Slightly OT but I had the rather disturbing (given my impeccably socially liberal credentials) experience in Oman of being offered the chance of my own bus on what amounted to a migrant labour flight to Trivandrum. The official explained to me that this was because I was white and my fellow passengers were all thieves and ne'er do wells in their eyes. I thought of protesting but to my shame took the path of least resistance. Still feel uneasy.