Flying the Hajj

[Soverytired]

I knew one guy who flew chartered heavy jets for the Haj, and he swore up and down the dirt-ignorant "gentlemen" in the back of the plane cleansed their feet by washing them in the aircraft lavatory.

How could he tell? BLUE FEET.

(To be fair, if I were in their culture, I'd probalby do something equally ignorant, like insist on equal treatment under the law for women or some such nonsense)

 

[Dan Roman]

Generalizations are nice crj, they keep things simple don't they? Kind of like Fox News.

When actually interacting and meeting people from other countries and cultures one on one at a personal level, I rarely find I meet anyone that I truly dislike. That can be said even if I completely disagree with many things inside their countries.

The vast majority of people in any country worldwide, worry about feeding their families and ensuring a better life for their kids. It is the small vocal minority that try and push their religion and whacko views on people. It is politicians, rulers and nut jobs that start wars, not the guy working for a living to feed his family.

As for generalizations, some of the worst acting, rude and arrogant passengers I have ever met where ones that flew out of White Plains, NY. But, that is just what I have experienced.

Very well said.

Travel is one of the best forms of education you can get. It also really puts in perpective how ignorant some people who never leave the U.S. and think Fox news is the end all be all of information are.

 

[Dan Roman]

All depends on where you will be based for the duration.

Bring vitamin C, ehcinecea and anything else that helps stop a cold from coming on.Everyone usually ends up getting "Hajj Cough" which lasts for about 3-4 weeks.

Immodium is another safe item to bring, plan on some quality "reading time" in the john.

By the way, there is a product called Curing. It's a herb you can get at a health food store and works great for slowing down any negative effects of upset digestive track problems.

 

[414Flyer]

A few handy Arabic phrases translated to English --

AKBAR KHALI-KILI HAFTIR LOFTAN.= Thank you for showing me your marvelous gun.
...

Those look Farsi, not Arabic.

 

[DC10]

I have traveled to 72 countries, including every country in the Middle East with the exception of Yemen. I've never been robbed, mugged, threatened in any way or EVER felt in any danger.

The Middle East, along with the rest of the world is an extremely welcoming place for the average foreigner. Treat them with the same respect you'd expect and you can't go wrong. Take the same advice regardless of where you travel.

Travel is the best remedy for narrow-mindedness. Ignore what the mainstream US media, especially FOX News tells you about the rest of the world.

 

[PHXFLYR]

I could not agree more, i am always amazed how the media makes the rest of the world look like nut jobs. Then i walk around the street on the other side of the planet and everyone is warm and polite.

I wold also like to second the White Plains comment, what jerks!

Same here. Spent 10 years flying in and out of there in my commuter days during the quonset hut terminal era. They sure were impressed with themselves. I am thoroughly convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that they must spend their vacations in Hilton Head,SC (HHH) and have relatives in Orange County, CA (SNA) ;two other cities I've flown in and out of over the years where the clientel thinks the world revolves around them and the rest of us are nothing more than lowly pieons.

PHXFLYR

 

[crj567]

Yep-

White Plains does blow, but go and fly the Hajj ad get back to me about these people......

You have no idea what complete scumbags you are defending. Go and meet a few of them-go and see how they will stone a woman to death after she is raped for "having _ex outside marriage." Maybe you should acquiant yourself with these people before saying they are like everyone else. They simply are not wired right-basic assumptions we all make about good vs. bad are not part of their culture.

-Perhaps you folks think stoning women to death for being raped is a good idea... I do not.

 

[Dan Roman]

There is a lot more misplaced arrogance in this country compared to some "foreign" countries I've been to. As is being well said here, the more time you spend on foreign soil the more you realize how much we all have in common despite our differences.
I find it interesting how much better informed many people outside of the U.S. are about world affairs compared to the average U.S. citizen.

 

[Dan Roman]

Yep-

White Plains does blow, but go and fly the Hajj ad get back to me about these people......

You have no idea what complete scumbags you are defending. Go and meet a few of them-go and see how they will stone a woman to death after she is raped for "having _ex outside marriage." Maybe you should acquiant yourself with these people before saying they are like everyone else. They simply are not wired right-basic assumptions we all make about good vs. bad are not part of their culture.

-Perhaps you folks think stoning women to death for being raped is a good idea... I do not.

Yep and there are Americans that will drag a black man behind a pick up truck in Texas. But I've also met some really nice people from Texas.
There are good people and bad people in every country in the world.

 

[CKJET]

I have done it twice... 97 and 98

The guys on the board have covered just about everything:

1. I have seen a fire lit for cooking. You have to rememer that some of these people may have never seen a car prior to this trip much less an airplane.

2. When ATC gets busy it something that you should tape record and post on this board when you get back. You may find that your English will worsen trying to understand what some of these guys are saying.

Good luck!