• 01.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 02.jpg
  • 03.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 04.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 05.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 06.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 07.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 08.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 09.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 10.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 11.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 12.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 13.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 14.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 15.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 16.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 17.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 18.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 19.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 20.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 21.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 22.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 23.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 24.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 25.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 26.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 27.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 28.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 29.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 30.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 31.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at

  • 32.jpg

    TEXT MSG: "Please forgive me if I wronged you in any way. I'm going to Hajj." When a Muslim has the privilege to go on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is customary for him or her to ask all family members and friends for forgiveness, which I did via text message after I was given a press visa to take pictures there. Soon after that people came around bringing essentials for the trip. My aunt gave me prayer beads, my nephew made me a white dress, which is the customary color during the Hajj. There were over a hundred replies: "Please pray for me", "Ask God to help me find a nice wife, a house, restore my health" and many more such requests.Only Muslims are allowed to go to Mecca so westerners are not welcome and therefore their view is limited to have they have seen in the media.  But for Muslims the Hajj is the spiritual trip of a lifetime in which they pray and perform rituals. But the pilgrims also shop for souvenirs, have their pictures taken with camels and call relatives saying they are at