Umrah Trip (Part 1)

I'm going to divide the Umrah Trip into 2-3 posts. There are 100++ pics from 2 cameras so you can imagine my laziness to edit + upload :p More pictures are on FB so check it out... The photos in this entry are the ones taken in Madinah where we stayed for 3 days (19 March 2011 to 21 March 2011) So enjoy the pictures/history/comments/captions etc...

19-20 March 2011

In front of our hotel in Madinah- It is called Hassan Palace and is about 10-15 minutes walk away from Masjid Nabawi

He insisted on walking everywhere on his own nowadays :p

With my in laws minus Lan

Ryan and his aunts View of Masjid Nabawi at night. Gorgeous right :) One of the many mosque entrances

Huge umbrella's to shield people from the sun...

View of Masjid Nabawi in the day. There are about 100 small stalls and shops at a nearby arcade selling jubah, shoes, ornaments etc. Plenty of variety and cheap. If you're not intent on prayers memang will lose your head over shopping.

Surprisingly I only bought one jubah for moi and mostly stuff for people. I bet Lan was proud (surprised?) over my self restrained :p my sis + bro in law serious beli bagful of pretty things

Lan and his siblings minus Ashraff- Yes there are EIGHT of them :p

My son is so photogenic UNLIKE the father (please refer to my wedding album for verification) hahaha

21 March 2011

Masjid Kubah- This is the first mosque build by Rasulullah SAW in Madinah. You're encouraged to perform your solat sunat 2 rakaat at this mosque as to follow Sunnah Nabi

"Whoever makes ablutions at home and then goes and prays in the Mosque of Quba, he will have a reward like that of an 'Umrah." This hadith is reported by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Hakim al-Nishaburi (Source from Wiki)

There are stalls selling shawls and little trinkets all over Madinah/Mecca. Most of the stuff is under 10Riyal (about RM9 ish) great from souvenirs

@ Ladang Tamar/ Tamar Farm.

The tamar/kurma here is expensive so people don't usually buy them but you can see the Tamar tree/seed up close. Anyway there's A LOT of tourist on that particular day so I didn't even bother going in the shops and stayed outside to camwhore instead.

I think those are the Kurma seedlings.

Ryan started having fever on our last day in Madinah. Weather was crazy hot in the day and cold at night but like the little trooper that he is, he followed us around with little fuss.

Bukit Uhud. This is where Uhud Battle happens. The Muslim soldiers lost that day as the defied Rasulullah order to stay in place after the battle. Morale of the story? Always listen to your leaders and don't defy commands *hmmm*

In front of the grave site of Saidina Hamzah (Nabi Muhammad's Uncle) and other syahid Muslim warriors

This my dear is the "Magnetic Hills of Madinah aka Valley of Jinns" . The magnate pulls can power the bus to move without starting the engine. Kinda cool but scary at the same time :p

Eating the creamiest vanilla ice cream EVER. They probably use camel's milk for the ice cream :p

@ Masjid Qiblatain

This is the mosque with two qiblats. At one time the Muslims perform their prayers facing Jurusalem but one day during prayers the prophet received a relevation from Allah to face Kaabah as a qiblat instead, so he turn during prayers.

The first 2 rakaat was perform facing Jurusalem and the final two was facing Kaabah hence the name Qiblatain

Pasar Kurma- Kurma , nuts and candies heaven :)

That's all for our Madinah Trip, Mecca journey coming soon.....

To be continued....