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| Page Views: 5,096 Last Visit to Jiddah: March, 2004 | A Gateway to Makkah by Pakistaniguy - last update: Mar 7, 2004 |
Welcome to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia: A country which is mis-understood by most of the travellers and tourists. It is known as a country of preparing and harbouring Terrorists, with very strict Islamic Sharia'a Law such as Hand cutting for thieves, etc. etc. Isn't this what u think of Saudi Arabia ? Yes, I also use to this the same. But I ask you one simple question. Have u seen this by your own eyes ? Did this happen to you ? Have u tried to check the reliability of the source of information ? If No, then why do u believe on so much negative things ???
Here I'll write all the truth (good or bad) which I personally recently experienced in Saudi Arabia. But i request you to start reading with a neutral mind and not being biased.
As you all know that I'm Muslim and every muslim has this wish to visit The Holy Ka'aba in Makkah asap. So, i had this wish as well. But when i use to think of visiting Saudi Arabia, i use to feel very freightened by what i was told by various people and the media (Tv, Newspapers, etc.) Especially their government is non democratic and this use to give me a very unsafe feeling because what if i made an intentional mistake and dis-respected the King, it simply means that i should be hanged or stoned to death !!!
But the wish to perform Umrah (The Pilgrimage to Makkah in non restricted days) grew more and more and because of my adventurous and curious personality i decided to visit Saudi Arabia. But this was just the start of the long stor; Even I was a Muslim but Saudi Visa was extremely difficult and i didn't wanted to pay 35,000 Pak. Rs. (1 US$ = 57.5 PKR) for a complete Umrah package with transport, hotel and Visa. I applied for the Transit Visa but couldn't even get that !
Finally After trying for a few times, I stopped trying and decided to buy this expensive Umrah Package as soon as the Umrah Visas start (From May to November according to Islamic Calender) In the meantime, i went to Yemen, which is Saudi Arabia's neighbour. Overthere my uncle is the head of the Yemen Commercial Bank, MashAllah and have got links. One day my uncle took me to a dinner given by Kuwaiti Ambassador in Sana'a, Yemen on the Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Kuwait joining the United Nations. Over there my uncle introduced to me to nearly all the Ambassadors from various countries especially to Pakistani, Kuwaiti, Ethiopian, Morrocon and most of all Saudi. He already knew that I wanted to go to Saudi Arabia, so he requested the Ambassador in front of me if he would issue me a visa so that i can perform Umrah. He immediately agreed but told my uncle that Umrah Visas are closed so, what he can issue now is only a Transit Visa for three days in which I can perform Umrah as well. I was very very happy this day !
Next morning my uncle took my passport with one photograph and in two hours i got the passport back to me with 3 days transit visa of Saudi Arabia :-)))
This was like a dream come true ! This was an invitation from Allah - The Almighty to visit His Ka'aba and perform Umrah. Subhhan Allah. So, I went to the Travel agent in Sana'a, who also knew my uncle, he made my ticket and got my current Emirates ticket re-routed.
Umrah is very simple but for first timers it is a bit complicated if there is no one to guide them properly. but I am very thankful to my Uncle, Auntie and their family who helped me a lot in overcoming my nervousness and guided me as much as possible !
On 1st March 2004, I flew from Sana'a, Yemen on Saudi Arabian Airline wearing my two piece white towel called Ihram and saying Allah huma Labayk. This was a journey to Ka'aba in Makkah which started after wearing Ihram. The white two piece Towel is called Ihram because after wearing it even a few things which are allowed (Halal) become forbidden (Haram) and a person performing Umrah must be very very careful after wearing Ihram and should definitely avoid all those Haram things. |
| Me and VTer Kado in my hotel in Makkah. |
|  | The Unforgettable Journey ! My flight from Sana'a to Jeddah was suppose to depart at 1945 hrs. At 1900 hrs Saudi Arabian officials came to the departure room which was just a dull gloomy big room with seats as in a football stadium and a feeling of sitting at mid night on a metro station of a less populated city with only a few tube lighty lighting the whole big room. They came and told the passengers that there is some technical problems in the plane and they will be a new plane coming from Jeddah to pick take us all. That plane will depart from Jeddah after one hour, which means that we'll InshAllah fly from here after 4 hrs !!! Oh God ! this really pissed me of but because of Ihram i had to relax and not to be angry and only concentrate on my Umrah. Officials sent juices and biscuites for us but that wasn't enough ! So, we all waited and waited for about 2 and a half hours when officials appeared again and started boarding !!! I was very very surprised. I didn't know how that plane is here so quickly... I was still thinking what would have happened and started boarding like others. When i was being transported from Airport to the plane i thought that they are using the same faulty plane but if there would be a new plane just arrived from Jeddah then i would be able to see it standing along with other planes because the airport is very small and all the planes stand on side of a run way. I couldn't find any other plane and now i was really shocked and very nervous. Finally before stepping into the plane i asked the official what was wrong in this plane and how come suddenly we are boarding ? He told me that there was a problem in HYDRAULICS of the plane and now its okay so we called u all ! I was stunned ! I had nothing to say, these words were just too much for me and i was thinking of all the hollywood movies with plane crashes and people's emotions before going into the plane and suddenly they are all dead !!!
Just don't ask me what i felt at that time. I sent sms to my father and others and called a friend of mine, told him the story, all my passwords and guided him what to do if i die in the plane crash :-)))
But i was forgetting that there is Almighty ALLAH who gave us birth, who gave us everything which we wanted and who is the best Protector. So, I survived. After landing on the Jeddah Airport, now I was thinking about the strategy to face the Immigration and customs officials because they are very well known for their unkind and ruthless beheviour !!! and I also know that there is a law which says that if u bring any drugs into the country you'll be simply hanged without any excuses !!! So, i decided to check all my luggage before customs to be extra sure that no one has put anything in my luggage.
After standing for about 5 mins in the Immigration Que my turn came. I looked at the Immigration officer, smiled and said Assalam u Aleikum & Good Evening. I was very nervous . . . and you know what he said to me ? He said; Welcome to Saudi Arabia with a broad smile on his face. I thanked him and he continued with his work. Ahhh! I thanked Allah that first stage is cleared. Now i picked my luggage from baggage claim area and found that they are okay and nothing bad has been done to them. I proceeded to the killer customs. I had a few electrical things which i wanted to declare and i asked the customs official about the red channel but they said there is no red channel and there is no problem with bringing these things. They just passed my luggage from the scanners and let me go ! I was very very surprised and happy with all these officials which are known to be very very bad with Pakistanis and they check and sometimes even cut the suitecases in checking !!!
At around 2 am ! i came out of the airport, I was having difficulties to find other passengers who wanted to go to Makkah in a shared Taxi. So, I called the VTer Kado to check the other options. But it was so kind of him that he extended his help and came immediately to drop me to Makkah. |
Jeddah - The Modern Islamic City I am very thankful for him to help me at that time of the day in a place where i knew no one else as such !
All the details about Umrah are on my Makkah Page.
I came back to Jeddah from Makkah to catch a flight to Madinah and on my Madinah Page you'll find the details of my stay in Madinah.
From Madinah I returned back to Jeddah on the 3rd March 2004. I was again welcomed by Kado as he was my host in the rest of my stay in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We had so much fun together. He took me to dinner in the Best Restaurant in Town called Vertigo. It was very nice. The Atmosphere there was unbelieveable as i was seeing the faces of beautiful Saudi girls wearing black A'abaa :-) and smoking Shisha (Arabian Pipe with flavoured tobbacoo) So, I strongly recommend you to visit Vertigo !
Next morning, we went to the Red Sea coast to do snorkelling. In the start i was a little bit frightened by the mighty sea and not knowing swimming. But Kado was so helpful that he taught me brilliantly how to snorkel and let me tell you that it was Amazing ! Simply Fantastic ! The Coral in the Red Sea along the coast in Jeddah is wonderful. I had a wonderful experience ! Thank You Kado for being such a nice host ! I salute you and your countrymen for being so nice and humble to me ! I had an excellent time in Saudi Arabia and InshAllah I'll come back soon.
From all the instances above you can see how good Saudis are ! How Peaceful the Country is ! and what high moral values the follow. I strongly recommend you to book a trip to Saudi Arabia to have an experience of your life time !
Best Wishes and Good Luck,
Umer Durrani. | | | You won't find this street anywhere in the World ! |
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 Comments for Pakistaniguy about Jiddah | | | | |
hayaimran Thu Sep 13, 2007 15:55 UTC
dear Umer jazakullah for allowing us to experience your adventures, i feel as if i have genuinly visited the places you have described. i wish you all the best for the future, may allah take you places you are yet to discover. haya. | alusru Sun Jul 31, 2005 08:23 UTC
Umer, your snorkeling pictures are great! You cannot swim but you went snorkeling ... wow, this is special! See you soon, Ursula | kado Thu Apr 1, 2004 22:30 UTC
Snorkelling.... I just feel like keeping my head down. | kylian74 Thu Mar 25, 2004 17:13 UTC
Oh... BinLaden street exist real!!..love the sweets in Vertigo. Umer, my father had worked in this place for some years., keep uploading more pics.:-)) |
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