Nabs

:scared: :scared:

Frans Wind

Just go look at there building in Dammam or Riyadh, it says it all...

Frans Wind

Or....

Drive from Jeddah towards Riyadh, take the excite that leeds to the gold mines (which Saudi's deny excist) you'll pass one of the AIDS camps. In Gods name, don't stop, don't try to make pictures or a video tape of it....

smartd

I disagree. I believe you are taking things a bit out of proportion.
Majority of the time its fine as long as you aren't looking for trouble.

Also each year its better then the past.

Cheers,

D

Frans Wind

Well worked and lived there for nearly 10 years. Traveled through Saudi Arabia a lot. I think that entittles me to write what I wrote.

Frans

novita77

I only can say prevention is better than cure. So everybody going there pls be safe...

Tami2

Smartd,
I remember that you recently made a trip to Riyadh, but I don't think that qualifies you to say that those of us who actually lived there have taken it out of proportion. I don't know about Frans, but JD and I did live there until recently, and it's definately not as you said "each year its better then the past."

I must agree that the period from May 2003-May 2004 was the most volitile and had the biggest number of casualties, however, it hasn't stopped. There are still car bombs and shoot-outs between the Saudi police and the terrorists on a regular basis. We still have friends who live in Riyadh and we are in almost daily contact with them. Nothing has changed since we left in June. You still have to live in armed camps with machinegun weilding 17 year old Saudi boys pointing their guns at you when you enter or leave your compound. They still receive reminders each week to vary their route to work or school, in order to throw off any terrorists who might be watching for them. Compounds and schools are still surrounded by barbed wire fences, concrete baracades and the Saudi National Guard in tanks and machine-gun loaded jeeps. It's no way to live and it won't be a safe place for many years to come. The wonderful expat life we had in Saudi is a thing of the past.

Oh, also, we were told directly by the community liason of the US embassy, when asked why we weren't given any help when my husband was beaten up at a traffic light by 5 Saudi young men, "We're not here for you or any other U.S. citizen, unfortunatley we are here for our country's commercial and political interests, and that's all." So, if you think you can run to the embassy and find safety behind those big, black, Marine-protected gates, think again. In a crisis, they won't even let you in. You're on your own. Got it straight from the horse's mouth.

My opinion...don't go if you can possibly avoid it...if you must go, remember everything JD wrote and don't call any attention to yourself.

Good Luck, Confectman

JMS1

Hi I lived there for 10 years until very recently and while I agree with you Tami - I also think that if you keep your head down and just get on with your business you should be ok.
It is no way to live and that was the main reason we left but if you have to travel there (husband still does occassionaly) just take sensible precautions. Where is safe these days?

On a personal note, I think we've met - didn't you used to live on Villa Rosas? I was also at the monthly business round ups. The Travelling Gallery - I also taught art. Are you in Dubai now? I'll be joining hubby after the summer so maybe we can meet up.

Bob

some irony in that ain't it...

Face81

irony? more like a death wish. :scared:

Bob

they have pretty heavy security all round though...so be mad to try somin'...better to try it after, when delegates get home, or before they leave for the thingy

smartd

to each his opinion i get. I'm not to judge what's right or wrong

Be safe all ye who flyee to saudiii

joseph.creative

looks a bit like Catford to me but without the palm trees...

joseph.creative

maybe the fact that BAE systems now over all their employees an extra BGP 1000 pcm to stay in KSA might give you a slight hint as to not bother with the place.

Now excpect to be shot down in flames for that comment, probably over their airspace aswell.

Face81

hello, hello!