Mecca, The Holy Land, and the Kabbah

Note: Cameras are strictly not allowed into the Masjid Al-Haram (Al-Haram Mosque) but a lot of people sneak in the cameras and I was one of them...

Who can't resist taking a shot of the famed Ka'bbah?

The side of the cube-like Kabbah with the door. You can make out the Tomb of Prophet Abraham to the left of the door. Behind the tomb, on the Kabbah is the Black Stone. I was squatting down when I took this shot, hence the head blocking me.
A bit blurry. I was a bit shakey when I took this shot. Cause if I was caught, they would confiscate the camera (or so I have heard, but I have seen those caught let off with just a warning though).
The main entrance to the mosque. HUGE. And beautiful... It was said by the Prophet that praying at the mosque equates to praying 100 times at Nabawi Mosque in Madinah (i.e. 100x1000 times of praying at any other mosques).
A shot taken from the streets (a lot of street vendors and beggars). Its very disheartening and extremely disturbing to see all these beggars. Who wouldn't feel disturb to see so many young kids (mainly from Africa) with amputated or deformed arms or legs (or even both) who have been left on the streets crying for attention?

But I bet these children along with some of the African women who wear full-burqas begging there (who might also be acting as their 'guardians') are part of a syndicate. Like come on, the number of these kids who have lost their limbs are suspiciously over-the-top. Probably, these kids were forcefully taken away from their homes or were sold by their families, had their limbs amputated and deformed, to be left on the streets to beg. Its very sad. The first time I got there and saw these kids, I was extremely disturbed and saddened.
Shot taken from Hilton Hotel. Yes!!! They have Hilton hotels in Mecca and Medina!!! And other famous chains of hotels like Le Meridien and Intercontinental.
Shot taken from inside the awesome shopping centre in Hiltons. They have almost everything there. Even Baskin Robbins!
My parents. :)
Shot of me taken at the rear entrance of the huge mosque.
This was where I shave my head bald (after the Sa'i).

Shot of the Hilton Hotel and the towering Arab Towers (left).

We went to other historically important places in Mecca (also known as Makkah or Makkah al-Mukarramah). Such as Jabal Al Sur (above, jabal means hill or mount).
Sermon at the base of the hill (above).

Next it was off to Jabal Rahmah (above) at Arafat. It is said that the Prophet Adam and his beloved Eve were reunited here after they were banished to earth from heaven.

Many believe that praying there would help the person (or the person she or he is praying for) to find his or her better half sooner. Some have even went astray (in accordance to Islamic teachings) as to write the names of those still single on the stone monument at the peak. This bothers on idolatry or shirk.Camel rides and motorcar rides are abundant at the base. But here's a tip, some of these camel handlers and their photographers can cheat you of your money. They will take multiple and similar shots of yourself and demand you pay (often ludicrous amounts) for the pictures! So be wary and avoid these photographers altogether or assert that you will only have one shot taken.
Next it was Jabal al Nur (The Mountain of Light). While its not part of the hajj ritual this is still an important site; since atop this mountain is the famous Her'aa grotto, where Muslims believe Prophet Muhammed first had the Quran revealed to him. We were to supposed to climb up but my Dad got sick so I didn't do it either.

We also went to the camel farm in the desert.

It was very windy there and sand keeps getting into the eyes...I drank camel milk for the first time too. The farmer perparing the milk fresh from the camel (above)... Ruins of a mosque built during the Prophet's time (over 1400 years ago).
My cousins and I look like terrorists, don't we? My birthday is on September 11th. Coincidence? (kidding...)

Next stop was the Museum of the two holy mosques: Masjid Nabawi and Masjid Al-Haram. It has all kinds of artifacts from many centuries ago.
The cloth that was once hung on the door of the Kabbah (many decades ago).
Drawing of the exploded-view of the Kabbah. Note the Hajar Aswad (Black Stone placed in the silver casing) at the corner facing us.
The original well of the Zam Zam well (its a few centuries old).
My parents with artifacts (thousands-of-years-old).
The minaret top of the old Al-Haram mosque. And the old tomb of the Prophet Abraham (right).
Door to the Al-Haram mosque a thousand year ago.
My parents again. :)
My cousins and I posing in front of the old door to Al-Haram mosque.
The old pulpit in Nabawi Mosque.

Its really interesting to see the artifacts up close. Some of these artifacts are up to a few thousand years old! And to learn more about the Hajar Aswad (Black Stone) and the Kabbah itself has been really enlightening.

After many days spent at Mecca, it was time to leave Saudi Arabia, and head down to the United Arab Emirates. But before we leave, we had to perform another tawaf to bid farewell to the Kabbah, the holy mosque and the city of Mecca.

I miss praying at the mosque right in front of the Kabbah. I mean its so surreal! You pray towards the kiblat (direction of Mecca) back at home but here you pray towards the Kabbah! You can see it, I did. Up close. The door, the black stone, the cloth, the brick wall of the Kabbah, everything. Its simply amazing... And if you are observant enough, you will see many hawks (or eagles) flying and circling over the Kabbah (maybe doing the tawaf?) every maghrib (sunset).

Its true! Maybe they are Angels in disguise?

Note: Non-muslims are not allowed into the city of Mecca (but that didn't stop a few Western writers over the decades from disguising themselves and sneaking into the city, risking deportation from the country).

More pictures can be found here.