A traveller's reflection: 2019 14th Umrah: 01 Madinah al- Munawwarah

My Travel Journal

"There isn't much I haven't shared with you along the road and through it all there'd always be tomorrow's episode" - Elton John

I started traveling around the world since early 80s when I had the opportunity to combine business trips with vacations. Then later when my rezeki is in abundance, there were numerous other trips along the way for vacations, most of the time with hubby and the kids when the timing is right. I have also started to compile the journal and photo-pages covering almost more than 45 years of world wide travel. Some destinations I visited just once, others many times. Many of those places are the obvious famous places people would like to visit but some, the casual traveler doesn't even think to try. I have placed links to my travel at the side bar of my personal page, My Life Reflections, and will be updating them from time to time.

My wish is to continue my travel and complete circumnavigate the globe, insyaAllah…

Saturday, 6 April 2019

2019 14th Umrah: 01 Madinah al- Munawwarah

“All of a man’s happiness is in his being the master of his ego, while all his suffering is in his ego being his master...” - Imam Al-Ghazali

(Visiting Maqam Rasullullah after fajar prayer)

Madinah al-Munawwarah

Hotel Mawaddah Al Waha Hotel

(1 - 6 April 2019)

This year's Umrah trip we joined Andalusia Travel group to perform our Umrah and a short visit to Muscat, Oman. This is our 14th Umrah trip so far and our first time travelling with Andalusia Travel. We arrived at KLIA early and met with a biker couple, Fauzilan and CT Aminah who came to send us off.

(Jeddah Hajj Terminal)

(Hotel Mawaddah al-Waha)

Oman Air flight was on schedule. We transited at Muscat International Airport, Oman. Winner of the title "Middle East's Leading Airport 2019" at the World Travel Awards, the modern airport welcomes travellers with a serene cool calm ambience.

We arrived at the Jeddah Hajj Terminal, with its identifiable fabric roofed Bedouin tents, the culturally symbolic of the Middle East. Oman Air is served by the Jeddah International Terminal even for Umrah pilgrims.

(A large crowd to visit Maqam Rasulullah)

(Men praying in the Raudah)

(Maqam Rasulullah)

(Male pilgrims are allowed in Perkuburan Baqi')

(Breaking of fast before Maghrib prayer)

In Madinah, as usual we performed our prayers in Masjid An-Nabawi and visited Maqam Rasulullah. There was always quite a crowd and long queue into the Raudhah. It usually takes sixty to ninety minutes to get to pray in the area between the Prophet's Tomb to the Prophet's Mimbar.

Pilgrims are given between ten to fifteen minutes to pray at the Raudhah, to allow for the waiting others their opportunity to pray too. Iftar or breaking of fast is normally a twice weekly affair and daily in the month of Ramadhan Al Mubarak. It creates its own spiritual sensation of sharing and kinship with the Iftar spread usually include dates, bread, yogurt, water and kahwa. All provided free sedekah by generous well wishers.

(Workforce keeps Masjid Nabawi sparkling clean at all times)

(A signage by the roadside)

(Under the retractable umbrella canopies)

(Unusually empty prayer area)

(Arches and pillars of Masjid Nabawi)

(Fully air-conditioned prayer area)

(Automatic retractable dome)

(Vibrant coloured attire of an African boy)

This year, while visiting the attractions around Madinah we saw the familiar City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off bus for those free and easy pilgrims. The whole tour takes approximately two hours with tickets valid for twenty four hours. Tickets are eighty Saudi Riyals for adults with discounts for children, students and families.