A break dancer from Mecca was to take me to street practice in Riyadh last night, but the Bboys cancelled. Many had school exams next day .

Instead I went on a driving tour of the sprawling city. We wanted to see the biggest buildings at night.

Burj Al Mamlakah … The Kingdom Centre is the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award, selected as the “best new skyscraper of the year for design and functionality”. A three-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in continuously changing colors. The shopping center has a separate floor for women only to shop where men are not allowed to enter.

The Burj Al Faisaliyah Center (Arabic: برج الفيصلية) is the first skyscraper constructed in Saudi Arabia, and is the second tallest building in Riyadh …

The golden ball that lies atop the tower is said to be inspired by a ballpoint pen, and contains a restaurant; immediately below this is an outside viewing deck. There is a shopping center with major world brands at ground level. Al Faisaliyah Center also has a hotel at both sides of the tower while the main building is occupied by offices …

What’s next?

The Kingdom Tower.

Daily Mail:

Incredible new images of what the world’s tallest tower will eventually look like have been revealed.

Each of its three sides features a series of notches that create pockets of shadow to shield areas of the building from the sun and provide outdoor terraces with stunning views of Jeddah and the Red Sea.

That won’t be the world’s tallest building for long. The proposed $2 billion Azerbaijan Tower will usurp by 2017.

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. (7 million) …

Riyadh is one of the richest cities in the Middle East and the 80th richest city in the world. Once a small walled city, Riyadh has developed into a dynamic metropolis over the years. …

Riyadh has the largest all female university in the world, the Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University.

… 60% Saudi and 40% foreign, with foreigners mainly coming from Asia and Arab countries …

Today the high was 27C. (80F)

When I wandered the sprawling megalopolis over to a city park 9pm, a tad chilly at 19°C (66F)

It’s the “weekend” in Islam. Thursday and the Holy Day, Friday.

Many families were enjoying the Park. Groups of men sitting together. Kids running around in the grass. Women supervising children or talking. One gaggle of young women (… or is it giggle) were walking the park circumference. I saw one young woman with her hair completely uncovered, a bit risque in public. And was careful not to look.

The low tonight will be 12C (53F).

A bit chilly.

There are plenty of “unique” vehicles, somehow still mobile.

more vehicles

Personally I prefer the many horse and donkey carts.

Lac Rose lies north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal, north east of Dakar.

It is so named for its pink waters, caused by Dunaliella salina algae in the water. …

The lake is also known for its high salt content, which, like that of the Dead Sea, allows people to float easily. The lake also has a small salt collecting industry and is often the finishing point of the Dakar Rally.…

more photos from our visit

P.S.

Security threats in Mauritania led to the cancellation of the 2008 rally.

Since 2009 the Dakar Rally has been run in South America.