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Jeddah (also spelled Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda; Arabic: جدّة Ǧiddah) is a Saudi Arabian city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The population of the city currently stands at over 3.4 million. It is considered the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia and the wealthiest city in the Middle East and western Asia. Jeddah is the principal gateway to Mecca, Islam's holiest city, which able-bodied Muslims are required to visit at least once in a lifetime.
Floating Mosque in Jeddah is one of the most loved and visited sightseeing spots in the city of Jeddah. Jeddah is a classic mix of ancient with modern which is finely evident in its majestic architectures and buildings. The location of Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea and the beaches subsequently formed makes it a favored travel destination of the tourists.Floating Mosque in Jeddah is one of the sacred sites in the city. The mosque is placed just next to the Red Sea which gives the impression that the mosque is floating in water. It is henceforth named the Floating Mosque. Due to the shimmering white color of the mosque it is also referred as the White Mosque. The mosque is located close to the center of Jeddah. The interior of the mosque is beautifully decorated. The mosque has all the modern facilities like the latest technology based sound systems. For the winter season the mosque also has the provision of hot shower. The Floating Mosque at Jeddah is a landmark of the city and is frequented by numerous tourists round the year from across the world. Floating Mosque in Jeddah bears testimony of the religion of Islam in Saudi Arabia. It is one of the marvelous sacred destinations in Jeddah. The architectural beauty with the huge decorated prayer space and the elegant rooftop gives a unique semblance to the mosque. A soothing ambiance is created inside the mosque. The serene ambiance in the interior of the mosque helps in meditating during the prayer. Not only the Muslims but people from all religions across the globe make it a point to visit the Floating Mosque in Jeddah at least once during their stay at the city.
Again, luck was on my side as nearly from nowhere fantastic, dramatic sunset has appeared. It is rather unusual to have any clouds in the sky here in the middle east therefore I was very thankful for such a scene. I was taking photos from the mosque only and when I was nearly finished and about to leave I've noticed this group of women with children. Older ladies were praying while the children were running around. As a result of 30 sec exposure you see them rather as ghosts.
PENTAX K20D, f/19.0, 30 sec, ISO 100, 14 mm
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All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Tags: Saudi Arabia Floating Mosque Jeddah Evening prayer Middle East Arabia Islam clouds mosque muslim abaya prayer Saudska Arabie GCC arabic exploration sunset beautiful outdoors view travel www.luciedebelkova.com lucie debelkova world trip vacation holiday place destination location journey tour touring tourism tourist traveling visit visiting sight sightseeing hijab
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Riyadh (Arabic: الرياض ar-Riyāḍ) is the capital of Saudi Arabia and its largest city. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Nejd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to over 4,260,000 people. The highest building in the middle is a Kingdom Centre Tower (Arabic: برج المملكة), it is a supertall skyscraper in Riyadh. It is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia and the 40th tallest building in world with a height of 311 m (1,000 ft). It is also host to the highest mosque in the world. The Tower Contains a total of 41 floors. It is also the 2nd tallest building with a hole. The Kingdom Centre is owned by Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a prince of the Saudi royal family. It is also the headquarters of his holding company: Kingdom Holding Company. The total cost of the project was US$1 billion. Kingdom Centre is situated in Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Road.
If you wonder how I get photo like this, the story goes as follows - during my February trip to Saudi, I've discovered unfinished high building between Kingdom tower and Faisaliah tower. The weather that month was terrible due to sand storm across the whole region. I have however made appointment that I come again this weekend. So I did. The construction manager that I have agreed with was not there anymore but they knew I'm coming. It was just after 4PM but the sunset was at 6PM that day. Shift for construction workers finished at 4.45 PM which would mean I have to walk to the 19th floor on foot if I'd come just before 6PM as they only use one work lift that is from outside of the building (rather scary, not recommended to look down). I didn't fancy the walk up and agreed with the present manager that I stay there for those 2 hours till sunset and then walk those 19 floors down. They already thought that I'm crazy, but as there are not that many crazy European women around, they let me. Luck however was on my side and that handsome manager came back just before sunset, probably thinking that I shoot 3 photos of sun setting down and I'm done. How little did he know ... The best colors always come after sunset and long exposures can be done only when the darkness falls. He had to wait for another hour to get me down :-) We had really lovely time while seeing sky like this, listening the the calls for prayers, coming from every corner of the city.. allahu akbar, allahu akbar... with the whole city in front of us. We talked about life and photography, he made a mistake asking me, how is the photo done, so I bore him for a while trying to explain long exposure time .. not for long.. Moments like this are priceless and I was extremely thankful to him that he rescued me from walking all those 19th floors down on rather unfinished staircase. I have to admit that I could not believe my eyes when I saw that enormous cloud just coming from behind the symbol of Riyadh and needless to say that colors likes this are very, very rare in the Middle East. The Gods of weather had to be on my side yet again.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II, f/4.0, 0.05 sec (1/20), ISO 200, 21 mm
All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova www.luciedebelkova.com
All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Tags: Saudi Arabia Riyadh Kindom Tower Arabia Middle East GCC capital sunset pink cloud skyscaper view travel sunrise shadow scenic paysage panorama paisaje paisagem paesaggio magiclight landschaft landscape exploration dawn vista stunning mood lumière light licht incredible dusk dramaticlight breathtaking fantastic beauté beautiful awesome Saudska Arabie www.luciedebelkova.com lucie debelkova world trip vacation holiday place destination location journey tour touring tourism tourist traveling visit visiting sight sightseeing
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The Al Faisaliah Tower in downtown Riyadh was the first skyscraper built in Saudi Arabia. The 60-story building with a gently curving shape has a restaurant encapsulated in the golden geodesic orb that tops the Tower. It opened in May 2000. The two hundred and sixty seven metres high Faisaliah tower, with a golden globe just below the summit, took three years to build and has been planned by its British designers to withstand Saudi Arabia's soaring summer temperatures of more than fifty degrees Celsius 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Up to fifty tons of ice are taken into the tower each night, which then melts during the day to keep the building cool.
If you wonder how I get photo like this, the story goes as follows - during my February trip to Saudi, I've discovered unfinished high building between Kingdom tower and Faisaliah tower. The weather that month was terrible due to sand storm across the whole region. I have however made appointment that I come again within one month. So I did. The construction manager that I have agreed with was not there anymore but they knew I'm coming. It was just after 4PM but the sunset was at 6PM that day. Shift for construction workers finished at 4.45 PM which would mean I have to walk to the 19th floor on foot if I'd come just before 6PM as they only use one work lift that is from outside of the building (rather scary, not recommended to look down). I didn't fancy the walk up and agreed with the present manager that I stay there for those 2 hours till sunset and then walk those 19 floors down. They already thought that I'm crazy, but as there are not that many crazy European women around, they let me. Luck however was on my side and that handsome manager came back just before sunset, probably thinking that I shoot 3 photos of sun setting down and I'm done. How little did he know ... The best colors always come after sunset and long exposures can be done only when the darkness falls. He had to wait for another hour to get me down :-) We had really lovely time while seeing sky like this, listening the the calls for prayers, coming from every corner of the city.. allahu akbar, allahu akbar... with the whole city in front of us. We talked about life and photography, he made a mistake asking me, how is the photo done, so I bore him for a while trying to explain long exposure time .. not for long.. Moments like this are priceless and I was extremely thankful to him that he rescued me from walking all those 19th floors down on rather unfinished staircase. I was also very lucky with the weather that day as clouds and colors likes this are very, very rare in the Middle East. The Gods of weather had been on my side yet again. And at last not least, if you wonder what is that bright spot in left top corner, the answer is - yes it is the moon.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II, f/4.0, 0.05 sec (1/20), ISO 200, 21 mm
All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova www.luciedebelkova.com
All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Tags: Saudi Arabia GCC Middle East Arabia sunset Riyadh capital city town building skyscaper Al Faisaliah Tower outdoors magiclight travel panorama sunrise shadow view exploration Architecture Saudska Arabie Faisaliah Tower skyline saudi skyscraper www.luciedebelkova.com lucie debelkova world trip vacation holiday place destination location journey tour touring tourism tourist traveling visit visiting sight sightseeing modern new sky cloud moon
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Jeddah (also spelled Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda; Arabic: جدّة Ǧiddah) is a Saudi Arabian city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The population of the city currently stands at over 3.4 million. It is considered the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia and the wealthiest city in the Middle East and western Asia. Jeddah is the principal gateway to Mecca, Islam's holiest city, which able-bodied Muslims are required to visit at least once in a lifetime.
This shot is taken on Jeddah Corniche shortly after sunset.
PENTAX K20D, f/13, 30 sec (30), ISO 100, 11 mm
All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova - www.luciedebelkova.com
All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Tags: Saudi Arabia Jeddah Jiddah Jidda Jedda جدّة Ǧiddah KSA Middle East Saudska Arabie GCC Arabia Gulf Islam Arabic Arab Middle East skyline panorama dusk night nightshot lights illumination illuminated architecture building eastern hadj haj hajj haram holy islamic kaaba landmark masjid minaret mosque muslim old pilgrim pilgrimate ramadan religion religious saudi sea umrah unique www.luciedebelkova.com lucie debelkova
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Riyadh (Arabic: الرياض Ar-Riyāḍ) is the capital of Saudi Arabia and its largest city. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Nejd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to over 6,360,000 people.
Kingdom Tower (Arabic: برج المملكة) in Riyadh is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia. With a height of 302 m (992 ft), it is the 37th tallest building in the world. The tower is built on area of 94,230 square meters of land, while the whole center is built on a total area of 300,000 square meters. The tower is host to the highest mosque in the world. The Kingdom Center is owned by prince of the Saudi royal family. It is also the headquarters of his holding company: Kingdom Holding Company. The total cost of the project was 1.717 billion Saudi Arabian Riyals and the contract was taken by Saudi Arabian El Saif and the Italian Impregilo S.p.A. Kingdom Center is situated in Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Street in the growing business district of Al-Olaya in Riyadh. Kingdom Center was the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award, selected as the "best new skyscraper of the year for design and functionality". A three-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in continuously changing colors. Known as the “necklace” for its unusual apex, its most distinctive feature is steel and glass, 300 tone bridge connecting the two towers. High speed elevators fly you (at 180km/h) to the 99th floor sky bridge from where the views are breathtaking.
PENTAX K20D, f/13, 30 sec (30), ISO 100, 35 mm
All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova www.luciedebelkova.com
All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Tags: Saudi Arabia Riyadh Kingdom Centre Burj Al Mamlakah Middle East King Fahd Road King Fahad Road Lights Night Perspective Kingdom Tower Al Faisaliyah طريق الملك فهد الرياض Ar-Riyāḍ KSA arabia dusk dawn scenic الفيصلية المملكة برج الفيصلية برج المملكة Saudska Arabie cityscapes cityscape cities city urban travel towers tower skyscrapers skyscraper Saudis Saudi modern Middle Eastern East Arabian Kingdom Peninsula panorama view vista outdoors landschaft landscape Ryadh building architecture architectural www.luciedebelkova.com lucie debelkova
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