Day 43: It’s time to go home

Last day here. I didn’t pray in the mosque due to waking up late.  If it’s okay. I did however went to the Prophet tomb to say my farewell. After that we just wait and had lunch before it is time to go. The bus arrived at 1230 and once we boarded and they read and given our passports we just waited for another 1 hour and 30 mins. By 2 we left to the waiting area. It’s basically a tent where you wait before you go to the terminal. The organisers saw me carrying the wheelchair in and gave my wife priority where we get to ride a buggy to the terminal since it was a long 5 min walk. While waiting to be called we took some pictures and just chatted with everyone since this is going to be the last time we are all in a group together. After a while we made our way through the airport and past security and there began the long 3+ hour wait. While we wait we just had some food. I got some rice with beef and my aunts family got Burger King. We boarded at 6 ish but due to the fact we are sharing this flight with Hajj pilgrims that took the more expensive package. Our seats were way at the back. Another problem we faced is that the plane has been on the tarmac too long in the hot 44c (111F) weather. So it’s basically a hot box. They couldn’t seem to get the inside of the plane to cool down so the whole flight it was a stuffy 27c and a lot of people felt a bit uneasy (wife included). I couldn’t get much sleep due to the heat so I spend the 8 hours watching 3 movies. The airline food was good but they repeated the same food for breakfast so that we we a bummer. We arrived close to 9:00am local time and the plane landed in the domestic terminal bypassing the immigration station at the international terminal. The immigration process went smooth and we were among the last to arrive at the baggage claim. We got our stuff and two 5 litre bottles of zamzam water. We were greeted by my dad in law and mom in law. She brought the kids to say hi. We all headed back home where my mom cooked a big feast for us. The day was spent unpacking and recovering from jet lag. So there you have it a 43 day adventure. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing. What I discover is that 

• things happen for a reason  

• Never plan for things 

• Always be patient 

• the littlest thing can bring you such joy 

As for Saudi Arabia as a country 

• wish I could see the beautiful places instead of the dessert 

• The food is great but just dry 

• Love the mango juice 

• The people are not friendly but there will be a small number that will make you fell welcome 

• It’s hot but not sticky. So that awesome 

So that’s it. Regular post will resume back. Lots of things to blog about. To whomever is reading this I’m going to say thank you. If you would be so kind and just drop me a Hello (if you don’t mind) at my Twitter @ssbm04. I just want to say hello. If you prefer anonymity, I respect that. 

Day 42: Now I believe

So only sleeping for 3 hours me and my best friend hatch a plan to go at 2:00 am once the doors of raudah are open. Since the app just needs to be blinking means that we can enter as much times as we want. So what we did was at 2am we walked there and just queued with the others. They checked me and my friends phone and let us through. We were ecstatic that we could go inside and spend a good 30 mins in the doing prayers and making dua. After that we were ushered out by the guards. I told my friend and said. Let’s go again. Like a rollercoaster ride we queued up again and showed our app. They almost didn’t let us through but this time they did. They only difference is that this time we have to wait until it was past 4 to enter. Once we entered we couldn’t leave and could stay until it was praying time. For the first time I could see the imam walking in with guards in red berets guarding him.  The first 3 lines were reserve for the mosque staffs and the rest were for us. I got to watch as he read loud and clear. After that we left close to 5 ish in the morning. Both me and my friend were so happy that we go this opportunity to pray in there since it’s a rare sight that we get to do it. We went back to our hotel and took a nap. We are planning to go one more time at 3pm. Fast forward after lunch we tried to go again at 3pm so we can make it to Asar but going with other people prove to be a hassle. One of them was late and made us miss our slot. In the end we had to wait until 4pm to go. This time I told my friend that after prayers are done we run. And run I did. Barefoot mind you so my feet was super hot since the tiles are just storing heat. We came inside and got to sit for around 10 mins. After that I left my friends and took my wife and her cousin to the museum. We wanted to take an Uber because it was cheaper but a nice taxi driver said he will send and wait for us for 30 riyal. We said sure why not it beats waiting for an Uber. He didn’t speak much English so we ended up communicating through our google translate app. The museum trip was very informative. They have a English guide that told us the history of how the Prophet and the Holy land came to be. It turns out that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) tomb is next to Raudah and it covered by the layers of walls. No one can even see it ever. The tour was in a hurry because the museum was closing at 7. By the time we went out it our Taxi driver was waiting for us as he said. We drove back to our hotel. He was cracking jokes and then it rained. We asked if he can stop at Al Baik. It’s basically their most famous fast food restaurant to get some fried chicken. He said sure and then I went inside to get some chicken. The chicken was the same as fried chicken everywhere but the difference was it was cheap. We arrived back at the hotel and then we took pictures and he gave us a box of unripe dates as a gift. So now I believe that everything happen is Gods plans and you can be sad about it but believe that He has better plans for you. So don’t worry and something better will come around. 

Day 41: Second try at Raudah

So today in the morning we got a briefing on going back which is in the next two days. They told us that the people who miss the trip to Raudah can go with the next group. Me and my friend already registered the app. So we have a trip on the next day. So after lunch we head to the mosque right away since it’s the same way of going to Raudah. We made sure we were first in line behind the organisers so that we won’t miss our chance. We finally got in. It was beautiful with gold pillars and a centre is the “mimbar” where the imam prays and everyone follows. We only got a good 10 minutes so I made sure I prayed and ask for everything I wanted. In the evening after going back to the mosque I brought my wife shopping around the mosque area. She is okay with me but still upset but I kinda of deserve it. I also got wind that our app doesn’t need to follow the actual time allocated so tomorrow me and my best friend that I made over there have a plan 

Day 40: Visiting outside Madinah also it’s been a bad day

Today in the morning we had to get ready by 5:15 to get in the bus to go on a trip around Madinah. We visited the date farm which I bought some dates for back home. And then we visited a couple of mosque and ending it at the site of war during the prophets time. It was a great trip but I spend most of the time inside the bus because it was too hot. After we came back and had lunch it was time for us men to visit raudah. We came at 3 and waited after Asar prayers. And then we made our way to the gates of Raudah. But due to the mismanagement of our tour leader. A lot of other people form other countries get to join in our group so when it came time for us they say we have exceeded the number of people to go. We left empty handed and honestly I didn’t take it well. It was super bummed out and sad and honestly it was my fault. I was thankful for things I have and was angry for the things that I don’t have. I took it out on my wife and now we are fighting. Sigh… today was not a good day 

Day 39: Visiting the mosque

This morning we went to visit the mosque. They brought us around the mosque and we got to see The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him (pbuh)) place of rest and a place where he was there the most. There were a lot of people so it was in and out less than a minute. After that had lunch and went to the mosque. Took a nap and went to the mosque and had dinner and went to the mosque. The mosque was only 50m away so that’s the only thing we did. 

Day 38: Goodnye Mekkah, Hello Madinah

Woke up at 6 after a busy day last night after prayers of course. Most of my housemates have left to do their last tawaf (tawaf wada) which is basically saying goodbye to mekkah. We arrive to the mosque only to find out that we can’t go to the kaabah. We need to go upstairs to the big circle. So we decided to scoot one last time. This time my wife drove while I tried to finish a couple more pages of the Quran. Alhamdulilah I got to finish the Quran. After that we switch driving and then we said our final goodbye. While leaving I looked back and saw a lot of things we got to do. There were some challenges but overall we manage to try our best in whatever we do. Came back to the hotel and pack up our stuff and head down and wait for the bus. The bus came at 10 but it was not until 11:50 they left. The organisers have to do a headcount first before letting everyone leave so they all have to be on the right bus. I don’t remember much that happen during the trip. Most of the time I spend sleeping. The bus did stop once at a bus stop which was in the middle of the desert. There we prayed and just waited in the back to continue our journey. We arrived at Madinah close to 6. We were housed in a 5 star hotel call Al Anwar Movenpick. And they have 2 pillows. And room services and floor carpeting. The only downside is there are no tables to dine outside and the food need to be taken from the 1st floor. Other than that it awesome . We to pray at the Nabawi Mosque for Magrib and then headed back to the hotel to shower, pray and sleep

Day 37: Final day at Haram Mosque

Today we decided to go super early to do Fajr prayers. We left at 3:30 and got our usual place and then we stayed for a while. My goal today is to finish reading the Quran. I have another 7 Juz to go and I’m hoping to finish it by leaving tomorrow. After that me and wife went to go breakfast. We had breakfast at a falafel place. It was hot and yummy. After that wife left back to the hotel and I stayed at the mosque since I got a good spot to wait for Friday prayer. I took an hour nap and then continuing reading the Quran. By the time for Friday prayer I’m at Juz 28. After prayers I head back home to the hotel to sleep for a while and at 5:30 we went to the mosque again to pray and do tawaf. This time we did it in a single line so we could go fast and fast we did. We finish just before Maghrib and I got to pray in front of the Kaabah. After that we just hang around the area and I continued reading. I got until Juz 29 and then I had to call it a day. I got to pray Isyak in front of the black stone which was amazing since I couldn’t see it very clearly. I took a couple of pictures and then we left. We ended up eating at a Turkish restaurant which the price is 5 times what we usually eat in a week. Was it worth it? Probably but we don’t know if we are ever coming here again. Might as well just indulge ourselves. Went home and arrive close to midnight. We still haven’t received our baggage tags until past midnight and then I have to wake up everyone and we load our luggage downstairs before we all went back to sleep. Tomorrow is the final day before we leave for Madinah. 

Day 36: Packing Time

We are about to leave in two days so it’s packing time. All the big bags are packed and weigh. We are a bit overweight but hopefully we can put some of the stuff with our aunt and uncle family. I put all my clothes in my carry on bag and did the last of the washing. Didn’t go to the mosque today because wife wasn’t feeling well and I too have a block nose.

Day 35: Food Hunting

Today we decided to try some stuff that is not available back home. First we wanted to try some Buffalo Wings and Rings but when we came to the shop the shop at a kitchen malfunction and they didn’t know what time it will be open back. So we headed to next place that I wanted to try which was Tim Hortons. We tried their maybe donut and I tried their French vanilla ice blended coffee (I hate coffee but this was surprisingly good). We prayed at the shop and then we headed somewhere else to find food. We went to a shop that is called meating (a pun on words) and ordered their buffalo wings, fries, sushi (who knew) and wagyu sliders. It was super delicious. Went back home with an Uber and then I and wife went to the mosque to pray. Overall it was a good day 

Day 34: I have a headache

Nothing much out of the ordinary happen. Usual stuff. Pray, sleep, read Quran. We did start packing for our departure already. So my two bags are not the souvenir bags. And my clothes will fit in my carry on. I didn’t bring that much clothes to begin with. I got a tension headache due to the fact that I’ve haven’t been eating, sleeping or drinking correctly. But over here it’s hard to do all that. Just make sure. Another 10 days before I go home. Can’t wait to see the girls. 

Day 33: Last shopping I hope

Today in the half part of the morning I did nothing much. Just Landry. A bit of Quran reading and just went to pray. In the evening after around isyak it was time to go to the mosque and after that my wife wanted to shop with her roommates. One of her roommates is going away so she is bringing us to all the spots where to get food discount. I was so sleepy but I just followed the crowd. They did they shopping which was a lot until close to midnight. By the time we came home everyone of my housemates was asleep and I followed suit 

Day 32: Our Second Tour

Wake up in the morning and I need to get ready by 5am. First thing is I need to make sure that two people went on the right bus. Since there were like 3 different tours by three different groups including mine. So I need to hustle. This time we are going on high luxury tour busses. We gather everyone in but we manage to wrangle a couple people who are not part of the tour. My wife handle it and eventually they also decide to join the tour. We first went to a couple of historical sites. Took some picture climb some hills. After that we went to the factory that made the black cloth for the kaabah. That place doesn’t accept local visitors inside but we had asked for permission. Inside there we saw how the kaabah cloth was made. It was made with 100% silk imported from Egypt and it was hand stitched with actual gold and silver threads. It’s changed once a year and the old cloth is given to dignitaries. After we took photo and such we went for lunch. We are a place where they serve rice on a silver tray and we eat it family style. The chicken was moist and tender.  They have booths without chairs and tables and we can just sit there and eat while relaxing. We can also use it as prayer booths which we did. After that we went to another museum and then we miqat. After I changed to my ihram we headed home. In the end we left at 6am and we arrived back at 5pm. We rested for a while. I got some dinner and then around 9pm me and wife did our umrah. For me this will be my last umrah. So I did 4 umrah and 1 Hajj. Some people did more but I think that is good enough for me. In the end my aunt was there as well so we went back home ogether but not after we all ate McDonald’s for midnight dinner. Came back around 1am and was super tired. 

Day 31: I’m not feeling well

My nose is okay but now I’m coughing. It seems to be a trend where is either one or the other. I’m managing it. It doesn’t seem to bad but I’m hanging in there. Today is just a relaxing day. Did nothing much but just read the Quran and just rest for the big day tomorrow. Slept early and that’s about it. Oh did ate tea at a pakistani restaurant. Had some samosa and puri. Delicious 

Day 30: Soup

That was the highlight of the day… the end. They served soup for dinner. It was amazing. I was craving some soup for a while now and getting it was amazing. Oh what did I do… today I finished collecting some of the money left for the trip. Today we got 126 participant which is around 13000 Saudi dollars. That’s a lot of money. My wife cousin came to visit from Jeddah and her another cousin who is doing Hajj as well. They had dinner and then we all went to the mosque until isyak. My aunt when with me so it was just the three of us. I pushed her with the wheelchair. Overall it was a good day. Friday prayers I did it at a mall close to the hotel. 

Day 29: a relaxing day (NOTtttt)

Well after yesterdays trip today it’s just me relaxing at the hotel. So just did some laundry. Prayed, and just hang out in the room doing relaxing stuff. Oh and today we just announce another trip I’ll be in charge of handling which is a muzium trip. This time it cost 110 riyal per person and space are limited. This time we also need to go with an actual tour company so this is very legit stuff. So today is the day I have to collect 110 per person. Do their paperwork and submit it to the travel organisers. Man it was a hectic day. I couldn’t even take a moment to rest. People were texting me left and right and as well knocking on my door. In the end I just make sure that I stop everything by 10pm on the day so I could sleep. I was so tired that I didn’t even realise when I fall asleep. Good thing this is the last trip I’ve organised 

Day 28: 2nd trip

Today we are bringing another group 100 people for the same trip we did last week. We started in the morning and this time we are doing one guide again. So I have to take care of the other bus. We went to the camel farm. This time we are early so there was no fighting when getting food. After that we left to the mosque. Hang there for a while and then left for the fruit market. The fruit market was good place to

Shop for fruit. After that we went to the clothes shop. It was a good trip overall and everyone enjoyed themselves. In the evening there was pot luck in our floor and everyone needs to bring some food. Our room made me in charge of buying fruits from the fruit market. The gathering was great and I was also in charge in introducing my roommates. My uncle and cousins didn’t join in the festivities. My aunt made noodles and sandwiches 

Day 27: Met my friend

Today nothing much happen in the morning but after lunch we decided to go to the Haram mosque because I am meeting my university friend who is also doing Hajj but under a different agency. After Asar we went to see him at the local Starbucks. We sat down for a couple hours catching up on our experience of Hajj. Me in the most basic package and hi in the high tier package. It turns out the only difference is that over here his hotel is nearby to the mosque and they have 3 buffet meals a day.  But once they were in Arafah to Mina it was the same all the way. After that we headed back to mosque to pray Magrib. After that we rush back to the mall to pick up our custom made stuff that we ordered the day before. We decide to ordered a couple more and ask them to try to finish it before isyak. He manage to do it and we left the before it was time to pray. Came home super tired. Took a shower and went to bed. Tomorrow I have to get ready for the next trip 

Day 26: Finally done some souvenir shopping

Today we decided to do some shopping for people back home. We left after zohor with Uber since it’s way cheaper than taking a cab. Got to the place called safwah towers and then proceed in finding places that sell personalise prayer mat. We are not the haggling type of people but we do love to shop if they have good customer service. We found a good shop which was selling it for sr10 each. The way they do it is that they use a hot gun to make the calligraphy in Arabic and then they will pass it to the colouring department (mostly kids) to colour the holes left by the gun. Because ewe ordered a lot we were ask to pick it up later. So we went to have tea and then back to the mosque for maghrib prayers. Before prayers they were putting down place mats for people to enjoy a meal. It wasn’t rice as I expected by it was just bread with some dates and milk and tea. I didn’t have any because I was still full. After prayers we went back to the shop and it looks like they are still not ready. We said we will pick it up tomorrow and head home. We couldn’t get an Uber in evening due to the fact that there were a lot of people on the street so we ended up taking a cap. Got home had a bit of dinner, wash clothes and went to bed. Wife is not feeling well. It’s either she pulled a muscle and crack some ribs because she is in pain Everytime she moves her hands. I’m worried and I hope that the doctors here can find out what’s wrong with her. 

Day 25: Our big trip

 So today everyone who is involved in the trip. All 150 of them came down before 6 and waited for the bus. The problem is the bus was super late and in the end we ended up leaving by 6:45. I was frantically trying to ease everyone into thinking that everything is going to be okay. But there are people who can be heard complaining. 3 busses arrive and got on the third bus without any guide. So that sucks for us. The first stop is a place called Hudaibiyah mosque. It’s a place where peace was some kind of treaty was signed. I wasn’t paying attention that much because I need to make sure that the group all stayed together. After a while I rounded them up for our next destination. Which was a camel farm. It’s basically an oasis in the middle of the dessert. There they serve us local food but the problem was another unexpected party joined in so they ran out of food. I got pictures with same camels and horses. I saw some cats as well. After that place we made our way to the fruit market. Inside the fruit market it was a air conditioned warehouse full of fruits of all kind. Because Saudi Arabia doesn’t have that many fruit choices. Most of them are imported. That means it’s  all vacuum sealed. When we enter the warehouse it smells of fruit. Lovely. I bought some fruit since I don’t want to be left behind. But not too much. Others just bought plastic full of fruits. After that we left for mall that sells clothes where we shop for some clothes and then we went to the mosque for miqat (basically doing umrah again). Overall the experience was awesome and our trip was free plus they gave us sr300 spending money. Alhamdulilah. We had lunch and then we left for the mosque for umrah. My wife finally can do her Hajj. This time we are taking the scooters since we want to save time. The hung is the scooters also takes a good hour. We had to stop to pray for a while before continuing. We left the mosque and went to a food court to get some dinner. It was a tiring day 

Day 24: I rich (with other peoples money)

So today was the painstakingly task of getting money from 150 people who are interested in going on the journey tomorrow. Every couple of minutes there is a knock on my door and people gave me me money. In the end I have around 7300 riyal in my bag and with additions and cancellations. It’s a lot to handle. I can say this makes me appreciate travel agents and what do they do for us. The main thing is that they have to have a thick skin otherwise you’ll get easily offended.