Trip to Saudi Arabia for the Global Forum for Volunteer Work

April 2009 | Lynne Dalton, The Centre for Volunteering

The Centre's CEO, Lynne Dalton, recently participated in the Global Forum of Volunteer Work, third sector in Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the patronage of H.R.H. Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, the Governor of Asir province.

The Forum was the first of its kind in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and was held April 15–19, 2009. The organisers, lead by Dr. Hani Aloufey, attracted a great number of international speakers from countries like Malaysia, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Ireland, The Philippines, Korea and China. Henrik Melius was the only Swedish representative.

Read Lynne's entertaining report about getting to Saudi Arabia.

I set off on Easter Saturday on the hope that all my paperwork would be in order. First hurdle was at the Sydney airport – they would not let me on board to travel to Saudi Arabia because I didn't have a visa which I was assured had been "sorted".

I rang the organisers who informed me that if I could get to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates I would be fine. Well, the airline would take me to Abu Dhabi without a visa so off I went. Arrived at Abu Dhabi at 1.30amand met my second hurdle.

After being assured that all would be well, the airline informed me that I wouldn't be able to travel on to Saudi Arabia until I had a visa. Rang the organisers again who tried to sort things but not before my plane for Jedda left with out me. Could I find myself somewhere to stay in Abu Dhabi for the night? Managed to get a recommendation for a motel nearby but cheapest room was about $320. Did I have a choice?

Third hurdle. Taxi driver couldn't read so took me about 50 kms in the wrong direction before I pointed out that this was not the motel I was supposed to be at. Soooo…50 kms back we went to the correct motel. By now it is 4am and I am fairly shattered. Went to sleep for a couple of hours then rang the organiser so to find out what was happening.
Could I get to the Saudi Embassy they asked? (about 50kms back in the direction I came from last night !!).

Next hurdle. Both credit cards bombed and the motel didn't have EFTPOS facilities. So had to use almost all the Saudi cash I had to pay the motel bill.

Off to the Saudi Embassy.

Yet another hurdle. It is the end of the Hajj and requires a special commitment of orthodox Muslims to go to Jedda. Guess where they were lined up to get a visa? Yep – that's right – the Saudi Embassy. In Muslim countries you can't line up with the men so after queuing up for half an hour I was directed to an adjoining room specifically for women. And of course every time a man came in – he received priority. Three hours later I was (very reluctantly) given a visa. Hallelujah!!! Rang the organisers and informed them of my success with the visa. Great – they said could I get to the airport for a plane that was leaving at 1pm (it is now 12:15pm). Boy was I going to try! It was about 45 degrees in the shade, I was dragging two bags all around the countryside, I was a woman travelling alone in an orthodox Muslim country with no visa and no money. Did I feel slightly vulnerable? You bet your puhtooty.

Anyway, a very accommodating taxi driver did the ole 50 km thingo again and headed for the airport at 145km per hour (its OK he said "so long I no go over 160km I no get booked"!!). I wouldn't have felt too bad but the taxi had no seatbelts. "No worry about seat belt," said the driver, "I drive OK". He must have forgotten about the other cars in the road – all going as fast or faster than him.

We made the airport and I had to run in and convert some Australian money in order to pay the fare.

Finally, boarded the plane for Saudi Arabia with some old friends I met at the Embassy that morning and I was off! What relief – I was now on the last leg.

What a difference a day…er…a visa makes. When I arrived in Jedda I was met by a driver carrying a bunch of flowers. I was escorted on a drive through Jedda before being driven to the regional airport for the last leg of my journey. At the airport the driver checked in my baggage and got my ticket issued and without anyone setting eyes on me. Funny security compared with how hard it was to get into the country. Anyway did I care – I was a walking zombie by this time.

It was about 1½ hours before my flight to Abha, the final destination. I was booked on business class and for the first half hour of the trip I was offered drinks, magazines, and food about three times. They probably offered more but I fell sound asleep and didn't wake up until the thump of the wheels hitting the runway at Abha about 9:30pm.

At Abha I followed the crowd into the arrivals lounge and was greeted by two men asking if I was there for the conference. As the only person (let alone) woman in the plane who wasn't covered from head to toe and blonde as well – it was a pretty good guess. They asked my name and then there was pandemonium. How did I end up there? I was supposed to be in the VIP arrival lounge. Everyone was waiting for me in the VIP arrivals. Much running between lounges by men in Arabic dress, luggage grabbed off conveyor belt and hurried to waiting limo past all the armed security guards – and I mean armed – pistols, AK48s etc.

Off we sped into the night – a convoy with armed vehicles with sirens blaring, blue and red lights flashing, cars being loud hailed to pullover and get out of the way at 140kms through the streets of Abha. Rather a good way to inform prospective terrorists of a good target I thought. I felt more secure with my Abu Dhabi taxi driver than I did with an armed escort advertising to the world that there was a moving target available passing through downtown Abha!! And again no seatbelt so thoughts of Lady Di crossed my mind. I was quite relieved we didn't go through any tunnels.

Arrival at impressive hotel complex and ushered into my room – the size of a small flat and invited to go up to the dining room and order what ever I wanted.

Well, I thought – made it. If I can get through that shemozzle I can get anywhere in the world. All I need now is a good stiff drink. Oh oh – bugger!!! Ah well – the kidneys can have a holiday too.

Wonder what the trip home will bring?