American Bedu

Traditional Saudi gifts
Current mood: content
Category: Travel and Places

I had an opportunity today to go and browse through a wonderful unique store in Riyadh called “Traditionals.”  Traditionals is owned by a Palestinian  who has settled in the Kingdom and who specializes in unique gifts which epitomize the hospitality, customs, cultures and traditions of the Kingdom.Entering the shop feels like one is transcending back into the time of the Arabian Nights and den of Jinns as in order to enter one must pass through a multi-story entryway with magnificent silk and beaded curtains allowing one only tantalizing glimpses of what is beyond.  The shop has everything from items which can be held in the palm of ones hand to large and heavy hand crafted furniture and carved pillars.But what indeed are traditional Saudi gifts?  I guess because I have always enjoyed tasteful and simple, my favorite is the Saudi coffeepot and especially if it happens to have the Saudi seal of crossed swords and date tree.  To me this is very representative of the Kingdom.The shop also has a number of pictures which can be hung on the wall.  These pictures are like a three-dimensional frame and hold either in sterling silver or actually in gold the traditional Saudi coffee pot, sandals, camel, dagger, hookah and other items which depict old time traditional Saudi life and customs.  There are also a number of daggers which have been prepared for easily mounting and displaying on ones wall.Not surprisingly the shop had a number of beautiful items originally from India too.  These included sterling silver messenger tubes or silk and sequined tableclothes or curtains.  These items are also popular and found in many Saudi homes.To maintain the atmosphere and ambience Traditionals had the “traditional” Saudi incense burners which were alit with Oud (oud is the typical incense burned in the Kingdom).In my mind a trip to Riyadh is not complete with a stop at Traditionals.  Traditionals is located on Tahassasee Street and well-known.If you wish to comment on this posting  and not a myspace member, send me an email.  Site the subject which I gave for this posting and then your comment so I will post it to the appropriate blog posting.  Also it helps to advise how you wish to be attributed such as anonymous or some other name…:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />I will state upfront that if a comment is inappropriate I would not post it.  I’m pretty open and an example of what I mean by inappropriate is that at one time someone posted links to anti-american videos and the like.  My blog is not for anti-America or anti-Saudi bashing.  Yes; there are aspects to each country or society one may not like but if it is going to be discussed, it is going to be in an adult and constructive manner!so, my email address for your comments to be uploaded is:  american_bedu(at)yahoo(dot)com  

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