if only we'd read this first!
Nothing can really prepare you for the first visit to Saudi Arabia. No wonder ex-pats refer to it as "The Magic Kingdom"! We read all the usual guides, ranging from the commercially available ones to the highly enthusiastic Saudi government ones... We tried to learn a few phrases in advance and - as fairly experienced ex-pats, were looking forward to another new phase in our life. However, Saudi is so different that we might as well have saved ourselves all the bother! Jewel Dhuru's book definitely sums up the "Saudi experience" that we, and most of the other ex-pats we met, came eventually to enjoy. I would recommend it not only as a good read "per se" but also as a frank and revealing insight into the pangs and pleasures in store for those heading to the "Magic Kingdom".