Its unlikely that I’ll ever get to post about a press trip to Saudi Arabia anytime soon but you never know. I am fascinated by cultures of the Middle East ever since visits to Israel and Jordan. On my last trip to Australia I brought a book called The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom by Sandra Mackey. It is a great read and filled with her personal observations. Sandra’s husband was a doctor in the country for years and Sandra lived there with him. She smuggled out articles under the aliases of Michael Collins and Justin Coe while living there. Her book points out the schizophrenic nature of Saudi Arabia in transition from backward to modern power player. If I ever get that press trip invite, I’ll be prepared.