Ever since I was associated with a project for a Saudi Arabia customer, there was a possibility that I would have to make a trip to that place.
In keeping with travel uncertainties, everything happened at the eleventh hour. While my flight to Bombay was at 8.30 PM on Fri, 22nd November, 2002, till 5.30 PM, I'd no idea whether my visa to Saudi Arabia was through or not.
Finally things fell in place. I found myself in the Saudia check-in counter on a peaceful Saturday morning, looking an odd man out, with my laptop. Most of the travellers were those going, either to work there, or for doing Umrah (visit to Makkah). It was Ramadan season - a holy month of fasting and prayers for Muslims.
I had to go to Jedda and as usual, it was a two-leg trip: Bombay-Riyadh and Riyadh-Jedda. My first travel in Saudia was interesting. I'd expected burkha-clad air-hostesses, but was pleasantly surprised to find their faces uncovered, though their hair was.
Lunch was served in the flight, and it landed at 12.30 PM (local time) in Riyadh. All luggages, including checked in ones are opened by customs. For some reason, the customs officer took interest in two floppies I was having and this meant a half-an-hour wait, while they took my passport and floppies.
I'm surprised I was let scott free as one of the floppy was a Linux boot floppy and if they had put it on and restarted their computer, they would have had the shock of their lives!
The connection to Jeddah was at 4.30 PM and this meant I had four hours to kill. Jeddah Airport is huge and magnificent. The theme is "hexagon" - hexagon design is predominant everywhere - the walls, the floor designs, the roof.
It being Ramadan, no restaurants were open. No scope for entertainment, and my novel was in the checked-in luggage.
I had good time pass watching the transit passengers. For the first time, I was seeing lots of Arabs, dressed in their traditional attire - full length robe and head-gear. I also saw a different attire, I guess, for those who were going to Makkah - they were dressed entirely in two towels - one covering the lower half and the other the upper half. All the ladies were in burkhas.
An interesting discovery was the popularity of cell phones in the place. Every other person seemed to tot one - the traditional dress and the modern cell seemed to be a paradox!
I could see several Indian commuters too - predominently Mallus (Malayalees). I didn't see any point in striking up conversation with any:)
Well! any way, my flight finally departed with a full load, mostly of those going to Makkah. Besides human beings, the flight also carried a couple of birds - perched atop the palms of two passengers. This seemed to be a normal occurrence in these flights - I was glad I wasn't sitting next to one of them!
Snacks were served on flight, but there were no eaters, as it was still fast time. Finally a few minutes before touch-down, the fast was broken.
I was put up in Jeddah Hilton and had a pick-up from the Airport.
Jeddah Hilton is arguably the best hotel in town - a magnificent structure, bordering the beach on one side, and overlooking the city on the other.
The drive from Airport to Hotel was 15 minutes through lovely roads and on a lovely car. I was finally settled in saudi Arabia - my first visit to Middle East.
Mecca is just an hour's drive from Jedda, and that is where people go to do Hajj. You need to be a Muslim to enter Mecca. I can say, I went as close as possible to the holiest Muslime shrine!
Cab is the medium of transport, there being no buses, trains or trams. Cab drivers are out to con you, unless they happen to be Indians or Pakis. We found very good Paki cab wallahs, one of whom refused to take money from us for a trip, and another, who was a guide for some last-minute purchases.
The city shuts off till 6 PM every day thanks to Ramadan month, but it stays up till 4 AM. No shops are opened during this day, and getting food is out of question. Saudi Arabia is a nation in prayer during this month.
Work was done as scheduled and I caught the earliest flight back from there - the 0105 Air India Jeddah-Bombay (via Calicut) flight, to reach Bombay at 11.30 AM on Tue, 26th November. This was not before I had an unforgettable experience!
I was in Bangalore Airport at 5.30 PM on the same day, well in time for dinner at home, with my better half.