Jan Burger in Arabic

Jan Burger is a Saudi-based burger chain with locations in Riyadh, Mecca, and many in Jeddah.  Their menu offers hamburgers, as well as chicken, fish, or shrimp burgers, fries, kids meals, and sodas.  I haven't had the pleasure of trying their food yet but I hope to soon.

Corner Shop

This small corner shop has a bright sign to attract customers.  Also visible are at least four large water tanks sitting atop buildings.  Water is in short supply here in Jeddah and continues to be an ongoing problem.

Grammatically Incorrect Warning Sign

In a mall as I stepped onto an escalator, I noticed this sign which says: "Be aware of you're Abaya and Children."  "You're" is the contraction for "you are."  "Your" would be the correct form of the word, indicating the possessive form.  Grammatically incorrect signs are commonly seen here in Saudi Arabia. 

Fresh Produce Market

Trips to the main fruit and vegetable market here in Jeddah are always interesting and colorful.  In general food costs in Saudi Arabia are much cheaper than in the US - I'm shocked when I shop for herbs and spices in the US because these items are so very cheap here in Saudi Arabia.

CLICK HERE for a map showing the location of the big Jeddah fresh produce market: located in east Jeddah in the Al Safa District between Briman and Tahliyah.

SkyWatch: Regal Restaurant

 Many people and businesses here in Saudi Arabia like to show their loyalty and respect for the Saudi monarchy by adorning their businesses or vehicles with images of the king. 

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Night Life

We don't go out that much at night, but when we do, I'm always amazed at the lively nightlife on the streets.  There are of course no nightclubs here as alcohol is illegal, so there is not much for young men to do but hang out in the streets.  This shot was taken outside a phone service shop. 

Little Caesars Sign in Arabic

I'm always surprised to see so many business chains here in Jeddah.  This is the well-known Pizza! Pizza! chain Little Caesars with the sign written in Arabic. 

Our World: Harbor at Oh Dark Thirty

When I go out on the Red Sea with my husband, he likes to go in the middle of the night before the intense heat of the day approaches.  This harbor is at a place called Durrat Al Aroos, a popular resort area north of Jeddah.  I love the blackness, the stillness of the water, and beautiful reflections of the boats.




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Red Sea Coastline

Pink Villa

This pink villa is visible from the freeway which goes to the Jeddah Airport.  The windows, the colors, and the rounded walls all make this villa stand out. 

Spa Lounge Outdoor Patio

This is another view of the tranquil outdoor pool area of the Spa Lounge in Jeddah - a full service women's day spa.   A couple of days ago, I posted this same pool from another angle. 

For more information, contact Spa Lounge by:

Phone:        02-263-0904  (after August 18, 2013, dial:  012-263-0904)
Website:     http://www.the-spalounge.com
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/spa.loungejeddah
Address:     Khayal Street – Khalidiyah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Sky Watch: Deserted Red Sea Island

One of my favorite things to do here in Jeddah is to spend time out on the Red Sea.  This is the shoreline of a small uninhabited island that we have discovered that has a beautiful coral reef nearby where the snorkeling is phenomenal. 




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Spa Lounge Tranquil Pool

Spa Lounge is a lovely full service ladies' day spa in mid-Jeddah, located off of Al Khayyal Street.  This tranquil oasis offers pampering manis and pedis, massage, hair and skin services, and many other spa treatments.  The bright and airy facility is the ultimate in relaxation with comfortable Feng Shui appeal.

For more information, contact Spa Lounge by:

Phone:        02-263-0904  (after August 18, 2013, dial:  012-263-0904)
Website:     http://www.the-spalounge.com
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/spa.loungejeddah
Address:     Khayal Street – Khalidiyah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Fed Ex Sign in Arabic

I enjoy posting familiar business logos to show how it is done in Arabic.  This one is a worldwide enterprise familiar to everyone around the world - FedEx. 

Our World: Interesting Rooftop

There are many buildings and homes that feature domes here in Saudi Arabia.  Domes are a very typical Middle Eastern architectural element.  This newly constructed building features three open domes on the rooftop.  Looks like it would be a splendid place to throw a party - I'd love to go up there one day and see the space for myself!




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Stately Villa Gates

Many of the wealthy residents of Jeddah reside in palaces or huge villas surrounded by high walls with elegant entry gates.

Yellow Men at Al Halaga

Al Halaga is what the big fruit and vegetable market in Jeddah is called.  The foreign workers who are employed there wear these bright yellow jumpsuits.  The fresh produce market is a very colorful and interesting place where amazing deals can be had. 

Another Tile Mural at Binzagr Art Gallery

A slice of life from Saudi Arabia is beautifully captured in this enormous painted tile mural on display as one enters the Darat Safeya Binzagr Art Gallery in Jeddah. 

Photography is not allowed inside the Costume and Paintings sections of the gallery, but this tile mural and the other one I featured a couple of days ago are in the entry area where photography is permitted. 

For more information: 

Phone: 02 6571030
Email: info@daratsb.com
Website: http://www.daratsb.com/main_e1.htm

Sky Watch: Crescent Moon Minaret Topper

I always get miffed when Muslims insist to me that the crescent moon is not a symbol of Islam.  Here in Saudi Arabia, just about every mosque with a minaret is topped off with a crescent moon.  The insistence that it is not a symbol of Islam is beyond me ...




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Tile Mural Binzagr Art Gallery

This huge painted tile mural adorns the walls at the entrance to the Darat Safeya Binzagr Art Gallery in Jeddah.  The size, the intense colors, and the subject matter all work together to make quite a first impression upon entering the facility. 

The Darat Safeya Binzagr Art Gallery is a wonderful little gem tucked away near the old section of Jeddah called Al Balad.  The building itself which houses the museum is a splendid example of Middle Eastern architecture and design.  The fine art gallery features works by the Saudi female artist Binzagr, as well as her extensive collection of remarkable traditional costumes and accessories from the area.  The facility also offers motivating educational workshops for children as well as adults on art, Saudi culture, and local customs.   Their website, listed below, also offers a virtual tour of the Traditional Costumes section in 3-D as well as the Paintings section.

For more information: 

Phone:   02-657-1030  (NOTE: after August 18, 2013, it will be:  012-657-1030)
Email:   info@daratsb.com
Website:   http://www.daratsb.com/main_e1.htm

KAU Street of Mosaics

I have featured several mosaics in the past few weeks that hang on the wall surrounding KAU (King Abdulaziz University), girls' school, so I wanted to show you a shot of the actual wall where they hang.  The wall is several city blocks long on four sides, encompassing the entire facility's campus.  With the barbed wire above the solid wall and no landscaping, it almost appears to be a uninviting prison instead of an institute of higher learning.  By the way, this shot was taken about midway, so behind me there was an equally long stretch of similar wall with hanging mosaics. In the distance you can also see the enormous roundabout sculpture of Engineer's Tools, which I featured a few days ago.  

Our World: Strung Dates

These are dates that have been pitted, strung, and dried.  Dates have long been a very popular staple in Middle Eastern diets and are usually offered in Saudi homes to guests who come visiting.  There are many varieties of dates, which are produced by the date palm tree.  They can range in color from a very light brown, to reddish or golden brown, to almost black, and their level of sweetness can vary as well.  Saudi Arabia is the world's 2nd largest producer of dates, as dates thrive in desert climates and conditions. 

Different kinds of dates are eaten at different stages of ripeness depending on when they are harvested.  In Arabic, dates are known by their state of ripeness.  Unripe is known as kimri.  The 2nd stage is called khalal, where the date is crunchy and large.  The 3rd stage of ripeness is known as rutab, which describes dates that are soft and ripe.  And finally, ripe and sun-dried dates are called tamr.



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Entrance to Fruit & Vegetable Market

This is the main entrance to the enormous fresh fruit and vegetable souk (market) here in Jeddah.  It is the dispensary for fresh produce for the city, selling to supermarkets, street vendors, restaurants, and individuals.  Most items are sold in bulk and the prices are very reasonable.  The men in the yellow jumpsuits are foreign workers employed at the souk.

Street Vendors

Just another colorful picture of fresh produce vendors on the street. - note the variety of head attire.  At least these guys found some shade.  Many vendors are out in the full-on sun - and the heat is already pretty unbearable.  I'm sure not cut out for their line of work!

Vegetable Stand at Night

This is a typical night scene at an open air fruit and vegetable market in Jeddah.  This particular market is set up for customers to drive up and select their merchandise without even getting out of the car.

SkyWatch: Engineers' Tools Sculpture

Jeddah is a city filled with enormous public artwork.  Many of these sculptures are simple everyday items that are super-sized.  This sculpture, called "Engineers' Tools," is made of steel and is credited to artists Hisham Benjabi and Ali Amin.  It exemplifies precision engineering, a stark contrast to many of the odd, abstract, and whimsical sculptures that also grace the streets of Jeddah.



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Remodeled Villa

I've been watching this villa for many months as it has been totally gutted and remodeled here in Jeddah.  It appears to be nearing completion.  The color choice and elaborate design elements are unusual and not typical for this area. 

Fish Mosaic at KAU

This colorful and whimsical outdoor mosaic is one of dozens which hangs on the walls surrounding King Abdulaziz University (KAU).  Many of the mosaics, which were created by female students several years ago, reflect a Red Sea theme.  Some of the mosaics have not fared too well in the severe heat and dust of Jeddah.  This one is definitely one of my favorites. 

Our World: Would You Like That to Go?

Yesterday I posted a scene from the big fresh produce market in Jeddah.  It supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to supermarkets, shops, restaurants, and street vendors like the one in this post.  There are produce stands like this all over the city, as well as mobile street vendors who wheel their wares around on big carts.  So it's convenient to pick up what you might need without even having to get out of the car. 



Be sure to visit OUR WORLD TUESDAY, where family-friendly bloggers share a unique glimpse into what life is like all around our ever-amazing planet.

Pedestrian Crossing at the Fresh Produce Market

This is a scene at the huge open air fruit and vegetable market in Jeddah.  Cars are not allowed inside the numerous wide aisles which are filled with vendors, shoppers, and flatbeds.  I find this place amazing, although I prefer going during the cooler winter months.

Today is the first of the month, which means it's theme day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers from around the world, sharing the wonders of their area of the world pictorially with others.  Each month there are different themes that CDP members can participate in.  This month's theme is "Pedestrian Crossing"  

Please visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day of "Pedestrian Crossing."