By MARK McLAUGHLIN
at Amsterdam Schipol Airport-Dammam-Doha
19 November 2009
Set off for Doha in the early hours of this morning, with a five hour stopover at Amsterdam Schipol Airport. Having never been to Amsterdam, but heard many a story from my reprobate friends, I was disappointed to find the airport devoid of strippers. I did, however, find the "slag room", which much to my annoyance turned out to be Dutch for "whipped cream".
The airport has a casino, which I stayed well clear of preferring to keep my cash, and at the time of flying also an art exhibition featuring paintings by the Brueghel family of artists, who are apparently quite well known if you're Dutch and into art.
I set off again for a quick stopover in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to pick up the final passengers set for Doha. An Arab family boarded the plane. The father was sporting a jet-black beard and a gleaming white dishdasha, and the elder son was similarly attired with a wispy bumfluff moustache which I found quite amusing. The women, presumably his wives and/or daughters, followed dressed in black burqas and they were followed in turn by throng of happy looking children, dressed in simple jeans and t-shirts and as yet unencumbered by the strict Saudi dress code of their elders.
The culture shock was complete when the Dutch air-hostesses, a spirted bunch who had teased me for most of the flight for trying to pay for the complimentary alcohol (who knew!), arrived with complimentary toys for the children.
"Santa Clause is here," said one of the air-hostesses, apparently unaware of her cultural faux pas.
I don't think Saint Nick would be too welcome round these parts!
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