A Middle East Expedition

This guard was assigned to our bus during our one- day visit to Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah was born in the desert in 1923. His father, Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, united the tribes on the Arabian peninsula into a nation under his family name in 1927. Abdullah has ruled Saudi Arabia as crown prince since 1987 and as king since 1996. His personal wealth is estimated to be over $21 billion. The kingdom is his family's fiefdom. Members of his family control all aspects of the nation.

The Koran (Qur'an) is the nation's constitution. Speech is a legal freedom, but anyone who speaks out against the Saudi family is jailed. Books, television, and the Internet are censored. Islam is the official religion and houses of other religions are forbidden.

Women are second- class citizens who are forbidden to drive, required to cover their bodies in public, and cannot disobey their husbands. The country is closed to tourists except for Moslem pilgrims during Ramadan. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia is considered a staunch ally of the USA, the Land of the Free.

At most stops, we found the traditional squat john toilets. I have always wanted to visit Saudi Arabia to see this strange country for

myself. I subscribe to Saudi

World, a beautiful propaganda magazine published by King Abdullah's petroleum company, Aramco. Several times I sent in applications for tours offered in the magazine but never heard back. When Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) offered a one- day trip into Saudi Arabia, I jumped at the opportunity.

Our boat, MV Artemis, docked at Port Diba at 7 am, the 42nd of 58 OAT trips allowed in Abdullah's kingdom in 2009. We were met by Dariq, our official guide, who received US Air Force training in 1975 and lived in Tulsa for three years, 1983- 1986, on an education visa. After a visit to Mecca in 1989, he became an official government guide, who conducted tours for foreign dignitaries.

These photographs give my impressions of a one- day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Next week: Arabia - Business

Most men we saw in Saudi Arabia wore the traditional gown and headdress. This young man ignores the traditional dress and has donned an AIG T- shirt. At a highway service station, this man made me a cup of hot tea. These young men adapted the traditional headdress with more modern white shirts and pants.