WEEKEND ROUNDUP - LETTER "Z"

STARTS WITH "Z" - ZAKAT IS ONE OF THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM. IT IS AN ISLAMIC OBLIGATION TO BE CHARITABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE.

"ZIPPY" - NO ABAYA AND WEARING ZEBRA. 

I'D SAY THAT'S PRETTY "ZIPPY" FOR SAUDI ARABIA!

A FAVORITE - "ZAATAR" - A TASTY MIDDLE EASTERN MIXTURE OF VARIOUS HERBS AND SPICES, LIKE OREGANO, THYME, SUMAC, SAVORY & SESAME SEEDS, USED IN BREAD DISHES.

ANOTHER FAVORITE "Z" PIC - COLORFUL ZINNIAS

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LINKING TO - THE WEEKEND ROUNDUP

FRIDAY BLISS

 

NAJDI ARCHITECTURE - AL GHAT

AL GHAT HERITAGE VILLAGE - NEAR QASSIM

NAJDI ARCHITECTURE OF AL GHAT VILLAGE

FLOWER BINDING - AL DAYER IN ABHA

A big Thank You to my friend, tour guide Mohammed at Najran Tours, for allowing me to showcase these photos for today's post.  Visit him on Instagram - @NajranTours  and on FACEBOOK.

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OUR WORLD TUESDAY

MY CORNER OF THE WORLD

PICTORIAL TUESDAY

 

WEEKEND ROUNDUP - LETTER "T"

STARTS WITH "T" -  LOCAL JEDDAH "TAXIS IN TRAFFIC"

"TALL" - SET TO BE THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING UPON COMPLETION

A FAVORITE - PALM "TREES," ABUNDANT IN JEDDAH

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FRIDAY BLISS

 

FLORA IN SAUDI ARABIA

PURPLE JACARANDA TREES - SPRINGTIME IN ABHA

DESERT ALIVE WITH VIBRANT BLOOMS

A big Thank You to my friend, tour guide Mohammed at Najran Tours, for allowing me to showcase these photos for today's post.  Visit him on Instagram - @NajranTours  and on FACEBOOK.

LINKING TO - MOSAIC MONDAYS 

SOUVENIRS

ALL SEASONS

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FACES OF ARABIA 9

SHISHA NIGHT - PHOTO BY FRANTISEK STAUD

FLOWER MEN OF ABHA REGION

VENDOR IN TAIF

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PICTORIAL TUESDAY

SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE USE OF TODAY'S PHOTOS TO NAJRAN TOURS, KERRY MILLS, & FRANTISEK STAUD.

 

WEEKEND ROUNDUP - LETTER "R"

"RAINBOW" STARTS WITH "R" - PRISM "RAINBOW" ACROSS HIS THOBE

A FAVORITE - "ROSHAN" WINDOW COVERINGS OF THIS REGION

"REALLY" - TAIF'S FAMOUS PINK "ROSES" ARE REALLY FRAGRANT

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FACES OF ARABIA 6

FLOWER BOY IN TRAINING - ABHA REGION

MAN WITH WHITE BEARD - BIRHIMA, SAUDI ARABIA

SMILING FLOWER BOY - AL DAYER, SAUDI ARABIA

LINKING TO - 

OUR WORLD TUESDAY

MY CORNER OF THE WORLD

SOUVENIRS

TRAVEL TUESDAY

A big thank you to my friend, tour guide Mohammed at Najran Tours, for allowing me to showcase these photos for today's post.  Visit his Instagram page  @NajranTours

https://www.instagram.com/najrantours/

https://www.facebook.com/najran.tours

PEOPLE OF SAUDI ARABIA 1

A COLORFUL GROUP

FLOWER CROWN MAKERS

BOY WITH KHANJAR (CURVED DAGGER)

Saudi Arabia Desert Flowers

Can you believe this is in Saudi Arabia?  Gracing the desert hills for as far as the eyes can see, this carpet of purple wildflowers blooms in the winter months west of the capital city of Riyadh.

I think it's magical, don't you?  

Special thanks to Khaled Al-Sheraihi for allowing me to post today's lovely photos of the desert flowers of Saudi Arabia.  You can follow him on Instagram.

 This post links to - SKYWATCH 

Saudi Arabia - Yanbu Flower Festival Still Going On

We aren't going to the Yanbu Flower Festival this year, but I just wanted to remind everyone that it's still going on now through the end of March.  If you have never been before, it's definitely worth attending.  It's a very well organized event, and every year they change it up a bit.

The splashes of color all over are a happy treat for the soul.  Admission is free for everyone. Food and drinks are available for purchase, as well as souvenirs and gardening supplies.  Hotel prices in Yanbu are reasonable and there are many places to stay, even on the more crowded weekends.  There are only two weekends left - don't miss it. 

Yanbu Flowers Festival 2019 Scheduled

As usual, the dates for the 2019 annual Yanbu Flowers Festival are still murky at this point, but the event should be coming up soon.  The General Authority for Entertainment has put out the festival dates as running from Tuesday, March 14th through Saturday, April 8th, however other sites have differing information, starting as early as February 28 and ending March 30.  If I am able to confirm either way, I will let you know. 

The festival is free for all attendees and there are many nice places to stay in Yanbu.  Event timings are 4-11pm daily.  If you love flowers, you won't want to miss this colorful spectacle.  You can see my posts for lots more photos from some of the recent years festivals at these links:  Yanbu FF 2018 and Yanbu FF 2016.

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

Walking to the Flower Festival

This typical Saudi family was on their way from the parking lot into the Yanbu Flower Festival.  The just over three week event was attended by an estimated one million people this year and was held in March.  The world's record for the largest flower carpet was broken by this year's amazing floral displays.  To see my photos on my post of the beautiful festival,  CLICK HERE.

Picnic in the Park

Many families gathered in the park outside the recent Yanbu Flower Festival to relax or picnic and enjoy the weather.  Many people bring large carpets to sit on for outdoor enjoyment.  

Our World: Yanbu Flower Festival

These are two of my favorite photos from this year's Yanbu Flowers and Gardens Festival. It's a colorful floral extravaganza that will be ending on March 25th.  Hours are 4-11pm daily.  If you haven't been yet, this weekend is your last chance!

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.

SkyWatch: Yanbu Flower Festival

Don't miss the final days of the Yanbu Flower Festival, which will end on March 25.  Fabulous floral gardens and lots of fun for the family.  Open daily 4-11pm.  For more photos and information about the festival, CLICK HERE.

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 Yanbu Flower Festival

Yanbu Flower Festival is going on now for another 10 days, ending on March 25th.  It's one of the best festivals in Saudi Arabia, well organized, well managed, and well run.  Open Daily from 4pm-11pm.  Lots of fun for everyone!  See more photos from this year's event by clicking HERE.  

Yanbu Flower Festival Going on NOW!

Last weekend was the opening of the 2018 Yanbu Flower Festival, the 12th annual event of its kind.  I have been fortunate to have visited it for the past three years.  If you are in Saudi Arabia and you haven't been yet, I highly recommend it.  Every year, it has just gotten bigger and better.  The event is extremely well organized, there is plenty of parking, and it's FREE! 

This year's additions include additional water features, more great vendors, children's entertainment area, and regional artists painting live.

This event runs for about three weeks through March 25, open daily from 4pm-11pm.  Fridays and Saturdays will of course be more crowded.  The weather is still nice enough, so don't miss out!  

Young Visitor at Yanbu Festival

This young visitor to the 11th annual Yanbu Flowers and Gardens Festival enjoys the new pool and garden area which features spray fountains.  The festival will run through April 7th.

Yanbu Crowds at Flower Festival

The Yanbu Flowers and Gardens Festival opens daily at 4pm, and before dark, the place is packed with crowds of people. There are various designated sections at the event, like a Recycling Center, a Butterfly Garden, and an enormous colorful floral carpet attraction.

This is the 11th annual flower festival is operating now through April 7th.  

Our World: Yanbu Festival Face Painting

Here is another scene from the 2017 Yanbu Flowers and Gardens Annual Festival happening now through April 7th. Like children everywhere, Saudi kids too enjoy having their faces painted for special occasions or events.  This scene could take place just about anywhere around the world - the only difference being that the face painting artist is totally veiled in black and even wears black gloves.



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.