Jeddah from Above

These are aerial shots of Jeddah taken when I was arriving back in Jeddah last year.  Jeddah is a city of almost 4 million people but feels very compact and congested in its actual surface area.

The city stretches lengthwise north and south for miles and miles along the Red Sea coastline, but from east to west it is actually quite narrow.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year - full of peace, joy, and success.

Viewing the Red Sea

This lookout point on a pier that juts out into the Red Sea provides a fantastic endless view of the blue waters to the west of Jeddah.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

Cute Arabic Greeting Cards

I spotted these charming greeting cards in a female only restaurant here in Jeddah called Sara Ladies Cafe.  They are the work of a young Saudi female artist, Ola Nassief.

This one (above) says "Happy Birthday!"  

"Make the moon go away, and you take its place" is the literal translation of the above card.  In English, we might say something like "You are the moon."

Obviously this last one s for a wedding.  It says "You are the prettiest bride."

You can follow this artist on Instagram @ ola.nassief

The Moody Red Sea

Words are not necessary to express the moods evoked in this photo of the Red Sea.  It's rather magical and peaceful, I think.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

SkyWatch: Jeddah's Mameluke Lanterns

One of Jeddah's most well known public works of art is the Mameluke Lanterns.  Designed by Spanish architect and artist Julio Lafuente, the lanterns are quite breathtaking when they are lit up at night.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share these beautiful photos for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

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 Rusty Door

I know it's not much to look at, but I actually love this photo of a rusty old door on a dilapidated building here in Jeddah.  I love the rusted metal door, the old tire leaning up against the building, the paint peeling off the walls, and even the small pile of gravel to the left.  Old metal doors like this one are very common on many older buildings in this city.

Pretty Jeddah at Night

This post features one of my favorite buildings to photograph in Jeddah, whch also happens to be the tallest bulding in the city at the current time.

I've taken many photos of this building and have written about it before several times too.  Here is a previous post with information about this graceful skyscraper near the Red Sea coastline.

CLICK HERE to see another post featuring this same building, but with a couple of spectacular shots of it taken at sunset.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share these beautiful photos for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

Our World - Saudi Arabia Prayer Time

One of the things I am fascinated by the most here in Saudi Arabia is seeing large groups of men praying together in formation at the various prayer times of the day.  Every area of cities and smaller towns have designated public areas where anyone can join in when it is prayer time.

We walked by this group of men and further back and a little distance from the men were women also praying.   Many places have carpets for anyone to use to pray on. Shoes are always taken off and placed to the side.




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Jeddah - Making Bread

I loved seeing this female breadmaker doing her thing at Shababik Restaurant.  Not too long ago, women were not allowed to work in positions like this. Women used to be strictly limited to work only in the medical or education fields.  

Jeddah's King Fountain at Night

King Fahd's Fountain, known more commonly as the King's Fountain, is one of the tallest spray fountains in the world.  Information differs as to its actual height, ranging from 260 meters to 312 meters.  It is located off Jeddah's coast and can only be viewed from a distance.  The spray is usually turned on at the end of the day and is visible from quite a distance as it is lit up against the night sky.  

Jeddah Nite Scene on the Corniche

Many small shops like this one that sell snacks and drinks, ice cream, prayer rugs, blow up toys, and lots of items one might want to purchase while strolling on the Corniche are located along the Red Sea coastline of Jeddah.  They all seem to do quite a thriving business.  

SkyWatch: Sundown on the Red Sea

Many Jeddawis gather along the Red Sea coastline to enjoy the end of the day, the setting of the sun to the west.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

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's Ritz Carlton at Night

This magnificent bulding was originally built as a palace, but it is now the Ritz Carlton of Jeddah.  It is located along Jeddah's Corniche right along the Red Sea. 

Jeddah's Cool Waterfront

This is a newer pier overlooking the Red Sea Coastline of Jeddah.  Since the new waterfront opened up just over a year ago, the Corniche area has become a very popular place for people spendng their leisure time enjoying the breezes and beauty of this area. 

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Twitter @ayaa1977

Our World - Jeddah Palace Gate at Night

Swathed in blue light, this palace gate on a main road in Jeddah looks inviting and appealing.  I apologize for the poor quality - this photo was taken while zooming by in a car at night.  It actually came out better than most!





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 Restaurant Decor

This beautiful entryway of Shababik Restaurant is what patrons walk past when entering the restaurant dining area.  

Jeddah - Shababik Mural

This is part of a huge wall mural in the lobby area of the Shababik Restaurant here in Jeddah.  The cuisine of this restaurant is Lebanese / Meditteranean / Middle Eastern.  The mural shows a few of the men wearing the fez, which is not commonly worn here in Jeddah.  It also depicts several patrons smoking hookah pipes, which Shababik is a popular haven for.  

Jeddah Restaurant Door

Like any large city anywhere, Jeddah has its fair share of outstanding restaurants.  Shababik is a Lebanese / Meditterranean cuisine restaurant with large windows that look over a busy roundabout of the city.  It also offers outdoor seating and a menu of hookah selections.   

SkyWatch: A Few Minutes Later on the Red Sea

Two beautiful shots of a mosque on the Red Sea in Jeddah taken by my friend and terrific photographer Abdullah.  The shots were taken from the same spot several minutes apart.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share these beautiful photos for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

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.

Saudi Arabia Bowls with Arabic Script

I saw this set of bowls in a restaurant on display and I thought they were really cool.
@ Shababik Restaurant - Jeddah

Jeddah's Belajio Resort and Restaurant

The expansive Belajio Resort and Restaurant is located right on the Red Sea coastline of Jeddah with lovely restaurants and beautiful sea views.  It also has a kid's entertainment area and lovely outdoor seating.   

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share these beautiful photos for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

Our World: No Doubt, This is Jeddah!

Jeddah's new attractve waterfront has become a haven for residents to spend relaxing time with their families.  One of the main attractions is the Jeddah sign, which spells out the city's name in larger-than-life turquoise blue letters.

The Red Sea is the sign's backdrop, accented with palm trees.  At night the large letters light up and can be seen from quite a distance.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share these beautiful photos for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977




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 Waterfront Sculptures at Night

Here is another beautiful view of Jeddah's Red Sea at night.  The spherical sculptures, the palm trees, and the reflections of the lighting all work together to make a spectacular scene, don't you think?

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

Jeddah Sculpture: Bride of the Red Sea

Jeddah has long been called "The Bride of the Red Sea."  It is located in the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia and is the largest city of the Makkah Province, with about 4 million in population. It is the largest seaport on the Red Sea, is the gateway to two of Islam's holiest cities - Makkah and Medina - and is a shipping and commercial hub for the country.  Because of its location right on the Red Sea, Jeddah is also a popular tourist destination which also makes it considered one of the most open cities in Saudi Arabia.   The city's motto is "Jeddah Ghair" which translates to "Jeddah is different" - something I have heard over and over again when people talk about Jeddah. 

As far as the name of Jeddah itself, Jeddah actually means "grandmother" in Arabic.  The tomb of Eve is believed to be located in Jeddah and she is considered to be the grandmother of humanity. There have been many spellings of its name with Jeddah being the most common one.   

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

Jeddah Birds Enjoying a Show on the Red Sea

This flock of birds seems to be enjoying a show given by the lone bird on top of a pole sticking out of the Red Sea.  The shell-like structure in the background is a Lebanese restaurant with fantastic seaside seating.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

SkyWatch: Jeddah Waterfront at Sunset

Probably the most scenic and enchanting place to be at sunset in Jeddah is at the Corniche which runs along the Red Sea.  Between the palm trees, the elegant architecture, and the many sculptures, you can't lose just soaking up the beauty of Jeddah's sunsets.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977


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's Floating Mosque on the Red Sea

Jeddah's Floating Mosque on the Red Sea is one of those "must see" buildings when visitors come to the city.  At high tide it literally appears to be floating in the sea. 

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977

Jeddah Horse Sculpture at Sunset

The recent transformation of Jeddah's Waterfront was a fantastic opportunity for many artists to create works of art for the city.  Rabia Al Akhras was already well known in Jeddah for his rendition of a herd of galloping horses which is located in the island dividing north and south running lanes of Medina Road just south of the Jeddah airport.  The Syrian sculptor, who has spent most of his life living in Jeddah, donated three of his horse sculptures to grace the coastal city's seaside area, which is more popular than ever due to significant upgrades and developments in recent years. 

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful sunset photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Twitter @ayaa1977

Our World - Al Balad Sculpture at Dusk

The sculpture of a "marash" - an instrument which disperses rose water - is one of Jeddah's famous sculptures down in the old historic part of the city called Al Balad.  These vessels are mostly just used as decor now, a reminder of days gone by.  Rose water is still very popular in the country however and is used for its many benefits.  Aside from its wonderful fragrance, rose water can be used as an astringent to clean facial pores and tone the skin. Its healing properties help to control the skin's oiliness and can also help with eczema, acne and dermatitus.  It is also used in many desserts and we also like to put a drop or two in a jug of cold water to flavor it.

A big "Thanks" to my friend and amazing photographer Abdullah Yahya for allowing me to share this beautiful photo for today's post.  Stay tuned for more fantastic pics from around Saudi Arabia taken by Abdullah.  Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ayaa1977




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.