Saudi Arabia Report (English)

As soon as I returned home after finishing KR project in Nigeria, another big job(PMY
project) had started in our head office. Everybody seemed to be full of interest in PMY
project. PMY meant the abbreviation for ゛Petromin Mobil Yanbu Export Fuels Refinery" to
be constructed at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. In the same time we had another project, YDR
(Yanbu Domestic Refinery)project being in progress at the adjacent premises. The
construction work at site for PMY project was to be commenced after the completion of
YDR project. Yanbu,construction site was once a small fishing village situated at a coast of
the Red Sea introduced in the cinema of ゛Arabian Lowrence", however in those days it's
looks had been changed into a huge industrial complex. area. Yanbu is located at 300Km
Northwest of Jeddah famous for trading port and with a distance of about 150Km from
Mecca famous for pilgrimage. Oil resources in Saudi Arabia was mostly found in such east
Arabian Bay coast as Kafuji and Lastanura, so most of oil treating facilities like oil refineries
were erected in those areas since old times. PMY project was purposed to enable exporting
oil products from the Red Sea by laying 1,500Km crude oil pipeline from the eastern oil field.
I thought there were many reasons to build a new refinery in the west of Saudi Arabia. One
was to secure a western shipping route(Red Sea) even if the eastern shipping route(Arabian
Sea) might be blocked by the war such as previous Iran-Iraq war. Another reason was to
promote the industrialization throughout Saudi Arabia and to provide jobs for the
settlement of Bedouins as well as to secure oil products such as gasoline even in the west
area.

The beginning of May in 1981 I made a bussiness trip to Philippine as a witness to the
qualification test for Filipino workers to be dispatched to YDR project. Generally Filipino
workers were said to be competent for overseas construction work because of their
skillness of speaking English and competitive manpower cost. Philippine itself encouraged
Filipino to obtain foreign money from outside countries, therefore a lot of applicants rushed
in the overseas projects such as YDR or PMY. R company in Manila was one of our
manpower supplier in Philippine. Usually the plant construction said as composite engineering
requires various type of industries such as civil,architectural,mechanical,electrical and
instrument engineering etc. Our main purpose on this business trip was to select eligible
workers for electrical and instrument works. We interviewed to each applicant according to
the application form to be prepared and checked his character,health and English ability etc.
Technical workers such as electrician and instrument fitter were selected by both interview
test and actual trade test. We finished smoothly two days program in Manila. The president
of R company kindly arranged dinner party for us at his friend house on the final day in
Manila. We accepted his invitation and went there by his microbus.

Philippine was affected by China in various aspects due to geographical location. The
landlord seemed to be a Chinese influential person carrying on his business in the world
because I found his proud pictures hanging on the wall. All of the persons including cooks
and servants in this house gave us a warm hospitality. We could enjoy eating Chinese foods
as well as Fillipine foods to our heart's content but we were surprised at serving a whole
roasted pig in our presence. When I tasted a mouthful of it timidly as the host was told,
unexpectedly I found it soft,thick and delicious. I was told this dish was the highest
hospitality to the guests. After dinner I returned to the hotel while thinking that the wealthy
persons in Philippine was large-scaled.

Next day we moved to Cebu island in one hour flight to attend the actual trade test. The
actual trade test was performed at the vocational training center (NMYC) furnished with
tools and materials for the test. The test given to electricians was to install magnets and
switches on a vertical board and to make wiring to the motor. We selected pipe fitters as
instrument fitters because no instrument fitters were available in Philippine. Through the
test we checked their skillness in bending, screwing, connecting and welding pipes. We tried
to make calibration helpers go up 9m water tank and checked their performance. The final
decision for the test result was made at Manila office. We could return to Japan with a good
result to secure the fixed workers as requested.

When I finished the report for the qualification test in Philippine and took breath at our
head office, I was requested to visit Peijin in China. Because at that time we had NR
project in Iraq and the qualification test was also planned to Chines workers as the said
project, so that the pre-meeting with the manpower supplier in China was needed in haste. I
was accompanied by Mr.O in charge of instrument work to go China preparing documents
titled ゛Qualification test procedure for Chines instrument fitters". We left for China by CA-
926,China Air Lines and arrived at Peking air port after 3 hours and half flight on 23th of
June,1981. Mr.I, M corp. received us at the air port and went to the hotel゛Shinnko Hanten"
by car running through an acacia avenue. After I relaxed at my room and tried to take a
bath twirling a bath tap,but no water dropped due to some damages. I persuaded myself ゛
Here is China not Japan". The following day we visited to Peking office of M Corp. situated
at 12 Floor of Peking Hanten and had a meeting with some staffs of the manpower supplier
through an interpreter about the method and schedule for qualification test in China. After
meeting the Chinese company offered us to invite a dinner and we accepted it. We went to
the restaurant゛Douwakou" introduced in the novel of Sawako Ariyoshi and received their
warm hospitality. There were a lot of delicious foods including Peking duck on our round
table and the host carried foods into our dishes by his chopsticks one by one. It was said
that this was the Chinese manner to receive guests warmly and we thanked them for their
warm hospitality.

The next day afternoon we inspected to Enzan oil refinery in the suburbs of Peking city.
Our car went through the country side and arrived there in a mountain after 2 hours drive.
It was smoky somewhere about here and I thought its location strange because usually an
oil refinery was erected near seaside not in a mountain so far I experienced. A woman staff
showed us politely over the factory. On our way back from there we found a small concrete
bridge over the fields as far as we could see. Our guide explained to us゛That is the Roko-
kyo bridge famous for Roko-kyo incident caused the war between China and Japan". I had
to put up with hearing his explanation. We arranged a dinner party for Chines company in
return for yesterday and entertained them in Chinese manner as learned.

As we finished all of meeting concerning the qualification test in China, we went sight-
seeing for Peking city and firstly dropped in a souvenir shop only for foreigner. There were
so many souvenirs such as inkstones,marbles and bamboo works and I bought a decorated
fan. Then I felt displeased at the manner of a shopgirl because she condescendingly threw
my changes on a counter with a cold face. I thought this was caused by the social system
differing from our country. I hope nowadays such a bad manner may be improved after
lapsing times. Next we visited to ゛Ten-anmon Square". What a large scale space it was !
The space was expanded immensely to the surrouding buildings and people there looked
very small. I imagined゛How many people could be accommodated in this place ?" I was told
by our guide that the national main events were usually held in this place. When I saw some
gigantic government offices built of marble over there I felt China was immeasurably big in
it's scale. Then we visited to ゛Kokyu"with a distance of 10Km circumference and ゛Shikin-jo"
famous for the film of ゛Last Emperor ". When we went through the gate, there were many
old big temples wearing tiled roofs with brownish color. To my surprise the footpath on my
feet was built with big size marble stones carried from mountains and there was no plants in
this premises isolated from outside. In addition I was deeply impressed with hearing from our
guide that these temples were built in ancient days. We could see the articles left by the
departed in ancient dynasty times and I realized again to know Chinese eternal history for
three thousand years. Chinese told us not to stick to such a tiny stain in a wall and to be
macroscopic. We finished all schedules in China and left hotel to the airport in early morning
on 27th of June and took our flight to Japan via Shanghai. I could enjoy looking a over view
in the sky for 2 hours to Shanghai. As soon as I thought that China would be powerful
country in near future because of their abundant natural and human resources,our flight
arrived at Shanghai airport. After 2 hours and 40 minutes transit time, our flight was taking
off for Narita at 4:15 in the afternoon.

　As soon as I returned from China, I was scheduled to go Thailand and Srilanka. In those
days there were so many overseas projects that I could have chances to go abroad. The
main purpose of this business trip was to make feasible study in investigating manpower and
construction equipment in the said contries. Because we had also the plan to mobilize
Thailander and Srilankan for SL project in Iraq. We sent our meeting agenda, schedule and
questionaire to the visiting companies in advance. At first we visited both S company and P
company in Bangkok, Thailand and had a meeting with some staffs to investigate such items
as qualification test, training facilities, mobilization of laborer and cost etc. In addition we
were conducted to D factory constructed before by S company in order to check their
actual working results. I had heard that generally Thailander are being engaged in such camp
works as operating, catering and cleaning more than construction works in middle east. We
ended our meeting on schedule in Thailand and left for Srilanka by TG flight at 11 o'clock in
the morning on 10th. Meters in the plane indicated 850 Km/h velocity, 1050m altitude and
42℃ temperature. A staff from H company received us at Colombo airport, Srilanka.
Srilanka was unstable in political situation as a tribe trouble between Shinhali and Tamier
however they were competitive in their manpower cost in the world. Nation is composed of
the said two tribes, Arabian line and European line therefore language and religion were
different each other. We visited H company, one of manpower supplier, mobilizing 700
laborers to NR project Iraq and had a meeting and checked their construction tools etc. in
accordance with our agenda.

Next day it was Sunday and we could have a chance to go sight-seeing with Mr.Sunil who
was a driver and arranged by H company. Mr.Sunil took us by his car to the temple said to
be held Buddah's teeth in Kandy city. On the way to there we could enjoy to drive seeing
the gigatic bible rock looking like a bible book and an anteater with long thorns from our car.
Before reaching the temple we took a lunch at the hotel named ゛Topaz" in a mountain. Mr.
Sunil recommended us to taste a home curry so we tried it. Dissimilarly to tasting curry in
Japan, we tasted it with his advice as a flavouring material for main dish. There were
various color and type of powder curry in small pots on our table and we could select to our
taste. Of course the curry was too much hot for me and I had a big fire in my mouth.
After lunch we left for Kandy city and in thirty minutes we arrived at the temple where
there were Buddah's teeth. We walked barefoot inside the temple and approached timidly to
the altar. I bowed deeply copying from Slirankan in front of the box containing Buddah's
teeth. I heard this temple was related with Japan and one of bells or lanterns was
presented by Japan. There was an open space in front of the temple where we saw a cobra
dancing and twisting in a basket. I had ever seen like this sight in a cartoon in my childhood
but this was the first time for me to see the snake dance before my eyes. On our way back
to the hotel we stopped at the beach in Colombo and enjoyed seeing the sunset.

Next day, on Monday we visited Ceylon refinery constructed by Italy 12 years ago. After
this we had the final meeting at H company and finished thus entire schedule in Srilanka.
We checked out our hotel at 9:30 a.m and took the flight SQ-023 departing at 12:15 to
Singapore. It was after 6 o'clock local time in the evening when we stood at Changi airport
in Singapore. We looked out the window from the taxi to our hotel carefully and came to
being aware of cleanness everywhere on the streets. From what I heard, Singapore was
campaigning to clean streets with the whole nation and regulated such offenders as
throwing dust insensitively or chewing a gum. That's why the streets were very neat and
clean. We stayed overnight there and toured such famous places as birds park and beautiful
Chines garden by sightseeing bus. And we left for home by the flight of JL712 departing at
10:30 p.m in the evening.

YDR project was progressing on schedule at that time and we received so many telexes
and telephones from site requesting manpowers. Therefore we had to finish qualification
test to Filipino and to dispatch the workers as soon as possible. Our flight PR-431 took off
Narita at 2:30 behind 30 minutes and landed on Manila air port where a tropical atmosphere
was drifting. at 5:20 local time in the evening after 3 hours flight on 11th of August. We
checked in the same M hotel as before and after taking a shower we enjoyed seafoods in a
restaurant of our hotel. The following day we had a meeting with staffs of R company and
conducted interview test to the applicants for office workers there. Even on 13th of August,
Obon festival in Japan we had a tight schedule to go Cebu island for qualification test. We
took our lunch after finishing the interview and hurried to go domestic air port. 1 hour
domestic flight was comfortable for me and I could enjoy to see small islands in the deep
blue ocean which was mysterious to me. Shortly our plane arrived at the airport in Cebu
island, famous for leisure land and went to Magellan hotel which was named after Magellan
who disembarked this place on the way of his voyage around the world. The hotel looked
very old and had beautiful gardens with tropical flowers blooming here and there. The
following day we visited NMYC office the same as before and conducted the qualification
test to 37 applicants from 8:00 to 18:00. I barely became familiar with hearing Spanish
English spoken by Filipino. We decided to go for dinner at a Chinese restaurant in a hill after
taking a shower in our hotel.

　 There was a Chinese restaurant at the top of the hill. We thought the owner of this
restaurant was Chinese indeed because we saw a Chinese famous picture on the wall and
the building was entire Chinese style. The blue sea of Cebu bay was seen from there and we
felt a sea breeze came through in our room. We dared to order Chinese foods instead of
Philippine sea foods. After drinking a toast with beer, we were absorbed in eating for a while.
Inside the restaurant was almost crowded with foreign people such as westerners. A group
of Filipino appeared with guitar and sang to a Latine music cheerfully. As they gave good
service to response the music reguest from people, we asked them to play ゛Sakura"
(Cherry blossom) Japanese famous song. Thus we could have a happy time at that night.

We checked the skillness for applicants by applying the actual test as before and finished
our all schedule after attending the qualification test for 35 electricians. The last day we
checked out the hotel ealier than usual for taking lunch at the restaurant with wooden floor
built on the sea. We ordered beer and enjoyed eating seafoods containing marine products
as fish and shellfish. When looked out the window in some way, I saw children diving
strugglingly into the sea. Firstly I didn't know for what they were doing but realized later
that they picked up coins thrown by tourists into the sea as if it was a restaurant's show.
In short I realized that people were very poor so that even children had to dive into the sea
to collect moneys. This caused me to become sober after I knew. After lunch we left for the
air port to return to Manila. Guitars, shell works and banboo works etc. were sold at
souvenir shops as main special products in Cebu. However I was annoyed by a guitar seller
who asked to buy the gutar persistently to me and followed about to the airport. Next day,
on 15th of August we had a final meeting with staffs of R company and left for home by the
flight of JL746 departing from Manila via Fukuoka and arrived at Narita without accident.

I started working in the new year of 1982 with a fresh mind. President of our company
made the new year's speech hopefully that we would be busy to have a lot of project this
year. As PMY project assigned for me had already started its construction works at site,
the works followed by head office became busy day by day. Shortly my departure date to
Saudi Arabia was fixed to 15th of February which was after one year and 5 months since I
finished KR project in Nigeria. As I mentioned before the oil refinery would be constructed
at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, east coast of Arabia peninsula facing Red Sea. But my working
place would be Jeddah city with an international airport, 300Km far from Yanbu. Because I
would have to handle there such administration works as obtaining visa, temporary license,
payment of taxes, procurement of materials, airport attendant and transportation
arrangement etc. We had to follow the Saudi law now that we would execute our business.
Hence administrators played a important role in the overseas project. I was glorious to be
assigned one of administrator and assumed those works mentioned above. This would be the
first time for me to go Saudi Arabia so I was little bit stimulated in a complicated mind with
expectation and anxiety. After that my visit to Saudi Arabia would be 4 times in total during
2 years and half.
15.Long-distance flight (17.5hrs) to Jeddah

On 15th of February I went to Tokyo city air terminal, where I finished exit inspection and
took a limousine bus to Narita airport for one hour. I used to take the South route via
Anchorage to Nigeria but this time the South route via Bangkok was the best route to go
Jeddah. I boarded JL471 to Athens at 6:15 pm and after 7 hours our plane arrived at
Bangkok airport for transit. It was 1:40 am (23:40 local time) and I stayed at waiting room
for about one hour. Then our plane took off and left for Karach, next refueling place. During
flight I imagined that we were flying over India at that time. After 5 hours and 20 minutes
we landed on Karch airport and I tried to go toilet. To my surprise, a man watched us to
pay money for using toilet. I resented him and had a bad impression on this country.
Immediately after I returned to my seat, our plane left for Jeddah, my final distination.
When our airplane came near the Arabian bay I looked out the window and found flare
stacks (burning the final processing gas from petrochemical facility) on the sea. We made
the final flight for about 5 hours from Karch and reached at Jeddah airport in Saudi Arabia
after 17 hours and half in total. I went down landingsteps and approached the terminal
building by bus. It was 2:30 pm by my watch but 8:20 am from the watch hanging in airport.
This meant 6 hours time difference between Japan and Saudi Arabia. This was my first step
in Saudi Arabia.

I could take my accomodation at Japanese camping village which was used for
construction of Jeddah refinery 10 years ago. There were many ATCO containers arranged
in the camping area which had individual rooms with cooler,shower,toilet,bed etc. In those
days for the construction of Jeddah refinery a lot of people stayed and lived there but
when I arrived at that time the facility was almost vacant. So I could have a room easily. To
my suprise there was a public bath゛Japanese Sento" in a corner of premises. I prefered
the Japanese Sento with a wide bath room and abundant hot water than the shower in my
room. There was a shop curtain゛Noren"hanging in front of the entrance and everybody was
able to take bath easily after 3 o'clock.. For plant engineers such Sento was not difficult to
build there because they could do every kind of work especially in plant construction. I had
never imagined to enjoy゛Japanese Sento" in Saudi Arabia. As for meals Japanese style
food cooked by Japanese was available in a messhall centered in the premises. That's why
we had no inconveniency in our camp life.

I made it a rule to wake up late in Friday morning, holiday in Saudi Arabia. However I
couldn't stay late in my bed because I was disturbed my sleep by the Koran recited louldy
by speakers in the town from early morning. The ground here and there was covered with
sand mixed with mud not pure sand contrary to my knowledge for desert. It was too hot to
stay outside in the daytime so I enjoyed to play golf at our golf course having five holes in
the camping premises on a holiday from early morning. Of course there was no putting
green but it was constructed to be compacted with oil-mixed sand and had a can buried at
the center of the green. We called this Arabic style golf ゛Sands golf ". After played sands
golf, I went back to my room, getting muddy and feeling thirsty and drank a beer named ゛
Near Beer"which was Saudi made non-alcoholic drink. In another holiday I went to the Red
Sea for enjoying seaside barbecue and snorkeling to see tropical fish by shuttle bus from
the camp. On the way to the seaside we met with hundreds of camels walking front in a line.
I was excited and remembered my elementary school's song ゛Tsuki no sabaku". I put on my
canvas shoes before walking on corals in the sea and had a good time to enjoy snorkeling
and barbecue satisfactorily on a beach. I brought some white corals to the camp as my
today's souvenior.

Night cinema screened outdoor was one of my pleasure in my camp life. It was getting
cool after sunset and stars were twinkling in the sky. A screen was installed instantly on the
frame made by steel and straw mats were laid on the ground. I could enjoy such films as
Tora-san, Kamata-Koushinkyoku, Giwaku etc. brought from Japan, stretching my body on a
straw mat. I had never imagined so far to see Japanese films in Sandi Arabia. The films
reminded me of my family in Japan. We had a shuttle bus to the center of city at night, so
sometimes I went to the gold market by bus and enjoyed shopping to see or to buy gold and
silver ornaments. By contrast to the daytime, streets in the Su-que at night were always
congested with a lot of people. I could find the old fashion hotel (Loshyan style) which was
said that Arabian Rorence took up his lodgings.

Calendar here was usually Hejirarian not Gregorian and application form to the
government should be arabic with Hejirarian date. Therefore we employed a translator to
help us for our documentation. The Hejirarian calendar indicated the period for Ramadan
and Haji that was the main event through a year. Since Saudi Arabia is religious country
(Islam) and people are almost all Mohammedan (Muslim), they live their life in a religious
manner. As you know, they have five praying times (Salah) a day. When these times came,
they stopped their work and prayed seriously on a carpet with their head toward Mecca.
This sight seemed to be unusual for me. Ramadan was the fasting period to be started by
the signal of blank shot when the full moon set. Nobody was allowed to eat food in the
daytime untill the sun set during Ramadan. We, as foreigner were also notified not to eat
and drink in public. However after sun set, people started eating and drinking all at once and
streets were activated vigorously through night. By contrast, people were low-spirited in
daytime. After Ramadan one to two weeks, Haji season started. Haji is the month of new
year and pilgrims in the world visit to Mecca, birth place of Mohammed, situated at North
West 200km from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. I saw hundreds of yellow buses in the parking
area and airport was congested with pilgrims from outside countries such as Africa and
Indonesia etc. Saudi government set up tent houses near airport for people staying long
period. I heard that touching the stone as an object of worship at Kawaba sanctuary made
people happy and persons visited there were awarded a title and respected as Al-Haji.
Therefore Mecca was the place for Mohammedan to long for visiting in their life.

At first we should obtain Temporary License(Bussiness Permission) to enable construction
work in Saudi Arabia and Block Visa(Working Visa)for worker's mobilization next. As for
Temporary License, the application was made to the commercial ministry in Riyadh. For
Block Visa, we applied to the foreign ministry in Jeddah and in both cases we employed a
lawyer or an agent to handle our application. Hence we pushed them to check the progress
of our application schedule. Once we asked them but we could not feel easy because their
report to us was different in every time. As a result we got disappointed, irritated and
became nervous. However now don't forget five "A"s in Japanese which was the Arabian
rule in doing our business smoothly given by our seniors. (1)Aserazu( Don't be impatient)(2)
Awatezu(Don't be hurried)(3)Atenisezu(Don't expect)(4)Akiramezu(Don't give up)(5)
Atamanikozu(Don't be excited)(6)Anshinsezu(Don't feel easy)(7)Anadorazu(Don't despise)(8)
Akirezu(Don't be disgusted)(9)Akusekusezu(Don't be busy yourself)(From 6 to 9 were added
by me.) We kept these items in our mind and also our seniors taught us not to show
yourswelf weak but strong by threatening him. Looking from their side, "What a punctual,
impatient and severe people Japanese are!" There was Arab's IBM abbreviated from
Inshalah, Bukura and Malaysh. This meant that no problem and everything depended on God
Alah. They seemed to be generous but god might be troubled with Arab's IBM.

Today I went to Yanbu, construction site to attend a regular meeting. by our car instead
of 40 minutes flight. It was late of February and the season of sand storming, so special
caution should be taken into driving a car. Mr.Fisal who was Indonesian driver took me to
the site preventing our car from powder sand invasion by tightening car windows. We run
and run very hard for three hours heading toward Yanbu in the midst of sand storming. I
was afraid that the cabretor inhaling powder sand might cause an accident. On the way I
saw some cars damaged in accident along with the main road. Yanbu used to be a small
fishing village but nowadays changed its looks into industrial complex. Some petrochemical
plants were already on product running and in adjacent wide area other plant construction
by Japan was started, hence a lot of people concerning plant construction lived in Yanbu
where there were residential areas including mess hall and sport facilities as tennis courts
and baseball grounds prepared by Royal Commission. We could take food in Viking style not
only fruits but also ice cream. I was surprised at westerner because they ate a lot of food
more than we Japanese did. Mineral water as drinking water was valuable here and sold at a
supermarket at the cost higher than gasoline. Desallination plant constructed by Japan was
running to produce potable water from seawater at seaside. Generally raw water overseas
was not so hygienic than Japan therefore mineral water was indispensable for our daily life.
20.Exit and entry to Saudi Arabia

Jeddah international airport named King Fisal airport was said to be the biggest airport in
the world. I received and saw off there a lot of people concerning our project as one of my
administration work . Entry check at airport was not so hard as Nigeria but alcoholic drink,
pork and pornography including noodle soup were prohibited to be accompanied due to
religeous reason. Some persons tried to keep alcoholic drink secret in a hair tonic bottle but
they could not cheat immigration officers at all including an extract of pork . Video tapes
were inspected at airport office taking several days. We also handled receiving and escorting
workers to the site by arranging transportation car. For example big bus were arranged for
lots of Filippine workers and we escorted them to Yanbu in safety. I had another exciting
experience which was obtaining exit certificates at airport. Saudi law obliged us to collect
exit certificates with stamp for exit persons from immigration officer in the airport . As soon
as finishing stamp for exit persons I had to remove out the certificate in front of
immigration officer in a quick manner. Because immigration officer hated our slow action. So
whenever I collected exit certificates I was strained seriously. But after saw off the exit
persons I could feel relieved.

It was two months since I arrived at Saudi Arabia first and preparation work for obtaining
temporary license and others, was almost finished, so I decided to return to Japan. We
planned to mobilize Taiwanese for this project. Hence we had a close connection with C.
company Arabian office in Jeddah and its office staff often kindly offered me to visit head
quater in Taiwan if possible. So I had been planning to include visiting C. company in Taiwn
on my trip to Japan. I boarded on CI-010 and flew to Dahran Airport facing to Arabian gulf
for two hours. After staying there for one hour and half, our flight landed off to Singapore,
enjoying all the time comfortable sky journey for eight hours. I spent two hours transit at
Singapore Airport trying to stretch my body for relaxing. After that our flight kept flying to
Taiwan for 4 hours and finally arrived at Taipei airport in Taiwan in 15 hours total flight
times. I was thankful to Mr.C from C.company for coming to meet me at airport, although it
was 9:40 in the evening. He escorted me to S. hotel by car and when I checked in the hotel
it was past 11 o'clock. The following day I visited C.company and Mr.K in charge of this
project showed me over the rooms inside company. Though designing was almost all
performed by CAD, I thought CAD here was more improved than our company in Japan at
that time. After meeting I was invited to lunch at a restaurant nearby company, enjoying a
lot of Taiwanese food and Shoko wine. He taught me at that time the way of drinking Shoko
wine that if somebody toasted to you saying "Kanpai", you should drink up all, however if
saying "Zuii", you might drink as you like. Due to over drinking by receiving Taiwanese style,
I got drunk finally but we decided to go sightseeing with Mr.C who was a middle aged
gentleman and good at speaking Japanese. He drove a car for me to go round such
historical spots as Kokyu musium and Unzen Yakuen, it was a famous park . First we visited
Kokyu musium which was said to be the miniature of Kokyu Musium in Peigin and exihibited
a lot of treasure and industrial art object. I learned there Taiwan history and Taiwanese
culture. Next Mr.C took me to Unzen Yakuen which was famous for its scenery beauty and
likely to be appeared in typical Indian-ink drawing. I was charmed throughly with natural
beauty in Taiwan. Next day that is the date due to return to Japan, I checked out hotel at
8 o'clock in the morning and on my way to airport I dropped in Shoukaiseki Memorial Hall
looking as a gigantic hexagonal cube. Then I hurried to Taipei Airport to get on the flight CI-
002 departing at 11:25 am. I expressed my deep appreciation to Mr.C at the air port for
affording company's hospitality.

In the meantime one month and half had passed after my arrival in Japan. In those days
plant business looked prosperous especially for overseas exporting and importing. In this
situation, I was assigned to go E company of Jakart in Indonesia to make feasible study in
doing business with our company. E company was a governmental company and dealing with
manufacturing and selling electrical equipment. I departed to Jakart at 10:30 am by JL711
on 20th of May,1982 and arrived Jakart Airport at 7:40 pm (local time 5:40 pm) on
schedule via Singapore. On the flight I could enjoy tasting wine, listening music and watching
Japanese cinema such as "Torasan". At the airport one staff from E company came to
meet me and took to my hotel reserved previously. The following day at E company we
exchanged name cards each other and had a meeting according to our business plan. It was
very funny to me that the name of Indinesian staff sounded like Japanese name. I was told
so far Indonesian is alphabetized like English and composed of simple words, hence it is easy
for us to learn that langage. E company kindly arranged dinner for us at a Japanese
restaurant in a hotel at night where I could enjoy eating Japanese foods and seeing a
Japanese garden. Anyway we finished our 4-day business trip in Indonesia and returned to
Narita in early morning of May 23. However, one week later, it was May 29, I was also
assigned to go Saudi Arabia and stay there by August 29 during three months to continue
the preparation work such as acquiring temporary license and block visa. Although I finished
the preparation work smoothly, I could return to our head office in Japan. After engaged in
the project work for one week, I was formally assigned to Saudi Arabia on 8 September.

I like to make sure the flight to Jeddha at this time. We had two flights which were JL
(Japan Air Line) and KE(Korean Air Line) convenient to arrive early morning in Jeddah. I
had been taking only JL for the 1st and 2nd flights to Jeddah, however I tried KE for the
3rd flight of 8 September. KE departed 30 minutes earlier than JL, transitted at Seoul,
Bangkok, and Dahran different from the JL route, and arrived at Jeddah naturally 30
minutes earlier than JL. Those flights were very convenient for us to start our work at 9 o'
clock in the morning. If our flight was not given a landing permission from the control center,
we had to be kept waiting in the flight floating over the city. However I liked this time
because I could enjoyed a circular flight to see the white streets in Jeddah from the sky as
if I was in an air baloon. I could confirm the Red Sea far away from the dessert. Since that
was the 3rd time visit to Jeddah, I could finish easily the entry inspections. Mr.K of our
office came for me at airport and went to our office by the car of Indonesian driver Mr.F,
seeing Haje Tents in the right.

24.Certified public accountant, my Arabic teacher
What we acquired the business license meant that we had to pay our tax to the taxation
business ministry (Zacart) every one year. Before making payment of the taxes, we had to
prepare the tax declaration report which was very troublesome for us. In this case we had
to contact and to ask the certified public accoutant (CPA)in Jeddah for doing this
procedure. We had Mr.O, Japanese accountant at Yanbu construction site who was in
charge of accounting work such as payment, procurement and drawing money and so on.
When the fiscal year approached, he became busy day by day, so I at Jeddah liaison office
had to help him for escorting to the CPA. We selected AJ Accounting Office as our CPA
which was carried on by two Egyptian brothers in Jeddah, under the introduction of C
company. The elder brother Mr.G with gray hair mixing white was friendly and younger
brother Mr.J with glasses seemed to be strict for us. In those days there were a lot of
multinational workers who came from neighboring countries in Saudi Arabia. They were
Egyptian, Bahrenian, Somalian, Lebanese, Pakistanese, Indonesian, South Korean, Chinese,
Taiwanese, Philippino, Indian, Thailander, and Syrian, etc. Their occupational category was
mainly identified by their country, for example such as Egyptian office worker, Indonesian
driver, Taiwanese construction worker, Thailander catering worker etc. Saudi people were
mostly engaged in Bedowin or government staff etc. Anyway when the taxes season came,
we sometime visited the foregoing accounting office and received their advice for our tax
declaration. The more we had a meeting with the brothers, the more we became friendly
each other. However they changed their mind as if they were utter strangers while praying
in Sarah time. Of course we were isolated at another room and they prayed with their
heads put to the carpet toward the direction of Mecca. This seemed to be strange for us
but very important ceremony for them. Incidentally how shall they find the direction of
Mecca? This was to adjust the magnet meter on the carpet of about 1square meter so as
to indicate N pole, then the direction of Mecca was shown on the carpet. To my suprise, I
was told that these carpets were almost made in Japan and also Godoras which were
weared by Saudi people on their head were made in Japan as well. After Sarah time, people
returnted to their actual work as if they had done nothing at all. I thought this was the Arab
world. Though I already mentioned above, all application forms to the government office
were requested to submit in Arabic, so we employed a translator and studied by ourself
Arabic simple words to have a good relation with Saudi people. The Egyptian brothers of AJ
Accounting Office were both good speaker in English, so we could communicate with them in
English. I was interested in Arabic, especially its letters written from the right to the left like
earthworm going, so I asked the elder brother G on one occasion. He kindly taught me and I
understood that Arabic figure was derived from Arabic letter style and pronouncing Arabic
was very difficult for me as well. If I continued to learn Arabic a little more, I could have
advanced a little bit more. However my chance to visit the accounting office became less in
proportion to decreasing our tax declaration work in Jeddah. So we were estranged from
each other around the time when our construction work came to the end.

We were requested to obtain the working visa (block visa) from Ministry of Foreign Affairs
previously in order to mobilize construction workers from outside countries. Because that
we foreigners couldn't handle these application work directly, we hired Mr.A. growing
moustache on his face who worked at M. Oil company. He seemed to be intelligent and
agreed our request to finalize the block visa pleasantly when we handed over our application
documments to him. However after this, we were obliged to be irritated by him. Because we
had no periodical report from him in spite of pressing him for checking the block visa, so we
became irritated and annoyed day by day where was our application form. Even if we
wanted to call him, his whereabouts became unknown and his occasional report by
telephone was unclear, so we became uneasy more and more. Therefore this reminded me
of the five "A"s as stated in chap.18. We tried to send claim letters or to visit to his office
again and again, but he behaved himself calmly like a big man with a string of beads counted
each bead in his hands. I thought this came from culture and nationality difference. I think
Japanese is generally too strict, punctual, and pessimistic. The block visa was applied in
several times, however finally all block visas were settled to obtain without our anxiety.

26.Everywhere go, people are much the same in enjoying with their family
Though Saudi is seemed to be covered all with desert, green trees and beautiful flowers
could be seen somewhere. Red bougainvillaeas were in blossom in the garden of our rental
office, and date palm trees were seen at a village in the place that seemed to be an oasis
on the way to Yamb. Moreover when I went to the airport, I saw sprinklers in a plaza turning
to water green turfs and palm trees. Children were enjoying themself on the turfs and
opening a lunch box with their family the same as other nations. What a lovely scene it is !
Of course young papa wore a white cloth, young mamma wore a black veil in an Arabic
traditional fashion, and children were playing artlessly. After the sun set, people rounded up
to the seaside park to relieve themself from a severe heat in daytime. The south coastline
of Jeddah city was prepared to Jeddah citizens as a seaside park with the works of the art
along the both sides of the road. I saw a lot of people including families and young couples
who were enjoying coversation and seeing sunset there as common as other nations did.

I became entitled to take a vacation for temporary return as per our company regulations
because my stay in Saudi had been beyond ten months. I decided to take the course to
Egypt arranged by JAL for my vacation. On 17th of June,1982 our MS flight left Jeddah
airport acrossing the Red Sea and two hours later we arrived at Cairo airport of Egypt in
Africa. Then we were kept waiting for a while in front of passport control office. When I
looked into the office casually, I found a woman who seemed to be an official in charge and
was beautiful with pretty face like Cleopatra. What a peerless and beautiful woman she is! I
was charmed with her and felt like gazing at her for a while without leaving there. This
impact might come from the reason why I had only seen Saudi women wearing black veils.
A small minibus arranged by JAL was waiting for me when I finished all required procedures
to enter the coutry and came out the gate. Apparently, passenger of this bus was only one
myself. I heard Egypt was a little bit dangerous, so I kept straining my mind during my
transportation to the Hotel Green Pyramid reserved before. Egypt was usually imaged as
one of desert countries, but agriculture was actually successful because the River Nile
fertilized the area of greenbelt along the river. The river formed terraces and desert
extended from the top of the terraces. After I checked in the hotel at 2:30 PM, I could see
the desert extending widely far away from my room. I enjoyed having dinner of Egyptian
dishes in viking style at the pool side with a noisy cry of the flapping small bird on the trees.

28.Visit To Pyramid and Sphinx
Next morning Mr.M the same guide as yesterday came to me on time for escorting me to
pyramid and Cairo city. I heard pyramids dotted on the desert were constructed to relieve
ancient people from their distress. We started to go seeing for the small pyramid (King's
house) and the large pyramid (King Kus's grave). Going through farm villages we
encountered such curious sight that farmers pulled oxen and horses with farm products
instead of cars or farming was made by using the power of cows drawing up the water
instead of machine. On the way we stopped at a folkcraft shop and asked a shopman
interestedly how to make papyrus used from ancient times as paper. After one hour, we
arrived at the pyramid standing at the edge of desert and went down to see the stone
coffin under the ground. However we were stopped by a guide so as to pay a chip to enter
the room. Anyway we could see the stone coffin there. Then we headed toward the sphinx
which was too famous for having the image like lion with man's face. After 30 minutes walk
we arrived at the front of the images which was smaller than I expected and was suffered
from weathering. We took some pictures and after then went to a little bit small museum of
which name I forgot. The guide book said that this area was rich in ancient ruins therefore
when one British man thrust an umbrella into the ground he found the huge stone statue
with 30m length and 7-8m in diameter which was called as "Statue of Ramses Ⅱ". We
could see the whole shape of the statue being laid in the museum. When I went out the
museum, there were many sellers standing here and there to sell souvenirs eagerly
attacking ro tourists. Similar to Nigeria, price here depended on a negotiation so both people
of seller and buyer were very severe and excited as if they were going to begin fighting.
After I enjoyed a thrilling shopping, our car started to go to Egyptian Museum crossing the
bridge over the Nile river through main streets. Soon we arrived at the museum and got off
the car to enter the entrance hall. I was interested in Tutankhamen's image, mummy, wall
painting, and stone coffin, etc. being displayed in the museum. I could feel the great ancient
Egyptian civilization. After then I hurried to go to the airport to take JL464 flight to Japan.

29.Re-entry to Saudi Arabia
My vacation had passed soon while having a good time with my family and realizing that
Japan was one of the best country in the world. I put my baggage in order and after
greeting to my company, I left for Saudi again by KE-001 flight at 5:20 p.m. on June 6,1983
the day before Tanabata festival. I was accompanied by Mr.K, my boss this time, so I felt
uneasy all the way. We arrived at Jeddah airport at 7:00 a.m. via Seoul-Bangkok-Dhahran,
and after reporting to our customer immediately, I started my daily work. as usual. Since
Ramadan season had been finished just recently in Saudi, people had regained their health
after being relieved from the fast. Since then, I had been continued to make effort and to
fight a hard battle against my business. While spending a busy time, we had the New Year's
Eve when the construction reached to the peak. The rice cake pounding rally was held at
the camp using new rice sent directly from Japan on that day. I got up at eight in the
morning and ate special food at the dinning room on New Year's day in 1984. It had become
4 times in total including 2 times in Nigeria and 2 times in Saudi Arabia that I had the New
Year's day out of Japan. We started working from 2nd of New Year sooner than starting in
Japan under the weather attacked by the sand storm. The construction was progressed
month by month afterwards and when the construction schedule became near the end of
May or June, we had no more new comers but had repatriates increasingly day by day. In
this situation, I got information from Japan that my successor was nominated. Therefore I
was to hand over my job to my successor on July 9th that was just one year from my re-
entry. Thereafter Mr.Y, my successor arrived at our office in the late of June and I began
to prepare scheduling my return home. I introduced Mr.Y to our clients in Jeddha and
escorted him to our construction site in Yumb. In the meantime, I had have the last day of
my stay in Saudi Arabia. When leaving Saudi airport, I got a sentimental feeling because of
my long assignment there for two and a half years. I thought my experience this time
including that of Nigeria would be useful and valuable in my future life. I decided to return
home while traveling via Kenya, Seychelles, Hong Kong and Macau after taking a permission
from my company.

30.Safari tour on the way to Japan
The airplane left from Jeddah airport flew straight to the south heading toward to Nairobi
airport in Kenya of Africa. I had heard that Nairobi located just under the equator was not
so hot but comfortable to stay. When arriving at airport around 10 o'clock p.m., I was
surprised at seeing the staff wearing a thick coat in the customhouse. Althoug I had the bad
memories in entering Nigeria, I could finish all entrance examinations here smoothly. I felt
cool by the night gentle breezing when going out. I went directly to the Ambassador hotel
reserved previously from the airport by taxi. I had a conversation friendly with a taxi driver
and reached the hotel without troubles nevertheless moving by taxi at night was dangerous
for foreigners. After requesting a safari tour tomorrow to a receptionist, I went bed straight
and fell in sleeping immediately. I was waked up by a laud noise coming from outside in the
morning. When opening the curtain being reflected by the sun shine, I saw a crowd of people
coming and going to start working in the street. This scene was almost the same as the
morning in every country. After I finished breakfast and asked the hotel to keep my laggage,
I went to the place departing to our safari tour in a safari style. Then a guide appeared
before I know and after checking today's all members, we started to go safari. The safari
car was a Japanese microbus remodeled so as to enable to look out from the open loof. I
became aware afterwards that our crew included only one me, Japanese, an American
elderly couple, a Italian young couple, and a German man. Our car was conducted into
Amboseri national park where animals were protected from outside. The car was guided by
the driver to the place where animals seemed to exist while contacting by a wireless
telephone. There seemed to be some animals on the rock but I couldn't find them. Then the
American elderly couple next to my seat lent me a binoculars kindly. Two lions were
threatening us in our presence and a crowd of elephants crossed the front of us together
with their children. The car ran after the animals in all directions as if I watched the
spectacle being extended on TV. A fresh wind flew around there when reaching at the high
elevated place and I felt mysterious to see the African big ground extending widely. We took
the hotel likely to a lodge located on the corner of plateau for one night stay. Through the
windows of the hotel, I could enjoy seeing monkys in daytime and other animals coming to
lick the salt prepared by the hotel at night by means of binoculars.

31.Shaked hands with Maasai in front of Mt.Kilimanjaro
It was very cool in early morning on the plateau of Kenya located under the equator. The
following day our car left the hotel on schedule after our guide checked the number of
passengers. Firstly we visited the underwater park where we could see hippopotamuses in
the water. There was a glazed passage under the pond from where we could enjoy seeing
them. I found that the hippopotamuses were fond of swimming in the clean water with a
gigantic funny body. After leaving here and running toward the South on the reddish earth,
we arrived at a village being lived by the Maasai people. The village having houses shaped
with a inverted bowl and made from mud, appeared before long when getting out from the
forest. When our car stopped near the houses, people including children wearing ornaments
with a primary color such as pure red, blue and yellow and having spears and swords in their
hands, came out from the houses all at once. They asked me repeatedly to exchange their
handmade folkcrafts for my camera and calculator. I could take a picture together with
them in a background of Mt.Kilimanjaro (5,895m) covered with snow located on the border
of Tanzania. To my knowledge, Maasai was dangerous because of their brutality but I had to
oblige to change my impression to them. Nowaday Maasai people became likely as the TV
talent and their villages were introduced as a sightseeing course. The schedule staying in
Kenya for three days was finished, and I was to go the second visiting country Seychelles
Islands called the last paradise floating on the Indian Ocean.

32.Drive and tour by boat in Seychelles
In the morning on July 13, 1984, I left Kenyatta airport in Nairobi and our airplane passed
over the city of Mompasa in the vicinity of the east coast after seeing Mt.Kilimanjaro in the
right, and headed straight toward Seychelles islands while roaring engine. I could have Mr. A
next to my seat by chance who was on the way back to Japan after sightseeing in
Seychelles. In about 2 or 3 hours after leaving the coast of African continent, I could find
the small island like a pearl framed with white sands floating on the blue Indian Ocean. Our
airplane landed quietly on the airport located in the corner of the island before long. I could
finish to take immigration procedure easily and when reaching an open space through the
airport counter, I saw purple flowers of Bugembiriya blooming in the sun shine. I went driving
by a rental car with Mr.A in whole island. The road was running along a beautiful coastline
and we could complete our driving within only one hour, after running on the rolling roads.
On the way, though we saw fishermen maintaining their net by side of a boat drawn up from
the sea, I took a picture of them. As the hotel staying tonight was different each other, we
checked in different hotel by ourself after saying "Good-by". I stayed at a bungaloid hotel
where the sea was seen from a garden enclosed with palm trees. I enjoyed drinking wine and
eating seafoods at a restaurant where I felt sounding and breezing from the sea while seeing
the Hawaiian dance. The restaurant was crowded with people coming from Europe for their
vacation and was opened till late night. The following day I decided to participate in touring
to islands by a glass boat. Our bus arrived at the place of departure of the boat on a beach.
The white beach was extending to the right and left and people were enjoying sea bathing. I
happened to see a big surprise there. Because I saw topless women enjoying sunbathing
here and there on a beach. I understood the reason why this country had been called"The
last paradise". Since our boat had glass windows on its bottom, we could see the bottom of
the sea through windows. On the way to a small island, I had a feelings to enjoy strolling in
the sea road. I could see a big fish before my eyes and also see the coral reef at the
bottom of sea. When our boat arrived at a small island before long and white people bursted
into diving and swimming, I was cowardly only looking at them. I thought we Japanese had
no idea how to enjoy our vacation. Thus my two day-staying in Seychelles were finished.

33.Sightseeing and cruising on junk ship in Hong Kong
My travel was coming near to the last stage. I boarded on Cathay Airlines from
Seychelles to leave the island with white beach floating on the blue wave in the morning on
July 15, 1984. Our airplane kept flying straight to Hong Kong across the Indian Ocean. While
I fell into a doze, our airplane soon arrived at the airport in Hong Kong. In those days, Hong
Kong was still ruled by Britain before returning to China. The dog race was supposed to
remain one of British color so far. I cheched in the reserved hotel and after taking a bath, I
went for a stroll to the street with a map. There were lots of shopping streets around the
hotel but I bought nothing and came back to the hotel soon because of dusty atmosphere.
Therefore I asked for the night bus tour at my hotel and started to go sightseeing at night. I
found a lot of tall buildings such as skyscrapers in the city because Hong Kong was narrow
islands consisted of three small islands. I could have fortunately a female interpreter
speaking Japanese during my night tour. After seeing the night view from the top of a hill, I
could enjoy cruising around the Hong Kong bay by a junk ship.

34.Playing at casino in Macau
On the following day(16th July,1984) I had the final day of my travel and decided to go to
Macau still ruled by Portuguese and famous for casinos. It took about two hours to go to
the neighboring country(Macau) from the Hong Kong island by the ferry-boat. I got a woman
interpreter waiting for me when disembarking. She took me to go sightseeing in Macau. We
visited first to the souvenir shops selling Chinese medicine, gold and silver. On the way I
could see buildings and stairs said to be constructed by Japan. There were casinos where I
went through the colorful Portuguese buildings. I tried to play roulette because I was not
familiar with other gambling at casino. To my surprise, I won fortunately at playing roulette
and got a little money. As the casino was authorized by Macau, Chinese as well as foregn
tourists came here with intent to get much more moneys. I heard USA had the same casino
in Las Vegas but I disliked to gamble at casinos due to my coward character. After enjoying
a half-day tour in Macau, I returned to Hong Kong by the ferry-boat. The boat was
crowded with people and I could see green mountains far from the sea. After arriving at
Hong Kong, I took the JL002 flight to Narita for my departure. This was the just time
passed for one year since I was redispatched to Saudi Arabia. When looking back to my
travel, I was satisfied with my behavior not to hesitate to execute boldly my travel the
same case as Nigeria. It was fruitful to me that I could be well-informed and rediscover the
goodness of Japan by visiting my new countries. (The End－2012.4.20 translated)