I have been coming to Makkah al Mukarramah for 45 years - since I was 8 - but today I climbed the 1111 steps (approximately) to Jabal Noor and the well known cave where Islamic revelation began almost 1400 years ago to the year (611 A.C.) 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

myself at the Hira 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

A view of the Hira Cave from the highest point of Mount Noor from where one needs to descend a bit 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

There were many cats here - being cared for and fed by the Pakistani cafeteria owner - so enterprising the Pakis have set up a tea stall at the top of the mountain. 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

The ubiquitous Pakistani beggars - an unfortunate national symbol (but perhaps sending back precious foreign exchange) 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

Mrs. Javed from New York - whom I met on the way up - slowly making her progress up the steps 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

Another view of the litter and rubbish on Jabal Noor. I wish that the Pakistani community in Jeddah takes up this task as a social concern 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

The whole path to the cave and a good part of the rocky hill side is littered with all manner of rubbish but mostly leftover water bottles, soft drink cans, plastic bags - and a lot of used writing implements. Every imaginable place is written with 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

At least two Pakistanis who actually were well prepared with white paint ...Mr. Ashraf from Chakwal and Shahid Jutt. I would support a ban on visitors here or at least a guard who would strip people of all writing implements. 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

A suburb of Makkah seen from Jabal Noor 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

Mr. Faisal Butt - obviously from Pakistan - having left his mark 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012

My newly found friends from Islamabad/New York, Mr. and Mrs. Javed making their way up the 1100 or so steps. My black jeep is visible below. Imagine how difficult a climb it must have been when the Prophet Sallalaho alaihi wasallam would have gone u 

Taken: Mar 16, 2012