it was my first. best holiday ever !

13 mac 2011, my parents & I went to Mekkah for Umrah, and it was my first. We said our 'niat' few minutes before the plane passes Qanulmunazil. In Jeddah, our plane landed at the Hajj terminal due to the high numbers of people entering Jeddah for Umrah at that time.

after arrival @ the Hajj Terminal, Jeddah Airport

From afar, on the way to the hotel, I had a glimpse of Masjidil Haram, the unduly special Mosque to all Muslims. It contains the Kaabah, Allah's house and its the 'kiblat' where our directions of prayers are. It is the place where all prayers goes direct line to God.

The glimpse of it palpitates me. My mind goes blank. Excited and afraid, mixed. It was just a few seconds before we enter the tunnel to enter the Hotel.

On 2nd day , after Subuh Prayers. One of the buildings is ZamZam Hotel

As we reached Zam Zam Hotel, we gathered our bags, prepared for prayers & umrah and off to Masjidil Haram. Just a 5 minute walking distance. Took a lift down from the hotel lobby and walked for a few steps and THERE it is, masjidil haram standing right infront of our eyes.

In PJs for Subuh prayers , wrapped in Jubah ;) Masjidil Haram

While walking towards the entrance, i started tearing up . Palpitated again. My nose clogged with secretions. My mind was blanked except for one thing, to meet Allah.

Of course we pray everyday, but at that point of time, praying in front of Kaabah was totally

different and it definitely felt special.

As I enter , I say a lil prayer by following the book as a guidance to us (a doa while entering masjidil haram). I walked further in, and there I saw infront of my eyes, the Kaabah.

Allah hu akhbar, Allah hu akhbar, Allah hu akhbar.

It rained on the 3rd & 4th day

speechless.

After zhur, Mom & I went to circumambulate (tawaf) the Kaabah 7 rounds.

Tears didn't stop running down this cheek. I felt honored to be one of Allah's guest. I felt extremely small. I seek forgiveness wholeheartedly and asked for many many things as only He knows the future.

Niat. Tawaf. Sai'e. Tahalul.

These are the rukun for umrah. Alhamdulillah it went smoothly. My legs ache after 1st time umrah. Subsequent Umrah, it felt nothing. No complains of any ache anywhere.

3rd Umrah, after completed Sai'e

View from my Uncle's appartment when we pay Tok Chom a visit. Beautiful !

I love Mekkah so much ! The Masjidil Haram's mosque is never empty. People circumambulate the Kaabah every seconds ! This is the city that never sleeps, for only the good purpose. To pray to Allah.

In mekkah, only Muslims are allowed to enter. I see various people from everywhere across the globe. I may not know who you are or where you are from (except for when you're wearing a beg with country flags etc) but I know one thing, you're a muslim.

Few minutes before the praying time, jemaah starts to walk to the mosque. Shopkeeper starts closing their shops. I've only read it in books that they close their shops during praying time but there, I see in reality.

All shops are closed. Malls are not empty but shops are closed. People walking through the malls to the mosque. People who are late, do their jemaah outside the mosque stretching to the roadside and inside the malls.

Jemaah outside the mosque

Everybody respects praying time there. Here, we see people still commencing their work and duty. They still pray but not at the earliest after the Azan.

There, when it is azan time, everybody goes to Masjidil Haram and pray. Except for maybe the receptionist at the hotel.

Another reason I fell in love with this place is because everybody is so focused, including myself to pray and to devote self wholly to Allah.

Prayers go on a highway, direct line to Allah. Just ask, and He will make it true, insyaAllah. And because of that, we had to watch everything we say or do or think. Because Allah is nearest to us there and things do come true in a blink.

our 3rd umrah.

I asked for many many things and some did come true just after saying it.. e.g. ' I wish to go there ' , and alhamdulillah everything was eased by Him. I shall tell more when I have the time to share.

We stayed there for 7days. On the last day, it was the saddest day every. I ululated terribly after our last Tawaf (tawaf Wida'/selamat tinggal). Tears couldn't stop. Heart was in pain. Pain to bid goodbye. I cried and cried and prayed that this will not be my last. And if this is my last, so replace it with heaven, O'Allah.