Photos: Mecca's new bazaars

Mecca is, and always has been, a city of traders and merchants.  It was like this even long before the advent of Islam, when traders from three continents would stop in Mecca to barter goods, set exchange rates, etc. 

It's no surprise then that commerce remains a big part of the annual Hajj.  Nowhere is that more obvious than in the brand new, state of the art Abraj al Bait shopping complex.  Visitors can now enjoy multiple food courts, high-end fashion and jewellery stores, and even grab a Starbucks - literally just steps away from the Great Mosque.  

Saudi's tackle health on the hajj

One of the biggest dangers with a gathering this large is the spread of disease.

Think about it.  You have people coming from every part of the world, carrying who knows what germs, bacteria, and viruses with them.  In the case of a serious strain of influenza (think H1N1 or Avian flu), any kind of outbreak could be deadly.

Germs and viruses can spread very easily here.  To complicate matters, many parts of the world don't have high levels of health education.  In some countries, it's common to sneeze or blow your nose right onto the ground.  In Mecca, where people are generally barefoot in holy sites, it becomes a recipe for disaster.

Photo Gallery: Modernizing the Hajj

Have some more time to upload photos while I'm at my laptop working on the print articles.  The first story will look at how Canadian engineers are helping to transform the Hajj experience, and the second will look at how technology is making the annual pilgrimage into something like a Hajj 2.0.  Saudi authorities are fully embracing new modes of communication and technology, to bring the ancient ritual into the 21st century.

In the meantime, here are more pics.  Please note that there's a strict "no cameras allowed" policy inside the Great Mosque.  They usually allow in only one pool photographer, from AP or Reuters.  Most of these pics were taken from outside during the late morning.

 
A pilgrim walks outside the Great Mosque in Mecca.  During prayer time, this entire area is filled with pilgrims.

 

Photos from Mecca

Had time to wander around this morning and shoot some photos.  The lighting here is very tricky.  Lots of contrast:  Either you're in the shade, or the blinding sun.  Makes balanced photos a bit tricky.

This is the first photo.  More to follow.

 
A view from the ground, looking up, at the new Makkah Clock Tower, the world's biggest.

Kingdom on alert, but it's business as usual for pilgrims

Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister, Prince Nayef, said at a press conference today that the Kingdom remains on alert for a possible Al-Qaeda attack next week during the Hajj.

Frequently asked questions about the pilgrimage

Swapped in another battery for my laptop.  Should give me some extra juice, until either it dies, or I collapse.

Been trying to answer some of the questions I've been getting.  Here's an attempt.  If you have more, hit me up on twitter (@MuhammadLila) and I'll try to answer some of them. 

In Mecca

Been a long and tiring day.  Got to Mecca around 1pm.  It's obvious Hajj season is underway.  People here from every country you can imagine.

Will have to keep this brief (my laptop battery is dying).  The plan is to find a power adaptor, and post a couple of proper updates tomorrow.  Hoping to head out to shoot some more photos too.

Very hard to get around the city.  Even walking takes 5-6x longer than usual, because of all the crowds.

Now, to sleep.  At least for a bit.

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.

The road to Mecca

And so it begins.

After three continents, six cities, and three flights, I'm on my way to Mecca.  Will keep this blog post brief.

Hajj 101: A primer

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately asking for more information about the Hajj.  Here are some of the answers.

What:  The Hajj is one of the five main pillars of Islam.  It refers to the annual Islamic pilgrimage.

When:  The Hajj is performed during the last month of the Islamic calendar, a month known as Dhu’l Hijjah.  Because the calendar is based on lunar cycles, the dates change slightly from year to year.  This year’s pilgrimage takes place in mid-November