No more 30 Days.

Saudi Arabia have now restricted Ramadan visa to only fifteen (15) days only. No more thirty (30) days as normal practiced. The reasons is only best known to the Saudis and my best bet – Masjidilharam, Dataran Kaabah is undergoing a major renovation and Hotels in Mekah being demolished to make way for new one. When will the new one coming up? Wallahualam. I cannot answer you, this question.

The Saudi Authority had issued the new ruling perhaps to minimize the overwhelming worshippers at Masjidilharam in Mekah during Ramadan. Couple to that, several Hotels in Mekah had been demolished and hundreds are already in the pipeline to go down. The Misfalah (behind Hilton Hotel) and Giza (near Marwah) is now flattened and now a “praying field”. Hotels that I had stayed before is now history - Aziz Khouger, Hera Palace, Hotel Al Nadj, Zahret Mekah, Hotel Riyadah International, Rawabi Taj, and Zahret Kamel. Walking around in Mekah, make sure always be extra cautious of the dangling cranes or the heavy truck shuttling around evacuating the boulders and rocks from the hills demolition. 

 

Yours truly is suffering a serious dilemma. I wanted to upkeep the continuity of spending whole Ramadan in Mekah as I had done before for the past eight (8) consecutive years since 2005. Alas in 2013, I am truly disappointed.

With no alternatives, I have to opt for the last fifteen (15) days of Ramadan. Due to the constraints by the Saudi, many Travel Agents are also in a dilemma as Hotel’s rooms are in great demand and rates are escalating like nobody business. It is beyond the ordinary Jemaah mean, except to the Malaysian Rich & Famous and of course the Politicians. Currently the cost for fifteen (15) days stay in the Holy Land is equivalent to a month stay as in previous years. Coming Ramadan, only the hard cores will squeeze their pocket to be in the Holy Land. Five (5) star hotels at daily rate of RM 2,500 per room are easily available but definitely beyond my budget. I therefore opted for “no star” and distance to the Grand Mosque. Never mind, the more steps I take to Masjidilharam the more blesses I may get from Allah, wallahwaalam. Staying in a five (5) star Hotel sometimes it’s too comfortable and cozy that make one lazy to walk to Masjidilharam.

I predict the status quo will apply for the next five (5) years at the very least. It would have been a brilliant idea, if the Saudi Authority continues the thirty (30) days visa on the condition that each worshipper only permitted to stay in Mekah for maximum of fifteen (15) days, and the rest of the stay is in Medina. Medina has no infrastructure problem.

Whatever...........through my years of experience with the Saudis, they can be very unpredictable lot. One instant they insist the Passports to be kept by the Muassasah and the very next month they ask the Worshippers to keep.  

If the Saudis wish to control the population in Mekah at any one time, they should be more surveillance at the several entry checkpoints. Each entry into the boundary of Mekah should be meticulously scrutinized and justify the purpose. They should also check on the syndicate beggars whom purposely brought in by the Mafias to beg and enriching the Warlords. It has become a profession. How can the Beggars classify themselves as “miskin”, so they claim when they carry hand phones?  

Insyaalah.........mid Ramadan, yours truly will make the same journey again provided I get an entry visa. I understand the Saudis are also setting a quota for the last ten days of Ramadan. I look forward to be in front of the Kaabah on the night of 27 Ramadan and transform my body and soul e to be humble surrendering to Almighty Allah. If all in order, this will be my third trip in 2013, insyaalah. The last two (2) trips were sponsored by Almukminin Travel. (See posting dated:  07 Feb 2013 and 13 June 2013). Thank you Almighty Allah. I always believe the spiritual magic of the farewell doa at the Kaabah during widaq (farewell tawaf). The sincerity with Allah is prime importance and I never fail to seek Almighty Allah blessing, to summon me to his Bait (House), Baitullah Hirharam until I am summon to His presence.

Labaikallah hu mala baik,

Kabaikallah shari kala kala baik,

In nal hamda,

Walnikmata,

Lakawalmulk,

La shari kala

 A great feeling indeed to pray in front of the Kaabah. Only those who had been there can tell. All the Muslims in the world is facing the Kaabah during prayers and you are there right in front of it. I normally imagine, millions are behind me.

It is only with Allah gracious that one can be invited to the Holy Land. I thank Allah and always believe in Him.

Dataran Kaabah.

Kaabah and its surrounding will never be the same again. Massive construction and installation is underway to construct an elevated platform for tawaf around the Kaabah.The wheel chair tawaf lane at the outer first floor of Masjidilharam had been removed.

The project underway is to facilitate and the convenience of more jemaah performing the tawaf ritual. The tawaf at the elevated platform would be smooth as there will be no interruption from jemaah who just cross the tawaf path to get to Hijril Aswad, Multazam and Hjril Ismail. 

I find it very irritating when Jemaah especially from India and Pakistan (sorry, to say) just cross the tawaf path diagonally to the Kaabah and interrupted the tawaf ritual smooth flow. Sometimes I just feel like extending my leg and floor them but then I am right in front of the Kaabah. I normally pause with astraghfirullah, subhanallah and try my best not to move the shoulders.

Allah blesses TABUNG HAJI for setting a discipline Malaysian Jemaah to the world. All around Mekah and Medina…..MALAYSIA BAGUS!!!!

See for yourself...............................

     

Come to the Kaabah, if you want to see the latest at the Dataran. I don't know whether the elevated platform is permanent or tempararily. Let me find out if I ever make the trip during Ramadan, insyaalah.

Doha Qatar - Final Chapter.

O7 June 2013: QR 733 from Medina landed at Doha at about 1230 hrs. We were on twelve (12) hours transit and I had made arrangement with Tuan Haji Ashraf to meet us at the Arrival Hall. We skipped the Transit Point and headed for the Arrival Hall as we had to exit from the Airport.

At Immigration I had to use my Visa Credit Card to purchase twenty (20) passengers entry permits at 100 Qatari Riyal per head. I had 3000 Qatari Riyal but reserved to pay the local Travel agent. Immigration was swift and among the Middle East countries, I had covered, I find Immigration Officials at Doha Airport stands the best, most efficient and courteous.

Tuan Haji Ashraf was waiting for our arrival and he had a Coaster to take us around Doha. It was unfortunate our welcome to Doha was hampered with sandstorm.

Tuan Haji Ashraf of Doha.

Vision blur due to sand storm.

Vision hampered due to sand storm.

Tuan Haji Ashraf is not a professional Tour Guide but he came out to help his friend who owns a Travel Agency and it was the first time this Travel Company did a ground tour for Malaysians. Being Malaysians, Tuan Haji Ashraf would be of great help.

The first stop was Villagio Shopping Mall. The best Mall in Doha, similar to Genting Highland where there is a water way at the center of the Mall and a gondola ride like Venice. The group was free to walk around and I sat with Tuan Haji Ashraf for coffee and settled the tour charges as agreed.

Vilaggio Mall Doha.

To perform our jamak zohor and asar we were taken to the Qatar Grand Mosque of Imam Mohamad Ibn Abdul Wahab, inaugurated in 2011. It is a huge Mosque that can accommodate 11,000 worshippers at any one time. As we walked along the courtyard to the main Prayer Hall, the gusty sea wind affected our balance.

Grand Mosque of Imam Mohamad Ibn Abdul Wahab.

The Coach took us a grand tour of The Pearl. The Pearl is an artificial island spanning nearly four (4) million square meters and once completed it will create 32 km of coastline.

Our next stop was Katara.  Katara is a cultural village located on the eastern coast between West Bay and The Pearl spanning over one (1) million square meters. It was soft opened in 2010. Buggies are easily available to usher the tourists around the complex. The beach and the view at Katara are just fantastic.

At Main entrance of Katara.

All at KATARA.

Our last stop of the grand tour of Doha is “Souq Waqaf”. Literally mean in Arabic as standing market. It is like a Bazaar and a tourist attraction where one can get anything from Souq Waqaf. Souvenirs Shops, Restaurants and Cafes are plentiful. We had dinner at a Yemeni Restaurant, mutton / chicken briyani and it was not cheap. Dinner was not inclusive in the itinerary even though Aiman Tan suggested that I used my credit card. To me a light and simple dinner was more appropriate as there will be food coming up in the plane. 

The Yemeni Restaurant at Souq Waqaf.

Personally I found, Souq Waqaf is a crazy place. The narrow alleys and short of proper sign of direction will definitely make one lost the way around. Every corner is an entrance and an exit. Tuan Haji Ashraf confessed during his early stay in Doha, he too got lost. The night tour makes it even worst.

The Cafe.

Narrow alleyway.

The abaya shop.

Cafe everywhere.

SOUQ WAQAF OF DOHA.

After dinner we went shopping for souvenirs. Initially one of the young guys in the group was accidentally left behind at the Yemeni Restaurant. Tuan Haji Ashraf and the guy’s father back tracked and found him. One lady wanted to buy an “abaya” and Tuan Haji Ashraf led the way among the narrow lanes. I was at the tail and stopped a while to purchase a cap. One moment I lost track of the group and I was left alone, could not figure out among the mazes where the group went. I was lost but I went back to basic and looked for the point where the Coaster dropped the group just opposite the Mosque. The Group was frantically looking for me, the Chief was lost.

My two (2) hand phones were dead. I could not charge them when Medina was black out. Luckily I had a newly bought hand phone at Medina and it was half charge and operational. I had Tuan Haji Ashraf business card with me but I did not carry my reading glass. I stopped one Qatari gentleman and assisted me to call Tuan Haji Ashraf. They were relieved I was found at last but according to Aiman Tan, my presence or otherwise make no difference at all. I took offence of that uncouth statement and fully expected from a typical Chinaman. One can never take out the Chinese out from a Chinaman.

Doha Airport was not far off and upon arrival I distributed the boarding passes for KLIA. I thanked Tuan Haji Ashraf for all the assistance and the time off from his family and spoilt his weekend.

With Haji Ashraf at Doha Airport - Terima kasih. 

I make sure everybody passed through Immigration and I proceeded to the Airport Surau to perform jamak Maghreeb and Isyakh. I sat alone in the Surau and had my two (2) hand phone charged.

08 June 2013: At about 0030 hrs I walked slowly to Gate 19, the departure point. At 0100 hrs we boarded the plane and QR 624 left Doha at 0120 hrs. I slept most of the flight, awakened only above the Andaman Sea.

At about 1430 hrs local Malaysian time, we landed at KLIA. All luggages arrived intact except a bottle of zam zam water. My daughter came to fetch me and home at last.

My next trip to the Middle East will be RAMADAN, insyaalah.

Comment:

There were things throughout the journey from KLIA, Istanbul, Mekah, Medina and Doha was beyond my control and doing but as an appointed Leader, I was the punching bag. I took stride with patience as tenure of my duty and responsibilities. “Innalahi umala hisobirin” Sometimes human just cannot sustain their actions and mouths. I left it to Almighty Allah, for He knows best. Actions or words once acted or uttered belong to the party whom referred to.