Tips for a Good Summer Vacation

Tuesday, 19 June 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar

DO you feel like gritting your teeth and clenching your fists? Do you have a desire to raise your voice and yell? When you talk to an official anywhere do you have thoughts like "Who the hell does he think he is?"

Don't worry, it's only typical of the advent of summer. However, don't let anger get the better of you otherwise you might land in trouble or end up spending your summer vacation in jail instead of a lovely resort in the Kingdom or abroad.
Also, keep in mind that during summer people are more inclined to become angry and short-tempered than at any other time of the year, except Ramadan in Saudi Arabia

For those who don't know how to control their temper in summer, I recommend the following;

If you are a visitor to Saudi Arabia, avoid going out in the middle of a summer day. If your car, God forbid, is hit by another one, make sure not to stop and claim money for repairs unless you're sure the other driver is not Saudi, otherwise the damage will be double as you will lose your car and most probably one of your eyes. Moreover, you won't get back your claim. Saudis are always right.
If you're hungry, go for any other restaurant food but Haneedh, Mandi or Madhbi (Saudi traditional dishes), or you'll waste your time in a very long queue and end up quitting to make do with fried chicken from a Bukhari restaurant in a side street, because Saudis have the priority - not because they pay more but simply because the expatriate workers at restaurants have become smarter and know now, more than any other time, whom to serve first. After all, no one wants to lose his teeth or eyes over such a trifle matter.
If you are attending a seminar in Japan, make sure you go with a cool driver who doesn't smoke cigarette. Otherwise he will piss off the consulate's bored guard who might harass, push or slap him on the face. Also make sure that you know where you will be staying even if you are the guest of the ministry of foreign affairs of Japan or the United Nations. Officials there are very straightforward and believe in nothing that is not Japanese.
If you are going to China, happy you - people at the consulate are so friendly they tell you even how to get a cheaper price for the visa, "The earlier you apply, the less you pay." If you don't know how to fill in the application, don't worry, you'll always find someone to help you only for 10 riyals per person.
If you are going to Australia, apply and pay the money for the visa in the Kingdom but be informed that you are expected to pay for the express mail to send your passport to Dubai. Officials at the Australian embassy in Riyadh seem to be not entitled to issue visas. Don't worry about the legality of sending your passport outside the borders without a courier to carry it; the beautiful Australia is worth violating the Saudi passport's law.

If you are traveling by Saudia Airlines, make sure that you have a tranquilizer. Zanax is highly recommended. It keeps your temper down in front of the already edgy official. Also don't forget to take a blanket and pillow for the kids as well as for yourself: your flight might be delayed a whole day. Compensation is a wild dream.

Finally, if you have a tragic or funny experience with a foreign consulate or embassy, please share it with us. From my side, I wish all those courageous and cool people who bear the humiliating treatment at most of the western embassies and consulates a safe and enjoyable trip.

I also wish a happy stay for those who have chosen to stand the hot Saudi weather and temper. As for me, I haven't decided what to do with my vacation yet. But till I do so, wish me a happy one and meet you in three weeks, Insha' Allah.