Yes, That's an Airplane in a Mall @ Kidzania!

Mall of Arabia in Jeddah is now home to the fairly new kid's interactive play place called Kidzania.  It's where children can pretend to work in a variety of real-life grown-up careers, like banking, grocer, pilot, hairstylist, and more.  When we lived in South Florida, we had a similar role-playing establishment that I took my son to a few times, and he loved it.  Kids have the chance to earn money for doing a job and they can also choose to spend their money on various activities or food.  

You can check out one mom's experience at Kidzania in Jeddah by CLICKING HERE.  Kidzania offers special packages for parties, school field trips, and other events.  For more information about Kidzania, CLICK HERE. 

Jeddah: Waad Academy

This is a model of the brand new Waad Academy in Jeddah, It just opened this past fall and consists of separate facilities for girl and boy students in grades K2 through 8.  I think the design is genius and quite impressive.  This state of the art school hopes to address many of the problem areas of the Saudi education system, combining heart, mind, and body to the learning process.   For more information about the Waad Academy in Jeddah, CLICK HERE. 

 

Jeddah: Boys' School

This is a typical boys' school here in Jeddah.  I believe there are two buildings like this which make up the school plus a large open covered outdoor area.  Many of the country's school are old and in disrepair.  Many girls' schools are old converted villas which were not originally intended to be schools.

Geometric Ceiling

Geometric shapes are very typical design patterns here in Saudi Arabia.  This is the ceiling of a theater of Effat University, a female institution for higher learning in Jeddah.  I love how the cut outs and the lights make a pattern on the walls below it. 

Tile Mural Binzagr Art Gallery

This huge painted tile mural adorns the walls at the entrance to the Darat Safeya Binzagr Art Gallery in Jeddah.  The size, the intense colors, and the subject matter all work together to make quite a first impression upon entering the facility. 

The Darat Safeya Binzagr Art Gallery is a wonderful little gem tucked away near the old section of Jeddah called Al Balad.  The building itself which houses the museum is a splendid example of Middle Eastern architecture and design.  The fine art gallery features works by the Saudi female artist Binzagr, as well as her extensive collection of remarkable traditional costumes and accessories from the area.  The facility also offers motivating educational workshops for children as well as adults on art, Saudi culture, and local customs.   Their website, listed below, also offers a virtual tour of the Traditional Costumes section in 3-D as well as the Paintings section.

For more information: 

Phone:   02-657-1030  (NOTE: after August 18, 2013, it will be:  012-657-1030)
Email:   info@daratsb.com
Website:   http://www.daratsb.com/main_e1.htm

KAU Street of Mosaics

I have featured several mosaics in the past few weeks that hang on the wall surrounding KAU (King Abdulaziz University), girls' school, so I wanted to show you a shot of the actual wall where they hang.  The wall is several city blocks long on four sides, encompassing the entire facility's campus.  With the barbed wire above the solid wall and no landscaping, it almost appears to be a uninviting prison instead of an institute of higher learning.  By the way, this shot was taken about midway, so behind me there was an equally long stretch of similar wall with hanging mosaics. In the distance you can also see the enormous roundabout sculpture of Engineer's Tools, which I featured a few days ago.  

Fish Mosaic at KAU

This colorful and whimsical outdoor mosaic is one of dozens which hangs on the walls surrounding King Abdulaziz University (KAU).  Many of the mosaics, which were created by female students several years ago, reflect a Red Sea theme.  Some of the mosaics have not fared too well in the severe heat and dust of Jeddah.  This one is definitely one of my favorites. 

Colorful Mosaic

I'm not exactly sure of what this mosaic is supposed to represent.  It's an abstract design with people in it and maybe fire and water.  What are your thoughts?

Tsunami Mosaic

This is another interesting mosaic done by female students at King Abdulaziz University, Girls College.  The big walls surrounding the campus are adorned with mosaic artwork like this, all created by the students.  I'm calling this one "Tsunami."  It looks like a city being flooded by huge waves.  I also see a couple of fish too.  I love the colors.

Fancy Girl Mosaic

I think this might be a mosaic of a bride.  Many brides here in KSA do not wear the traditional white that most brides in the USA wear.  This mosaic adorns the wall around King Abdulaziz University, Girls College, and I have featured two other mosaics from this group on my two previous posts. 

Dance Mosaic

Yesterday's post featured a 3-D octopus mosaic which hangs on the huge wall surrounding King Abdulaziz Univerity, Girls College.  Today's post is another of those mosaics, created by students years ago.  I like the colors and movement of this mosaic.  I was also intrigued and surprised by the thought that dancing in Saudi Arabia isn't exactly considered proper, yet a young student chose it as her theme for her project.    

Our World: Red Sea Octopus Mosaic

This outdoor mosaic - one of dozens - graces the outer wall of King Abdulaziz University, Girls College, here in Jeddah.  The mosaics were made by students years ago.  Some have fallen into disrepair but many have withstood the test of time.  This one I found particularly interesting because of the 3-D octopus design.  Many of the mosaics follow a nautical theme, while others chose other themes like geometric, religious, floral, or people.  I'll be posting a few more of my favorites in upcoming posts, so stay tuned!




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Riding Helmets

These are the riding helmets used by special needs children who participate in a therapeutic horse riding program called "Open Skies."  For more information, CLICK HERE.

Jeddah Sculpture: Inkwell, Pen, Scroll

This is one of the well known sculptures of Jeddah.  This particular sculpture had suffered some damage from the elements and vandalism over the years.  It has recently been refurbished, restored, and replaced as part of the Jeddah Restoration Project.  This sculpture has now been repositioned in a newly finished location along Jeddah's Corniche which runs along the Red Sea.  Many of Jeddah's 350 sculptures grace this area with the Red Sea as its backdrop.  Below is the same sculpture taken from a different angle.  I love the shadow of the feather pen on the inkwell. 

For information about the artist, Abdulhalim Radwi, and a view of the sculpture before it was restored, please see this previous post I wrote.

Fakieh Aquarium Mural on Corniche

The Corniche running along Jeddah's Red Sea coastline has a brand new attraction - the long awaited Fakieh Aquarium.  The grand opening was held on January 21 with a large crowd in attendance.  The aquarium houses over "7,000 marine animals of 200 species in 155 tanks and can accommodate 400 visitors" at one time.  The large mural above appears on an outer wall of the facility. 

For more information, please click HERE. 

KAUST Entrance

Rows of palm trees adorn the main entry road which leads to KAUST, King Abdullah University for Science and Technology.  To learn more about this amazing institution of higher learning, CLICK HERE. 

Glass Sculpture at KAUST

This beautiful stained glass sculpture is one of the first things one sees upon entering the campus of KAUST, King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, about an hour's drive north of Jeddah. 

School Wall Mural

I have seen more and more Saudi public schools lately with bright and beautiful murals painted on the schools' walls.

Typical School in Jeddah

It's taken me a while to be able to spot schools here in Jeddah. Most look nothing at all like the schools I am used to seeing in the states. Many of the schools in KSA seem to be old residential villas that have been converted into schools. I have read many complaints about the school system here in Saudi Arabia, especially when it comes to girls' education. There are many who would like to see more a focus on academics instead of religious education.