Trip to Mecca - KSA

I wanted to write about one of the most amazing trips I had in my life last month but I couldn't find the time nor mood to write recently..

So from 27th to 31st of March 2012 was the planned trip by my uncle to do Umrah (Wikipedia: a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year.)

since it was my first Umrah and they didn't expect me to ask to join my fathers family in this trip; they were so proud of me and sort of made it into a celebration and blessing giving event ! :P

The only problem tho is that I told my uncle about my will to go late ! and they couldn't find me a seat until my other uncle checked with his friend in the travel agency and THANK GOD he said one seat is available reserve it online NOW ! so I did reserve my first ticket online xD n ppl I'm telling you its so easy u just need a VISA card :P

I'm not gonna lie if I said I wasn't worried about traveling with my aunts for the first time and on above of that I was gonna visit the holy city Mecca .. I was worried about what to wear and what to do, how to act and what religious steps to take .. everything was new and you have to figure it out by your own so you make sure you fulfilled your religious duties correctly

so on Tuesday 27th I started packing and I bought all loose & light  long dresses (what we here call "jalabiat") xD cuz March is really hot and while walking around Al Kaaba or running to catch the prayers will be irritating with heavy or tight clothes under abaya

my mom still don't like my habit of packing within last minutes

Al Etihad is my fav airways ( not like I tried other airways lol ) we got on board with huge groups of Indonesian ppl D: !!  but it was weird that all emirati ppl were sitting together with us lol 

too bad I was left to stay alone next to a couple in the middle and emirati ppl all around ! I couldn't sleep without feeling like I'm being watched or watch anything properly ... wt a flight !

thats my uncle having the most comfortable two empty seats lol

Jeddah we reached there around dawn and as they say in commercials "Jeddah 3'eer" ( Jeddah is different ) it seems like a nice city but couldn't see much of it and we headed straight to Mecca and took a small nap on the way ..

Hotel --> Mövenpick hotel One of the best 4stars luxurious hotels around the world, but in Mecca its the worst ! Our reservation was cancelled and we had to stay in the lobby for few more hours until we decided to start doing Umra instead of waiting and so we did =__=

 and then the moment came where I saw Al Kaaba with confused emotions while searching for what I really wish to ask from god ( first look at the Kaaba is believed to bring any muslim's wish to be true )

a spiritual experience that will never be forgotten.. to be this close from something so holy left me with teary eyes ..

Al haram is where the Kaaba is, Saudi Arabia rulers did a wonderful appreciated effort in keeping it clean and accessible by the huge number of people from different nationalities :)

I've seen a lot of girlfriends I know back home and I talked with many as well, such a warm gatherings :)

I'll leave you with the photos :

Al haram from outside: beautiful white tiles that shines during daytime

The mall was exactly facing the haram and we tried chai karak and our UAE indian karak is the best QUALITY & PRICE !! xD

One of the towers facing the haram

 These are 500 Riyal papers, weird is they don't have coins for 1 riyal only papers that my wallet got so heavy ! 

Night view from first floor, getting crowded cuz of the cool weather ..

Lunch at Naif, lol heavy yummy one !

 cutest lil Tabasco I've ever seeeeeeeeen wanted to steal it from my room neighboors xD

 shopping for praying mats

 Part of the mall

Almost fell asleep while waiting for al fajr prayers milk chai what kept me awake xD

The new section of Al Haram very beautiful details

Thousand copies of Quran around each and every corner :)

Starbucks Saudi style :P

Zamzam the blessed water ( never get enough of it )

Jeddah Airport around 5 am ( our flight was delayed for half more hour.. Jeddah 3'eeeeeer :P)

Back to Jeddah airport on Saturday

the trip back was so damn tiring with me sitting between my uncle & aunt ( who were following with my indian movie in my screen) leaning on me from both sides and bearing with the heat coming from sitting at the back part of the plane n facing air bumps =___= I was screwed !

Despite the physical tiredness, I came back from Umrah as new person with more peace of mind

our world is developing so fast that we forgot to live for the sake of simply living

I miss waking up and walking all the way to do something for the sake of my god and myself not other vanishing life businesses. 

I will definitely visit that place again one day ~ ♥
Amna.