Jeddah Street Scene: Open Air Market

Two women clad in black walk into an open air fresh produce stand to pick up items for dinner. 

Jeddah: Elegant but Simple Minaret

Mosque minarets are usually topped off with a symbol of the crescent moon, which you can see at the very top of this one if you look closely.. 

SkyWatch: Golden Domed Mosque

Another pretty mosque in Jeddah, this one with a golden dome and a smaller golden dome atop the minaret.

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.

Ladies Shoes and Bags in Saudi Arabia

Since women are required to wear the usually black abaya and scarf when out in public, many women choose to distinguish themselves with their accessories, like shoes and handbags. I enjoyed the coincidence of capturing this street scene of ladies with their colorful accessories walking by an even more colorful shoe shop.

Jeddah: Modern Design

A very modern architecturally designed building of Jeddah.

Our World: Religious Pilgrim

Religious pilgrims are a common sight around Jeddah.  They come to perform religious pilgrimages year round.  Hajj is the one time of the year when literally millions of Muslims come to Saudi Arabia to perform the religious pilgrimage.  There is a very specific time-frame for Hajj every year.  If a Muslim comes to do a pilgrimage at other times of the year, it is called Omra. 

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: Double Parked

A big problem in Jeddah is the lack of adequate parking on many streets.  Double parking is a common occurrence.  It's almost as if parking in general seems like it was an afterthought in this city.  This photo shows the black car to the left of the men in the center and the white car on the right both double parked, blocking in other parked vehicles. 

Minaret Closeup

Mosques are usually identifiable in Saudi Arabia by the minarets which house the loud speakers used for the calls to prayer. This is a more modest minaret compared to many I have seen here.

Bleached Beach House

I rather like how the sun has bleached and streaked the aqua paint on this beach house north of Jeddah. 

SkyWatch: Sailboat Sunset

A beautiful setting sun reflects on the Red Sea and bids good night to this resting sailboat.

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.

Kalimah Shop Window Display

Another edgy window display for Kalimah Brand in the Red Sea Mall - one of the best places I've found for buying gifts and Arab themed merchandise. 

Jeddah: Red Sea Mall Fountain

The malls in Saudi Arabia are plentiful and beautiful.  The Red Sea Mall in Jeddah offers this lovely fountain surrounded by shops and a seating area.  It is also possible to look down on it from the upper levels, as I did for this shot.

Our World: Misspelled Products

I have to shake my head in disbelief when I see merchandise with misspelled words being unloaded in countries where English is not the native language.  A Saudi couple was trying to figure out what these mugs said so I stopped and explained that they were misspelled and that "gombing" is not a word.  They decided not to buy the mugs.  I have a friend here who told me that her Saudi in-laws bought wallpaper for their home with misspelled words on it.  I personally think that merchandise with mistakes like this should be destroyed.

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: Window Detailing

Here is another beautiful window framed in intricately detailed wood somewhere in Jeddah.

Pretty Window Hood

I love the wood frame detailing of this window hood.  It adds so much interest and beauty to an otherwise ho-hum window. 

SkyWatch: Mosque, Palm Trees and Setting Sun

I wasn't sure how this photo of palm trees with a mosque in the distance would turn out when I took it facing directly into the setting sun. What I got what an unusual lens flare just at the base of the mosque, which I think created a rather interesting effect.

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.

Durrat Al Aroos

This is a section of the Durrat Al Aroos Resort Village, north of Jeddah.  With its own harbor, this area offers many options for a nice weekend get away. The elaborate wooden window coverings are fashioned after the distinctive roshan of Old Jeddah. 

Jeddah: Holiday Inn Gateway

There is a new Holiday Inn in Jeddah, just south of the airport on Madinah Road.  It is a great location - just a 10 minute drive to the airport, even closer to the Mall of Arabia, and just a few blocks to the Jeddah Exhibition Center. 

Our World: Driving in Saudi Arabia

Since I am a woman, I cannot drive a car in Saudi Arabia.  But there was no one stopping me from driving this boat on the Red Sea!  In the background is the beach resort area north of Jeddah called Durrat al Aroos, which translates roughly to the best of the bride.  The seaport of Jeddah is known as the bride of the Red Sea.

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.

CDP Theme Day: Stylish

Kalimah Brand is a shop in the Red Sea Mall which offers very stylish Arab inspired clothing.  Their window displays are quite catchy.  I love to buy gifts for friends and family back home from this shop.