Preparing for my U.S. trip, I’m taking some photos of my living space here in Riyadh.

This is our bedroom. Like the rest of the house, it’s got alot of earthtones, which is what you get when the entire house has beige carpet. So now that we’re adjusted and settled, the objective is to add some color…reds, oranges, and greens.

What makes this room very special though is the garden view as you’re laying in bed. The bougainvilleas out there right now are in full bloom and their magenta is just incredible!

Our Bedroom., originally uploaded by Carcura.

As you can see, it’s very spacious with lots vacant wall space ready to filled with some magic…working on that (in my head).

Our Bedroom with Garden., originally uploaded by Carcura.

The bed looking out to the garden. Note to self: Spend more time in bedroom during the day…it’s a great space for reading!

My Closet., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Big closet…almost full to capacity. Paul uses the one in the other bedroom.

Vanity., originally uploaded by Carcura.

This is where I have my jewelry, makeup, etc…the girly area.

Beijing 2008 Plush., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Brought this back from Shanghai. It makes me smile when I look at it!

Yoga Girl Mirror from mom., originally uploaded by Carcura.

This mirror is from mom…always reminding me to take care of myself, be healthy, and feel good.

Since I’m going to Houston for a visit in a few days, thought it would be a good idea to take back some small gifts that reflect Saudi culture. The best place to find such items here would be the market near Batha. Turns out the market is right next to the Masmak Fortress.

Al-Masmak Fortress., originally uploaded by Carcura.

This structure was captured by King Abdul-Aziz in 1902 and so represents the birthplace of Modern Saudi Arabia. It’s a gorjeous example of mud and brick desert architecture. We didn’t get a chance to go inside, but we did enjoy a stroll around the fortress in a big public park where Saudis were enjoying an outdoors afternoon in Riyadh .

Saudi Men Buying Prayer Beads., originally uploaded by Carcura.

As we’re walking towards the market, I noticed a bunch of prayer bead shops. Saudi men standing around picking their beads. I went in there looking for one for my grandfather as he loves these things!

Prayer Beads., originally uploaded by Carcura.

There were so many to chose from that I had no idea what he’d like. There were precious stones, wood, jade, ivory, gold, silver, anything you can think of…

Gold Souk Batha., originally uploaded by Carcura.

In order to get to the area of the souk where they sell house items we had to walk through the indoor gold souk. This is always a delight for me. I love seeing the oversized gold necklaces and beautiful gold bangles. There wasn’t too much going in the gold souk as gold prices have sky-rocketed within the past few months. It is always nice to stroll through and look at the beautiful jewelry though.

Souvenirs Shop., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Here is our favorite souvenir shop. We’ve made friends with the owner and we usually get pretty good prices. He has a nice selection…leather camels, bedouin jewelry, rugs, pillows, silver ashtrays, wind-chimes…pretty much everything!

Indoor Souk., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Just before we arrived to the parking lot, we came across an outdoor market that apparently takes place on weekends only which was packed with vendors…spices, clothes, shoes, electronics, perfumes…you name it. As we walked through, I picked up a few house abayas to wear during the day. Couldn’t stay too long as the square was packed with mutawas (moral police) whose main headquarters were only a block away.

Anyway, above is the entrance of the indoor souk as we’re leaving. It becomes very festive during the night and is quite the event for locals during the evenings. It gets very busy and is a good time to head home.

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Zaha Hadid, has been chosen to design the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University in East Lansing. “She came up with the most innovative design,” said Eli Broad, a financier, art collector and philanthropist who earned his undergraduate degree at Michigan State. “It will get people talking and wanting to visit.” Ms. Hadid, known for bold, unconventional forms, was selected last week in a competition that began in June. The museum is expected to open in 2010.

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Ms. Hadid was first a mathematics student in Beirut but then moved to London to study architecture at the Architectural Association School, where she met Rem Koolhaas, Elia Zenghelis and Bernard Tschumi, architects who became leading exponents of experimental European architecture. Her influence in the field began early, with the publication of her designs for unbuilt projects, especially the Cardiff Bay Opera House (1994).

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Since winning the Pritzker — architecture’s highest honor — Ms. Hadid has more than doubled the size of her firm, to 250 people. She teaches regularly at the Yale School of Architecture and lately has been busy with commissions throughout the Middle East, Europe and Asia. But she said she looked forward to working in Michigan.

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“I would like to do more work in America,” Ms. Hadid said. “So I have to come a lot more often.”

The full article at The New York Times…

Centrale Bar: Bernard Khouri Architecture., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Strolling from BCD towards Jemmayzeh I couldn’t help but stop and admire this incredible structure. I had been to Centrale sometime last year when I was visiting Beirut, but didn’t realize til recently that it’s the work of architect Bernard Khoury, of B018.

Centrale Bar: Bernard Khouri Architecture.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

The original structure was a residential building from the 1920s that was placed under historical protection. This area was deserted during the civil war due to its proximity to the line that separated east and west Beirut. The interesting thing about this structure is that Bernard Khouri refused to cover the exterior structure with stucko even though the interior was completely stripped and modernized. Instead, he built steal beams on the outside that reinforced the structure and held it together in order to preserve the authenticity and the beauty of the weathered brick. The result is poetic and beautiful…I adore this building.

Cross at The Maronite Church, Mayfouk., originally uploaded by Carcura.

The village of Mayfouk is located in a lovely mountain area with beautiful scenery, 64km from Beirut and 25km from byblos at 1000m altitude.

The Maronite Church of Patron Elige.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

Here is the Church of Our Lady of Elige, built of small stones and obviously of great antiquity. A Syriac inscription dating to 1276 is inlaid in the wall of the church and is written in estranghelo characters.

A Syriac inscription dating to 1276.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

It reads: “In the name of the eternally living God, in the year 1588 of the Greek era, this Jacobite temple to the Mother of God, who prays for us, was finished. Amen. By the hands of the bishops Mark and John.”

The Maronite bishop’s hiding room.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

The Church is today owned by the Maronite community and according to Maronite history, was for a time the seat of their Patriarchate.

Lady Elige of the Maronite Church.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

This beautiful icon of The Lady of Elige is said to have been recently restored and is a powerful symbol of the Maronite faith in Lebanon.

Al Faisalliah., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Al Faisalliah: The View from The Top.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

Al Faisalliah: The Ball Reflecting The City.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

Hotel Derek, Galleria, Houston., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Address: 2525 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77027
Architect: Mitchell Carlson Stone, Inc., Houston
Interior: Powerstrip; Hollywood, Calif.
Art: Arthur Meyerson’s original photos of Houston throughout the hotel

Hotel Derek, Galleria, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

Since opening in January 2002, Hotel Derek has become known as the Texas hotel that is tailor-made for today’s demanding business traveler. The first contemporary hotel in Houston, Hotel Derek brought modern conveniences and upgraded luxuries to business and leisure travelers — complimentary high-speed Internet access, two-line cordless phones, firm and pillow-top mattresses, goose-down duvets — all presented in a crisp, calming, stylish atmosphere.

Hotel Derek, Galleria, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

Restaurant: A modern French bistro, bistro moderne, opened in December 2004. The restaurant includes a forty-seat café with a bar, featuring a custom-formed pewter bar top, aged mirrors, custom cement tile floor, classic dark wood banquettes and chairs as well as white marble in-laid tabletops. Example bar and café menu items include classics such as Hangar Steak and the best French fries in Houston.

Saint Paul’s Methodist Church, Houston., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Designed by: Alfred C. Finn
Construction Completed: 1930
Location: 5501 Main
Area: Museum District
Post Code: 77004
City: Houston, Texas

Saint Paul’s Methodist Church, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

In the first years, worship services were held in a small frame building in the Ross’s yard, known as Good Fellowship Chapel. St. Paul’s opened its first building on Milam and McGowen on January 31, 1909 – The architecture was Grecian, with a dome in Byzantine style. The membership had reached 600. The building was finally dedicated in 1918, when the building debt was paid.

Saint Paul’s Methodist Church, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

In 1927, the architect chosen was Jess Jones’ protégé Alfred C. Finn, who would gain fame as the designer of the San Jacinto Monument, the Gulf Building, the Cullen Building at the University of Houston, and the Coliseum and Music Hall. Groundbreaking took place in April 1929.

Saint Paul’s Methodist Church, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

The first worship service was held in the new English Gothic style building on November 2, 1930. Membership in those years had reached almost 1,700.

Northern Downtown Skyline., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Formerly: NationsBank Center
Formerly: RepublicBank Center
Designed by: Johnson/Burgee Architects and Kendall/Heaton Associates
Construction Completed: 1983
Stories: 56
Location: 700 Louisiana Street
Area: Downtown
Post Code: 77002
City: Houston, Texas

Bank of America Center.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

An example of what happens when you crossbreed skyscrapers with old homes. The gables were inspired by the canal houses of The Netherlands, and give the building an instantly-recognizable appearance. The first section is 21-stories tall, while the whole building reaches a height of 56-stories. The building also sets itself apart from the other buildings in the skyline which are blue, black, and white. Bank of America Center is dark pink in appearance, being clad in red Swedish granite. Attached to the tower is a similarly-gabled square building referred to as the “banking hall.” The Bank of America Center actually envelopes the old two-story Western Union building inside this hall. The old building was not razed because of the electrical connections it houses. That’s why the second floor of the building is so far from street level. From the air you can get a better sense of how the setbacks are laid out, and really appreciate its unique shape.

Bank of America Center (brown building).
Originally uploaded by Carcura

With the exception of the Chase Bank building (not to be confused with Chase Tower, or Chase Plaza, not pictured, or any of the two or three dozen other Chase buildings in the city) this is Houston’s only attempt at a classic 1920’s-style skyscraper. It is not easily recognizable as such because it has thrown off the shackles that bind such buildings in New York and Chicago in order to be very very modern, and match the rest of the city. Houston has a very new skyline compared to others in the United States. It only began experimenting with true skyscrapers in the 1970’s and 1980’s — fifty years later than the great architectural capitals of the world. This building succeeds in taking something from the outside world and bending it to meet local sensibilities, which is a recurring theme not only in Houston, but in the whole of Texas. The skyscraper has changed names three times since completion. Originally RepublicBank Center, then NationsBank Center and now Bank of America Center. Computer gaming enthusiasts will recognize this building as one of the rewards available in the game SimCity 3000.

Heritage Plaza., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Formerly: Chevron Texaco Heritage Plaza
Formerly: Texaco Heritage Plaza
Formerly: Heritage Plaza
Designed by: M. Nasr & Partners
Stories: 53
Location: 1111 Bagby Street, Houston, Unite

ChevronTexaco Heritage Plaza.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

O ne of Houston’s landmark buildings, the Heritage Plaza’s broad shoulders and perfect location put it at the center of the best views of the city skyline. In many photographs and videotapes, the shape of an eagle is outlined in white neon at the top of the building. But it hasn’t been fully lit up since 1998. There have been one or two segments illuminated, but never the whole thing.

The odd stepped formation at the top of the building was actually inspired by the architect’s trip to the jungles of Mexico. A similar, less elaborate, form exists at the bottom of the building. But this is not so much to complement the top, as to provide structural reinforcement since there is a 16-stories parking garage resting above the lobby.