What about your trip

The clash of swords, the swaying of bodies to a slow drum beat, the thrusting intrusion of a news camera: this I thought, is what it’s like when you dance with a Prince!

Prince Abdul had invited me, plus a couple of thousand others, to a horse race and a sumptuous lunch in the desert and to what would become a memorable day. It started with a two hour drive in a 4x4 to an encampment in the middle of nowhere, to tents with carpets, a horse race and the National Guard stunt riding team, laid on for guests from abroad as well as Saudi Arabia.

The horse race was over a twenty five mile course and after the start and the horses had disappeared into the dust and distance of the desert, the guests were ushered into tents from the carpeted sand where they had been served an exquisite sweet tea. I took two pictures and then Murphy’s Law came into the equation and my cameras packed up!

Hands plunging into the communal bowl and tearing off pieces of lamb and camel, followed by handfuls of rice, and salad: an unusual way to be lunching? Unless of course, it happens to be in Saudi Arabia! A wonderful traditional feast had been set out to which we sat down, cross legged on the carpet. As well as the meat, there were jugs of all sorts of juices and mountains of exotic fruit for dessert. In each tent sat down about four hundred men and of course not a single woman in sight. The food was served in large decorated earthenware bowls about two feet in diameter and full to the brim, one to each six guests. Tearing the meat apart with ones hands and sharing the meal together in such a close way, made me feel that the restaurants of London were from another world.

After an interesting luncheon discussion about the cultural differences between Europe and the Arabic world, with my immediate neighbours who all came from other surrounding countries. We were then shown to the carpeted area outside the tents for some Arabic coffee. We applauded the winning horses and jockeys back from their long hard race and watched the stunt riders go through their fantastic routines, which included jumping from a horse at full gallop and bouncing up again into the saddle.

     Then slowly I became aware of strange sound, and the Prince and his courtiers began to sway, clashing their swords together in time to the slow deep of drums. The guests gathered in a circle to watch this ceremonial sword dance led by the Prince and his friends. Suddenly, I was offered a sword and thrust into the middle of the courtiers and before I could worry if I could do the dance and not slice anyone with my weapon: I was amongst them, crossing swords with the Prince and his companions. The European amongst this elite Saudi group seemed to attract the TV cameras that permanently followed the Prince and for a few minutes I had a small inkling of what it must be like to be continuously in the limelight.

     The circle of watchers started to join in the slow singing, the rhythm intensified and I thought ‘If they could see me now’. The cameras pushed in closer at the sight of this Londoner: like a fish out of water, with his Tilley hat in the middle of these Arab courtiers in their robes, trying to do this sword dance. It must have been the local news team’s dream come true. I started to imagine the amazing picture this conjured up and thought that maybe I should leave the centre circle and pass my sword to someone else before my friends ‘did see me now’.

Sent by Tony Annis (18-03-08)