Chapter 1- The Journey Begins
We drove to JFK. Fortunately Gui was in town and heading for Connecticut so we had a comfortable journey. We said goodbye to Linda, Anisa, Jeff and Meg in Philadelphia. Photo by Gui.
Drive to the airport. Photo by Gui.
The airport check-in was very confusing and everyone got some strange looks by the airport staff especially as some people did wudhu(ritual washing of arms, face and feet). Our whole group of ten from Pennsylvania and New Jersey made it through without trouble. This included Dr. Arshad Jan and his wife Ambreen, Dr. Nadeem Shamsi and his wife Nadia, the Rajput Family, with Dr. Rajput, his wife and two sons, Zaashan, 26, and Arshan, 22.
An unknown couple. The flight was to Amman and I presume was mostly people going for Haj.
THe departure lounge in Kennedy. This one travel agent came up to me and said she was so glad that I had made it in and that she had been looking all over for me. She wanted me to wear my credentials that were sent by the travel agency. After I had put them on it turned out that she was looking for some other Iqbal! Poor woman had to go rushing off again. I saw her a number of times later on and teased her about losing her people.
Settling into our seats for Amman. Ambreen is sitting right next to Mummy in the center. And across the isle from her is Arshad Jan. They were wonderful companions all through Haj and became good friends. Behind us are Mom and Dad(standing) Rajput with Zeeshan.
Nadeem and his wife Nadia, both wonderful people that we got to know so well during Haj.
Spirits are high while we are settling in. Notice that the women still have their hair uncovered. This of course would change by the time we reach Saudi soil to comply with their rules.
The flight attendent seemed to be making little headway dealing with the passengers. It seemed that many switched seats on their own and problems rapidly escalated. It was amusing to see the communication.
A contrast between the western Royal Jordan flight attendent and the african lady passing by her. I found the african men and women most fascinating iin how they dressed and did their hair.
A veiled muslim lady passes by the flight attendent.
We had a 7 hour layover in Amman and they sent us to a hotel. Mummy's Pakistani passport always caused a problem and the rest of the group patiently coped with getting her through. Here Nadeem and Nadia are on the bus to the hotel.
Arshad and Ambreen still wide awake.
The 10 hours in the airplane hasn't really taken its toll yet.
We only had time to freshen up so we shared a room with Nadeem and Nadia for a two hour rest. Here we are in the hotel cafe in Amman, Jordan.
Dr. Rajput giving a massage to Aash. Notice the large amounts of hair that Aash still has!
Santa showed up amongst the Hajis! We simply had to get that picture with Arshad Jan and Ambreen.
Nadeem and Nadia outside the transit hotel in Amman.
Back at the Amman airport. Some passengers are going to Jeddah and since their flight might take them by the Meeqat(the boundary of the area where pilgrims have to change into their Ihram. Ihram are two sheets of unstitched cloth for men and normal clothes for women.
The group at the airport counter. Since we were going to Medina first and not intruding into the boundary of the Meeqat, we stayed in our normal clothes.
The mostly Pakistani porters at the airport took all the luggage and laid it out in neat rows. It was the strangest sight. These men form the working backbone of Saudi society but get very little respect.