Sulaimanya, Riyadh - A thick storm of sand, crept into the center of Riyadh noon and turned the almost perfect blue skies into gold. The fine grain of the sand unavoidably found its way to openings and trapped itself into rooms forcing some offices to send their employees home early.

The thick cloud swept the streets instantly and turned the day virtually night. Traffic in the street turned to a halt and slowed down as the first rush decreased the visibility to a near meter. Headlights and fog lights were utilized to increase visibility and prevent road accidents.


Meanwhile some offices around the area ceased operation and sent employees early. Some employees I spoke to praised the initiative of some establishments to help lessen commuters during the rush hours. Face masks were distributed to people in the hospitals out of concern for patients, staffs as well as visitors.

Sand storms like this is common in a desert country. It can be a hazard to cause pulmonary problem as well as road traffic accidents when followed by rain.

Freshly came from a photo shoot. This image was from the last frames, Sarah-the model-with her young age is already tired of the session. I felt strongly about the image as it is authentic and decided it to be my “Image of the Day”

Sarah came from a family of musicians. At a very young age and still in high-school, she’s already playing her violin for performances. In fact she will be performing live this Friday with the Riyadh Ambassador’s Chorale.

Gahwa or Arabic coffee served hot in a metal container for all who wants to relax after the tiring activities in the festival. Gahwa is very popular among Saudis and through the Arab world.

Unlike the coffee we got used to, the Gahwa not only concuted from coffee beans but with herbs as well. Depending on the region it’s made, it usually mixed with pitted cardamon seeds that gives the strong taste in the coffee. Arabic coffee is best drank with dates and afterwards a hot and sweet tea with mint.

I just came from the Jenadriyah site this morning following the schedule provided by the newspapers that it opens 9-12 am on Thursday. Unfortunately we've waited for an hour and the gates did not open.

The good news is, we got the festival schedule from the guards. So here it is.

March 5-6 : Males only
March 12-13 : Family, according to the guards males and females can mix with the family day
March 19-20 : Reserved for females. This is the last day.

On all the dates, the festival will start at 3pm and ends at 8pm.

Advice for photographers: Sun starts to set at 6pm, so light will begin to fall half an hour before that.

Enjoy the Festival!

Here is an Aerial shot of Riyadh around 1999 provided by the General Directorate for Military Survey. It was printed in 2001 and was distributed to the public. I got mine from the Al-Jenadriyah Festival.

I'm no good in giving directions. You can enlarge the map and decipher the street. It is written in English so don't worry.

Click here for the bigger link.

Or you can visit Google Earth. It's already been marked. Just type Riyadh.

We can always wear a mask. Be perceived in a different view. We can buy expensive clothes, be elegant, live in a castle, drive the fastest cars. We can be Kings or Leaders and have the world in our hands. We can be famous actor or in a rock and roll band.

We can be not who we are. But in the end we are all the same.

This is who we are.

Riyadh - The Arab News reported yesterday that the Jenadriyah Festival opens up for the first time for families this year 2009. Yehey! a cause for celebration. What the report did not mention was the schedule of the festival.

People who put Jenadriayh in their yearly calendar, like me, are used to the schedules of two week for males and another week for females. This year with the inclusion of families, it's worth to ask when is the day and who can come with the family. In my pusuit for this information, I was taken into confusion. The more I asked the more confusing it is. Everybody I spoked to are now confused as me.

One of my sources said the information might come out tomorrow in the newspapers. (I think they too are not sure). I'm hopeful but worst comes to worst, I'll visit the site and asked the guards there. Sure enough they should know ( I hope). I'll come back to all of you.

Definitely it will be open to the public on March 4, 2009. To which public your guess is as good as mine.