you could be arrested . . .
Hope this helps
N
Jan 14th 2009, 10:19 am
#4
Just Joined
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7
Re: Random/Stupid Questions????
Thanks for the answers its much appreciated and they are spot on.
Jan 15th 2009, 10:48 am
#6
why ayeeeee man!
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Disco Gardens...
Posts: 11,370
Jan 15th 2009, 3:26 pm
#9
Just Joined
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7
Re: Random/Stupid Questions????
@ Lionheart - you are 'spot on' as my choice of words was indeed poor. I will try much harder from now on I promise 
Jan 15th 2009, 7:35 pm
#10
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 10
Re: Random/Stupid Questions????
7) Do the local laws of the country apply on diplomatic soil?
Jan 16th 2009, 5:20 am
#11
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Joined: Sep 2006
Location: The Island of love
Posts: 882
Re: Random/Stupid Questions????
Except it's more a no in that you can drink, worship and sing Christian hymns and carols, eat pork etc. which I assumed was the unspoken question - but I might be wrong ? However British Embassies world over aren't great at helping if you get into trouble . . .
N
N
Jan 16th 2009, 9:28 am
#12
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 10
Re: Random/Stupid Questions????
What do you mean by "that you can"?
It's a big difference between what you are actually allowed to do and what you can get away with. Naturally, there are normally no local cops at the embassy so if everyone at the embassy doesn't care there is very little chance that the local authorities find out.
Before I started to take classes in the subject I was under the impression that if you are at an embassy the rules of its country apply and not the host country. I was soon corrected. There are certain immunities and prerogatives granted but still you can't automatically say that "it's the same as if you would have been on [UK] soil".
It's a big difference between what you are actually allowed to do and what you can get away with. Naturally, there are normally no local cops at the embassy so if everyone at the embassy doesn't care there is very little chance that the local authorities find out.
Before I started to take classes in the subject I was under the impression that if you are at an embassy the rules of its country apply and not the host country. I was soon corrected. There are certain immunities and prerogatives granted but still you can't automatically say that "it's the same as if you would have been on [UK] soil".
Jan 16th 2009, 9:39 am
#13
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Joined: Sep 2006
Location: The Island of love
Posts: 882
Re: Random/Stupid Questions????
Well, maybe I should have said 'people do'.
I don't think it is a case of the 'local authorities not finding out' I am sure they are very aware of what goes on within the Embassy walls, and also what goes on within the walls of numerous compounds within Riyadh also. It is when certain behaviours are taken outside of those walls that problems will occur.
N
I don't think it is a case of the 'local authorities not finding out' I am sure they are very aware of what goes on within the Embassy walls, and also what goes on within the walls of numerous compounds within Riyadh also. It is when certain behaviours are taken outside of those walls that problems will occur.
N
Last edited by Nic1; Jan 16th 2009 at 9:48 am.
