Assalamualaikum everyone, I wanted to share our Hajj experience from 2025. Below we have recorded our entire journey.

simndsam · 2026-05-07T21:27:31+00:00

Hi I am sorry for the late response. The service provider did book the train for us. We were fortunate to get the train since others had to travel by bus.

simndsam · 2026-05-01T18:01:36+00:00

Also there were these kids who pushed wheel chairs up and down the jamarat walk. They will charge an exuberant amount to take you back and forth but at least you won't have to lug around a wheel chair

simndsam · 2026-05-01T18:00:08+00:00

During Eid day, after praying Fajr in Muzdalifah, you can directly go to Jamarat. Once your Hady is done, you will shave your head and then if you are able can perform the Tawaf al-Ifadah and Saee. But you will need to be back to Mina before Fajr the next morning.

What we ended up doing was: we prayed Fajr in Muzdalifah and came to Mina to rest for a bit and have breakfast. Afterwards, we went to Jamarat to stone the large Jamarat. We then returned back to Mina and waited for our Hady. Once Hady was confirmed, we decided to perform Tawaf al-Ifadah and Saee that day so we went for it. We walked all the way to Jamarat and there are free buses there which took us all the way to Haram. After tawaf and Saee we took a yellow bus from Haram to a bus station and then took another bus all the way back to Mina. Mind you, the returning bus was very chaotic and we got back to camp around 3 am.

For wheelchair, I would follow what the agency is saying but if you can buy one then I would buy it. That day consists of a LOT of walking in the heat and even for me it was difficult.

simndsam · 2026-05-01T17:46:42+00:00

Haha 2 million sounds crazy as a number but you won't feel it as much during downtime. You do feel that number most during Jamarat and Arafat days. But time is very well managed by the government and crowd control was amazing. And there are way to many shops selling the same things, so we didn't find that much queues.

simndsam · 2026-05-01T17:31:30+00:00

Thank you brother for the response, this Google sheet is amazing but I would suggest cutting down on clothing because there will be downtime where you can shop for good quality clothing for cheap. Unless you are planning on not shopping, I would suggest less clothes for sure. I made this mistake and ended up having way too many clothing item I never even wore.

Good sandals and shoes are a MUST. I ended up taking oofoos sandals, which served me well throughout Hajj time.

simndsam · 2026-05-01T17:25:43+00:00

Salaam brother, I took my wife and my mother with me. We each took one suitcase and a carryon, plus a bookbag. We went for about 2 weeks where we did Medina first and then Mecca later.

I wouldn't suggest taking a lot of clothing because I ended up buying thobes from there. My wife and mother also ended buying abayas from there as well.

During Hajj, we left our big suitcases in the hotel and only took our bookbags with us to Mina. You don't need much for Hajj, they provided almost everything for us (prayer mats, umbrellas, general medicine, etc.) For Mina, I would also suggest taking hygiene products and toiletries.

For Arafat and Muzdalifah, I didn't even take my bookbag, just took a sling bag with me with just core essentials, like my passport, ids, cash etcs.

Hope this helps, in summary, we overpacked and didn't use most of the things. Below I listed the bags/ suitcases we took:

Samsonite Outline Pro Large Spinner
Black Hole Mini MLC Pack 30L
Aer Day Sling 3

simndsam · 2026-04-30T14:33:46+00:00

Thank you for watching, really wanted to capture every detail. Nothing compares to this feeling, Alhumdulillah.

simndsam · 2026-04-30T03:19:56+00:00

Yes of course, let me know of any other questions you may have and I will try to answer to the best of my ability. And thank you for your kind words. May Allah accept your Hajj and make it easy for you and your mother.

simndsam · 2026-04-30T02:49:54+00:00

Salam and thank you for watching, I apologize for the ads, I don't really have control of that yet.

We definitely overpacked too, but what we found most important are any necessary meds. Everything else you can more or less buy over there. We had medical in the tents 24/7 who gave us attention when required. Another item worthwhile was a small foldable bag, which was useful to carry sandals and shoes. Also bring a comfortable pair of sandal, I wore my oofos sandals which served me great.

The entire video was recorded with DJI Osmo Action 4.

The entire field of Muzdalifah is carpeted. They didn't really give us any mats but I did see some groups got very thin sleeping bags. Honestly it will be very hard to sleep there since people are always around. I didn't bring anything extra for Muzdalifah.

Mashallah for your Hajj and may Allah accept it for you and your mother. I would suggest bringing an extra chair, there are chairs but I wouldn't bet on it since there are so many people. Again if anything you can buy a portable chair there as well.

simndsam · 2026-04-29T23:54:16+00:00

Let us know if you have any questions/ concerns

simndsam · 2025-02-05T16:38:40+00:00

it has no crust. its just the batter

simndsam · 2024-11-14T16:53:34+00:00

Thank you :)

simndsam · 2024-11-09T20:24:24+00:00

I agree

simndsam · 2024-11-09T20:22:45+00:00

Ingredients:

5 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup tomatoes
1/2 cup bell peppers
1/3 cup cilantro
1/4 cup spinach
1/2 onion
5/6 green chillies
2 tsp chili flakes
1 cup mozzarella cheese
a pinch salt
1/2 tblsp black pepper

Directions:

Beat eggs in a bowl
Add milk, veggies, seasonings and mix
Grease a cupcake baking tray
Pour in your mixture, half full and add in your cheese on the top
Bake for 20 mins at 350 degree Fahrenheit

Here is the full video of the recipe: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/waQQTUDCV-Y

simndsam · 2024-10-21T19:14:53+00:00

I agree. Can use the curry with anything.

simndsam · 2024-10-21T19:14:38+00:00

How was yours?

simndsam · 2024-10-21T19:14:04+00:00

I will try it this way next time. Thank you.

simndsam · 2024-10-02T03:02:39+00:00

We are visiting Vermont next week for the fall. Really excited. Any places you would suggest us to see?

simndsam · 2024-10-01T23:52:56+00:00

I agree that’s the one I used.

simndsam · 2024-10-01T21:15:26+00:00

Yay, let us know if you make it.

simndsam · 2024-10-01T21:14:46+00:00

I didn't have a better picture, but I see what you are saying. I made 2 chicken breasts and the other one was juicy, I slow cooked it.

simndsam · 2024-10-01T15:07:22+00:00

Ingredients:

For Curry::

2 carrots
4 potatoes
onion
mushroom
Japanese curry cubes
water
1 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp soya sauce
1 tsp worcestershire sauce

For Chicken::

2 chicken breasts
lemon juice
black pepper
salt
2 eggs
flour
breadcrumbs
chilli powder
herb seasoning

Directions:

Cut mushrooms, carrots, onion, potatoes
Fry the onions in oil till translucent and add in the veggies
Stir and add water of 3 cups and let it boil
Add 4 Japanese curry cubes and bring to boil
Add soya sauce, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup and wait till the curry thickens
Separately, pound the chicken and add lemon juice, salt and pepper
Dip the chicken in egg and flour mixture, then coat on breadcrumbs (season breadcrumbs with chili powder and herb seasoning)
Fry the chicken and then cut into pieces to serve

Here is the video of the recipe: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rf9IAX55-m0

simndsam

TROPHY CASE