I believe it's time I should finally write a journal entry about this early. In 2 weeks from now -- this November 21st, to be exact -- my parents and I will be taking flight to Mecca in order to perform the Umrah. Umrah is like a "lite" version of Hajj, except simpler and less grueling, but nevertheless you still need to be fit and be mentally prepared for it. Unlike the Hajj, the Umrah can be performed at any time in the year, and my parents have chosen to undertake the Umrah for now because it's getting impossible now to undertake the Hajj: the Saudi government imposed a limit on the foreign quota, the number of Malaysians allowed to perform the Hajj every year.

The reason why I'm reluctant to write this entry is because I don't want my friends to worry about me. x_x Especially after that collapsed crane incident that coincidentally happened right on the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The imams have warned us that anything can happen in Mecca, all of it said to be God's "test" on His children. I pray that things will go well. o_o In fact, I'm not sure if I can successfully pull this off. x_x I'm scared, really. But I hope that things will go well. Hopefully, I can still access Twitter in Saudi Arabia so I can inform my friends that I'm still fine and dandy. Otherwise, I'll immediately write another journal entry that I'm safe and sound, once my parents and I have returned back to Malaysia as early as probably this 1st of December.

I'm looking forward to get this Umrah pilgrimage done, so that I can return back to Malaysia and continue doing the things I love, like drawing and stuff and finishing my friends' commissions. Wish me luck. =)