24 hours in Jeddah

Okay so Jeddah isn't the number one go-to place for tourists, granted. But there are plenty of things to do there. Located on the coast of the Red Sea, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia hosts a number of activities. But put these distasteful travel guides away, you won't find anything there. The key to having an enriching experience? Socialize with the locals.

I got embarked on a trip to the fish market, which might sound trivial, but believe me, it's not. Imagine a typical stand with a variety of dead fish. Now multiply this by 100 and you're almost there. A myriad of differently colored species, prawns, shrimps, lobsters, barracudas, sea shells, and even sharks fill an enormous space by the port. So not your typical fish market...

Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Well it is, but not for the 'sensitive' ones like me. I started feeling queazy as soon as I entered the market. And as I marched through, the stench got worse. The smell of dead fish in a 40 degree environment is not very appetizing, especially at 9 am.

After a nice little chamomile at the Hyatt to reset my stomach, I headed to the Athr Gallery, a great venue which hosts annual exhibitions to present the works of young Saudi artists. From a picture made of used sweet wraps to Mickey Mouse heads slapped on various men and women, the variety is exhilarating. Paris, London and New York should tap into that market.