Al Masjid Al Nabawi (mosque of Prophet pbuh)
It was 48 C and the sky was wearing a hot wind, the air with a soul of damascus rose, cardomon patchouli, Italian lemon or a harmony of tobacco running through the streets of Medina. Yours truly was away for a couple of two weeks and more to the middle east for Umrah pilgrimage. Medina was beautiful. It reminded me of New York city for a second. A tray of people from Morocco, Lebanan,Yemen, Dubai, Bangladesh, Istanbul, Egypt, Syria, Somalia keep serving the holiest place for prayer every blink of the eye. The flock was bigger than for Hajj. 4 million as estimated.
Sunshades and crocks. Men in daffah thobes and turbans munching miswak sticks, women black berry bold. Valourous though veiled. None of them sleep. Nor do the shops take a nap. They are just left as it is while the owners respond to the soft croon of azan. Fist of seeds thrown to the pigeons' crib. Black needy girls snake through begging without the police catching their eyes on them. Domes heavily arched like eyebrows. Cars purring their way through speed. Breaking fast at both places; Makkah and Medina was the most zestful. Chances of having it inside the mosques are low if you arrive late. Fingers singing with prayer beads for the sins are sharp. The sky stirring sherbet, dates descending on tongues, cheese, milk, naan bread, unsalted buns, fruit juice, lamb stuffed samosas, pepsi cans were distributed but getting them in your hands wasnt easy as buttercake. A lot of pushing, harsh words sprinkled here and there in the languages of their own like arms juggling for the goodies has to be done.
The 2 riyal shop .Thats 60 bucks in Lankan rupees
Bait al Haram. Kaaba in Makkah
Its no suprise to see these Indians clinching the deal. They go lay their eggs everywhere sigh. Jeddah is clogged with ones from Kerala. Shopping after dusk to 1 in the morning we arrived at a saiwar kade to have dinner I must say the food was legendary. The owner was a sahib fastened with a cap on his head and Mumbai born knew a little Sinhala , so felt a little close to home.
A painting spotted in the room at Sofaraa al Huda Hotel in Medina
All in all the tour was an art of calligraphy. Having walked numerous kilometers I ended up with leg fever. But once you arrive at the strand of leaving for home turning back for the last time to wave at Kaabah there's something refusing to do as you should however I bit back the temptation like everyone who goes there comes back saying in their hearts. I want to go there one more time
More pictures on my flickr page. Go see here
5 Moo-ed away:
cool :)
Sounds like a really great experience!
dude thats the same hotel we stayed in medina! my sister and i sat outside the mosque after fajar and watched the sunrise, and the umbrellas come up twas'... amazing! :)
Very interesting!
@minahac - how coincidental. :)
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