Saudi Arabia, from the perspective of Jaqui White

     Jaqui White loves Saudi Arabia. She writes:
     As an addendum to my experiences with the women of Saudi Arabia, I would like to say that I have never met such hospitable, gracious, generous, warm, friendly people. They wish to entertain you constantly, feed you dozens of courses, watch every mouthful you take, and if you do not seem to be consuming enough, they rush over, find the most succulent morsels in the platters and insist you try them. Each region has its own Prince and Princess. They invite you all the time to the palace, and insist that basically it is open house at all times - I believe that this emanates from the bedouin days, when travelers were always honored guests.
     The Saudis are inexorably tied to the desert. They very frequently go on picnics, particularly at dusk, put out their rugs and tea and simply inhale the air and sky of the desert. It is in their blood and bones to feel at one with the desert. The prince has tents to which he repairs, either to hunt, entertain, or simply be there, with his herds of camels corraled nearby. These are large tents, lined with paisley quilting, comfortable and charming. Upon awakening one morning in one of these tents I was presented with a large mug of warm camel's milk - a unique experience.
     Under these informal occasions we saw husbands and wives together, including the prince and princess, and there was always friendly bantering and obvious love and affection.
     The Saudis have great dignity and bearing. They have tremendous fondness for Americans, and they do not understand why this feeling is not reciprocated. I do not understand why it is not either. All I can say is that we loved it there, and had it not been for the Gulf War, would have remained for many years. It is an extraordinarily beautiful country. We would go on weekends to the Red Sea which has the best diving in the world - the memory of this incredible under water beauty is one of the high points of my life. The colors, movement, life and formations are indescribably exquisite. Unfortunately, after the Red Sea, the Maldives, Cancun, Baja California, etc.are humdrum.
     When we were there tourists were not allowed. King Fahd took his responsibility as custodian of the two Holy Mosques, Mecca and Medina, very seriously, and felt that it would be better if Saudi Arabia were inhabited mainly by Muslims. Incidentally, Islam is innately not race- conscious. The important thing is that one is Muslim, it does not matter from what continent nor country you are - all are equal.
     I understand from friends still in Abha that under certain circumstances tourists are now allowed. I look forward to returning.


     My comment: Jaqui should be appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia. I will pass the idea on to George W. Bush, should he be the people's choice. There are plenty of foreigners in the port of Jeddah on the Red Sea, but I suppose they are not "tourists." Mecca is a short distance away, but unless they are Muslims, they cannot go there.
     What Jaqui says reminds me of old Spain: the dignity, hospitality, "my house is your house." The women seem happy, especially in Andalusia. but this is partly an illusion. The problem of wife-abuse has become a national scandal. Did Jaqui have any dealings with Shiite Muslims? In any case, the different views on Saudi Arabia among WAISers provide an excellent example of the vision(s)one people has of one another.

Ronald Hilton - 10/22/99