Dua · Voyages

To The Holy Cities

Dua 001Voyage5 to 19 January 2026

Traffic on a highway under a burning orange sunset

Traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah was quite the whirlwind. Flying solo from Sylhet to Jeddah for my very first trip abroad was definitely a test of endurance. The endless flight and immigration hassles had me working for it.

Once I finally landed, though, the real adventure began. I want to keep things humble given the spiritual nature of the trip, but I think the picture really captures the magic of what happened next.

Stone rooftops of an old quarter with mountains behind

A sunlit courtyard of ochre walls opening onto the sea

The Clock Tower rising into a deep blue sky — The Clock Tower · Standing tall, calling you to the Haram miles before you even arrive.

The tower seen beyond a long marble arcade

An ornate facade with a tall lamp standard against the sky

Looking up a narrow street towards distant minarets

The city spread out below dry hills in the haze

Light from a minaret falling across a dark canopy above a crowd — A quiet night at Masjid an-Nabawi · Purely serene, deeply blessed.

A rider on a decorated camel in the desert

Standing at a railing on the corniche above green water

An empty road running out towards a dark peak

Hands down my favorite day in Saudi Arabia: January 18th. Right after Dhuhr, I hopped in a cab and headed out to Al Baida National Park. Between taking in the wide open views, visiting a camel farm, and trying fresh camel milk for the first time, it was the exact reset my exhausted soul needed. Pure peace.

Dua 001 · End of entry