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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
Part VI of Umrah Journey 2024
AL-HADA CABLE CAR RESORT, Taif, November 29, 2024 (SDN) — What if I told you, you would soon be on a cable car hanging on a thread of steel, gingerly navigating its way here above the craggy mountains below, would you believe it?
SDN – SciTech & Digital News can only hope that none has a vertigo among the 250 Umrah pilgrims from select Asian countries sponsored by His Majesty the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.
That’s because, as luck would have it, here we are in the cold embrace of Taif but warmed by the abundant smiles and receptive touch of a nation seasoned in welcoming millions of people of all races, colors, cultures, and faith. What more a privileged and honored guest can ask for.
Ask not and get nothing. Not exactly, though.
Of the 250 chosen few among thousands of applicants from the participating countries for the this years’ “Umrah majestic” as in His Majesty King Salman’s auspices, so “kingly inspired”, many were endorsed, many applied, and still others the Saudi government on its own through its various embassies selected.
Some Filipino cable car riders scared, cried, felt like peeing
SDN is one of the two representatives from the news media for the most-sought journey of faith — from November 20 to December 1. The King’s sponsorship being implemented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance headed by Minister Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh (Arabic: عبد اللطيف بن عبد العزيز آل الشيخ) covers two-way tickets, hotel accommodation and food, transportation, Umrah outfit with big traveling bag and belt, STC SIM Cards with unlimited data, cultural and educational tours, and an abundance of goodwill and kindness and hospitality.
After lunch at 2:53 p.m. on a Wednesday, November 27, the seven buses that have been conveying the King’s guests since their arrival in Madinah, the city of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) on November 21, took to the road unencumbered by traffic jams unlike in Metro Manila’s perpetually suffocating highways.
Slightly over an hour later, they arrived in cold Taif, a city and governorate in the province of Mecca, a distance of 70 kms. Taif has 563,282-strong population in 2022 according to Wikipedia.
Incidentally, on the way to Taif, the buses passed by Muzdalifah, Mina, and Arafah, where Hajj rituals are performed by millions of pilgrims annually.
As they alighted from the buses, the sight of uniformed group of welcomers — all males — singing and swaying and clapping to their beat, happily ushered in a curious bunch of guests, happy and appreciative, as the cold air of the city embracing them in all its sweet caress.
They lingered around the place filled with shops — food and souvenirs abound and, of course, a mosque ubiquitous and always present.
From the entrance one can see the enticing cable cars — cages of steel — glass all around — running the length of 1,550 meters and climbing at the summit of 2,500 meters built in 1997 by the Taif Cable Car operator. From the start to the end, the ride takes 15 minutes of pure breathtaking experience and below are the city’s tourist attractions, such as the Rose fields, Al Hada mountain, Shubhra Palace, among others
The Taif Cable Cars, also called Telefric Al Hada, is a major attraction here at the Al Hada Cable Car Resort, Al Hada Ring Road. Per person per ride in the cable car is worth 84 Saudi rial (about Php1,344). For us the privileged guests, it’s entirely free.
This journalist got lucky, the first among the 40 Filipinos to get on one of the cable cars, tagged along by a media person of the Ministry, along with four guests from Thailand. Although it was the second time for me — first time was an exciting, nerve-wracking ride at the Cable Car Resort in Langkawi, Malaysia, in 2012, at an altitude of 2,150 meters and 680 meters long.
The Taif Cable Car ride was still a great experience, the majestic mountains down below, a testament to God’s power and creative genius that only He is capable of.
Of the Filipinos who took to the sky for their cable car ride, without mentioning their names, some of the men were in crying mood, felt like peeing in their pants, grasped the railings of the cabin, and said something like, “I should not have gotten myself here,” as related by the group’s amir (leader), Shaikh Nasroden Ibrahim Alamada, who live-feed his ride on social media. Not to say, he laughed at his companions in the cable car, teasing them, men of age showing fear and unease as their ride slid down, climbed, slid down, climbed, etc.
But not all the Filipinos were first timers. Dr. Anisah Mapupuno Laguindab was on her third time but still felt the excitement and thrill that comes with riding on a cable car suspended more than 2,000 meters above tall and jagged mountains.
For Maria “Maryam” Theresa Reynol Sakkalahul, R.N., of Basilan, it was her second ride on a cable car. Still, he was amazed with the Taif cable car system. That something like it has come to the mountains of Taif, Saudi Arahia’s agricultural city.
Mrs. Fathuljana Abdurahim of Tawi-Tawi had herself feeling scared, it was her first time on a cable car. “I closed my eyes sometimes during the ride. I am afraid of heights,” she opens up.
Hoping the program continues and more Filipinos to join
Jalelah Saripada of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was very happy and excited with the cable car experience. She thanked Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud for all the happiness and joy that came with being one of the 40 Filipino invited and sponsored for the free Umrah.
After the cable car ride that stretched to the evening, a short program ensued. Then, abundance of sumptuous food awaited.
Dr. Ali bin Ahmad Al-Jelanie, one of the Ministry’s scholars, in his opening remarks reminded the guests of the King on why they are here, saying Islam is the reason.
“There are three things that Allah likes, Tawhid (Monotheism), Salah (Prayers), and Dhikr (the remembrance of Allah),” Al-Jelanie, one of the scholars at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, emphasizes.
In Madinah in his meeting with the 250 Asian Umrah guests, he said the King’s program gathered people regardless of race, nationalities, color, and religion, a testament to Islam’s all-embracing values of humanity.
Aleem Norodin Macadato Pumbaya, another member of the Philippine delegation, said the Umrah program is a truly all-embracing concept. “It’s really good because we get to meet and know fellow Muslims from other countries.”
He said he hopes the program continues and be a guiding light for the Muslim Ummah (global Islamic community).
Suaib Ibno Ibrahim, who just graduated two months ago from the Islamic University of Madinah with a degree on Shari’ah Law, and IT in the Philippines at the Holy Trinity College in Palawan, thanked the Saudi government for being one of the six university students tapped as the program’s translators.
“I am honored to have been chosen to participate and privileged to be a part of the Asian group’s journey of faith,” says the new graduate who is soon to work in a Saudi law office.
Alamada, who also graduated at the Islamic University of Madinah a few years ago, spoke at the program in Taif, as heads of delegations were given the opportunity.
He again thanked King Salman, his son Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for having the Filipinos joined the first batch of the Umrah program.
He also extended his thanks to Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance Minister Al-Sheikh for the taking care of the guests.
Alamada then saluted Saudi Ambassador to the Philippines Hisham bin Sultan Al-Qahtani, Religious and Media Affairs head Hameed Al-Shammari for facilitating the Filipino group’s travel to the Kingdom.
“We will not forget this kindness and hospitality,” he assures, “it is our hope more Filipino Muslims will be able to join the program in the future,” he adds. (♡)