About This Blog, and About Me: Susie of Arabia
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is KSA's 2nd largest city and is located on its west coast, right on the Red Sea. I moved here in 2007 with my Saudi hubby. This journal reflects the things that I see here, life through my eyes, my lens.
Please be sure to also visit my other blog, SUSIE OF ARABIA (formerly SUSIE'S BIG ADVENTURE), which relates my experiences, thoughts, and observations about living in Saudi Arabia.
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Susie of Arabia/BlueAbaya.
EMAIL me at :
susieofarabia@gmail.com
Category Archives: contradictions
Colorful Evening Gowns
I’ve shown you photos of over-the-top evening gowns several times before. These were just so colorful, I just had to include them! For an explanation of when dresses like these are worn in Saudi Arabia, see this post and read … Continue reading
Posted in Celebrations, Clothing, contradictions, Culture, Photo, Saudi Arabia, Shopping
Tagged Clothing, dress, fashion, Jeddah, wedding, women
19 Comments
A Surprise Catch
This is something you thought you might not ever see – a veiled Saudi woman clad in her black abaya fishing with her children. I snapped this photo in the late afternoon in a busy area of Jeddah’s Corniche, the … Continue reading
Posted in Clothing, contradictions, Culture, Life, Odd or Unusual, Photo, Saudi Arabia
Tagged abaya, Corniche, family, fish, Jeddah, leisure, Red Sea, sports, women
9 Comments
Face on the Building
While many faces and exposed skin of women here in Saudi Arabia are scribbled over with a black marker or pixilated, images of the royal family men are proudly displayed by many businesses everywhere.
Posted in Architecture, Buildings, contradictions, Culture, Life, Photo, Religion, Saudi Arabia
Tagged Architecture, business, censorship, Jeddah, Religion
10 Comments
Bra Salesman in Saudi Arabia
It’s rather ironic in ultra-conservative gender-segregated Saudi Arabia that women dressed in black tents from head to toe are placed in the embarassing and uncomfortable situation where they are forced to buy their undergarments from men who are so good … Continue reading
Posted in Clothing, contradictions, Culture, Middle East, Odd or Unusual, Photo, Saudi Arabia, Shopping
Tagged business, Clothing, labor, shop, women, workers
3 Comments
Billboard Ad
While alcohol is strictly forbidden by the religion in this country, many products are packaged to resemble and imitate forbidden items. “Near Beer” is very popular in this country and comes in a variety of flavors – and is quite … Continue reading
Posted in contradictions, Culture, Food, Middle East, Odd or Unusual, Photo, Religion, Saudi Arabia
Tagged advertising, business, Jeddah, Religion, signs
4 Comments
Wild Wall
This is not exactly something one might expect in strictly conservative and religious Saudi Arabia -a wild and crazy wall inside a local Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Shop in Jeddah. You can see Arabic writing and the “BR” logo on … Continue reading
Posted in Art, contradictions, Odd or Unusual, Photo, Saudi Arabia
Tagged Arabic, business, Jeddah, shop
8 Comments
Garbage Everywhere
One of the things that bugs me about living here in Saudi Arabia is the seeming unconcern for all the trash everywhere. This is an empty lot in the middle of a developed residential section of Jeddah which is filled … Continue reading
Posted in Buildings, contradictions, Culture, Life, Photo, Saudi Arabia
Tagged garbage, Jeddah, workers
12 Comments
Men’s Wear
While women out in public here in Saudi Arabia are generally covered in black from head to toe, men can wear virtually whatever they want, including shorts and t-shirts.
Posted in Clothing, contradictions, Culture, Life, Photo, Religion, Saudi Arabia
Tagged Clothing, dress, Jeddah, leisure, living, mall, women
10 Comments
Taxi Driver
Taxi services are a real money-maker here in Saudi Arabia – and it’s no wonder, considering that half of the population (women) are not allowed to drive in this country. From what I have read, taxis do such a thriving … Continue reading
Posted in contradictions, Culture, Life, Odd or Unusual, Photo, Saudi Arabia, Tradition
Tagged business, driving, traffic, women, women's issues, women's rights
16 Comments
MyWorld: Body Builder Sign
I still don’t understand – why is it okay for a huge sign like this to be on display here in Saudi Arabia, when images of women’s arms, faces, or with other skin showing in magazines or on products are … Continue reading
Posted in Buildings, contradictions, Culture, Middle East, Odd or Unusual, Photo, Saudi Arabia
Tagged advertising, business, shop, signs, women
16 Comments
JEDDAH DAILY PHOTO 