Job Discussion Forums

Win Some Lose Some · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 64

I realize that in an absolute monarchy, what is illegal may change from day to day, but since I just got an offer in KSA, one of the most important things to me is my window on the world, the place where I can express my opinions and beliefs and argue with many often truly obnoxious people about them without worrying about being arrested, tortured, deported, or otherwise stigmatized and abused. (I realize that a well-known highly industrialized nation that I just might be a citizen of has also become well-known for such human rights abuses in recent years especially against Muslims, so my intention is NOT to be Holier-Than-Them.)

My window on the world, my primary educational and communications tool is (I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone) the Internet. The way I can have privacy between myself and a server in a distant country is by purchasing a virtual private network service (VPN). I already have done so. But, of course, a country can make it illegal to possess a VPN and act against you accordingly.

So, I'm trying to find out if people can and do use VPNs in KSA to keep them in touch with the wider world.

You are encouraged to respond to this question by PM since I realize that this forum is, in all likelihood, monitored by KSA agents.

Thanks, in advance, for your feedback.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Lots of people have VPNs in the Kingdom and use them all the time. Hopefully one of them will PM you with the ones they use. The best ones are naturally the ones with a charge, but it doesn't seem to be terribly expensive.

VS

johnslat · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:09 pm Post subject:

Lots of things are "illegal" in the Kingdom - I think "satellite dishes" probably still are. Yet, when you look at the roofs of Riyadh, you'll see literally thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands) of them.

Oh, and of course alcohol's still illegal, too. Very Happy

Regards,
John

Win Some Lose Some · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 64

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

Alcohol is extremely rare in Saudi Arabia. Rolling Eyes

It's farther from the truth as a non-imbibing Muslim!

johnslat · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:02 pm Post subject:

Dear Win Some Lose Some,

Beer can be home-brewed, but most make their own "wine" there. Get a 10 gallon Rubbermaid:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=10+gallon+rubbermaid&hl=en&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&biw=1440&bih=689&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=7283814251641589897&sa=X&ei=k2OQTsTAFKfWiALM8ZjNCA&ved=0CIsBEPMCMAA#ps-sellers

and go to your local Safeway supermarket. Buy about twenty bottles (or more) of non-alcoholic grape drink, about 10 kilos of sugar, and some yeast.

Put it all in the container, mix well, set in sun for a minimum of a week. It won't have a superior bouquet Very Happy

but it'll do the job.

Regards,
John

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

Ya know, John, I was always and will always be a "honey brewer". I'm speaking of beer, of course, as grape juice contains enough natural sugar already. Honey, rather than refined sugar, doesn't leave a nasty aftertaste.

As far as containers are concerned, those big-ass water cooler bottles with an airlock always did it for me.

WSLS, always remember, when brewing, don't be anxious! Start it a-brewin' and let it sit in the back of a closet for a couple of weeks. Once is stops a-gurglin', let it sit for a few days more. Also, be patient when siphoning it into the Rausch wine bottles (Yeah, I know thy reading Saudi mutawa, Saudi REALLY NEEDS wine bottles that are resealable!)

One thing that you don't want is exploding bottles!

It's the only way to go!

Taiwanlight Zone · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Danshui, Taiwan

John, as always, I appreciate your generous advice. And I'm not even in KSA though I might be returning there in the nearish future. Which may bring a certain satisfaction to a well-known Caledonian who haunts these boards from time to time and with whom I had a rather entertaining run-in on the subject of KSA a while back.

But I digress. I just wanted to add that in my time there, in the age before the dinosaurs were even a twinkle in the eye of whatever beasties preceded them, we were taught by the veterans of those days to always sterilize the container before engaging in aforementioned illegal manufacture of toxic but enjoyable chemicals. I can't for the life of me remember the sterilizing agent but it was easily available. Just add it to water if I recall correctly and swill it round the sides of the container. The other thing I remember was that we would add 100% proportion of water to the mix unless you liked your booze really strong.

I also experimented with other juices such as strawberry and plum. Variety being the spice of life and all that.