SkyWatch: Jeddah Sculpture - Swords of God

This is called the Swords of God sculpture by Aref el Rayess, a Lebanese painter and sculptor.  He was self taught. Despite the name of this sculpture being the Swords of God, El Rayess preferred his interpretation of this piece of art as symbolizing the more peaceful and heavenly aspects of Islam, visualizing the light streaming between the open columns as swirling with love and respect. His original intention had been to make it of marble, but because of its immense size, he opted for steel framing clad in aluminum.  At a certain angle, the tall gracious columns actually spell out the name of Allah in Arabic calligraphy.   

Taken on a day when the sky was full of dust.  To learn more about this sculpture, please check out another post I did about it a few years ago, on a much clearer day.

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Jeddah: Colorful Storefront

This colorful storefront is a mobile phone store.  In Jeddah, businesses offering the same products or services are grouped together, so right next door to this shop are other mobile phone stores. 

Our World: Awkward Business Sign

Business signs in Jeddah often have lots of graphics, since Jeddah is a city consisting of many different nationalities and languages.  Images on the signs help in conveying what type of business it is for customers, as most business signs are written in both Arabic and English.  The business on the left makes custom orthotics and prosthetics and shows many graphics which would help to explain exactly what type of business it is for people who don't read Arabic or English.  I just can't imagine seeing a business sign like this back home in the US, especially the large human images in the window.  Awkward.

  


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Messed Up Signs

I don't know what happened to these business signs!  Maybe it was a big haboob (sandstorm).

Jeddah Modern Sculpture

Jeddah is a city in Saudi Arabia known for its many sculptures.  I don't know anything about this particular modern sculpture, but it is likely made out of some type of recycled metal, as many of Jeddah's sculptures are. 

Jeddah: WAMY

World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) is an international organization whose purpose is to “preserve the identity of Muslim youth and help overcome the problems they face in modern society."


Worldwide they host numerous events, conferences, and camps and boast membership in more than 55 countries.  WAMY is largely funded by Saudi Arabia.  Chapters in the USA were closed due to its close ties with the Bin Laden family.  For all its implied good intentions, the organization begets criticism for allegedly supporting terrorism and sponsoring students to become indoctrinated by radical Muslim clerics in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

SkyWatch: Jeddah's Air Quality

There is so much construction (for years now) in our part of Jeddah that most days the sky doesn't appear blue at all - it's a dusty beige color.  Not only that, it's rare for me to see any clouds in my area of the city either.

Between construction dust and sandstorms, the air quality of Jeddah can be really bad.  I never leave the house without my inhaler.  Many Jeddah residents wind up in the hospital because they cannot breathe.

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