All of us during our childhood dreamed to be Aladdin, to be a part of the fabulous 1001 Arabian Nights tales, wishing to be there when it happened. The closest place one can get is “Balad”- Literally translated as “The Town”, a part of Old Jeddah. Balad attracted me the very first time I saw it, it was evening, the sun slowly slipping into the Red sea and as night tries to spread darkness, Balad, with its narrow stone topped lanes, treaded by travelers and traders for centuries, ... (more)