Saudi Arabia: Camel Stud

This is the male stud (a.k.a. bull) of the camel harem.  The one humped Dromedary camel is native to Saudi Arabia.  You won't find two humpers here!  He's a bigger size than most females - and has a hairy beard.

Jeddah's Juffali Mosque

Located on a lagoon at the beginning of the oldest part of Jeddah, Juffali Mosque is elegant yet simple in its design. This community mosque can accommodate two thousand worshipers and is the site where executions are carried out after Friday prayers, earning it the nickname, "Chop Chop Square."

Have a Seat!

I'm always taken aback when I see old living room furniture sitting outside a business or a residential building here in Jeddah.  Actually I frequently sight furniture like this outside.  Since it rarely rains here, getting wet out in the open air isn't a problem, but the dust sure is.

SkyWatch: Red Sea Island

Taken from a small island in the Red Sea, the colors of the sea are striking. 

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Jeddah: Electric Shop

This is an interior shot of a typical small business in Jeddah.  This electric shop is definitely no frills and packed to the gills. 

Different Angles

These two photos were taken within minutes of each other from opposite angles, the top one backlit and the bottom one with the sun behind me.  I love the interesting sky in the top photo, but the bottom photo really shows off the details and color of the pretty little mosque.

Osprey Nest on Red Sea

The osprey nest is huge and made of large branches and twigs.  Female osprey choose their mate based on the construction and location of the male's nest.  This nest has a couple of eggs in it.  The osprey, also known as sea hawk, is a bird of prey and likes to feast on fish.

Napping

At first glance there may not seem to be anything unusual about this photo.  But if you look closely on the floor of shop, you can see a napping shopkeeper's feet sticking out. 

Camel Illusion

Taking photos of camels is interesting because sometimes the images turn out like optical illusions.  Because of their long necks, big torsos, skinny legs, and how camels tend to stand or sit close to each other, I have many photos of camels that seem to have two heads or six legs and some other weird deformities.  The camel standing in the middle of this photo appears to have a head growing out of its hump.

Narrow, but Cool, Building

Saudi Arabia: Camel Crossing

As the early morning sun began peeking out from behind the distant mountain ranges, the familiar Camel Crossing sign made for what I thought was a cool pic.





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Jeddah: Broken Windows

A different shot of the same subject from my post a couple of days ago, clearly showing the broken window panes on the building in old Jeddah.

Al Balad Door with Character

Jeddah: Beauty in Al Balad

Leader's Perch

This is an interior shot of the part of the mosque where the guy who leads the pray stands.  It also indicates the direction of east.   The mosque is currently being gutted and renovated.  It is one of the oldest mosques in Jeddah, if not the oldest.

Chained Door in Al Balad

Rawasheen: View from Below

SkyWatch: Palm Trees Between Rawasheen

The wooden window coverings are called roshan (for one) or rawasheen (for multiple).  They were used on almost all the old buildings of Jeddah to provide ventilation and privacy.




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Break Time

The fresh produce vendors were taking a meal break when we walked past them down in Al Balad, Jeddah's oldest section of the city.  It made for a colorful scene. 

The Blue Door

Funky Restaurant

Sometimes the style or decor of various buildings around here in Jeddah reminds me of Disneyland...

Baby Camel

This little guy is less than two weeks old.  And yep - that's what camel poop looks like on the ground all around him. 

Jeddah: Al Balad is Crumbling

A trip down to the old part of Jeddah called Al Balad is always fascinating, but also makes me sad to see the poor condition many of the buildings are in. 

Old Carved Wooden Door Detail

I love the detail on this carved wooden door in Old Jeddah's Al Balad section. 

SkyWatch: Jeddah Mosque in Al Balad

A mosque's minaret against a gently clouded sky in old Jeddah.





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Censorship in Saudi Arabia: Taylor Swift

Censorship in Saudi Arabia is often accomplished by someone taking a marking pen to women's skin if the person doing the censoring thinks too much of it is showing.  Taylor Swift's bright yellow strapless dress looks rather awkward with the skin of her arms, legs, and shoulders marked out in blue marker. Sometimes skin is marked out with scribbles, and times like these, great care is taken to color within the lines.

Below is what the CD sold in the rest of the world looks like...

Jeddah: Bench in Al Balad

Sitting in the Street

  A closer look at this street scene in Old Jeddah's Al Balad area ...

 

reveals a man sitting in a chair in the narrow street which is used by vehicles.

Riyadh: Kingdom Centre

Kingdom Centre is no doubt a spectacular landmark in the skyline of Saudi Arabia's capital city of Riyadh.  Housing a popular shopping mall called Al Mamlaka, plus the elegant five star Four Seasons Hotel, several restaurants, a conference center and wedding hall, and floors of luxury apartments, this slick and graceful building is the third tallest of its kind in the world, featuring a hole through the building.  Visible for miles around, the top opening of the skyscraper is lit up at night, awash in changing colors like green, blue, and purple.

Jeddah: Miniature Village at Tayebat Museum

Outside the Tayebat Museum is a miniature village designed to look like Old Jeddah. The entire miniature village is probably at least ten times larger than what is shown here. 

More Detail of Tayebat Museum

I love this architectural style of the Tayebat Museum in Jeddah.  I always wanted a home with a big open courtyard in the center.