SkyWatch: Sunset in Riyadh

Frequently in Jeddah, I am not out and about at sunset because my husband always wants to be home at that time for the sunset prayer.  So on a recent trip to Riyadh, I was pleased to capture this spectacular sky at the end of the day.

 


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Jeddah: Door at Tayebat Museum

An old door at Tayebat Museum in Jeddah.  Love the knockers.  Click here for information about the museum.

Jeddah: Beautiful Door

Close-up details of a carved wooden door at Tayebat Museum in Jeddah.  I love the blue and brown together.

Jeddah: Inside Tayebat Museum

This is an interior courtyard shot of the Tayebat Museum.  There are many open courtyard areas here.  The brown wooden window coverings are unique to Saudi Arabia and area called rawasheen.  The arched doorway and the pointed detailing above are also very typical in Saudi Arabian architecture. 

Jeddah: Blue Metal Sculptures

This set of modern blue steel and iron sculptures by Shafiq Mazloum are situated on a large traffic island at the beginning of Jeddah's oldest neighborhood, Al Balad.  Mazloum was born in Palestine but moved to Saudi Arabia where he worked for the City of Jeddah in the Planning Office during the Jeddah Beautification Project under Mayor Farsi. 

There are a total of four similar sculptures made of scrap iron - one is called the Letter J and the other three are called Recycled Iron I, II, and III.  I love the blue color and the cut out designs and shapes which remind me of puzzle pieces.

Riyadh: Janadriyah Boys

The annual cultural festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is called Janadriyah.  There are many exhibitions and activities which highlight life in Saudi Arabia, such as native crafts, male ceremonial dances, food, poetry, games, costumes, camel racing, and other entertainment.

These handsome young men are wearing typical winter wear for boys and men in the country, consisting of a dark thobe and the red and white headdress.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, Please visit BLUE ABAYA'S Guide to the Janadriyah Festival 2014 (where you will also find a photo of me at this year's festival!), and her post from last year called The Top Ten Things to do at the Janadriyah Festival.

Jeddah Architectural Details - Tayebat Museum

The Tayebat Museum in Jeddah is a beauty to behold as far as architectural design.  The grounds house a school, a museum, a mosque and various businesses.

SkyWatch: Sunrise on the Red Sea

As we were boating out from the dock north of Jeddah, the sun was coming up in the sky to the east over the Red Sea.

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Riyadh Mosque

I think many of the mosques here in Saudi Arabia look amazingly beautiful, especially when they are lit up at night.  This one is in the country's capital city of Riyadh.

How Did it Get There?

There is a big construction crane on top of this building that is being dismantled.  I have no idea how the crane got on TOP of the building.

Cool Window Display

This window display in a clothing shop at a mall in Jeddah was unexpected.  The upper helmet has horns sticking out of it, while the lower helmet has a "Mohawk" of spikes. 

Nut Packaging

These cleverly packaged bags of nuts caught my attention at a local Jeddah supermarket. 

Al Tayebat Museum

Al Tayebat Museum is an architectural gem in the middle of the city of Jeddah.  It is located near the famous Bicycle roundabout.  Painted bright white with traditional dark brown wood trim all over, this structure was built by a relative in my husband's family.  Groups of 10 or more can make reservations to tour the facility by calling 012 963 0049.

To learn more about Al Tayebat Museum and to see more photos of this amazingly beautiful structure, click here.

Closed Shops

Because all businesses must close for the five daily prayer times every day, many shops are closed all afternoon from about 12 pm until 5 pm.  I still haven't gotten used to the strange business hours here and haven't acquired an appreciation for it.  It makes trying to accomplish things during the day extremely inconvenient. 

SkyWatch: Sunrise at Durrat Al Aroos

The clouds were stunning at sunrise a few days ago at Durrat Al Aroos, a popular beach resort area about an hour's drive north of Jeddah.




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Jeddah Red Door and Basil

The door to a humble residence just one block away from a fancy extravagant mall in Jeddah welcomes visitors with the aroma of fresh basil. 

Jeddah Blue Door

My husband thinks I'm nuts, but I have a thing for doors.  Even if they are old, dusty and dirty, I still see a certain unexplainable beauty in them. 

Driving Madness

I complain all the time about the fact that I cannot drive here in Saudi Arabia because I am a woman.  This fact is especially maddening when I see such careless and dangerous driving habits every time we are out, such as reckless driving, little boys behind the wheel, children not buckled in and hanging out the windows, and many other crazy infractions too numerous to mention. 

This photo shows something I might see on a typical day on the streets of Jeddah.  Yes, that is a small child's head sticking up out through the open sun roof of the vehicle.  I get so angry when I see things like this, but it happens all the time.  Just yesterday I saw a big SUV with several children riding on TOP of the roof of the moving car.  I was so stunned I didn't have a chance to get my camera ready - otherwise I would have posted that picture for you too.  * sigh *

Sudanese Camel Herders

Just a short drive from the city, one can find camel ranches where fresh camel milk can be purchased.  Most of the camel herders in the Jeddah area are Sudanese. 

Jeddah Fish Market Entrance

The central fish market of Jeddah is located right on the Red Sea.  Every day of the week it bustles with activity, starting in the wee hours of the morning with an auction.  There is a section where your purchases can be gutted and cleaned, as well as a restaurant area where you can take your fish to be cooked to order.

Colorful Bulk Spices

I love the colors and textures of the spices available here in Jeddah.  The prices shown are in riyals (approximately 4 riyals = $1 US) and per kilo (2.2 pounds).

SkyWatch: Bird in Flight

I'm often surprised when I get back home and look at my photos on the computer at some of the things I have captured that I didn't realize at the time I was taking the pictures.  I love the shape of this bird in flight and the fact that it is centered at the top of the photo.   It almost looks fake, doesn't it?

 


To visit MORE friendly skies around the world, fly on over to SKYWATCH where you’ll find beautiful skies posted by bloggers all over the world.

Jeddah: Graffiti Everywhere

Graffiti is a big problem and an eyesore in Jeddah.  While a lot of the graffiti that I have seen in other places around the world is artistic, most of the graffiti here in Jeddah is sloppy scribbles or juvenile looking drawings.

There has always been graffiti here, but lately it seems that it has become a bigger problem than before.  And it's much uglier and sloppier than ever before too. 

I love public art, but this is not art by any stretch of the imagination.  I find it depressing...

Jeddah's Iceland

Most malls here in Jeddah have family entertainment centers, complete with kiddie rides, games, and lots of other fun things geared for kids.  Iceland Mall on the corner of Sultan and Batterjee streets offers ice skating. 

Public Prayer

One thing that still fascinates me about this country is seeing men praying publicly in all sorts of places - on sidewalks, in malls, in parking lots, on streets.  Even though there are mosques every few blocks, many workers cannot take the time to go to a mosque at prayer times, so they pray wherever they can, often in groups.

Jeddah Fountain View from Middle Corniche

This is the view from the new Open Air Sculpture Park at Jeddah's Middle Corniche.  On the far left is the beautiful Al-Anani Mosque and on the far right is the famous King Fahd's Fountain, or known just simply as the Jeddah Fountain.  This fountain has been a fixture along Jeddah's Red Sea coastline for 30 years, using the seawater for its enormous spray.  It is located adjacent to Salam Palace.  The Jeddah Fountain is the tallest saltwater spray fountain in the world. The fountain's workings are all housed underwater and the seawater must be partially purified of most of the salt in order to keep it in good working condition.  For more interesting facts about the Jeddah Fountain, click here. 

Jeddah Art Week - Cube IV at Night

Cube IV - by Arnaldo Pomodoro (1926- ) 

A night time view of Pomodoro's Cube, which I featured a few days ago. 

Jeddah Art Week Opening Ceremony Today - Miro

Project for a Monument - by Joan Miro (1893-1983)

Eccentric artist Joan Miro was perhaps better known as a painter rather than a sculptor.  His style was mostly considered surrealism, creating almost child-like stylized works with details that were askew. His artwork reflected his contempt for the typical conventional art of the day.  It wasn't until later in his life that the talented Spaniard made the switch to sculptures, which often resembled some kind of living creature with animal, bird, or alien-like attributes. 

The above sculpture is identified as Project for a Monument in the new Open Air Sculpture Park at the Middle Corniche in Jeddah, however it is called Personage II in the book Jeddah City of Art. Miro was 87 years old when the bronze sculpture was cast in Verona, Italy, and made for the City of Jeddah.  It weighs three tons and is one of four made for cities around the world.

Oiseau (Bird) - by Joan Miro (1893-1983)

Oiseau (bird) is another work by Miro which has its home in Jeddah.  It was also cast along with Project for a Monument in Verona when Miro was the age of 87. 

Miro and another Spanish artist, Josep Royo, were commissioned in 1974 to do a huge tapestry work for the World Trade Center, where it hung until it was destroyed in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. 

These two works of Joan Miro can be viewed at the new Open Air Sculpture Park in Jeddah's Middle Corniche.   Tonight at 6pm is the opening ceremony of Jeddah Art Week at the new Sculpture Park.  This ceremony kicks off the first of many scheduled events for Jeddah Art Week.  The public is welcome at any of the events.   Hope to see you there!