Lines, Angles and a Mosque Minaret

Big Equipment Scoop Shovels

There is frenzied construction going on in every corner of Jeddah.  The streets have been undergoing major renovations in removing dozens of huge and impractical traffic circles and replacing these intersections with more efficient overpasses to keep traffic moving. 

There is also a huge electric train project called the Haramain High Speed Rail project underway which will eventually connect Mecca, Jeddah, and Medina via 449 km of high speed rail.  This project will accommodate millions of religious pilgrims each year when completed. 

Jeddah: Pyramid Style Lexus Dealership

This is one of my favorite unique building designs here in Jeddah.  Whenever we pass it, it always captures my attention.  It houses the local Lexus dealership owned by Abdul Latif Jameel, a prominent Jeddah businessman, arts supporter, and philanthropist.  Blue reflective glass is a very popular choice for many building designs in Jeddah.  I love the pyramid style, curvy front, and the unusual roofline. 

Shengleesh

In the deli section of most grocery stores here in Jeddah, one can find an assortment of interesting and mysterious items that may not be commonly found in your neck of the woods.  Shengleesh is aged and dried yogurt balls rolled in spices.  Labneh is the Arabic word for yogurt, which is strained (usually with muslin), removing the whey but retaining the yogurt flavor.   

Jeddah Graffiti Series: Vertical and Horizontal Views

One of my favorite exhibitions for this year's Jeddah Art Week, which was held in February, was the graffiti street art by several artists that was painted in an urban area in Al Balad, the oldest part of Jeddah.  Middle Eastern graffiti combines Arabic calligraphy with graffiti, coining the term "calligraffiti."  The elegant calligraffiti at the top of the building was done by the artist eL Seed.  For more information about his work and how this art was applied, click HERE.

This horizontal view of the red calligraffiti shows how it fills a previously blank wall between men's and women's public toilets.  I have complained before about the non-artistic graffiti that plagues the entire city of Jeddah, but this is real art and I love it. I hope you enjoyed my Jeddah Graffiti Series that I featured the past few days. 

SkyWatch - Jeddah Graffiti Series: Calligraffiti

One of my favorite exhibitions for this year's Jeddah Art Week, which was held in February, was the graffiti street art by several artists that was painted in an urban area in Al Balad, the oldest part of Jeddah.  With crumbling buildings and a mosque minaret in the background, this graffiti really stands out.  Middle Eastern graffiti combines Arabic calligraphy with graffiti, coining the term "calligraffiti."  The elegant calligraffiti on the building was done by the artist eL Seed.  For more information about his work and how this art was applied, click HERE.

I have complained before about the non-artistic graffiti that plagues the entire city of Jeddah, but this is real art and I love it. For the next few days I will be featuring more graffiti from Jeddah Art Week.  




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 Series: Orange

One of my favorite exhibitions for this year's Jeddah Art Week, which was held in February, was the graffiti street art by several artists that was painted in an urban area in Al Balad, the oldest part of Jeddah.  This work features an intricate woven design done in orange on a black background.  I do see a banana on the left...

I have complained before about the non-artistic graffiti that plagues the entire city of Jeddah, but this is real art and I love it. For the next few days I will be featuring more graffiti from Jeddah Art Week.  

Jeddah Graffiti Series: Graceful Calligraffiti

One of my favorite exhibitions for this year's Jeddah Art Week, which was held in February, was the graffiti street art by several artists that was painted in an urban area in Al Balad, the oldest part of Jeddah.  Middle Eastern graffiti combines Arabic calligraphy with graffiti, coining the term "calligraffiti."  Applied on the patterned tile and iron doors of an old building, this graceful calligraffiti is a winner in my book.  

I have complained before about the non-artistic graffiti that plagues the entire city of Jeddah, but this is real art and I love it. For the next few days I will be featuring more graffiti from Jeddah Art Week.  

Jeddah Graffiti Series: Corner Wall

One of my favorite exhibitions for this year's Jeddah Art Week, which was held in February, was the graffiti street art by several artists that was painted in an urban area in Al Balad, the oldest part of Jeddah. 

I have complained before about the non-artistic graffiti that plagues the entire city of Jeddah, but this is real art and I love it. For the next few days I will be featuring more graffiti from Jeddah Art Week.  

Jeddah Graffiti Series: From 2014 Jeddah Art Week

One of my favorite exhibitions for this year's Jeddah Art Week, which was held in February, was the graffiti street art by several artists that was painted in an urban area in Al Balad, the oldest part of Jeddah.  With crumbling buildings and a mosque minaret in the background, this graffiti really stands out.  Middle Eastern graffiti combines Arabic calligraphy with graffiti, coining the term "calligraffiti."

I have complained before about the non-artistic graffiti that plagues the entire city of Jeddah, but this is real art and I love it. For the next few days I will be featuring more graffiti from Jeddah Art Week.  

Hoppy Easter!

A Jeddah Salon and Spa

Many of the salon/spas for women in Jeddah are housed in private villas in residential areas.  Men are not allowed inside.  There are many of these spas all over the city, offering the usual salon services like haircuts, mani/pedis, waxing, and massages.  Physical beauty is very important for Saudi women, as it is for women everywhere.  But in this country, first impressions and physical attraction are probably even more crucial since opportunities for men and women meeting are very limited due to society's strict gender segregation.  So beauty is a key factor for a man looking for wife in this culture since dating is not generally accepted.   Salon/spas do a thriving business here in Jeddah. 

SkyWatch: Camel in the Desert

I haven't seen many animals in the wild here in Jeddah, as I don't get outside the city much, so I do get excited when I see a camel on the loose.  The purple and blue hued mountains in the distance made this photo even more special. 




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Saudi Arabia: Mosque Windows

Mosques generally don't have stained glass windows like churches usually do where I come from.  But many mosques that I have seen have wrought irons designs which remind me of stained glass.  These windows are on a mosque out in the country.

Saudi Arabia: Shepard

This sheep and goat herder was out walking in the desert near Waba Crater with his flock of about 30 animals, some of which you can see in the background.  He is Pakistani.  He carried a wooden stick which he used as a walking cane. 

Saudi Arabia: Playground

This is a small portion of a huge playground area near Waba Crater.  There was even a grassy area to play on.  I love the space alien theme. 

Saudi Arabia: Volcanic Rock

This desolate terrain near Waba Crater in Saudi Arabia consists of dirt topped with volcanic rock.  To see more photos and learn more about Saudi Arabia's Waba Crater, CLICK HERE. 

Guess the Logo

Can you guess this Arabic logo of a well known worldwide business chain?

Waba Crater: Artistic

This is a zoomed in shot of Waba Crater.  The very dark areas are volcanic rock formations jutting out of the ground.  The white lacy area is made up of salt crystals.  I love the textures and variations from light to dark of this photo.  To see more photos and learn more about Saudi Arabia's Waba Crater, CLICK HERE. 

SkyWatch: Waba Crater

We arrived at Waba Crater, a 4 hour drive from Jeddah, at sunrise.  It was a spectacular vision to behold.   The sun's rays made it seem magical.  To see more photos and read more about Waba Crater, CLICK HERE. 




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Workers' Neighborhood Restaurant

I've never eaten here, but we pass by this little neighborhood restaurant frequently.  This type of restaurant mainly caters to foreign workers. 

Waba Crater: Another View

I have been posting several photos of Waba Crater in Saudi Arabia recently.  Here is another view.  It looks so artistic to me.  To see more photos and learn more about Saudi Arabia's Waba Crater, CLICK HERE. 

Jeddah: Cool Building Design

This is a new office building in Jeddah that is still under construction.  I think it's a pretty cool design.  What do you think?

Waba Crater: Sun Ray Effect

Waba Crater is more than a mile wide and reaches a depth of 820 feet.  There is a rocky trail which winds down the steep sides of the crater, and it is easy to lose one's footing as the rocky path is loose and slippery.  To see more photos and learn more about Saudi Arabia's Waba Crater, CLICK HERE. 

Saudi Arabia: Bedouin Desert Tent

The black tents that dot the landscape of Saudi Arabia's deserts are made of woven goat hair and are inhabited by nomads called Bedouins.  Many times tents will have the latest 4WD pickup truck parked outside, TV antenna, and a chimney for the fireplace, like the red one shown here.

To learn more about the Bedouin lifestyle, CLICK HERE, and to learn more about the black tents they live in, CLICK HERE.  

Waba Crater: Lacy Salt Deposits

The two kilometer wide Waba Crater was formed when a volcano erupted underground in an enormous steam explosion when molton lava came into contact with underground water.  The entire bottom of the crater with its white lacy edges against the dark volcanic earth background is actually made of salt crystals. To see more photos and learn more about Waba Crater, CLICK HERE. 

SkyWatch: Minaret and Pretty Sky

It's impossible to estimate how many mosques there are in Jeddah.  Most are identifiable by their minarets and quite often a large dome.  Others are rather obscure but always recognizable by a small tower or rod sticking out with a crescent moon at the top.  This mosque is in Al Balad, the old original section of the Jeddah.  In this crowded part of the city, the mosque is surrounded by businesses and residential buildings.  I felt lucky that the sky that day was pretty. Many days are cloudless here in Jeddah. 





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Saudi Arabia: Outside Prayer Area

The presence of Islam is felt everywhere in this country.  People of other religions are not allowed to openly practice their religions.  To say that there are mosques on every street corner might be exaggerating slightly, but not much.  Even out in the middle of nowhere, there are places provided for Muslims to worship.  This little place for prayer has no walls or roof and a dirt floor.  It is completely out in the open and in the middle of nowhere.  There are many similar structures in underdeveloped areas of Saudi Arabia. 

Saudi Arabia: Sunrise at Waba Crater

Last month a couple of friends and I drove up to the archaelogical site of Waba Crater.  While it was originally believed that the crater was formed by a meteor hitting the earth, it is now believed that the crater was formed when a volcano below the earth's surface erupted.  Indeed there is volcanic rock all over the area. 

To learn more about this little day trip to Waba Crater and to see more photos, CLICK HERE.

Palace on Red Sea under Construction

Not sure if this is a palace or just a very large private villa.  But it is immense and located right on the Red Sea north of Jeddah, in the area called Obhur.  I'll try to take a photo upon completion to show you the final result.