Your Next Vacation Destination.....?

[spizike231]

It’s a delicate situation - they need the tourist money but not the tourist.

Yes, and a lot of kanaka argue (whether right or wrong) that Hawai’i doesn’t need tourist money.

I think more people would see the benefits if their government would do what’s right and do with that money as they should. Which doesn’t really seem to be happening in most areas of the state.

Plenty kanaka understand the balance of tourism vs indigenous and local Hawai’i. They’re fine with local tourism as long as it’s respectful and that those visiting take care of the aina, because they’ve known it all their life.

 

[アミーゴ]

Yes, and a lot of kanaka argue (whether right or wrong) that Hawai’i doesn’t need tourist money.

I think more people would see the benefits if their government would do what’s right and do with that money as they should. Which doesn’t really seem to be happening in most areas of the state.

Plenty kanaka understand the balance of tourism vs indigenous and local Hawai’i. They’re fine with local tourism as long as it’s respectful and that those visiting take care of the aina, because they’ve known it all their life.

Agree - I was there after the pandemic and rented a local boat in Kauai. He was so thankful to be back after he didn’t make a dime during the pandemic. Was heartbreaking to hear. Or it was to get a big tip

 

[zmaqbool]

Saudi Arabia here I come

 

[lovehateself]

Saudi Arabia here I come

Team Al hilal or team Al nassr ?

 

[zmaqbool]

Team Al hilal or team Al nassr ?

Sorry to disappoint I'm not much into soccer, lol. I'm doing the holy pilgrimage of Um'Rah which is what brings me here. In Medinah for like 5 days then we're off to Mecca. Some pics of the holy Al Masjid an Nabawi

 

[Grine]

Mash’Allah. May Allah accept your Umrah beloved brother and a safe journey. zmaqbool

What a blessing! I hope to make mine in December, InshaAllah.

 

[lovehateself]

amazing

 

[zmaqbool]

Mash’Allah. May Allah accept your Umrah beloved brother and a safe journey. zmaqbool

What a blessing! I hope to make mine in December, InshaAllah.

Jazakallah brother . Its surreal man. I can't describe the feeling through words. Ameen Suma Ameen may Allah accept all our duas & grant us health and Jannat.

The biggest & best blessing a Muslim could ever ask for. He chooses when he wants us to make the journey & I thank Allah he set the time for me & chose for me to make the journey with my family. So so so blessed . Inshallah you do yours in December, I'll pray for you .

Had a Big Mac for the first time in my life because y'know everything is halal here & no halal Big Mac's back in the states, lol. Did some touring of Islamic holy sites earlier today. We saw Ohud mountain which has a religious significance in Islam as a battle of believers vs nonbelievers took place here centuries ago. Tried some random mango drink with KitKat which came out to be 10 Saudi Riyal so $2.58 USD & McDonald's was 30 Riyal so 8 bucks American- not bad if I do say so myself.

 

[jrp44]

Sorry to disappoint I'm not much into soccer, lol. I'm doing the holy pilgrimage of Um'Rah which is what brings me here. In Medinah for like 5 days then we're off to Mecca. Some pics of the holy Al Masjid an Nabawi

Excuse my ignorance, but what is this? Some kind of tomb? Genuinely curious

 

[zmaqbool]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is this? Some kind of tomb? Genuinely curious

Yes, you can consider it that. It's called Roza Mubarak (Sacred chamber). The gold grill is the front part of the Roza Mubarak, the Sacred Chamber in which the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) passed away and where he is buried.

It also houses the graves of the first two Caliphs of Islam, Abu Bakr (r.a.) and Umar (r.a.). who were basically Prophet Mohammed's(s.a.w) most loyal companions.

 

[zmaqbool]

Some more McDonald's & local fast food spot yesterday. They got KFC up the block but we're leaving for Mecca tomorrow. I got to see what's up there food wise. Had date cheesecake & date ice cream. Both were great. The date ice cream has no added sugar. It contains only the sugar that's naturally in it. Some night time pics of the Minaras as well, so beautiful Mash’Allah.

 

[zmaqbool]

the tulip shades retract at night

 

[Grine]

I heard the marble is so cold - it’s help with the high temperature…how are you remaining cool out there? zmaqbool

 

[zmaqbool]

I heard the marble is so cold - it’s help with the high temperature…how are you remaining cool out there? zmaqbool

It is cold but with the desert heat it eventually starts to heat up & fast, lol. I'm wearing the local Arab clothing called thobe or abaya. You'll see it in abundance with the men in my pics. It covers you head to toe & the material is very light. I bought like 5 of them.

You could wear shorts here now with the changes Prince Suleman has made official but nobody does so. Also, the holy Zum Zum water helps too, Alhumdulillah & Allah makes it easy for us.

An interesting fact, I've heard the stories about how the pigeons that fly around here & at Mecca do not poop anywhere on the holy grounds but seeing it for myself was just crazy. I've walked the courtyard & grounds extensively in my 4 days here & not once did I see poop anywhere at all its crazy. Allah orders them not to & they actually don't.

 

[Mark Antony]

Man I need them to adopt that coke can cover everywhere.

 

[zmaqbool]

Arrived in Mecca two days ago. Completed my Umrah, Alhumdulillah . Photodump of yesterday's day coming
Breakfast at the hotel/aerial views of the ever expanding Makkah complex

 

[zmaqbool]

Continued

 

[zmaqbool]

Part 3: Makkah Clock Tower where we're staying. It is also the 3rd tallest building in the world, an absolutely massive structure! Date ice cream from the hotels Starbucks. It's very Americanized at both holy sites, Makkah & Medina with the fast food & malls. It wasn't so heavily commercialized back in the day. Hotels as far as you can see to accommodate the waves of pilgrims that arrive on a daily basis. The desert city is under constant expansion with hundreds of new hotels going up in all directions. Arabia is literally the land of sand & mountains. A very harsh but beautiful climate. Dates are Crack here, it comes in all colors &levels of natural sweetness.

 

[zmaqbool]

Part 4, lol

 

[zmaqbool]

The mall inside Makkah Clock Tower/some pretty wack pizza I decided to buy, lol/a crazy rainstorm rolled through Makkah earlier yesterday evening- what a scene! It never rains in the desert...what's happening here?/pics of Kaaba(the black cube)/snacks at the supermarket or "hypermarket" as the Saudis call it.

 

[zmaqbool]

Here we have more hypermarket goods/I got some M&Ms spread & Milky Way spread to take back home/mall vibes/donut(it was just ok, nothing special)/lighting above Makkah Clock Tower/Kaaba

 

[zmaqbool]

These are pictures of Prophet Ibrahim(Peace Be Upon Him(known as Abraham to Christians) footprints. The footprints are on the rock that would levitate on Allah's orders to help Prophet Ibrahim in constructing the Kaaba. He stood on this rock all the time while Allah had him building the Kaaba. They are housed inside a very thick glass lantern looking some. The footprints are massive!

 

[zmaqbool]

In these pics you'll see absolute mayhem going on in the bottom right. The pilgrims are trying to kiss a holy rock known as Hajar al-Aswad (The Black Stone). It's a stone sent to Earth straight from heaven through Allah centuries ago.

If a Muslim makes his or her way to this stone & is able to kiss it they are automatically heaven bound after death. It was originally white but through so many years of kisses has turned black. I was blessed enough to be able to kiss is yesterday . It took some time & a lot of pushing & shoving but thank God, I was able to make it happen.

People get frantic, insane, psychotic & absolutely crazy to kiss the stone, especially the men. It's a very holy & spiritual once in a lifetime opportunity for most to try to make it happen so 0 care is given. They push, punch, shove & hit anyone & everyone. Women are advised to not even try because they are delicate & weak compared to men but still some try. By the time I was shoved into the front of it a woman had her headscarf ripped off her head & was being stomped on & was frantically crying.

The guards dare not intervene...they know there's absolutely nothing they can do against such an emotionally charged crowd so attempt at your own risk. I'm 6'3 265lbs so I made my way there & in the name of Allah yelled Allah U Akbar got my face on the stone kissed it twice & immediately moved away. The crowd wouldn't let me out so again I yelled Allah U Akbar & had to bulldoze my way out like a linebacker, lol. Saying excuse me will not work here. I wish the Saudis would give a damn about organizing & controlling the crowds at the holysites...women & children have been killed and stampede on here. YouTube will give you a better visual on the level of insanity by this stone.

 

[Grine]

ahat - You see akhi zmaqbool made it to the Kabaa! Mash’Allah!

InshaAllah we all are able to receive this blessing!

zmaqbool thank you for sharing your pictures! So inspiring and I’m eager to make my Umrah. Not sure if I have the patience to get to the Kabaa like you.

Did you get the baldy cut?

 

[zmaqbool]

Inshallah you receive the blessing to come do your Umrah brother. I made dua for you . Best to do it while we're young. Lol, you just have to be super patient because we're not allowed to show any anger when we are in the intention of performing Umrah, Inshallah you make it.

Yup, baldy cut was official right after the Umrah was complete. Feeling new & fresh like a newborn, Alhumdulillah.