It was relatively last minute, too. Shah and I had dreamed of performing the umrah for a while and had hoped to perform it in the next few years or so, but when the surprising opportunity to perform it this very year came calling, we just had to answer it!
We have a saying that goes something like this: we plan, but God is the best planner of them all.
• • • • • • •
OK, confession: except for the post right before this one, the three previous ones before it were scheduled to publish automatically while I was in either city. It was necessary as I didn't want my blog to go quiet for too long while I was away, especially since I didn't know how often I would update my Instagram from Saudi.
But I obviously couldn't predict that I would get a viral infection while I was in Mecca and that it took me a while to recover, so in the end my blog did go radio-silence! I also had zero inclination to update my Instagram while I was away in Saudi, which felt refreshing to be honest; I was able to be in the moment, at all times.
I couldn't not snap any photo at all though! Medina and Mecca are immense beauties of their own; they're unlike any city I ever visited. It was the most special trip Shah and I have ever taken.
• • • • • • •
This photo of me here is not from my trip, no; this was just a little corner in my neighbourhood! I did however want to say that I brought this purple and magenta accented black abaya with me on the trip.
While I will not be sharing the outfits I wore in Saudi — it was a lot of head-to-toe black outfits anyway (which I absolutely loved, and I even wore the niqab, but more on that soon) — I would however love to share with you guys some of the photos I took of both cities, so stay tuned for photo diaries!
Update: Check out my Madinah/Medina Photo Diary here
While I will not be sharing the outfits I wore in Saudi — it was a lot of head-to-toe black outfits anyway (which I absolutely loved, and I even wore the niqab, but more on that soon) — I would however love to share with you guys some of the photos I took of both cities, so stay tuned for photo diaries!
Update: Check out my Madinah/Medina Photo Diary here
I wish I had snapped more photos honestly, but looking over what I have in my phone (and Shah's) are enough to remind both of us that our trip there was indeed real. ❤
I'm sure that this trip was uniquely memorable for you and Shah and I think you were very wise to post for automatic release. I'm so sorry to hear that you were ill during this trip. Sometimes even the best of times are still stressful.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're back to feeling like yourself. I can't wait to see your photo diary Liyana! Love, Jude
Thank you, Judy <3 I'm very, very glad I pre-planned some posts.
DeletePractically half of the people I know who went to Medina and Mecca came back with some sort of cold or flu, it's almost inevitable with the mass of people you're surrounded by I suppose! It took me a while to recover from the viral infection but I am feeling SO much better now, thank you Judy =D
May Allah accept your Umrah. When you're there, the rest of the world doesn't seem to matter anymore, and everything else fades into the background so that you are focused only on making every single moment in those holy cities count.
ReplyDeleteAmeen. Thank you Nadia! Oh yes, that feeling is unlike any feeling. Leaving Mecca was one of the hardest goodbyes I had to make - but hopefully it won't be for good, of course. I'm already dreaming about going back there. <3
DeleteThat's really amazing! To visit these precious places like you had planned. I'm happy you went digital-free while you were there. Being in the moment is important! Loving the purple and magenta outfit. You wear happy colors so well. And you glow every single time! :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteI think that was the first time ever I went 99% social media-free. Such a nice change of pace. Not sure it would suit my life in Malaysia, however!
Delete