khamis Mushayt (Other locations...)

Member Name: leckie1uk

Product:	Other locations...
Date:	07/02/01 (95 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Weather, prices

Disadvantages: Heavy restrictions, women second class citizens, water "iffy", driving scary, etc, etc...

Khamis is just North of the Yeman border on the East coast and up a mountain. Its also an hours flight South of Jeddah which is our nearest International airport.

Jeddah airport is busy. Especially during the "Hadj" where millions of Muslims enter Saudi and head for Mecca. To make it easier for normal travellers, they have what they call the "Hadj terminal" where they can be seperated fom everyone else to try and make it easier for us. Us as in non-muslims.

Khamis Mushayt is a small town. Poor and looking like its only been half finished.

The roads are a nightmare, full of holes and they are also littered with the wrecks of cars that didn't make it. Any car, any age, tredded tyres are optional as are the lights. If they can see over the wheel they are allowed to drive. License is not required, nor is insurance or any kind of motor serviceablity certificate. You certainly need your wits about you.

Arabs have no fear of death. All is the will of "Allah" Seat belts are optional. They are required by law, but that doesn't mean anthing. Traffic laws here are scoffed at and are totaly ignored. The traffic police are too busy trying to look important to "white faces" to bother about handing out tickets to their brothers.

Taking photos is banned, as are videos. I would love to show you what it looks like :o)

Women are heavily restricted in Kingdom. They are not allowed to work or to drive. They move about wearing an "Ibya" Which is a kinda big black cloth sack they have to wear. No skin is shown. In fact, they dont have to wear seatbelts as they will be showing a slight figure to the any men they might see them in the car. How can you argue with that kind of logic ??

"chop" square in town is where they have their amputations and beheadings. Ranging from theft to murder.

Despite what they might tell on on the gl
ossy posters. Drugs, theft, prostitution and alchohol related offences are common here. The punishment is swift and brutal.

The prisons here aren't like the Butlins holiday camps that we have in the UK. Prisoners aren't fed. They rely on relatives bringing them food. Westerners ? Well I'm not sure actually. I hope I never have to find out.

The religous police, "Mattowa", enforce the laws of "Islam". They report any misconduct and the person concerned wil be deat with.

They will stop Westerners with ther wives to make sure they are their wives. According to the "Iquama" Which is like an in Kingdom passport. It will have a picture of you and your wife. You better make sure that it is your wife you are shopping with. Otherwise it's prison for the both of you. Adultry is punishable by death via stoning. I'm not saying they would go that far with us. But you could well find yourself on the next flight home.

The Saudi Government is trying to open up Saudi to the Touist industry. Take my advice. Stay on the plane til you get to Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait or anywhere else.

The shopping is good, weather excellent. But so are a lot of other places.

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