Saudi Arabia: Formal Living Room

This is the formal living room of a typical Saudi home. Most Saudi homes have at least two entrances and two separate parlor areas to accommodate female and male guests separately.  Saudi decorating style tends to lean toward formal.

SkyWatch: Saudi Arabia Hotel Pool Area

 Saudi Arabia boasts some beautiful world renowned chain hotels.

Due to strict cultural norms, this pool is off limits to female adult swimmers.  Women can swim in hotels that offer a totally private pool for ladies only that is inaccessible to men.

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Saudi Arabia: Mosque Dome

Many mosques in Saudi Arabia also incorporate domes in their architectural details.

From this perspective of the same mosque, one cannot see the dome, just the crescent moon symbol which tops it.

Saudi Arabia Hotel Spread

One of the buffet tables from an outdoor poolside party in Riyadh.

The food was as good as it looks.

Our World: Saudi Arabia Residential Compound Entrance

Larger residential compounds for expat workers in Saudi Arabia generally offer high level security for its residents.  This is an obstacle course entrance typical of many compounds which leads to a guard gate.  The high walls surrounding the entire complex are all topped with spiraled barbed wire.  Once inside the compound, it appears much like typical communities in the west, where women can walk around in normal street clothes without the abaya.





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Saudi Arabia Home Entryway

From the same Saudi home in yesterday's stained glass window post, this entryway to the home features a stained glass double door with accompanying stained glass window panels and arched door topper.

Many Saudi homes have elegant and grand entrances like this.

Saudi Home Stained Glass Window

I have been fortunate to have been able to see some amazing private residences here in Saudi Arabia.  This huge stained glass wall is on one side of an enormous formal dining room and overlooks the pool area.

Here are some closer up shots of the beautiful window.

Saudi Arabia: Christmas Tidings

There are not many signs of Christmas in Saudi Arabia, as you can imagine.  But many expats are able to enjoy holiday festivities despite the ban on religions other than Islam in this country.  Embassies often host holiday parties and bazaars or choral events, etc.  Wishing you all a Happy Holiday and all the best in the coming year!

SkyWatch: Jeddah Mosque Minaret

All too often the skies of Jeddah are hazy and dusty.  I was happy with the sky on this day.  The blue really makes the mosque's minaret stand out nicely.


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Our World: Gender Segregation Sign

Gender segregation is one of the things that I dislike most about living in Saudi Arabia.  Shops that cater specifically to women's products, like lingerie or cosmetics, usually do not allow single men entry into them.  Restaurants generally have separate entrances and eating areas for single men and for women or families. 




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Villa Gate of Jeddah

I rather like the wrought iron design on this villa gate of Jeddah.

Jeddah Shop Name

In Saudi Arabia, it's interesting to see a shop named after an island in Hawaii.

Jeddah Supermarket

Jeddah supermarkets are very similar to the markets in the US.

SkyWatch: Jeddah Villa Neighbor

Privacy is a major concern in Saudi Arabia, hence the high walls around every villa.  I doubt that the owner of this villa is happy about the highrise building being built right next door. 


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Jeddah Restaurant

Jeddah's restaurant scene is booming.  There is a great variety of restaurants to choose from.  I like the business sign for this Crab House. 

Jeddah Modern Supermarket

This Jeddah supermarket has cool beams that light up and change colors on the end of each aisle.

Our World: Saudi Product Logos

I love seeing products like this with cool packaging.

Many food products are imported into Saudi Arabia from all over the world.  I don't think Disney would be too happy about the one below ...

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 Fruit Market

There are open air fresh produce markets all over Jeddah. 

Arabic Store Sign

I can't read Arabic but I like the font and color of the business sign for this large shop which sells thobes, the traditional white dress that Saudi men wear.

Jeddah Business

SACO is a chain store in Jeddah that could be compared to Home Depot or Loews in the US.  DIY home improvement projects are rarely performed by actual homeowners here because foreign labor is so inexpensive. 

SkyWatch: Jeddah's Rosewood Corniche Hotel

The Rosewood Corniche Hotel is one of Jeddah's interesting buildings for architectural style.  One part of the building is round and the other part is topped off with a big hole that a small airplane could probably fly through.


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Jeddah Palace Under Construction

I believe this might be a palace judging by its sheer size.  It's been under construction for quite a while already. 

Jeddah Street Scene

This is a very typical street scene in Jeddah with its colorful storefronts.

Our World: Busy Storefront

Many businesses here in Jeddah go overboard with busy visual graphics on their storefronts.  




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Jeddah Villa with Palm Trees

A typical walled and gated estate in Jeddah.

Jeddah Cultural Club

While there are no movie theaters in Jeddah, this building of the Literary Cultural Club houses a lovely auditorium where movie screenings or other events are sometimes offered for members.

Jeddah King Road Tower

This Jeddah highrise is called the King Road Tower, a 34 floor office building that boasts the world's largest LED advertising screens on either side of the building.  The screen can be seen for miles - I can see it from the rooftop of our building, which is about a 20 minute drive away.  The building is constructed of reinforced concrete and steel with an all glass facade.  It was completed in 2011 and instantly became a familiar landmark of the city of Jeddah.

SklyWatch: Sun Roof

I apologize for the poor quality of this photo, but it's really difficult to get a good shot of something like this here in Saudi Arabia.  General safety concerns really haven't impacted Saudi Arabia as they have in many other countries yet.  Most Saudi children are not buckled into seatbelts and smaller kids are not placed in car seats.  Many younger kids sit on dad's lap as he drives, or on mom's lap in the passenger seat.  And it is common to see children riding in cars standing up and sticking out of the sun roof or hanging out the windows.  If an accident occurs and the child is injured or killed, it is considered to be God's will, not parental carelessness.


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CDP Theme Day: Transitions

The Jeddah airport is called the King Abdulaziz International Airport and has been in operation since 1981.  This photo features a small section of the open-air Hajj Terminal, which was built specifically to handle the millions of religious pilgrims from around the world who travel to Mecca during a short time frame each year.  The structure consists of over 200 tent-like coverings which provide shade and allow for natural ventilation.  The Jeddah airport has no jet bridges.  Passengers must climb a flight of stairs to board the airplanes.  The severe heat and lugging carry-on bags can make climbing the stairs even more difficult.  A new expansion project is currently under construction (expected to be completed in 2018) and it will have jet bridges.  I can hardly wait for this much anticipated improvement.

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 is a different theme.  This month's theme is "Transitions."

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

Jeddah Rooftop City View at Night

Buildings resembling birthday cakes, my rooftop view at night in Jeddah.

Our World: Jeddah Villa with Privacy Wall

This is a shot of a very typical single family villa of Jeddah.  All villas completely enclosed by tall walls.  Many walls have upward extensions for additional privacy from neighboring buildings, as you can see here on the left.




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.