Friday, June 6, 2008
A Glimpse of Life in Saudi Arabia
classof72] A glimpse of life in Saudi Arabia
From:zahid aziz (zaziz@hotmail.com)
Sent:Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:20:09 PM
Reply-to:classof72@yahoogroups.com
To: Classof72@yahoogroups.com
Salam everyone,
Its been almost 2 months since me n family landed in the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Alhamdulillah so far me and family very happy here for very personal reasons I would rather not go into. Weather wise midday can touch 45C but living in a fully aircond world the heat that hits you as you walked to your parked car is actually welcomed! Humidity is very low here so sweat is something that never happens.
I jog one early morning and could hardly raise a sweat. Subuh is 3.30 and syuruk at 5! Looking forward to Ramadhan here where breaking of fast is 6 something. Umrah is a weekend trip. Did it with family and 2 friends a few weeks ago. Fly Riyadh to Jeddah Wednesday night(ie weekend night). taxi from Jeddah airport to Makkah. Technically we should return Friday night for work on first day of week, Saturday.But there was no flight so we only returned on Saturday morning. Glorious to rekindle love affair with Kaabah and Masjidil Haram. Last did it 10 years ago. First visit for wife and the 3 toddlers of course. Slumped at Masjidil Haram at 3 am on night of first arrival, having completed umrah with wife and 3 kids. Actually had a lot of help from Mustafa and Md Noor who carried a toddler each during Tawaf and Sa'i. Tawaf Wida' (farewell Tawaf) was a different affair! Foolishly brave to think we could complete it family only, without help of uncle mus and uncle md noor. As flight to Riyadh was early morning Saturday went to do Tawaf Wida; in wee hours of last night in Makkah. Round 2 Tawaf, 8 month old Zahir fast asleep in Mama's arms ; round 3 Tawaf carried no.2 daughter, 3 year old Adila fast asleep over my shoulders ; round 4 Tawaf, 3 year old Nur Adlin walking and sleeping at the same time. Wife and me sidelined on the floor, next to Kaabah, watching the world goes by with 3 kids sprawled asleep on the ground. Hmm, a long time to Subuh, uncle mus and uncle md noor fast asleep in hotel and not answering their handphones. After a desperate 20 mins or so, where we resigned to waiting for Subuh and somehow resolve the logistics of carrying 3 sleeping children back to the hotel, God provided in the form of Masjidil Haram wheelchairs meant for the old and the infirmed. Thanked the kind soul profusely, dumped 2 sleeping daughters in the wheelchair, wife carried the toddler and we resumed our Tawaf. Used the wheelchair to transport the sleeping daughters back to nearby hotel and returned alone to return the wheelchair exactly where borrowed. Alhamdulillah problem solved, mission achieved. I am certain it was retribution for some impatience in thought towards some fellow pilgrims during Tawaf. As they say you pay cash in Makkah! It was also reassurance that God shall provide to those who immediately regret their deeds and repent.
Our next project would be Madinah, insyaAllah. Ilaliqo and salam.
Zahid
From:zahid aziz (zaziz@hotmail.com)
Sent:Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:20:09 PM
Reply-to:classof72@yahoogroups.com
To: Classof72@yahoogroups.com
Salam everyone,
Its been almost 2 months since me n family landed in the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Alhamdulillah so far me and family very happy here for very personal reasons I would rather not go into. Weather wise midday can touch 45C but living in a fully aircond world the heat that hits you as you walked to your parked car is actually welcomed! Humidity is very low here so sweat is something that never happens.
I jog one early morning and could hardly raise a sweat. Subuh is 3.30 and syuruk at 5! Looking forward to Ramadhan here where breaking of fast is 6 something. Umrah is a weekend trip. Did it with family and 2 friends a few weeks ago. Fly Riyadh to Jeddah Wednesday night(ie weekend night). taxi from Jeddah airport to Makkah. Technically we should return Friday night for work on first day of week, Saturday.But there was no flight so we only returned on Saturday morning. Glorious to rekindle love affair with Kaabah and Masjidil Haram. Last did it 10 years ago. First visit for wife and the 3 toddlers of course. Slumped at Masjidil Haram at 3 am on night of first arrival, having completed umrah with wife and 3 kids. Actually had a lot of help from Mustafa and Md Noor who carried a toddler each during Tawaf and Sa'i. Tawaf Wida' (farewell Tawaf) was a different affair! Foolishly brave to think we could complete it family only, without help of uncle mus and uncle md noor. As flight to Riyadh was early morning Saturday went to do Tawaf Wida; in wee hours of last night in Makkah. Round 2 Tawaf, 8 month old Zahir fast asleep in Mama's arms ; round 3 Tawaf carried no.2 daughter, 3 year old Adila fast asleep over my shoulders ; round 4 Tawaf, 3 year old Nur Adlin walking and sleeping at the same time. Wife and me sidelined on the floor, next to Kaabah, watching the world goes by with 3 kids sprawled asleep on the ground. Hmm, a long time to Subuh, uncle mus and uncle md noor fast asleep in hotel and not answering their handphones. After a desperate 20 mins or so, where we resigned to waiting for Subuh and somehow resolve the logistics of carrying 3 sleeping children back to the hotel, God provided in the form of Masjidil Haram wheelchairs meant for the old and the infirmed. Thanked the kind soul profusely, dumped 2 sleeping daughters in the wheelchair, wife carried the toddler and we resumed our Tawaf. Used the wheelchair to transport the sleeping daughters back to nearby hotel and returned alone to return the wheelchair exactly where borrowed. Alhamdulillah problem solved, mission achieved. I am certain it was retribution for some impatience in thought towards some fellow pilgrims during Tawaf. As they say you pay cash in Makkah! It was also reassurance that God shall provide to those who immediately regret their deeds and repent.
Our next project would be Madinah, insyaAllah. Ilaliqo and salam.
Zahid
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