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Lynne King's Reviews > Arabian Sands
Arabian Sands
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I like to browse through my books on a Sunday morning for some strange reason and came across this book that I read when I was working in Saudi Arabia and, as I had also met the bedouin and taken tea with them, I was interested to hear about Thesiger's travels in that country.
It's such an interesting study of the Saudi culture by a travel writer, and also an explorer, such as Thesiger, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Middle East.
It's also good to see that this book is still so readily available. I couldn't see it on Kindle but Penguin issued it in paperback as part of their Penguin classics series in 2008.
Classics like this are such a joy to read.
It's such an interesting study of the Saudi culture by a travel writer, and also an explorer, such as Thesiger, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Middle East.
It's also good to see that this book is still so readily available. I couldn't see it on Kindle but Penguin issued it in paperback as part of their Penguin classics series in 2008.
Classics like this are such a joy to read.
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Reading Progress
December 30, 2012
– Shelved
January 27, 2013
–
Started Reading
January 27, 2013
– Shelved as:
arabia
January 27, 2013
–
Finished Reading
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Valerie
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May 15, 2013 01:13PM
I found a book about a circumnavigation of the Mediterranean that was very interesting. Now if I could only remember the author...
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I'm sure that you'll remember it Valerie because you have a good mind.
But not a good memory, alas! Especially for names. Probably I'll have to search it out the way I found it in the first place. I was looking for something about Slovenia, I think...
How interesting that you have worked in Saudi Arabia Lynne, and taken tea with the Bedouin..... How romantic is that!
Caroline, Sorry for the three year reply! I sometimes look at "likes" from books that I read several years ago and came aross this book just now.Yes I did indeed work in Saudi Arabia, for sixteen years in fact and loved it! I don't think that it would suit me now though, although I must confess that all the Saudis I met were highly likeable and kind people.
Sixteen years! What an amazing experience for you Lynne. Were you in a European enclave (as so often happens), or did you get to meet quite a few local people too?
Yes, Caroline I worked for Saudi Aramco and we lived in a huge compound. As a woman, I could drive inside though not outside as it was against the law! It was great fun! Yes I met quite a few local people. There were Saudis and other Arabs living in the compound who were at management level. The family over the road from me had goats and everything else.On one occasion, I went to Hofuf on a local bus on my own, an oasis (with an incredible German irrigation system) about an hour or so from Khobar and I went into the market. A group of Saudi women, all dressed in black, rushed up to me and the noise they made reminded me of birds in an aviary for some reason. I couldn't see their faces as they were covered up but they seemed kind enough and kept on touching me. I guess one is a lot braver when one is younger...
Hi Lynne, I have just googled Saudi Aramco - it is obviously a huge company.How weird for you, and how very limiting, that you weren't able to drive outside the compound. I obviously know about this restriction, and have seen several you tube videos about this, and about women contesting this issue. Some of the women there are so courageous.
How nice that you had Arab neighbours and got to know them.
Your trip to Hofuf did indeed sound an adventure, AND you went by yourself... Well done you!
Saudi Arabia is one of those places that really interests me (along with Russia, Venezuela, Cuba and Iceland...) It's always interesting to learn more.
Caroline, What an amazing article in the Independent. Imagine a 25 year old Saudi girl driving into Saudi Arabia and getting ten weeks in jail because driving is banned for women! Tried by a court specialising in terrorist cases too. She's lucky to have got off so lightly. I was amused to see that her husband is a Saudi satirist!Yes the countries you have mentioned are where I would love to visit too.
Yes - she was lucky to get off so lightly....
It is that Montzalee!
