even sunflowers dance

to blog, or not to blog

2010-08-07T00:12:00.002+04:00

I've missed this.
I've been neglectful, treated my blog like my first cat. perhaps not the best analogy to come up with.
I simply needed to remind myself; sort of like a song you once loved and then got sick of just to listen to again a year or so later.

gewd fewd.

2010-05-17T16:20:00.006+04:00

I love good food. Good food is love.
haha, yeah that's definitely dripping with "cheeezzze"; but I do believe nothing beats a good meal. I feel blessed to have been brought up in a family where cooking is at the heart of it all. My idea of hell is being force-fed IKEA food. (You know what I'm talking about; the boiled vegetables, under-prepared meat and ridiculous reliance on ketchup, stale packet salt and mayonnaise for FLAVOUR).

Flavour to me is lemon juice, coconut milk, chilli flakes, garlic paste, cinnamon sticks, olive oil, coriander leaves, fresh tomatoes, and chopped onions left to sizzle (not necessarily in one pot). It is the ability to pick and choose what works best together and taking it from there; an understanding of over-the-top subtlety.

Culture plays a huge role in it. The food I eat is influenced by my swahili/indian heritage (which I will probably explain in a future post), as well as western + asian recipes I've been exposed to. 'Fusion food' would be an understatement.

When it comes down to it all, the thing that sets us apart from other animals is our need for everything to be inspired.

Including the act of providing our bodies with nutrients in order to survive.

photo taken of my mom back in the 70s doing what she does best

con·cert (kŏn'sûrt', -sərt)

2010-05-15T00:58:00.010+04:00

n.

1. Music. A performance given by one or more singers or instrumentalists or both.
2.
a. Agreement in purpose, feeling, or action.
b. Unity achieved by mutual communication of views, ideas, and opinions: acted in concert on the issue.
c. Concerted action: "One feels between them an accumulation of gentleness and strength, a concert of energies" (Vanity Fair).
v., -cert·ed, -cert·ing, -certs. (kən-sûrt')
v.tr.
1. To plan or arrange by mutual agreement.
2. To adjust; settle.

v.intr.
To act together in harmony.

[French, from Italian concerto, from Old Italian, agreement, harmony, from concertare, to bring into agreement, possibly from Vulgar Latin *concertāre, to settle by argument, from Latin, to debate : con-, com- + certāre, to contend, frequentative of cernere, to separate, decide by fighting.]
www.answers.com/topic/concert

Couldn't have said it better myself.
Describes perfectly the experience I had watching Tinariwen (with Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe from Tv on the Radio) live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ3C0gAjXVM

noitaripsni-llaw

2010-04-19T00:23:00.004+04:00

unknowntalktounknown everlastsforever

summermoon

Shamelessly quiet.

2010-03-09T17:14:00.000+04:00

That is what I have been.
But to be fair I was on holiday mode,
*sigh* nothing beats a mini vacation.
My next post will be more substantial and chatterboxy.
Meow for now.

Numerology: What's in a Name?

2010-02-04T18:16:00.004+04:00

You entered: Nawal Mohamed Tajdin

There are 18 letters in your name.
Those 18 letters total to 69
There are 7 vowels and 11 consonants in your name.
What your first name means: Muslim Female Gift.
Your number is: 6
The characteristics of #6 are: Responsibility, protection, nurturing, community, balance, sympathy.

The expression or destiny for #6:
The number 6 Expression provides you a truly outstanding sense of responsibility, love, and balance. The 6 is helpful and ever conscientious, making you quite capable of rectifying and balancing any sort of inharmonious situation. You are a person very much inclined to give help and comfort to those in need. You have a natural penchant for working with the old, the young, the sick, or the underprivileged. Although you may have considerable creative and artistic talents, the chances are that you will devote yourself to an occupation that shows concern for the betterment of the community.
The positive side of the number 6 suggests that you are very loving, friendly, and appreciative of others. You have a depth of understanding that produces much sympathetic, kindness, and generosity. The qualities of the 6 make the finest and most concerned parent and one often deeply involved in domestic activities. Openness and honesty is apparent in your approach to all relationships.
If there is an excess of the number 6 in your makeup, you may exhibit some of the negative traits associated with this number. There may be a tendency for you to be too exacting and demanding of yourself. In this regard, you may at times sacrifice yourself (or your loved ones) for the welfare of others. In some cases, the over zealous 6 has difficulty distinguishing helping from interfering. You may have difficulty expressing your own individuality, because of involvement with responsibilities and causes. Like all with the Expression of the number 6, it's quite likely that you worry much too much.

Your Soul Urge number is: 6
A Soul Urge number of 6 means:
With a number 6 Soul Urge, you would like to be appreciated for your ability to handle responsibility. Your home and family are likely to be a strong focus for you, perhaps the strongest focus of your life. Friendship, love, and affection are high on your list of priorities for a happy life. You have a lot of diplomatic tendencies in your makeup, as you a able to rectify and balance situations with an innate skill. You like working with people rather than by yourself. It is extremely important for you to have harmony in your environment at all times.
The positive side of the 6 Soul Urge produces a huge capacity for responsibility; you are always there and ready to assume more than your share of the load. If you possess positive 6 Soul Urges and express them, you are known for your generosity, understanding and deep sympathetic attitude. Strong 6 energy is very giving of love, affection, and emotional support. You may have the inclination to teach or serve your community in other idealistic ways. You have natural abilities to help people. You are also likely to have artistic and creative leanings.
If you have an over-supply of 6 energy in your makeup, you may express some of the negative traits common to this number. With such a strong sympathetic attitude, it is easy to become too emotional. Sometimes the desires to render help can be over done, and it can become interfering and an attitude that is too protective, rather than helpful. The person with too much 6 energy often finds that people tend to take advantage of this very giving spirit. You may tend to repress your own needs so that you can cater to the demands from others. At times, there may be a tendency in this, for becoming over-loaded with such demands, and as a result become resentful.

Your Inner Dream number is: 9
An Inner Dream number of 9 means:
You dream of being creative, intellectual, and universal; the selfless humanitarian. You understand the needy and want to help them. You would love to be a person people count on for support and advice.

For you to try:
http://www.paulsadowski.com/Numbers.asp

(I was tempted to edit the bad ingalish but decided otherwise so it wouldn't lose its authenticity)

More Numerology: Birthday Calculator

2010-02-04T18:03:00.005+04:00

18 December 1990

Your date of conception was on or about 27 March 1990 which was a Tuesday. (I'd rather not know...)
You were born on a Tuesday
under the astrological sign Sagittarius.
Your Life path number is 4.
Your fortune cookie reads:
In the end there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.
Life Path Compatibility:
You are most compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 2, 4, 8, 11 & 22.
You should get along well with those with the Life Path numbers 6 & 7.
You are least compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 1, 3, 5 & 9.
The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2448243.5.

The golden number for 1990 is 15.
The epact number for 1990 is 3.
The year 1990 was not a leap year.

Your birthday falls into the Chinese year beginning 1/27/1990 and ending 2/14/1991.
You were born in the Chinese year of the Horse.

Your Native American Zodiac sign is Owl; your plant is Mistletoe.
You were born in the Egyptian month of Menchir, the second month of the season of Poret (Emergence - Fertile soil).
Your date of birth on the Hebrew calendar is 1 Tevet 5751.
Or if you were born after sundown then the date is 2 Tevet 5751.
The Mayan Calendar long count date of your birthday is 12.18.17.11.19 which is
12 baktun 18 katun 17 tun 11 uinal 19 kin
The Hijra (Islamic Calendar) date of your birth is Tuesday, 30 Jumadiyu'l-Avval 1411 (1411-5-30).
The date of Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 15 April 1990.
The date of Orthodox Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 15 April 1990.
The date of Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) on your birth year was Wednesday 28 February 1990.
The date of Whitsun (Pentecost Sunday) in the year of your birth was Sunday 3 June 1990.
The date of Whisuntide in the year of your birth was Sunday 10 June 1990.
The date of Rosh Hashanah in the year of your birth was Thursday, 20 September 1990.
The date of Passover in the year of your birth was Tuesday, 10 April 1990.
The date of Mardi Gras on your birth year was Tuesday 27 February 1990.

As of 2/4/2010 7:42:33 AM EST
You are 19 years old.
You are 230 months old.
You are 998 weeks old.
You are 6,988 days old.
You are 167,719 hours old.
You are 10,063,182 minutes old.
You are 603,790,953 seconds old.

Celebrities who share your birthday:
Christina Aguilera (1980) Katie Holmes (1978) Earl 'DMX' Simmons (1970)
Rob Van Dam (1970) 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin (1964) Brad Pitt (1963)
Leonard Maltin (1950) Steven Spielberg (1946) Keith Richards (1943)
Ossie Davis (1917) Douglas Fraser (1916) Betty Grable (1916)
Ty Cobb (1886)

Top songs of 1990
Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor, Vision of Love by Mariah Carey
Because I Love You (The Postman Song) by Stevie B, Vogue by Madonna
Escapade by Janet Jackson, Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul with the Wild Pair
Step By Step by New Kids On the Block, How Am I Supposed to Live without You by Michael Bolton
Love Takes Time by Mariah Carey, It Must Have Been Love by Roxette

Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 2.73502935420744 years old. (Life's just a big chewy bone for you!)
Your lucky day is Thursday.
Your lucky number is 3.
Your ruling planet(s) is Jupiter & Neptune.
Your lucky dates are 3rd, 12th, 21st, 30th.
Your opposition sign is Gemini.
Your opposition number(s) is 5.
Today is not one of your lucky days! (Very true! I went shopping without my wallet :S)
There are 317 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 20 candles.
Those 20 candles produce 20 BTUs,
or 5,040 calories of heat (that's only 5.0400 food Calories!) .
You can boil 2.29 US ounces of water with that many candles. (haha, who knew?)

In 1990 there were approximately 4.1 million births in the US.
In 1990 the US population was approximately 248,709,873 people, 70.3 persons per square mile.
In 1990 in the US there were 2,448,000 marriages (9.8%) and 1,175,000 divorces (4.7%)
In 1990 in the US there were approximately 2,148,000 deaths (8.6 per 1000)
In the US a new person is born approximately every 8 seconds.
In the US one person dies approximately every 12 seconds.

In 1990 the population of Australia was approximately 17,169,768.
In 1990 there were approximately 262,648 births in Australia.
In 1990 in Australia there were approximately 116,959 marriages and 42,635 divorces.
In 1990 in Australia there were approximately 120,062 deaths.

Your birth flower is POINSETTIA
Your birthstone is Blue Zircon
The Mystical properties of Blue Zircon
Zircon helps one be more at peace with oneself.
Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources)
Blue Topaz, Ruby, Lapis Lazuli
Your birth tree is
Fig Tree, the Sensibility:
Very strong, a bit self-willed, independent, does not allow contradiction or arguments, loves life, its(so I'm an "it" now?) family, children and animals, a bit of a butterfly, good sense of humour, likes idleness and laziness, of practical talent and intelligence.

There are 324 days till Christmas 2010!
There are 337 days till Orthodox Christmas!
The moon's phase on the day you were
born was waxing crescent.
For you to try:
http://www.paulsadowski.org/BirthDay.asp

Viele Danke, Alexander Graham Bell.

2010-02-03T17:58:00.002+04:00

Nothing beats a good phone-versation with a friend. Forget skyping, instant messaging, texting or even face-to-facing, old-school phone calls are the way to go. They require the least amount of effort because, (a) that person can't see you (zit cream and old t-shirts? Not a problem); (b) your fingers don't go numb with all the texting or typing (no risk of typos, I hate typos); and last but not least, (c) once you're over it, you're just a red button away.

But forget all the technicalities for a second. Phone-versations just have more of a feel good factor and I am always left more inspired after talking for what feels like eons, about everything and anything. I tend to leave a phone-versation with all sorts of resolutions and a greater perspective on things (that die out eventually but to be fair, atleast existed once).

There's also that sense of mystery involved, and the perfect balance between privacy and TMI (too much information). What I mean is, privacy because you can't see the other person (vice versa); TMI because sometimes you'll hear the odd shout from their mom downstairs asking if they've washed their underwear or something along those lines. hehe

So I'd like to give a shoutout (MTV TRL-style) to Alexander Graham Bell who according to WikiAnswers (because my 13 years of formal education never taught me this), invented the first concept of a telephone.

Here's a link to Blondie's "Hanging on the Telephone" + link to lyrics:

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/blondie/hangingonthetelephone.html

Too Quiet.

2010-01-30T13:36:00.000+04:00

I'm just going to call january the month of awkward silences.

2010; one month almost gone, with eleven more to go. I should travel before I get back to the rest of my life. Dramatic much? Perhaps...but hyperbole is my friend.

Looking forward to february with its leap yearness.

Oh and, I wanna run in to more people like this:

I woke up this morning feeling like I don't know enough...

2010-01-13T22:01:00.000+04:00

...enough about anything. I always imagine myself walking into a grand library, climbing up ladders with a giant basket, collecting all the books that I fancy reading, and then finding a corner with huge windows and just the right amount of sunshine pouring in while I notice the tiny dust particles dancing in the sunlight inbetween chapters. Books about religion, books about Nepali poets and early theories of Biology, pages of stories written by the borderline insane. Books about everything and anything and nothing. And as I do this I imagine my head starting to expand with all the information I've absorbed and I end up floating towards the ceiling like a helium balloon.

...perhaps these are the after-effects of growing up watching too many cartoons.

HECK-TICK.

2010-01-10T23:04:00.003+04:00

A word that best describes the past couple of days.

shoppingwithoutstopping.friendsoldnewandinbetween.badmoviesIpaidtowatch.goodonesIstoleofftheinternet.facebookfacebookfacebook.chatting.eating.sleeping.latenighttelevision.moresleeping.chineserestaurants.thesmellofnewclothes.siblingsandparents.memories.

Back to work now.

The first day, of the first month, of the new year.

2010-01-01T10:50:00.006+04:00

Another year, another transition.
A supposed fresh start, clean sheet, new beginnning.
Renewed (false?) hope and the (false?) promise of change.
I'm curious to see what awaits me down the line, or rather, 'up the ladder'.

The start of a new year may be an excuse to party but it is also a reminder of what's really important. I haven't written my list of resolutions yet but I'll get to it eventually. I know that the intellectuals among us like to point out the fact that the idea of welcoming in the new year is overrrated and that most of us will never really fulfill our resolutions. But to them I say, that's besides the point. Everyone needs time to reflect, and the first day, of the first month, of the new year is the most befitting.

L'Shanah Tovah.

Elmo + dancing = pretty darn cute

2009-12-26T22:05:00.002+04:00

I am going to blame my recent lack of posting on Blogger's Block. Hopefully this will make up for it :D super cute elmo going tribal.

It was my birthday.

2009-12-19T02:40:00.003+04:00

The cake was terribly kitsch, what can I say?

Starting to shake off the effects of a self-induced sugar-coma.

It's been a pleasant 24 hours.

I love my family. I love my friends.

19 years.

I feel blessed.

Inshallah Kheir for what's to come.

Cutie Mooties

2009-12-15T19:48:00.002+04:00

-adjective
describes guys who are attractive due to their shy smiles, soft spoken(ness), nervous laughter, inability to make eye contact, short statures or overall awkwardness.

Yes, cutie mooties are the new alternative to preppy-colgate-smile-hard-rock-ab-roman-gladiator types.

Okay, that's a bit of an overstatement but they're definitely a force to be reckoned with. It's a term that a friend of my sister's came up with for guys that make you feel like you're staring at a puppy in a pet store; it's their adorability that makes them endearing. Don't get me wrong, I haven't just confessed to having a thing for emasculated puppy manchildren, mehehe, I simply prefer to keep my options open. I've just met quite a few Adonises who've made me run miles in the opposite direction after opening their mouths.
A couple of examples of cutie mooties are:

Jimmy Fallon: watch his show then get back to me.

Andrei Arshavin: look at him! He's the same height as the kids!

Jason Schwartzman: there's a level of neuroticism that I can look past.

Dev Patel: in a lanky sorta way, sure.

Michael Cera: epitomises the 'cutie mootie'

At the end of the day, whether you're a johnny depp or a jon cryer, its your overall vibe that makes you "sizzle" (I don't believe I just typed that).

I realize my examples are limited and a bit ethnocentric so feel free to add more to this list. However, make sure you note the difference between cutie mooties and nerdy boys.

'high-ate-us'

2009-12-14T15:19:00.000+04:00

I have been on a bit of a hiatus; my apologies. I'm self-diagnosed with film fest. fever. Two and a half days left, and if you haven't been for a movie you still have time. Just check the schedule. Challo, get crack-a-lackin'!

So far I've watched 'Un Prophete', 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' and 'Mother and Child'. Not the most impressive number but all three are absolutely beautiful; perfectly constructed; I <3 and recommend. Don't care if you watch 'em on a pirated DVD, just DO.

I've still got 'Women without Men', 'Lost Paradise in Tokyo', 'The Man Who Sold the World', 'Nineteen-eighty-one', 'Zanzibar Musical Club' and 'Les Barons' left. A slight shift from what I initially planned on watching, but it's all goood. Had to take a detour yesterday because of the Arsenal vs Liverpool match which was totally worth it. hehe.

I am off for now. And I don't plan on making 6 day breaks from blogging a habit.

Everyone needs a Theme Tune and Tracksuit.

2009-12-08T14:43:00.002+04:00

Blogging is a bit tricky and at the moment I'm struggling with writing posts that aren't 'fickle as a tickle' (yes, I invent similes) or too 'pseudo intellectual mumbo jumbo-ish'. I realized that yesterday's post -on a subconscious level- was published for the sake of it, and from now on I'm only going to blog when I've put more thought into it. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but I need to remind myself every once in awhile.

In retrospect, my so-called "cure for the emolicious" are simply temporary pick-me-ups whose 'happy pill euphoria' effects wear out eventually; at the end of the day the same crappy feelings of being out of sync is what one is left with. ( I am having a Dr. Phil moment here, bear with me).

The only way to deal with the negativity is to use, as I like to call it, 'the strict parent method'. What is this method, you ask? Well it is when you refuse to wallow in self-pity and give yourself a kick in the BEEhind; it is about being COMPLETELY honest with yourself, and finally taking action and doing the things you've always wanted to. Excuse the oversimplification, but maybe that's the answer we've all been looking for.

I know I've had it with complicating everything.

*plays 'Eye of the Tiger', puts on a track suit and runs towards the street of dreams*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjO1CXND4V8&feature=related

'When the going gets tough, the tough get going.'

*cringes at my cheesiness*

Cure for the emolicious

2009-12-07T14:13:00.001+04:00

For people that know me, they're aware of my moodiness. And to an extent I enjoy being foul for a day every once in awhile; its refreshing. Perhaps not something I should be proud of but blogs have the power of sucking the truth out of a person. But it does get old eventually and the only things that seem to change the colour of my mood ring are:

1. DILBERT Absolute geniusnessness. Scott Adams (creator) is my hero :)
http://www.dilbert.com/strips/

2. Home-made meals; my mama's cooking. Nothing inspires more love in my tummy.

3. Going through old photographs and sighing in relief when I realize the awkward stages are beind me...almost.

4. Reading the newspaper (99.9% is bad news) or watching a heart-rendering documentary always seems to cheer me up, and NOT in a sadistic way. It is just a reminder of all the things I should be grateful for.

5. Finding the right music, through a bit of trial and error. I say trial and error because sometimes the wrong kinda music can just make one feel worse. Yesterday it was Bon Iver who managed to help me see the sunnier side of things.

A song of his:

Little extra:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ajftxqlrldae~T1

6. Watching SNL. Bill Haider and Andy Samberg. What more can I say?

7. And due to my nun tendencies, saying a little prayer helps.

SO REMEMBER KIDS, "turn that frown, upside down!"

popcorn, nachos and a bottle of water please.

2009-12-06T01:04:00.000+04:00

Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is around the corner and I can't wait! I finally have the time to watch as many movies as I can. I've never been one to go to the cinema alone but I might have to because the rest of the world (my social circle) will probably have "prior engagements" i.e. responsibilities that lollygaggers such as myself refuse to acknowledge. The films being shown this year are pretty darn awesome. These are the ones I really want to watch:

Un Prophete
A young, illiterate French-Arab career criminal, Malik arrives at an adult prison, and is immediately thrust into the jail's complex, cut-throat gang culture. As Malik, upcoming star Tahar Rahim is mesmerising; from his first 'missions' to satisfy a terrifying Corsican prison mafia boss (played by Audiard regular Niels Arestrup), through to his own violent rise through the ranks of the criminal underworld. A taut, gripping account of Malik's profound journey from nervous, overwhelmed petty con boy to mature, perceptive man, this visceral, magnetic thriller - adored by the critics at Cannes -- is one of the films of the year.

The Other Song
In 1935, the Indian singer Rasoolan Bai sang, 'My breasts are wounded, don't throw flowers at me'. Never to be sung again, the song eventually got lost. Seventy-four years later, director Saba Dewan travels through Varanasi in southern India, in search of that forgotten song and the story of the women who inspired it. She encounters the modern-day descendants of the courtesans who, until a century ago, were amongst the most educated of Indian women. Today they're considered deviants. Yet, their stories are irrevocably linked to the making of modern India, and the transitions around the censorship of female sexualities and cultural expression.

Yogi
Poverty draws many young men in the sultry tin shacks and alleyways of Indian megacities to violence. For Yogi, assaults have become a daily routine, so much so that the sight of his latest victim, a heavily injured woman slumped in her car, leaves him untouched. But then he spots her baby on the back seat. Without a second thought, Yogi takes the completely defenceless creature along in a basket. Not even a machine gun pointed at his forehead could have had a stronger impact on his life; he feels threatened and seduced at the same time.

Mother and Child
Somewhat reminiscent of Pedro Almodovar's vigorous celebrations of modern women, this engrossing drama discussing themes of parenthood and family as it revolves around the lives of three women. Elizabeth (Naomi Watts) is a neurotic lawyer, Karen (Annette Bening) an embittered nurse and Lucy (Kerry Washington) is desperate to have a child and is preparing to adopt. While each character is richly drawn, each facing their own distinct set of problems and thwarted ambitions, it's the gradual unfurling of their individual narratives that coalesce slowly and gracefully to an unexpected, yet satisfying conclusion. Stellar performances from this exciting cast drive this film, Garcia's best work to date.

Amreeka
The search for one's own identity, caught between two cultures, is at the heart of debut director Cherien Dabis's critically-acclaimed feature film. 'Amreeka' chronicles the adventures of Muna, a single mother who leaves the Palestinian West Bank with Fadi, her teenage son, with dreams of an exciting future in the promised land of small-town Illinois. In the heart of the Midwest, the Arab newcomers arouse a variety of reactions - but as her son navigates high school hallways the way he used to move through military checkpoints, the indomitable Muna scrambles together a new life cooking up falafel burgers at the local White Castle fast-food joint.

Lost Paradise in Tokyo
Following the death of their father, real-estate agent Mikio has assumed responsibility for his elder, mentally-disabled brother Saneo. The pressures of looking after the willful and unpredictable Saneo soon begin to take their toll on taciturn Mikio. Hoping to calm his brother, Mikio hires Fala, a sassy young prostitute to sleep with Saneo. But unexpectedly, Saneo and Fala strike up an odd relationship together, the bizarreness of which is tempered by the constant presence of the remote Mikio. Nevertheless, the trio soon become close - close enough for Fala to suggest a scheme that could potentially significantly alter the lives of all three.

Zanzibar Musical Club
An invitation to explore a millenary Muslim culture, where traditions are transmitted through music, 'Zanzibar Musical Club' goes deep into a culture where music is inextricably woven into the social fabric. This superb documentary is alive and pulsing with a musical mix of Arabic tones, Latin rhythms, Indian melodies and African drums.

Mein Vater, Mein Onkel
A moving documentary, chronicling the story of 28-year-old, Iraq-born Sinan, who was adopted at birth by his uncle Farouq and his German wife Brunhild. Following the couple's split a few years later, he was taken by his mother to Darmstadt, Germany, where he has lived ever since. In 'My Father, My Uncle', we watch as Sinan prepares to meet his original family, now exiled from Iraq and based in Sharjah, UAE. Knowing little about his Arabic origins or culture, Sinan views the impending meeting with trepidation. However, the reunion brings a complex tangle of emotions to the surface.

Garbage Dreams
In 'Garbage Dreams', we are introduced to three teenage boys who were born into the 'trash trade' - amidst the squalor, stench and noise of the world's largest garbage village, on the outskirts of Cairo. It is home to 60,000 Zabbaleen, (Arabic for 'garbage people'), pioneers of eco-friendly recycling practises, reusing up to 80 per cent of the trash they collect. This sense of economy and resourcefulness has come to the attention of some of the world's largest waste-disposal corporations. The impact of this sudden interest, and the potential ramifications affect our three protagonists in a variety of life-changing ways.

and drum roll please...this one is speXial:

City of Life
'City Of Life' is an urban drama set in Dubai that explores the existing complexities within an emerging multicultural society's race, ethnicity and class divide. A privileged Emirati male, a disillusioned Indian taxi driver and a European woman's paths are about to collide and irrevocably impact one another's lives. The first multi-lingual feature film to be written, produced and directed by an Emirati with UAE funding, intended for both local and international release, 'City Of Life' blazes an impressive trail for Emirati film.

I heard about it a few weeks ago when I went for a gig at The Fridge in Dubai that was featuring 'The Narcicyst', an Iraqi/Canadian hip-hop artist who used to live in the U.A.E. but is currently based in Montreal. He's in the film, and if I'm not mistaken has also provided the soundtrack. It seems promising and one has to show support for homegrown talent.

http://www.cityoflifefilm.com/

http://www.illuminarcy.blogspot.com/

You can get more information on all the films here:
http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/en/films-explorer/

And here's the schedule:
http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/schedule_2009.php

Fussball.

2009-12-05T14:33:00.003+04:00

O to the M to the G. I missed a day of blogging yesterday. It can't be that bad, for now.

I watched the FIFA World Cup Draw and I have to say it wasn't disappointing. I simply hope and pray everything will go according to plan and I predict a lot of dancing in the streets. This was my fave part of the ceremony (Video Quality isn't great, sorry):

For the record I'm not one of those girls who become football fanatics every four years and support the team with the hottest players *cough, spain, cough*, hehe, I actually watch football throughout the year and am a hayyooj (huge) Arsenal supporter.

Back to World Cup football now. I was one the people screaming, "allez les bleus!" in 2006 but this time around I've got my fingers crossed for England. I have a bad feeling about "Team USA" though, something tells me they'll cause an upset if we don't manage to kick 'em back to Laguna Beach where they belong mehehe (nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition, right?). My back up teams are Spain and Argentina because they too have so much potential.

Oh well we'll see what happens, it would be awesome to have an African Nation win on home soil but for now it seems like wishful thinking. And although Ivory Coast are the best, my aversion to Didier Drogba makes it hard for me, but I guess I could look past him, Emmanuel Eboue IS part of the team too. Anyways enough with my two cents about who deserves what, the tournament is bigger than that. I am super excited if you haven't already noticed :)

For all you England fans out there, an awesome movie to watch before football mania begins is 'Sixty Six':

*does a little jig*
Oh one more thing, the mascot creeped me out. He really did.

Creature Feature: Maysa

2009-12-03T21:58:00.000+04:00

I just thought I'd feature a photographer I know.

Quick bio: Her name's Maysa, she lives in Oman, currently studying urban planning and architectural design at GUTech in Muscat.

She is a bit of a creature because she's related to me and her favourite cartoon character is Cheese from Foster's Home of Imaginary Friends, but the girl has got a gift, mashallah. When I asked her why she took photos she replied with, "it's about capturing the moment and the best part is when I get to see the finished product." What surprises me about Maysa is the fact that unlike most artists, she isn't narcissistic in the least. Or maybe I should stop with the stereotypes, hehe.

I love her work! There's a simplicity in the complexity of her photos (yes, yes, that is quite pretentious but you'll agree with me when you see them).

'beautiful clash'

'crabster'

'drops of life'

'light to light'

'shut blue'

'merry gone round'

'path'

'The Blue Mosque-ex-interior'

'streeet lights'

'EsCape'

You can see more of her work on her deviantART page:

http://bohemic.deviantart.com/

Happy U.A.E. National Day!

2009-12-02T17:50:00.000+04:00

I've lived as an expat in Dubai for the past 9 years and I have to confess that I never really took the time to learn more about the history of this Nation. I'm sure there's quite a few of you out there who can relate, but today I thought I'd put a stop to this ignorance/ indifference. The one thing I can recommend is going to Old Dubai along the creek, exploring the Bastakiya area, visiting the museums, art galleries, and cafes; walking through the main marketplace and taking an abra to the spice souk. There's also the heritage village in the shindagha area. With the weather being so wonderful one must take advantage of it and opt for a day spent exploring instead of shopping in a MALL. I know how easy it is as a "Dubai-an" to get so caught up in this city that we forget about the rest of the Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al Quwain and Fujairah but they too have historical sites worth visiting. Take some time off from your busy schedules and actually learn more about the country we live in.

Here's to 38 years of independence :)

Links to check out:

http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=df7b8d7e90cb4110VgnVCM100000b0140a0aRCRD

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/revisiting-the-excitement-and-patriotic-fervour-of-national-day-1.543128

http://ourfatherzayed.ae/

http://www.bookcorner.ae/bookgallery_localinterest.htm

"PAUSE"

2009-12-01T15:09:00.002+04:00

–verb (used without object)
to make a brief stop or delay; wait; hesitate
to dwell or linger

In my case to take time off; to stay where I am while everyone else moves ahead.

I pressed the pause button on my education, I now have to find things to occupy my mind before the Big U. So far it hasn't been that great and I've only got myself to blame. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, and weeks have turned in to 3 months of being carried along without feeling a greater sense of satisfaction.

OKAY. I'm going to stop with the whining. Its just a matter of programming my goldfish memory to remember the basics, look for simple ways to spend my time and believe in the power of deluding myself with positive affirmations. ommmmm.

I guess I shouldn't see it as a complete stop but rather moving in slow motion; stopping to smell the roses; simply taking the longer way home.

Joining the blogosphere is something that I've always wanted. I had a blog 5 years ago that was filled with emo teenage angst. I like to believe that I have changed and hopefully this one will be less self-involved than the last one *cough, choke*

I'm curious to see where this leads me. And I promise to add various angles to my posts ranging from music videos, reviews, photographs and with the support of a good friend of mine, a "whenever-she-can" post of whimsical, inspirational and random stuff she's found online.

:)