2 Apr 2009

A Season in Mekah - a short pilgrimage

Repin and me at the airport before we took off for Jeddah - 1st April 2009

On the 1st of April the hubby and I went for a short pilgrimage to Mekah and Madinah, 2 of Islam's most holy sights. We've been for our haj but that was in 2006, so we decided after 2 and a half years away it's time we went back to refresh our memories and cleanse our souls.
The journey started at KLIA. By 5pm we were already gathered there - Nan and Ton and Repin and myself together with about 40 other pilgrims. We were travelling by Saudi Air. After about 9 hours we arrived at Jeddah International Airport. There we had to wait for another 2 hours before the mutawiff finally found us and herded us all to a waiting bus. That was already 12.15 am. It was a silent jouney to Mekah, the holy capital of Islam. Probably because we were all tired and sleepy. By the time we arrived it was close to 3.15 am and we were given only 20 minutes to cleanse ourselves (wuduk) and straight away went to the Masjidil Haram to perform our umrah. First the tawaf - circumbulating around the Kaabah 7 times. Then our sunat prayers and finally the Saie - walking from Safa to Marwah (a distance of about 5-600 metres) 7 times.
While doing the tawaf, Repin and I got separated then just as we were about to go  to the Saie place, Ton and I got separated! Anyway after searching for her ( which is like searching for a needle in a haystack) I finally decided to go and do my Saie on my own. Met both Nan and Repin as well as Ton towards the end of the Saie so we went and prayed together. BY this time it was already time for the Fajar prayers. After that we went back to the hotel, had a refreshing bath and slept, and slept and slept!

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