This post will be a personal reflection and observation from recent trip for Umrah, rather than photography. The photos are as requested from a few friends, who wanted to share my experiences.

Key part of the trip was around the Masjid Al Haram. I did not take photos when doing the actual rituals around Tawaf and Sa’i. Photos are from other times when walkabouts. It is amazing feeling, with people crowded well into the night and early hours of the morning. The Clock Tower however, does take away from the sanctuary.

We made a day trip to Jabal Al Noor, which has the cave of Hira. This is where the prophet pbuh meditated, and the first verses of the Quran were revealed.

We also did some sightseeing around the place. Hiring a car was probably not the greatest idea, which ended up costing us a lot of time and not making the most of the surroundings. Makkah and Madinah are not well sign posted in English, Google Maps instructions are not the greatest, and any day they close various streets within the city. So directions are hard to follow. I would recommend using local transport – Uber or Careem instead. Haggling with taxi drivers may be a bridge too far if you are not used to it.

Most stark was how dilapidated the area around Hudaibiya was. It is a Miqat for Umrah / Haj, and a historic site prior to conquest of Makkah. Yet, it is left unattended, plenty of graffiti on the pillars and rubbish strewn around it.

Madinah was a lot less hectic than Makkah. And the prophet’s mosque has a serene quality to it. We were fortunate to stay close enough to hear the call to prayer and be able to be there for the congregation.

Just outside the Masjid Nabwi complex is the Ghamammah Square. It has the Old Masjid Ghamammah, which was the first location of Eid prayers for Muslims, and also Masjids Abu Bakr, Umar and Ali – locations where those famous companions and later caliphs lived. History is almost swamped by modernity here.

We visited the Masjid Qiblatain. This is where the Muslims where praying when the revelation came for the direction of prayer to be changed from Al Quds to Masjid Al Haram. This mosque has a serene white outer with both qibla.

Masjid Quba is the location where the prophet pbuh was first greeted in Madinah and is also the location of the very first mosque built by the prophet pbuh. He used to pray Asr here after every Juma.

On the way back we stopped over at Jeddah prior to departure and managed to see a pair of unique mosques. The Masjid Shafi’i is the teaching place of the famous muslim jurist, located at Souq Al Alawi, a historical area. Masjid Al Rahma is located at the Jeddah Corniche next to Jeddah Yacht Club.

On a personal note it was a satisfying journey. Photography wise, I wasn’t as particular about how I went about things. Most importantly, the snaps won’t match the memories. Hopefully everyone gets a chance to visit such places and feel tranquility in their life for a few moments, away from the rat race we are normally on.