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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SOUVENIRS

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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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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.

Jeddah: Antique Home Decor

Candelabras, a tree of incense burners, and fancy rosewater sprinklers (called "marrash" in Arabic) adorn the top shelf of this antique chest in a museum in Jeddah's historic district called Al Balad.  Each of these home accessories served important purposes in the early days in Saudi Arabia. Each is still a popular item still found in most homes today. 

To learn more about the rosewater industry and its history in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco World Magazine published a fascinating article 20 years ago about this subject.  CLICK HERE to read it.  

Murrush: Rose Water Sprinkler Sculpture

Jeddah is home to hundreds of unique sculptures, many of which I have featured on this blog.  This particular sculpture is of a "Water Blessing Sprinkler" or "Rose Water Sprinkler," an ancient Middle Eastern gadget called "murrush" that was used to sprinkle rose water on the palms of visitors to one's home to greet them.  It was also offered after meals to cleanse or refresh the hands.  In my research for this post, I came across some really beautiful designs and colors of rose water sprinklers. 

Rose water has been associated with the Middle East for centuries.  It is also used in cooking (great in dessert puddings) or you can just add a drop to flavor a pitcher of drinking water (heavenly!).  I wrote a post about a rose water factory in Taif that we visited, if you are interested in the process of how rose water is made.