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fiogf49gjkf0d THERE ARE A WEALTH OF SOUVENIRS TO BE FOUND. SINIYAT ARE
BRASS TRAYS AVAILABLE IN MANY SIZES. DILLAH ARE TALL SLIM
COFFEE POTS AND MIHMAS ARE A SPECIAL SKILLET FOR ROASTING
SPICES. OTHER SOUVENIRS INCLUDE PESTLE AND MORTARS, COFFEE
CUPS, BAGS DECORATED WITH TASSELS POPULAR IN THE TAIF
REGION. ALSO PRAYER MATS WOVEN AND DYED BY THE BEDOUIN
WHICH ARE THE MOST EXPENSIVE. GOLD AND SILVER JEWELLERY,
THE PRICES ARE FIXED BY WEIGHT RATHER THAN BY THE
CRAFTSMANSHIP, PEARLS AND ORNATELY WORKED SILVER FOUND ON
THE SHEATHS OF DAGGERS AND SWORDS. PERFUMES INCLUDE THOSE
OF ROSE WATER, JASMINE MUSK AND OUD, ORNATELY CARVED
CHESTS, DOORS AND LATTICE WORK AND WOVEN ARTICLES ARE JUST
A SAMPLE OF THE ITEMS WHICH CAN BE FOUND.
IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA IS THE CAPITAL
CITY, RIYADH. THIS IS A GROWING MODERN CITY. THE BEST
PLACES TO SHOP ARE THE MANY SOUKS OF THE OLD CITY. THE
BEDOUIN SOUK IS SITUATED IN ALLEYS OFF UTHMANN IBN AFFRAN
STREET. DAGGERS, INCENSE BURNERS, TURKISH COFFEE SETS, BAGS
AND EMBROIDERED ARTICLES ARE THE CRAFTS TO LOOK FOR. THE
TENT SOUK IS NEAR DIRA SQUARE WHERE CANVAS WORK AND BEDOUIN
WOVEN ITEMS CAN BE FOUND. THE BATHA SOUK IS ON THE CORNER
OF AL KHAZZAM AND AL BATHA STREETS THIS SOUK SELLS
EVERYTHING FROM SPICES TO CAMERAS. THE POTTERY SOUK IS ON
WAZIR STREET HERE THE NARGUILAH OR WATER PIPES AND MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS CAN BE PURCHASED. THERE IS ALSO A WOMEN'S SOUK
BEHIND DIRA SQUARE WHERE BEDOUIN HANDICRAFTS AND SILVER
JEWELLERY CAN BE PURCHASED.
IN THE EASTERN AREA OF THE COUNTRY ARE THE OASIS TOWNS.
HUFUF IS WELL KNOWN FOR THE EARLY MORNING CAMEL MARKET HELD
ON THURSDAYS. THE WOMEN SELL SPUN BALLS OF CAMEL AND SHEEPS
WOOL AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE MARKET. IN THE HUFUF SOUK A
VARIETY OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN HANDICRAFTS CAN BE FOUND.
THE WOMEN HAVE A SEPERATE SOUK. WOOL SADDLE BAGS, RUGS,
BEADS AND BEDOUIN JEWELLERY AND ALSO MURASSAL OR SILVER
CHAINS DECORATED WITH COLOURED GLASS BEADS OR SEMI PRECIOUS
STONES ARE SOLD. ALSO IN THE EASTERN REGION ARE THE
VILLAGES OF JABAL AND AL QARAH OPPOSITE THE CAVES HERE
THERE IS A SETTLEMENT OF POTTERS. VASES AND JARS PRETTILY
COLOURED ARE NOT EXPENSIVE TO BUY.
IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE IS JEDDAH. THE AL HAMRA QUARTER
IS THE MOST ELEGANT AREA. CHIC STORES AND SHOPPING CENTERS
ARE FOUND HERE. IN THE OLD TOWN THE ALLEYS OFF ALAWI STREET
HOUSE THE BEDOUIN SOUK WHICH SPECIALISES IN HEADCLOTHES,
HEAD ROPES AND THE TRADITIONAL ROBE CALLED A THAWB WHICH IS
LIKE A LONG SHIRT. THERE IS ALSO THE YEMENI GOLD SOUK AND
THE BAB SHARIF SOUK WHICH SELLS POTS, BASKETS AND CASHMERE
SHAWLS.
IN THE SOUTH WEST IS THE ASHIR MOUNTAIN REGION. AT ABHA
THERE IS A COVERED SOUK WHICH SELLS EVERYTHING.
THE MAIN MARKET IS HELD ON TUESDAYS AND SELLS FRUIT AND
VEGETABLES.
THE TOWN OF KHAMIS IS KNOWN FOR ITS COLORFUL MARKET ON
THURSDAYS. THERE ARE ALSO SHOPS SUPERMARKETS AND STALLS.
SPICES, SILVER JEWELLERY, BASKETERY UNIQUE TO THE AREA,
MATS AND STRAW HATS ARE SOLD.
AT NAJRAN IN THE CENTER OF THE TOWN IS A VEGETABLE MARKET
NEAR BY IS THE BEOUIN MARKET SPICES, HENNA, SILVER
JEWELLERY AND BASKETS ARE SOLD.
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