Burj Al Arab- The Side They Don't Want You To See!

Hello friends,

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We have all seen or heard about the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, right? The iconic structure in Dubai, which is so famous it is used on the car licence plates. It is billed as the only 7-star hotel in the world. It is also billed as the tallest all-suite hotel in the world.

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When I was in my junior year of architecture, my class went on a visit to see this new marvel. we managed to get in for free, otherwise you have to pay Dhs 200 at the gate, for which you get voucher meant to be used inside at restaurants or gift-shops. We saw the suites, and each floor has its own butler, plus each suite gets it own personal butler. Ok, so we have seen images of this hotel from all angles, well, almost all.

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You see, the media is so clever here, they don't want you to see the hotel from the sea. They will always show you the image of the hotel from the front side, or from above, never from the sea. Why? Because, once you see it from the sea, you see one of the world's largest Christian cross in the world.

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When we were there on the trip, one of us raised up the question of what the purpose of that huge mast at the top is for. The answer: it's not a functional piece. It's not a tele-communication pole. It was part of the design. The architect who designed this hotel is not here anymore, and once he went back home, in his interview he said that he was successfully able to implement the construction of a Christian cross in Dubai! I can't seem to find that interview any more on the web. 

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See the image of the hotel which they never show you. Ask yourself: why that huge mast at the top? Why make the restaurant stick out like that? It's only there to make the cross! Interesting, isnt it? One of the world's largest Christian cross is right here in Dubai!

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Mansur

Burnt Alive

My dad had asked me to accompany him to the hospital. I had no problems with that, since I was not the one who was sick, nor was my dad. Instead we were going to see another person who was being treated at the hospital.

We reached the New Jeddah Clinic Hospital. I am very familiar with this place, because it's the hospital that my father's company had an agreement with. So every time anyone of us would be sick, we would end up here. It was 9pm and even before we got out of our car in the parking lot at the hospital, I told my dadthat I'll be fine in the car. He insisted I come. It was one of those moments that dad does to make me step into adulthood; to remind me that life is not all rosy and that hardships will have to be endured.

Waking up the steps made my beat a little faster than normal. I knew what I was going to see if I entered the patient's room. I knew it would be a scary moment for me, yet a part of me wanted to go and see. The strong antiseptic smell seemed a whole lot stronger, as my senses were heightened a whole lot. I was more aware of what's happening around me. One Egyptian patient moaning all alone on a stretcher with no one attending to him. A Saudi woman clad in an abaya with a sick baby was seated at the end of the corridor. A Sri Lankan man was mopping the floor at this end. A couple of Filipino nurses walked past by us. All the while my mind was filled the gruesomeness that I was about to see.

My dad and I got to the reception desk, where the nurse told us the room number. My mind was filled with doubt. Mansur, do you really want to see this? Should I? Am I a coward? I should be brave! I don't want nightmares. Within seconds, I found myself entering the elevator with my dad. He seemed as tense as I was. My dad is a very strong person, but even today he was wincing a little. I gathered that he and I would be witnessing something for the first time today.

We finally got to our destination. This is it. Mansur, you can still back out, I thought. No, I have made it this far, I might as well continue on this journey. My dad knocked on the door, and for a while we did not hear anything. Knock knock. No reply. My dad turned the door handle, and took a quiet step in. I followed him cautiously. I did not want to disturb the patient. We walked through the small passageway into the room itself.

I saw my dad's friend sitting at the other end of the room, with his head in his hands. He was so absorbed into his own thoughts, he did not hear the knocking on the door. I was thankful his two young daughters were not here with him. They certainly would not have been able to see this. I was absolutely transfixed to the woman lying on the bed. It was extremely difficult to see, but I did. She had been burnt alive.

I could only look at her face. Her hair had been burnt almost completely, leaving parts of her scalp exposed. Part of her face was also scarred heavily, like someone had ripped off her skin and rubbed burnt charcoal on it. This was a women who was so petite and soft spoken, with her beautiful long hair braided down to her knees. A woman who had moved to Jeddah from Pakistan and raising her two young daughters. A woman who was so kind to everyone in her apartment building. It was just unfathomable to comprehend as to what happened to just happened to her. One second changed her life complete!

Kitchen. Gas flame. Lit match. Explosion. Clothes on fire. Burnt. Husband at work.Daughters at school. Neighbors heard screams. Banged down locked door. Too late. Burnt but not dead. Burnt Alive. 

The body was completely naked. It had to be naked for nothing could touch her skin- not even mesh guaze. There was a plastic box covering her entirely, which was covered with a large white cloth. It seemed like she was in a coffin already. I didn't know if she was sedated, or sleeping, or unconscious. I didn't know how much pain she was in at the moment. I couldnt even imagine the pain she must have been. All I could see was her burnt face.  Our friend, took my dad up to his wife, and he removed part of the cloth. I was sitting away from the bed, but I managed to catch a glimpse of the body.

It was black. It was scarred heavily. She looked like a piece of burnt log. She lay there absolutely still. I could not see any patch of normal skin. I had never seen anything like this before. I had always prided myself that I can watch horror movies and not be scared, but this was horror of the worse kind. It was very difficult to witness this. Scenes replayed in my mind what the woman must have gone through in her kitchen when she was caught on fire. All I knew then was that this woman's burnt body has been etched into my mind for as long as I live. The worse part was that she was alive. She could barely communicate with her eyes. How incredibly painful and agonizing. Not being able to communicate.

The drive back home was the quietest one we have had till now.

Sometimes, I have dreams where I am walking the same familiar path in the hospital, leading up to the room. I don't see anyone in the hospital this time round. I am all alone now. I find myself standing next to the woman, peering into her blackened and burnt face, with her body covered. I just find myself standing there, not knowing what the deal is. What did she do to deserve this? Wy do bad things happen to good people? While staring into her face, her eyes suddenly open and I gasp for breath. I cannot seem to breathe in that room. She is helpless. She needs help. She is stuck in this box, with only her head sticking out. She tries to speak. I see the pain and anguish in her eyes. I am helpless too. I don't know how to help her. I see tears falling from her right eye down onto her pillow. Her body starts to tremble, and the whole bed starts to shake. I press the nurse button, but no one shows up. I am alone in this room, with this woman, shaking violently in her bed. She is trying to tell me something, but I am not able to make out what it is. All I can do then is just stand there, helplessly, peering into her eyes, till she closes them again and passes away.

Mansur
(True Story) 

Am I Finally Home?

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Just after Juma Prayer.

Officer Abdulla leads me out of my prison into the scorching July heat of Saudi Arabia. Walking at a snail's pace towards the never ending stretch of a path towards the temporary stage set up for the event. I want this moment to end immediately. 

"Wait here. They will do other man first." He spoke in an accent that only another Arab would comprehend.  All I can do is wait patiently, and hear the noises around me. I can only imagine everything that is happening up there on the platform.

Where is he? I need to see him!

A man grabs hold of a microphone and starts speaking to the crowds. It is Officer Abdulla. Everything is in Arabic, so I am not sure what he is saying. The man who is being led up to the galley is sobbing louder now. I can hear him despite the loud noise from the hustle and bustle emanating from the crowds. I have no idea what is happening to him, but it makes me nervous. What's taking so long? Why isn’t it over with yet? The man's sobbing dies down abruptly. Is he dead? I don’t know.

Officer Abdulla speaks into the microphone, and then starts shouting out Allah u Akbar, and gets the crowd to participate too. Allah u Akbar! Allah is Great!

It becomes louder, leading to a crescendo. I can see the women in the crowds too, covered in abayas, cheering and chanting. Little beggar children are at the front most; this has become a weekly entertainment ritual for them. Some men are standing there in silence, others are screaming out loud. The expatriates are reminded heavily of repercussions of crimes committed in the Kingdom.

The cheers and chants builds up, leading to a crescendo! It feels like I am in a large open air theater where the actors on stage receive a standing ovation. I see a sword being risen up, and the sun reflects off it onto my face for a second or so. The man is holding the sword with both hands, and takes a deep breath in. The crowds go silent abruptly. The sword has come down. The head is quickly wrapped up in a black bag and the dead body is shoved onto a stretcher like a rag cloth to be taken away.

"Yallah (Come on!)! Bring him!" shouts the guy on stage.

Where are you? I so need to see you my friend! I need comfort!

Officer Abdulla grabs my arm and pushes me to the center of the stage. I start shaking a little. In fact I start shaking a lot now. I am so nervous and scared. I don't want to go through the whole thing now.

"Don't Be Afraid!" was all I can tell myself over and over now. My prison mate would say that to me: Don’t be afraid.I tell that to myself over and over: do not be afraid!

I am asked to stop shaking so much. My hands are loosened. Someone holds my wrist and brings my right arm to the front. He folds my sleeves up. In a split second, I feel something jab into my forearm. What was that? The effect of whatever is jabbed into my arm starts to take place and I feel a little drowsy.

I begin to lose my senses now. I am not aware where I am. My body feels numb. I am being held by two men now from both sides, and brought down to my knees. My hands are tied back again. I see the entire crowd in front of me. There must be 100s of people out there, with a little traffic of cars behind them at a standstill. I see Officer Abdulla standing on my far right side. The executioner is standing immediately to my right side. I see the sword placed next to him. It is spotless and shining ever so brightly. The cloth he used to wipe up the blood from the previous execution is next to the sword. Officer Abdulla is speaking into the microphone. He is probably telling them what my crime is and why I am being executed. I don't care much now. My shivering has stopped. The drug has taken its effect.

I start murmuring in my heart,ya Allah, ya Allah,please save me.

Officer Abdulla comes up to me with his speaker. Facing the crowd he asks me:

“Mahmoud, this is last chance for you to say something.” I decide not to. I stay shut and start calling out the name of my friend. Where are you when I need you the most? 

Miraculously, I see a man standing right in front of me. He isn't in his prison clothes any longer. He is wearing a white robe now. He has his arms outstretched as if he is welcoming me. I give a massive smile, although I am a little confused as to what he is doing there in his white robe. Are you really there my friend? Is that really you? As long as you are there, I am comforted.

I think I may be hallucinating, but I really did see my friend standing there. He really did whisper to me to not be afraid. How I wish I could believe him.  

My shoulders are resting on a wooden plank now. My head is hanging beyond the wooden plank. "Allah u Akbar," shouts Officer Abdulla. The crowd starts again. They all shout Allah u Akbar over and over.

With that, the sword comes down so fast; I don't realize how quickly it would all be over with. I thought I would feel the pain of the sword slicing through my neck, but I guess the drug was quite strong. I didn’t feel anything. Infact, everything was over in a split second.

Am I finally home?

9LINES- The BEST Creative thing that's happened to Lahore!

Dear friends,

It is after a long time I come back to my blog. I feel like I am meeting up with a very old friend of mine. I had suffered from a severe case of writer's block, but there is one reason why I came back and that reason is 9lines.

As an architect, I am constantly driven by the need to be inspired for any of my projects. I rummage through old projects, world wide web, magazines, books and famous and non famous architects' and designers' works. I need to keep my mind stimulated and that can be done when I keep myself busy creatively. Being creative is no joke- you need brains, intellect and a passion to create something unique and "different"(if I may use that cliched word). When I had started my architecture degree, a lot of people thought I had taken an easy route after ditching dentistry, and little do they realize that architecture is a very hard field to be in- primarily because you are required to create something new.

When I first saw 9Lines, I fell in love with it. To many it may seem like just another one of those project, but to those with a discerning eye, 9Lines is actually a brilliant company producing some amazing products that contemporary, current, witty, quirky and just plain lovable.

Before I get into why I admire 9Lines so much, it's imperative I mention who the creative geniuses are behind this project. Namely, they are Hassan Iqbal Rizvi and Saad Shahid. More on them can be found here on their profiles. In short, they are talented individuals with a massive flair for creativity. They are both working professionals and one is even working towards his PhD. 9Lines is a labor of love for them and their passion and dedication shines through! Their talent, their creativity and their quirkiness is what I fell in love with!

1. Creativity! Creativity! Creativity! 
The team at 9lines have done a wonderful job of coming out with creative everyday products, in particular notebooks and file folders. They have used pop music and movie icons like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, and one of my first purchase from them was the John Lennon notebook. I admired the creative touch that was given to the face profile. The digitized face of Lennon, the superimposed dupatta on Mona Lisa, the Pakistani cap on Che Guevara's face all shout of creativity at its best! You will find original ideas that are unique and fresh. The witty slogans, the quirky graphics and bold prints all scream out for attention, in a fun way!

2. Corporate Orders
Another reason why I love 9Lines is they also accommodate corporate orders. For Eid, I decided to give all my colleagues notebooks with my company's logo on it. Without a doubt, I was a very popular colleague and everyone LOVED the notebooks. You see, what I loved in particular was that they took my company's logo, kept the theme in mind and came out with a fun cover that fitted well with my company. It was not boring or serious, but rather fun and quirky in a semi formal way without making it seem like a childish thing. I am delighted to see my colleagues all bring these notebooks to our meetings.

3. Customization
The best part of 9Lines is they are constantly up to date with their products; whether it's Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Christmas or any occasion, they come out with the holiday specific range of products. In particular my favorite are the posters, and I have got one for my father for Father's day, several for my friends for New Years and they ALL loved it. You can easily have the posters/ notebooks customized to your liking.

I know of friends who buy 9Lines products and give it away as gifts. They make for perfect gifts for all sorts of people. What do you gift a guy? Tired of giving perfumes and ties? Give him a notebook with Al Pacino's Scarface. Its practical, cool and fun! Having said that, they do a wonderful job of customizing products for you. One friend in Dubai had a customized notebook made with her pet cat on the cover. Another friend in Saudi Arabia had customized notebooks made for her colleagues at school. 9Lines does a brilliant job of doing just that! A friend gifted me this notebook, knowing how much of a massive fan I am of the novel The Kite Runner. It was just perfect for me!

4. Being Pakistani! 
I am a massive supporter of Pakistani culture, especially the arts. Which is why I absolutely love what 9Lines have done with the fusion of Pakistani and Western arts. Che Guevara becomes Che Balochi. Rickshaws become Road ka Raja. Maharajas and Maharanis are donned on Passport Covers and Laptop Bags. The fusion of Eastern motifs with Western elements and vice versa is a pure visual delight! Its culturally contemporary and we can all relate to it. These cultural mash-ups make for perfect gifts for those who want something unique with Pakistani culture. You can get notebooks, mugs, tshirts, laptop bags, tote bags, basically everything.

My personal favourite: an image of Lahore's Minar-e-Pakistan with the slogan "Dekh Magar Pyar Se" (Look But With Love). (A slogan I came to understand much later!)

Nowhere else in Lahore, or Pakistan, will I find such kind of products. I am a massive fan of their notebooks and posters, and others will find amazing range of laptop bags, ipad cases, iphone covers, home accessories, tshirts and jewellery.

9Lines has seen a very fast growth in a short amount of time which is a testament to its success. Have a look through the Facebook page and next time you will know exactly what to get for yourself and your friends! It's where they keep on updating other fun things too, in particular, I really enjoyed the series on Movies and Fashion.

The 9lines Online Store is where you can place your orders and have it delivered to your place (yes, they also take international orders). I've had products delivered at my place and they do a great job.

Cheers. :-)

Mansour

Starry Starry NIght

One of my all time favorite paintings is Van Gogh's Starry Starry Night. I sort of liked it initially, but a friend in Dubai made me listen to Starry Starry Night by Josh Groban, which is a semi tribute to Van Gogh's genius and insanity (he killed himself eventually!) The painting took on a whole new meaning after listening to the song, and soon after I fell in love with it. It's purely bewitching!

It's a dark painting, but at the same time a very bright one. The small sleepy town is totally engulfed with the bright night sky filled with stars and the glowing moon. A tall structure on the left seems like a large figure over looking the town, protecting it from anything. The lights are on in the houses. But it's the swirling skies that bowls me over. Van Gogh, you were a genius! 

Welcome back!

Hey friends,

SO much has been happening in my life in the last so many years or so. I've jus been so caught up with a lot of things I didn't get time to blog. But I think I will summarise the last 4 years here and then proceed to carry on with my blog like I used to.

1. Had several amazing holidays, including Phuket, London, Istanbul as well as Indus river and Cholistan desert.

2. Great things at work- my boss being kicked out and me taking his place is the highlight for me.

3. Pakistani elections, the Pakistani style was something of a massive eye opener for me.

4. Start of Supper Club- a brilliant bunch of people who share the common love for cooking (and eating).

5. Cultural activities in Lahore, starting from cinemas, exhibitions, concerts and all.

There have been loads of great stuff happening, and I look forward to start my blog once again on a more regular basis.

Mansour 

Eye to Eye

So the entire nation of Pakistan is in a state of frenzy now. They are all beaming with delight and laughing. They are constantly talking about it. Facebook and Twitter is so full of it. It's even being seen at Mehndi functions now. You may be wondering what it is that has united the entire nation? It's one man. His name is Taher Shah.

Taher Shah came out with a song several months ago called Eye to Eye and it was aired on televisions. No one paid any attention and he disappeared into obscurity. Some wise guy decided to post the song video online, and before you could blink your eyes, the video went crazy viral everywhere. 15,000+ hits in only two days testifies to the power of the song.

Taher Shah is one of those people, like Meera and Veena Malik, who enjoy being made fun of. They speak bad English, talk funny and carry out such performances that makes us all stand up and watch and pay attention. His song Eye to Eye is being made so much fun of, that I think he is part of the game, as is evident by his responses on his own Facebook account. His replies are like "thank u. let me love you with my eyes."

You can read the entire lyrics here on this website. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense, however, watch his interview on Aaj TV and he takes the time to explain the meaning of the lyrics. One questions the meaning of "spectrum eyes" while others question the meaning of "without you, I am like a butterfly..."

We may not get him, his song and his video, but we can surely thank him for providing us with entertainment and making us laugh. Amidst all the depressing news of Pakistan, Taher Shah came at such a time where everyone is smiling and laughing.

Mansour 

Lahore Film Club

Dear All!

So I've finally managed to start my own Lahore Film Club, which I had initially christened Lahore Movie Club. Since I have a home theatre at home (duh!) I thought why not start a film club where I can have movie maniacs come on over and enjoy movies in a group. The idea came from the time where we all watched Insidious on my birthday and that was a quite an experience!

So I've basically left the option open to everyone as to what kind of movies we can watch. The first one we are watching is Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (the old one) which I feel is a great movie to watch on the big screen. A lot of the younger lot havent really seen this movie and I think it will be great exposure to them all to be able to see such classic movies. There is a lot we can talk about Pyscho, and I am hoping we can have a fruitful discussion about this movie.

There are so many movies that we can all watch (The Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me, The Breakfast Club, Dirty Dancing etc) and I think it can be a fun thing to do: watch movies in the comfort of your own home on the big screen.

Mansour 

Happy Sh*tty Valentine's Day!

Hey friends!

Aah. It's that time of the year. Time to fret. Time part ways with your hard earned cash. Time to make bookings. Time to please your better half otherwise face hell. Yes, it's that time of the year when cupid strikes, and in all honesty, I've seen men and women more worried, tense and scared as opposed to loving, in love or being loved. Happy sh*tty valentines day everyone.

Lahore has seen a burst of flowers everywhere, not the kinds you see planted in green beds, but in shops, restaurants, stalls, and florists (duh!) The prices have been jacked up, and suddenly the amount you pay for a bouquet has already doubled from last week. Everyone is out there claiming to have the best package and are even ready to have the package delivered to your loved ones.

Restaurants are going berserk promoting their Valentines deals. They are coming up with innovative ways to lure you in: eat at our place and ein vouchers and prizes. Courier companies are giving you offers to send packages through them. In short, Lahore has been transformed into a city love (amidst all the roadworks, beggars, pollution and noise!)

I don't plan on doing anything this year. Every year it's been madness trying to get bookings and flowers done. Why should I have reserve the expression of my love to this one day? I also fail to understand when this culture got imbibed int ours. Valentines is a massive marketing gimmick which unfortunately a lot of us have been sucked into, including me, till this year.

I say, if you love your wife/ husband/ girlfriend/ boyfriend, say you love them on all days of the week/ month/ year instead of waiting for 14th February each year.

Happy Sh*tty Valentines Day everyone! Lol!

Mansour 

Cell Phone Services Down

One of the most annoying things to happen in Pakistan is when our Interior Minister chooses to shut down cell phone services because it poses as a security threats on occasions. So whether it be Eid, or Muharram, as in the case today, Imam Hussain's chehlum, cell phones services are completely down.

The reasoning for this is, according to our Interior Minister, is the terrorists use cell phones as a bomb device and a way to coordinate with one another where to attack and so on. I don't completely buy this at all as it shows how incompetent our security situation is, not to mention how inconvenient it is for the rest of us who rely on cell phone to get our jobs done. So basically, today, no cell phone services, and in addition to this, Pakistan is playing India in One Day cricket in India, so the nation will pretty much be focused on the match anyways.

Cheers.