British Traveller Alice Morrison: Saudis are Naturally Hospitable in Urban & Rural Settings

British explorer, traveller, and TV host Alice Morrison is enthusiastic about uncovering uncharted nations, cultures, and peoples—not only for the sake of exploration, but also to show how interconnected all people are, how inevitable human convergence is, and how important it is to embrace the stories of one planet.

Following her birth in 1963, her parents, immigrants from Scotland, took her to the heart of the African and Ugandan jungles, where she spent the first eight years of her life before embarking on her lengthy journey towards professional travel and adventure.

Interviewed by: Mohsen Hassan

She grew up surrounded by white and black people living side by side, away from colour and gender racism, and she was allowed to roam, hunt, and gaze at the mountain forests while listening to frogs croaking and insects and snakes crawling. Years later, when she studied Arabic and Turkish, her life changed dramatically as the Eastern cultures introduced her to new places and horizons that were exciting to explore and engage with.

She travelled to the Eastern capitals and worked there, sometimes as an English language instructor and other times as a journalist and media coverage officer. Her work in Damascus, Ankara, Cairo, and many other locations sparked her fascination with adventure and travel.

The British author Wilfred Thesiger’s book Arabian Sands was one of her first readings; she read it when she was eleven years old. It stoked her desire to experience the East and the Arab world again, eventually, which is exactly what happened. In her first introductory trip, she rode a bicycle from Cairo to Cape Town, passing through the Atlantic Ocean and the Moroccan desert on a series of adventures where she found new antiquities.

Her current journey and adventure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the culmination of her overcoming many obstacles, dangers, and challenges. On February 14, 2025, she finished the first stage, walking more than 900 kilometres between the Prophet’s Mosque (the arrival point) and the Jordanian border (the starting point).

The second phase of this journey, which will see the tenacious British traveller complete her one-of-a-kind 2,500-kilometre journey from north to south across the Kingdom’s territories, is currently being planned. This is the first time a woman in Saudi Arabia has gone on an adventure of this nature on foot. After reaching out to the British tourist, Arabisk London conducted the following interview.

First of all, what ignited your passion for travel and exploring new places, as well as your spirit of adventure and wanderlust?

In Uganda, my parents moved from Scotland when I was six weeks old. I grew up in the shadowy African mountains, surrounded by brave and proactive people from an early age. From that point on, I developed an adventurous spirit that has grown to be an essential https://dornogovi.cfga.gov.mn/ aspect of who I am and not just a flimsy pastime for customs. This is the key to my passion for travel and my desire to explore this enormous planet with all of its inhabitants, animals, and societies.

What is the most essential takeaway you have discovered that has influenced your personal beliefs after many international travels and experiences?

The most significant and profound lesson I took away from my travels, wanderlust, and adventures is the value of patience and forbearance in life. In my opinion, patience is the key to success.

For the record, I do not personally enjoy a lot of peace, nor am I very patient. Activity, movement, excitement, and optimism have always been things I’ve loved.

Yet, after numerous travels and experiences across numerous nations, where I encountered innumerable people, cultures, and types of people, I realised how important it is to be patient in learning about others, to take the time to comprehend others, and to understand the significance of every event that occurs in our environment. I’ve learnt patience, which is a great lesson.

How have your travels and adventures taught you about the idea of human unity?

When it comes to human solidarity and unity, it is crucial. For instance, I accompanied three Amazigh and Berber men on a seven-and-a-half-month journey across the Moroccan desert. I was different from them in nearly every way. I was female, and they were male.

While I was a Christian, they were Muslims. A number of them lacked literacy, meaning they were unable to read, write, or even speak Arabic. I have both a Master’s and a Graduate degree from my university education. Even in our social lives, we were different from one another. They came from a tribal social setting and led a traditional family life, whereas I was childless and single.

Together, we overcame all of these differences and distinctions to complete our lengthy journey and adventure in the Maghreb. During this journey, I learnt that everyone has the capacity for love and closeness. I have now made three travelling friends because of this friendship. As I treat them as brothers, they treat me as a sister. During this protracted journey, we shared food, drink, and both happiness and sorrow before realising that we are all brothers in humanity.

What did you enjoy about growing up in the African jungle? Has it changed your perspective on African peoples’ social lives?

As I previously stated, I grew up in Uganda, and the way of life there undoubtedly had an impact on my early years. Even though I had a different skin tone and a higher standard of living than they did (my mother and father were teachers, and our food and drink were richer and purer than theirs), I was still treated as one of them.

I saw them as human beings with the same flesh, bone, and skin as myself. We come from the same clay. I was actually lucky to come from a family that was materially and financially secure, in contrast to many of them. As a result, I always wished that everyone would have equal opportunities while I was growing up with them. I still want Africans and all other nations and peoples to be treated equally.

You’re a talented chef. What well-known foods from every nation you’ve been to, particularly Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey, have piqued your interest?

In the Middle East and Africa, food, meals, and cooking in general are delicious, and I have a preference for nearly every dish. I enjoy kabsa in Saudi Arabia and İmam bayıldı, a type of Turkish kebab, in Turkey. Every dish in Syria is so incredibly delicious that I adore them all.

But if I had to pick, I would go with coffee and Syrian sweets. In addition, I gained a lot of culinary knowledge while I was in Morocco, and I frequently prepared three meals a week at home using tagine—meat, chicken, and vegetables. I’ll make you a tasty tagine if you get the chance to come see me there, God willing!

Regarding culture, what aspects of Arab women’s lives in the East caught your attention in contrast to those of European and American women in the West?

There are notable differences between the lives of women in the East and the West. In the US and Europe, men and women share everything. A woman might leave the house to pursue her career and make more money, whereas a man might stay at home to care for the kids.

In the East, where men and women typically play more traditional roles in the home, family, and social life, this is comparatively different. The woman is inside the house most of the time, and the Eastern man is outside. Women now work in many different fields, so this does not preclude the existence of various occupations for them in Eastern societies.

What sets Eastern societies apart, though, is that women are more focused on the problem of managing, caring for, and raising children than men are. The absence of direct friendships between men and women is something I observed and found to be very significant in Eastern and Arab societies, which differ greatly from Western societies. I am referring to casual friendships and acquaintances, not romantic or emotional relationships.

This is a very limited issue for women in Eastern societies, and while I do not view it negatively, I do enjoy the British cultural context here, where women have a larger role in men’s forums to express their opinions, which are frequently different in sports, culture, and other areas. For instance, I have a large global network of friends, and this issue does not cause any issues.

Which currently takes up the majority of your daily activities—your travels and adventures, or journalism and media work? Is something new on the horizon?

I’m currently organising the second leg of my trip from the north to the south of Saudi Arabia. With luck, it will start on October 16, 2025, via Medina. I’ll walk from there to Najran, which is on the Yemeni border to the south. In its second stage, I’m also searching for sponsors and financial backers for this protracted adventure. Even though this is very challenging and time-consuming, I remain optimistic.

Your book, “Dodging Elephants,” demonstrates your journey from business failure to adventure success. What kind of environment did you write this book in?

I found it extremely difficult to leave Britain and abandon my job and responsibilities, which were very significant there. I then stayed for a while without a job, without resources, and with nothing. On the other hand, I was content with the overwhelming sense of freedom that overcame me, as though I had been in a prison and had been released from its chains, particularly when I was allowed to begin writing and creating.

In my life, these were some of the most enjoyable periods. From the beginning, I fell in love with writing, and being a journalist who is used to writing helped me with that. The book’s intriguing topic—my bicycle trip from Cairo to South Africa—also immediately immersed me in the mood of the trip and reminded me of my spirit of adventure.

As a result, I was pleased with all the fascinating and tasteful details that came with writing this book, which I intended to teach readers and everyone else about the journey’s specifics as they turned the pages.

What human and personal thoughts do you have about your most recent visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

My human and personal perceptions of Saudi Arabia changed the moment I landed there. When I first arrived, I had no idea how beautiful this country would be. Furthermore, I discovered that the reality was entirely different from what I had read and seen in the English media, which largely, if not entirely, consistently presents a negative, unrealistic, and stereotyped picture of the Kingdom, its citizens, and its environment. When I initially arrived, I received a warm reception from sincere, welcoming, and kind Saudi Arabians.

In addition to the richness, wealth, and beauty of this country’s past, I was also amazed by the wonderful atmosphere, places, and sights. Considering the kindness and generous hosting I received, this made me very happy. Travelling to this breathtaking and incredible nation, getting to know its people, and experiencing its adventures left me feeling pleasantly surprised.

You are the first known female walker to cross Saudi Arabia from north to south. What about the women of the Kingdom drew your eye? What inspired you about their tales?

Every woman in the world, including the women of the Kingdom, has a unique personality. Each has distinct characteristics and details in her life, as well as distinctive ideas and dreams that can range from simple and innocent to sophisticated and intricate. Naturally, each has a distinguished private and public world, and it is very challenging to describe them all in a single generalisation.

I did find them to be in tune with their reality, though, and sensitive to their surroundings and goals. For instance, while I was there, I came across a very traditional woman who lived in their tent with her husband, surrounded https://link.space/@dewa4dkulogin by sheep and goats. I discovered her lovingly and comfortably navigating her local environment. She was not only a very, very, very beautiful woman, but she was also very hospitable and affectionate. I had a great time meeting her.

However, I also met a Saudi woman who was of a different generation. She was about twenty-eight years old. I found out that she was a manager at a business. She was travelling alone in her car, exploring the Kingdom. I asked her why she was doing this when we spoke. In response, she stated that she wanted to learn more about her nation before considering travel to other countries, like Britain. This supports what I said about Saudi women’s closeness to their surroundings, reality, and goals.

What obstacles and problems did you encounter in the first phase of your journey through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and what do you anticipate encountering in the second phase?

When it comes to the challenges of travel and adventures, there are always challenges, and this trip was no exception. The first stage involved us walking about 23 km every day. There were difficulties despite the short distance, and the second portion of the trip is probably going to make them worse because of the longer distance as well as my foot and fatigue problems.

We have to walk, of course, and finish the journey. As a group, we collaborate to overcome any obstacles or problems that we or one another may encounter. Two of the camels we are travelling with, “Josie” and “Lulu,” had previously gotten away from us and were hurt as well, which caused us more concerns until they were located.

Conversely, the heat is undoubtedly one of the obstacles and difficulties we encounter, making the journey more taxing.

How did this adventure affect your followers? Regarding the Kingdom’s environment and climate change, what are your key findings?

This trip sparked a lot of interest among all of my followers, both inside and outside of Saudi Arabia. I also developed a love and passion for travel and adventure, which is fantastic because it inspires and motivates me to go through difficult times and take on new challenges.

One of the most significant environmental and climate change observations I made on this trip was the scarcity of water. In the same https://heylink.me/ovodewalogin/ time frame (roughly seven and a half months), for instance, we could have avoided using a car with water in it when we crossed the Moroccan desert.

The frequent and closely spaced water wells were the cause of this. However, due to the limited number of wells we needed for drinking during the trip, it was not possible to skip the car and the water inside while in Saudi Arabia. The main distinction between this trip and the one to Morocco is this very depressing situation.

In conclusion, what are the most notable linguistic and behavioural traits that you noticed in Saudis’ daily lives in the desert, the countryside, and urban areas?

The generosity and hospitality of all Saudis, both urban and rural, are one of the most remarkable traits that shocked me. I’ve encountered people asking me, “What are you doing in Saudi Arabia?” everywhere I’ve been. When I tell him that I walk from north to south across the country, he exclaims, “Masha’Allah… Masha’Allah!” Then he sets the table and feeds us after shouting, “Dhabiha!” (a kind of meat that hasn’t been killed).

I’ve experienced this numerous times in both urban and rural areas of the Kingdom. Therefore, I can state quite honestly to the Saudi Arabian people: You are all generous and welcoming, and among you, hospitality is a very, very, very lovely behaviour. When discussing the Kingdom and its people, one of the most significant details I will always remember.

Read more: Poet & Media Figure Maysoon Abu Baker: Poetry is My Homeland; Saudi Arabia is My Tribe, Belonging, & Entire Universe