THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

When I moved to Saudi Arabia in 2007, sight unseen, I knew my life would be changed forever. But what I never expected was to completely and utterly fall in love with the Saudi people and its culture. 

It took me a while to accept and get used to many things about life here.  Early on I could never see myself being happy living here long term. 

Without realizing exactly when it happened, I grew to love this wondrous and mysterious land and appreciate the simplicity, history, generosity and goodness that it had to offer.

Saudi Arabia has been my home for the past fifteen years – and now it’s time to say goodbye. Over the years I’ve made extraordinary friendships that I will cherish forever, mostly through my blogging. 

I’m proud that I’ve been able to help others in navigating this land of contradictions, fascination, and enchantment.  But now that I won’t be living here any more, I feel it’s time to hang up my blogging hat. 

So I just want to say “Thank you, Saudi Arabia!” for always making me feel safe and welcome wherever I went. Thank you for opening my eyes and my heart to your ways and wisdom.  

Thank you to my wonderful husband for changing my life forever for the better by taking me on this amazing adventure with him.

Thank you to my readers who were as inquisitive and interested in this wondrous place as I was. And thank you to my friends who included me in their outings and made it easier for me to be able to explore this country.

It’s been an amazing ride. I will leave a big piece of my heart here when I leave in the coming days.  

There is so much more I could say but I’ll just let these photos say it for me.

 

Good bye – until we meet again!

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/thanks-for-memories.html

JEDDAH’S BLUE GLASS ARCHITECTURE

There are modern blue glass buildings all over Jeddah. 

Today’ss post showcases just a few.

 

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/jeddahs-blue-glass-architecture.html

CLOSED SHOPS

Theft is not a big problem here in Saudi Arabia. Many shops have minimal security when they close for the day or for prayer times.  No doors, no locks, no alarms. Just big pieces of cloth over the inventory.

 

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/closed-shops.html

UNEXPECTED

There are still things that surprise me here in Saudi Arabia – things that are totally unexpected. One would think that nothing would surprise me any more at my age.

Many people would be surprised to learn that Saudi women 

like to wear bright colors and prints at home.

 Sorry I haven’t been visiting blogs – I’m busy packing to leave by the end of this month. I’ll no longer be living here in Saudi Arabia and will just return in the future for short visits. So I’ll be discontinuing my regular blogging soon.  

I’ve really enjoyed making friends all over the world through blogging and would like to thank you for your interest and questions about the country I have called home for the past 15 years.  It’s been quite an adventure!  Much love and best wishes to you all! 

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/unexpected.html

TRADITIONAL STYLE SAUDI ACCESSORIES

These shiny gold jewelry fringes can be worn on veils, around the waist, or as necklaces

These cute necklace pendants are tiny niqabs

For little boys, the belted khanjar – traditional curved Saudi daggers

Sorry I haven’t been visiting blogs – I’m busy packing to leave by the end of this month. I’ll no longer be living here in Saudi Arabia and will just return in the future for short visits. So I’ll be discontinuing my regular blogging soon.  

I’ve really enjoyed making friends all over the world through blogging and would like to thank you for your interest and questions about the country I have called home for the past 15 years.  It’s been quite an adventure!  Much love and best wishes to you all! 

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/traditional-style-saudi-accessories.html

UNDER THE HOT SUN

Once the warmer months hit, I get a little leery of the fresh produce that is exposed to the hot sun for hours on end each day.  

Their prices are still cheaper than the clean air conditioned modern supermarkets though.

 

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/under-hot-sun.html

BEDOUIN STYLE ENTERTAINING

Many Saudi homes have a Bedouin room, used for entertaining and special occasions. This one was decorated for the Eid celebration marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.  

Sweet treats, tea and coffee are generally served to guests 

 

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/bedouin-style-entertaining.html

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

 

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/slated-for-demolition.html

UNIQUE SAUDI HOME ARTWORK

The Batterjee House in Al Balad, the oldest sector of Jeddah, was the location of the very first US Embassy in Saudi Arabia. Its distinctive light blue wooden window coverings are called roshan, which make it one of the most photographed buildings in Jeddah. 

This is a custom painted wall mural in the entry of a beautiful home in Jeddah.  The roshan window coverings are a unique and practical architectural feature of this region.

This stylized painting romanticizes the camels as graceful and elegant creatures of the desert, evoking thoughts of ballet dancers – at least that’s what I feel when I see it!  

As some of the old crumbling buildings in Jeddah are torn down, many of the unique architectural features are salvaged and repurposed as art.  

 

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/unique-saudi-home-artwork.html

LET’S GO SHOPPING

 

from Blogger http://susieofarabia.blogspot.com/2022/05/lets-go-shopping.html