Showing posts with label umrah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label umrah. Show all posts

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Bigboss' visit to Saudi Arabia

On his recent umrah trip with the Arab-Families, Bigboss captures some of the historical landmarks and cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Madinah Al-Munawwarah

Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah holds a distinguished place in the hearts of all Muslims. It is the second holiest site in Islam. The city of Madinah was known as Yathrib during the pre-Islamic era.

The green dome is also known as Kubah. The first two Caliphs - Abu Bakar and Omar, were buried next to Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalam (pbuh) in the place that had originally been the Prophet’s (pbuh) home and which today is covered by the famous green dome of the Mosque.

Bigboss in one area of the Al-Nabawi Mosque's compound.

Usually, early in the morning, you can already see men and women with their businesses.

There are also buildings that look like a City Hall housing many small and medium shops selling souveniors and merchandises.


On the left is the Grand Manazeli Hotel. In the background, you can see a new building with modern architectural design being built.

Rich Islamic architectural design can still be seen in modern buildings. A lone palm date tree standing majestically by the roadside.

A stop sign on the streets of Madinah city.



Makkah Al-Mukarramah

Makkah also known (among its various names) as Al-Balad Al-Haram (the Sacred City) is the holiest city on earth to all Muslims. The Holy City of Makkah is the place where Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalam (pbuh) was born.

Bigboss after Umrah ..outside one of the many gates of the Holy Masjidil Al-Haram

The Holy Mosque Masjidil Al-Haram in Makkah houses the Kaaba - the focus of Muslim worship. Five times each day, Muslims from all over the world, wherever they may be, turn to the Holy City of Makkah to pray.

Pegions


Night scene in Makkah


Saudi Arabia is the home land of the date palm tree. With its existence since ancient times, it is one of the oldest trees in the world, boasting its charming beauty and its endless generosity.

There are more than 300 types of dates in Saudi Arabia with each having its own different taste and texture.



Jeddah City


Jeddah is the second largest city after Riyadh. It is the main port of the Kingdom on the Red Sea and main gate through which most of the pilgrims arrive by air and sea to perform Umrah, Hajj or to visit the two holy mosques.

Bigboss in Jeddah.

Jeddah is an industrial and active commercial centre with modern features, squares and courtyards.

Corniche is a vibrant marketplace with multi-storied mud brick and stone buildings that sells everything from textiles and sparkling silver and gold ornaments to spices and honey.



Saturday, June 28, 2008

Arab-Families comes home ..

Alhamdulillah, with Allah Al-Mighty's divine blessings and willing, the Arab-Families entourage arrived home safely from Umrah late last night.

It was an emotional affair at the airport ...

ayahanda - Shaikh Hj Ahmad

UmiQ with her contented smile

Shami was overwhelmed to see his siblings at the airport

Mira and Melia all smiles with Faz and Kimchi

BinKhalid - Head of the Umrah group

Ladybiker, Bigboss and BinKhalid

a doa was recited by an Ustaz

mother and son tearfully embraced each other


More pictures here

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Bigboss in Madinah

photo taken from Cici Khalid

More pictures of the Arab-Families in Madinah here. Latest update - they will be in Jeddah later this evening.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

It happened yesterday..

Late Friday night, Kimchi and CQ had a long-distance call from Bigboss - who is in Makkah for umrah during this two weeks of school holidays with the Arab-Families siblings and other family members. Everyone is fine (yup! we missed Bigboss ok) and had full of activities with ziarah families and many of Islamic historical sites.

Yesterday morning, Kimchi and CQ were invited for an early breakfast with Mdm. NoorW with her little Fizza @Einstein.

Ohh yes! Fizza @Einstein is only four years old yet she can be so inquisitive and kiddily rebut to what-so-ever you talk about with her ...as if you are talking to a 4+0 year-old hehehe. We had breakfast at the Restaurant Amanah Harith in Jerudong.

Anyway, below are some shots that we took along Jerudong 'city'.

It was at a traffic light junction when CQ thought we were crossing into a Honshu or Tokyo city zone hehe... this pink-flowered tree looked like a sakura tree - sekali we were infact still in Jerudong city huhu.

Then this tree - along the Jerudong road- with its messed-up loosely branches caught CQ's attention. Now! could this be Brunei's very-own Tarzan's dwelling place?? lols ...he must have gone for food hunting yeah :)) ada-ada saja si CQ ani ehh

Ok this drum barrel has a 'go left' sign on it ...so CQ followed lah..then this was what Kimchi and CQ saw - see below ahh!

A zinc shed with a scrapped-for-life mini-van ..and few more drum barrels. CQ is sure you readers know where this place is ..yeah?? huhu

Aaahhh we also saw road cyclists doing their morning cycling routine along the Jerudong-Muara Highway.

After that we went home and kaput ...and we forgot to see the Spray Painting Exhibition! at the Mall ...arrgghhh :((

Friday, June 20, 2008

Keta lembu on sale?

Just hours ago, CQ had a quality and educational (yet hilarious at the same time) conversation with a friend. We were talking about the recent environmental issues.

In the midst of a serious debate between us, suddenly C-Wah blankly said that she was looking for an environmentally friendly transport. She needed CQ to ask around if there is any 'keta lembu' for sale? LOLS!

CQ's laughing radar o-meter was already shooting high ...hahaha. She said that she really need one becoz the price of petrol has gone up! Oh... C-Wah lives in Malaysia ..huhu

C-Wah said that by using ..err riding 'keta lembu' which literally means ''cow car' ...has a lot of advantages. Among them are - less depletion of the ozone layer, renewable energy resources hehe! - only feed on grass, the by-product also can be used for energy and land ploughing and when the 'keta lembu' has been in 'services' for a long period, it can be slaughtered to make rendang! lols ..

And for those who need more power and always travel long distance, they can buy or import horses or camels!

Imagine if we have 'keta lembu', horses and camels running along the Brunei highways?? Especially when these animals stop at the traffic lights junction with registration plate numbers hanging by their heads or tails. One will go moo-ing, the other will be neighing ..err what sound does a camel make? Oh gosh! It will be chaotic madness ...huhu - on second thoughts ..why not?? lols.





________meanwhile________


The Arab-Families umrah group are already on their way to Makkah Al-Mukarramah and will be performing their first umrah soon.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Madinah Al-Munawwarah

Latest update from Arab-Families in Madinah on their umrah activities ..

Monday, June 16, 2008

Umrah update ..

Alhamdulillah ...CQ recieved news at 3.30pm local time today - that the Arab-Families Umrah Group had ziarah makam (tomb) Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalam (pbuh) earlier today.

Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi (the Mosque of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. pbuh) in Madinah Al-Munawwarah, is the second holiest mosque in Islam.

Masjidil Al-Haram in Makkah Al-Mukarramah is the holiest mosque in Islam while the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is the third.

CQ will update (not everyday ahhh) again soon ...


______________meanwhile at home______________


so quiet and something is missssssing *uhuk uhuk uhuk*

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Arab-Families performing Umrah

Alhamdulillah. With Allah's divine grace and blessings, the Arab-Families has departed safely to the Holy City for Umrah this evening.

The group will be transiting in Singapore for a night stay and will continue the journey to Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, tomorrow morning.

A ' doa selamat' was held at the Serikandi Restaurant for the intending Arab-Families umrah group on last Thursday, 12 June 2008.

Mdm Tiff liased with a TTA personnel on the total count of baggages and boxes before checking-in.

Bigboss made sure the trolleys of baggages and boxes were in line for check-in.



The Arab-Families' Umrah group


A lesser form of pilgrimage to Makkah Al-Mukarramah that is not obligatory for Muslims, unlike the hajj, and can be performed at any time of year.


Ayahanda - Shaikh Hj Ahmad and Bonda - Sharifah Hjh Maimunah
with BinKhalid

Shaikh Hj Said @BinSaid - representing his family- with Mdm Jarah and X-kid. The Bling-bling Sistas and Golden boy could not be found for picture taking.. *sigh*

Mr & Mrs Sam and their two youngest daughters, Mira & Melia, will be joining the umrah trip.

Bigboss will be accompanying the Arab-Families' group.

Shaikh Hj Khalid - Head of the Arab-Families' umrah group - brings along his whole family to perform the umrah. Pictured here are only Mdm Tiff and Cici - the rest CQ can't gather them together ...all running here and there huhu

Sherry and Geerah will be among the umrah pilgrims and also to 'babysit' UmiQ :)

Ladybiker will be the 'doctor cum nurse' for Ayahanda and Bonda.

Shami will represent his dad - Senor Pablo, mom - Bunny Pablo and his brothers - Fejj, Marshmellow Boy and FunBoy.

UmiQ - her first umrah trip without her family, represent her dad - BinAzmi, mom - Mdm Rose and her sister - UmiFanah and brother - BinAbid.


His Honourable, Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah made a courtesy send-off to Shaikh Hj Ahmad and the Arab-Families group at the airport.

Sisters - Sharifah Hjh Aisah and Sharifah Hjh Hasiah came all the way from KB to send off their eldest brother - Shaikh Hj Ahmad.

A doa was read by an Ustaz.

Arab-Families.com


Some candid and sad moments at the airport


cousins - Melia, Mira, Kimchi, UmiFanah and UmiQ

Mr. Sam and the Boys

The female members of Arab-Families with BinKhalid

Bunny Pablo's family were also at the airport to send Shami off.

Bling-Bling Sistas with Mdm Rose and UmiFanah.

Rara, Cici, Mr. LV, Sweetcherry and Mdm Aini

Bigboss with Kimchi

Sham is either feeling too tired with excitement or he's already felt 'missing'..

aawwwwwww - peewweeettttttttt


May they have a safe journey to the Holy City


Labayk Allahuma LabaykLabayk. La shareeka laka Labayk. Innal hamda wannimata laka wal mulkLa shareeka Lak .. (Here I am at your service, oh Lord, Here I am. Here I am. No partner do you have. Here I am. Truly, the praise and the favor are yours, and the dominion. No partner do you have.)


BinKhalid & Mdm Tiff

Bigboss and the Sams

Mr. LV - the accompanying Mutawwif


CQ apologised to Hj Hisham and Syafiq - who are part of the group, for not able to post their pictures here becoz CQ couldn't find them at the airport *sigh* ..it's not easy to be a mamarazzi OK!



__________hours before__________


Alhamdulillah, Bigboss and CQ are sweet seventeen today ..huhu

This yummy mousse cake which CQ requested for mars bars as filling - can be ordered from Bunny Yummies

the oozing mars bars will drool you till you drop huhu ..

CQ made a special soto or/and mee soto for lunch. The dark green mass is actually cili padi - you can't eat without that!! hmmm those who have tried will know what CQ meant huhu ..Hey! people don't call Ciliqueen without a reason OK! lols ...but CQ will not be held responsible if you blow your top off ...hehehe pedassssss lerrr


_________in the morning________


Remember this post? Yes! Kimchi was announced the winner. CQ and Bigboss are so proud of her. Keep it up! Believe in your ability and capacity to achieve and succeed in your dreams!



That's all people! CQ is so exhausted ...zzzzzzzzzzzz