DW reporter Ali Almakhlafi travels from Germany to Mecca for the Hajj - and takes DW's readers along for the ride.

Ali is taking a very personal voyage - following the pilgrimage to Mecca as a journalist. Along the way, he asks a host of interesting questions, such as:

How is the Hajj performed? What's happening on the sidelines? What's the experience like for Muslims from Germany?

Follow Ali's journey through his Mecca Journal entries below.