Re: The Amazing Hajj
Mindless, the place that we stayed at was about a 10 minute walk down the street from the Haram in Mecca.
In Madina, we stayed in what was considered the "old section" which apparently is the only section where they have old buildings. I really liked it here. It felt so good ... very calm, safe and spiritual. I didn't have the same feeling in Mecca. Anyway, the place where we stayed in Madina, that whole section is going to be bulldozed and new luxury hotels will be built in its place. I'll took lots of photos here .... will post them soon.
There is literally a world of difference between Mecca and Madina. Sorry to have to say this, but I could not wait to leave Mecca. Never in my life have I seen a place so disrespected as what I saw in Mecca.
Before we all left for Madina, the maulvi specifically told us that the crap which was being tolerated in Mecca will not fly in Madina. If you do any of the things that were happening in Mecca, the police and officials in Madina will grab you. For the life of me, I don't understand why it was even being tolerated in Mecca. I think it's only like this during Hajj ... I have a very hard time believing that area of Mecca is like that all year round.
Fayz, the stoning is crazy .... seriously. I went the first two days and third day I said stuff it, I'm not going. My dad and bro went instead to do it for us but that was the same day of the flooding and stampede.
It's really scary. I've been skydiving and I wasn't as scared then as I was during the stoning.
I don't even know where to begin. I have to tell you about Arafat, Muzdalifah and then the stoning. Plus the drama of Mina where my nani ammi decided to do a disappearing act.