Journey to work.

Well its time to head back to work. Bags packed with luxuries and necessities to make my life easier or at least bearable in Angola.

Its a long day ahead that starts at 4am and will include 3 flights, 2 car journeys and a bus drive that should get me to Malongo at 5pm (6pm SA time).

Bags are packed day / night before but there are always last minute items that go in at (you guest it) the last minute.

I always try to check in online day before and always choose aisle seats as far forward as possible and if you have read my previous blog this time i made aure my Moslem meals are booked - not that the food is that great on the early morning flight a it always leave me with heartburn.

Okay the day begins at 3:50am with a tap of the snooze button. Then onto a quick bathroom run and shower. Pack the final items into bags and make double and triple sure that passport is in. Kids already go their "please behave speech" the night before so its just a greeting kiss to them but it probably more of a sleep disturbance. A BIG HUG and a squeeze together with the accompanying kiss. That is the greeting to my wife.

4:30am and off to airport I go - stop at baggage wrapping station before i check in my bags, collect boarding passes and do the security formalities.

4:50am - I have enough time for a quick coffee at the SAA Premier lounge (I'm mos a Star Alliance Gold Member - refer previous blog)

5:15am - Time to board and I head off to gate A7 for SA 378 5:45am flight to Johannesburg. One of privileges of Star Alliance Gold Member is I dont have to stand in the long queues - so I ise my privilege to bypass queue all way to front, handover my boarding pass and passport only to hear a BEEP when its scanned. My first thought is "here we go again" but luckily this was a good beep "you've been upgrade to business class Mr Kleinsmidt".

5:40am - Doors are closed and journey has already had good start Algamdullilah with upgrade to business class, widow seat and an empty seat next to me so plenty of leg room :-). Pilot welcomes us onboard and warns of turbulence. So its farewell to Cape Town on the cold rainy morning

I might be upgraded to business class but the Moslem meals is and still tastes the same - scrambled eggs, hash brown with chicken sausage that leave me with heartburn. Well at least the yoghurt and coffee was good.

7:00am - Blog updated and time for quick snooze before we land.

7:30am - Awoken with a bump on the landing welcomes me to a 9 deg C Johannesburg.

As much as i prepare for journey I always seem to forget something so far i forgotten - sunglasses and hand towels

7:50am - Salaah up to date, bought KFC for supper. Now for immigration and security formalities.

8:35am - Waiting at gate A18 for SA054 to board and depart at 9:45.

9:00am - Boarding now.

9:50am - Up up and away. On way to Luanda. Its a three hour flight so now to check what movies are available on the in-flight entertainment.

From here on time will now be shown as Angolan time (GMT +1) thats one hour behind SA time.

11:10 (SA12:10) - Flight update: food wasn't that great and truth be told, I am still hungry. For in-flight movie i chose Identity Thief - good entertaining movie. Problem with a three hour flight is you only have time for one movie and then the is forty minute to kill.

12:25pm - Arrived Luanda and now for mad rush and queuing to clear immigrations, collecting bags and going thru security.

12:35pm - In queue for immigrations managed to get on first bus out of plane . These security is hilarious they cant even get a spiral queuing system right.

12:41 - immigration cleared in record time. Now the wait for my bag - it was marked for priority offloading. Hmmm lets see.

13:00 - So much for Priority Offloading.

13:10 - All cleared at International Arrival now we get Chevron transport to the Domestic Terminal.

13:40 - Checked in, security check and immigration done. Now to relax for few minute in the Chevron departure lounge before next flight.

Warning and note to self - always keep batteries on checked luggage. The security just confiscated a guys AAA battery pack as it such a BIG security threat this is after the guy traveled with it from South Africa- dont figure.

14:40 - Onboard Chevron flight for Cabinda.

15:30 - All well and arrived Cabinda airport. Just a quick passport check then collect our bags and off to bus for final (almost final) leg to Malongo base.

I was hoping someone would fetch me from airport as it would've saved me going into Malongo only to leave again to staff house. That would mean one less security check - but alas.

16:45 - Arrived Malongo base only to go back out to staff house.

Been away for 4 weeks but as always everything still looks the same. I guess I will only find out tomorrow about new rules and procedures. Time to find out from the guys about whats the latest on job front rumors and complaint and grievances - I guess some things never change.

17:45 - Arrived at staff house. Now for quick shower, salaah, supper and unpacking / packing.

Shukr to Almighty for bring me here safely and I pray for my and family safekeep while we are apart.

I will upload blog immediately as i want it as fresh as possible so apologies if the are any errors.

When thing go wrong .....

Ai - when things go wrong from beginning it really goes wrong all the way through. Like my recent travel experience.......

I arrive at 6am to check in for the 8:30am flight from Cabinda to Luanda in order to make my connecting 14:10 flight to Johannesburg. I am then told I am only booked for the afternoon 12:45 flight. Now I have had experience with our travel guy at the office and he now always sends me my booking confirmation by email .... SO ....I retrieve my laptop switch it on to show the lady my booking confirmation and she in turns shows me her monitor that I am only booked for 12:45 flight. I tried explaining to her that they must have captured it wrong but she insist I can only fly on flight as I am booked.

Then it dawns on me - ITS GOING TO BE A LONG DAY.

Her manager / supervisor arrives and after explaining to him he presses a few buttons on the keyboard and less than a minute later I am re-booked and a ticket is issued manually.

Flight from Luanda to Johannesburg depart 30 minutes late and arrives 20 minute after scheduled landing in Johannesburg - which means I only have 40 minuted to make connecting flight to Frankfurt (thank goodness for online checkin).

I rush off the arriving plane to be met by some SAA dude - he take my ticket and passport and we start running (you all know how fit and athletic I am) after about 10 minute I tell him 'its okay - go on without me i dont mind missing the flight" he tells me they are boarding I must run - once again under my huffs and puffs - I DONT CARE ANYMORE. We get to the loading gate only to be greeted by a long queue of passengers still waiting to board. But I'm "mos" STAR ALLIANCE GOLD member so I can bypass the queues. When onboard I ask / tell flight attendant that I have just landed from Luanda and whether my luggage will make the connecting flight "Dont worry sir if its SAA to SAA flights it will make it.

So I make the flight - only to find out there is no Moslem meals ordered for me (hear me sigh).

I get to Frankfurt only to be told I have missed my connecting flight to Paris "but dont worry Mr Kleinsmidt we have re-booked you". So I am on standby for the 8:45 on LH but confirmed for 10:35 with AF. I go to Lufthansa (LH) customer service desk and they advise I must go to AF at the other terminal as it doesnt look good for making standby flight.

So - I make my way to Terminal 2 to find Air France (AF), having Burger King for breakfast, clearing immigration (so i've officially to / in Germany) on the way.

Finally make it to AF and get told by some woman I must use the self-service kiosk. The self-service kiosk cant confirm my booking and this same lady (still trying not to swear) says I must go to counter. The same bloody counter I wanted to go to a few minutes earlier - only this time an entire Japanese tourist group is in front of me - alot of old people. Can you now understand why I felt like swearing this lady.

So - I get to front of queue - guess what - they tell me I have to go back to SAA counter at Terminal 1 because SAA must issue my ticket first.

Okay so - I go back to SAA at TERMINAL 1 - luckly there is no queue and this lady was expecting me only to tell me I have just missed the flight I was on standby for (i can hear some reader swearing). Okay, she issues my ticket and before I head back to TERMINAL 2 I ask her where my luggage is and she confirms its in the luggage storage hold (thinking back now - she did not say which one) and I just have to show AF my luggage ticket and they will put it on the necessary flight.

Okay - so I head back to TERMINAL 2 go to AF get my boarding pass and show the my luggage tag in order for my luggage to be loaded. I go thru immigrations, do the security thing and even get a pat down.

Okay we are ready to board and they announce to that all Business Class and Priority Members can board first. Remember I told you Im mos Star Alliance Gold Member - so I see the letters "VIP" on my ticket and also go to board. Well apparently Star Alliance Gold Member and the words VIP means nothing to them and I am told I must waiting before I can board.

And guess what - it the same bloody lady that told me to use the kiosk at AF.

Okay so I get to Paris - wait for my luggage, wait for my luggage, wait for my luggage and wait for my luggage and NO F*&# luggage.

I head over to the AF luggage service desk and there is a moerse queue - wonder why.

Get to the service consultant - I must say he was very helpful. He checks on computer and confirms there is a note in the system that my luggage is in Johannesburg as the connection time was too short - now I wonder why THE HELL these other people could not tell me this.

Damn this is a long story.

Finally get to my hotel after 32 hours of traveling with no luggage. I first head off to shop to get a few essentials before i settle.

I get my luggage two days later after it first being delivered to wrong hotel - so hoping and praying that my return trip goes alot smoother.

Return home

No matter where you travel you always look forward to returning home, home to the ones you love and returning from Umrah is no exception.

After all rituals and formalities were done for our Umrah we were left with the rush of getting last minute shopping, getting bags packed, making sure its not overweight, checking out of hotel room before 12pm although bus only scheduled to collect us at 1pm. NOTE - if you staying at this hotel "name withheld for legal reasons"  - if they tell you check out is at 12 you got to be out at 12. As we found out that at 12 they cut off your electricity and you cannot gain access to your room.

Bags loaded in bus, everyone ready to leave but the yearning to return is always so strong. I must confess that for me the bus drive from Madinah was more difficult.

Jeddah airport is always busy but with most this on Umrah with a bit of sabr we got checked-in and went thru formalities to get to to the international departure lounge and still had plenty of time to spare.

For this flight kids were apprehensive about the airline food as they did not enjoy the "cuisine" offered on the inbound flight and I decided best to get a good meal before were departed Jeddah.

We finally arrived at Cape Town International Airport and we are home, back with loved ones, family, friends and neighbours.

Well as all return Hajji's we also had to "dress up" - it took sometime for some of us but it was well worth the wait.

We get home and see all our loved ones and all the special treats that was prepared for us.

Then there was our loved ones that missed us - see how much she missed him. 

There will always for highlights that comes to memory - like - waiting to break our fast 

Feeling something on your head and wondering - is it? could it be?

RAIN !!!! 

Taking cover from the rain

Finding all means to keep record of page your are reciting 

Seeing your daughter enjoy her well deserved dessert

There are also sights that amuse you - like EVERYONE being a photographer. 

Then just strolling the streets - absorbing the sight, sound and fragrances that will never be forgotten

The special sight - like the worlds BIGGEST hand written quraan - 

Then there is also the remembrance of things we didnt get to do but its already on our to-do-list for our return INSHA-ALLAH 

BIG SHUKRAN (thank you) to my wife and children for all the sacrifices we have endured and for being wonderful travel companions and most importantly being satisfied with what life threw at us. LOVE YOU. 

Shukran also to all friends, families, fellow travelers we met along the way and also my blog followers . 

Shukran  to Khikmatul Awaam all your assistance and making our Umrah hassle-free and to Sheikh Imraan for going the extra mile. 

The bonus Jumah - Masjiedul Haram - Makkah Al Mukaramah

After attending four Jumahs in four different countries I feel I have been granted a bonus of perform Jumah in Masjiedul Haram in Makkah.

The Masjiedul Haram is under construction and from the our view we could see this is a MASSIVE construction and it will be quite some time before its completed. I pray to the Almighty to grant me and my family the privilege to view the completed project Insha Allah.

While we were in Makkah we also visited the historical sites and once again I was overwhelmed with the in depth historical information as supplied to us by Sheikh Imraan.

Our first stop was Jabal Thoor, then we were off to Arafah, Muzdalifah. Mina, pass by Jabal Noor, stopped at Jannatul Ma'alla and return passing Masjiedul Jinn

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Its now 30 April, a month after our journey and its is difficult to get into that spiritual high in order to do justice to completing this blog but I will do my best.

We were given a brief translation and interpretation of the Jumah message as delivered by Sheikh Sudais although the message was directed at people of Makkah it also applies to each and every person and community. The message was (or my interpretation thereof) - Honour your guest and show them the respect they deserve. There was also a warning to the youth to stay away from the drugs.

We were scheduled to depart on the Monday after Thur and only having six days in Makkah there were still lots to do. We planned to visit Jabal Noor to climb to the cave of Hira where the Propher pbuh got the first revelation , we also wanted to perform another umrah and the plans of going to Jeddah for a day visist had to be scrapped.

Soos die ou mense altyd se (as the old people say) "You can plan but the ultimate plan is with Allah". I came down with a fever and flu symptoms and we had to re-look at our plans. We cancelled (to much disappointment of the kids) to climb Jabal Noor but still determined to perform our umrah,

Well we had hectic Sunday night planned so decided to take it easy on the Sunday afternoon.

After Eishai we set off for Tanayam (Masjiedul Aisha).

Mogamad asked whether I booked a taxi and as any of you who has been to Makkah know the excitement is getting a "taxi" on the street. It wasnt long before a young Saudi in a mini bus stopped. We negotiated a price - well - if you can call it negotiations because I know no Arabic and he knew no English.All I knew was that we agreed to price of 150 riyals and I was hoping it was for all of us as that is what I negotiated. I wont keep you in suspense - that is also what he negotiated.

The taxi drive in itself is blog on its own. My kids were quite surprised amd amused at the driving skill and road etiquette or lack thereof of our driver but I think they enjoyed it and got some stories of their own of that experience.

We arrived at Tanayam and performed the necessary in order to return to Makkah to perform our Umrah. All went well and I thank the Almighty for having such wonderful children as not once did they complain or show signs that they were tired and wanted to rest. We completed our umrah at around 2am and as you can see from pictures below they all had wonderful glow about them. 

We went back to our hotel for quick snooze and the back down to Haram for fajr salaah and then we were going to complete our Tawaaful Widaa (Farewell Tawaaf).

Once again no complaints from kids but one could see the tiredness was taking its toll on all of us. Also tawaaf after Fajr is quite full and thus it had to be completed with kind consideration and very much restraint to those around us.

Algamdullilah - we completed and went to make our final duah in the greatest place on earth before making a VERY difficult departure from the holy Haram.

Below is last picture I took inside the Haram. This picture was taken facing the Kaaba towards Rukoon Yemani and my instruction to my kids and my request to anyone that will be performing Umrah or Hajj to try and take picture from same position so that we can see how renovations have progressed.

Once again very difficult to leave the Haram and I pray that the Almight grant me and my family to be there again together Insha Allah.

Well it was now 7am and we have completed an umrah and our tawaaful widaa in space of 9 hours and my little umrah-jies  handled their entire experience with great composure and dedication. I shukr the Almighty granting me such wonderful children and I pray that they live their umrah.

Next up was the journey and arrival at home.

Labayk Allahoema Labayk

The bus drive from Madinah is probably the saddest bus ride one can ever take. Leaving the city of our beloved Prophet pbuh I managed to capture last glimpse of the holy mosque;

But with this sad farewell there is also the excitement of reaching Makkah. Seeing the holy Kaaba, the place we face to five times a day, the place we face when supplicating to the Almighty for gratitude and needs.

This time is especially exciting and special for me as I will be leading my family to the holy haram of Makka. Leading my kids so they can see the Kaaba for the very first time with their naked eye.

But before we get there there is still the rituals of umrah to be completed.

We finally reached our hotel at 10pm, got settled into our rooms by 11:30pm. The group decided to perform the umrah tawaaf midnight but because we got our rooms last be the time we were ready it was 12:30am. Then as we walked to the haram we caught up with the group and joined them.

I can never explain to you what it is like walking into the haram holding your little girls hand, your wife and two other close by. Leading them in order for them to see the Kaaba for the first time. We gave them strict instruction dont look up until we tell you to. Then I as i stood with them i could finally say "look up". That was it - their first glimpse, all our sacrifces, our times apart, missing eid, missing birthdays, miss them, not being there - that moment, made everything worthwhile.

Farewell Madinah

So our time in Madinah has come to an end. We are expected to leave after Thur Insha Allah. Here some photo from our ziyaarts in Madinah - pictures were taken on two seperate days.

Day 1 we went by bus to visit and drive by;

- Mount Ughud

- Date factory

- Well of Saydiena Oethmaan

- University of Madinah

- Masjiedul Qiblatayn

- Battle of trench (seven masjieds)

Masjiedul Quba

Day 2, took us on a walking ziyaart around the haram. This took us to a very informative visit to the Madinah Museum, Quraan Library, Sokaifat Bani Saedah Gardens, Masjieds of Saydiena Ali and Abu Bakr, Masjied Ghamma (Clouds) and finished off at the Jannatul Baqi.