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| SAUDI
ARABIA TRAVEL GUIDE |
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Famous
Saudi Arabia Landmarks
Jeddah:
True Spirit of Saudi Arabia
Jobs
in Al Khobar
Mecca
Attractions
Medina
Things to Do: Relax and Unwind in Medina
Miracles
and Mysticism at Makkah's Holy Well of Zamzam
Riyadh
- 3 Mesmerizing Side Trips
Riyadh
Shopping: Riyadh's Best Shopping Opportunities
Saudi
Arabia Culture: Inside the Kingdom
Yanbu
Guide
Saudi
Arabia Culture: Inside the Kingdom by Chris Robertson
Over the years, Americans' perceptions
of Saudi Arabia culture have shifted dramatically. At one time, Baby Boomers
and their parents may have associated the Kingdom with the folklore of
Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad. During the 1970s, the country was at the
center of the vortex of the oil crisis. In the post-9/11 world, Saudi Arabia
has been viewed by many with suspicion, if not downright hostility. Skyrocketing
costs at the gas pump have fueled an increasingly vocal chorus of those
calling for energy independence. Despite the extent to which the two countries
are intertwined, however, most Americans don't know very much about Saudi
Arabia beyond the images of sand and mystery that they've seen in movies
or read about in a novel.
| But even the best book notes
won't lift the veil and reveal the true essence of Saudi Arabia culture.
To do that, you have to read the account of someone who has lived and worked
among the Saudi people, who has experienced, firsthand, history in the
making. There are few outsiders who regularly interact with Wahhabi
Muslims in Saudi Arabia, for example, since most non-Arabs live in segregated
compounds.
The real insights into the
culture come from people like those who have worked in nursing in Saudi,
and thus have seen the good, the bad, and the unthinkable. For example,
something that Westerners take for granted - like an aspirin - can be rife
with controversy in Saudi Arabia culture. |
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Although aspirin's anti-clotting
properties have many useful medical purposes, for years women were prohibited
from taking the analgesic. Why? The thought was that aspirin could cause
longer menstrual periods, which meant that a woman would be "unclean" for
a greater length of time, which in turn would lead to an absence of conjugal
relations and the possibility that the husband would engage in a sinful
act with another woman.
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Westerners are often perplexed
by even the simplest Saudi customs, such as Saudis' traditional garb. In
truth, the multi-layered robes are extremely practical as a means of trapping
the body's moisture and prevent dehydration in the searing desert sun.
Although much has been made of the abaya, or black garment, that Saudi
women wear for modesty reasons, most Westerners don't realize that behind
closed doors and only in the company of other women, the abayat come off.
Underneath, the wealthy are often wearing the latest fashions that have
been imported from New York, Paris, and Milan.
To one extent or another,
each of us is ethnocentric, believing that our culture and our traditions
are superior to those of another. |
Saudi Arabia culture is
no different, in that Wahhabis believe that this Sunni sect of Islam is
superior to all others. Similarly, Americans tend to believe that their
culture is superior to that of Saudi Arabia. The truth, of course, is at
neither extreme. Indeed, it is only through exposure to another's culture
through the eyes of someone who has lived it can we build bridges of understanding.
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About the Author: Chris Robertson
is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet
marketing companies. For tips/information, click here: Saudi
Arabia culture. Visit Majon's Books
and Magazines directory. |
|
Famous
Saudi Arabia Landmarks by Christine Woodad
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
covers much on the Arabian Peninsula. The state has been united in 1932
by King Abdulaziz. It truly is surrounded by the lands Oman,
Yemen,
Jordan,
and United Arab Emirates. The nation is the 14th
greatest in the world. Saudi Arabia incorporates mountains, mountain ranges,
plateaus, and deserts. These deserts usually do not support life and most
of the population is living in the western and eastern coastal regions
or in the interior of the nation. The region along the Persian Gulf is
rocky and sandy. Saudi Arabia, which is covered mostly by deserts, includes
a warm temperature most of the time. Still, the mountainous regions sometimes
knowledge snowfall.
| As a consequence of its
history, culture, wealth, and technological advancements, Saudi Arabia
has in a very short space of time become a famous traveler destination.
The key tourist attraction in this country is Mecca, that is visited by
countless Muslims each year. They go to this spot according to the Islam
recommendation as being a spiritual journey and it has the Kaaba Enclosure
and the birthplace of their prophet Muhammed, the House of Abdullah Bin
Abdul Muttalib.
The other well-known places
in Saudi Arabia are Riyadh, Hasa, Jeddah, and Hejaz. Riyadh may be the
country's capital manufactured of several buildings and malls also it houses
certainly one of the greatest airports in the world. It has been one of
the most progressive cities in the country. |
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Hasa, that is situated in
the eastern component of Saudi Arabia, is common for its coastal locations,
fishing markets, and oil deposits.
These petroleum deposits
have attracted foreign investors, contributing to the financial stability
on the kingdom. Jeddah can be a historic area that by no means fails to
attract visitors owing to its architectural buildings and its world-class
restaurants. Hejaz will be the trading and business spot in Saudi Arabia.
This is also the cultural capital on the kingdom.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
features delectable dishes that satisfy the diner's palate. These dishes
may be influenced by Arabian cooking or by various countries globally such
as Oriental, Indian, American, and European. International junk food chains
are turning out to be popular in the country.
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About the Author: If you
find this article useful, you may also visit famouswonders.com to read
more about some of the best places to visit and have a look at syria
tourist attractions. |
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Bahrain
- Cyprus - Egypt
- Israel - Jordan
- Kuwait - Lebanon
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Morocco
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Oman - Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria - Turkey
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United
Arab Emirates - Yemen
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