Jeddah on the Red Sea

King Fahd's Fountain

King Fahd’s fountain, also known as the Jeddah fountain, taken last night.

It was the most beautiful evening, once the weather had cooled down a bit, and the new corniche is impressive  -  even grass underfoot in places

Enjoying Zamzam Water in Rabigh

I have recently read, and loved, Barbara Nadel's 'Noble Killing'. When Ayşe Farsakoğlu and Hikmet Yildiz visit the market in Fatih they come across a stall, next to the cherry cart, selling  various religious artefacts including “…transparent lockets containing drops of water from the sacred Zamzam well”.   

Zamzam water, from the Well of Zamzam in Mecca, is heavily salinated and is said to possess miraculous properties. It tastes clean and pure, quenches thirst, satisfies hunger and cures illness. It is sold only in Saudi Arabia.

A day in Jeddah

Lara and I spent the day wandering through some of Jeddah's souqs today

My Havaianas have seen as much of Jeddah as I have!
Eri, thanks

Miswak seller
I received a gift of a toothstick, the root of the arak tree, cleans the mouth, whitens the teeth and sweetens the breath.  Thanks for  whittling one for me.

Suspicion

Loved this man ...

The water seller's daughter

... and this one more!!!
The date seller

My favourite tree in Al Balad

Near Naseef House

It's a tough commute!

Exhausted and happy travelling home in a taxi along a palm-lined roadway

A Day at the Beach

It was actually a wonderful evening walk
 along the promenade

Desert

A Bedouin settlement

The road from Jeddah to Taif

Local beach, Rabigh

Sunset over the Red Sea

Beach sand

Al Balad, the Old City

Street Food - Al Alawi Souq

The Al Alawi square, main thoroughfare
This is the most cameras I have seen since I arrived
Photography is not encouraged

Down a side street ......

Breakfast!

Superb, exquisite, fresh hot flatbread
on the go.

  Flatbread and chickpea curry.
My R 2,35 meal.

Off the square - the oldest tree in Jeddah

The Old Man and the Seafood

With apologies to Hemingway

Jeddah Fish Market

Harbour - Jeddah Fish Market

Red Sea Diving

Friday - Oh my gosh – the best underwater experience I have ever had – amazing visibility and sooo much to see. Our full day trip took us to three different reefs, namely the Chicken Wreck, a boat carrying tons of frozen chicken when it hit the reef, Gagda (I think the second one was called), and Table Mountain, named for the immediate deep drop off the edge of the reef.

I scuba'd and snorkeled the reefs among tiny lilac-hued opaque jellyfish, in warm, yet crystal clear waters.  Incredible coral teeming with brilliantly coloured life – Parrot fish, Diagonal butterfly fish, Cornet fish, Masked puffer fish and Broomtail wrasse are some I was able to identify. 

Great people on the boat and Briyani for lunch – a wonderful day. One of the highlights was placing my 'abaya in abeyance' as I stepped onto the boat, and donned my cosie - oh the joy of feeling the sun on my skin after a month plus of ‘covering’. 

Still looking for an underwater camera in Jeddah.  Underwater pics next time!

The Jeddah of Lawrence of Arabia

“It was indeed a remarkable town. The streets were alleys, wood roofed in the main bazaar, but elsewhere open to the sky in the little gap between the tops of the lofty white-walled houses. “  
T E Lawrence 

Pistachio-filled dates
Turkish coffee bean-filled dates
Date and nut-filled chocolate

Can't beat dating in Saudi!

Red Sea Parrot fish
Friday 1 March 

We break up in a week for a ten day mid term holiday.  As I have still not received my visa, and I cannot leave the country without it, I will be spending the time in Jeddah, and am looking forward to diving in the Red Sea.  Hope to post some pics of (fresher) Parrot Fish, unlike this one taken at the Jeddah Fish Market a few weeks ago.   

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FW: BLOG

Returning to the hotel this morning, after buying falafel in roti (with
chips, chillis, lettuce, tomato), I mentioned to our man in reception that
it was hotter than it has been, to which he replied 'You didn't see hot
yet'. The temp today is around 35 degrees but apparently can get up to 55
degrees here in summer. Air-conditioned home, school and transport thank
goodness.

My photo

This is the latest photo

Beach Camp in Paternoster