WHEN I CAN TRAVEL AGAIN

WHEN I CAN TRAVEL AGAIN, I WILL ...

COMMUNE WITH NATURE IN MY BACKYARD IN THE USA

ENJOY FAMILY I'VE MISSED, LIKE MY GRANDDAUGHTER

REVEL IN THE COOLER WEATHER IN WASHINGTON STATE

PHOTOGRAPH FLOWERS

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LINKING TO - TUESDAY'S TREASURES

OUR WORLD TUESDAY

MY CORNER OF THE WORLD

PICTORIAL TUESDAY

MOSAIC MONDAYS 

CITY DAILY PHOTO

CITY DAILY PHOTO is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in  their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "When I Can Travel Again."  Be sure  to visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day.

 

PICS WITH MIRRORS

 

LINKING TO - TUESDAY'S TREASURES

MOSAIC MONDAYS

CITY DAILY PHOTO 

CITY DAILY PHOTO's Theme Day is the first of every month.  This month's theme is "Mirror."  

COMFORT FOOD, Away from Home & Family

My favorite meal of the whole year has always been Thanksgiving dinner.  I love turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and all the other foods that accopany this traditional American annual feast.  I love the leftovers too.  Being so far away from my family on this holiday over the years has been difficult. The traditional Thanksgiving feast is the epitome of comfort food for me.  Comfort food is the theme for this month's City Daily Photo first of the month post.  

LINKING TO - CITY DAILY PHOTO

Red Crescent - Public Safety

The red crescent is used to identifying medical emergency service humanitarian centers around the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, providing ambulances, first aid clinics and hospitals. 

The red crescent is easily identifiable, and one of its major duties is providing health care crisis management for millions of religious pilgrims who have traveled to Saudi Arabia from countries around the globe for the annual Hajj. 

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Public Safety."  Be sure  to visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day.  

Jeddah Waterfront Park

Jeddah's Waterfront Park runs along the Red Sea coastline for 4.5 km. It opened in November 2017 and is one of Jeddah's most popular attractions. There is something for everyone there.

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day  for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Park."  Be sure  to visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day.

CDP - Ministry of Culture and Information Building

Cities all over Saudi Arabia have local subdivisions of the kingdom's ministries. The Ministry of Culture and Information houses in this beautiful building the Jeddah Radio Studio Complex.

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day  for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Municipal Building."  Be sure  to visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day.

Brown "Roshan" Window Coverings - SkyWatch and Theme Day

One of the most beautiful features of the buildings of Old Jeddah, called Al Balad, is the lovely window coverings often made of latticed wood.  They are usually stained brown or painted in shades of green, blue, or red.  Many of the older dilapidated roshan have been replaced  with newer ones as the surviving buildings are renovated.

I am back from an extended absence of several months from Saudi Arabia.  Summers are just too hot for me here.  It's still pretty warm now but it should start cooling off soon. It's good to be back though... 

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.

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Brown."  Be sure to visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day.

Jeddah Purple Wedding

When I saw that City Daily Photo's monthly theme for May was "Purple," my thoughts immediately went to an amazing wedding I attended on Valentine's Day here in Jeddah. The entire ballroom was awash in shades of purple - purple lighting, purple flowers, purple decorations.  

I wrote about this magnificent event and posted many more photos on my other blog, Susie of Arabia. Have a look! Photos of Saudi weddings are rarely seen or posted on public forums.

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Purple."  Be sure to visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day.

Al Ula - Arabian Icon - CDP Theme Day

We were just wrapping up a photo shoot outside the beautiful mirrored concert hall called Maraya in Al Ula when a large trailer and SUV pulled up, bringing photographers and this gorgeous white Arabian horse.  The day had started with not one, but TWO helicopter rides over the striking and exceptional terrain of Al Ula and Madein Saleh. We had thought the day just couldn't have gotten any better than that.  And then this magnificent horse and rider showed up!

It was indeed a very special ending to our magical weekend in Al Ula. The Winter at Tantora Festival and the wonders of it all never ceased to amaze me beyond my wildest dreams. And now the festival has been extended for two more weekends through Feb. 23rd.  Saudi Arabia has jumped right in to the tourism arena by offering this unforgettable experience, rich in history and incredible awe inspiring marvels.  Don't miss out!  Find out more and book your tickets today HERE - #WinterAtTantora

My friend Laura of the amazing blog Blue Abaya has written a fabulous comprehensive guide and history of Madain Saleh with lots of fantastic photos - CLICK HERE to access it.

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "White."

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

Happy New Year!

Today's post's theme is my best or favorite photo from the past year.  While this isn't my best photo, it is my favorite because it exemplifies my feelings for my adopted country of Saudi Arabia. I have to admit, my first couple of years here took some adjusting and at times I wondered what I had gotten myself into.  But this place and its people have grown on me, and I have to come to love living here very much.  I only wish the rest of the world could know what a wondrous and amazing place this is.  I'm not saying it's perfect by any means, but there are so many good things about life in Saudi Arabia that most people have no idea about.  And I hope that through my blogging, others may come to know the Saudi Arabia that I know and love. 

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, with LOVE from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia!

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Best or Favorite Photo of the Year."

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

Saudi Arabia - One Color

I've always had a thing for doors. I find them beautiful - even old decrepid doors. There's always a mystery about what is behind them.  The painted metal door featured in this post is typical of many places here in Saudi Arabia.  They are not fancy, but they are sturdy and practical.  I've seen them painted every color of the rainbow and with a variety of shapes and designs on them. 

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "One Color."

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

CDP Theme Day - Tired

My friend Vicki and I were out for a walk, enjoying this cooler weather before it gets like an oven here again, when we noticed this man sleeping on a bench in a park across from some Jeddah highrises.  I figured this shot would qualify for this month's City Daily Photo Theme which is "Tired."

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Tired."

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

CDP Theme Day: Photo of the Year

It's always difficult to choose my favorite photo from the past year, as I'm sure it is for other bloggers who participate in City Daily Photo's Theme Days.  City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers from around the world who share images from their cities.  The first day of each month is Theme Day - this month's theme is our favorite "Photo of the Year." 

I like to choose photos with people in them - maybe because so many of my photos don't have people in them.  It's gotten better in the past few years because of the popular use of camera phones, but there is somewhat of a stigma in Saudi Arabia of taking photos of people in this culture, especially of women.  I also like to choose photos that show a slice of life, a slice of culture - and I think this photo fits the bill. 

It was taken one evening as I walked through the oldest part of Jeddah called Al Balad.  This group of men probably gets together each evening to socialize and play games. 

Please visit City Daily Photo's portal to view the other entries in this month's Theme Day.  I'm sure you won't be disappointed.   

CDP Theme Day: Gift

Traveling back and forth between Saudi Arabia and the USA frequently, I like to bring gifts from one place to another for various family members and friends.  I was very surprised when I found this Obama cologne in 2016 in a shop in Jeddah, so I bought a few to take as gifts back to the states the next time I went.  It's not exactly what one might expect to find on a store shelf in Saudi Arabia. 

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Gift."

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

Photographing the Photographer

This photo of me was taken at an art exhibit in Jeddah last year. I had been approached by a university student who was doing a project about Western women married to Saudis. I was one of several other women who agreed to participate.  She came over to my house and interviewed me and took photos, which she then compiled into a book.  The photo hanging on the wall is actually of me holding my passport, and the book I'm holding shows a photo of me taking photos in Jeddah.

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Photographing the Photographer."

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

CDP Theme Day - Black and White in Color

This beautiful ice sculpture of a large fish was at the Jeddah Hilton when I went there for a special buffet brunch.  The food offerings were amazing, the views of the Red Sea were spectacular, and the service was stellar.  The photo almost appears as black and white except for a small bit of yellow from a lamp shade in the background.

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Black and White in Color."

Please visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day of "Black and White in Color."  I'm sure this month's entries should be worth a visit. 

CDP: Photo of the Year

I first posted this photo a year ago in January of 2016.  I am reposting it now as my pick for my Photo of the Year as part of City Daily Photo's Theme Day today.  I feel that this photo shows a glimpse of life from Saudi Arabia that one might not expect to see in most parts of the world.  Many public places in the kingdom, such as malls or hospitals, provide places and prayer rugs for men so they can pray the five daily prayers required in Islam.  But many such places do not equally provide areas for women to pray.  Consequently it is a common sight to observe women praying wherever they can when they are out in public.

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers that share images of life in their cities around the world.  The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  This month's theme is "Photo of the Year."

Please visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day of "Photo of the Year."  I'm sure this month's entries should be worth a visit.  Happy New Year!

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."

JDP Theme Day: Out of Focus

At night Saudi Arabia becomes alive with neon.  It's always hard to capture good shots from moving vehicles at night because the lights always smear.  I have a hard time getting rid of those out of focus shots though because I find many of them beautiful and artistic.  This photo features the neon lights of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital city.

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 "Out of Focus."  I had such a difficult time choosing just one photo for today's theme that I've decided to feature several more out of focus shots over the next few days.

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

CDP Theme Day: Abandoned

Abandoned vehicles are a huge problem all over Saudi Arabia.  Disabled and wrecked cars are left sitting along the streets of cities, in vacant lots, or out in the middle of the desert along the roadside.

It is a problem that I have written about many times.  What a blight on the desert landscape and an unpleasant eyesore for our cities!

While there are junkyards outside the cities, thousands of abandoned vehicles litter the streets and take up valuable parking spaces in larger cities.

This problem is one of my pet peeves of life here in Saudi Arabia.  It seems as though no one else seems to care although I did read an article about an attempted clean up last year but it really didn't seem to make much of a difference.

Jeddah in particular has a serious problem of abandoned vehicles due to the fact that any time it rains here - which is not very often at all - it floods, disabling and damaging many vehicles in the process.

My suggestion is to heavily fine the owners of these abandoned vehicles.  It may not completely alleviate the problem, but I think it will cut down tremendously on it.

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 "Abandoned."

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