Ramadhan in Mecca (Day 5)

6am. After the Fajr prayers, while filling up my water bottle,I heard from behind” Masya Allah “ as someone trying to say my bottle is too big. I tried not to hear that because I know my bottle is a bit too big and this station is supposed to be for cup users only. But no one should be drinking now ; so,are you saying my bottle is bigger than yours ? Like anything else here you do whatever you feel fit and just get away with it. Only if the police do not yell on top of his voice for you. They call themselves “911 Police” not sure why but they keep this place in order(sort of!).

The exit doors were packed . I need to get out as my stomach was rumbling since the beginning of solat and it cannot wait. I joined the crowd pushing and hasting my way forward. Kinda my routine now to follow the crowd and glare when someone push me aside. The look that says “ get the fxxk off” …..

Mostly people understood the gestures but many just winked,smiled and moved on. My anger immediately dispersed into the thin morning mist leaving me speechless for my untimely outburst. In many cases, the ones nudged the way through were the big boobs big ass ladies from idk where.

I was out but the area seemed unfamiliar. Walking down the path following the new crowd that just merged in from another door, I was more confused. Lost my way early in the morning and my stomach still rumbling to be let out. Better go back inside and find a familiar exit. By the time I found my way the sky has just revealed the faces and places of today——still tired from the hustle and bustle of yesterday.

Slept until 10 am. Soon another full day with a mosque full of strangers will begin. Refreshed after a hot shower , I began my routine for another day. Strangely, I was looking forward to another quiet day. The sun was already burning hot and it ‘s not even noon yet. The crowd was big as usual but I paved my way through to the tawaf area (1st floor). Milling around for awhile and boom! To the front row near the balcony where you can see the Kaabah below. Nowadays only those with umrah clothes are permitted to go down and tawaf on the ground. The rest of us has to do upstairs.

After Zuhr my mission was to fill up zamzam water again(ready for Iftar).That means negotiating with the ladies again. They took forever to finish and come from nowhere her friends passing a bagful of empty bottles for her to fill. Knew this is gonna happen I gave up and went off to find another station. Found one but this lady yelled for me to back off like she own the gdamn tap . Maybe thats how she act at the waterhole back home. I discarded her love advances to me andstarted filling up my bittle. Mission accomplished. Hahaha see you later bitch!



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The time for Asr came fast. Another Palestinian guy came for some donation. These guys target Malaysian/Indonesian. He had a message written in Malay for me to read. As soon as I understood the message, I turned him away. Could not be more zalim than that I must say, but, you hv to make a point sooner or later. Today I was not in a mood so go away,please. But I made friend with a guy from Lombok. A pensioner like me, he was as nice as an Indon can be. We talked about stuff sometimes I understood him sometimes I did not. But it was nice knowing him.

Iftar on the rooftop was awesome. Simple but fantastic. The atmosphere was unbelievable. Hogging for spaces was common in addition to food collecting as the caterer trying to distribute for everyone.



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My back is hurting just to hang on a bit more for the much awaited Qiam with the best imam and powerful recitation the world came to listen. As the day come to an end I just couldn’t wait to be back to the hotel for a final snack from home. Hahaha nasi with sambal daging and ikan masin. That’s it I just could not wait for tomorrow to come and do this all over again.

Ramadhan Mubarak.