Saudi Arabia, the mysterious kingdom – by leesan
Samarkand in Uzbekistan is where one goes to learn about ancient Asian history.
Travel and food expert Chua Lam wants people to awaken their five sensess.
Many would probably know of the super wealthy King Salman Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and his fondness for all things grand. When he travels, he reportedly brings along some 1,500 people – of which 150 are said to be chefs – along with him on a chartered flight.
There are also two golden toilets on the plane…
When the entourage arrives at their destination, hundreds of new Mercedes Benz cars would be waiting for the “super-golden VIPs”. There are many other tales and reports that you can find with regards to King Salman, and almost all are just as unbelievable.
Saudi Arabia is the biggest oil-producing country around, dominating the lifeline of the world’s energy, so it is not surprising that the kingdom’s royals live a life of mega luxury.
I’m quite curious to know more about this swanky country’s infrastructure, as well as social structures. Unfortunately, it has been difficult to visit Saudi Arabia as the country never used to issue tourist visas, unless if it was for pilgrimage or work purposes.
One of my alter egos, Ah Choo, seems to think that, “If I can marry a Saudi, I won’t have to worry about the other half of my life!” Meanwhile, my other alter ego, Ah Beng, wonders if the fully veiled Saudi women are “beautiful like goddesses, liberal and self-composed”.
I have also heard of stories about homes in Saudi Arabia – apparently, there are two taps in the front lawn: a water tap and an oil tap!
Mysterious things like these often make people even more curious, and I am one of them. I mean, at least allow me to verify whether the oil well in Saudi Arabia is like a banknote printer that can print money at any time…
I would also like to know how the 3.4 million Saudis live every day. Are their lives just as lavish? Are there no poor people in the country? Does everyone stay in Western-style houses and drive luxury cars? Do Saudi men really cherish their women? Why are women not allowed to drive or be alone with the opposite sex? Women and men have to buy things at separate counters, including at McDonald’s. It makes me wonder if they sit separately in movie theatres too.
With all these questions brewing in my mind, I was determined to visit Saudi Arabia.
I finally got my chance to do so in October last year, when the desert nation unexpectedly started offering tourist visas. When I heard the news, I decided that I was going to bring a tour group through the mysterious veil. My tour group members were doubtful at first, with some of the women saying, “I’d better take my marriage certificate with me, lest the hotel forbids me to share a room with my husband!”
I replied half-jokingly, “If that is so, then that’s what a traveller wants to experience!”
One thing that’s also impressive about Saudi Arabia is its 34-year-old crown prince Mohammad Salman’s (MBS) imposing power. He has vigorously eliminated any oppositions and fought against corruption and tax evasion of royal family and relatives, thus obtaining unprecedented support. What the younger generation love most about him is his act of listing the national oil company to create the world’s largest IPO and building a smart city.
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