MECCA: THE LAND OF MIRACLES

About 3 years ago I felt a nudge in my heart. For some reason memories of the Holy Land came to my thoughts and I started to miss Mecca a lot. I was last there in 1999. I silently wished in my heart that someday I would go there again.

Turns out I wasn't the only one who felt that way. Recently, Mum contacted numerous travel agents and they told her the words she dreaded. "Fully booked and it's too late". The only available Umrah trip for us would be in January 2010. Mum pleaded to the final travel agent she spoke to until the lady gave in and said she'd submit our passports but there would be no guarantee that our visas will be granted. Mum chose 22nd December as her preferred date to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It seemed impossible because it was only 2 weeks away but Mum was set on late December. We didn't have much hope but 'you have to be in to win', right?

Last week we received a phone call from the travel agent. She told us the good news. We managed to get our visas! Apparently there were people who applied a month before we did and they didn't get theirs. It's instances like these that make me believe in fate. My silent prayer was answered, mashaAllah. But we were so unprepared! We had less than a week to arrange our travels and to organise everything that we need for Umrah.

Then I realised  I have nothing to wear! We have a few abayas left over from the last trip but surely I need some new ones that will fit the 22 year old me. I managed to borrow some beautiful abayas from my friend and her mum (thank you!). I'll get some new ones in Medinah, apparently they're really nice and cheap compared to what we have in KL. I went shopping for some hijabs, plain and simple ones in black or white. For the first time in a very, very long time... being fashionable isn't a priority. It's gonna be tough because I love my colours. It'll be like fighting what nature intended! Having said that, my favourite colours are black and white so I honestly don't know what my problem is. Okay, okay, with all seriousness being fashionable won't be a priority because going for Umrah is about getting closer to God. And God doesn't care what style or colour I wear so I'm going to be focused and have my intentions right.

Tomorrow afternoon I will be flying to Jeddah, inshaAllah. Then we'll travel to Medinah, Mecca and Taif. It feels too good to be true. The last time I went was 10 years ago. I'm older now and hopefully, I will be able to experience Mecca and other parts of Saudi Arabia with a much deeper understanding. It's winter over there at the moment so it will be quite cold. I still can't believe that we're leaving tomorrow! I don't know why but God never fails to make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. My head's spinning around with all kinds of questions. Why does He keep blessing me? Do I really deserve all that was given to me? What is His plan for me?

These are some the questions that I hope will be answered when I'm in the land of miracles. Isn't it wonderful that just the fact that we are going is by itself a miracle? I hope this will be the journey of a lifetime, both physically and spiritually; and I pray for a safe return, inshaAllah. I'll be back in 2 weeks which means I'll spend New Year's there. How cool is that? It's like starting the year on a really, really good note.

I won't be blogging until then so HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I'm gonna miss you guys... keep updating your blogs so I'll have heaps to read when I get back. Ciao bellas!