3:45 am The alarm was screaming and I thought it was a lady with bad voice saying something to me; annoying with something. It was none of that of course but if I kept slumbering I’d be late for Fajr.
I woke up and saw my luggage loitered with the fruits of my passion —- jubah, kopiah, sejadah and two kilos of premium tamar. So they claimed. Hahahaha. But really tamar taste super here, sweet and squishy. Didn’t really know how to squeeze them all in that two suitcases. Okay so today is the journey home. We really stretched out our trip this time (40 days total) and it seemed going home is an overdue thing. It’s like you were at the end of a movie (good movie!) and you have to leave the theatre— you would feel satisfied, contented at least if not overwhelmed by the whole thing.
At Dhuha time, went out and about for the last time . Outside the mosque it was like a festival even though the morning has just started. People having breakfast, some were taking pictures like us and some were getting ready for a bigger day ahead. It looked like the time of last night has lost in between the days.
Adeel alJohani , our uber driver, came as soon as we confirmed the order. It was easy with Uber as both parties bound by the apps. We followed, executed it and made the payment. Everyone was happy. No scamming. In my travelling experience, the culprit that always ruin your holidays is a taxi driver. But not today.
As we pulled into the drop off area, the usual “ulat airport “ were waiting in line.harassing you to let them handle your luggage(for a fee, of course). I was tired of having them around but today I felt generous and would pay whatever price of his service. It turned out he was very helpful. We had problem with the luggage. Two of them we wrapped it up into one—— not allowed, said the staff of the airline. So this Bangla helped us solve the problem.
Anyway, the flight was rough like a rollercoaster ride but they gave us delicious pizza. Arrived in Riyadh in no time.(only one hour flight).
The airport in Riyadh (KKIA) has all the international standards with local flavours. A young girl standing in the hallway shouting at people to move. What is this shit? I was done being shouted at in Mecca and here you shouted in my face again. Local flavour in really bad taste. You don’t treat people like a herd of goats that’s so yesterday’s. Modern hospitality concept would use the crowds to pump up the sales and build up reputation. The old concept is to see it as potential security threats. It was really a turn off. When travellers felt threatened and intimidated at the forefront of a country (ie at the airport) that would be the last time they visited.
Anyway, despite that little incident the rest of the journey was fantastic. Passport control was okay so did the bag scan went without a hitch. The seven hour flight went like a dream because we slept most of the time. No chaotic scenes during boarding , it was all smooth and comfortable experience. Most of us slept, watched movies or fiddling with the phone.
It was half past eleven in the morning when we walked out of the door of KLIA to smell home again.
Home sweet home. Alhamdulillah.
