Thanks & Gratitude .. A Saudi on the Camino

Salman · Aug 19, 2016

Hello everyone,

In October 2015, i decided that i would hike El Camino, at the time i knew so little about the pilgrimage way other than the history and the fact that it still exists.

I hiked the Camino Frances during April & May 2016, solo. I'm a traveller, i love people, and along the way i met very nice people with whom i know we will be life long friends.

I'm a Muslim, and from Saudi Arabia, and i think i'm one of the very first from my country to ever go for this pilgrimage. It was very interesting to see people's reaction when they knew where i was from, and asking why would a muslim ever walk all the way to Santiago. I enjoyed the countless times that i was told that i was the first Saudi to stay at the Albergue.

I guess i just wanted to thank you all for the support and assistance, for the helpful notes, advice and information.

This forum was and still is a valuable source and i can't thank you enough.

Until my next Camino...
Salman

jo webber · Aug 19, 2016

Is it desert where you live in Saudi? We live in the Arizona desert and I am learning how to deal with hiking in the rain on the forum. Europe is much more cold and wet than we are used to at home.

SYates · Aug 19, 2016

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting this! Buen Camino de la Vida, SY

Deleted member 3000 · Aug 19, 2016

Salman said:
i think i'm one of the very first from my country to ever go for this pilgrimage.

Almost. There were 3 last year, only one the year before! Congratulations.

VNwalking · Aug 19, 2016

@Salman...congratulations! Wonderful--you are a trailblazer.
And a heartfelt welcome to this virtual albergue...

Salman · Aug 20, 2016

jo webber said:
Is it desert where you live in Saudi? We live in the Arizona desert and I am learning how to deal with hiking in the rain on the forum. Europe is much more cold and wet than we are used to at home.

Well, we have green mountains in the south, snow during winter in the north. But i live in the centre where it is Hot in the summer (40+ C , these days). Similar to the weather in Arizona desert.

I personally love cold weather so it was great for me. Just make sure you have the right cloths and equipment and you will be fine.

Good Luck

Salman · Aug 20, 2016

SYates said:
Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting this! Buen Camino de la Vida, SY

Thanks,

Loved your book by the way

Salman · Aug 20, 2016

falcon269 said:
Almost. There were 3 last year, only one the year before! Congratulations.

You are right, heard of those guys,

There was a young lady as well right about the same time i was there, a couple of weeks ahead of me.

Thanks

Salman · Aug 20, 2016

Viranani said:
@Salman...congratulations! Wonderful--you are a trailblazer.
And a heartfelt welcome to this virtual albergue...

Thanks ... at least this Albergue is never 'Completo'

Mike Savage · Aug 20, 2016

Congratulations Salman, sorry I missed you.

Wokabaut_Meri · Aug 20, 2016

Welcome Salman!

I often describe the Camino experience as the United Nations on feet. It is wonderful to add yet another perspective to the collective. It enriches us all.

obinjatoo@yahoo.com · Aug 20, 2016

Salman said:
Hello everyone,

In October 2015, i decided that i would hike El Camino, at the time i knew so little about the pilgrimage way other than the history and the fact that it still exists.

I hiked the Camino Frances during April & May 2016, solo. I'm a traveller, i love people, and along the way i met very nice people with whom i know we will be life long friends.

I'm a Muslim, and from Saudi Arabia, and i think i'm one of the very first from my country to ever go for this pilgrimage. It was very interesting to see people's reaction when they knew where i was from, and asking why would a muslim ever walk all the way to Santiago. I enjoyed the countless times that i was told that i was the first Saudi to stay at the Albergue.

I guess i just wanted to thank you all for the support and assistance, for the helpful notes, advice and information.

This forum was and still is a valuable source and i can't thank you enough.

Until my next Camino...
Salman

Awesome! Thanks for posting. It has been a pilgrimage route since long before there were Christians. So it's not so surprising. Although you may be the first Muslim from Saudi that hospitaleros have seen, there have been many others from the Arab world. And Christianity most certainly has a long history as well in the Arab world.
Never the less. It's good to know, you had such a positive experience.
Begs the question, "Can't we all get along?" Clearly, we can.

Pruden · Aug 20, 2016

I'm very glad you enjoy Camino de Santiago, I'm Spanish myself , I do work with Moslem people since twenty six year ago , I must say they are very nice and human people , us any other people from any corner of the world , ( I have never had any doubt about that).

The Camino the Santiago is a pilgrimage that is very easily enjoyable , is and outside experience with other human been, but most important is the internal experience that you can have inside yourself , I'm sure you have been touch by that , friendly peopople you can find any were around the world , but inner experience is easily felt at Camino the Santiago because is what everyone is there for .

Congratulations and I hope you can tell others in your country about your own experience ( sometimes is not easy to share with other what your experience are or what you felt ).

Thanks for sharing your experience and your own wiew or your journey on the Camino !

Buen Camino !

Sixwheeler · Aug 20, 2016

This, surely, is what pilgrimage and the Camino is all about.
Ultreïa

DurhamParish · Aug 20, 2016

Salman said:
I hiked the Camino Frances during April & May 2016, solo.

Salam alaikum. I would have loved to have met you and shared a cafe con leche at some cafe.

MTtoCamino · Aug 21, 2016

Salman said:
Hello everyone,

In October 2015, i decided that i would hike El Camino, at the time i knew so little about the pilgrimage way other than the history and the fact that it still exists.

I hiked the Camino Frances during April & May 2016, solo. I'm a traveller, i love people, and along the way i met very nice people with whom i know we will be life long friends.

I'm a Muslim, and from Saudi Arabia, and i think i'm one of the very first from my country to ever go for this pilgrimage. It was very interesting to see people's reaction when they knew where i was from, and asking why would a muslim ever walk all the way to Santiago. I enjoyed the countless times that i was told that i was the first Saudi to stay at the Albergue.

I guess i just wanted to thank you all for the support and assistance, for the helpful notes, advice and information.

This forum was and still is a valuable source and i can't thank you enough.

Until my next Camino...
Salman[/

Salman

It is very good to have you with us. As you discovered the world walks & we get closer because of it.
Keith

Salman · Aug 23, 2016

obinjatoo@yahoo.com said:
Awesome! Thanks for posting. It has been a pilgrimage route since long before there were Christians. So it's not so surprising. Although you may be the first Muslim from Saudi that hospitaleros have seen, there have been many others from the Arab world. And Christianity most certainly has a long history as well in the Arab world.
Never the less. It's good to know, you had such a positive experience.
Begs the question, "Can't we all get along?" Clearly, we can.

Definitely.. totally agree

This what really makes it special, the history, the diversity and the countless stories you collect along the way

Salman · Aug 23, 2016

Wokabaut_Meri said:
Welcome Salman!

I often describe the Camino experience as the United Nations on feet. It is wonderful to add yet another perspective to the collective. It enriches us all.

Spot on ..

looking forward to the next camino

Salman · Aug 23, 2016

Pruden said:
I'm very glad you enjoy Camino de Santiago, I'm Spanish myself , I do work with Moslem people since twenty six year ago , I must say they are very nice and human people , us any other people from any corner of the world , ( I have never had any doubt about that).

The Camino the Santiago is a pilgrimage that is very easily enjoyable , is and outside experience with other human been, but most important is the internal experience that you can have inside yourself , I'm sure you have been touch by that , friendly peopople you can find any were around the world , but inner experience is easily felt at Camino the Santiago because is what everyone is there for .

Congratulations and I hope you can tell others in your country about your own experience ( sometimes is not easy to share with other what your experience are or what you felt ).

Thanks for sharing your experience and your own wiew or your journey on the Camino !

Buen Camino !

You are right, it is all about the inner journey.

There is only a hand full of people from my country who have done the camino and only a few know about it.

I'm really happy that many of the people who followed my journey were inspired to take on the journey themselves one day.

Soon enough, or at least i hope, i will write a book about it as i'm a writer and it would be the first modern day book in Arabic to ever talk about the journey its self

Salman · Aug 23, 2016

DurhamParish said:
Salam alaikum. I would have loved to have met you and shared a cafe con leche at some cafe.

Waalikum Alsalam,

Likewise, we shall in the next camino

Annie Little · Aug 23, 2016

Salman said:
Definitely.. totally agree

This what really makes it special, the history, the diversity and the countless stories you collect along the way

THAT is the reason I want to go .... IF one has to have a reason ....

Anne

Smallest_Sparrow · Sep 21, 2016

Salman said:
You are right, it is all about the inner journey.

There is only a hand full of people from my country who have done the camino and only a few know about it.

I'm really happy that many of the people who followed my journey were inspired to take on the journey themselves one day.

Soon enough, or at least i hope, i will write a book about it as i'm a writer and it would be the first modern day book in Arabic to ever talk about the journey its self

!مبروك
من فضلك عندما نشر الكتاب، يقول لنا

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Thanks & Gratitude .. A Saudi on the Camino

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