SIGNS OF CULTURE - "FAMILIES ONLY"

SHOPS CATERING TO WOMEN ARE DESIGNATED "FAMILY ONLY"

I CAN'T IMAGINE WEARING SEQUINED UNDERWEAR!

"FAMILIES ONLY" = WOMEN + CHILDREN.

MALE CUSTOMERS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A FEMALE.

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LINKING TO - SIGNS

 

DEALING WITH THE HEAT IN SAUDI ARABIA

 

NEW WATERPARK UNDER CONSTRUCTION NORTH OF JEDDAH

WORKERS GETTING OUT THE HOT SUN UNDER A FLATBED

CAMELS SEEKING REFUGE IN THE SHADE OF A PALM TREE

STREET CLEANER TAKES A BREAK ON THE CURB IN THE SHADE

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LINKING TO - MOSAIC MONDAYS

SOUVENIRS

ALL SEASONS

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.

 

SCENES FROM TAIF

RAMADAN BANNERS AND FESTIVE LIGHTS

TAIF IS FAMOUS FOR ITS PINK ROSES & THE ROSE WATER MADE FROM THEM

FAMILY OF NATIVE BABOONS

TAIF IS A FERTILE REGION YIELDING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

MINARET SEEN THROUGH RAMADAN BANNERS

Special Thanks to KERRY MILLS and to NAJRAN TOURS for the use of their photos in today's post.  

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LINKING TO - MOSAIC MONDAYS

SOUVENIRS

ALL SEASONS

 

WEEKEND ROUNDUP - LETTER "I"

STARTS WITH "I" - INCENSE BURNERS

"ICE" LAND MALL IN JEDDAH

A "FAVORITE" - ICE CREAM

(THIS PHOTO WAS IN AN ART EXHIBITION IN JEDDAH. 

SORRY I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER.)

ANOTHER FAVORITE "ICE CREAM" PHOTO

ME WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER

LINKING TO - THE WEEKEND ROUNDUP

 

A SMILE THAT WILL BE MISSED

MY NEPHEW CORY ON HIS WEDDING DAY

This past week I lost my nephew Cory to Covid-19.  He was a healthy, happy 39 year old before he contracted the deadly virus in late December.  Cory was born to perform and always loved making people laugh. He was so full of life and he was larger than life.  

Cory was always the center of attention - people were just drawn to him. He was intelligent, kind, talented, and hilarious. Cory entertained thousands over the years at Old Tucson as an actor, stuntman, and script writer.  Audience members always sought him out after the show to get a photo with him.  There was a special magic and charisma about him.  

His death didn't have to happen. Cory lived with his wife and his mom, who was infected with Covid by a stupid asymptomatic co-worker who refused to wear a mask.  Cory's mom unknowingly brought the virus home.  All three of them became sick.  The women didn't require hospitalization and recovered.  However Cory, who kept testing negative for the virus, continued to get sicker and sicker.  He was near death when he was rushed to the hospital on January 10th.  He was immediately put on a ventilator in the ICU.  A little over two weeks later, he was dead.

Our family is shattered, heartbroken, devastated, crushed.  We've lost our smiling happy boy Cory.

CORY'S WEDDING WITH HIS WIFE, SIBLINGS, AND HIS MOM

ANDRIA WAS THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE - THEY WERE A PERFECT MATCH

CORY, ALWAYS PUTTING ON A SHOW

MY WEDDING DAY WITH FAMILY. CORY WAS 9.

CORY WITH HIS DAD, MY BROTHER GARY

 

OUR FAMILY LOVED CORY DEARLY

CORY WAS AN ACTOR & STUNTMAN AT OLD TUCSON. 

THAT'S NOT HIS BABY.  HE HAD NO KIDS.

CORY IN A PROMO FOR OLD TUCSON

GOING OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY

WE WILL MISS THIS SMILE.  UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.

PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE - WEAR A MASK!

A "GO FUND ME" page has been set up to assist with Cory's medical expenses and other bills.  To those who have contributed, THANK YOU.  If you are in the position to make a contribution, no matter how small, it would be much appreciated. CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE "GO FUND ME" LINK.

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 "Smile."  

Jeddah Winter Games Theme

This kid's entertainment area in a mall in Jeddah called Kidzania has a Winter Games theme going on now.  

LINKING TO :  OUR WORLD TUESDAY 

MY CORNER OF THE WORLD 

Jeddah Scenes from a Mall

Family entertainment areas in malls are commonplace in Saudi Arabia.  Due to the severe heat, outdoor activities are limited here during much of the year, so big air conditioned malls offer indoor amusement parks where kids can have fun while moms shop.  

  

There are unlimited fancy dress shops in malls too - plenty of fashions fit for a queen.  Malls also have food court areas as well as higher end restaurants too.  

This post links to - 

OUR WORLD TUESDAY 

MY CORNER OF THE WORLD  

Kids Entertainment Area at Mall

This area at the Mall of Arabia in Jeddah offers lots of fun activities for kids.  KidZania allows kids to assume the roles of various careers, like pilots, bankers, etc. The kids can earn wages and then use that to make purchases.  Billy Beez is an indoor amusement park with a variety of rides and physical activities like trampoline, tunnels, and slides.  

Family Entertainment Area in Mall

Saudi Arabia is abundant in huge ultra-modern mega malls, with worldwide chainstores, movie theaters, food courts, and entertainment areas.  Like everywhere else in the world, malls are a big attraction here on weekends and during the hot summer months.

Jeddah Typical Villa

Here is another typical villa in Jeddah - large residence and tall walls surrounding it.  

Jeddah Villa Unusual Design

Family villas in Jeddah are usually quite large to accommodate large families, plus household help like maids and drivers.  All villas that I have ever seen here are surrounded by high walls to afford privacy for the women of the family.  Also notice the wall extension on the left which adds more height to the already tall wall for even more privacy from any prying eyes from the neighbors.

This particular villa seems to be a combination of different architectural styles that aren't generally used together in the same design - I've never seen castle-like rounded turrets paired together with tall columns. 

Jeddah Seasonal Outdoor Market

This post is linked to My Corner of the World. Do check out the other posts from bloggers from all over the world.

Jeddah Market Souvenirs

Jeddah Market Play Area for Kids

In one corner of the big outdoor market, a brightly colored activities area for kids attracts families.  

Rainbow Theme Day

I haven't been able to catch sightings of many rainbows here in Jeddah - where I'm located in the city, the skies are mostly dusty and beige - so City Daily Photo's Theme Day choice of "Rainbow" had me thrown for a loop today.  The closest I could come to a rainbow was this arched entryway of colorful balloons leading to a huge family entertainment area called Sparky's in a big Jeddah mall.  Almost all malls in Saudi Arabia have family entertainment areas with games and rides for kiddies.

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 "Rainbow."  Be sure  to visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day.

Jeddah Playground on the Red Sea

Two women in black abayas swinging at a playground while they enjoy the beauty of the Red Sea in front of them.

Jeddah Family Sign at Restaurant

A "Families Only" sign at a local restaurant here in Jeddah - means that "Single Men" are not allowed in this section.  Many restaurants in Saudi Arabia are still gender segregated and have separate entrances and dining areas for single men and families.

Saudi Mall Scene

Malls in Saudi Arabia are very family oriented. Most malls have family entertainment areas that can range from having a few rides to being full on amusement parks.  This mall has a little train that gives rides to kids around the whole mall.  

Our World: Leisure Life on the Red Sea

Usually by April in Jeddah, the sweltering oppressive heat has already taken hold, but this year the weather has been surprisingly pleasant.  I'm happy any time I am outside and not sweating!

It's nice seeing so many Jeddawis enjoying the pleasant weather too.  Personally I especially like seeing the young girls letting their hair blow in the breeze and doing things like bike riding or rollerblading that I used to pretty much only see boys doing here in public. Times have changed here in Saudi Arabia.

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.