I know that OAT is issuing everyone "grad gowns" to wear as to not offend. They show a picture of it online. I think this will be exciting even if it is only for a day. I'm also sure we will be "talked to" before going ashore. Glad to see things are opening up a bit.

Would be interested in any feedback you can give me on the Oat's Egypt/Red Sea/Jordan trip. We leave on 2/15/2009

Rusty1cub

Saudi Arabia- Do not wear any symbols of Christianity, crosses on necklace, bracelet, pendants, etc. If you do, the associated limb may be hacked off. Tell me, in the name of God why anyone would want to even set foot in that country? Unless it is to make lots of oil money!!!!

regards - tom

"Tell me, in the name of God why anyone would want to even set foot in that country? Unless it is to make lots of oil money!!!!"

To get at least a teeny glimpse into a country that few of us will ever see??? Heaven knows I wouldn't care to live there, but to see the unknown? Sign me up.

Please report back!

Tom, I have visited, and it sounds like you have not, and its a very enlightening trip. I note the last sentence of your post, which I hope was tongue-in-cheek, but notwithstanding religious intolerance, the US has not hesitated in doing business in Saudi Arabia, and notwithstanding Bush's shouting about bringing "Democracy to the Middle East," he was too petrified to broach that topic vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia.

Its a very interesting destination, very near the top of the 120 UN countries that I have visited.

Its a stragetically important country, and I feel very lucky to have visited.

To me, its much more interesting to visit new places, especially those whose ideas are so different from many of our own. To me, that's much more enlightening than multiple repeat visits to the same national park, but I do understand the appeal of the familiar to some.

Boycott-
A boycott is a form of consumer activism involving the act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with someone or some other organization as an expression of protest, usually of political reasons.

And in my case more so "human rights" than political.

regards - tom

I was on a Red Sea cruise last year. We stopped at a few of the places you will be visiting. Here's a link to the trip report: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...Femi&fid=4

If the link dosen't work, the report is titled 'Sailing to Eritrea'

I was in Duba (Diba) and Tabuk on Christmas Day this year. I found the day tour to be educational and interesting. Granted, it was controled but our guide answered any and all questions we presented to him. He also said they were developing tourism and there was 600,000 tourists last year and they hoped to have a million this year. He worked hard to provide an excellent day. I believe it is important to explore other countries,religions, cultures, foods, etc. first hand rather than believing only what you see on the news.

I would agree with Southeastern! And while human rights issues may still have a long way to go in KSA, "the times, they are a-changin"! It's probably not a great idea to display crucifixes or other signs of reglious affiliation while visiting KSA, but you certainly won't have a limb hacked off for doing so - get real, Tom! Incidentally,some people here boycott American products, to protest American-supported Israeli aggression in Gaza.