Umrah Trip, Saudia

I have been in saudi arabia to do the umrah, after spending a full year working in dubai, long hours, nonstop days, i felt the need to take a break, to refresh my soul and recharging the battery. I decided to travel to medina and makkah to discover the beauty of Al-Masjid Al-Haram and Al-Masjid An-Nabawi, as a muslim, these were places i had only ever seen on TV usually playing at the small supermarket back in my neighborhood, watching people circle around Al Kaaba, not knowing that one day i would have the chance to be there myself and by my own.

moving in life makes it beautiful and allow us to discover more and letting the chances the become an reality and make the desicisons and the small details that makes the difference, thus us how life surprises us, giving gifts that is timeless for the right timing, what i like is the idea that my art, and my ideas let me doing that lets me travel the world, with just my passport and my backpack.

I did planned this trip and I invited Yassine Bendaoud, my friend from high school who now lives and works in doha, we finally made the plan to meet, in another country, on the usual calls checking on him and how life’s going on with him recently, we did decide that its a good idea to go together and experience it and also to share the hotel, split the costs, and enjoy what turned out to be an unforgettable experience.

I spent 10 days in saudi arabia, from 05/02/2024 till 15/02/2024. but it felt like 3 months. first 7 days were in makkah, and the rest in medina.

we arrived at the perfect time, it was raining in makkah, something rare and magical, I arrived before him and I did my umrah, and he followed after, that entire moment, being there together in this unbelievable place, was unforgettable, i can only describe this trip as a rebirth, as a new beginning for me.

everything flowed smoothly, all the day out, eating twice per day and local food from biryani and traditional food, like this we were moving from a place to the next, with no pressure, just intention and presence, watching videos on instagram from people that were there, like this we move after our umrah, casually and randomly and enjoying the small details that makes the difference and make this place unforgettable.

we enjoyed the sunsets from a different places everyday, soaking in the beauty and serenity around us, I took with me my canon R6 with its 24-105mm lens and my iPhone 15 pro max, capturing memories, photographing special corners of this powerful journey, preserving them for myself and to share.

here are some photos from the trip, i hope you enjoy them as much as i enjoyed being there, i am looking forward to seeing more of saudi arabia soon — especially riyadh and alula, this is just the beginning.