Umra Trip : Outside Al Harem views 
We reached Al Harem, Makkah on Tuesday, March 24 2009. We spent about 2 hours searching for a hotel to stay. The roads and building keep changing in Harem due to the extensive construction and renovation works. It is no easy to take a U – turn or reach a certain point, despite GPS device guidance. Al hamdu lillah, we finalized a hotel in front of Marwa gate around 100m away. It was important not to miss the congregational prayer considering the bonanza reward for it.
I preformed my first Umra (out of two). This was my third visit to Harem, the earlier ones were in 2003 (Umra) and 2007 (Hajj). But the landscapes, hotels, roads, people and harem – everything has changed since then.
The rest of what I saw outside the Harem is visible in the photos.
http://www.jaihoon.com/1800.htm
