Who's been to Saudi Arabia? Or Mecca/Medina to be precise?
I've never been there yet, but I would like to go in the near future. Who?s been on Hajj or Umrah?
You reminded me of the old days .....
I have been there. Performed Hajj twice and Umrah quite few times. Only once to Medina though. I was working in Jeddah so luckily I didn't have to spend too much money.
In Mecca, old mountains are still there and you can feel and imagine the historical times and smell the desert. It's like you are in old times where it all began.
The first time I saw Kaaba, I was really amazed with the very clean and wide place where there is a very dark black clothes covering a small building in the middle. The place was quite empty so I managed to see almost the whole place. I guess that impression was due to mental and emotional preparation. When I went there again, I was wondering why I don't get the same feeling anymore.
It is all hilarious. I used to see people crying there and tried to be more emotional but I couldn't cry. Like I was trying to force myself to cry as I thought one should be when in a holly place.
When it's Umrah or Hajj season, it is very crowded and people keep pushing you without any consideration -- especially those from south African countries with a huge body. I used to try to run away from them when I see them near me .... but there is nowhere to run to. You are stuck in the middle of crowd of people pushing you from all sides .......
Every time I used to try to go to the black stone to see it but I see people literally fighting with their hands to go there so I don't try to go there. Only once where it was quite empty, I managed to go there with the help of guards who are standing near the stone who were pushing other men to allow women to go there. Well ..... I touched it and smelled it but didn?t feel anything special. It has a nice smell and I wonder if they put this smell themselves.
There, when it's full, men can push and touch women as they like ..... As if we are sardines in a can .....When you look at them or say anything ...... Oh, they didn't mean it, it's the crowd .....
Sometimes there are those religious persons going around shouting at women to cover their face although as far as I know, it's not supposed to ......
Other than that .......... It?s all cool
Around Kaaba, there are lots of shops where you can get good stuff cheaper than other places. You need to bargain a lot to get a good deal though.
Hajj was the worst experience I have ever had. The first time I performed it properly and I got exhausted and swollen feet at the end. The second time, I performed what is called a quick Hajj. Where you do the first 2 days and then ask someone else to do the rest on your behalf. That was better ......
The worst part in Hajj is when I had to throw stones at the evil .... Ah ....... What if the stone is thrown on someone else's head (which I hear it happens many times). I waited till I can get near the place to throw a stone ..... And I was thinking, what a ridiculous thing to do ..... Oh ..... God forgive me .....
Well ..... It?s such an unforgettable experience
Topic: A journey to where it all began - Mecca + Medina