Jeddah: Mosque Entrance Al Balad

This is the entrance to a mosque located in the middle of a souk in Al Balad.  Employees and shopkeepers close down their shops at prayer times and come here to pray.  

Jeddah: Papaya Restaurant Interior

The interior of Papaya Restaurant in Jeddah is a delightful relaxed tropical atmosphere complete with the sounds of chirping birds and trickling water fountains.  Whenever I go there, I feel like I am no longer in Saudi Arabia

At night the restaurant is awash in colored lights .  The lush vegetation inside feels like greenhouse and affords lots of privacy for diners.  

Day or night, there is something magical about this restaurant.  And the food is not bad either!  Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Papaya Restaurant is located just south of Shatee Souk on Ahmad al Attas Street.

Address: Az Zahra, Jeddah 23425

Phone:012 275 3425

SkyWatch: Island Mosque on Red Sea

There are several mosques in Jeddah that have prominent places along the Red Sea coastline.  This mosque, called Island Mosque, was finished in 1988 and is built on a very tiny island right off the coast.  Island Mosque was designed by Abdel Wahed Al Wakil, an Egyptian architect responsible for designing more than 15 mosques in Saudi Arabia and many others around the world. He is also credited with designing some of the kingdom's many palaces and mansions.  Formerly there were restrictions limiting the color of all mosques in Jeddah to being exclusively white.  However colors are now allowed, so Island Mosque was painted a neutral cream color with attractive peach trim, a lovely contrast to the blue green waters of the Red Sea.  

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.

Jeddah: Old Mosque Minaret

I like the sharp decorative points beneath the top of this mosque's minaret.  They seem to be protecting it to me. 

Jeddah: Frankincense

These small golden nuggets were once considered more precious as gold itself.  More commonly known as frankincense, "luban" is the Arabic word for it.  But what exactly is frankincense?  You might be surprised to learn that it is actually the dried natural chewing gum of the Frankincense tree. Saudis like to chew it as gum, but I find it rather flavorless myself.  It is also burned as incense.  To learn more about the interesting history of frankincense, CLICK HERE.

Our World: Busy Jeddah Souk

Down in the oldest part of Jeddah called Al Balad are some of the city's oldest thriving souks.  One can find just about anything the heart desires here.  It is a place where negotiating for the price you wish to pay is an art form.

 


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: Floating Mosque on Red Sea

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Jeddah, the Floating Mosque is a huge draw for pilgrims traveling through Jeddah before or after they make their religious pilgrimage to Mecca.  The official name of this mosque is Fatima Az Zahra Mosque, named after the daughter of the prophet Mohammed.  At high tide the mosque appears to be floating in the Red Sea.  It is actually supported by stilts in the water and is accessible by a walking bridge.  It is one of at least four mosques situated next to the Corniche Road running along the Red Sea.

You can see a closer up photo I posted previously of this mosque by CLICKING HERE.