from this place,” she said with teary eyes. “I feel the same way,” said Shahinaz Talwar, a Pakistani woman also visiting the Prophet’s Mosque for the first time. “ It is not a normal ritual following the Hajj to visit Madinah but I am very glad I did as I feel that it is an added bonus to a perfect pilgrimage,” she said. Following their visit to Madinah, some pilgrims wishing to learn more about the country’s culture and historic past after performing Hajj take tours of Old Jeddah. There, they view the buildings, many of which were built on stilts signifying where the sea used to be when the structures were originally erected hundreds of years ago. Also on the itinerary is a visit the legendary Grave of Eve or Hawa, as she is known in Arabic, the mother of all mankind.
Others simply enjoy browsing through the old markets in the downtown area and strolling through the ancient cobblestone walkways. Tour buses carrying pilgrims of various nationalities can also be spotted spending their daysalong Jeddah’s Corniche picnicking, fishing, or merely enjoying the beautiful view of the Red Sea. By night, you can find pilgrims shopping for gifts and souvenirs in any of Jeddah’s massive malls or hypermarkets. “We have been setting out early in the morning from our hotel and walking in groups around the city. It is good exercise, allowing us to experience how the local people live and has provided us an added adventure after the Hajj,” Wira Pangadeqan, a forty-something Indonesian man said. DESTINATION JEDDAH 35