Hajj to Mecca - Great Journeys
By
Tom Thumb, Posted Dec 10, 2006
OK, we put this in as a joke as, unless you’re a Muslim then you’re not allowed to go anywhere near Mecca or Medina, the focal points of the Hajj.
Within the Muslim world, anyone who makes the pilgrimage to Mecca (and it’s supposed to be an obligation for able-boded Muslim men) is regarded with great respect thereafter and will often dye his beard a little red to make it known that he’s a hajji.
There is hope for infidels though, desperate to make their way to the holiest place in Saudi Arabia, in the shape of Richard Burton who made the pilgrimage disguised as a doctor from Afghanistan. Sadly, unless you possess the genius linguistic and anthropological talents of the 19th century traveler, you’re liable to be lynched for making fun of the Islamic faith.
Tom has been traveling non-stop since the age of 18 and co-founded Road Junky in 2004. Follow him @tomglaister
He’s the author of Hand to Mouth to India, an account of hitchhiking from England to India with no money and which will soon be rereleased by Road Junky Books.
Tales of a Road Junky featuring tales of breaking people out of jail in Delhi, selling fake Rolexes in Japan and other adventures in Israel and Brazil will be out later this year.
He also writes fiction for anyone who never really grew up and his latest novel is Bozo and the Storyteller – download the audio book for free or even buy a copy…