Waiting for sunset, a photo from Makkah, East

Photographer's Note

I returned from Iran for just three days in Warsaw and went for a trip to Dubai and Oman. Then after 12 days, the group returned to Poland and I left alone in Dubai. The next day I had the flight to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. I was very excited and curious about how it would be. I had very few information, no guide book, no relations from other tourists. They opened the country for tourists just at the end of September.

At the airport in Jeddah they look at my passport a long time, from all sides. Maybe they have never see a Polish one. There was no bus to the city, I had to take taxi. I had the hotel reserved as usual by Booking.com. My advice - have the confirmation printed in the local language, then you give it to the driver. Quite often it is difficult to recognize even when you are there because the name is different.
I chose the good hotel, well situated on the beautiful avenue leading to the Corniche. Corniche is the name of the sea promenade in Arab countries. Just there is the highest fountain in the world - the fountain jets water to a maximum height 312 m above the Red Sea.

I left my backpack and I went to the promenade. What I saw there astonished me: the whole area was full of people waiting for the sunset. The families had chairs, blankets or even carpets and picnicked on the grass or stood along the barrier. It seemed that all women wore black abayas and niqabs. I was the only woman wearing different dress. At first, I felt a bit uneasy. But the people seeing me smiled, wave hands, so soon it was OK.

The abaya is a simple, loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, worn by some women in parts of the Muslim world including in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Traditional abayat are black and may be either a large square of fabric draped from the shoulders or head or a long kaftan. The abaya covers the whole body except the head, feet, and hands. It can be worn with the niqāb, a face veil covering all but the eyes. Some women also wear long black gloves, so their hands are covered as well.
The rationale for the abaya is often attributed to the Quranic quote, "O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, to cover themselves with a loose garment. They will thus be recognised and no harm will come to them". In Saudi Arabia, women are required to cover in public. Although, in March 2018, the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman claimed that women could choose what to wear in public, provided it met certain standards, when he stated, "The decision is entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she chooses to wear".

I considered buying the black abaya but finally, I didn't - I wouldn't feel well in it. HAha, I was given two abayas from the Dubai women. I will wear it at home when the guests will come to see my pictures.

Bigger beta picture

Another views

The fountain

PiotrF, worldcitizen, jemaflor, papagolf21, holmertz, alvaraalto, jhm, bona, dale54, macjake, Royaldevon, adramad, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Tue (93412) 2019-12-14 13:50

Hello Malgo,
A wonderful view of the promenade with all the people waiting there. They create a very nice and lively mood. The two large buildings make a great backdrop as well, especially with the pastel colours of the sky behind them.
Lars

lousat (139982) 2019-12-14 14:57

Ciao Malgo,I am imagining your embarrassment in walking dressed in western fashion among all these people who are not yet used to tourists, and in fact you were the only one ... ehehe ... it is always nice to read your notes, and also to discover how many people go down the streets to relax in the evening hours which are certainly the coolest. 3 beautiful photos, no doubt from a world that is still unknown to many. Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

PiotrF (55970) 2019-12-14 15:30

Czesc Malgo
Ciekawy reportaz z tego kraju.
Imponujaca fontanna w WS.
Jesli na TE pokazujesz zdjecia to powinnas takze wrzucic swoje w warsztacie w tym otrzymanym ubiorze :)
pozdrawiam
Piotr

worldcitizen (16226) 2019-12-14 16:49

Hello Malgo,
It's fascinating to see daily life scenes from Jeddah. That building in the background of the main photo is also interesting. The extremely conservative dress is just so foreign to me, and I can imagine that you were noticed wearing more "casual" clothes.

jemaflor (148214) 2019-12-14 23:08

Hi Malgo,
Original your photos about this country, interesting views with WS and good note about this moment, tfs.

papagolf21 (152607) 2019-12-14 23:22

Bonjour, chère Malgo,
Je ne connais pas votre métier, mais vous avez raté votre vocation de professeur d'histoire et de géographie, vous avez un don pour décrire, apprendre, comprendre, assimiler, etc. qui vous est propre.
J'apprécie toujours vos prises de vue accompagnées d'excellentes notes.
Amitiés.
Philippe

ifege (49393) 2019-12-14 23:34

Hi Malgo
You did well on this trip after Saudi Arabia's long years of isolation. Congratulations on a good move. Great notes and a good photo. I look forward to seeing more of your photos from this trip.
cheers
Ian

holmertz (103596) 2019-12-15 0:46

Hello Malgo,
These three photos are all very interesting and among the very few on TE showing ordinary daily life in Saudi Arabia. The note is also interesting and shows the importance of words complementing the pictures. I recognize your description of taking the first steps in a very different country, feeling a bit uncertain of what would happen, and the pleasure of realizing that people are nice and everything would be fine.
Have a nice Sunday.
Gert

alvaraalto (42804) 2019-12-15 2:41

Hello Malgo
An interesting story about this newly-opened tourist attraction. I am curious to see whether the barely announced new freedoms for women will continue and Saudi Arabia will become a more civilized country in the future.
Fascinating picture with all these people waiting for the sun.
Have a nice Sunday, groet Rob

Silvio1953 (222889) 2019-12-15 3:43

Ciao cara Malgo, great view of fantastic building, lovely composition with nice people, excellent clarity, fine details, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

jhm (211738) 2019-12-15 5:46

Hello Malgo,

Real a iron woman, almost incredible but we see the pictures.
Three nice pictures with the real culture of this country.
You play nice with light and shadows.
A lovely panorama view too.
Excellent captured and perfect presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice Sunday,
John.

bona (15057) 2019-12-15 7:09

Hello Malgo,

very courageous you was by visiting a place with few information. I'll never do that. I'm to much methodical and always a visit a place I carry all information I can about the place. But it looks you have a nice trip and that's what matters. Love your note!

Hugs from BRazil
andre

rychem (72187) 2019-12-15 8:24

Co kraj to obyczaj, kraje arabskie to zastarzala tradycja spoleczna i bardzo nowoczesna robzuchana archiektura, i to widac na Twoim zdjeciu, bardzo dobre reportazowe zdjecie
pozdrawiam Ryszard

dale54 (17768) 2019-12-15 9:27

malgo good evening and hello ..the girl in green F.G. doesn't have her hair covered...very interesting to look around all these people! nice! tfs dale

Nicou (193814) 2019-12-15 9:55

Hello

toutes ces personnes assise sur l'herbes qui attendent le coucher de soleil quelle imae quelle rchtiecture ces édifice et bâtiment en fond fantastique
Bravo et amitié
Nciou

macjake (98544) 2019-12-15 22:17

Hi Malgo
that is one of the most strangest buildings I've seen, I wonder what it is and how old it is. Great to here that the country has opened up its borders for tourists. You are a brave woman Malgo, I am so impressed by you :) Not knowing what to expect it could be very difficult to travel here, but you just go ahead and do it! amazing! So proud of you! great shots.
cheers
Craig

Royaldevon (86438) 2019-12-16 2:52

Hello Malgo,

You have included some interesting notes along with your trio of photographs.
I agree with your choice of a main one.
I can see that most ladies are dressed as you describe, but it all seems very relaxed.

The building is fascinating, obviously new but seem to have an older style.
It is very attractive, in my eyes.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

adramad (73442) 2019-12-16 9:11

Hi Malgo
Wow, the attraction of sunset over the natives, in that green meadow next to the modern buildings, seems like a pilgrimage.
Very beautiful color, in some tones, very attractive.
Very well done. My congratulations.
All the best and have a good start to the week.
Luis.

ChrisJ (172430) 2019-12-17 1:44

Hello Malgo,

Missed this one. The bg hotel reminds me of illustrations of the ancient hanging gardens of Halikarnasos, now Bodrum, in south west Turkey, only without any trace of greenery. But away from the hotel there are green lawns, trees gardens and people enjoying the cool of the early evening. Tfs!

jmdias (116441) 2019-12-20 11:24

malgo

curious the shapes of that building, looks like a giant old machine. nice view of the people, like in india they like to watch sunset in the beach.
I can see even most of men are dressed in a traditional way.

take care

jorge

mcmtanyel (69195) 2019-12-24 20:02

Hello Malgo,
I like that terraced building on the right. Although it may be a bit blurry, my favorite one of the three is the photo of the fountain. 👍🏻👍🏻
Merry Christmas,
MT

Miguel82 (47110) 2019-12-27 1:31

Hello, that park was busy that afternoon. The people are seated on the grass, they are waiting for the sunset. It is a natural spectacle appreciated in Jeddah. The families came with their children. Fine colors, good sharpness, interesting photo note, regards.