We leave for the Airport with all our family members. Pak Usu, Acik, Mak Ngah all send us off. After hearing briefing at TH Travel counter at level 5, we were given our bus number and identity tag. We then have our lunch at KFC before go for prayers. Hati dah melonjak kegembiraan. Bak kata orang, badan di Malaysia tapi hati dah di Tanah Suci. Betul, itu rasa dia. For my dad, he wore a half and half ihram – The bottom piece with a jubbah. So that when we arrive in miqat, he just have to take of his jubbah and wear the top piece. No need to wear the full ihram inside the plane’s toilet. For women, our ihram are much easier.

Thank you y'all.

Tag by TH Travel. They gave us 1 30kg bag, 1 hand luggage and 1 sling bag.  We choose to use our own luggage instead.

We said our goodbyes, and went through immigration and finally board our 8 hours flight headed to Jeddah. During ascend, somehow our plane was caught in a thunderstorm. We can see the lighning and thunder right beside at the windows. The climb was not smooth at all. Takut jugak sebab bergoyang sangat kuat masa naik tu. Ibu dah berzikir baca doa semua. Airline food was okay since this is a long haul.

There were a lot of turbulence when we fly above the Hindi Ocean, maybe due to cold winds. It was uncomfortable of course and my mum keeps on praying that we reached there safe. I watched some movies then sleep and watch movies again. All about movie-eat-sleep cycle Things are smooth once we fly over land mass.

We arrived Jeddah at 9 p.m and we were directed to the Haj Terminal. It was huge though. We perform solat and board the bus to Makkah at midnight. I was too sleepy to eat dinner they gave us in the bus. Too tired. From kilometres away, I can see this city of light – Makkah. Did you know that astronauts can spot Makkah and Madinah because they are shining bright at night? Amazing right.

On the first sight of Masjidil Haram, I felt grateful that I finally reached here. My heart was pounding and I was excited. Makkah and Madinah is a city that never sleep. Sorry NYC! The crowd are still here at 4 a.m! We arrived our hotel and checked in. I was tired beyond imagination. However, we have to finish our umrah that wee in the morning because we fear we might break the confinement.

We went on ourselves to Masjidil Haram. First step of the shopping mall is the white tiles I have been dreaming about. In my heart “I am here. I am really here”. Proceeding to Gate 1 (Masjidil Haram was still under construction, Gate 2 was not accessible) and pass security. Our feet and our heart gravitates towards the Kaaba. We stopped at the stairs, recite doa and all of us cries. We cry because we are grateful and happy to see it again.

Ibu and Ayah

Crowd is still huge despite of 3 a.m and we got separated as usual. Since we are used to the Masjid, we finally met at Saie. I saw my mum and aunt and join them. It was tiring, my jetlag has not even weared off and we with our strong hearts, finish the first umrah for our trip. We finish off by performing tahallul where we cut strands of our hair to mark we are free from confinement. We went back to the hotel to wash up and ready for Subuh prayers.

Nowadays, they made restrictions even outside the Masjid. They put green barrier to separate ladies and men solat areas. People are crowded and your patience will be tested at the highest level possible. We only manage to squeeze at the Masjidil Haram square since the Masjid is already full. At the first rakaat, I cried again. I have been longing to perform prayers hear, listening to the imam. There is no place that you feel close to Allah other than this place.

Rasa rindu pada rumah Allah sentiasa ada. Even masa tengah tulis entry ni di office, rasa rindu membuak buak. Tiba tiba bergenang air mata sebab terlalu rindu. Boleh rasa balik macam mana perasaan bila imam baca Alfatihah. Masa tu air mata dah tak tahan keluar. Macam mimpi rasanya, tak percaya dah sampai sini.