My stay with 7Z1UG in Riyadh
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
I
have been Manfred 7Z1UG’s QSL-Manager since April 2006.
Before
reporting from my visit, I would like to start by explaining the functions
of a QSL Manager for those colleagues who are unclear as to what the job entails.
I
assume you know what QSL- cards are and that they are generally available
via national amateur radio associations worldwide. But what happens if OM
resides in a country where there is no such association present? Should s/he
abandon the idea or get the QSL-cards delivered by post? Otherwise, s/he could
look for a QSL-Manager in a country where such an association exists.
Nowadays
most QSL cards can be purchased via a QSL Manager. S/he sorts the cards, cross-checks
the transmission data with the log and responds to the cards. I receive in-between
150 and 350 cards per month from the office and another 20 cards by post.
The work can be done rather quickly with a PC (I use HAM
Office) and labelprint. Moreover, I enjoy working with cards from all
over the world. I am still of the opinion that “the QSL-card finalises the
Amateur Radio connection!”.
But
now I shall continue with my visit to Riyadh.
At
the beginning of 2007 Manfred told me he would like me to visit him in Riyadh
and we agreed this should take place between 10th and 26th April. I arranged
for a new passport and Manfred sorted out the formalities for the invitation.
You can only obtain a Visa if you have an invitation from someone in Saudi
Arabia, which needs to be certified by the Saudi Ministerium. Manfred booked
my return travel with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. On my outbound flight
I had 23 hours to spare and hence the opportunity to do some sightseeing.
Istanbul:
The famous Sultan-Ahmet-Mosque, also known as "Blue Mosque"
On
12th April I arrived at 1pm local time in Riyadh. Manfred and his XYL-Pacita
met me at the airport. We stayed up until dawn drinking coffee and mineral
water with ice to get to know each other. In the afternoon Manfred showed
me around the city.
Faisalia
Tower
|
In
the Souk
|
During
the following days Manfred set up an itinerary for me to introduce me to
his country and people. His work colleague Saud showed us the over 200 year
old ruins in his home city Al Mozahimiya and we then drove out to the "Red
Sands", a picturesque sand desert. The 400 PS Landcruiser took us up
and down the dunes. To get stuck would have been fatal! Afterwards we joined
the beduines and I had to sit on a camel (which was actually a dromedary).
However, I was back down after 30 seconds…. It isn’t that easy without a
saddle and without a bridle to hold onto. The people must have had tummy
ache from laughing! Afterwards we had fresh camel milk, which tasted better
than I had anticipated.
In
the evening Saud prepared "Mandi" for us, rice and meat (usually
mutton, but especially for us chicken) which is roasted in a fired earth
hole and eaten with your fingers (ONLY the right ones as the left ones are
not clean). This was accompanied by tea and Arabic coffee.
Old
part of Al Mozahimiya
|
The
"Red Sands"
|
High
up, steep and nothing to hold onto...
Saud
gives me a hand with a stick
|
Fresh
Camel milk...
|
Ahmed,
another colleague, invited us to an Arabic restaurant and a Sheesha-pub
thereafter. The typical water pipes are not allowed in the city of Riyadh,
which is why you have to drive a few kilometres to enjoy for example a Sheesha
with strawberry tobacco.
...and
I thought that was already the main course...
|
In
the "Sheeshah Area"...
|
The
weekend (the Islamic Thursday and Friday) we flew to Jeddah on the Red Sea.
We stayed with Samir HZ1SK/OD5SK and his family and enjoyed the libanese
hospitality and food. The following day we looked around the city and spent
the evening with Samir and his XYL Basma in a libanese beach restaurant.
Gerd
DG1XG, Samir HZ1SK/OD5SK, Manfred 7Z1UG/DK2UG, Yarub HZ1YB
|
|
Upon
our return in Riyadh Manfred HZ1IK invited us for dinner in his garden.
We had tomato soup, grilled steaks and salad.
Dinner
at HZ1IK
Gerd
DG1XG, Manfred HZ1IK, Manfred's 7Z1UG XYL Pacita
|
In
the shack of HZ1IK
|
Our
last tour took us by car to Al Khobar on the Persian Golf. 450km through
the desert. There we met up with friends of Manfreds XYL Pacita.
In
the meantime, Manfred had organised for me to wear the traditional clothes
in Souk.
Time
just flew by. There was so much to see. For myself, who had never before
left Europe, everything was strange and new. Sometimes fascinating, but
sometimes also making one feel uneasy, for example when Manfred told me
I was standing on a place of execution. I took a lot of impressions back
home with me and it will take a while for me to absorb these. Of course,
I made a few QSOs via echolink and short-wave, with OM from my local association
and some other colleagues. However seeing and experiencing was a priority.
I
am unable to put all these impressions in a few sentences! You can see a
video show at Manfreds
Homepage.
Surely
not every QSL-Manager will receive such an invitation to travel! I would
like to thank Manfred, his XYL Pacita and Housemaid Vilma for this experience.
I would also like to thank Samir
HZ1SK and his XYL Basma, Saud, Ahmed and Manfred
HZ1IK for all your invitations and your kind hospitality.
Thanks
also to Vero from London UK for the translation!
Ma'asalama!
Gerd DG1XG
