Thailand 2011: Betong (II) - Riding across the border just the two of us...

"Don't let someone else's opinion of you become your reality..." - Les Brown

(July 17 - 19, 2011)

(At the Immigration Centre for border check)

(Butterfly Princess Hotel)

(The Post Office and biggest mail box)

(Riding around following the road signs)

(Cooking eggs in the boiling water @ The Hot Spring)

(Jungle trekking to the communist tunnel)

(Exploring the Piyamit Tunnel)

(Taking a rest @ Winter Flower Garden)

(Resting area along the winding road)

Route taken: KL - Grik - Betong - Tapah - KL

Total mileage: 900 km

👈 2011: Kanchanaburi, Thailand

2011: Makkah, Saudi Arabia 👉

Saudi Arabia 2011: 10th Umrah: Makkah Al-Mukarramah...

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on..." - Franklin D Roosevelt

Makkah al-Mukarramah
Al-Mohdar Diamond Hotel
(18 - 25 April 2011)

(Painting on the hotel wall)

Monday - 18 April 2011
Madinah - Makkah

After solat Zohor, we performed the Ziarah Wida' to bade good-bye to Rasullullah SAW with a promise to come again to this holy land. We started the 5-hour journey to Makkah in our ihram attire. The bus stopped at Bir Ali Mosque for miqat and we performed our solat sunat ihram and niat for our first Umrah. All along the journey we recited the doa and talbiah before we entered the holy city of Makkah.

(Miqat at Masjid Bir Ali)

We checked-in Al-Mohdar Diamond Hotel, situated just behind Hilton Makkah, a 10 minute walk to Masjidil-Harram. After a short rest, led by Ustaz Halim, we performed the Tawaf dan Sa'ei and completed our 1st Umrah by midnight.

(Performing the tawaf at night)

(Clean shaven after 1st Umrah)

Tuesday - 19 April 2011
Makkah - Tannaim

After breakfast we took a taxi to Tannaim for miqat and performed our 2nd Umrah. The rest of the day was spent in the room resting and performed the solats in Masjidil-Haram.

(Air-conditioned praying area)

Wednesday - 20 April 2011
Makkah - Tannaim

We went to Tannaim again today to miqat for our 3rd Umrah.

(One of the historical pillars in Masjidil-Haram)

Thursday - 21 April 2011
Makkah – Ja’ranah

(Saying prayers on Jabbal Rahmah at Padang Arafah)

We started early morning and the bus headed for Ja'ranah, which is 20 km away from Makkah to miqat. On the way we stopped at Jabal Thur, Jabal Nur, Jabal Rahmah at Padang Arafah, Mina and Mudzalifah.

(The 5-storey Jamrat and tents for Haj season)

We were amazed by the new developments especially the five storey Jamrah stone throwing (melontar) location.

(Miqat at Masjid Ja'aranah)

We completed our 4th Umrah before the Zuhur solat.

Friday - 22 April 2011
Makkah - Tannaim

(Building under construction on fire)

Today we took a taxi to Tannaim to miqat for our 5th Umrah. Since Friday was the weekend holiday in Saudi Arabia, Masjidil Haram was packed with worshippers hours before the noon Friday prayers. We elected to remain in Masjidil Haram till the completion of the Friday prayers.

Saturday - 23 April 2011
Makkah – Hudaibiah

(At the camel farm)

The whole group headed to Hudaibiah by bus after breakfast. Ustaz Halim narrated the history about the Treaty of Hudaibiah, between Muslims and the enemies. On the way we stopped at a camel farm to drink camel milk and bought a bottle to bring back to the hotel. We did not have the opportunity to meet the Melaka born imam of the Hudaibiah mosque.

(The ruins of old Masjid Hudaibiah)

After buying some trinkets, we went back to Makkah to complete our 6th Umrah before the Zuhur solat.

Sunday - 24 April 2011
Makkah – Jeddah

(Masjid Kisas in Jeddah)

Today is our last day in Makkah. We took a taxi to Tannaim to miqat for our 7th Umrah. After resting a while in the hotel room we went back to Masjidil-Haram to performed our Tawaf Wida' and recited our doa at the Multazam. We checked out after lunch and departed Makkah for Jeddah around 2.30 pm. We had a short city tour of Jeddah, passing maqam Siti Hawa, Masjid Qisas and Masjid Terapung (Masjid Siti Rahmah) at the Red Sea.

(Floating Masjid Siti Rahmah by the Red Sea)

By 5.00 pm we checked-in Jeddah International Airport and had packed dinner at the boarding lounge. The flight from Jeddah to Ammam was a little delayed so we had time to perform the solat jama’ Maghrib and Isyak.

Monday – 25 April 2011
Amman – Kuala Lumpur

The 2-hour flight reached Amman around 10.00 pm. We transited for 4 hours in Amman Airport before we boarded the flight back to Kuala Lumpur. We had some coffee to unsuccessfully help keep us awake while waiting for the flight.

The flight safely reached KLIA 7.30 pm after an hour stoppage in Bangkok. Alhamdulillah…

We are already planning for the next trip…..

(Fly away...)

👈2011, Betong, Thailand

2011: Madinah, Saudi Arabia 👉

Saudi Arabia 2011: 10th Umrah: Madinah Al-Munawarah...

"Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful..."

Madinah al-Munawarah
Elaf al-Taiyibah Hotel
(15 - 17 April 2011) 

(Inside Masjid Nabawi)

Friday - 15 April 2011
Amman – Madinah

From the Syrian border our POTO group went direct for a Morrocan lunch at Tawaheen Al-Hawa situated in a suburb of Amman. After retrieving the rest of our luggage, we headed to Amman International Airport to catch the 7.15 pm onward flight to Jeddah.

The flight to Jeddah took 2 hours. After immigration and customs clearance, we were greeted by Ustaz Halim. He was our local guide and Mutawwif throughout our visit in Madinah and Makkah.

Saturday - 16 April 2011
Madinah

We boarded the bus for a 5-hour journey to Madinah with one stop at Yaman Restaurant for supper. We reached Madinah and checked-in the Elaf At-Taiyibah Hotel just in time for solat Subuh at Masjid Nabawi.

(Hotel Elaf Al-Taiyibah at the background)

After breakfast we had time to rest in the room until prayer times. After solat Asar, lead by Ustaz Halim, the group went to visit historical places around Masjid Nabawi.

(Entrance to Maqam Rasulullah)

After solat Isya', the ladies were lead by an Ustazah to visit Maqam Rasullullah and Maqam Saidina Abu Bakar and Saidina Othman. At the Raudah, the gardens of Jannah, we recited the selawat and conveyed the salam from family members and friends and performed our solat sunat and recited our doas.


Sunday - 17 April 2011
Madinah

After a hearty breakfast we gathered at the lobby at 7.00 am for the ziarah around Madinah city and visited Masjid Quba’ the first mosque of the muslims, Masjid Qiblatain - the mosque where the qiblat was changed from Baitul-Muqaddis to Kaabah and passed by Masjid Tujuh.

(Masjid Quba')

(Masjid Qiblatain)

We visited Jabal Uhud and Maqam Saidina Hamzah and the Shuhada’ and recited doa for them. On the way back we stopped at Tamar Souk to buy dates and nuts.

(Jabal Uhud)

(Tamar Souk)

After ‘solat Asar, we gathered in the dining hall and recited the tahlil and listened to a short tazkirah by Ustaz Halim.

(Ice-cream kiosk)

(Cakes and donuts for Sara's birthday)

👈 2011: Makkah, Saudi Arabia

2011: Damascus, Syria 👉

Syria 2011: Damascus - City of Jasmin...

"Age is no importance unless you are a cheese..."

Wednesday - 13 April 2011
Damascus
Hotel Saifer Al-Saidah Zainab, Damascus

We were quite nervous to cross into the Syrian border as the pro democracy protests were already widespread throughout the major cities, according to the news.

(Painting of Old Damshik)

We arrived at the Syrian border around Maghrib and we had a smooth group border check-in and drove safely into Damascus.

(Typical Syrian meal)

We had a late chicken rice dinner at Carthage Restaurant and later changed bus and headed to Saifer Al-Saidah Zainab Hotel situated in the Damascus Old City.

(The Saifer Al-Saidah Zainab Hotel, Damascus)

Thursday - 14 April 2011
Damascus
Hotel Saifer Al-Saidah Zainab, Damascus

(The great Omayyad Mosque)

(The Saladin Mousoleum)

We had early breakfast but the day tour started a little late as one of our group had to be sent to hospital as he was having breathing difficulties.

(Maqam Saydina Hussein)

(Maqam Nabi Yahya)

For the day tour we visited famous Islamic historical sites including the 8th century Omayyad Mosque, one of the largest and most famous mosques in the world right in the heart of the medieval city of Damascus and situated next to the famous Al-Hamidiah souk.

(Maqam Zainab)

(Maqam Bilal)

Before entering the mosque, there was Saladin's Mausoleum built in 1193, set in a relaxing garden. We later proceeded inside the mosque to visit the Tomb of John the Baptist (Nabi Yahya) and a shrine of Sydina Hussein.

(Eating ice cream at the Al-Hamidiah Bazaar)

(Statue of Salahuddin at the entrace of the Citadel)

Other historical tombs and mausoleums visited were Maqam Zainab Ali, Maqam Bilal, Maqam Um-Salamah and Maqam Um-Habibah.

(Panoramic view of Damascus from Jabbal Qassioun)

(A full moon at Al-Kamal Restaurant)

After a hearty lunch at Old Damascus Restaurant and a round of shopping at Al-Hamadiah Souk, the bus ascended Mount Qassioun (Jebal Kasioun) for a beautiful panoramic view of Damascus while we enjoyed the beautiful scenic sunset.

Dinner was at Al-Kamal Restaurant in Damascus New City.

Friday - 15 April 2011
Syria - Jordan border crossing

(Roman ruins)

(Masjid Omar and graveyards)

We had breakfast and checked-out early. On the way to the Syrian border we stopped at Bosra to visit the ancient Roman amphitheatre and the surrounding historical sites and ruins, including the historical Masjid Omar.

(The Roman Amphiteater)

(A group photo)

We arrived at the Syrian border around 11.00 am for border checks.

👈 2011: Madinah, Saudi Arabia

2011, Amman, Jordan 👉