Janice's quick change in Dubai getting ready for Umrah and Hajj. December 2007.
Janice in Dubai. Ahh! Refreshed from a luxuriant shower in a Dubai Airport hotel, Janice emerges in the state of Ikram, dressed and ready for Umrah. Next stop: Jeddah and then on to Mecca.
Janice ready for Mecca. Ihkram clothing for women can be any color, but must be very modest and conservative. Four pieces at minimum were recommended: pants, a long, long sleeved top, a head covering and and scarf/shawl to drape over the head, shoulders and bust line.
Haazim is ready for Mecca. Ihkram clothing for men is very prescribed. Two white pieces of cloth (terry cloth). That's it. No belts or stitching to hold it together. Now Haazim is ready for Umrah and the trip to Mecca.
Jeddah Haj Airport Terminal. Our group flew from Dubai to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, about 50 miles from Mecca.
Arrival in Saudi Arabia. Haazim and Janice were happy to arrive --finally after driving from Sacramento to San Francisco, flying from SF to New York (JFK Airport), and then from NY to Dubai and then Dubai to Jeddah.
Jeddah airport after midnight. We arrived in Jeddah in the middle of the night. We received vouchers for the "BIG MEAL" at the airport. It was a big meal indeed of about a quart of rice and half a roasted chicken.
Our dining accomodations at the Jeddah Haj terminal. Fortunately, since we arrived in the middle of the night, the immense terminal was not crowded. We easily found seating for all in our group.
Jeddah airport after midnight. Here's one small segment of the Jeddah Haj airport terminal. We had to surrender our passports to the Saudi Arabian government at Jeddah . We then rode a bus from Jeddah to Mecca --- only 50 miles but a very long ride.
Arrival ar Mecca. The energetic young men handling our luggage quickly climbed to the top of the bus when we arrived at our hotel in Mecca. They lifted 60-70 lbs suitcases from the top of the bus and easily handed them down the line.
Street scenes in Mecca, before Haj. Our first sight of the Haram
Meccan street scenes before Haj.
Our hotel in Mecca was in the Adjad district just two blocks from the Haram.
Entrance to the Haram the first morning we arrived in Mecca. As soon as we arrived in Mecca and ate breakfast, we went straight to the Haram to perform Umrah.
The Haram. Haazim and Janice performed Unrah upon entering the the Haram the first morning of our arrival in Mecca.
Meccan shops. Shops were open in Mecca 24/7, except all shops closed for the 5 daily prayers.
Our hotel in Mecca. Here is another view of Hotel Ayjad in Mecca, which was located in the center of town close to the Haram.
Meccan landscape. Extremely rocky, dry, barren and desolate. It was 85-90 degrees during the day during our trip here in December.
The Masjid at Arafat, but part of it is not in Arafat, so its use is not recommended.
Janice on Arafat
Haazim on Mount Arafat.
Haazim on Mount Arafat
On Arafat. This couple was part of our group from Riverside Haj.
During Hajj these roads are closed to vehicles and become seas of people walking.
We always knew which way to pray
Bathrooms at Arafat
Mina
Tents at Mina in preparation for Haj.
Tents at Mina in preparation for the hajjees.
Mina. Thousands of tents at Mina, just outside Mecca, in preparation for the hajjees.
Mina. The high rise buildings, under construction in December 2007, will replace tents for some hajjees in future years.
Mina. Thousands of tents for hajjees at Mina.
Mina. The Jamarat.
Mt. Hira, where the Prophet retreated for Ramadhan
Beliers making Tawaf (circling the) at the Kaaba.
Omar Khattab our group leader
Tables of food in Mecca
Part of our group of 240
Prophet's Mosque seen from the bus.
Interior details in Medina at the Prophet's Mosque
Interior of the Prophet's Mosque
More Interior from the Main Courtyard
Tents/ umbrellas? in the Prophet's Mosque
Minaret at the Prophet's mosque
Another Minaret
Hotels in Medina
The Prpphet's Mosque in Medina
The Prophet's Mosque in Medina
Jeddah. Janice at the Red Sea.
Haazim at the Red Sea. At dawn, on the day we left Saudi Arabia
