Makkah and The Makkah Clock Tower
If there is a picture that can put it all in perspective, then this is it.
From the Amazing Boston Big Picture post about Hajj and Eid Al-Adha
Previous Posts:
Tomorrow – Bokra
Thanks for my friend Saudiaspire for letting me know about this, it completely slipped under my radar.
Quincy Jones, the multi-Grammy winning producer and multi-media entrepreneur, and Badr Jafar, an Emirati social entrepreneur, entered into a joint venture, The Global Gumbo Group, earlier this year to develop multi-media opportunities across all entertainment platforms including music, film, television, publishing and digital applications in the Middle East and North Africa.
The company will initially be focusing on producing live entertainment opportunities in the Middle East for Western artists in collaboration with renowned Middle East and North African artists. The Global Gumbo Group will also look to nurture new Middle Eastern and North African talent, and acquire content from the region to introduce to the West.
All funds raised as part of the single’s global distribution will be collected by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture in support of the United Nations World Food Program, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation among others, to finance educational programs in music, arts and culture for children from across the Arab world.
The song is a direct translation of Quincy’s original song, I did not like the song in Arabic to be honest, but I do like the initiative, I hope it works.
Tomorrow = Bokra in Arabic
Boker tov = good morning in Hebrew
Review: Jeddah Gourmet Burger Kitchen
The search for the perfect burger in Jeddah continues, I few months ago I went to the Grilled Burger Kitchen, a London based burger chain, and it was alright, they say it is not like the one in London, but since I have never been to the one in London, I cannot compare.
If you prefer, they give you your burger in three little burgers, it doesn’t get messy, and with the large protions you can easily take it home, or share it.
The burgers were not bad, the search continues… I did like the Indian infused flavors in the sauces, that was a good twist, but I have not craved their burgers, and that is why the search continues.
More Food posts (click here)
Saudi Arabia: New Railway
Saudi Arabia will build a state of the art railway, this project has been in the works for years, I remember a few years ago I saw an article about it in the news papers, and an IPO proposal (I do not know what happened to it), but the architectural images look very impressive.
I see big signs on the road I travel advertising the time it would take to reach destinations from the new King Abdullah Economic City, so the train will be very fast.
The Saudi Railways Organization, which only operates a relatively small railway, will have its hands full from now on. (Current railway is in orange in the following picture) everything else is an expansion.
The winds of change are blowing, I just hope the guys from the monopoly film do not start squatting there, since homeless people like train stations.
Really impressive, what do you think?
Prince Nayif the New Crown Prince
King Abdullah assigned Prince Nayif as the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, my best wishes to him, and may God help him in carrying out his duties.
In this time of global instability, the transition was smooth, a plus in my book, and a sign of good things to come to Saudi and its people.
Prince Nayif, is an executive type, who puts in long hours at the office, and is responsible for the safety we currently live in as part of his duties as minister of interior, a task that should never be underestimated in a big and rich country like Saudi Arabia, and if alqaeda tried to assassinate his son Mohammad, with a bomb reportedly up someone’s rectum, you know he was cracking down on them.
Prince Nayef’s appointment was congratulated by US president Barack Obama. Vice President Biden was delegated to offer condolences for Prince Sultan’s death and congratulate Prince Nayef on his appointment.
The ongoing relations between the US and Saudi Arabia has been going on for decades since U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with King Abdulaziz aboard the cruiser USS Quincy at Great Bitter Lake in Egypt.
I wish him the best again, and wish King Abdullah a long and healthy life.
Saudi Arabia One Day on Earth 11-11-11
Husam Alsayed (aka @husam_filmhead) a talented filmmaker and an acquaintance of mine shared on his blog a global event called One Day on Earth, where many filmmakers, no matter what their level of expertise or camera they have can join by filming and submitting short clips of the place on earth they are in, the only catch, it has to be filmed on 11-11-2011, last year it was 10-10-2010.
Husam submitted this wonderful film he took in Yemen, since he was there on 10-10-2010, and this year he is the producer/organizer of Saudi Arabia’s contribution for 11-11-2011.
I thought I would do my part, since both are areas I am passionate about (Saudi and Filmmaking) I have joined the movement and I am letting people know.
So if you are in Saudi, own a camera, think you might add a little flavor to the global nonprofit film, don’t let anything hold you back, join us, all it takes is a short video you can take with your phone nowadays and a submission to the group.
Let us show the world what we want them to see.
One Day on Earth – Saudi Arabia
Husam’s Profile on One Day on Earth (so you can add him)
And if you want to, you can add me also 
If you are not in Saudi, you can also film anything wherever you are, and submit it… what have you got to lose?
Video: Timelapse in Jazan Saudi Arabia
I found this wonderful recent addition to the Saudi Filmmakers group, a timelapse video filmed in parts of Jazan in Southern Saudi Arabia (close to Abha, check this video of paragliding there), this is the first attempt for the photographer (Waleed Marhoum) in making timelapse videos, but I am sure (I really hope) it won’t be the last.