SLATED FOR DEMOLITION

Many slum areas of Jeddah have already been demolished and many more are scheduled to be torn down in the near future. The buildings are unsightly, in disrepair, and house mostly lower paid foreign workers. 

Despite the mess, I still manage to find beauty in these buildings

 

WORKERS IN KSA

Selling watermelons from under the umbrella

Small fresh produce market

Hotel worker taking a break

 

SIGN, SIGN, EVERYWHERE A SIGN

PAPA JOHN'S IN ARABIC

UNDER THE SIGNS

PURPLE NEON IN ARABIC

FRESH FRUIT MARKET

MINI MARKET CATERING TO FOREIGN WORKERS

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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

PRACTICING RELIGION

A DRIVER READING THE QURAN IN A MALL PARKING GARAGE

WHILE WAITING FOR HIS EMPLOYER.

MANY MUSLIMS ALWAYS HAVE A PRAYER RUG HANDY.

ANOTHER DRIVER PRAYING IN THE MALL PARKING GARAGE

SOME DRIVERS WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HOURS WHILE THEIR EMPLOYERS SHOP.

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LINKING TO - WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

 

INCENSE BURNER FACTORY IN HAIL, SAUDI ARABIA

CARVING THE WOOD BASE

WAITING TO BE COVERED

APPLYING METALLIC FINISHING

FINISHED INCENSE BURNERS IN DIFFERENT SIZES

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 - TUESDAY'S TREASURES

OUR WORLD TUESDAY

MY CORNER OF THE WORLD

PICTORIAL TUESDAY

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FACES OF ARABIA 8

ZEBIBA - THE PRAYER BUMP

MUSLIMS ARE REQUIRED TO PRAY FIVE TIMES A DAY.  DURING THE PRAYER RITUAL, AT VARIOUS TIMES, THE FOREHEAD IS PRESSED  DOWN TO THE PRAYER RUG, CAUSING FRICTION. THIS CONTINUAL CONTACT MAY EVENTUALLY RESULT IN CALLOUSES FORMING ON THE FOREHEAD CALLED ZEBIBA.  IT CAN APPEAR AS ACTUAL BUMPS OR AS DARK SPOTS.  

ZEBIBA IS A SIGN OF DEVOTION, PIETY, AND DEDICATION.  HOWEVER MUSLIMS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO PURPOSELY TRY TO FORM ZEBIBA IN ORDER TO "SHOW OFF" TO APPEAR TO BE MORE DEVOUT THAN OTHERS.  

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, FOR SOME REASON ZEBIBA FORMS MORE FREQUENTLY IN PEOPLE WITH DIABETES.  I'VE ONLY SEEN MEN HERE WITH ZEBIBA.  JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, I SAW A MAN WITH A HUGE BUMP STICKING OUT ON HIS FOREHEAD.  PREVIOUSLY I HAD JUST SEEN THE DARKENED AREA ON MEN'S FOREHEADS. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ZEBIBA, I PREVIOUSLY WROTE ABOUT IT ON THIS POST.

THE MEN IN THIS POST ARE NOT SAUDI. THEY ARE ALL FOREIGN WORKERS.

NOT ZEBIBA

LINKING TO - ALL SEASONS

WEEKEND ROUNDUP VARIETY PACK

"UMBRELLA" - STARTS WITH "U" - MISWAK VENDOR IN AL BALAD

A FAVORITE - CAMELS ARE "UNGULATES" 

"UNDER THE UMBRELLA" - WAITING FOR CEMENT WORK 

LINKING TO - THE WEEKEND ROUNDUP

Jeddah - Working in the Heat

A fresh watermelon street vendor finds a little respite from the hot sun by finding a bit of shade while waiting for customers.  A cement worker stands out in the heat in a place with no shade.  I don't know how they do it. By the time I take the elevator down from our apartment and walk to our nearby car, I am already dripping with sweat.  

 THIS POST LINKS TO - TIMELESS THURSDAYS

Face Mask Truths

I think with everyone wearing face masks in this time of Covid, people who were previously leery or apprehensive about Muslim women who wear veils may have changed their tune a bit. One big complaint I used to hear was how the face veil (called niqab) would interfere with activities like driving or working.  The truth is, they just don't.  Another interesting result of wearing the masks is in how we can see that the eyes are so expressive by themselves and revealing of one's mood.  I have always been able to tell just from a niqabi's eyes that she is smiling at me or saying hello.  So I'm glad for this unintended teaching moment due to worldwide face masking.  

Jeddah - In the Shade

Hard laborers here in Jeddah seek out shade when and wherever they can.  As you can imagine, it's extremely hot, dare I say unbearable, here in the summer months and just being in the shade makes a huge difference and can drop the temperature by several degrees.  

Men at the Birds and Animals Souk in Jeddah

Photos taken on my recent outing to the Birds and Animals Souk in Jeddah.  I only saw men there - I was the only woman around! I'm happy to report that just about everyone was wearing face masks.

Many men purchase sheep and goats prior to the holiday to make some extra cash.  They resell the livestock from their pickup trucks.

Strolling Along in Jeddah

This is a fairly common sight here in Jeddah - an African woman pushing a baby stroller filled with products that they sell on the street or others that are transporting useful items they have picked out of garbage bins.  

Saudi Female Store Employee

This female employee of a large supermarket in Jeddah greeted us at the entrance as she dispersed sweet smelling incense in the area.

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

Jeddah Waiting for Work

Laborers waiting around for work on a beautiful day in Jeddah.

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Tailors at the Souk

Most souks that sell clothing or fabrics also have tailors who are ready willing and able to make alterations or clothing to order.

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Jeddah Life of a Street Vendor

Outdoor Theater at Winter at Tantora in Al Ula

At this year's Winter at Tantora Festival, a cast of about 60 local actors, as well as several camels and goats, performed a live theater production outdoors, in a natural setting in front of the sandstone outcroppings with carved tombs from the ancient Nabataean people.  The festival has provided many opportunities and employment for the citizens of Al Ula, which has a population of a little over 5,000.

The acting, costumes, and script were an enjoyable and interesting reenactment of life in those times, complete with chanting, rivalry, a battle, and loss.  It was actually rather exciting to see this type of live entertainment here in Saudi Arabia. 

Al Ula, located in northwestern Saudi Arabia, is a city rich in history, culture, breathtaking scenery, and fertile valley of farmlands.  Two thousand years ago, it was an important location for the ancient Nabataean civilization, a thriving oasis with underground springs as well as a burgeoning trade center along the incense caravan route. 

Al Ula was known as Hegra back then.  It was the southern capital of the Nabataean empire, while Petra in Jordan was the main capital in the north. Al Ula is located at the halfway point between Petra and Mecca, the most important city in Islam, making it the perfect stop for the caravan trade route. 

Madein Saleh is the name of the area of Al Ula where the Nabataeans carved hundreds of tombs into the enormous sandstone rocks.  Some Muslims believe that the entire area is cursed because the ancient peoples living there worshiped idols and that Allah punished them with a deadly earthquake and severe lightning.  Indeed still today, there are many Muslims around Saudi Arabia who will not set foot in that region because of their belief that it is cursed, even though most of Al Ula's residents are Muslims. 

Because of its fascinating landscape, rich history, and archaeological importance, Al Ula has been chosen by the government to be a key focus for the development of one of Saudi Arabia's newest industries - tourism. In a few short years, the area anticipates upwards of two million visitors from around the world each year.