Ali Shahalom

Other than sandals and a backpack, you wear nothing else.

Yes, not even boxers, bruv.

We go full Scotsman on a stag do for this ting.

The Ihram will be my garment for the next few days.

Little tip for any Hajis, make sure you wax some Vaseline between your thighs or chafing will have you walking less like a pilgrim and more like a penguin.

At last, we jump on the Haramein bullet train and head to the city of Mecca.

Our official Hajj pilgrimage is about to start.

First impressions of Makkah?

Hot.

Immediately you feel your foot fry in nature's oven.

But past the blinding sun and the sea of pilgrims, something black and majestic slowly comes into focus.

There it is, right in front of me.

The holiest site in Islam.

The Kaaba.

Every day, billions of Muslims lay their prayer mat to face this black stone.

And here I am, seeing, circling and touching it to perform what's known as Umrah alongside the three most important people in my life.

Mecca was mad busy, man.

I can't even see the floor to take my next step.

The place is rammed with pilgrims.

It's basically a field of whiteness.