My parents were here last week

It were so good to have them with us in Yanbu. I asked them wether they enjoyed Yanbu.. they said very much.. if only they do not have anything to do back in home country for sure they will stay for at least another week. Since they have business to look after(while they were not arround, my brother, Yusoff taking over the duty), and also Sofiah(my youngest sister, 9 ).. so they got not choice.

Earlier, we already plan to invite my parent also Sofiah. At first, the travel agency said they can arrange the visa. Almost 8 other people would like to join(cousins and aunties) when they heard that the agency can arrange for them. But at the end the agency declined. Not sure what are the reasons. They said the visa is not open yet. Somehow when we were in Mecca, we met a group of Malaysian(about 20) who came to KSA using visiting visa via UTAS Travel, and the cost we found quite high, almost like Ramadhan Umrah package. That's mean it can be arranged though the price we found unreasonable.

After almost 2 years staying in KSA, we found that moving around in KSA is not easy for outsiders and neither to the resident(expatriats). Every city has its own checkpoints. To purchase public transport tickets require you to show your valid identification card. Those who come to KSA with Umrah visa only allowed to enter Madinah and Mecca.Not other cities. That's what we have been informed. Only residents and those who come with visiting visa can travel around the kingdom.

All visitors will go through thorough checkup at the imigration before entring the country. It is very unlucky to women to enter or mobile in this kingdom if you do not have your mahram with you. Woman who is going to work here, before enter the kingdom, the employer representative must pick her in the airport, if not written permission will be sent through fax to the airport to allow her to come in or to change flight to another cities where she is going to work by the employer. If the employer forget to do that you will stuck in the airport for few days(in a detention room).

Woman also have difficulties in booking hotel room if you do not have man mahram. It happened several months ago reported in the newspaper, woman with small kids finally slept on the pedestrian road in the cold chilly night after unable to get room due to her husband was not with her at that time. So it sound unreasonable but that is the fact here.