Jeddah Modern Highrise

Jeddah Sculpture The Rocket

This is a graceful modern sculpture that has been relocated since I first posted about it on this blog.  The creator of this artwork was an Egyptian artist named Salah Abdulkarim.  It is one of two similar works made of iron that he made and it's called Al Saroukh II (The Rocket).  

Our World: Picnickers on Red Sea

Jeddah's coastline along the Red Sea stretches for miles and miles.  While there are some areas that offer seating and picnicking facilities, for the most part, public facilities for people to enjoy the great outdoors here in Jeddah are few and far between.

So people end up bringing carpets and placing them next to their parked cars so they can sit in the shade.  Other people bring their own folding chairs and even charcoal grills.  During the weekends the Corniche Road which runs along the Red Sea is crowded with cars and people.

 

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Jeddah Mosque on Red Sea

A beautiful seaside mosque of Jeddah.

Jeddah Villa Gates

Jeddah's private residences - Walled and gated tiled villas and palaces.

Jeddah Striped Mosque

I liked the striped stone design of this mosque in Jeddah.

SkyWatch: Jeddah Sculpture The Wave

Jeddah is home to many unusual and bigger than life sculptures that surprise and delight residents of the city.  This mosaic tiled sculpture is called The Wave.  It is actually one of two identical sculptures in Jeddah by Mustafa Senbel, an Egyptian artist commissioned to make about thirty works of art for the City of Jeddah.  Here are several more of Senbel's artwork that I have featured on my blog:  The Fisherman's Net;  Dialogue;  The Seagull;   Two Vases;  Sunrise and Beach Themes;  Sails;  Builder's Plumbline;  The Fisherman's Net II;  The Fountain of Shells;  The Wave;  Desalination Pipes.

Many of Jeddah's sculptures have undergone repair and restoration recently due to wear and tear by the harsh elements of Jeddah's climate.  Here is an interesting video you might enjoy which features some of the sculptures and scenes from Jeddah.

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Jeddah Highrise on Corniche

Jeddah Sculpture: Stalks of Wheat

The Stalks of Wheat sculpture is made of steel and bronze and is the design of an Egyptian artist named Salah Abdulkarim.  He was a pioneer in turning scrap iron into beautiful works of art.  

CLICK HERE to see a previous post of this sculpture on my blog and to learn more about the artist and this piece. 

Our World: Swinging in Jeddah

Earlier this year, I wrote about an incident that involved women swinging on swings in Saudi Arabia being advised by religious policemen that they shouldn't swing in public because it opens them up for harassment.  So it makes me happy when I see Saudi women enjoying themselves, doing things like swinging, despite the fear of being harassed by the religious police or other men.

 

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Jeddah Unusual Building

I'm not exactly sure what this building is or even if its construction is finished, but it is a rather unique design.  I am hoping that the circular part at the very top will be a revolving restaurant.  It would offer panoramic views of the Red Sea and the city.

Red Sea Fishing

Jeddah Modern Building

Jeddah has many modern highrise buildings.  There is always lots of construction going on, roadways being reworked, and now a massive rail project connecting Jeddah with Mecca.

SkyWatch: Jeddah Mosque

Women clad in black walk past a mosque along the Red Sea in Jeddah.

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Jeddah Corniche Walk

There is a long stretch of the Red Sea coastline where people can walk along Jeddah's Corniche and enjoy the breezy sea air.

Jeddah Villa

I thought the bougainvillea made a pretty frame for this Jeddah villa.

Our World: Women Swimming in Red Sea

It's not a common sight in Saudi Arabia, but on occasion, women sometimes venture into the Red Sea wearing their abayas.   Most Saudi women do not know how to swim.

 


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.

Jeddah Cyclists

I don't see many cyclists on the streets of Jeddah so when I do, it's rather exciting!  

Jeddah: Mosque Entrance Al Balad

This is the entrance to a mosque located in the middle of a souk in Al Balad.  Employees and shopkeepers close down their shops at prayer times and come here to pray.  

Jeddah: Papaya Restaurant Interior

The interior of Papaya Restaurant in Jeddah is a delightful relaxed tropical atmosphere complete with the sounds of chirping birds and trickling water fountains.  Whenever I go there, I feel like I am no longer in Saudi Arabia

At night the restaurant is awash in colored lights .  The lush vegetation inside feels like greenhouse and affords lots of privacy for diners.  

Day or night, there is something magical about this restaurant.  And the food is not bad either!  Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Papaya Restaurant is located just south of Shatee Souk on Ahmad al Attas Street.

Address: Az Zahra, Jeddah 23425

Phone:012 275 3425

SkyWatch: Island Mosque on Red Sea

There are several mosques in Jeddah that have prominent places along the Red Sea coastline.  This mosque, called Island Mosque, was finished in 1988 and is built on a very tiny island right off the coast.  Island Mosque was designed by Abdel Wahed Al Wakil, an Egyptian architect responsible for designing more than 15 mosques in Saudi Arabia and many others around the world. He is also credited with designing some of the kingdom's many palaces and mansions.  Formerly there were restrictions limiting the color of all mosques in Jeddah to being exclusively white.  However colors are now allowed, so Island Mosque was painted a neutral cream color with attractive peach trim, a lovely contrast to the blue green waters of the Red Sea.  

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Jeddah: Old Mosque Minaret

I like the sharp decorative points beneath the top of this mosque's minaret.  They seem to be protecting it to me. 

Jeddah: Frankincense

These small golden nuggets were once considered more precious as gold itself.  More commonly known as frankincense, "luban" is the Arabic word for it.  But what exactly is frankincense?  You might be surprised to learn that it is actually the dried natural chewing gum of the Frankincense tree. Saudis like to chew it as gum, but I find it rather flavorless myself.  It is also burned as incense.  To learn more about the interesting history of frankincense, CLICK HERE.

Our World: Busy Jeddah Souk

Down in the oldest part of Jeddah called Al Balad are some of the city's oldest thriving souks.  One can find just about anything the heart desires here.  It is a place where negotiating for the price you wish to pay is an art form.

 


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.

Jeddah: Floating Mosque on Red Sea

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Jeddah, the Floating Mosque is a huge draw for pilgrims traveling through Jeddah before or after they make their religious pilgrimage to Mecca.  The official name of this mosque is Fatima Az Zahra Mosque, named after the daughter of the prophet Mohammed.  At high tide the mosque appears to be floating in the Red Sea.  It is actually supported by stilts in the water and is accessible by a walking bridge.  It is one of at least four mosques situated next to the Corniche Road running along the Red Sea.

You can see a closer up photo I posted previously of this mosque by CLICKING HERE.

Old Jeddah: Souk Hallway

A quieter time at one of the souks in Old Jeddah.  

Size Comparison

I got a kick out of these muffin cups that I saw sitting on the shelf in a local Jeddah supermarket. The slightly larger box holds "24 American Muffin Cups" while the other smaller box offers "120" regular muffin cups. 

SkyWatch: Mameluke Lanterns, Jeddah Sculpture

Often cited as one of Jeddah's most beautiful sculptures, the Mameluke Lanterns are indeed a striking feature along Jeddah's Al Andalus Road, where it curves and changes in to King Abdulaziz Road.  At night when the four gigantic stained glass lanterns are illuminated from within, they are breathtakingly beautiful.  The Mameluke Lanterns are the creation of the Spanish architect and artist, Julio Lafuente, who is credited with designing more than 30 sculptures for the City of Jeddah.

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Jeddah: Old & New

Jeddah is a city of stark contrasts, where the old is mixed with the new, where elaborate palaces are built next door to decrepit hovels, and where the society is as black and white as the clothing that its women and men wear.  This photo was taken in Al Balad, the oldest section of Jeddah, which is home to old crumbling buildings as well as modern new skyscrapers.  

Jeddah Sculpture: The Cosmos

One of the largest sculptures in Jeddah as well as the whole world, The Cosmos is a prominent landmark of the city.  Sometimes referred to as The Fallopian Tubes by the locals, this sculpture was designed by German artist Ottmar Hollmann.  For a close up photo showing more details of the sculpture and more information about this sculpture, please click HERE.

Our World: Wires = Fires

When the older buildings in Al Balad were constructed, it was pre-electricity.  Consequently the old buildings that are still standing have been wired in haphazard and unsafe ways, as you can see here in this photo.  It comes as no surprise then that many of the older buildings have been destroyed by electrical fires.  It's a shame as well as rather surprising that there are no safety codes enforced to prevent the many fires from happening.

 


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.

Jeddah: Young Vendors at Souk

Whenever I go down to the souks in Al Balad or the huge outdoor fruit and vegetable market in Jeddah to take have photos, the young vendors are usually very obliging and eager to pose for me. 

Old Jeddah: Al Balad Souk

A trip down to Jeddah's Al Balad is always a fun filled adventure.  At certain times during the day, the souks are quite busy, but at night, the place is really hopping with all the hustle and bustle of commerce going on.  

Saudi Arabia: Product Packaging Geared for Girls

Fulla is the name of the Muslim version of the Barbie doll.  And just like Barbie's image is used to market many other products, so is Fulla's.  Above we have Fulla endorsed milk chocolate eggs and below are Fulla cupcakes.