RooFlyer
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I'm in Sydney, about to depart for Jakarta to commence a 10 day trip to Saudi Arabia and Doha, there having a very cheap 5 star 'Doha stopover' from QR. Mixed feelings. Someone close to me has been gravely ill and the trip was in doubt until 2 days ago, but still might be cut short. So we'll see how we go. And of course there is the small thing that there might be a war nearby, too.
Main thing to se this time is northern Saudi, where the southern part of the Nabatean empire existed (the Nabateans built Petra), and there are Petra-like tombs near Al Ula plus other historical stuff. Plus the holy city of Madinah, which until recently was closed to non-Muslims; Mecca still is. A couple of days in Jeddah.
I visited Saudi twice for work in the 1990s
A trip (report) down memory lane - Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the 90s!
Yes, we went round the country in a Merc - those were the days! And we visited one of King Solomon's Mines - Mhad a Dhab, where they actually let us into the gold room (almost unheard of for visitors to get access).
Those aren't refined gold bars; let’s say 80% and only 10kg each. At the gold price then of US385/oz, ~US$135,000 each. Maybe 20 bars - ~US$2.7 million. Of course at today's gold price, I was holding ~US$1.7 million's worth, and the stash ~US$34 million. Edit : times those values by 80%.
So the plan is
HBA-SYD-HBA VA paid J
SYD-CGK-SYD QF Award in J
CGK-DOH-JED-DOH-CGK in QR paid J, with a 'Doha Stopover of 2 nights in the Accor Mondrian, Doha courtesy of QR stopover, $354 for 2 nights, DOH-JED-DOH is marked as First, but its just business, but does allow access to Al Safwa First Lounge in DOH!
A few nights in Jeddah - Clarion at JED on Choice Hotels points, and the Movenpick Tahlia. I was hoping to book the new Jeddah Raffles, but it didn't open when scheduled.
Pullman in Madinah, one night each way
Haramain fast train JED-Madinah-JED in business. This caused a bit of a problem. They only allow ONE case even in business, plus a 'personal item'. This has meant I have had to bring my gym bag rather than carry-on for my carry-on and I'll cram it into the case for the train.
Enterprise hire-car Madinah to Al Ula and 'Cloud 7' residences at Al Ula.
Main thing to se this time is northern Saudi, where the southern part of the Nabatean empire existed (the Nabateans built Petra), and there are Petra-like tombs near Al Ula plus other historical stuff. Plus the holy city of Madinah, which until recently was closed to non-Muslims; Mecca still is. A couple of days in Jeddah.
I visited Saudi twice for work in the 1990s
A trip (report) down memory lane - Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the 90s!
Yes, we went round the country in a Merc - those were the days! And we visited one of King Solomon's Mines - Mhad a Dhab, where they actually let us into the gold room (almost unheard of for visitors to get access).
Those aren't refined gold bars; let’s say 80% and only 10kg each. At the gold price then of US385/oz, ~US$135,000 each. Maybe 20 bars - ~US$2.7 million. Of course at today's gold price, I was holding ~US$1.7 million's worth, and the stash ~US$34 million. Edit : times those values by 80%.
So the plan is
HBA-SYD-HBA VA paid J
SYD-CGK-SYD QF Award in J
CGK-DOH-JED-DOH-CGK in QR paid J, with a 'Doha Stopover of 2 nights in the Accor Mondrian, Doha courtesy of QR stopover, $354 for 2 nights, DOH-JED-DOH is marked as First, but its just business, but does allow access to Al Safwa First Lounge in DOH!
A few nights in Jeddah - Clarion at JED on Choice Hotels points, and the Movenpick Tahlia. I was hoping to book the new Jeddah Raffles, but it didn't open when scheduled.
Pullman in Madinah, one night each way
Haramain fast train JED-Madinah-JED in business. This caused a bit of a problem. They only allow ONE case even in business, plus a 'personal item'. This has meant I have had to bring my gym bag rather than carry-on for my carry-on and I'll cram it into the case for the train.
Enterprise hire-car Madinah to Al Ula and 'Cloud 7' residences at Al Ula.
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