My Shopping Memories In The Holy Land.

Mecca Shops Potpourri.

I have visited The Holy Land twice,  The first time I step my feet on the holy land was in 2007. The second time was in 2014.  The shopping scenario was not much the different.

During the hajj season the street is fully occupied.  It was so difficult to walk around.  Hundred of thousand people from all over the world moving about in the Holy City of Mecca.

With million of people in the city food  has never been a scarce item.  Restaurant, food stall, and grand plaza can accommodate the influx of pilgrims.

Dates are bountiful.

Shopping is the normal habit to the pilgrims.  I am no exception to this common behavior.

Even dates plantation accommodate outlet for the sale of dates and date products.

Kiosk for dates is everywhere and attractive.

In Malaysia RM2 shops are very popular and numerous.  But in Mecca It is 2 Rial ( Saudi Currency ).

STARBUCKS COFFEE is no stranger in the holy city.

In Mecca shopping outlets are amazing,  from street hawkers, small shop to huge mall.

You can buy toys for your kids or grand children in the pavilion.

Where To Shop in Guangzhou, China.

Shopping Rampage In Guangzhou alias Canton.

Last month I went to Guangzhou.  To the local people it's Kwangchow.  Formerly known as Canton.  Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong  province in South China.

Arrived at Baiyun Airport, Guangzhou on the 26th November,2015.

The first assignment was to get textiles products.  Here in Highsun String and Cloth Market Mall you can buy many things from clothing to bedsheets.

The famous silk are in abundance .

For leather goods such as bags, handbags, shoes, hats and belts  you can go to Baiyun World Leather Trading Center.

If you are a Jade lover. There are many outlets and Jade factory in Guangzhou.  You may seek your tour guide recommendation  but you must be vigilant with regard of the cunning salesman.

The best place for souvenirs, toys, interior and garden inspiration items are plenty here.  Electrical goods , wood carving products, or metal ornamental are just huge in  varieties.  Drone are very cheap here.  You will not regret shopping at Onelink International plaza.

Beside the grand mall and big plaza around Guangzhou do not overlook the street shops they offer marvelous goods and products.

The street hawkers too come in handy for petty business such fruits.

You are just lucky to see some road show and extraordinary findings such as giant Hamster in Guangzhou.

The Best Halal Restaurant In Guangzhou.

Preferred Halal Restaurants in Guangzhou.

Guangzhou,  is one of the favourites tourist destination among the Malay in China.  Guangzhou is the third largest city in China.  Perhaps the ample halal food here beside the shopping opportunity is the main atrraction.

Islam came to Guangzhou about 1300 years ago.  

Last November in 2015 I visited Guangzhou.   Abdullah Restaurant serves  Muslim Chinese  food.  It was very tasty but slightly salty to me,   The cuisine is combination  of the Hui Chinese method of cooking and the Middle East.

This restaurant is spacious and very well decorated. 

One picture is worth a thousand words.

If you want to cook by yourself  no problem.  Halal fresh meat are available.

Another popular  halal restaurant in Guangzhou is Shahkaser.

Food served here are more to Turkish flavour.

My wife caption in the Shahkaser restaurant.  The interior decoration is amazing with the Middle East splendor.

My son gives the thumb's up sign for this cozy restaurant.

Usually halal food are available at the vicinity of a mosque.

Exploring De Grote Markt van Brussel.

Grote Markt is Great Market in English.

Grote Markt is in Dutch.  It is a main square in the city of Brussels. Also known as Grand Place,  is a pavement 68 by 110 meter.  Grote Markt is the center of attraction for Brussels because this unique place accommodates an open market, weddings reception, cultural exhibition and whatever events.

The Grote Makt is enclosed by the City Town Hall, Museum, Cityguilds, Maison de Roi  ( Breadhouse ), and Hotel de Ville.

This open market offer varieties of item from souvenirs, handicrafts, textiles, food and drinks.  You just named it.

I was here at the Grote Markt.  September the 19th, 2015 was the lucky day for me.

Flowers and fruits are beautiful and bountiful.

By coincidence there was  an Austrian Cultural Exhibition.

No comment,

This Grand Place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.

You can enjoy the horse carriage rides here in Brussels.

Every year in August a large flower  carpet is placed in the center of the square.  This has become a tradition.

My First Visit to Jonker Walk.

Jonker Walk is Jalan Hang Jebat, Melaka.

Last week I had the chance to explore the so famous Joker Walk oooops I'm sorry it's Jonker Walk.  Actually it is Jalan Hang Jebat in the City of Malacca or Melaka.  It is very much like Central Market in  Kuala Lumpur or more to the Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur.  Just like other Chinatown features.

  

This street is closed to motor vehicles on weekends night for night market to operate.   This area was a dwelling for The Dutch workers and subordinates during the Dutch imperialism period in the seventeen century.  Later the rich Babas and Nyonyas entrepreneur took over and established their business here.

The shops here sell souvenirs, handicrafts, textiles, bags, food, drinks and antiques.

Jonker Walk is popular site for  Malaysian holidaymaker.

It is also visited by foreign tourists.

The Baba and Nyonya garments store are available.

Antique items such as Chinese porcelain, cast iron bed, brassware, coins, lamps and many old household items are for sale.

Birth place of instant noodles MAMEE.

Of course it is not the birth place of Luwak Coffee.  But it is available at Jonker walk.

To my astonishment The Hang Kasturi Mausoleum is the best of my interest at the Jonker walk.  Hang Kasturi is Hang Tuah comrade in the epic of Malacca Sultanate.

The Tomb of Hang Kasturi .

My second visit to the Holy Land.

Umrah the minor pilgrimage.

The first time I visited the Holy Lands was in December 2007.  After seven years I managed to revisited the Holy Lands.  To be specific it was December, 2014.

For every Muslim once in their life time must do the Hajj provided they are physically able and financially capable of undertaking the ritual.

My wife and I ready to perform the Umrah ritual.

At  Tan'aim a starting place to perform the Umrah,  Men are wearing in two-piece white unhemmed sheets.  For women only face and palm are not required to to be covered.

The Kaabah a cuboid structure in the center of the most sacred mosque the Al-Masjid al-haram in Mekkah.  Muslims all over the world are expected to face in the direction of the Kaabah when performing the prayer(solat).

The Makkah Royal Clock Tower adjacent to the Al-Masjid al-haram,   A new landmark in Makkah costing USD 15 Billion.

Mount Arafah or popularly known as Jabal Rahmah.  Hajj pilgrims will spend  the night here in Arafat Plain as term of condition to the perform the Hajj.

Al-Masjid An-Nabawi is a mosque in Medina, originally built by the Prophet Muhammad saw.

At the entrance of the holy mosque.

During hajj period this mosque can accommodates 1,000,000 people.

Islam propagate peace and friendship.

Medina or Madinah is a modern city of Saudi Arabia and the second holiest city in Islam.  Before the advent of Islam this city is a small  town known as Yathrib.

The fabulous mount of Uhud.  Here the Battle of Uhud took place in 625.  Muslims here were attacked by the non-muslim Quraish from Mecca.  Muslim martyrs were burried at the foothill of Mount Uhud.