The Wanderers in Jeddah
Trip Start
Unknown
1
Trip End
Ongoing
Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Though we wanted to still go out and start exploring the place, we are truly tired from the lengthy travel. So, we just decided to fix our things up, freshen up, grab some food, take some snap shots of course and finally tucked in our beds. Have to make sure to regain some energy for a long day ahead tomorrow.
It was 9 o'clock when the driver came to fetch us and start the journey.
My lenses didnt skipped the the place they called Al Balad. Which is also known as the Old Jeddah.
Al-Balad is the historical area of
Jeddah, the second largest city of Saudi Arabia. Balad can literally be
translated as "The City." Balad traces its history 2,500 years back as a
fishing village when the Quda'a fishermen tribe settled there. Al-Balad
was founded in the 7th century and historically served as the centre of
Jeddah.
Jeddah's past, too, is maybe one of the most
fascinating of its features and it goes as far back as the very
beginning of the human race, according to an old tradition. One of the
meanings of the name of the city itself (spelled "Jadda") is
grandmother, which refers to the mother of mankind, Eve.
Tradition says that after Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise, Eve
came to live in Jeddah and, from time to time, she visited Adam in
Makkah or in Mina. This tradition also recounts that after Eve's death,
she was buried in Jeddah, where her tomb withstood the ravages of the
ages up until only half a century ago when it could still be seen from
Bab Medina --one of the three main gates which surrounded the town up
until 1947. In that year the wall was demolished in order to expand the
size of the rapidly growing city. Since Eve's Graveyard --as it was
known-- had been venerated for so many centuries, people still stop and
stare in awe at the place where the tomb used to be.
Next I spotted was an eye-catching sculpture of a big bike roughly 50 feet in height in one of the city's largest square. The Bicycle Square.
It is also known as the Cycle of Adam which is actually a myth.
This place also marks as jeddah's main center. In every corner you will be able to find variety of branded shops and furnitures.
King's Fountain is next on my list. I personally asked our driver to bring us to that place to witness the spectacular fountain that is reputed to be the tallest fountain in the world. We reached the place but there was no fountain at all. We tried asking some of the people around if we got the right place and it was it. We waited a bit long but maybe we're unlucky because they did not open the fountain and its getting lat.
We continued the whole day wandering around Jeddah. Did some mall
hopping and shopping. It was indeed a day full of fun and adventure. One
day will never be enough to explore the rich culture of Jeddah!
