Thursday, January 03, 2013

Unknown Element

Alhamdulillah we are back. Clocked in at about 8000km in total. It was an educational journey, eye opener and hope to be richer in experience and understanding.

The thing about traveling to new places, there are always elements of the unknown and potential danger and of course delight. All these Insya Allah are experience enriching depending on your perspective of things and how you deal with it at the time and after it.

When we got to Tabuk, it was already dark. It's winter here. In saudi, maghrib is about 6. It was already cloudy with dark clouds looming earlier. Then suddenly when we drove a strong wind blew and we skidded slightly. A rush of sand followed pattering our cars and then drum rolls rolled on the road. There were no street lights. The rush of fear came to me because I was not sure to veer the drumroll and risk the possible of speeding car behind or stop also risking being hit at the back.

We made through the brief sandstorm.

Astaghfirullah and Alhamdulillah.

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PhotobucketJordan is a mountainous country. The mountains are not as high as Iran but most major towns are in the valleys. Thus the road is winding, some are better maintained than others. What's worse I think is that they do not put enough rail guards nor reflector to indicate bends on the winding road. Looking out of the car, is steep and deep canyon, leaving only to imagination of what to become if you make any wrong turning.

Our GPS keep giving us direction that we must drive through small, steep and uninhabited roads. A particular scary journey was when we were going to Umm Qays. It was dark. The roads kept getting smaller and steeper. We were at bends at the edge of mountain. There was no railguard. Not cats eye reflector. The cold night chilled even more. Both my lover and I were wide eyed concentrating on the road with fear enveloping both of us. I took a look outside the window: Pitch black of deep canyon with distinct rocks. We had no where to go except forward and up and up.

We maged to snake our way out with Allah's help.

Insya Allah for our next travel, we will use the IPad map which i heard was better and show us a clearer picture of where we are. Oh we had one on Samsung but it ran out of battery. Plus I heard that IPad one is better. Ngeh ngeh. Next time Insya Allah.

Astaghfirullah and Alhamdulillah.

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Jordan lies next to Israel, the occupied Philistine. Jordan being buddy buddy to Israel, demands that they get things under controlled and checked often. Thus if you happen to be in Jordan nearing the Israel border, you will encounter many checkpoints. Soldiers with real guns (but some without the magazines) will stop you and at minimum best ask for your passport. The most I had was they asked to roll down the windows (my windows are heavily tinted).

It was a queasy feeling being stopped by soldiers. Whenever we see checkpoint sign, our hearts sank. My thoughts are on the Philistines people who had to go through check point on daily basis, and they do not have it easy.

Astaghfirullah and Alhamdulillah

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On our last leg in Jordan, we moved out from Aqaba and drive to Tabuk and shot to Madinah. It was 900+km far. We tried to leave early but the border post held us back. First when leaving Jordan then arriving Saudi. Qadr Allah.

So we were driving, cutting through magnificent desert. Really the desert here starting from Jordan is imposingly majestic. The sand colours are red and the stones stand randomly staring at you. It was majestic when the sun shines. We enjoyed the desert and watched the sun sets in the horizon of the barren sand.

tabuk-madinah desert 2


It was after, that we realised that the road was really empty. There were no street lights. The huge stones began to grow in the darkness tightening their stare at you. The night was pitch dark. Even the high beam lights got swallowed up in the dark. We couldn't see what was ahead of us. We couldn't see what's next to us. I felt at that time, we had nothing and nothing else that can protect me except Allah.

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La hawla wala quwwata illa billah.

Then Allah guided me to remember what I taught the kids whenever you feel scared. Read the quls. Ayatul kursi. Seek Allah's protection from the evil of the darkness.

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I take refuge in Allaah’s perfect words from the evil He has created

And whatever else I could remember.


I was sacred I admit.

It taught me tawakkul.

Then the moon began to slowly rise in its full glory.

If you have been in the open on cold winter days, you would thank Allah for the sun for the warmth it gave was a blessing. In the darkness of the night, the presence of the illuminating moon was a blessing. It radiated the surrounding and lifted the fear.

Subhanallah and Alhamdulillah and Astaghfirullah








2 comments:

azGROWLen said...

Alhamdullilah ur back safe and sound
Only being there makes a difference
Insyallah one day would try to visit these places.....problem kurang outlet so family not to keen

Lollies said...

Tee he he. shopping wise memang not te place to go