The Jeddah Weekend (3 of 3)

And we're down to our last day in Jeddah! (Yes, yes... it took me quite a while to post this. It's been weeks since DAY 1 and DAY 2. So sorry!)

As you've probably seen in our Facebook page, this is the day we went to a beach resort. But first, if you still have time in the morning, a perfect way to spend it is to see Jeddah's historical district in Balad. Lucky for us, it's just a stone throw away from our hotel so we always pass by this area and take shots while we're in the taxi. However, we should've really got down and roamed around to see the old houses up close. A friend once mentioned that it's actually closed off and there were guards but they're probably more lenient on women in roaming around and taking photographs of the area. 

The gate to the historical quarter

Welcome!

Old buildings and houses

The mosque in the area

A look from the other side of the street

Know more about Jeddah's Historical District here. 

Eyecandy in Jeddah

Nadagdagan ang magaganda sa Jeddah.

For three days that is. ;)

An international symposium related to my job prompted me be a representative of my office at this event that was held at Intercontinental Jeddah. My primary duty was to be "eyecandy" really--to get the participants interested/informed about one of our medical journals by giving out its copies and flyers. As mentioned in my profile, I work in publishing so there you go, I produce these materials and was proud to get the chance to show off these babies. At first I was pretty much wrecked over the preparations and having to travel on my own in a place I've never been to before. But hey, I'm not one to say no to an adventure. Especially if it's paid for! :P

My booth by the Exhibition Center @ the Intercon

I had a very generous sponsor who booked me a room at the Radisson SAS (along Medina Rd) and had me fly business class via Saudia Airlines. That setup alone set the tone of my trip: Posh in Jeddah. And how posh the trip was! Devouring smoked salmon and prawns for lunch at the Intercon, joyriding through the boutiques of Tahlia St. and dining aboard a (mini)ship while cruising Jeddah waters at Mashar Al-Aham, Obhur--were just some of the "posh" things I did while I was there.

My hotel room @ The Radisson.

Smoked salmon and fried prawns for lunch. (hidden shot)

Aboard the mini-ship that took us around Obhur Creek
(eastern side of the Red Sea, I'm told)

Of course, I did not miss King Fahad Fountain, Jollibee and Al-Baik! Thanks to the friendly kabayans who offered to show me around these places. Special shoutout to Ms. Arlene Luna and Mr. Ador Javier! You guys rock!! My Jeddah visit would not have been as complete if not for your sincere kindness.

The friendly crew at Jollibee were all smiles in welcoming the "tourist" = "me". :D

Jollibee....parting is such sweet sorrow! :'(

Al-Baik broasted chicken at 1 in the morning. YUM-Oh! Again, thanks to Ms. Arlene for insisting I try these!

Suffice to say, I was mixing (a lot of needed) pleasure with business. Being eyecandy is hard work but I'm not complaining. I just felt renewed at the opportunity to have been able to smile all day and meet new people from all walks of life. And of course, promoting our journal. :) The symposium had over 1,200 participants, so clearly, the surroundings had a stark difference from my regular days of sitting in front of the computer as my only form of "social life".

Other than that, I found Jeddah to be relaxed and pleasant. What struck me above all was the attitudes of the people, especially the Saudi folks. I never thought I'd meet a decent Saudi guy in my entire life (maybe because they're all in Jeddah! *haha*) But I did, perhaps three or five of them. I found our conversations equally platonic with no malice/seduction intended which is such a relief coming from a place that deems eye-contact as a form of flirtation already.

This is what a decent Saudi guy looks (and acts) like.

This is what a decent AND funny Saudi guy looks like. :D

Jeddah was almost "normal". For me it was friendly, fun and refreshing. The trip may as well have been a blessing in disguise. Prior the 23rd, I was reaching new heights of haggardness. Now, I can't even remember what I was fussing about. That trip did me goooood.

However, I still consider Riyadh as my home and Jeddah...well, Jeddah was the next great escape.

Cheers!

This is Out of Town 2. Enjoy other Out of Town entries here.

Out of Town 1: Jeddah's Bests

:::This is the first entry in our OUT OF TOWN series.:::

Aside from Riyadh, Jeddah is one of the beautiful cities you can visit in Saudi Arabia. Last October 2008 during the Haj vacation, I had the chance to visit Jeddah for the first time. It took us 12 hours to get there by car, longer than a direct Riyadh-Manila flight which only takes 9 hours! The beautiful scenery on the way helped relieve the boredom.

The l-o-n-g and winding road...

There were several things I loved about the place. Among all else, these were Jeddah's bests:

H&M (Hennes & Mauritz, a Swedish high-street brand) is one of my favorite brands, it is the main reason why I would succumb to 12 long hours of drive! I was in the store for more than 2 hours, scrutinizing every item and seizing the opportunity. The result was a record-breaking shopping spree only in one store! If not for the prayer time, I would have stayed longer looking at all the nice stuff they had.

At exactly 4:30 PM, I was there waiting patiently for the store to open!

The store has a ladies' section for make-up and lingerie

Mall of Arabia is the biggest mall in Jeddah. It opened sometime in August/September 2008. It houses 330 shops of top brands (H&M can be found here). The ladies rooms have lounges with mosaic mirrors made of porcelainish material, very plush! A lot of the shops still did not open. Let's wait until this mall is in full blast.

The mall's facade

The plush toilets (where you can pee with glee!)

Jollibee, the ultimate Pinoy favorite is in Jeddah! I ordered ‘Chicken Joy’ (as if we haven't had enough chicken here) with gravy, yum! The prices are very reasonable, almost the same as its peso equivalent when converted to Riyals (2-piece Chicken Joy with rice was about SAR11). Now Filipinos here can satisfy their cravings for authentic Filipino fast food!

Busy counters at nearly 11PM

Nice photo of a construction worker in Jeddah taking a break

Red Sea - We don’t have beaches in Riyadh and seeing any body of water is quite rejuvenating. Going to beaches for picnics and swimming is one of the best ways to de-stress without spending. Perfect alternative to spend time and bond with your family aside from malling. Jeddah is also famous for the high fountain which is visible whilst in the city.

A rocky yet serene beach

Famous fountain located in the heart of the city

Al-Baik - A famous fast food which serves the best broasted chicken in the Kingdom. Broasting is a form of cooking which uses a special machine and combines pressure cooking and deep-frying chicken. This method of cooking is not common in the Philippines. This results to a less greasy meat, making it 'healthier' than regular fried chicken. Their broasted chicken is served with garlic mayonnaise and fries. Perfect to gulp down with cola (Bebsi), Al-Baik is exclusive to this city.

One of the many Al-Baik branches in Jeddah

Charap!

Abaya Souk - the ‘Abaya’ is the black robe which women have to wear everytime they go out and about in Saudi Arabia. It is paired with (of course, named after our blogsite) a tarha or hijab. Abayas are cheaper in Jeddah. I got one for SAR60, and found exactly the same design in Dirah (famous souk/market in Riyadh) for SAR100. I guess they're probably importing Riyadh abayas from there.

Jeddah keeps its warm climate even in winter. We left Riyadh wearing jackets and warmers and we took all off as we approached Jeddah. The climate is very much like the Philippines, not too humid, warm and pleasant.

Curly clouds of Jeddah skies bidding us goodbye

Planning for your next trip within the Kingdom? Try Jeddah, a must-see place. But still, Riyadh will always be first in my heart. Nothing beats the bustle, famous landmarks and wide roads of my beloved city.

*Thanks to Noemi N. and Victor V. for their contribution to the photos*