TRADITIONAL STYLE SAUDI ACCESSORIES

These shiny gold jewelry fringes can be worn on veils, around the waist, or as necklaces

These cute necklace pendants are tiny niqabs

For little boys, the belted khanjar - traditional curved Saudi daggers

Sorry I haven't been visiting blogs - I'm busy packing to leave by the end of this month. I'll no longer be living here in Saudi Arabia and will just return in the future for short visits. So I'll be discontinuing my regular blogging soon.  

I've really enjoyed making friends all over the world through blogging and would like to thank you for your interest and questions about the country I have called home for the past 15 years.  It's been quite an adventure!  Much love and best wishes to you all! 

HOLIDAY WEAR FOR BOYS

A vest like this is often worn over the white dress for holidays

Traditional dress is worn during the Eid holidays when Ramadan ends

Fancy gold trim is often used to fancy up holiday garments

 

TRADITIONAL MENSWEAR

The red & white checked scarves that Saudi men wear are called shemagh

Traditional clothing is available in all sizes, even babies

The egal is worn on top of the head to keep the shemagh in place

 

ENTOURAGE

I just love men in uniform, don't you?

 

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

 

SIGNS AND SHOPPING

MURAL, GRAFFITI & BILLBOARDS

MEN'S TRADITIONAL WEAR SHOP

ABAYA SOUK

MEN AT THE MALL

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MONDAY MURALS

 

RAMADAN REFLECTIONS

VIMTO - POPULAR BEVERAGE DURING RAMADAN

CRESCENT MOON - RAMADAN MALL DECOR

MALL RAMADAN DISPLAY

RAMADAN LAMPS OUTSIDE THE MALL

RAMADAN DECOR INSIDE THE MALL

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JEDDAH WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

TRADITIONAL MENSWEAR SHOP WINDOW

THE BEAUTIFUL SHERATON JEDDAH HOTEL ON THE CORNICHE

LARGER THAN LIFE INCENSE BURNER IN MALL

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WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

ARABIC BUSINESS SIGN

A TYPICAL SAUDI MALL SCENE

TRADITIONAL SAUDI MENSWEAR

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OLD BOATS & MORE

OLD BOATS WITH STORIES TO TELL

MEN IN SKIRTS (CALLED FUTA)

TAKING A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

URGENT PHONE CALL FROM THE BACK OF A TRUCK

ME & MY SHADOW

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MY CORNER OF THE WORLD

SOUVENIRS

ALL SEASONS

PICTORIAL TUESDAY

 

THE GINGERBREAD VILLAGE of Rijal Almaa, Saudi Arabia

STARTS WITH W - WHITE ACCENTS & TRIM

The various regions of Saudi Arabia are rich in history and culture, and each one is known for their distinctive architectural styles. The historical village of Rijal Almaa is in the mountainous southern region of Asir and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its charming traditional gingerbread features built of clay, stone and wood.   

WINDOWS

The residents of Rijal Almaa actually refer to their homes as forts instead of houses.  The forts have been handed down within families through many generations.  The interiors of the forts feature the colorful geometric traditional Qatt artwork on the walls, which I have posted about in recent weeks.  

A FAVORITE - WONDROUS

The white outlined windows against the rugged brown stone pop even more with the brightly colored inner shutters.  This whimsical detailing adds even more to the charm of the gingerbread styling.  

I love the additional checkerboard detailing above the windows, as well as the triangular teeth accents.  Both of these details are made of smaller white quartz stones to form the patterns.  There is a lot going on but it all works so well together.  

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Thanks to my friend Piotr Chodakowski for allowing me the use of the photos in today's post.  You can follow Piotr on Instagram -  @piotr_ksa

SAUDI LIFE SCENES

ENJOYING THE VIEW AND A CUP OF TEA AT

DHEE AYN VILLAGE - AL BAHA, SAUDI ARABIA

TRADITIONAL ALL WHITE DRESS OF THE SAUDI MAN

THE BEAUTY OF THE ARABIAN HORSE

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TUESDAY'S TREASURES

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

TRADITIONAL QATT ART

I'd love to have these mugs featuring traditional Qatt art!

Qatt art is from the Asir region of Saudi Arabia

 Qatt art is quite colorful and consists of geometric designs

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

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TUESDAY'S TREASURES  

MY CORNER OF THE WORLD  

OUR WORLD TUESDAY 

SOUVENIRS

TRAVEL TUESDAY

SAUDI SEATING AND DECOR

Traditional Saudi style utilizes a variety of patterns and colors, which I find quite charming.  Somehow it all works together to create a delightful, whimsical effect.

The use of geometric shapes in traditional decorating ideas is a telltale feature of Saudi design.    

These photos are from Najran and Abha, in southern Saudi Arabia.  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.

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TUESDAY'S TREASURES   

WHAT SAUDI MEN WEAR

This post shows the variety of Saudi men's traditional clothing. I think Saudi men look quite dapper in their native dress.