A Walk to Remember

Today has been insightful in many many ways. It all started when I decided to go for a walk since my day's in travel are coming to an end.

To fix my mood, which was a bit off, I grabbed my camera and went to shoot. First stop, the horse area! You got no idea how I was smiling from every single part of me by just looking at this gorgeous creature.



Continuing the journey, I found this interesting store which seemed very religious and decided to enter. Indeed it had an interesting story.

The owner of the shop was a refugee from Tibet. He had escaped there when China took over. I did not notice it at first but the store name was "Spirit of Tibet". That was emotional for me, being away from my country by choice, these people were forced to leave. Yet, he still carries the spirit of his country. Anyways, this shop was Buddha inspired and had a meditation room (which is freaky a bit).

(The standing monument inside is the meditation room)

Then I remembered today is Saturday and there was a church next by. After this story which showed me a bit about Buddhism, I wanted to take a look at Christianity. I did not enter though, the church door was opened and I took the pictures from outside.

It was an interesting walk, and it made me think deeply. I was comparing our Mosque to this Buddha Meditation room and the Church. Buddha seemed a calm religion and everything is done solo. The Church was empty at that time so I could not judge. Came to my mind how our Mosques have people everyday at 5 different timings. We are blessed with the feeling of togetherness.

Reading, Reading & Reading

To those that know me, you'd probably know by now I was never really a reader. To those that do not know me, you do now.

Reading was always that one thing that I thought, oh Ill never be good at, or I'd never really enjoy it. I use to consider people that read "lucky" - as I believed it is a talent to be able to hold a book and commit your eyes into reading every single word.

This summer, I decided to give reading another shot, and of-course that would not have been possible if I did not have some great persons behind me trying to push me to it.

This is how my bookshelf would have looked like exactly a year ago.

This is how my bookshelf looks today.


Yes, I DID IT.

I read 6 books so far, and really enjoyed each of them. I finally can say that reading is no more a challenge.

Titles of books in order of appearance (Left to Right)

1- The Great Brain Race- Wildavsky
2- How to Win Friends and Influence People- Dale Carngie
3- The Time Traveler's Wife- Audrey Niffenger
4- Rich Dad Poor Dad- Robert T.
5- Nanny Returns- Nicola Kraus & Emma Mclaughin
6- Shanghai Girls- Lisa See
7- The Quraan
8- Arabic Glossary

Lost in translation

Today I woke up and my right eye was a bit irritated. Anyways, I sent them to get me a med and well, everything is written in German.

I decided to use google translator to figure where do you actually apply the med (in or out of the eye) anyways.

I GOT LOST IN TRANSLATION. Now my eyes are a vehicle to Google, good job translator. Anyways I found that hilarious.

Never Give Up

We all have those things, moments and thoughts when giving up seems easier then resisting or persevering. For me personally, I'd rather fail at doing a thing I am passionate about then give up on it. Failing is more of a success to be then to give up.

I recently watched "Invictus" a movie about the ruling of Nelson Mandella. Here is a man that was sent to prison for nearly two decades convicted of being passionate about what he believed in. Yet, he made it out and perhaps he was the best thing that happened to South Africa.

This made me think deeply about how committed he was to what he was doing. Imagine years in prison and never knowing when you will be out, with all that, his believes were solid. I admire that strength he had, to keep believing even when it seemed at times there was nothing there to believe in.

Bringing it to a personal level, I had my own "close to give up" moments towards art. Despite my poor skills in drawing I really enjoy doing some from time to time when wanting to express something I can't visualize in reality.

Here are some things I did two years ago.



No, I am not an emo nor a goth - incase the black made you wonder. It was just easy using one color.

This one is my latest- July 16th. I wanted to draw the sea but turned to be more of a lake, perhaps the surroundings of where I am caused that glitch.

Nevertheless, never give up. Believe in you, believe in what you are doing. And if for a while, the whole world seems to be against you, there is one person that can never be and that person is the one you see looking back at you when you stand before a mirror.

Stop Motion

I have been recently interested in stop motion and decided its time to experiment on my own. I thought to myself how hard can that be, it's all about move and shoot. But guess what, spent all yesterday unable to find an idea to start with!

I went to the kids room, checked some toys and still no idea, not as easy as I thought. I will give it another shot today, hopefully, something will come out.

Thought of sharing some of my favorite stop motion videos.

Enjoy,

When I was 10

Sometimes, to get away from those stress-adding movies or crime filled scenes or the casual soap operas, I like watching something young. Something that reminds me when I was 10, when my biggest worry was what pencil-case will I carry to school tomorrow or what outfit will I wear in gym class.

What brings me to this. Yesterday I decided to look for that movie that will make me feel 10 again. The Movie "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" not only made me remember some old forgotten memories, but it made me really laugh and be reminded how simple things can mean much.

So how was I when I was 10 popped in my mind. Let's see.

-I was in grade 5 and in a new school
-I enjoyed annoying our homeroom teacher by stealing his M&M's
-I use to spend recess annoying any group of kids playing together
- My biggest concern was if the flute we are given in music class was clean enough

Being young was such an easy task, growing old is a challenging one. Sometimes all it takes to get over our biggest concerns is that laugh of young us and the spirit of "Let's forget and move on".

Note to self: Bringing out that 10 year old brat from time to time is no harm.

Here to Stay

Its been about 2 months since my last post. I had hidden the blog because the leave of "Unlucky" left me unexcited to blog. But here I come back, for another journey, hopefully a longer one.

The title will remain as it it "Life of Horse and I". But the horse this time, is my life, until that horse becomes reality.

So welcome back, and welcome to my life.