In Jeddah (again)

Four hours.  That's how long it took to make it from Madinah to Jeddah by SUV.  Never heard of anyone making it that fast.

The plan is to spend the night here, and head to Mecca around 11am tomorrow morning.  "Insha Allah" as they say in Arabic.

Between now and then, I'm still wearing ihram.  It's not the easiest thing - especially to wear when you're sleeping - but I suppose it could be worse.  Seems there are lots of "rules" about things that you're not supposed to do when you're in ihram.  They include:

Fighting

Cursing

Cutting your nails

Applying perfume

Killing insects (very hard, in a desert environment)

Using cosmetics

Plucking body hair

Looking in a mirror

The idea, I'm told, is that when you're in ihram, you're supposed to disconnect yourself from all vain, worldly things. 

Speaking of disconnecting, internet service using my SIM card seems a bit intermittent here in Jeddah.  Might be the same in Mecca too.  Means I may not be able to reply to all the tweets.

Will write again tomorrow, hopefully, from Mecca.