Saudi Comic Con from a Teen POV

By all accounts, the first ever Saudi Comic Con was a roaring success. The event was held over 3 days as part of an entertainment initiative by the Saudi General Authority for Entertainment, and according to the Arab News the event received a total of 20,000 visitors.

For some background and reviews of the Comic Convention, you can always do a quick web search. However Jeddah Blog decided to give you a different perspective. A teenage one.

Jeddah Blog spoke to 4 young teenagers, Musab Ali (13 years), Omar Dada (14 years), Ramis Faisal (14 years) and Hassan Khatri (14 years) who attended Saudi Comic Con on Day 1 and we asked them what they thought of the event.

From the left: Musab, Darth Vader, Ramis and Hassan.

According to Musab: “This was the best thing to happen in Saudi Arabia. The queue was long, but it was fast-moving. It looked small from the outside, but it was very big once we entered. There were lots of hi-tech gaming consoles, XBox One, computers and PS4s on every corner for people to play on. There was also a comedy show in the evening in Arabic.”

Musab went on to say, “Lots of people were dressed up in costumes. The Joker was clearly the most popular choice. Although we were given free drinks, which was great, there wasn’t a lot of variety of food to purchase, only snacks. Also, there wasn’t enough place to sit if we wanted to take a break. However, there was a VIP lounge for people who had VIP bands.”

When asked about his favourite part of Comic Con Musab said, “The best part was the fighting scene on stage between Thor, Loki, Iron Man, Ant Man and Captain America. The life size Transformer was amazing too.”

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Ramis summarised the show saying, “I think it was a great experience, a large crowd, and very organised with a variety of stuff to do from trying out new games to buying exclusive merchandise. There were a lot of stalls and a show outside.”

The Boys: [L to R]  Hassan, Ramis, Musab and Omar.

“I thought Comic Con was an amazing experience,” enthused Omar. “It was very organised and full of people and many games to try out, as well as many events. There were also many stalls full of interesting merchandise.” 

Hassan getting some sage advice from Yoda.

Hassan was pleasantly surprised by the event. “The long-awaited Comic Con finally arrived in Jeddah. People were a little apprehensive and didn’t expect much for a first time in Saudi Arabia, but that wasn’t the case. There were lots of international companies selling merchandise that is pretty hard to find in Saudi Arabia or even in the Middle East.”

However, Hassan was disappointed not being able to attend the meet and greet with celebrities: “Unfortunately, not everyone had the chance to meet the guests as it was very expensive”.

Overall, it seems that the show was a great hit with teens as well as older attendees. The show, games and merchandise were of particular interest to this young group. Definitely a step in the right direction for Saudi entertainment and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

Photo Credits: Hassan Khatri and Ramis Faisal

Watch ICFLIX on the New Apple TV and get 1 month’s FREE Streaming Access

Great news for ICFLIX subscribers who have the new Apple TV at home. ICFLIX, the Middle East and North Africa’s leading movie streaming service is now available on the Apple TV App Store, joining the great lineup of programming offered to customers.

Built from the ground up by an expert in-house team, the new ICFLIX app for the new Apple TV will allow users to sign up for the service.

“ICFLIX is all about convenience; being able to watch the entertainment you love whenever you want, at home or on the go. The new Apple TV is a great way for viewers to watch the best of Hollywood, Jazwood (Arabic) and Bollywood content. Whether you love movies, TV show, documentaries or kids animation, ICFLIX has something for everyone,” said Carlos Tibi, founder and CEO, ICFLIX

Available to download from the Apple TV App Store, the new app has been designed with a refreshed and simplified look for a more engaging user experience with enhanced search and navigation. The new interface also features sleek design elements optimized for the new Apple TV viewing experience, and will be the best way to watch ICFLIX’s vast library of content from any new Apple TV device wherever you are. 

Everything from the sign-in screen to the browsing experience has been taken into account to make it smoother, more responsive and overall easier to use. 

To celebrate the launch, ICFLIX will give Apple TV users one month of free unlimited streaming access to each person who downloaded the App here.

For more information about ICFLIX visit their website. You can follow ICFLIX on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

ICFLIX provides a value-for-money entertainment experience with many movies, TV series, documentaries and cartoons, available in high-definition and Dolby® Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound where available.

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STARZ Play: Your New Online Movies & Series Platform

Honestly it’s time for TV fans to say goodbye to their cable subscriptions and hello to solely streaming their entertainment. With new streaming platforms and VOD (Video On Demand) services, television programs are going to be more available, simple and convenient. STARZ Play is one of the new and powerful subscription video on demand services in the market right now (they have over 57 Million subscribers in the U.S).

Their new platform called Starz Play Arabia has recently been launched across 17 territories in the Middle East, beating Netflix to the punch in an area with a population estimated at 370 million and a young, highly wired demographic. Now let’s see what Starz Play can provide to us.

“Starz is very pleased with the launch of the world-class Starz Play Arabia partnership in the Middle East and North Africa,” says Chris Albrecht, Starz CEO. “This is the first time a STARZ-branded service has been launched outside of the United States.”

As you have probably noticed, everything is going the way of streaming these days, so to be sure to have good service you need to choose the right Platform, and Starz Play can feed your starving hunger. It’s super-hard to choose what to watch, because their original content is so different and provides some of the best shows and movies on TV today. Some of their shows like Power, Penny Dreadful, Humans and a lot more have the latest episodes at the same time as the U.S. Their service also includes a wide selection of movie content, licensed from Hollywood, including content from leading pay TV networks.

STARZ Play gives you maximum user control by letting you play, pause and rewind. You can stop watching a movie or show and resume it later, right from where you left off, whenever and wherever you want. STARZ Play uses the most advanced technology to provide you with a superb HD viewing experience. You can enjoy STARZ Play on any device: your PC or Mac as well as on numerous iOS and Android devices. STARZ Play will also be available on the leading Smart TVs and game consoles in the near future.

“STARZ PLAY Arabia has a unique opportunity to fill a market need and offer the growing Internet savvy population of the region the best in TV and movie content, at an affordable price point, and with high-value convenience and control,” explains President and Chief Operating Officer of Starz Play Arabia Maaz Sheikh. “We have aggregated a compelling collection of great original programming including STARZ Original series and movie content from around the world. Our content will be presented in a culturally sensitive way and will be a showcase technologically, with a strong consumer value proposition.”

Starz Play provides an immersive and unique viewing experience offering their subscribers the latest and most acclaimed movies and series as well as a wonderful selection of children’s and family programming exclusively for the Middle East and North Africa. It initially offers more than 3,000 movies and a wide selection of TV series that you can watch for $12.99/month (49SAR/Month). With a 30-day free trial and no monthly contractual obligations, viewers can enjoy watching their favorites programs without any commercial breaks or interruptions.

Now with Starz Play, you can watch fiercely entertaining originals as well as hit movies anywhere you go and anytime you want.

To know more about Starz Play you can visit their website.

– Sponsored article

Ride for Free with icflix and Uber

icflix and Uber have teamed up to offer their customers a great new promotion. icflix, the Middle East and North Africa’s leading Internet streaming service are rewarding first time subscribers by offering them a premium ride with Uber, the smartphone technology company that links riders to drivers within minutes, when they sign up to icflix.com.

The promotional offer launched just this week will entitle customers to 81.73 SAR off their first ride and will be valid until July 25^th 2015.

If you are a new Uber customer ordering your first ride using the Uber app, don’t fret. You can get a one-month icflix subscription for free.

Speaking about this great promotional offer, Carlos Tibi, founder and CEO says, “We like to think outside the box, and are always thinking of innovative ways to reward our customers. New Uber customers will have the chance to experience the service with the added benefit of enjoying movies and TV shows whilst on the move.”

“Technology and innovation sit at the heart of what we do, and something we very much have in common with icflix, especially when it comes to enhancing customer experience,” said Jambu Palaniappan, Regional General Manager for Middle East & Africa.

How Can I Access This Offer?

In case you wish to access this offer the following code must be entered while ordering:

► UBERUAE  for the UAE

► UBERKSA for the KSA

► UBERBAH for Bahrain

► UBERLEB for Lebanon

► UBERQAT for Qatar.

Enter this code when you sign up to icflix. If you are already a member, simply go to “Your account”, “Manage Subscription” and enter your promo code.

– Sponsored article

hellofood offers 24-hours premium access to icflix with every meal order

We at Jeddah Blog have used hellofood, the online food delivery service many times, and have never been disappointed. They are prompt, reliable, efficient, and even follow up online orders with a phone call confirming the order and an email afterwards inquiring about the level of service provided. Adding to all this, their service charge is very reasonable. If you haven’t tried them already, I recommend you do so very soon. When you do, leave a comment at the end of this blog post telling us about your experience.

Enjoying a delicious meal in front of a movie is something we all like, therefore the promotional offer that is currently available between Hellofood and icflix might interest the cinema lovers. 

In fact the Middle East and North Africa’s leading Internet streaming service, providing its viewers with access to Hollywood, Bollywood and Jazwood (Arabic) content has lately announced a strategic partnership with hellofood.

.

Active in over 40 countries over 5 continents, hellofood have selected the best restaurants in Saudi Arabia, granting customers ordering food online, free unlimited 24-hour access to movies, TV series, documentaries and kids content on icflix.

“The premium access to icflix will give hellofood customers a chance to enjoy and experience the service,” said Carlos Tibi, CEO, icflix. “We want customers to enjoy the entertainment from the comfort of their own home.”

“hellofood represents a complement to icflix’s internet streaming service  and vice versa, enabling users to order food online from more than 500 restaurants and choose from a variety of movies and TV shows at the same time. All customers will benefit from the synergy of this partnership”, said Beschir Hussain, CEO  of Hellofood Middle East.

About ICFLIX

ICFLIX media FZ LLC was established in Dubai in 2012. The company provides its members with convenient access to . It is the first subscription-based online streaming service of its kind and offers movies, TV series, cartoons, and documentaries. The service is currently available on over 900 different mobile and fixed Internet enabled devices including PCs, Macs, smart phones, tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles. Aside from its UAE headquarters, ICFLIX has offices in Morocco, Egypt and Czech Republic.

You can follow icflix via Twitter and Facebook.

About hellofood

hellofood is the leading global online food delivery marketplace and is active in more than 40 countries across five continents. For restaurants, hellofood promotes their visibility in a mobile and digital world, and provides up-to-date interfaces as technology evolves. For diners, hellofood provides the convenience of ordering food online and offers the widest culinary range to choose their favorite meal from, which can be done via the web or through the app. In the Middle East, hellofood is present in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar. The group recently acquired UAE-based 24h and has raised more than 200 million USD to date.

– Sponsored article

Did You Miss Maisah Sobaihi’s One Woman Show?

Award winning Maisah Sobaihi returns once again to entertain us with her play Head Over Heels in Saudi Arabia at the Effat University. If you missed this talented lady’s past performances, then this is your chance to watch this exhilarating, fun and heart-warming play.

Click here to purchase tickets which will be on sale from the 15th of February. You can choose either the English or Arabic performance (details are below). If you’re still a little unsure then read our review of Head Over Heels here.

I, for one, will be looking forward to Maisah’s performance. If you decide to go, drop us a line and let us know your thoughts.

Hamleys Toy Store Comes to Jeddah

The much-awaited Hamleys Toy Store has opened up in the Mall of Arabia. There is a severe dearth of good quality toy stores in Jeddah and we’ve been hoping that this shop will break the mould. Who could be better to review the store than a teenager? Jeddah Blog persuaded fifteen-year old Haris Ali to review Hamleys for us after a recent visit. Read on to find out what this astute teenager thought of the shop, and whether in his opinion, it shaped up to its parent store in London.

A family visit to Mall of Arabia (Mujamma’ Al Arab) today reminded me of a brilliant nostalgia-filled trip to Hamleys Toy Shop of Regent Street, London. Hamleys Jeddah is located on the second floor of the Mall, directly above HyperPanda supermarket, comfortably nestled between Gates 5 and 6.

Hamley’s located on the first floor in Mall of Arabia.

As a family including two teenagers and a pre-teen, we were delighted to see the ghost of the world-renowned Hamleys we had visited a couple of years ago in the flesh. The original London store was truly a magnificent toy store unlike any that exists in Jeddah; storey upon storey of toys of excellent quality, interactivity and a sense of excitement for the younger ones.

Hamleys Jeddah, although much smaller in size, spanning maybe four shops in the Mall, has toys for all children; boys and girls alike. Within are Flying UFOs, Magic Blackboards and vintage boardgames like Chess, Chinese Checkers, and Solitaire. There is also a section dedicated to action figures, dolls and laughing Despicable Me’s Minions!

Plenty of variety to choose from.

Official Lego bricks are sold there too, an unusual sight for Jeddah, apparently, as I haven’t found Lego here for over ten years. One of the coolest tech-toys present was the Hex-Bug, a miniature vibrating coloured insect that zooms around its track randomly, a fun toy to watch.

The store stocks toys and board games of all kinds, and not limited only to Hamleys merchandise, but also includes non-branded foam guns, 3D architectural puzzles and a selection of model and remote control cars and helicopters available at other local toy shops too. There are plenty of Barbie supplies and makeup kits for little girls, but they need to increase their variety for older girls. “Hamleys is a good store for younger children, but not for someone my age,” says Suha, my thirteen year old sister. “I like magic stuff, so I would be more interested maybe if they had better magic kits. The only thing I liked was the ripstick.”

Display stands.

Display tables spread across the store with some of the Hamleys toys laid out on them for the children to give a try are a great idea, and chairs are laid out around a round table for children to play sitting down.

How cute is this? Build your own Lego mini guitar, one of the items available for under SR100.

A fun addition is the track painted onto the floor for kids to whizz around the store on one of Hamleys two wheel skateboards or tricycles. Prices are a little high for most items, but there are lots of pocket-money items children can pick up for SR75 and under. The test to differentiate Hamleys from local toy shops will be in the quality of its products.

A very satisfied customer.

All in all, I feel it is a definite improvement on the general standard of toy shops in Jeddah. Even though I would have liked to see many more toys and board games for older children, it is still a great addition to the Mall of Arabia, making us feel one tiny step closer to the World’s Finest Toy Store.

5 Fun Things to do with your Children during Winter Break in Jeddah

For many children in Jeddah, depending on which school they go to, they are either in the middle, or just starting their Winter Break. If you are wondering how you’ll ever be able to keep the little monkeys busy this holiday, we have some great places to visit and fun things to do right here in Jeddah.

Fakieh Aquarium

Launched earlier this year to much fanfare and excitement, Jeddah’s first aquarium can be found on the busy Corniche Road. Enthusiastic Jeddawis have been flocking to visit the aquarium and have come away with excellent reviews. They tell us that the area is very clean (food and drink are not allowed inside), and the staff are efficient and organised. The dolphin show is a must-see. Open every day from 11am-11pm and from 1:30pm-11pm on Fridays. Make sure you keep a note of the dolphin and seal shows which are scheduled every day for 1pm, 7pm and 9pm and plan around this time. Free wifi is a great plus for those of us who hate to stay away from the internet for long.

Kathy Bacchus wrote in to tell us, “A lady’s morning at Jeddah Aquarium found me there. Vibrant, fresh and welcoming from the outside,we purchased our tickets with ease. Inside, I was struck  by the imagination and detail in my undersea exploration. The aquarium is vast with many shark, stingrays, starfish and all species identified and described carefully which I found very educational for all ages. The Dolphin show is a must!.On the day,there were School trips visiting  and school children giggling enjoying the show. All in all a very enjoyable visit and a delight to families”.

Expect to pay: SR 50 per person for entrance to the aquarium and SR 50 per person for the dolphin show.

Cafe Ceramique

Situated in Stars Avenue Mall, (by the entrance that goes up to the supermarket – thank you Soreya!) this delightful spot is a sure winner with kids of all ages. Children choose a clay object, from figurines to decorative plates, and then take their time to paint the piece, being as creative as they like. Once they’re done, you take the finished pieces to be glazed and set, and return after a week to pick up your masterpiece. The only problem is, your children might want to start all over again when they see how awesome their creation turns out. One 11 year old girl says, “I like Cafe Ceramique because it’s fun to pick out what you want to paint and then you get to keep what you’ve made”.

Parents can also have a go at practicing their artistic skills. Snacks and drinks can be ordered while painting.

Expect to pay: SR 30-100 per clay piece depending on the size.

Stationery Fantasy

Particularly popular with younger children, Stationery Fantasy on Prince Sultan Street, next to GNP Hospital offers a range of activities kids can indulge in from cooking to arts and crafts, the sandbox, dress-up and a large ball pit. You buy tickets from the counter for your choice of activity and then send the children into the activity room while you sit and watch them through large glass windows. The children are generally well-supervised by staff. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase. Stationery Fantasy also caters to birthday parties. “I like going to Stationery Fantasy because they have lots of nice games which are a lot of fun, especially the ball pit. I like the snacks too”, says a very active 9 year old boy.

Expect to pay: SR 7-45 per activity. The sandpit is SR7 each, the cooking class SR15 and the carpentry section is around SR 45.

Sail Island

Now that the weather is warming up, it is the perfect time to take your young ones to Sail Island. Located on the Corniche (you can’t miss the huge white sails atop the venue), children have a blast swimming in the pools and playing in the sandy playground. The restaurant is set up overlooking the sea and in our opinion, it’s one of the best places to view the sunset from. The best part is that the entrance tickets can be redeemed at the restaurant for meals. The grilled hammour is particularly delicious and cooked to perfection. One boy we asked said, “they have a big area to swim in with fun sprinklers and the beach-side sandy playground.”

Expect to pay: SR 60 per adult and SR 40 per child.

In10So

If your children are in the older age category, then you might want to introduce them to In10so (pronounced Intenso, aimed at kids over 10 years). This gaming area can be found on the third floor of Serafi Mega Mall, on the opposite side of Moon Toon, and also in Red Sea Mall. It’s a great place for teens to hang out decked out with a snooker table, Playstation and Xbox games, and racing/ go-carting. They also have a wide range of challenging arcade games and a bowling area. The latest pop music plays in the background and there’s even a hangout spot with sofas and lights for the teens to chill and chat. There’s also a snack bar with snacks and beverages. One young teen says, “I like it because it’s a good alternative for older siblings to hang out instead of going to Moon Toon which is more for younger kids.”

Expect to pay: SR 50-100 depending on the number of activities chosen.

For more kids’ stuff, click here.

Summer Breaks – Summer means fun, and the best kind of fun is with Jumeirah

Whether we’re talking about the summer holidays, or the upcoming Hajj break, the standard topic of conversation amongst Jeddawis is where they plan to spend their vacation. According to the Arab News, Saudis traveling abroad last summer were expected to spend a staggering SR40 billion, and Dubai remains the favorite tourist destination among Arab countries for them. 

If you have decided to visit Dubai, but not quite sure where to stay, then read on. Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts are regarded as among the most luxurious and innovative in the world and have won numerous international travel and tourism awards. The Jumeirah portfolio is unmistakable, including 6 stunning  hotels in Dubai; the world renowned Burj Al Arab, the world’s most luxurious hotel, the multi-award winning Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in Dubai and the Jumeirah at Eithad Towers in Abu Dhabi.

The Jumeirah hotels are an excellent choice of hotel and we are here to tell you why.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Whether exploring the high seas in Sinbad’s Kids Club or enjoying an al-fresco family barbeque at Beachcombers Bar and Grill there is something for every member of the family at the idyllic family resort of Jumeirah Beach Hotel. While enjoying their sun-drenched beaches, sculptured swimming pools and manicured landscaped grounds you can relax safe in the knowledge that your loved ones are receiving the highest standards of hospitality and care.

Added value to customers and benefits

Don’t we all love a great deal and lots of complimentary benefits? From 10% off their Best Available Rate with a host of value-added benefits. The rate starting from AED 800 includes many exclusive complimentary benefits such as the complimentary breakfast.

 Complimentary exclusive private beach access

Situated in the vibrant city of Dubai, you can enjoy their stunning 2km golden beach nestling next to their beach-side properties or just a short, free shuttle bus service from their City hotels. If you are staying at the opulent Jumeirah Zabeel Saray you will also have access to an exclusive private beach on The Palm Jumeirah.

Complimentary buffet breakfast

As a guest of the JBH, you can take advantage of their bountiful buffet breakfast. From fantastic local cuisine to international favourites, you can be sure of a great start to your day topped off with the immaculate Jumeirah standard we have all come to expect.

Complimentary access to Kids Club

We all know that enjoying time away with your family is often a tale of two cities and it’s important that your loved ones are well taken care of. Sinbad’s Kids Club (Saleem ay JZS), available to guests staying at selected Dubai hotels, offers a safe, fun and friendly environment for your children to explore and make new friends in a closely-supervised environment.

Complimentary access to Wild Wadi Waterpark

Situated next to Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the Wild Wadi Waterpark is a Dubai legend with sample speeds of up to 80km per hour slide down the Jumeirah Sceirah. For the more adventurous, get a taste for the rocketing power of the Master Blasters or for those more laidback, enjoy a leisurely float along the Lazy River. There is always more than one helping of fun to have at Wild Wadi with the two thrilling rides: Tantrum Alley incorporates two large sections of downhill waterslides and three exciting tornadoes. Guests seated on a tube will travel downhill to enter the first tornado where they slide back and forth several times, then circle around and around in the eye of the storm before exiting and hitting the second and thirds tornados, after which you splash out into the pool.

The equally adventurous Burj Surj consists of two large sections of downhill waterslides and the looming ‘Bowl’. Guests are seated on a tube, travelling downhill to the bowl, where they are hurtled into two spiralling spins and then dropped into the slide, ending with a screaming splash in the pool.

Complimentary Internet access

We at Jeddah Blog know the importance of staying connected online while away on vacation. Whether to peek in at work, or to stay in touch with your family and friends, all of their Dubai hotels offer free in-room Internet access so you can make sure that you are never out of touch.

How do I book a place?

Make your dreams a reality, and book your next holiday online here.

Or call:

Dubai 800 JUMEIRAH (800 5863 4724)

Saudi Arabia 800 897 1439
* IDD rates apply

Or email:

reservations@jumeirah.com

Prices vary from property to property. Check the prices online. It is 10% off Best Available Rate. Burj Al Arab is offering 25% off their Best Available Rate.

Go ahead, book your vacation now and drop us a note to tell us all about your amazing holiday!

YouTube on Stage in Jeddah

According to surveys, Saudi Arabia is the country with the highest number of YouTube viewers in the world. Statistics show that Saudis watch 90 million YouTube videos every single day.

In keeping with this theme, the Effat University Student Government is preparing for a super-exciting event, YouTube On Stage. YouTube on Stage is an event that is the first of its kind. The specialty of this particular event is that it is co-organized by YouTube.

Attendees will see their favourite YouTube stars live. The YouTubers will be talking about how the youth can revolutionize visual media and be socially creative in communicating with the masses, from the comfort of their home.

The event will be taking place on the 3rd of April in the JCCI Sheikh Ismail AbuDawood Hall from 5-10:30pm. The event is open to both males and females. Some of the planned speakers are Hattoon Kadi, Muhammad Makki, Eyad Mugazel, Anas Abdo and others.

Tickets for the event are available at both branches of Virgin Megastores for SR 130. For the Effat University faculty and students, the tickets are available at Effat restaurant and dining, and the Effat Student Government office at the same price.

For more information about the event or the speakers, you can email yos@effat.edu.sa, visit their Facebook Page, Facebook Event page or follow them on Twitter. Also, check out the YouTube on Stage promo video below.

The Mad Traveller Comes to Jeddah!

Paul Hudspith, British Airways cabin crew member, has been making videos of his travels every week since 2004. Paul always travels with his (very cool) Brompton foldable bicycle, cycling even under the sweltering sun of Saudi Arabia. The Mad Traveller’s videos can be found on his YouTube channel bromptonglobetrotter. 

While Paul had already been to Riyadh earlier in 2011, he most recently made a video on his visit to Jeddah where he talks about the scorching weather, the beautiful architecture, the open-air art museum around the Corniche and his visit to Balad. We were very lucky to catch hold of Paul and speak to him about his travels, his videos and his visit to Jeddah. 

Paul, you work for British Airways. Is this what inspires your love of travelling?

I’ve worked as a cabin crew with BA for nine years now and yes, the job does inspire me a lot but it’s mainly exposure to nature programmes as a young child that really gave me a huge appetite to explore the wider world around me. The job is really more of an excellent tool to enable many of my dreams to become a reality.

Paul’s first camera operator and fellow Couchsurfer member, Mo.

Of all the Mad Traveller videos you’ve made around the world, which is your favourite?

I’ve been making videos ever since my first trip as crew – which was to Warsaw, Poland on an extremely cold winters’ day in January 2004. Since that first not-so-confident presentation, I’ve developed my shows to the programme format you’ve seen.

Choosing a favourite is always tricky but I would say my top three are: Hong Kong, San Francisco and Tokyo. India is also a fascinating place.

Paul’s second camera operator and fellow Couchsurfer member Toni Riethmaier.

You mentioned some myths and preconceptions about Jeddah in your video. What surprised you the most?

The myths and preconceptions I mentioned referred to Saudi Arabia in general and I would say that the biggest surprise so far has been how amazingly peaceful the cities are. There’s an eerie sense of calm everywhere you go. The allowing of men to wear shorts also came as a surprise.

A visit to the Gold Souk. Paul buys gold on his visit to Jeddah.

Your favourite part of Jeddah?

My favourite spot in the city was the coast (Corniche) – beautiful clear waters and an easy ride along the shore line, and some very quirky public displays of art!

Cycling along the Corniche.

How long did it take you to film the video?

The video took around 6 hours to produce and included the time it took to cycle from Jeddah airport to the hotel. The second half was then filmed in the evening.

Presenting on the Corniche.

 How did you come to choose Jeddah as one of your destinations?

It wasn’t solely my idea to come to Jeddah – I was rostered to operate the flight as crew. I’m randomly rostered to fly to an average of  any 4 global cities served by BA from London per month which could be anywhere in North or South America, Asia, Africa or the Middle East.

And finally, here is the final Mad Traveller video, This Week in Jeddah:

2nd Family Festival 2013

The organizers of the Family Festival 2 are shouting out excitedly,

”It’s summer time! ….. It’s fun time!”

Family Festival 2 promises more entertainment and excitement. Prizes can be won, and they have a wide selection of stalls to shop at. Relaxation comes in the form of delicious food at the Savory Corner. Children will be able to have plenty of fun at the Kids’ Corner.

If you would like to book a stall contact Mr Imran- 0555246018 or Mrs Zaara- 0543361527

The entrance ticket is only SR 3 for adults. The festival will be held on 4th April from 4 – 12pm at the Golden Tulip Hotel.

Families only

For more information, visit the Family Festival 2 Event Page.

A Weekend Getaway to Thuwal Beach

A regular week in Jeddah can be quite routine, yet hectic at the same time. Weekends are an opportunity to get out of the bustling city, breathe in some fresh air and recharge one’s batteries. Jeddah Blog writer Naima Bashir recently visited Thuwal with her family, a village some 80 kilometers North of Jeddah along the Red Sea. Thuwal is known for its fishing, and is home to KAUST, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Naima was kind enough to share her experience and even sent us photographs of their trip.

We had been trying to take out time from the busy life for a family trip to a beach for a long time, where there would be less rush, the water would be clean, and not to forget we could get enough space for the car parking.

We set out looking for a peaceful place to spend the day.

So this Thursday we managed to arrange a trip to Thuwal beach. It is about an hour’s drive, 80 km north from Jeddah. It is not difficult to find as you can easily follow directions on the highway. When you reach the bridge before the Madina exit, on the bridge you’ll see the signboard saying Thuwal and pointing towards the left.

Plenty of space to park one’s car.

We reached there around 2 pm which was perfect as the weather was not yet hot, and people had only just started arriving. The place was exactly what I was looking for. Gorgeous sea water, a clean place to sit, and enough space for parking. You can even find huts there if you prefer some privacy.

Fresh air, blue sky, warm waters and soft sand. An ideal place for children to run and play.

My kids loved paying in the sand. They got the chance to make beautiful sand castles and water streams leading from the sea.

Sandcastles and water streams.

They spent a lot of time in the blue water. The water near the shore is not deep. It is quite shallow, so you don’t have to worry about your children venturing out into the deep water. There are children’s play areas too.

A signboard announcing a soon-to-be-opened water park. We can’t wait!

Washrooms are available, although due to the lack of signage you’ll have to hazard a guess on whether it is a ladies or gents washroom. This was the only thing I did not like. It is hard to find a public place with clean washrooms.

Firing up the barbecue.

The location was ideal for a barbecue; you can plan a visit with all of your family friends and enjoy a delicious barbecue under the clear blue sky, along with the wonderful weather.

Thuwal is an established fishing center.

Living in Jeddah you desperately look for a place where you can find peace and where the kids can have fun. Thuwal beach is an ideal place for a family fun day, away from the city rush. If you haven’t visited already, make sure it’s on your must-do list.

Have you experienced a great weekend in or near Jeddah? Write to us and let us know.

Annual Quilt Show and Artisans Fair

The Annual Quilt Show is being held once again on Wednesday 6th March 2013 from 11am-6pm. Beautiful quilts will be on display, some for sale. There will be a bake sale, a mini quilt tombola, and a beautiful quilt will be awarded as a prize for some lucky person!

Take a look at the Annual Quilt Show & Artisans Fair Facebook event page for details.

This is a ladies-only event.

Head Over Heels in Saudi Arabia – February 2013

Written, directed and performed by Dr. Maisah Sobaihi, Head Over Heels in Saudi Arabia is a fun, light-hearted play that touches on a variation of topics concerning Saudi Arabia. Jeddah Blog reviewed the show back in October 2012 and we are very pleased to know that it will be performed once again. It addresses many of the questions raised about Saudi Arabia with specific reference to Saudi women. Maisah is a Saudi playwright and this is her thrilling and humorous one-woman show in which the narrator begins by telling her story and moves on to tell the stories of other women, giving insight into the powerful and rich experiences of Saudi women. If you haven’t seen it already, it is not to be missed. It’s a great opportunity for you all to go and see Maisah Sobaihi in action.

We are delighted to announce that Jeddah Blog will receive one free ticket to the play for one of our lucky readers. If you would like to win the ticket, leave a comment at the bottom of this page telling us why you would like to go and see the play. Don’t forget to add your email address so that we can contact you. Special thanks to the promoters for this. Hurry, as the competition ends tomorrow (Sunday, the 17th) at midday.  The competition has ended. Thank you to everyone who entered. The winner is announced below.

Tickets are available at the door and at Munch Arafat from 5 – 10pm daily, but you can take advantage of discounts if you book online with Eventbrite. You can also contact them via the Head Over Heels Facebook page.

The event is open to ladies and gentlemen although seating will be separate. The English performance is on 18^th February and the Arabic performance is on 19^th February, 2013.

The winner of the free ticket is ERUM KHALID.

Congratulations Erum! Get in touch with us via email to claim your free ticket 🙂