Waba Crater: Sun Ray Effect

Waba Crater is more than a mile wide and reaches a depth of 820 feet.  There is a rocky trail which winds down the steep sides of the crater, and it is easy to lose one's footing as the rocky path is loose and slippery.  To see more photos and learn more about Saudi Arabia's Waba Crater, CLICK HERE. 

Saudi Arabia: Bedouin Desert Tent

The black tents that dot the landscape of Saudi Arabia's deserts are made of woven goat hair and are inhabited by nomads called Bedouins.  Many times tents will have the latest 4WD pickup truck parked outside, TV antenna, and a chimney for the fireplace, like the red one shown here.

To learn more about the Bedouin lifestyle, CLICK HERE, and to learn more about the black tents they live in, CLICK HERE.  

Waba Crater: Lacy Salt Deposits

The two kilometer wide Waba Crater was formed when a volcano erupted underground in an enormous steam explosion when molton lava came into contact with underground water.  The entire bottom of the crater with its white lacy edges against the dark volcanic earth background is actually made of salt crystals. To see more photos and learn more about Waba Crater, CLICK HERE. 

SkyWatch: Minaret and Pretty Sky

It's impossible to estimate how many mosques there are in Jeddah.  Most are identifiable by their minarets and quite often a large dome.  Others are rather obscure but always recognizable by a small tower or rod sticking out with a crescent moon at the top.  This mosque is in Al Balad, the old original section of the Jeddah.  In this crowded part of the city, the mosque is surrounded by businesses and residential buildings.  I felt lucky that the sky that day was pretty. Many days are cloudless here in Jeddah. 





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Saudi Arabia: Outside Prayer Area

The presence of Islam is felt everywhere in this country.  People of other religions are not allowed to openly practice their religions.  To say that there are mosques on every street corner might be exaggerating slightly, but not much.  Even out in the middle of nowhere, there are places provided for Muslims to worship.  This little place for prayer has no walls or roof and a dirt floor.  It is completely out in the open and in the middle of nowhere.  There are many similar structures in underdeveloped areas of Saudi Arabia. 

Saudi Arabia: Sunrise at Waba Crater

Last month a couple of friends and I drove up to the archaelogical site of Waba Crater.  While it was originally believed that the crater was formed by a meteor hitting the earth, it is now believed that the crater was formed when a volcano below the earth's surface erupted.  Indeed there is volcanic rock all over the area. 

To learn more about this little day trip to Waba Crater and to see more photos, CLICK HERE.

Palace on Red Sea under Construction

Not sure if this is a palace or just a very large private villa.  But it is immense and located right on the Red Sea north of Jeddah, in the area called Obhur.  I'll try to take a photo upon completion to show you the final result.