Hey friends,
I got a parking ticket on my car in the morning as I left. I was so upset because in the 10 years of my driving, I have never received a parking ticket, a fine or even an accident. I was so proud of my skills as a competent driver, never even getting something as minor as a fender bender. I think it has something to do with my motor and observational skills compensating for my loss of hearing. You know how they say blind people have a better sense of smell. One of the senses makes up for the loss of another sense.
Anyways, back to the traffic fine ticket. It's all in Arabic, being in Sharjah, its understandable. But EVERYTHING is in Arabic. How am I supposed to know why I am fined? I went to the Sharjah Police website to feed in my fine number and it shows up as saying that the record is not on file. So, in other words, I am not fined or what? I had someone check this parking ticket, and he said it's not even your car. This ticket is for a car from Khorfakkan, and even the license plate number is not matching up to yours. So how come I saw this wedged between my windshielf and wiper? Maybe someone else stuck it up here from their car.
Phew, I was so relieved. So this ticket turned out to be some other car and not mine as the license plate noted on the ticket doesnt match to mine. I can now go back to saying that I am fine-tickets free now.
Mansur
UPDATE: the ticket is for my car, however, the police officer wrote down the wrong numbers off the licence plate. Silly him. Now I don't know if I should pay or not.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Hands Full
Hey friends,
Here is what I did with my cousin yesterday.
1. Went to Global Village, as part of Dubai Shopping festival, to the booth at the Pakistani pavilion, where we sorted out the merchandise.
2. Walked around the Global Village, visiting the different countries pavilions. Some were really disappointing, while others were interesting.
2.5 Played hand games, and won nothing.
3. Went to Mall of Emirates.
4. Tried out the racing simulation game, complete on massive hydraulics with three tv screens around us giving us a very realistic sensation of racing in a real environment. My cousin beat me in the race.
5. Played two games of bowling.
6. Drove to Ibn Battuta Mall, and watched Eragon.
7. Had my favortie chocolate crepes, which they delivered to us inside the cinema..
I know it seems pretty boring, but actually turned out be a lot of fun!
Mansur
Here is what I did with my cousin yesterday.
1. Went to Global Village, as part of Dubai Shopping festival, to the booth at the Pakistani pavilion, where we sorted out the merchandise.
2. Walked around the Global Village, visiting the different countries pavilions. Some were really disappointing, while others were interesting.
2.5 Played hand games, and won nothing.
3. Went to Mall of Emirates.
4. Tried out the racing simulation game, complete on massive hydraulics with three tv screens around us giving us a very realistic sensation of racing in a real environment. My cousin beat me in the race.
5. Played two games of bowling.
6. Drove to Ibn Battuta Mall, and watched Eragon.
7. Had my favortie chocolate crepes, which they delivered to us inside the cinema..
I know it seems pretty boring, but actually turned out be a lot of fun!
Mansur
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
DIFF Salutes Shahrukh Khan
Hey friends,
Hands up all you who don't know who ShahRukh Khan is? He is the current King Khan of Bollywood, and he was here recently in Dubai for the Dubai International Film Festival. My sister is a die hard fan of his, as are almost every other female, and she insisted I take her to the venue to see him live in person. While I am not a huge fan of SRK (I prefer Aamir Khan- of Lagaan, Dil Chahta and Rang De Basanti fame), I still took my sister because all nice brothers do.
Having called up the Madinat Jumeirah Box Office days before the show, they promised me the tickets will be available on the same day before the event. On the morning of the event, my sister and I got dressed up and drove over to Madinat Jumeirah. Somehow I was not as excited as she was. Arriving at the box office, we were told that the tickets are completely sold out. I was not susprised at the poor customer service. I knew something like this would happen. They assured us that while they said tickets were available in the morning, they will still be available at 3pm. Dubai is famous for mismanagment everywhere, and it was becoming very evident here as the organizers were shouting here and there, pushing and shoving people around, not setting up the stand by queues well, showing a complete sense of mismanagement and disorganized. We were made to stand in the stand by queue and thankfully my sister and I were the first one.
There were people with complimentary passes who were smirking at us as they made their way in. It was becoming obvious on their faces that they showed some sense of superiority over us who were standing in the stand by queue. Again, another sign of the fakeness of Dubai people. Soon we saw about 10 local arab girls, completely covered in abayas and holding digital camers and autograph books in hand, asking the organizers to let them just take pictures and get his autograpghs. "Ma'am, you have to pay 200dhs to get in." No, they didn't want to pay. They just wanted to take pictures. They were refused, and so all 10 of them stood in line before us. Such dedication from local fans towards SRK. Thankfully, at 3pm, we managed to get our tickets and made our way in.
The show started late (does anything ever start on time in Dubai?). When it was advertised everywhere as 3pm, and requested everyone to show up on time, the show started about 30 minutes lates. We were shown initially a montage of SRK's famous film moments and dialogue, and while watching that, I realized how accomplished of an actor he is. The host came up and narrated to us SRK's parents love story, which was indeed very heart felt, and little bit about his upbringing. SRK parents died before he reached his stardom, and he wishes his parents were still alive to have seen him hit such levels of fame.
Soon, SRK came on stage from the side, and whole auditorium erupted in applause, whistling and name calling. I don't know what it was, but SRK was emanating such a strong energy in the auditorium I actually got goosebumps, and I am not even a huge fan of his. Even the host talked about his spiritual energy emanating from him and I realized what the host meant. SRK was given his first international film award by the president of the Dubai International Film Festival.
As soon as SRK sat down, Riz Khan, the ex-anchor of CNN, showed up for a casual question and answer session. I won't get into the whole thing, but there three people that stood out from the audience. One were two sisters, complete in hijab and abayas, screaming out in delight how they are the number one fans and how they want to take pictures with him in between the two sisters. They were just too hilarious. The second person was a women my sister and I befriended, who was from Lahore (Go Lahore!) and she told SRK how much he was welcome to come to Pakistan and honor the country with his presence. Amidst his inshallahs, SRK said he has some extended family in Pakistan and he looks forward to coming to Pak. The third person, who was also from Lahore, grabbed hold of the microphone, and accused SRK of acting in films whose storylines were taken directly off old Pakistani films. "I can tell you right here, right now all of the Pakistani movies from which you have stole the film from." He trailed on and on, to the point where my sister got infuriated and shouted at him to stop this nonsense and grabbed hold of his microphone. Such an embarrasing character.
In short, the event lasted not even an hour, and while it was awesome seeing SRK in person, and getting me to develop a huge admiration for him as an actor and a person, I was disappointed at the management of the festival and the unprofessionalism. Poor organization. Late start. Over priced tickets for less than 60 minutes show. Giving wrong information over hotline. It will be ages before Dubai can be on the world map of film festivals. Come on Dubai, if you want to be on the same stage as Cannes and Venice film festivals, you really need to get your act together.
Mansur
Hands up all you who don't know who ShahRukh Khan is? He is the current King Khan of Bollywood, and he was here recently in Dubai for the Dubai International Film Festival. My sister is a die hard fan of his, as are almost every other female, and she insisted I take her to the venue to see him live in person. While I am not a huge fan of SRK (I prefer Aamir Khan- of Lagaan, Dil Chahta and Rang De Basanti fame), I still took my sister because all nice brothers do.
Having called up the Madinat Jumeirah Box Office days before the show, they promised me the tickets will be available on the same day before the event. On the morning of the event, my sister and I got dressed up and drove over to Madinat Jumeirah. Somehow I was not as excited as she was. Arriving at the box office, we were told that the tickets are completely sold out. I was not susprised at the poor customer service. I knew something like this would happen. They assured us that while they said tickets were available in the morning, they will still be available at 3pm. Dubai is famous for mismanagment everywhere, and it was becoming very evident here as the organizers were shouting here and there, pushing and shoving people around, not setting up the stand by queues well, showing a complete sense of mismanagement and disorganized. We were made to stand in the stand by queue and thankfully my sister and I were the first one.
There were people with complimentary passes who were smirking at us as they made their way in. It was becoming obvious on their faces that they showed some sense of superiority over us who were standing in the stand by queue. Again, another sign of the fakeness of Dubai people. Soon we saw about 10 local arab girls, completely covered in abayas and holding digital camers and autograph books in hand, asking the organizers to let them just take pictures and get his autograpghs. "Ma'am, you have to pay 200dhs to get in." No, they didn't want to pay. They just wanted to take pictures. They were refused, and so all 10 of them stood in line before us. Such dedication from local fans towards SRK. Thankfully, at 3pm, we managed to get our tickets and made our way in.
The show started late (does anything ever start on time in Dubai?). When it was advertised everywhere as 3pm, and requested everyone to show up on time, the show started about 30 minutes lates. We were shown initially a montage of SRK's famous film moments and dialogue, and while watching that, I realized how accomplished of an actor he is. The host came up and narrated to us SRK's parents love story, which was indeed very heart felt, and little bit about his upbringing. SRK parents died before he reached his stardom, and he wishes his parents were still alive to have seen him hit such levels of fame.
Soon, SRK came on stage from the side, and whole auditorium erupted in applause, whistling and name calling. I don't know what it was, but SRK was emanating such a strong energy in the auditorium I actually got goosebumps, and I am not even a huge fan of his. Even the host talked about his spiritual energy emanating from him and I realized what the host meant. SRK was given his first international film award by the president of the Dubai International Film Festival.
As soon as SRK sat down, Riz Khan, the ex-anchor of CNN, showed up for a casual question and answer session. I won't get into the whole thing, but there three people that stood out from the audience. One were two sisters, complete in hijab and abayas, screaming out in delight how they are the number one fans and how they want to take pictures with him in between the two sisters. They were just too hilarious. The second person was a women my sister and I befriended, who was from Lahore (Go Lahore!) and she told SRK how much he was welcome to come to Pakistan and honor the country with his presence. Amidst his inshallahs, SRK said he has some extended family in Pakistan and he looks forward to coming to Pak. The third person, who was also from Lahore, grabbed hold of the microphone, and accused SRK of acting in films whose storylines were taken directly off old Pakistani films. "I can tell you right here, right now all of the Pakistani movies from which you have stole the film from." He trailed on and on, to the point where my sister got infuriated and shouted at him to stop this nonsense and grabbed hold of his microphone. Such an embarrasing character.
In short, the event lasted not even an hour, and while it was awesome seeing SRK in person, and getting me to develop a huge admiration for him as an actor and a person, I was disappointed at the management of the festival and the unprofessionalism. Poor organization. Late start. Over priced tickets for less than 60 minutes show. Giving wrong information over hotline. It will be ages before Dubai can be on the world map of film festivals. Come on Dubai, if you want to be on the same stage as Cannes and Venice film festivals, you really need to get your act together.
Mansur
Monday, December 25, 2006
Happy Christmas
Hello friends,
Happy Christmas to everyone who is celebrating this occasion today. I checked up the history of Christmas on Wikipedia and found out lots of fascinating tid-bits about Christmas. Christianity Today also have some articles about Christmas. However, one of the facts that caught me by surprise was that "December 25 as a birthdate for Jesus is merely traditional, and is not widely considered to be his actual date of birth." Here's another article which talks about how Christmas was never meant to be on December 25th.
I remember when I was in Jeddah Prep, which was a British school in Jeddah, every December we would have a Christmas play in which entire class would perform. I can clearly remember my parents coming to one show where my class sang Christmas songs on stage. I don't remember what the songs were but I remember singing out words like Bethlehem, Jesus, Mary, Virgin and Star. I also remember another year, my class did the "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..." song, and I was one of the Turtle Doves, all dressed up.
However, the coolest thing was that Santa Clause would come and visit us in our classrooms, complete in his red suit, with black belt, red cap, white beard and a large sack of toys. When I would get my toy, I would be in such awe because it would exactly be the toy that I told my parents I wanted a week ago. It was later on in 5th grade where the secret connection between Santa and my parents was exposed and Santa was no more real to me anymore. :-)
By the way, December 25th each year is a public holiday in Pakistan because it is also the birth date of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. (Funnily enough, his death happened on September 11th.)
Happy Christmas to everyone who is celebrating this occasion today. I checked up the history of Christmas on Wikipedia and found out lots of fascinating tid-bits about Christmas. Christianity Today also have some articles about Christmas. However, one of the facts that caught me by surprise was that "December 25 as a birthdate for Jesus is merely traditional, and is not widely considered to be his actual date of birth." Here's another article which talks about how Christmas was never meant to be on December 25th.
I remember when I was in Jeddah Prep, which was a British school in Jeddah, every December we would have a Christmas play in which entire class would perform. I can clearly remember my parents coming to one show where my class sang Christmas songs on stage. I don't remember what the songs were but I remember singing out words like Bethlehem, Jesus, Mary, Virgin and Star. I also remember another year, my class did the "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..." song, and I was one of the Turtle Doves, all dressed up.
However, the coolest thing was that Santa Clause would come and visit us in our classrooms, complete in his red suit, with black belt, red cap, white beard and a large sack of toys. When I would get my toy, I would be in such awe because it would exactly be the toy that I told my parents I wanted a week ago. It was later on in 5th grade where the secret connection between Santa and my parents was exposed and Santa was no more real to me anymore. :-)
By the way, December 25th each year is a public holiday in Pakistan because it is also the birth date of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. (Funnily enough, his death happened on September 11th.)
Xmas tree, Mina Salam, Dubai
(courtesy of Pbase.com, Brian McMorrow)
So happy Christmas to everyone celebrating it today and a very happy new year.
Mansur
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Saudi Marriages end in Divorces
Hey friends,
Just browsing randomly online through the gulf newspapers, I was startled to read two articles on similair topics: marriages in Saudi Arabia. While one article talks about the alarming increase in divorces- 1 in 4 marriages end in divorce - the other article talks about how the lawmakers- men always- allow for new policies to be legalized to allow the local men to have various kind of marriages, including the weekend and friendship marriages (as quoted from Emirates Today that unfortunately don't have an archives section as of yet online). The point being made that Saudi lawmakers, both religious and liberals, are passing fatwas and laws to allow for men to have marriages of convenience, and hurting the women's life in the process.
I am sure everyone has heard of Misyar marriages, which "can be described as a legal framework of marriage in which a Muslim couple is united by the bonds of marriage, based on the usual Islamic marriage contract, but without the husband having to take the usual financial commitments with respect to his wife." But what's this new concept of weekend and friendship marriage?
And the real question is why are these marriages are failing? A lot of critics will indeed say its because of the cultural invasion from the West and the increasing freedoms the women in the kingdom are getting, but I think the issue stems from within the Kingdom. I don't know the answer to this question, but there could be several factors. Arranged marriages could be one, with the young girl and guys unable to talk with their potential husbands/ wives before marrige. The concept of dating is nil. There are youths trying to hook up with girls/ guys through technology.
Will the society in the Kingdom allow for more freedom, or continue its way through restricting the contact between the sexes, possibly causing for these marriages to fail? Is there any connection between the freedom granted to women to work, thereby giving them more independence and assertiveness, causing for marriages to Saudi men to fail? I don't know, and I am not sure we will get a definite and clear answer since there is no civic body to sit down and discuss and analyze this extremely worrying trend.
In America, 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce. In Saudi Arabia, 1 in 4 marriages end in divorce.
Mansur
Just browsing randomly online through the gulf newspapers, I was startled to read two articles on similair topics: marriages in Saudi Arabia. While one article talks about the alarming increase in divorces- 1 in 4 marriages end in divorce - the other article talks about how the lawmakers- men always- allow for new policies to be legalized to allow the local men to have various kind of marriages, including the weekend and friendship marriages (as quoted from Emirates Today that unfortunately don't have an archives section as of yet online). The point being made that Saudi lawmakers, both religious and liberals, are passing fatwas and laws to allow for men to have marriages of convenience, and hurting the women's life in the process.
I am sure everyone has heard of Misyar marriages, which "can be described as a legal framework of marriage in which a Muslim couple is united by the bonds of marriage, based on the usual Islamic marriage contract, but without the husband having to take the usual financial commitments with respect to his wife." But what's this new concept of weekend and friendship marriage?
And the real question is why are these marriages are failing? A lot of critics will indeed say its because of the cultural invasion from the West and the increasing freedoms the women in the kingdom are getting, but I think the issue stems from within the Kingdom. I don't know the answer to this question, but there could be several factors. Arranged marriages could be one, with the young girl and guys unable to talk with their potential husbands/ wives before marrige. The concept of dating is nil. There are youths trying to hook up with girls/ guys through technology.
Will the society in the Kingdom allow for more freedom, or continue its way through restricting the contact between the sexes, possibly causing for these marriages to fail? Is there any connection between the freedom granted to women to work, thereby giving them more independence and assertiveness, causing for marriages to Saudi men to fail? I don't know, and I am not sure we will get a definite and clear answer since there is no civic body to sit down and discuss and analyze this extremely worrying trend.
In America, 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce. In Saudi Arabia, 1 in 4 marriages end in divorce.
Mansur
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Several Movies
Hey friends,
Couple of new movies I saw recently.
Happy Feet
Don't watch this one, unless you wanna a penguin move his feet happily throughout the movie. While its technically brilliant, with great animations, the story line was very weak with quick jump in the plot. I thought it would be a similair movie to Ice Age but I was very wrong. With a stellar voice cast, including Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Elijah Wood among other, I am disappointed in this movie, despite all the critical acclaims and praise.
Hard Candy
Saw this on DVD. One amazing movie. A man in his mid 30s has an internet chat with a 14yr old. The 14yr old girl thinks the man is a peadophile who stalked and killed her good friend. She accepts his invitation to his place under the pretense that he will take modelling pictures of her. While that happens, she drugs him and when he wakes up, he is tied and bound while the girl looks for evidence. A cat and mouse game ensues, with every second full of tension as to whether who is innocent, who is guilty and one long scene will have all gusy cross their legs in anxiety.
Casino Royale
James Bond latest one. I thought the new actor Daniel Craig was all right. Being blue eyed blond hair didn't make a drastic change from the previous bonds, and Craig's acting abilities were adept. The movie opens up in black and white and it became obvious they were trying to transition the old bond to the new one so the blond hair blue eyes don't come as a shock. While there are amazing action set pieces (namely the construction site chase, sinking of building in Venice) the rest of the movie faltered here and there. The torture scene was a shocking one, all the more so as I was sitting with my dad watching the naked Bond getting his balls whacked.
Mansur
Couple of new movies I saw recently.
Happy Feet
Don't watch this one, unless you wanna a penguin move his feet happily throughout the movie. While its technically brilliant, with great animations, the story line was very weak with quick jump in the plot. I thought it would be a similair movie to Ice Age but I was very wrong. With a stellar voice cast, including Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Elijah Wood among other, I am disappointed in this movie, despite all the critical acclaims and praise.
Hard Candy
Saw this on DVD. One amazing movie. A man in his mid 30s has an internet chat with a 14yr old. The 14yr old girl thinks the man is a peadophile who stalked and killed her good friend. She accepts his invitation to his place under the pretense that he will take modelling pictures of her. While that happens, she drugs him and when he wakes up, he is tied and bound while the girl looks for evidence. A cat and mouse game ensues, with every second full of tension as to whether who is innocent, who is guilty and one long scene will have all gusy cross their legs in anxiety.
Casino Royale
James Bond latest one. I thought the new actor Daniel Craig was all right. Being blue eyed blond hair didn't make a drastic change from the previous bonds, and Craig's acting abilities were adept. The movie opens up in black and white and it became obvious they were trying to transition the old bond to the new one so the blond hair blue eyes don't come as a shock. While there are amazing action set pieces (namely the construction site chase, sinking of building in Venice) the rest of the movie faltered here and there. The torture scene was a shocking one, all the more so as I was sitting with my dad watching the naked Bond getting his balls whacked.
Mansur
Movie:: Apocolypto
Hey friends,
If you watch one movie this winter, make sure its Mel Gibson's Apocolypto. I took interest in this movie after Gibson announced his new movie after completing The Passion of the Christ. Apocolytpo is based on the Mayan/ Incan civilization. Like who would watch a movie based on a dead civilization. I tell you, when I was watching this movie, I didn't feel like I was watching a movie, but ratehr felt like as I was transported to the Mayan civilzation and that all that happens on screen happened in reality.
The entire movie is shot in the local Mayan dialect with English subtitles, which is actually very effective, just like it was in The Passion of the Christ. Because everyone were speakig the local dialect, it made the film all the more realistic.
The movie follows the life of one man, who is separated from his pregnant wife and son as a rival tribe take the men and women hostage to their own territory. Where there are taken we don't know, but once we find out what their fate is, it's horrifying, so much so, four people left the cinema as their stomachs could probably not digest what was unfolding on the screen. While the captives are being faced with their new destiny, fate intercedes and sets our hero free from his destiny. He manages to escape all the while his enemies are after him. The rest of the movie is a ticking time bomb as he has to make it in time to save his family all the while escaping his enemies, and in the process realizes what his ultimate destiny in life is.
It's an amazing movie. It's a very provocative movie. You are forced to express your feelings, whether you are in awe, in shock, in suspence, in tears, in laughter, whatever it is, you are provoked. The suspense is very high. The reality factor is high. Not once do you think you are watching actors, but are immersed in the Mayan civilization. Check out the passion and energy of Jaguar Paw. Check out the determination of the mother seeking to save her sons. Check the young son giving hope to his mother. If you shed away the language, the culture, the customs, you see a love story at heart, and indeed a very touching one.
And with this movie, I am a huge Mel Gibson fan now!
Mansur
(Warning to those with weak of heart: the violence in this movie is ultra-realistic and gruesome, just like it was in The Passion of the Christ.)
If you watch one movie this winter, make sure its Mel Gibson's Apocolypto. I took interest in this movie after Gibson announced his new movie after completing The Passion of the Christ. Apocolytpo is based on the Mayan/ Incan civilization. Like who would watch a movie based on a dead civilization. I tell you, when I was watching this movie, I didn't feel like I was watching a movie, but ratehr felt like as I was transported to the Mayan civilzation and that all that happens on screen happened in reality.
The entire movie is shot in the local Mayan dialect with English subtitles, which is actually very effective, just like it was in The Passion of the Christ. Because everyone were speakig the local dialect, it made the film all the more realistic.
The movie follows the life of one man, who is separated from his pregnant wife and son as a rival tribe take the men and women hostage to their own territory. Where there are taken we don't know, but once we find out what their fate is, it's horrifying, so much so, four people left the cinema as their stomachs could probably not digest what was unfolding on the screen. While the captives are being faced with their new destiny, fate intercedes and sets our hero free from his destiny. He manages to escape all the while his enemies are after him. The rest of the movie is a ticking time bomb as he has to make it in time to save his family all the while escaping his enemies, and in the process realizes what his ultimate destiny in life is.
It's an amazing movie. It's a very provocative movie. You are forced to express your feelings, whether you are in awe, in shock, in suspence, in tears, in laughter, whatever it is, you are provoked. The suspense is very high. The reality factor is high. Not once do you think you are watching actors, but are immersed in the Mayan civilization. Check out the passion and energy of Jaguar Paw. Check out the determination of the mother seeking to save her sons. Check the young son giving hope to his mother. If you shed away the language, the culture, the customs, you see a love story at heart, and indeed a very touching one.
And with this movie, I am a huge Mel Gibson fan now!
Mansur
(Warning to those with weak of heart: the violence in this movie is ultra-realistic and gruesome, just like it was in The Passion of the Christ.)
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Switch over
Hey friends,
Has anyone made the switch over to the new version of the blogger? I am trying so hard to move there, but somehow it's not letting me move. Maybe my two blogs are too massive. I am excited by the new version.
On a personal front, I have some exciting news. I will be moving to Dubai next month. I have given my final notice to my landlord in Sharjah, and so I will be leaving my apartment here in Sharjah on 15th January 2007. It will be exactly two years for me here. So I am indeed very excited to move to Dubai now.
More exciting news later.
Mansur
Has anyone made the switch over to the new version of the blogger? I am trying so hard to move there, but somehow it's not letting me move. Maybe my two blogs are too massive. I am excited by the new version.
On a personal front, I have some exciting news. I will be moving to Dubai next month. I have given my final notice to my landlord in Sharjah, and so I will be leaving my apartment here in Sharjah on 15th January 2007. It will be exactly two years for me here. So I am indeed very excited to move to Dubai now.
More exciting news later.
Mansur
Monday, December 04, 2006
New Books
Hey guys,
I have just finished reading two books which I think others might benefit from.
One is Paulo Coelho's Like the Flowing River. Coelho is one of my all time favorite author and I fell in love with his work when I first read Veronika Decides to Die. Then on, I bought all his books and read them in a go. Like the Flowing River is a collection of his thoughts compiled in this book for the first time. It's truly amazing to see how he connects all his thoughts to the ways of the universe. He always sees something bigger than the situation he is in. He connects nature to God, and through many of his entries, it's all what our purpose in this world is.
The other amazing book I read is Pakistan: In the Eye of the Storm by Owen Bennett Jones, and for the first time I have read a book on Pakistan which gave me a very detailed history of how Pakistan was born and the various factions of the countries and their origins. Jones also talks about the arrivals and departures of so many of the so-called leaders of Pakistan, and goes into details the times Pakistan was taken hostaage by the Army. Jones also talks about President Musharraf's role since he took over in the bloodless coup and the challenges he's facing while in power. This book doesn't bog you down with boring historical facts and idea, but is written in a very captivating and engaginng manner that anyone with the remotest interest in Pakistan will find it a joy to read. In fact, in my opinion, this is is the best book on Pakistan's history that I have read.
Mansur
I have just finished reading two books which I think others might benefit from.
One is Paulo Coelho's Like the Flowing River. Coelho is one of my all time favorite author and I fell in love with his work when I first read Veronika Decides to Die. Then on, I bought all his books and read them in a go. Like the Flowing River is a collection of his thoughts compiled in this book for the first time. It's truly amazing to see how he connects all his thoughts to the ways of the universe. He always sees something bigger than the situation he is in. He connects nature to God, and through many of his entries, it's all what our purpose in this world is.
The other amazing book I read is Pakistan: In the Eye of the Storm by Owen Bennett Jones, and for the first time I have read a book on Pakistan which gave me a very detailed history of how Pakistan was born and the various factions of the countries and their origins. Jones also talks about the arrivals and departures of so many of the so-called leaders of Pakistan, and goes into details the times Pakistan was taken hostaage by the Army. Jones also talks about President Musharraf's role since he took over in the bloodless coup and the challenges he's facing while in power. This book doesn't bog you down with boring historical facts and idea, but is written in a very captivating and engaginng manner that anyone with the remotest interest in Pakistan will find it a joy to read. In fact, in my opinion, this is is the best book on Pakistan's history that I have read.
Mansur
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Blogger's Block
Hey guys,
I honestly don't know what to write. I am going through the Blogger's Block again.
We had so much rain here today, so much so, the roads outside of my house are flooded with cars stuck and traffic jam. Talk about road planning. There isn't any provision for any water to be drained away.
And on that note, Happy National Day to all the citizens of UAE.
Mansur
I honestly don't know what to write. I am going through the Blogger's Block again.
We had so much rain here today, so much so, the roads outside of my house are flooded with cars stuck and traffic jam. Talk about road planning. There isn't any provision for any water to be drained away.
And on that note, Happy National Day to all the citizens of UAE.
Mansur
Friday, December 01, 2006
Updates...
Hello everyone,
I have been so busy this entire week that I didn't get a chance to blog at all. I apologize for that, although I have so much to blog about. I have been jotting down in my journal. We have a long weekend this weekend, as 2nd December is UAE National Day. I have no special plans, but will probably update my blog and write new stuff. By the way, my parents and sister are coming in to Dubai on the 8th of December and will be staying here for a while. Oh, on Saturday my friends and I are going to the Ideal Home Exhibition, to check out ideas for our new places we will be moving to next year inshallah.
Mansur
I have been so busy this entire week that I didn't get a chance to blog at all. I apologize for that, although I have so much to blog about. I have been jotting down in my journal. We have a long weekend this weekend, as 2nd December is UAE National Day. I have no special plans, but will probably update my blog and write new stuff. By the way, my parents and sister are coming in to Dubai on the 8th of December and will be staying here for a while. Oh, on Saturday my friends and I are going to the Ideal Home Exhibition, to check out ideas for our new places we will be moving to next year inshallah.
Mansur
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Punjabi...?
Hello people,
One of the major revelations to me in Lahore this trip happened when we were all out at a coffee shop. My friend Maria asked me what caste I was and I told her that I am Punjabi. My whole life I had convinced myself that I am Punjabi, which is one of the four provinces of Pakistan (the others are Sindhis, Balochis and NWFP). So my cousin told me we are Kakazay, which is a certain caste, and it turned out that Kakazays are actually Pathans, the group of people who predominantly live in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It turns out that if I follow the ancestry from my dad, to his dad and beyond, we come in from the line of Pathans. My whole life I have been telling people I am Punjabi when I am actually a Pathan. My confusion arose because we all speak Punjabi and so I thought we were naturally Punjabis, but as it turned out the offspring of Kakazays have been living in Lahore too. Anyways, to everyone who I told I am Punjabi, I am not, I am a Pathan.
Mansur
One of the major revelations to me in Lahore this trip happened when we were all out at a coffee shop. My friend Maria asked me what caste I was and I told her that I am Punjabi. My whole life I had convinced myself that I am Punjabi, which is one of the four provinces of Pakistan (the others are Sindhis, Balochis and NWFP). So my cousin told me we are Kakazay, which is a certain caste, and it turned out that Kakazays are actually Pathans, the group of people who predominantly live in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It turns out that if I follow the ancestry from my dad, to his dad and beyond, we come in from the line of Pathans. My whole life I have been telling people I am Punjabi when I am actually a Pathan. My confusion arose because we all speak Punjabi and so I thought we were naturally Punjabis, but as it turned out the offspring of Kakazays have been living in Lahore too. Anyways, to everyone who I told I am Punjabi, I am not, I am a Pathan.
Mansur
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Some Pictures...
Hello everyone,
Here are some random pictures I took from my recent trip to Lahore. All pictures were taken from my new Nokia N80 phone. Amazing phone.
This was a donkey I saw in the local bazaar. My mom was inside shopping while I was waiting in the car. This donkey had the saddest eyes, and I could sense what a plight it was for him to be carrying such a huge burden on his shoulders. I asked the man to sell the donkey to me so I could set him free from captivity. The man thought I was crazy.
Here are six boys on one bike. It can only happen in Lahore. It was pretty darn amazing to see the cyclist balance all five boys around him to be able to drive around bends and main roads. Lol.
This is my sister Areej with the exquisite henna design on her hand which was made by one of our second cousin.
That's me and my sister. I always buy brown colored shalwar kameez, but this year, I opted for a dark purple striped khadee suit. It's amazing and it's my favorite piece of clothing now.
Me with a cat at a friend's house. They had two cats and the girls were treating them like they were some piece of furniture. When I asked one of the girl to give me one cat, she threw this cat across the room! Literally THREW the cat as if I were supposed to catch it.
My best friend from high school for the last 10 years, Maria. This was taken at Hot Fuzon (pronounced fusion), which is a pertty decent place to get desserts. We hung out here with some of my cousins and my sister till 1am, after which my mom and uncle were making frantic calls to get back home fast!
My favorite cousin in the whole world, Hina. She and I really hit it off this trip. We always do, but this trip was very meaningful. She takes pride in confiding in me and I treat her like a sister I never had (I have to say this before I get any marriage questions!)
Zaeem and Adeen by the pool.
My nephew Zaeem, or Zaymi as we call him affectionately. He loved being in control of the elevator of the hotel they all stayed in. He was just the cutest thing ever.
Mansur
Here are some random pictures I took from my recent trip to Lahore. All pictures were taken from my new Nokia N80 phone. Amazing phone.
This was a donkey I saw in the local bazaar. My mom was inside shopping while I was waiting in the car. This donkey had the saddest eyes, and I could sense what a plight it was for him to be carrying such a huge burden on his shoulders. I asked the man to sell the donkey to me so I could set him free from captivity. The man thought I was crazy.
Here are six boys on one bike. It can only happen in Lahore. It was pretty darn amazing to see the cyclist balance all five boys around him to be able to drive around bends and main roads. Lol.
This is my sister Areej with the exquisite henna design on her hand which was made by one of our second cousin.
That's me and my sister. I always buy brown colored shalwar kameez, but this year, I opted for a dark purple striped khadee suit. It's amazing and it's my favorite piece of clothing now.
Me with a cat at a friend's house. They had two cats and the girls were treating them like they were some piece of furniture. When I asked one of the girl to give me one cat, she threw this cat across the room! Literally THREW the cat as if I were supposed to catch it.
My best friend from high school for the last 10 years, Maria. This was taken at Hot Fuzon (pronounced fusion), which is a pertty decent place to get desserts. We hung out here with some of my cousins and my sister till 1am, after which my mom and uncle were making frantic calls to get back home fast!
My favorite cousin in the whole world, Hina. She and I really hit it off this trip. We always do, but this trip was very meaningful. She takes pride in confiding in me and I treat her like a sister I never had (I have to say this before I get any marriage questions!)
Zaeem and Adeen by the pool.
My nephew Zaeem, or Zaymi as we call him affectionately. He loved being in control of the elevator of the hotel they all stayed in. He was just the cutest thing ever.
Mansur
Monday, November 20, 2006
Marriage Vows, I mean Woes...
Hello,
One of the reason why I went to Pakistan for so long this recent trip was to spend time looking for the right girl for marriage. I was supposed to be there for a month, but my stay eventually exceeded to 40 days. I was initially excited, for I was pretty sure I would find the right person on this trip. My aunty had lined up a list of families who my mom and I were supposed to go meet. My aunt was hopeful, as were we.
The first thing that we realized was that I went to Pakistan in the month of Ramadan. That's the month everyone is fasting, and hardly any meetings happen between prospective families. However, there were two families that I did get to meet during Ramadan, and both families were all right, and the girls exceeded my expectations. However, things didn't work out with these families. The first girl we met showed too much attitude. The second girl's father refused to let the girl and I meet in absence of any elders.
So after Eid, we met up with several more families, but things were just not clicking. You see, I was not just looking at the girl. I was looking at the entire family package for everything matters. It's not just about the boy and the girl; I need to know what kind of family I will be getting myself into. I remember meeting one family who spoke in such heavy Urdu, with very basic English, and I knew I would not be able to get into that family, despite their daughter being a great girl.
I was indeed a little disappointed I didn't find any girl. The situation was such that a large pool of girls were either in two camps: in hijabs (nothing wrong with that, but not what I am looking for) or too partying-shartying kind, with drinking and a long list of boyfriends (they can do whatever they want, but these kind of girls aren't what I am looking for!) Where are the girls who are in the middle, the moderates ones? According to one of my relatives, they are all abroad, or are all engaged or hooked to someone or the other. The problem boiled to the fact that I don't live in Pakistan thus rendering me out of the social scene.
The good news is that since my parents have moved to Lahore, they will soon be meeting people they know, and through them we can get to know of families who are looking for a guy for their daughter. I tell you, it's not just about the guy and girl anymore, its a lot more than that.
The coolest thing was that I met up with Maria, my high school friend after three years, and it was awesome meeting up with here. We had been in touch ever since we left high school 10 years ago, and it's amazing how our friendship has lasted. Of course, I had to hear from everyone why I don't consider for marriage, since she is single too. I would tell them, Maria and I have discussed this issue and we have our reasons.
My brother and his family were here, and having met up with my niece (3yrs) and nephew (1yr) I so wanted to get married and have kids of my own. I am so ready. I have a job, a house and a car, and I need is a wife.
A quick question. There is one girl we know of who is a great girl, coming from an amazing family, very rich, well educated and down to earth. However, she is a divorcee with a 1yr old baby. I was ready to consider her but many around me were advising me not to. I don't see anything wrong, so why should others?
Mansur
One of the reason why I went to Pakistan for so long this recent trip was to spend time looking for the right girl for marriage. I was supposed to be there for a month, but my stay eventually exceeded to 40 days. I was initially excited, for I was pretty sure I would find the right person on this trip. My aunty had lined up a list of families who my mom and I were supposed to go meet. My aunt was hopeful, as were we.
The first thing that we realized was that I went to Pakistan in the month of Ramadan. That's the month everyone is fasting, and hardly any meetings happen between prospective families. However, there were two families that I did get to meet during Ramadan, and both families were all right, and the girls exceeded my expectations. However, things didn't work out with these families. The first girl we met showed too much attitude. The second girl's father refused to let the girl and I meet in absence of any elders.
So after Eid, we met up with several more families, but things were just not clicking. You see, I was not just looking at the girl. I was looking at the entire family package for everything matters. It's not just about the boy and the girl; I need to know what kind of family I will be getting myself into. I remember meeting one family who spoke in such heavy Urdu, with very basic English, and I knew I would not be able to get into that family, despite their daughter being a great girl.
I was indeed a little disappointed I didn't find any girl. The situation was such that a large pool of girls were either in two camps: in hijabs (nothing wrong with that, but not what I am looking for) or too partying-shartying kind, with drinking and a long list of boyfriends (they can do whatever they want, but these kind of girls aren't what I am looking for!) Where are the girls who are in the middle, the moderates ones? According to one of my relatives, they are all abroad, or are all engaged or hooked to someone or the other. The problem boiled to the fact that I don't live in Pakistan thus rendering me out of the social scene.
The good news is that since my parents have moved to Lahore, they will soon be meeting people they know, and through them we can get to know of families who are looking for a guy for their daughter. I tell you, it's not just about the guy and girl anymore, its a lot more than that.
The coolest thing was that I met up with Maria, my high school friend after three years, and it was awesome meeting up with here. We had been in touch ever since we left high school 10 years ago, and it's amazing how our friendship has lasted. Of course, I had to hear from everyone why I don't consider for marriage, since she is single too. I would tell them, Maria and I have discussed this issue and we have our reasons.
My brother and his family were here, and having met up with my niece (3yrs) and nephew (1yr) I so wanted to get married and have kids of my own. I am so ready. I have a job, a house and a car, and I need is a wife.
A quick question. There is one girl we know of who is a great girl, coming from an amazing family, very rich, well educated and down to earth. However, she is a divorcee with a 1yr old baby. I was ready to consider her but many around me were advising me not to. I don't see anything wrong, so why should others?
Mansur
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Goodness Gracious Me
Hey friends,
I don't know how many of you have seen the Asian British comedy sketch show Goodness Gracious Me. I bought the entire collection (three series) and have been watching and re-watching them. They are just absolutely the best, and a lot of it does ring true. Who doesn't have an uncle who tells them to come to them for everything? Who doesn't have an aunty who tells everyone she can make it at home for nothing? Who doesn't know aunts who force feed you at meal time? Who doesn't aunties who brag about their sons? These character sketches and whole lot more are just too funny. I guarantee you, watching these episodes over and over certainly does make you laugh out loud.
I don't know if non-Asians can truly appreciate the Asian humor though.
Mansur
I don't know how many of you have seen the Asian British comedy sketch show Goodness Gracious Me. I bought the entire collection (three series) and have been watching and re-watching them. They are just absolutely the best, and a lot of it does ring true. Who doesn't have an uncle who tells them to come to them for everything? Who doesn't have an aunty who tells everyone she can make it at home for nothing? Who doesn't know aunts who force feed you at meal time? Who doesn't aunties who brag about their sons? These character sketches and whole lot more are just too funny. I guarantee you, watching these episodes over and over certainly does make you laugh out loud.
I don't know if non-Asians can truly appreciate the Asian humor though.
Mansur
Friday, November 17, 2006
New Books I Want to Read
Hello friends,
I was browsing at the mall last night, and I saw four books that I suddenly felt like buying and read them in one go. I think I will buy them when I'm bit more free so I can read them.
1. Lisey's Story by Stephen King
They say this is Kin'g most personal and most powerful story ever yet. It's not a traditional King horror story, but rather at its core is a love story, albeit a sad one. However the premise looks promising, and I ama huge King fan even today.
2. In the Line of Fire by Pervez Musharraf
A very controversial choice I know primarily because this book has been dissected, over analyzed, looked into and studied word for word and the general consensus is that it's mostly fabricated, filled with wrong information. However, it would be still be an interesting read. Many say that Musharraf life's in danger, and once he is out of his position as a general, people will make attempts on his life, hence his writing the book while he is still in position, for he may not be alive later.
3. In the Name of Honor by Mukhtaran Mai
Mai gained worldwide fame when her story was heard around the world. Mai is one of the100s of women who are raped for tribal reasons and with the controversial Hudood Ordinances (which have just been repealed of sorts recently) women like Mai find it difficult to prove their innocence. They say Mai has given Musharraf a run for being more popular.
4. For One More Day byMitch Albom
Albom became a favorite authorof mine after his hugely popular Tuesdays with Morrie, and a successful follow-up Five People You Meet in Heaven. For One More Day has an interesting premise, and his books tend to make you re-evaluate your life and make you realize how much you have to live for.
If anyone of you out there have read any of these books, any helpful review, advice, comments or suggestions would be helpful for me.
Mansur
I was browsing at the mall last night, and I saw four books that I suddenly felt like buying and read them in one go. I think I will buy them when I'm bit more free so I can read them.
1. Lisey's Story by Stephen King
They say this is Kin'g most personal and most powerful story ever yet. It's not a traditional King horror story, but rather at its core is a love story, albeit a sad one. However the premise looks promising, and I ama huge King fan even today.
2. In the Line of Fire by Pervez Musharraf
A very controversial choice I know primarily because this book has been dissected, over analyzed, looked into and studied word for word and the general consensus is that it's mostly fabricated, filled with wrong information. However, it would be still be an interesting read. Many say that Musharraf life's in danger, and once he is out of his position as a general, people will make attempts on his life, hence his writing the book while he is still in position, for he may not be alive later.
3. In the Name of Honor by Mukhtaran Mai
Mai gained worldwide fame when her story was heard around the world. Mai is one of the100s of women who are raped for tribal reasons and with the controversial Hudood Ordinances (which have just been repealed of sorts recently) women like Mai find it difficult to prove their innocence. They say Mai has given Musharraf a run for being more popular.
4. For One More Day byMitch Albom
Albom became a favorite authorof mine after his hugely popular Tuesdays with Morrie, and a successful follow-up Five People You Meet in Heaven. For One More Day has an interesting premise, and his books tend to make you re-evaluate your life and make you realize how much you have to live for.
If anyone of you out there have read any of these books, any helpful review, advice, comments or suggestions would be helpful for me.
Mansur
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Unblocked Sites...Finally
Hello,
For all the times Etisalat (the sole monopoly telecom company in the UAE) have received their share of negative publicity and complaints, I for one want to the first to say Thank You to them, for unblocking three websites that had been blocked unfairly.
1. Flickr
2. YouTube
3. Orkut
So while the internet rates are still obscenely high, I am thankful to Etisalat for unblocking these sites.
Mansur
For all the times Etisalat (the sole monopoly telecom company in the UAE) have received their share of negative publicity and complaints, I for one want to the first to say Thank You to them, for unblocking three websites that had been blocked unfairly.
1. Flickr
2. YouTube
3. Orkut
So while the internet rates are still obscenely high, I am thankful to Etisalat for unblocking these sites.
Mansur
Adventures in Babysitting
Hello friends,
Along with The Goonies, Labyrinth, Stand By Me, Spaceballs and countless other 80's movies, one of my sole favorites was Adventures in Babysitting. My brother brought me the DVD of that movie and I watched that movie much delight. It still holds up to its name and is still one of my favorite movie ever.
Adventures in Babysitting is about Chris Parker, a 17 yr old dumped by her older boyfriend, and is asked to babysit the Anderson kids, a 10 year old girl whose hero is Thor, and her older brother who is a freshman in high school with a massive crush on Chris. Chris' friend Brenda makes a frantic phone call from downtown Chicago, and thus begins the adventures as Chris takes the kids, and an annoying neighbor friend too. Car blow outs, get car-napped, almost shot at, followed by gangs, getting stabbed, having to sing the blue, and climbing the outside of skyscrapers.
Every second of the movie was so enjoyable, I was immediately transported back to my home in Saudi where I watched this movie countless number of times. The two songs And Then He Kissed Me and Babysitting Blues are still cool to listen to.
It's amazing to see a movie more than 10 years later and have all your memories, some forgotten ones too, come back in an instant.
Mansur
Along with The Goonies, Labyrinth, Stand By Me, Spaceballs and countless other 80's movies, one of my sole favorites was Adventures in Babysitting. My brother brought me the DVD of that movie and I watched that movie much delight. It still holds up to its name and is still one of my favorite movie ever.
Adventures in Babysitting is about Chris Parker, a 17 yr old dumped by her older boyfriend, and is asked to babysit the Anderson kids, a 10 year old girl whose hero is Thor, and her older brother who is a freshman in high school with a massive crush on Chris. Chris' friend Brenda makes a frantic phone call from downtown Chicago, and thus begins the adventures as Chris takes the kids, and an annoying neighbor friend too. Car blow outs, get car-napped, almost shot at, followed by gangs, getting stabbed, having to sing the blue, and climbing the outside of skyscrapers.
Every second of the movie was so enjoyable, I was immediately transported back to my home in Saudi where I watched this movie countless number of times. The two songs And Then He Kissed Me and Babysitting Blues are still cool to listen to.
It's amazing to see a movie more than 10 years later and have all your memories, some forgotten ones too, come back in an instant.
Mansur
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Movie Recommendations
Hey friends,
Since I was away, and had lots of free time, I watched a bunch of movies I had missed otherwise at the theatres. So here are my recommended lsit of movies to watchout for.
1. Paradise Now
The fictional story of two Palestians life long friends, who are asked to blow themselves up in Israel as suicide bombers. A circumstanial miscalculations forces them to re-think their decision, with consequences unforseen. Amazing movie, with a lot to discuss and think over about the sticky issue of suicide bombers.
2. American Dreams
A satirical look at the American Idol alike competition, where the owner a la Simon Cowell figure, wants to bring in a change to his stratospherically popular show. He hires a seemingly bitchy otherwise innocent white American girl, enlists an Iraqi jihadist whose secret desire is to be a performer among others. The American president is asked to be a guest judge on the show. A certain change of direction in the life of one of the contestant changes the course of the whole show.
3. A Walk to Remember
The story of a religious girl in high school, who doesnt compromise on her beliefs in order to fit in. This sweet story, seen by many as a chick flick, is actually a nice one, with an encouraging lesson on to stand up for what you believe in. Bit too overly sentimental towards the end, but otherwise a great movie.
4. The 40-Year Old Virgin
Probably the last one to see this movie now. Highly enjoyable and a light comedy. Not entirely re-watchable for me as the "sex" talk got too repetitive. The issue of a 40 year old man being a virgin was over-highlighted and after a while it felt boring.
And the one movie that I wanted to like a lot but ended up hating a lot is
5. My Super Ex-Girlfriend
Uma Thurman stars as G-Girl, a super heroine who finally finds the right man for herself, only to get dumped later. She unleashes her super powers to get back at her ex-boyfriend. Silly, pointless, boring and over hyped up at release. Avoid at all costs.
Mansur
Since I was away, and had lots of free time, I watched a bunch of movies I had missed otherwise at the theatres. So here are my recommended lsit of movies to watchout for.
1. Paradise Now
The fictional story of two Palestians life long friends, who are asked to blow themselves up in Israel as suicide bombers. A circumstanial miscalculations forces them to re-think their decision, with consequences unforseen. Amazing movie, with a lot to discuss and think over about the sticky issue of suicide bombers.
2. American Dreams
A satirical look at the American Idol alike competition, where the owner a la Simon Cowell figure, wants to bring in a change to his stratospherically popular show. He hires a seemingly bitchy otherwise innocent white American girl, enlists an Iraqi jihadist whose secret desire is to be a performer among others. The American president is asked to be a guest judge on the show. A certain change of direction in the life of one of the contestant changes the course of the whole show.
3. A Walk to Remember
The story of a religious girl in high school, who doesnt compromise on her beliefs in order to fit in. This sweet story, seen by many as a chick flick, is actually a nice one, with an encouraging lesson on to stand up for what you believe in. Bit too overly sentimental towards the end, but otherwise a great movie.
4. The 40-Year Old Virgin
Probably the last one to see this movie now. Highly enjoyable and a light comedy. Not entirely re-watchable for me as the "sex" talk got too repetitive. The issue of a 40 year old man being a virgin was over-highlighted and after a while it felt boring.
And the one movie that I wanted to like a lot but ended up hating a lot is
5. My Super Ex-Girlfriend
Uma Thurman stars as G-Girl, a super heroine who finally finds the right man for herself, only to get dumped later. She unleashes her super powers to get back at her ex-boyfriend. Silly, pointless, boring and over hyped up at release. Avoid at all costs.
Mansur
Friday, November 10, 2006
I am back!
Hey friends,
I arrived in Dubai today, and what's the first thing that hit me? The 2 hour traffic home from the airport!
Anyways, I am back and I was looking forward to all the blogging I have to do and to catch up on my reading the blogs on my reading list.
But guess what? My brother, his wife and their two kids are coming to Dubai tomorrow from London. So I will be super busy with them till the end of their stay. So While I am back, I will start blogging once my brother and his family leave.
Hope you all are doing well.
Mansur
I arrived in Dubai today, and what's the first thing that hit me? The 2 hour traffic home from the airport!
Anyways, I am back and I was looking forward to all the blogging I have to do and to catch up on my reading the blogs on my reading list.
But guess what? My brother, his wife and their two kids are coming to Dubai tomorrow from London. So I will be super busy with them till the end of their stay. So While I am back, I will start blogging once my brother and his family leave.
Hope you all are doing well.
Mansur
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Eid Greetings!
Dear friends,
As Eid is beckoning upon us, I wanted to wish all my Muslim readers a very happy Eid Mubarak/ Mabrook! I hope the month has been a rewarding and a blessing to you, and that you have reaped the spiritual benefits.
I am myself in Pakistan now, getting an opportunity to celebrate Eid with my immediate and extended family members, which is always a fun time. We get to get up early in the morning, take cold showers, wear our new clothes, go for prayers, come back and have breakfast, which is almost always vermicilli, and then give money away in charity. We also go visit families to wish the Eid greetings too.
I had been meaning to write so much stuff on my blog, but time has been very limited, but I will just give you a few brief points on what has been happening.
* I have visited two families to meet with the girls for marriage. One of them didn't work out and the second one looks more promising. I have yet to see other girls. It's sometimes very difficult to find the right girl because either girls are in complete seclusion behind the hijab, or completely pratying it up with drinking and tonnes of boyfriends. There are very few moderates left in the middle.
* The progress on our house being built is slow but picking up. I am really excited. They have dug out the basement and have poured the concrete.
* The weather has changed for the better after we received rain for 24 hours, which was amazing. I miss the rain and cold weather a lot when I am in Dubai.
* The one thing everyone was talking about when I came here was the extremely controversial book by President Musharraf, In the Line of Fire, which has received a lot more ciritical and negative reviews. I could write a whole essay on that, but the general trend is that it's not entirely factual and true.
All right friends, a lot more will come on this blog once I settle into my routine life post Ramadan. I expect to get back to Dubai on the 3rd of November.
Once again, Happy Eid to you all!
Mansur
As Eid is beckoning upon us, I wanted to wish all my Muslim readers a very happy Eid Mubarak/ Mabrook! I hope the month has been a rewarding and a blessing to you, and that you have reaped the spiritual benefits.
I am myself in Pakistan now, getting an opportunity to celebrate Eid with my immediate and extended family members, which is always a fun time. We get to get up early in the morning, take cold showers, wear our new clothes, go for prayers, come back and have breakfast, which is almost always vermicilli, and then give money away in charity. We also go visit families to wish the Eid greetings too.
I had been meaning to write so much stuff on my blog, but time has been very limited, but I will just give you a few brief points on what has been happening.
* I have visited two families to meet with the girls for marriage. One of them didn't work out and the second one looks more promising. I have yet to see other girls. It's sometimes very difficult to find the right girl because either girls are in complete seclusion behind the hijab, or completely pratying it up with drinking and tonnes of boyfriends. There are very few moderates left in the middle.
* The progress on our house being built is slow but picking up. I am really excited. They have dug out the basement and have poured the concrete.
* The weather has changed for the better after we received rain for 24 hours, which was amazing. I miss the rain and cold weather a lot when I am in Dubai.
* The one thing everyone was talking about when I came here was the extremely controversial book by President Musharraf, In the Line of Fire, which has received a lot more ciritical and negative reviews. I could write a whole essay on that, but the general trend is that it's not entirely factual and true.
All right friends, a lot more will come on this blog once I settle into my routine life post Ramadan. I expect to get back to Dubai on the 3rd of November.
Once again, Happy Eid to you all!
Mansur
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
In Pakistan!
Hello friends,
I am in Pakistan now. I just arrived last night from Dubai to Lahore. The flight wasn't spectacular and there was no on flight entertainment, so it was the longest three hours on my flight. My iPod battery had died and I had no reading materials on me. I was so bored I actually read each and every word of the flight safety manual. So if you ask me, I will know how to open the emergency door, and how to jump on the inflatable slide. Just remember to take your high heels off, and cross your arms across your chest should you find yourself in a position to jump on that slide. Oh, also, when you have the life jacket on, don't inflate it till you are ready to jump on the slide, because if you inflate it from your seat you will find it harder to move across the aisle as you may need to crawl if there is smoke so you can follow the emergency light on the floor.
Anyway, I am here in Lahore now and there are so many things to do. Our house is being built now, and I will be spending time on site to check everything is going on schedule and that the workers are not being dodgy. My sister arrived today morning, so I know I will be hanging out at all the right places. Oh, my sister and I will be joining the Royal Palm club to go gymming too, so expect to see me all buffed up when I get back to Dubai.
All right, just wanted to let everyone of you know where I am and I expect to be here till the 3rd of November. If you miss me too, just drop me a line and I shall miss you right back. Ok, that sounded corny. Lol.
Looking forward to blog on some exciting stuff in Lahore!
Mansur
I am in Pakistan now. I just arrived last night from Dubai to Lahore. The flight wasn't spectacular and there was no on flight entertainment, so it was the longest three hours on my flight. My iPod battery had died and I had no reading materials on me. I was so bored I actually read each and every word of the flight safety manual. So if you ask me, I will know how to open the emergency door, and how to jump on the inflatable slide. Just remember to take your high heels off, and cross your arms across your chest should you find yourself in a position to jump on that slide. Oh, also, when you have the life jacket on, don't inflate it till you are ready to jump on the slide, because if you inflate it from your seat you will find it harder to move across the aisle as you may need to crawl if there is smoke so you can follow the emergency light on the floor.
Anyway, I am here in Lahore now and there are so many things to do. Our house is being built now, and I will be spending time on site to check everything is going on schedule and that the workers are not being dodgy. My sister arrived today morning, so I know I will be hanging out at all the right places. Oh, my sister and I will be joining the Royal Palm club to go gymming too, so expect to see me all buffed up when I get back to Dubai.
All right, just wanted to let everyone of you know where I am and I expect to be here till the 3rd of November. If you miss me too, just drop me a line and I shall miss you right back. Ok, that sounded corny. Lol.
Looking forward to blog on some exciting stuff in Lahore!
Mansur
Friday, September 22, 2006
Time for a Break
Hey friends,
I will not be blogging for a while now. Expect to see me after the Ramadan break, sometimes mid-November.
Happy Ramadan to you all, and may this month be a blessed and rewarding month for you all.
Mansur
I will not be blogging for a while now. Expect to see me after the Ramadan break, sometimes mid-November.
Happy Ramadan to you all, and may this month be a blessed and rewarding month for you all.
Mansur
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
This Is My World
Hey friends,
When I was in high school, I would tell my friends that I have a shield around me, which other peopel misinterpreted as a solid concrete barrier not to be broken down. I would often shut myself out from those around me, but would allow only those who I trusted well enough to pierce through this shield to get to know me, and I would assure them that once they break through this barrier, that they would get a one of a kind friendship.
So, with that in mine, there is a song that's really close to my heart. It's Darius Rucker's This Is My World.
The look on your face
It could never explain your heart
And the touch of my lips
It could never tell u my thoughts
And U want me to change
I can't get used to
All U want me to be
I just can't pretend
To be anyone else
Cuz it's not really me
This is my world
This is who I am
And I'm not gonna give up myself
To make your life better
She said
This is how it is
I got my own life to live
And U can either accept me
Or baby
And if it's love
That we share
Then we can withstand all
The obstacles that life brings forth
And I will receive you
For who U are who u were
And baby who U will be
But U want me to change
Girl I can't get used to
All U want me to be
And I just can't pretend
To be anyone else, oh
Cuz it's not really me
This is my world
This is who I am
And I'm not trying to give up myself
To make your life better, now
This is how it is
I got my own life to live
And U can either accept me
Or baby
This is my world
This is who i am
And I'm not trying to give up myself
To make your life better
---Mansur
When I was in high school, I would tell my friends that I have a shield around me, which other peopel misinterpreted as a solid concrete barrier not to be broken down. I would often shut myself out from those around me, but would allow only those who I trusted well enough to pierce through this shield to get to know me, and I would assure them that once they break through this barrier, that they would get a one of a kind friendship.
So, with that in mine, there is a song that's really close to my heart. It's Darius Rucker's This Is My World.
The look on your face
It could never explain your heart
And the touch of my lips
It could never tell u my thoughts
And U want me to change
I can't get used to
All U want me to be
I just can't pretend
To be anyone else
Cuz it's not really me
This is my world
This is who I am
And I'm not gonna give up myself
To make your life better
She said
This is how it is
I got my own life to live
And U can either accept me
Or baby
And if it's love
That we share
Then we can withstand all
The obstacles that life brings forth
And I will receive you
For who U are who u were
And baby who U will be
But U want me to change
Girl I can't get used to
All U want me to be
And I just can't pretend
To be anyone else, oh
Cuz it's not really me
This is my world
This is who I am
And I'm not trying to give up myself
To make your life better, now
This is how it is
I got my own life to live
And U can either accept me
Or baby
This is my world
This is who i am
And I'm not trying to give up myself
To make your life better
---Mansur
Monday, September 18, 2006
UAE Nationals Extinct?
Hello people,
Many people who have visited me here in Dubai often ask me where the local population is, and guess what, the local population is indeed shrinking as more and more expatriates come and inhabit the country of UAE. The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah have realized this trend and have incorporated this idea into the textbooks for ninth graders. The illustration, as seen below, shows a bunch of expatriates in a museum observing the skeleton of an extinct UAE national.
(courtesy of Gulf News)
Mansur
Many people who have visited me here in Dubai often ask me where the local population is, and guess what, the local population is indeed shrinking as more and more expatriates come and inhabit the country of UAE. The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah have realized this trend and have incorporated this idea into the textbooks for ninth graders. The illustration, as seen below, shows a bunch of expatriates in a museum observing the skeleton of an extinct UAE national.
(courtesy of Gulf News)
Mansur
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Movie:: An American Haunting
Hey friends,
Late night last night, I saw An American Haunting, which is a horror movie based on true events, as mentioned at the end of the movie. Were it not for the"based on true events" tagline, I would not have seen this movie otherwise.
An American Haunting is set in Tennessee, USA in the 1800s, and revolves around the Bell family. John Bell gets into a dispute with a local lady Kate Bates over land ownership and slavery, after which Kate tells John that she will get even with him, especially with his young daughter Betsy. Soon after, John experiences weird hallucinations, and Betsy is soon haunted by some unseen evil spiritual force, who lifts her up by her hair and slaps her arounds, and removes bed covers from her. Betsy's sister also witnesses the same events, as does the rest of the family. Professor Richard, who is Betsy's school teacher, is the skeptical one in this, trying to come up with rational explanations, but even he succumbs to becoming a believer. Eventually, the truth comes out on what's really happening, which leads to a death in the family.
The movie makes much noise about this case of haunting of being the only recorded in history where a spirit causes a death of a person, something which has never been witnessed or recorded before or since this particular case.
My comments.
First, this movie should not be compared to a far more superior movie called The Exorcism of Emily Rose. That movie and this movie are not related at all. That movie is about 'possession' and this movie is about 'haunting.' Two different things.
Secondly, I did some research on this movie, and it's apparently based on a legend of the Bell Witch, which also gave rise to the very popular The Blair Witch Project. The Legend of Bell Witch upon which this movie is based is a legend, and some people have declared it just that: a myth. Skeptics have debunked the various reasons for the happenings in the Bell House.
Thirdly, the movie moved too fast for me, and did not give me enough time to indulge myself in what could have been creepy atmosphere thrills. Most of the thrills were the kind where everything goes quiet, and then a sudden jolt of loud music, which turns out to be something silly.
Fourthly, while a well made movie, I think they could have done better. It wasn't scary at all, and felt more like a run of the mill movie. They could have indulged in more realism to really drive it home that this movie is based on real events, like they did with The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
Finally, while I may have some negative comments, this movie is not a bad one.
3 out of 5; not too bad, but not too good either.
Mansur
Late night last night, I saw An American Haunting, which is a horror movie based on true events, as mentioned at the end of the movie. Were it not for the"based on true events" tagline, I would not have seen this movie otherwise.
An American Haunting is set in Tennessee, USA in the 1800s, and revolves around the Bell family. John Bell gets into a dispute with a local lady Kate Bates over land ownership and slavery, after which Kate tells John that she will get even with him, especially with his young daughter Betsy. Soon after, John experiences weird hallucinations, and Betsy is soon haunted by some unseen evil spiritual force, who lifts her up by her hair and slaps her arounds, and removes bed covers from her. Betsy's sister also witnesses the same events, as does the rest of the family. Professor Richard, who is Betsy's school teacher, is the skeptical one in this, trying to come up with rational explanations, but even he succumbs to becoming a believer. Eventually, the truth comes out on what's really happening, which leads to a death in the family.
The movie makes much noise about this case of haunting of being the only recorded in history where a spirit causes a death of a person, something which has never been witnessed or recorded before or since this particular case.
My comments.
First, this movie should not be compared to a far more superior movie called The Exorcism of Emily Rose. That movie and this movie are not related at all. That movie is about 'possession' and this movie is about 'haunting.' Two different things.
Secondly, I did some research on this movie, and it's apparently based on a legend of the Bell Witch, which also gave rise to the very popular The Blair Witch Project. The Legend of Bell Witch upon which this movie is based is a legend, and some people have declared it just that: a myth. Skeptics have debunked the various reasons for the happenings in the Bell House.
Thirdly, the movie moved too fast for me, and did not give me enough time to indulge myself in what could have been creepy atmosphere thrills. Most of the thrills were the kind where everything goes quiet, and then a sudden jolt of loud music, which turns out to be something silly.
Fourthly, while a well made movie, I think they could have done better. It wasn't scary at all, and felt more like a run of the mill movie. They could have indulged in more realism to really drive it home that this movie is based on real events, like they did with The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
Finally, while I may have some negative comments, this movie is not a bad one.
3 out of 5; not too bad, but not too good either.
Mansur
Movie:: Lady in the Water
Hey guys,
Last night I just watched one of the most original, highly creative movies in the longest of time: Lady in the Water. I know now why many people didn't like this movie and turned away from it. This movie is written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the guy who brought us The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs and The Village. All these aforementioned movies were highly successful, each one with a unique story line and a twist that completely changed your perspective of the movie.
However, with Lady in the Water, there is no twist to take you by surprise, but there is a very original and a very creative story. Cleveland Heep is the superintendent of The Cove, an apartment complex in Philadelphia. A new tenant, Mr. Farber, or 13-B, as known to others moves in, and from that day onwards Cleveland hears someone swimming at night at the pool. He finally sees that someone, who turns out to be a Narf, and her name is Story, who is actually a character from a bed time story. One of the other tenants' mother, who is a Chinese, knows the bed time story that her mother told her, and through her we get to know the bed time story. Story, the Narf, explains to Cleveland who she is and where she came from, and what needs to be done so she can be rescued. How Cleveland gathers the right people to form the right group in order to save Story forms the crux of the movie, much to the viewer's delight as the plot unfolds.
This is an adult fairy tale story, and it's just that. People expect for some supernatural element to come into force, or for a powerful twist to occur to explain the bizareness of the characters, but there is none of that, and once you realize that, you get to see what a powerful fairy tale story this is. Pre credits, we get to see the basis of this fairy tale story through series of drawings, which was a stroke of genius in my opinion. The other highlight of the movie was the supporting characters, especially the Chinese girl who provided all the right laughs.
One thing that was brought out from this movie was the under lying theme of "our purpose in this world," and as one of the characters says it, "one of the greatest thing one can know is one's purpose in this world." I thought that was a beautiful, because everyone in this world wants to know their purpose, what role they play, and once they know their purpose in this world, their life takes on a whole new meaning. The movie can get a bit slow for those who are expecting this movie to be like the earlier ones. To them I would say, go with an open and clear mind, and take this movie as it comes. Don't sit there trying to figure out what happens next, or to explain the events in your head.
This is a bed time story Shyamalan told his two daughters (now made into a movie) and we should listen this adult fairy tale story as told by him, just like you would listen to bed time stories told to you by your parents or grandparents.
Mansur
Last night I just watched one of the most original, highly creative movies in the longest of time: Lady in the Water. I know now why many people didn't like this movie and turned away from it. This movie is written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the guy who brought us The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs and The Village. All these aforementioned movies were highly successful, each one with a unique story line and a twist that completely changed your perspective of the movie.
However, with Lady in the Water, there is no twist to take you by surprise, but there is a very original and a very creative story. Cleveland Heep is the superintendent of The Cove, an apartment complex in Philadelphia. A new tenant, Mr. Farber, or 13-B, as known to others moves in, and from that day onwards Cleveland hears someone swimming at night at the pool. He finally sees that someone, who turns out to be a Narf, and her name is Story, who is actually a character from a bed time story. One of the other tenants' mother, who is a Chinese, knows the bed time story that her mother told her, and through her we get to know the bed time story. Story, the Narf, explains to Cleveland who she is and where she came from, and what needs to be done so she can be rescued. How Cleveland gathers the right people to form the right group in order to save Story forms the crux of the movie, much to the viewer's delight as the plot unfolds.
This is an adult fairy tale story, and it's just that. People expect for some supernatural element to come into force, or for a powerful twist to occur to explain the bizareness of the characters, but there is none of that, and once you realize that, you get to see what a powerful fairy tale story this is. Pre credits, we get to see the basis of this fairy tale story through series of drawings, which was a stroke of genius in my opinion. The other highlight of the movie was the supporting characters, especially the Chinese girl who provided all the right laughs.
One thing that was brought out from this movie was the under lying theme of "our purpose in this world," and as one of the characters says it, "one of the greatest thing one can know is one's purpose in this world." I thought that was a beautiful, because everyone in this world wants to know their purpose, what role they play, and once they know their purpose in this world, their life takes on a whole new meaning. The movie can get a bit slow for those who are expecting this movie to be like the earlier ones. To them I would say, go with an open and clear mind, and take this movie as it comes. Don't sit there trying to figure out what happens next, or to explain the events in your head.
This is a bed time story Shyamalan told his two daughters (now made into a movie) and we should listen this adult fairy tale story as told by him, just like you would listen to bed time stories told to you by your parents or grandparents.
Mansur
Movie: Monster House
Hey friends,
Last night I saw Monster House. A kiddie movie you might say, but I say it was equally enjoyable for the adults, and may be a little to scary for the kiddies, for Monster House is not your typical animated film. Brought from Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberd and Robert Zemeckis co-produced this movie, and I absolutely loved it for I cannot remember enjoying a cartoon this much since Toy Story came out.
DJ, a 10 year old boy living in a quiet surburban house, is right across from Mr. Nebbercracker's house, which is a ghastly shaped monstrous looking house. DJ's parents are away for the weekend, while Chowder, DJ's goofy friend, comes over to DJ's place. Mr. Nebbercracker hates children and warns them to stay away from his lawn, for the lawn will devour anything and the house will eat the kids up. DJ and Chowder maintain a strict watch over the house after the babysitter's boyfriend is eaten alive. Jenny, a stiff upper lipped girl has her goodies eaten by the house, but is saved by DJ and Chowder. The policemen don't believe the kids, till they are eaten up by the house too. So, it's up to DJ, Chowder and Jenny to finally venture into the house and find out what's really happening.
There is something so 80s about this movie. It's a mix of The Goonies and The Explorers. The trio also reminded me of the Harry, Ron and Hermione from Harry Potter series. What I loved about this movie was how current everything was: DJ and Chowder fight over whether they are too big for trick or treating, the babysitter's a rebel with her boyfriend being a bigger rebel, DJ's dad is unable to say I love you to his own son, and DJ himself is finding himself going through puberty. In comes Jenny, and both boys hae these pre-teen emotions to go through. The animation, while not photo-realistic was real enough for me to forget I was watching an animated cartoon. So much attention has been paid to the details that everything seemed like a reality, and the characters have been so well fleshed out, they out performed some of the real live child actors. The biggest plus of this movie is the story which is a decent, engrossing one, which is rare for animated cartoons.
However, Monster House is an exception, and even towards the end we get an emotional, touching backstory that explains the events. I still cannot get over the final 1/3 of the movie, when the kids finally enter the house. It was a roller coaster ride of one event after another, and I truly wanted to scream out in delight as were the other "adults" in the cinema for such a hair raising entertainment.
Clearly, this one will be in my DVD collection
Mansur
Last night I saw Monster House. A kiddie movie you might say, but I say it was equally enjoyable for the adults, and may be a little to scary for the kiddies, for Monster House is not your typical animated film. Brought from Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberd and Robert Zemeckis co-produced this movie, and I absolutely loved it for I cannot remember enjoying a cartoon this much since Toy Story came out.
DJ, a 10 year old boy living in a quiet surburban house, is right across from Mr. Nebbercracker's house, which is a ghastly shaped monstrous looking house. DJ's parents are away for the weekend, while Chowder, DJ's goofy friend, comes over to DJ's place. Mr. Nebbercracker hates children and warns them to stay away from his lawn, for the lawn will devour anything and the house will eat the kids up. DJ and Chowder maintain a strict watch over the house after the babysitter's boyfriend is eaten alive. Jenny, a stiff upper lipped girl has her goodies eaten by the house, but is saved by DJ and Chowder. The policemen don't believe the kids, till they are eaten up by the house too. So, it's up to DJ, Chowder and Jenny to finally venture into the house and find out what's really happening.
There is something so 80s about this movie. It's a mix of The Goonies and The Explorers. The trio also reminded me of the Harry, Ron and Hermione from Harry Potter series. What I loved about this movie was how current everything was: DJ and Chowder fight over whether they are too big for trick or treating, the babysitter's a rebel with her boyfriend being a bigger rebel, DJ's dad is unable to say I love you to his own son, and DJ himself is finding himself going through puberty. In comes Jenny, and both boys hae these pre-teen emotions to go through. The animation, while not photo-realistic was real enough for me to forget I was watching an animated cartoon. So much attention has been paid to the details that everything seemed like a reality, and the characters have been so well fleshed out, they out performed some of the real live child actors. The biggest plus of this movie is the story which is a decent, engrossing one, which is rare for animated cartoons.
However, Monster House is an exception, and even towards the end we get an emotional, touching backstory that explains the events. I still cannot get over the final 1/3 of the movie, when the kids finally enter the house. It was a roller coaster ride of one event after another, and I truly wanted to scream out in delight as were the other "adults" in the cinema for such a hair raising entertainment.
Clearly, this one will be in my DVD collection
Mansur
Friday, September 15, 2006
Dubai's Slavery
Hey friends,
Dubai ruler is accused of slavery.
However, what makes me really angry is that "once [the kids] in Dubai, it is claimed that the children - some of them as young as two - were kept in poor conditions, starved (so as to keep their weight down), abused and forced to take part in a dangerous sport."
Wonder how this will effect the image of Dubai.
Mansur
Dubai ruler is accused of slavery.
However, what makes me really angry is that "once [the kids] in Dubai, it is claimed that the children - some of them as young as two - were kept in poor conditions, starved (so as to keep their weight down), abused and forced to take part in a dangerous sport."
Wonder how this will effect the image of Dubai.
Mansur
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Miss Bikini a Pakistani
Hey friends,
While we have a serious situation in Pakistan regarding the issue of rape, women and the Hudood Ordinance, on the other hand, in China on August 28th, we have a Pakistani girl, 22 year old, who represented Pakistan in the Miss Bikini contest bagging the "'Best in Media' title, for being the most photographed and interviewed contestant, according to media reports." Miss Mariyah Moten certainly has brewed up a storm, ruffling the feathers of everyone from the President right down to the more conservative people in the country. Now, everyone is on the case as to how the Pakistani authorities in China has allowed for Miss Moten to use the name of Pakistan in a public Miss Bikini contest. However, the funniest thing I read was how some members of the parliament behaved when they wanted to discuss this issue, and spent more time looking at the pictures rather than discussing it.
Mansur
While we have a serious situation in Pakistan regarding the issue of rape, women and the Hudood Ordinance, on the other hand, in China on August 28th, we have a Pakistani girl, 22 year old, who represented Pakistan in the Miss Bikini contest bagging the "'Best in Media' title, for being the most photographed and interviewed contestant, according to media reports." Miss Mariyah Moten certainly has brewed up a storm, ruffling the feathers of everyone from the President right down to the more conservative people in the country. Now, everyone is on the case as to how the Pakistani authorities in China has allowed for Miss Moten to use the name of Pakistan in a public Miss Bikini contest. However, the funniest thing I read was how some members of the parliament behaved when they wanted to discuss this issue, and spent more time looking at the pictures rather than discussing it.
Mansur
Hudood Ordinance
Hello friends,
I don't know how many of you know about the Hudood Ordinance in Pakistan. It's basically a law that intends to implement the punishments as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah, for example 80 lashes for drinking or amputation of left hand for theft. However, the Hudood Ordinance it most criticized for the punishment it metes out to raped women.
Under this law, a woman who is raped is asked to provide four Muslim male witnesses to testify that the woman was raped. Otherwise, the raped woman is guilty and the rapist is set free. If the raped woman is unmarried, she is guilty of fornication and is given 100 lashes. If the woman is married, she is guilty of adultery and given death by stoning.
Now, in Pakistan,I have still not seen or heard of death by stoning, but rape cases almost always blame the woman, and the rapists are free. I still fail to understand how a woman is supposed to produce four witnesses, according to this law, to prove her innocence.
Just yesterday, the Hudood Ordinance was to be repealed, but instead, it was watered down much to the disappointment of the human right activists and NGOs.
I have sympathy for President Musharraf. As much as he is trying to steer Pakistan to modernity, he is being held back by the more conservative elements in society. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
Mansour
I don't know how many of you know about the Hudood Ordinance in Pakistan. It's basically a law that intends to implement the punishments as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah, for example 80 lashes for drinking or amputation of left hand for theft. However, the Hudood Ordinance it most criticized for the punishment it metes out to raped women.
Under this law, a woman who is raped is asked to provide four Muslim male witnesses to testify that the woman was raped. Otherwise, the raped woman is guilty and the rapist is set free. If the raped woman is unmarried, she is guilty of fornication and is given 100 lashes. If the woman is married, she is guilty of adultery and given death by stoning.
Now, in Pakistan,I have still not seen or heard of death by stoning, but rape cases almost always blame the woman, and the rapists are free. I still fail to understand how a woman is supposed to produce four witnesses, according to this law, to prove her innocence.
Just yesterday, the Hudood Ordinance was to be repealed, but instead, it was watered down much to the disappointment of the human right activists and NGOs.
I have sympathy for President Musharraf. As much as he is trying to steer Pakistan to modernity, he is being held back by the more conservative elements in society. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
Mansour
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Yakeen
Hey friends,
I know I never posted anything here in Urdu, but having been inspired by Tears and Rain with her post, I am urged to post the lyrics to a song I have been listening to a lot for the last one week. It's a sad and haunting song, yet full of hope. I am not going to translate it because the effect of the lyrics is lost in the translation. It's a song by Atif Aslam, from his first album.
Aaj dil dukha hai
Tum yaad aaye
Anjane log hein
Apne kahan dhoond paaein
jaagey hein soye nahi
aisi hai meri ye bechaini
din bhi wohi raatein wohi
sanso mein sansein hein nahi
shaamein ab dhalti nahi
anchal jo tera simat jaaye
aap yahan hamesha rahein
duuri rahe na ho fasle
jaagey hein soye nahi
aisi hai meri ye bechaini
din bhi wohi raatein wohi
sanso mein sansein hein nahi
ab ager tum mile to
itna ye yaqeen hai
hans deinge hum to
roona nahi hai
I know I never posted anything here in Urdu, but having been inspired by Tears and Rain with her post, I am urged to post the lyrics to a song I have been listening to a lot for the last one week. It's a sad and haunting song, yet full of hope. I am not going to translate it because the effect of the lyrics is lost in the translation. It's a song by Atif Aslam, from his first album.
Aaj dil dukha hai
Tum yaad aaye
Anjane log hein
Apne kahan dhoond paaein
jaagey hein soye nahi
aisi hai meri ye bechaini
din bhi wohi raatein wohi
sanso mein sansein hein nahi
shaamein ab dhalti nahi
anchal jo tera simat jaaye
aap yahan hamesha rahein
duuri rahe na ho fasle
jaagey hein soye nahi
aisi hai meri ye bechaini
din bhi wohi raatein wohi
sanso mein sansein hein nahi
ab ager tum mile to
itna ye yaqeen hai
hans deinge hum to
roona nahi hai
Dubai News Generator
Hello friends,
Over at Secret Dubai Diary, there is this Dubai News Generator, which is basically a tool to come up with the standard news headline announcing a new scheme or project in Dubai. It's hilarious, but true. Do check it out.
Mansur
Over at Secret Dubai Diary, there is this Dubai News Generator, which is basically a tool to come up with the standard news headline announcing a new scheme or project in Dubai. It's hilarious, but true. Do check it out.
Mansur
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Blow Out 2006 Concert
Hello friends,
This past Thursday we all went to the Blow Out Concert 2006 (check out website for more details) held at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. The attraction for us all was the Pakistani singer Atif Aslam, who skyrocketed to fame with his song Aadat. However, before we could see Atif perform, we had to see the warm up group.
We were in the VVIP section, which was right in front of the stage, so close the screaming female fans could literally touch the singers on stage. First up was Mallika, an Indian girl who was brought up in Dubai, and she sang some of her songs which she has produced here in a soon to be released album. I was skeptical, but truly Mallika did a good job, and she will be one to watch out for as she sang seamlessly between Hindi and Arabic. She just needs one song to break herself onto the charts.
Following Mallika were A-Class, a group of guys from Madagascar who thought they were the next bext thing after Tupac, 50 Cents and other rapgroups. While A Class tried hard to get the people to dance and sing along, the audience was just not ready toi put up with the crappiness. We did not pay our tickets to witness this abomination. It got sickening when one of the singer from A Class sang a very derogatory song about women using the word "juice." Totally sickening, and certainly amazing to know how that song past the censor to be heard by the crowds of families there, including little children.
With much relief, A-Class left and Raghav came on, amidts much cheering and applause. He was wrong introduced as a British-Indian, when everyone knows he is a Canadian-Indian, and I heard a few people shout out angrily "He is Canadian Indian, not British Indian!!!" Raghav performed his songs from his album Storyteller, and clearly three songs stood out: Angel Eyes (which he sang twice), Can't Work it Out and Raghav lasted only for 30 minsutes on stage.
Few minutes later, from the side of the apmhitheatre, came someone singing surrounded by his entourage. It was Atif, and everyone started screaming. Seeing a Pakistani singer brought out the patriotism that is in me. He came on stage in a completely new look, whcih was a welcome change, and began belting out his songs. The whole section in which we were in started jumping, singing and swaying to his music. However, it was Aadat, Woh Lamhe and his new song Tere Bin that totally blew the crowd away. However, my favorite song of the evening was Atif's Yakeen, which is a slow song but with awesome humming, which is totally bewitching and gives you goosebumps all over. Every single person in the crowd was in silence as Atif sat down on the stage and sang; he was that powerful! Atif sang for a little over an hour.
Following Atif were the Rishi Rich Project, which is comprised of Juggy D, Veronica and Jay Sean. These are a bunch of Indian singers who grew up in the UK and have some really nice songs. One of the highlight was Juggy D and Veronica perfroming Hum Tum, which was very enjoyable. Jay Sean's Stolen was another highlight. However, for us, Atif was simply superb.
After the show there was an After Show Party at Kandy Klub at the Fairmont hotel. I was not allowed to go because I was in shorts. What I heard from my friends the next day was not much favorable, with the majority of the people drunk.
All in all, the Blow Out 2006 was a good experience, and Atif was worth theprice of the ticket admission. If Atif were not performing, we wouldn't have gone to this concert.
What's next? The Rain Dance party on the 14th of this month with Himesh Reshamiyya and Ali Zafar. We are still thinking if we should go to this or not.
Mansur
This past Thursday we all went to the Blow Out Concert 2006 (check out website for more details) held at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. The attraction for us all was the Pakistani singer Atif Aslam, who skyrocketed to fame with his song Aadat. However, before we could see Atif perform, we had to see the warm up group.
We were in the VVIP section, which was right in front of the stage, so close the screaming female fans could literally touch the singers on stage. First up was Mallika, an Indian girl who was brought up in Dubai, and she sang some of her songs which she has produced here in a soon to be released album. I was skeptical, but truly Mallika did a good job, and she will be one to watch out for as she sang seamlessly between Hindi and Arabic. She just needs one song to break herself onto the charts.
Following Mallika were A-Class, a group of guys from Madagascar who thought they were the next bext thing after Tupac, 50 Cents and other rapgroups. While A Class tried hard to get the people to dance and sing along, the audience was just not ready toi put up with the crappiness. We did not pay our tickets to witness this abomination. It got sickening when one of the singer from A Class sang a very derogatory song about women using the word "juice." Totally sickening, and certainly amazing to know how that song past the censor to be heard by the crowds of families there, including little children.
With much relief, A-Class left and Raghav came on, amidts much cheering and applause. He was wrong introduced as a British-Indian, when everyone knows he is a Canadian-Indian, and I heard a few people shout out angrily "He is Canadian Indian, not British Indian!!!" Raghav performed his songs from his album Storyteller, and clearly three songs stood out: Angel Eyes (which he sang twice), Can't Work it Out and Raghav lasted only for 30 minsutes on stage.
Few minutes later, from the side of the apmhitheatre, came someone singing surrounded by his entourage. It was Atif, and everyone started screaming. Seeing a Pakistani singer brought out the patriotism that is in me. He came on stage in a completely new look, whcih was a welcome change, and began belting out his songs. The whole section in which we were in started jumping, singing and swaying to his music. However, it was Aadat, Woh Lamhe and his new song Tere Bin that totally blew the crowd away. However, my favorite song of the evening was Atif's Yakeen, which is a slow song but with awesome humming, which is totally bewitching and gives you goosebumps all over. Every single person in the crowd was in silence as Atif sat down on the stage and sang; he was that powerful! Atif sang for a little over an hour.
Following Atif were the Rishi Rich Project, which is comprised of Juggy D, Veronica and Jay Sean. These are a bunch of Indian singers who grew up in the UK and have some really nice songs. One of the highlight was Juggy D and Veronica perfroming Hum Tum, which was very enjoyable. Jay Sean's Stolen was another highlight. However, for us, Atif was simply superb.
After the show there was an After Show Party at Kandy Klub at the Fairmont hotel. I was not allowed to go because I was in shorts. What I heard from my friends the next day was not much favorable, with the majority of the people drunk.
All in all, the Blow Out 2006 was a good experience, and Atif was worth theprice of the ticket admission. If Atif were not performing, we wouldn't have gone to this concert.
What's next? The Rain Dance party on the 14th of this month with Himesh Reshamiyya and Ali Zafar. We are still thinking if we should go to this or not.
Mansur
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Two Cheeseburgers
Hey friends,
So I go to McDonalds, and order a cheeseburger. It took 10 minutes because the people at the back did not hear the guy shouting "one cheeseburger." Ten minutes later, I get the bag, and I find it heavier. So I walk back in and show him the two cheeseburgers he gave me. "Excuse me, you gave me two cheeseburgers. I asked for one." With his voice now lowered, and trying to put the second cheeseburger back in the bag, "no, it's for you sir." "Are you sure?" I asked. "Yes," he replied. So I left with two cheeseburgers instead of one.
Mansur
So I go to McDonalds, and order a cheeseburger. It took 10 minutes because the people at the back did not hear the guy shouting "one cheeseburger." Ten minutes later, I get the bag, and I find it heavier. So I walk back in and show him the two cheeseburgers he gave me. "Excuse me, you gave me two cheeseburgers. I asked for one." With his voice now lowered, and trying to put the second cheeseburger back in the bag, "no, it's for you sir." "Are you sure?" I asked. "Yes," he replied. So I left with two cheeseburgers instead of one.
Mansur
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
I dunno...
Hello friends,
I dunno what to say. I am at loss for words. I dunno where to begin. It's like I had something, but now it's no more. You know the feeling when things are going so great, you know something will go wrong, well that's what I am feeling now. It's like the calm before the storm. I know something devastating will happen.
Mansur
I dunno what to say. I am at loss for words. I dunno where to begin. It's like I had something, but now it's no more. You know the feeling when things are going so great, you know something will go wrong, well that's what I am feeling now. It's like the calm before the storm. I know something devastating will happen.
Mansur
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
The Blower's Daughter
Hey friends,
Remember my movie review of Closer? Well, I watched, and re-watched that movie again recently, and I am in love with it. I love the reality factor of this movie, of how real it is. However, it's the song that I am in love with. It's called The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice, and it perfectly encapsulates the feelings I have for a certain female friend of mine.
---
And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes...
And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes...
Did I say that I love you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you...
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new
---
Amazing amazing song, with haunting music.
Mansur
Remember my movie review of Closer? Well, I watched, and re-watched that movie again recently, and I am in love with it. I love the reality factor of this movie, of how real it is. However, it's the song that I am in love with. It's called The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice, and it perfectly encapsulates the feelings I have for a certain female friend of mine.
---
And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes...
And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes...
Did I say that I love you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you...
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new
---
Amazing amazing song, with haunting music.
Mansur
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Where is Bin Laden?
Hello friends,
Last week, I watched a 2 hour documentary on Osama bin Laden presented by Christiane Amanpour on CNN, and by the end of it all, it became clear to me that the reporter Christiane Amanpour had totally absolved Osama of any wrong doing, and by tracing his footsteps from childhood has instead brought out the other men in Osama's life who created, fashioned, brainwashed and influenced him to be the man he is today. Amanpour described Osama as a shy and private boy when he was studying in school, and by following his steps into adulthood, we see how the more influential, radical Islamists had changed Osama into being the ultimate rebel. The documentary also exposed the weaknesses and failure Osama went through, especially when one of his battles in Afghanistan came to a dismal failure.
Osama is undoubtedly one of the most wanted man on this planet, and the documentary also talks about how the US has failed to catch him since the 9/11 attacks. Either Osama must be:
1. a genius evading the US military, or
2. the US are very careless, or
3. the US is deliberately not trying to catch Osama in order to bomb Afghanistan to pieces, or
4. God has a hand in this trying to safe guard Osama.
I am strongly led to believe in option 4. Why? Here's why.
In the compound I lived in Jeddah, one of our neighbors, and a man we would meet at the mosque every Friday would be Osama's brother. Not his step brother, but his own biological brother. On the surface he condemned his brother's hand in the 9/11 attacks, but underneath he described how he supports his brother in the larger battle of trying to put a stop to the attrocities the West is creating in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He related an incident to us.
His mother, Osama's mother, had a dream once where Prophet Muhammad came to her. The mother was crying heavily in her dream, and the Prophet asked her why she was so upset. She said that she was scared of the whereabouts of her son Osama, whether he was dead or alive. The Prophet told the Mother that she shouldn't worry because God is protecting Osama, and that she should be proud of him for the way he has been standing up to the oppressor.
As Osama's brother related to us this dream, he said that his Mother is not sad any longer, and instead claims as this dream to be a divine sign from God to her.
It is indeed a wonder why Osama hasn't been caught for so long.
Mansur
Last week, I watched a 2 hour documentary on Osama bin Laden presented by Christiane Amanpour on CNN, and by the end of it all, it became clear to me that the reporter Christiane Amanpour had totally absolved Osama of any wrong doing, and by tracing his footsteps from childhood has instead brought out the other men in Osama's life who created, fashioned, brainwashed and influenced him to be the man he is today. Amanpour described Osama as a shy and private boy when he was studying in school, and by following his steps into adulthood, we see how the more influential, radical Islamists had changed Osama into being the ultimate rebel. The documentary also exposed the weaknesses and failure Osama went through, especially when one of his battles in Afghanistan came to a dismal failure.
Osama is undoubtedly one of the most wanted man on this planet, and the documentary also talks about how the US has failed to catch him since the 9/11 attacks. Either Osama must be:
1. a genius evading the US military, or
2. the US are very careless, or
3. the US is deliberately not trying to catch Osama in order to bomb Afghanistan to pieces, or
4. God has a hand in this trying to safe guard Osama.
I am strongly led to believe in option 4. Why? Here's why.
In the compound I lived in Jeddah, one of our neighbors, and a man we would meet at the mosque every Friday would be Osama's brother. Not his step brother, but his own biological brother. On the surface he condemned his brother's hand in the 9/11 attacks, but underneath he described how he supports his brother in the larger battle of trying to put a stop to the attrocities the West is creating in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He related an incident to us.
His mother, Osama's mother, had a dream once where Prophet Muhammad came to her. The mother was crying heavily in her dream, and the Prophet asked her why she was so upset. She said that she was scared of the whereabouts of her son Osama, whether he was dead or alive. The Prophet told the Mother that she shouldn't worry because God is protecting Osama, and that she should be proud of him for the way he has been standing up to the oppressor.
As Osama's brother related to us this dream, he said that his Mother is not sad any longer, and instead claims as this dream to be a divine sign from God to her.
It is indeed a wonder why Osama hasn't been caught for so long.
Mansur
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Car Wash
Hey friends,
So ever since I got my car, I realized how often I needed to get it car washed because the weather here is so dusty. Every two days, I would be driving myself through the car wash, and again, it would be dusty and messy. Below my apartment building, there are two men who wash cars every night for all the tenants. One of them even approached me and asked me if I would be willing to pay him to have my car washed each night. I thought about his offer, and said no.
So, last night, at 11pm, I went down to my car with a bucket full of soap water and a wash cloth and proceeded to wash my own car. One of the guys there looked at me, well, more like started at me. He approached me "sir, why are you washing your own car. Let me wash it." To which I replied, "No thanks. I want to do my own washing." And I noticed how everyone that walked on by looked/ stared at me for washing my own car.
What's wrong if I wash my own car? So what if no one else washes their own car? Don't people wash their own cars in the West? Why can't I do the same here? Why do I have to rely on servants to get my job done here? Yes, I still haven't hired anyone to clean my own house. I do everything on my own, from doing my laundry, ironing my clothes, washing dishes, dusting, mopping, doing the bathrooms and so on. So, when I can do all that, why can't I wash my own car?
Mansur
So ever since I got my car, I realized how often I needed to get it car washed because the weather here is so dusty. Every two days, I would be driving myself through the car wash, and again, it would be dusty and messy. Below my apartment building, there are two men who wash cars every night for all the tenants. One of them even approached me and asked me if I would be willing to pay him to have my car washed each night. I thought about his offer, and said no.
So, last night, at 11pm, I went down to my car with a bucket full of soap water and a wash cloth and proceeded to wash my own car. One of the guys there looked at me, well, more like started at me. He approached me "sir, why are you washing your own car. Let me wash it." To which I replied, "No thanks. I want to do my own washing." And I noticed how everyone that walked on by looked/ stared at me for washing my own car.
What's wrong if I wash my own car? So what if no one else washes their own car? Don't people wash their own cars in the West? Why can't I do the same here? Why do I have to rely on servants to get my job done here? Yes, I still haven't hired anyone to clean my own house. I do everything on my own, from doing my laundry, ironing my clothes, washing dishes, dusting, mopping, doing the bathrooms and so on. So, when I can do all that, why can't I wash my own car?
Mansur
Monday, August 28, 2006
Rain Dance 2006
Hello friends,
This past Thursday all of us went to this thing called Rain Dance. It was organized by the same tour company that took us to Hatta the week before. None of us had ever gone to a Rain Dance before, but the tour company promised us it will be a fun filled evening in the desert where they will have rain under which we can dance. So the eight of us gathered at the meeting point. Two more people were to come but one of them had a sprained knee, so she opted out much to our disappointment.
The bus took off from Dubai at 9pm, and no sooner were we on our way when N started another documentary for my video. She introduced everyone in our group much to everyone's laughter. There were about nine more people at the back whom we didn't know. M snapped her iPod in, and we all clapped and sang to the Arabic songs!
N grabbed hold of the microphone and went to the front of the bus, where she welcomed us all on board. "In any case of turbulence, the exits are located at the back and two at the front..." she proceeded to tell everyone on the bus hand signalling like an air stewardess would. "In case of any emergency, please jump out of the nearest window!" None of us were sitting with a straight face as N made us all laugh like crazy.
She went on to give us the itenary by asking the driver. "What's for food?" she asked. The driver doesn't know. "OK, he doesn't know what's for food, but whatever it is, it's edible." More laughter erupted from the back of the bus. "There will be rain there, and G will be showing off his amazing rain dance which he has been preparing for years!" More laughter. N also gave everyone on the bus a chance for feedback. M wanted to know when N will be showing us her ballet skills. Another Filipino guy at the back wanted to know why N was so beautiful, to which N replied "plastic surgery!" It was a constant time of laughter and N was extremely funny with her antics on the microphone!
An hour later, we reached the desert camp, where we moved into the 4x4 jeeps, and we asked for the same driver Mohammad Ali, who took us to Hatta. This time Mo Al was in his hip hop gear and not the local traditional dress. With hip hop music blasting from his jeep, we made our way deeper into the desert while bashing up and down the mini dunes. Two people were not particularly fond of dune bashing, and so many screams were heard from them.
Finally we got to the camp, where we did a bunch of activities. We rode the camels. Held the falcon our hand. Touched a live snake. Tried on the Arabic clothes, where in one case, I pretended to be a terrorist terrorising M! The girls wore the guy's dress, and the guys wore the abayas! We also got henna tattoos made, and I got one made to. The lady putting the henna on me was flirting so openly with me. "Such a handsome guy deserves a big tattoo," and she went on to make the largest scorpion I had ever seen on my left arm!
Dinner was served (which is usually never great at desert safari) and after eating, the dance floor in the middle of the camp came to life. The spotlights went off, with a few disco lights on, and under a million stars visible, people danced under the rain. A few of us got up there, and soon more joined us. It was a lot of fun getting wet and dancing to Arabic, English and Punjabi music. We danced for more than 3 hours. There was also a belly dancing show which was quite amazing.
All in all, by 2am, all of us were tired, and had a long drive back home. The night was still young for those left behind at the camp where they were doing the limbo dancing. Everyone enjoyed it so much (except for the part where one local drunk guy in his shorts was harrasing the ladies with his water squirt gun!), we are looking for the next rain dance which is coming up soon in Dubai.
Mansur
PS Again, I have about 60 pictures, so email me at mansourahsan@gmail.com if you want them.
This past Thursday all of us went to this thing called Rain Dance. It was organized by the same tour company that took us to Hatta the week before. None of us had ever gone to a Rain Dance before, but the tour company promised us it will be a fun filled evening in the desert where they will have rain under which we can dance. So the eight of us gathered at the meeting point. Two more people were to come but one of them had a sprained knee, so she opted out much to our disappointment.
The bus took off from Dubai at 9pm, and no sooner were we on our way when N started another documentary for my video. She introduced everyone in our group much to everyone's laughter. There were about nine more people at the back whom we didn't know. M snapped her iPod in, and we all clapped and sang to the Arabic songs!
N grabbed hold of the microphone and went to the front of the bus, where she welcomed us all on board. "In any case of turbulence, the exits are located at the back and two at the front..." she proceeded to tell everyone on the bus hand signalling like an air stewardess would. "In case of any emergency, please jump out of the nearest window!" None of us were sitting with a straight face as N made us all laugh like crazy.
She went on to give us the itenary by asking the driver. "What's for food?" she asked. The driver doesn't know. "OK, he doesn't know what's for food, but whatever it is, it's edible." More laughter erupted from the back of the bus. "There will be rain there, and G will be showing off his amazing rain dance which he has been preparing for years!" More laughter. N also gave everyone on the bus a chance for feedback. M wanted to know when N will be showing us her ballet skills. Another Filipino guy at the back wanted to know why N was so beautiful, to which N replied "plastic surgery!" It was a constant time of laughter and N was extremely funny with her antics on the microphone!
An hour later, we reached the desert camp, where we moved into the 4x4 jeeps, and we asked for the same driver Mohammad Ali, who took us to Hatta. This time Mo Al was in his hip hop gear and not the local traditional dress. With hip hop music blasting from his jeep, we made our way deeper into the desert while bashing up and down the mini dunes. Two people were not particularly fond of dune bashing, and so many screams were heard from them.
Finally we got to the camp, where we did a bunch of activities. We rode the camels. Held the falcon our hand. Touched a live snake. Tried on the Arabic clothes, where in one case, I pretended to be a terrorist terrorising M! The girls wore the guy's dress, and the guys wore the abayas! We also got henna tattoos made, and I got one made to. The lady putting the henna on me was flirting so openly with me. "Such a handsome guy deserves a big tattoo," and she went on to make the largest scorpion I had ever seen on my left arm!
Dinner was served (which is usually never great at desert safari) and after eating, the dance floor in the middle of the camp came to life. The spotlights went off, with a few disco lights on, and under a million stars visible, people danced under the rain. A few of us got up there, and soon more joined us. It was a lot of fun getting wet and dancing to Arabic, English and Punjabi music. We danced for more than 3 hours. There was also a belly dancing show which was quite amazing.
All in all, by 2am, all of us were tired, and had a long drive back home. The night was still young for those left behind at the camp where they were doing the limbo dancing. Everyone enjoyed it so much (except for the part where one local drunk guy in his shorts was harrasing the ladies with his water squirt gun!), we are looking for the next rain dance which is coming up soon in Dubai.
Mansur
PS Again, I have about 60 pictures, so email me at mansourahsan@gmail.com if you want them.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Movie:: Click
Hey people,
Last week I saw this movie called Click, which has Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsale, ChristopherWalken, David Hasselhoff and Sean Astin. The movie must be good, I thought with a cast like that. Well, yes, it was a good movie and I enjoyed it, despite it sharing a Bruce Almighty-ish theme.
Adam Sandler is an over-worked architect (!) who has no time for his wife and two kids. He hasn't complete the treehouse he started for the kids, and now he doesn't have time to go camping with them. Even at the family barbecue he is on the phone with his boss, who offers him a lucrative deal to get him promoted in the company. Stressed out and tired from his family, he heads to Bed Bath and Beyond, where he sees a small door with the signboard saying Beyond. In goes our man, to meet with Walken, who gives Sandler a universal remote.
With this remote, Sandler can control the people and situation around him by pausin, rewinding, forwarding, muting and pausing them. He mutes his barking dog, fast forwards his wife's constant nagging, rewinds to his past to remember something for the present, and slo mo the sexy stuff. Everything seems to be going well, till the moment where the remote feeds into its memory the most repeated action by Sandler, and auitomatically fast forwards his life.
Sandler finds himself growing older and older, to the point where he sees his little kids all grown up and his wife leaving him for another man. Sandler becomes old enough to suffer medical complications and before we know it he is at the end of his life. At the cost of forwarding through his life, he realizes that he has missed out on quality time with his family, and wishes he could go back and spend more time with theminstead of making it big in his career.
Being a Sandler movie, this movie is not without the typical Sandler gags of farting and kicking in the groin parts, but surprisingly enough, barring those scenes, Sandler is actually playing an endearing man with emotions. One of my favorite scenes is when he rewinds to the part in his life where he ignores his ailing dad and tells him to leave. It was an emotional scene to see him rewind that part, and tell his dad, who is in a paused moment, that he loves him.
One other scene which got me thinking was when Sandler realizes that he can view any part of his life, and that reminded me of the Book that God keeps on our life. On Judgment Day, everything that we have done in our lives will be exposed, and as the Quran says, every little good and bad thing you have done, it will come out in the open. When seeing Sandler go through his past life, I realized there were some parts of my life that I would like to keep hidden and not re-visit, but wil have to one day.
Don't read too much into the movie- just enjoy it for what it is: a comedy about spending more time with your family because "family comes first!"
Mansur
Last week I saw this movie called Click, which has Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsale, ChristopherWalken, David Hasselhoff and Sean Astin. The movie must be good, I thought with a cast like that. Well, yes, it was a good movie and I enjoyed it, despite it sharing a Bruce Almighty-ish theme.
Adam Sandler is an over-worked architect (!) who has no time for his wife and two kids. He hasn't complete the treehouse he started for the kids, and now he doesn't have time to go camping with them. Even at the family barbecue he is on the phone with his boss, who offers him a lucrative deal to get him promoted in the company. Stressed out and tired from his family, he heads to Bed Bath and Beyond, where he sees a small door with the signboard saying Beyond. In goes our man, to meet with Walken, who gives Sandler a universal remote.
With this remote, Sandler can control the people and situation around him by pausin, rewinding, forwarding, muting and pausing them. He mutes his barking dog, fast forwards his wife's constant nagging, rewinds to his past to remember something for the present, and slo mo the sexy stuff. Everything seems to be going well, till the moment where the remote feeds into its memory the most repeated action by Sandler, and auitomatically fast forwards his life.
Sandler finds himself growing older and older, to the point where he sees his little kids all grown up and his wife leaving him for another man. Sandler becomes old enough to suffer medical complications and before we know it he is at the end of his life. At the cost of forwarding through his life, he realizes that he has missed out on quality time with his family, and wishes he could go back and spend more time with theminstead of making it big in his career.
Being a Sandler movie, this movie is not without the typical Sandler gags of farting and kicking in the groin parts, but surprisingly enough, barring those scenes, Sandler is actually playing an endearing man with emotions. One of my favorite scenes is when he rewinds to the part in his life where he ignores his ailing dad and tells him to leave. It was an emotional scene to see him rewind that part, and tell his dad, who is in a paused moment, that he loves him.
One other scene which got me thinking was when Sandler realizes that he can view any part of his life, and that reminded me of the Book that God keeps on our life. On Judgment Day, everything that we have done in our lives will be exposed, and as the Quran says, every little good and bad thing you have done, it will come out in the open. When seeing Sandler go through his past life, I realized there were some parts of my life that I would like to keep hidden and not re-visit, but wil have to one day.
Don't read too much into the movie- just enjoy it for what it is: a comedy about spending more time with your family because "family comes first!"
Mansur
Tagged by Nash!
Hello people,
Nash tagged me with the following questions, so here goes. Pretty interesting questions.
1. Are you happy with your blog, the template and what you write?
Yes, I am very happy with my blog. It's been just two years, and the more I write on it, the more I feel my blog is evolving into what I want it to be. I am not happy with the templates situation though. As you may have noticed, I change my template more times than a peacock has its feathers! What I write on my blog is really different than what I had anticipated I would write, but I am happy with it.
2. Does your immediate family know about your blog?
Yes they all know. My dad is not very net savvy, and so he has seen it only once. My mom has seen it from time to time, and my siblings see it when I want to share an experience with them.
3. Are you embarassed to tell a friend about your blog? or do you consider it something personal?
No, I am notembarrased. My blog is who I am. If someone doesn't like it, they can leave. I did consider it a personal thing initially, and after realizing that people from all over the world are reading it, I am more conscious of how personal I should get on my blog.
4. Did blogs brought a postive impact on your thoughts? If the answer is yes, give examples.
Yeah. By interacting with other bloggers out there, and getting feedback from others on carious articles brought about healthy debates and discussions. Some of my favorites ones have been free will vs predestination, burj al arab being a cross, freedom of religion among others. It has also helped me see what other people think of the way I think.
5. Do you only visit blogs that visit you or do you explore other blog?
Yeah, I do check out other blogs from time to time, and the ones I like, I add them on my Reading List. However, there are some people who start off their blog and then stop it.
6. What the does visitor count mean to you? and do you think its important to put it?
Initially, when I put the visitor count, I measured the success of my blog based on the statistics. When the numbers would fall below my expectations, I would think my blog is failing. It took a while for me to get over that visitor stats. Now, I don't really concern myself with the statistics. I do think that if you want to put something like that, it should only be used for informational purposes, and not used as a basis to judhe how successful you are with your blog.
7. Do you try to picture your friends in blogs?
All the time. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one out there putting my picturtes up there. Sometimes I have a certain picture of people in my head and I like to keep it that way.
8. Do you see a real benefit from blogging?
Writing has always been therapeutic to me. I maintain a written journal as well, and that's where I write my more personal thoughts. However, blogging is a lot of fun, it's therapeutic to me, it helps me connects with others out there to share and discuss ideas.
9. Do you think that the blogging society is an isolated society or it reflects whats happening around us?
Bloggers are a rising phenomenon. It was a little scoiety initially, but now it's growing to be a large one.
10. Are you bothered with criticisim? or you feel its healthy?
I am ok with both positive and negative criticism as long as its not targeted personally at me. In 2005, there were some people out there who were targetting me personally and not my articles, and that did upset me. Criticism is healthy as long as the person itself is not criicised.
11. Are you scared of Political Blogs?
No, I am not scared. Everyone is entitled to their freedom of speech, and they can talk about what ever they want to. Yes, the only danger is that such blogs may contribute to the brainwashing of young impressionableminds to subscribe to their political ideas and beliefs.
12. Were you shocked by the arrest of some bloggers?
Yeah, I was shocked, but then this is the Middle East, where freedom of speech is restricted. Even my mom warns me not to write provocative articles regarding Saudi Arabia.
13. Did you think of what will happen to this blog when you die?
I know for sure, I will be compiling a book called Life of Mansur, comprised of all my articles and the comments that go along with it. Maybe in 10 years time, I can look at this book and remind myself of what my life was like.
14. Whats the song you would like to link it to this blog?
It would have to be a happy song, maybe Shiny Happy People by REM.
15. Who would you like to pass it to?
To everyone in my Reading List (that includes the defunct and temporarily cancelled bloggers!)
Mansur
Nash tagged me with the following questions, so here goes. Pretty interesting questions.
1. Are you happy with your blog, the template and what you write?
Yes, I am very happy with my blog. It's been just two years, and the more I write on it, the more I feel my blog is evolving into what I want it to be. I am not happy with the templates situation though. As you may have noticed, I change my template more times than a peacock has its feathers! What I write on my blog is really different than what I had anticipated I would write, but I am happy with it.
2. Does your immediate family know about your blog?
Yes they all know. My dad is not very net savvy, and so he has seen it only once. My mom has seen it from time to time, and my siblings see it when I want to share an experience with them.
3. Are you embarassed to tell a friend about your blog? or do you consider it something personal?
No, I am notembarrased. My blog is who I am. If someone doesn't like it, they can leave. I did consider it a personal thing initially, and after realizing that people from all over the world are reading it, I am more conscious of how personal I should get on my blog.
4. Did blogs brought a postive impact on your thoughts? If the answer is yes, give examples.
Yeah. By interacting with other bloggers out there, and getting feedback from others on carious articles brought about healthy debates and discussions. Some of my favorites ones have been free will vs predestination, burj al arab being a cross, freedom of religion among others. It has also helped me see what other people think of the way I think.
5. Do you only visit blogs that visit you or do you explore other blog?
Yeah, I do check out other blogs from time to time, and the ones I like, I add them on my Reading List. However, there are some people who start off their blog and then stop it.
6. What the does visitor count mean to you? and do you think its important to put it?
Initially, when I put the visitor count, I measured the success of my blog based on the statistics. When the numbers would fall below my expectations, I would think my blog is failing. It took a while for me to get over that visitor stats. Now, I don't really concern myself with the statistics. I do think that if you want to put something like that, it should only be used for informational purposes, and not used as a basis to judhe how successful you are with your blog.
7. Do you try to picture your friends in blogs?
All the time. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one out there putting my picturtes up there. Sometimes I have a certain picture of people in my head and I like to keep it that way.
8. Do you see a real benefit from blogging?
Writing has always been therapeutic to me. I maintain a written journal as well, and that's where I write my more personal thoughts. However, blogging is a lot of fun, it's therapeutic to me, it helps me connects with others out there to share and discuss ideas.
9. Do you think that the blogging society is an isolated society or it reflects whats happening around us?
Bloggers are a rising phenomenon. It was a little scoiety initially, but now it's growing to be a large one.
10. Are you bothered with criticisim? or you feel its healthy?
I am ok with both positive and negative criticism as long as its not targeted personally at me. In 2005, there were some people out there who were targetting me personally and not my articles, and that did upset me. Criticism is healthy as long as the person itself is not criicised.
11. Are you scared of Political Blogs?
No, I am not scared. Everyone is entitled to their freedom of speech, and they can talk about what ever they want to. Yes, the only danger is that such blogs may contribute to the brainwashing of young impressionableminds to subscribe to their political ideas and beliefs.
12. Were you shocked by the arrest of some bloggers?
Yeah, I was shocked, but then this is the Middle East, where freedom of speech is restricted. Even my mom warns me not to write provocative articles regarding Saudi Arabia.
13. Did you think of what will happen to this blog when you die?
I know for sure, I will be compiling a book called Life of Mansur, comprised of all my articles and the comments that go along with it. Maybe in 10 years time, I can look at this book and remind myself of what my life was like.
14. Whats the song you would like to link it to this blog?
It would have to be a happy song, maybe Shiny Happy People by REM.
15. Who would you like to pass it to?
To everyone in my Reading List (that includes the defunct and temporarily cancelled bloggers!)
Mansur
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Hatta 2006
Hey friends,
About two weeks ago, a bunch of us went to Hatta, which is about 2 hours away from Dubai. The adventure started right from Arabian Ranches where we all gathered to get into the 4x4 off roader. There were eight of, and so four of us had to sit squashed in the middle row. Even before we hit the roads, we HAD to stop over at Costa coffee to get our replenishments.
Our driver, Mohammad Ali, no, not the boxer, but a local guy with Pakistani background took off from Arabian Ranches. Mina snapped her iPod in and with Arabic music on full blast we made our way to Hatta, which is towards the Oman side. En route, we stopped to take some pictures with the camels, and it was surely disappointing to see such scrawny and skeletal camels.
I took out my video camera and Nissa began her documentary. "Welcome on board. We are on our way to Hatta and as you can see..." and so her documentary began, which was nothing short of rib cracking jokes and laughter. I had to see the video about 10 times and still I cannot get over how funny it is.
Part of the way towards Hatta is off the beaten path, and with all eight of us in the car, the road that laid ahead of us looked more like a roller coaster track, and with each up and down, there were screams and more screams coming from the back. Finally we reached the magnificnet Hatta pools.
Hatta pools was really beautiful. Amidst the high fjords, there was water down below, and it led us into winding paths deeper into the fjords. Some places were deep to walk, others were shallow, but to be nestled between high rocks on each side as we walked in cool, clean sea water just made it an awesome moment. Nissa, Renata and I went all the way to end of the pool, where we could see water coming out from inbetween the rocks, creating little water falls, flowing into the pools.
Nissa picked up my camera and we made a short dramatic movie entitled The Rescue. Mina is found drowning in the Hatta pools, while the rest of our gang is screaming their heads off. "Bachaoooo..." screams Mina. In I come, the ultimate lifeguard: "Mein aaraha hooon!" and save Mina from drowning. But the plot doesn't end: Gibson, the evil one, Mini-Me, enters and I and him have a dishum-dishum fight, saving Mina all over again! Nissa informs us that "for the record, all this was not pre-planned, but that we witnessed a live event on camera!"
It was getting warmer in the water and we headed out of the pools to go to Hatta Fort Hotel, a five star hotel for lunch. There, we were treated to the most amazing buffet I have had in a long time, and before we knew it, Nissa got up and started dancing in there as the two-people band continued to sing up-beat, lively songs. Our table went berserk when La Bamba came on, and we realized how silly we were being dancing in a calm, idyllic restaurant where the the other guests were enjoying watching us.
It was one of the best trips I have made and I am glad I caught it all on camera. Yes, life is short, and so we had no hang ups about being a little silly and enjoying ourself to the max.
Coming up next! Read all about it! Our New Adventure- Rain Dance: Disco in the Desert under a million stars and rain!
Mansur
PS If you want pictures of this trip, please email me at mansourahsan@gmail.com. I could put them up here, but then I don't want some people to see them as they are too provocative and sensous, especially the pool ones...lool..no, for the sake of privacy, some of my friends have asked me not put the pictures up and to share with only whom I must.
About two weeks ago, a bunch of us went to Hatta, which is about 2 hours away from Dubai. The adventure started right from Arabian Ranches where we all gathered to get into the 4x4 off roader. There were eight of, and so four of us had to sit squashed in the middle row. Even before we hit the roads, we HAD to stop over at Costa coffee to get our replenishments.
Our driver, Mohammad Ali, no, not the boxer, but a local guy with Pakistani background took off from Arabian Ranches. Mina snapped her iPod in and with Arabic music on full blast we made our way to Hatta, which is towards the Oman side. En route, we stopped to take some pictures with the camels, and it was surely disappointing to see such scrawny and skeletal camels.
I took out my video camera and Nissa began her documentary. "Welcome on board. We are on our way to Hatta and as you can see..." and so her documentary began, which was nothing short of rib cracking jokes and laughter. I had to see the video about 10 times and still I cannot get over how funny it is.
Part of the way towards Hatta is off the beaten path, and with all eight of us in the car, the road that laid ahead of us looked more like a roller coaster track, and with each up and down, there were screams and more screams coming from the back. Finally we reached the magnificnet Hatta pools.
Hatta pools was really beautiful. Amidst the high fjords, there was water down below, and it led us into winding paths deeper into the fjords. Some places were deep to walk, others were shallow, but to be nestled between high rocks on each side as we walked in cool, clean sea water just made it an awesome moment. Nissa, Renata and I went all the way to end of the pool, where we could see water coming out from inbetween the rocks, creating little water falls, flowing into the pools.
Nissa picked up my camera and we made a short dramatic movie entitled The Rescue. Mina is found drowning in the Hatta pools, while the rest of our gang is screaming their heads off. "Bachaoooo..." screams Mina. In I come, the ultimate lifeguard: "Mein aaraha hooon!" and save Mina from drowning. But the plot doesn't end: Gibson, the evil one, Mini-Me, enters and I and him have a dishum-dishum fight, saving Mina all over again! Nissa informs us that "for the record, all this was not pre-planned, but that we witnessed a live event on camera!"
It was getting warmer in the water and we headed out of the pools to go to Hatta Fort Hotel, a five star hotel for lunch. There, we were treated to the most amazing buffet I have had in a long time, and before we knew it, Nissa got up and started dancing in there as the two-people band continued to sing up-beat, lively songs. Our table went berserk when La Bamba came on, and we realized how silly we were being dancing in a calm, idyllic restaurant where the the other guests were enjoying watching us.
It was one of the best trips I have made and I am glad I caught it all on camera. Yes, life is short, and so we had no hang ups about being a little silly and enjoying ourself to the max.
Coming up next! Read all about it! Our New Adventure- Rain Dance: Disco in the Desert under a million stars and rain!
Mansur
PS If you want pictures of this trip, please email me at mansourahsan@gmail.com. I could put them up here, but then I don't want some people to see them as they are too provocative and sensous, especially the pool ones...lool..no, for the sake of privacy, some of my friends have asked me not put the pictures up and to share with only whom I must.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Madina
Hello friends,
I just got these pictures online. I still maintain today that being in Madina made me be at peace. I can never find another place in this world where I can be at peace mentally, emotionally and spiritually. There is just something about the city of Madina that makes me feel like as if I belong there.
Mansur
I just got these pictures online. I still maintain today that being in Madina made me be at peace. I can never find another place in this world where I can be at peace mentally, emotionally and spiritually. There is just something about the city of Madina that makes me feel like as if I belong there.
Mansur
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Two Years for Life of Mansur
Hey friends,
Exactly two years ago, as I was sitting on my computer in Jeddah, something prompted me to start a blog. It was initially called Mansur's Musings. It was the first time I was doing something like that: putting myself on the world wide web. I emailed everyone on my hotmail mailing list about my blog, but only a couple of them took any interest. So, after a while as I became used to my blogging, I changed the title of my blog to Life of Mansur, because my writings started to become more about my life rather than just random news from me.
I cannot believe I have made it through these last two years. There have been so many ups and down, met some nice and not so nice bloggers, but most of all, it has been a huge learning experience for me. As I look back on my articles, I have seen how much I have grown as a person. There were times when I was about to close down my blog, but now looking back on it, I am glad I have kept my blog up and running.
So, I hope I can continue to blog for as long as I live because I certainly love it!
Mansur
Abuse in KSA
Hey friends,
Some positive developments regarding the cases of sexual and physical abuse of children in Saudi Arabia. These cases are being reported and the children being treated. Maids/ servants/ cooks/ drivers are primarily the main abusers in a family, which is why I have swore to never have a maid/ nanny being left alone with my kids.
Mansur
Some positive developments regarding the cases of sexual and physical abuse of children in Saudi Arabia. These cases are being reported and the children being treated. Maids/ servants/ cooks/ drivers are primarily the main abusers in a family, which is why I have swore to never have a maid/ nanny being left alone with my kids.
Mansur
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Lost 2
Hello friends,
Hands up if you haven't seen or heard about the TV show Lost?
I just finished watching the Season 2 of Lost on dvd and I am in love with this show more than ever. When I got the DVD box set, I was so excited I felt like watching it all in one go. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN LOST SEASON 2, THEN YOU BETTER STOP READING NOW!
One of the more fun thing that happened in Lost 2 is how different people had met different people and they are connected. John is shown inspecting a house in flashback, and the house turns out to be Nadia's, Sayid's lover. Jin is courting a Korean guy and at the hotel where she meets him, the doorman is Jin, her future husband. Sawyer dines in a cafe, where the waitress turns out to be Kate's mother. Jack is exercising in a stadium, where he bumps into Desmond, who eventually ends up being the one in Hatch pushing the button.
Lost 2 goes on to explain what the "hatch" is, and who the guy is. The huge tension is that there is a button that needs to be pushed every 108 minutes, by feeding in a series of numbers, to save the world. Locke and Jack take over the initial responsibility to push the button.
We also follow the stories of Ana Lucia and her group of survivors, who were in the tail section of the plane. While they come across as a mean bunch of people, they are just as scared and lost as the survivors from the front section of the plane.
Clair revives her memory, and leads Kate and Libby to another secret hatch, where Claire remembers how she was kidnapped and treated with vaccine by doctors. Kate discovers a box with fake beard, prosthetics and theatre glue. More questions than answers!
John and Mr. Eko discover another hatch, which turns out to be an observation deck, with cameras showing what's happening in the hatch where the button has to be pushed.
The major development occurs when Michael is kidnapped by the Others, and he finally meets Walt for a while, who only mutters to his dad, "you are not who you say you are." Michael is asked to bring four of his friends to the Others, and Michael does just that, and betrays his four friends. This poses a dilemma for the viewers: did Michael really betray his friends, or did he do what any father would do for his son?
The Others claim they are "good people." Still trying to figure that out.
A sailboat comes ashore, with Desmond on it.
Sayid, Jin and Sun take the boat to the other side of the Island, where they see a statue of just a foot, with one toe and three fingers. What is a statue doing here? They also see a stone formation on top of the hill, the Black Rock.
New characters come in, especially Mr. Eko, who brings in a lot of religious symbology: building a church, carving scriptures on his staff, interpreting Charlie's dream, Baptizing Claire and her baby, and dealing with the Virgin Mary statues.
However, the most dramatic and most thrilling thing happens when John is determined to not push the button. That finally happens, with something weird happening on the Island, and the timer showing red hieroglyphics.
In Brazil, where it is snowing heavily, two people/scientists see a red light flashing, and inform Penny about it.
Oh, and that LOOK between Jack and Kate changed the whole meaning of the show.
That's it! Now I am ever so determined to be the first to see Lost 3. I want to know what happens to Jack, Kate and Sawyer as they are held captive by the Others, and I want to know all the answers to everything that's been happening on the Island.
I can go on and on and on about the so many connections and my theories on it, but I prefer to just sit back and take in whatever comes next, because Lost 2 is bigger and better than Lost 1 and I am hoping Lost 3 will be mind-blowingly spectacular.
Oh, by the way, the whole underlying theme of Lost is that "everything happens for a reason," something I firmly believe in, and it's interesting to see how different people on the Island react to the fate/ science debate.
Mansur
Hands up if you haven't seen or heard about the TV show Lost?
I just finished watching the Season 2 of Lost on dvd and I am in love with this show more than ever. When I got the DVD box set, I was so excited I felt like watching it all in one go. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN LOST SEASON 2, THEN YOU BETTER STOP READING NOW!
One of the more fun thing that happened in Lost 2 is how different people had met different people and they are connected. John is shown inspecting a house in flashback, and the house turns out to be Nadia's, Sayid's lover. Jin is courting a Korean guy and at the hotel where she meets him, the doorman is Jin, her future husband. Sawyer dines in a cafe, where the waitress turns out to be Kate's mother. Jack is exercising in a stadium, where he bumps into Desmond, who eventually ends up being the one in Hatch pushing the button.
Lost 2 goes on to explain what the "hatch" is, and who the guy is. The huge tension is that there is a button that needs to be pushed every 108 minutes, by feeding in a series of numbers, to save the world. Locke and Jack take over the initial responsibility to push the button.
We also follow the stories of Ana Lucia and her group of survivors, who were in the tail section of the plane. While they come across as a mean bunch of people, they are just as scared and lost as the survivors from the front section of the plane.
Clair revives her memory, and leads Kate and Libby to another secret hatch, where Claire remembers how she was kidnapped and treated with vaccine by doctors. Kate discovers a box with fake beard, prosthetics and theatre glue. More questions than answers!
John and Mr. Eko discover another hatch, which turns out to be an observation deck, with cameras showing what's happening in the hatch where the button has to be pushed.
The major development occurs when Michael is kidnapped by the Others, and he finally meets Walt for a while, who only mutters to his dad, "you are not who you say you are." Michael is asked to bring four of his friends to the Others, and Michael does just that, and betrays his four friends. This poses a dilemma for the viewers: did Michael really betray his friends, or did he do what any father would do for his son?
The Others claim they are "good people." Still trying to figure that out.
A sailboat comes ashore, with Desmond on it.
Sayid, Jin and Sun take the boat to the other side of the Island, where they see a statue of just a foot, with one toe and three fingers. What is a statue doing here? They also see a stone formation on top of the hill, the Black Rock.
New characters come in, especially Mr. Eko, who brings in a lot of religious symbology: building a church, carving scriptures on his staff, interpreting Charlie's dream, Baptizing Claire and her baby, and dealing with the Virgin Mary statues.
However, the most dramatic and most thrilling thing happens when John is determined to not push the button. That finally happens, with something weird happening on the Island, and the timer showing red hieroglyphics.
In Brazil, where it is snowing heavily, two people/scientists see a red light flashing, and inform Penny about it.
Oh, and that LOOK between Jack and Kate changed the whole meaning of the show.
That's it! Now I am ever so determined to be the first to see Lost 3. I want to know what happens to Jack, Kate and Sawyer as they are held captive by the Others, and I want to know all the answers to everything that's been happening on the Island.
I can go on and on and on about the so many connections and my theories on it, but I prefer to just sit back and take in whatever comes next, because Lost 2 is bigger and better than Lost 1 and I am hoping Lost 3 will be mind-blowingly spectacular.
Oh, by the way, the whole underlying theme of Lost is that "everything happens for a reason," something I firmly believe in, and it's interesting to see how different people on the Island react to the fate/ science debate.
Mansur
Friday, August 18, 2006
Yet Another Gay Wedding
Hey friends,
Since the last post was on failed marriages dealt with in a movie, imagine my shock when I read in Khaleej Times of another "gay wedding" in Saudi Arabia (Khaleej Times did not post this news online, it's only in print edition) If you remember, I posted about a gay wedding in Saudi Arabia last year. What is this coming to?
Mansur
Since the last post was on failed marriages dealt with in a movie, imagine my shock when I read in Khaleej Times of another "gay wedding" in Saudi Arabia (Khaleej Times did not post this news online, it's only in print edition) If you remember, I posted about a gay wedding in Saudi Arabia last year. What is this coming to?
Mansur
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Movie:: Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Hey friends,
When it comes to Indian movies, I only watch Aamir Khan or Shahrukh Khan movies in the theatres, because these actors guarantee a good movie. Other Indian movies, I will avoid at cinema and wait for DVD. One such movie I watched in the theatre recently was Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna-- Never Say Goodbye.
The maker of this film was troubled by the rising number ofa failed marriages and according to him, there are three kinds of marriages: 1. where the guy and girl love each other and marry (which the director agrees with); 2. where marriages are arranged, some which work well others which fail (something he doesn't understand till today); 3. and finally, a marriage where people marry for money, family, name, or parental pressure, and it is with this kind of marriage does the movie ask the question: what if you married someone, and find out your soulmate is someone else? What do you do?
Dev (SRK) is married to Rhea (Preity Zinta). Maya (Rani) marries Rishi (Abhishek) and she marries him bceause his family took her under their shelter and looked after her when her parents were killed. Just before Maya marries, she meets Dev, and realizes how well she connected with him. Dev asks Maya why she is marrying, and she stumbles upon that question. Why exactly is she marrying Rishi? Is it love? It is because she feels obligated to his family?
4 years later, Maya and Dev bump into each other, and while they remember their first encounter, they are married people now, not to each other but to their spouses. However, Maya's relationship with her husband isnt peachy where he wants sex with her all the time. Dev's marriage is on the rocks, as his over-ambitious wife is the bread winner of the house since Dev has a permanent leg injury rendering him ineffective as an athlete. Their marriages are failed marriages. Hence Maya and Dev become good friends, with the sole purpose of helping each other with their marriages, and in the process realize how much they are actually meant for each other. Their intial friendship turns into a blooming love affair, with extremely disastrous consequences for their respective spouses and marriages. Hence the tagline: a love that broke all relationships.
Dev's wife leaves him. Maya's husband asks her to leave. So the two friends turned lovers leave their marriages, all the while telling each other that they are still with their spouses. Will Dev and Maya ever find out they are single? Will they ever get together? Or will their respective marriages be saved? Will Rhea forgive Dev and take him back, or will she marry her boss? Will Rishi take back his wife, or completely cut her out? The story reaches climax when another 3 years pass with Dev and Maya realizing the truth about each other.
No doubt this movie is an amalgamation of several movies (think Silsilay, Brief Encounter and Closer) but it's an interesting, and a uniquely different one, for an Indian movie. For the first time, the movie keeps it real and no candyfloss romance or running around the trees kind of thing. There are two lessons to be taken out of this movie: 1. marriage should be based on love only and 2. you should not wait to tell anyone you love them, if you want to say it, say it now because no perfect time will come ever for you to say that.
My favorite scene in the movie clearly is when the two couples are having dinner, and Dev confesses ever so seriously to his wife that he is in love with another woman, and everyone is shocked, only for him to say he is joking. So much tension in that scene.
On the technical side, the acting is superb (Amitabh was being over), but Rani stole the show from everyone! She is an awesome actress. The songs were memorable; my favorite one being Mitwa, which I found out later was sung by a Pakistani singer of the Fuzon band. The scenes dealing with the relationships were exectued well. My only concern was the tasteless comedy at some points, but it made sense to have that comedy considering the serious nature of the movie.
All in all, a good night out, and a well made movie.
**** out of *****
Mansur
When it comes to Indian movies, I only watch Aamir Khan or Shahrukh Khan movies in the theatres, because these actors guarantee a good movie. Other Indian movies, I will avoid at cinema and wait for DVD. One such movie I watched in the theatre recently was Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna-- Never Say Goodbye.
The maker of this film was troubled by the rising number ofa failed marriages and according to him, there are three kinds of marriages: 1. where the guy and girl love each other and marry (which the director agrees with); 2. where marriages are arranged, some which work well others which fail (something he doesn't understand till today); 3. and finally, a marriage where people marry for money, family, name, or parental pressure, and it is with this kind of marriage does the movie ask the question: what if you married someone, and find out your soulmate is someone else? What do you do?
Dev (SRK) is married to Rhea (Preity Zinta). Maya (Rani) marries Rishi (Abhishek) and she marries him bceause his family took her under their shelter and looked after her when her parents were killed. Just before Maya marries, she meets Dev, and realizes how well she connected with him. Dev asks Maya why she is marrying, and she stumbles upon that question. Why exactly is she marrying Rishi? Is it love? It is because she feels obligated to his family?
4 years later, Maya and Dev bump into each other, and while they remember their first encounter, they are married people now, not to each other but to their spouses. However, Maya's relationship with her husband isnt peachy where he wants sex with her all the time. Dev's marriage is on the rocks, as his over-ambitious wife is the bread winner of the house since Dev has a permanent leg injury rendering him ineffective as an athlete. Their marriages are failed marriages. Hence Maya and Dev become good friends, with the sole purpose of helping each other with their marriages, and in the process realize how much they are actually meant for each other. Their intial friendship turns into a blooming love affair, with extremely disastrous consequences for their respective spouses and marriages. Hence the tagline: a love that broke all relationships.
Dev's wife leaves him. Maya's husband asks her to leave. So the two friends turned lovers leave their marriages, all the while telling each other that they are still with their spouses. Will Dev and Maya ever find out they are single? Will they ever get together? Or will their respective marriages be saved? Will Rhea forgive Dev and take him back, or will she marry her boss? Will Rishi take back his wife, or completely cut her out? The story reaches climax when another 3 years pass with Dev and Maya realizing the truth about each other.
No doubt this movie is an amalgamation of several movies (think Silsilay, Brief Encounter and Closer) but it's an interesting, and a uniquely different one, for an Indian movie. For the first time, the movie keeps it real and no candyfloss romance or running around the trees kind of thing. There are two lessons to be taken out of this movie: 1. marriage should be based on love only and 2. you should not wait to tell anyone you love them, if you want to say it, say it now because no perfect time will come ever for you to say that.
My favorite scene in the movie clearly is when the two couples are having dinner, and Dev confesses ever so seriously to his wife that he is in love with another woman, and everyone is shocked, only for him to say he is joking. So much tension in that scene.
On the technical side, the acting is superb (Amitabh was being over), but Rani stole the show from everyone! She is an awesome actress. The songs were memorable; my favorite one being Mitwa, which I found out later was sung by a Pakistani singer of the Fuzon band. The scenes dealing with the relationships were exectued well. My only concern was the tasteless comedy at some points, but it made sense to have that comedy considering the serious nature of the movie.
All in all, a good night out, and a well made movie.
**** out of *****
Mansur
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Aug 14th Celebrations
Hey friends,
So I was not allowed to bowl in my national dress when we go to the bowling center, but, the ladies were allowed to do so. Gender discrimination, but thankfully, I had an extra set of clothes in my car, and I changed, and we all bowled. I came in 2nd with a score of 110, while the winner got 114. Dinner was at Kabab Rolls, a Pakistani restaurant, where N was able to convince the owners to play her Pakistani CD. So, we all ate Kabab rolls, heard Pakistani music and drank Pakolas! I also made a long video of every one there, asking them why Aug 14th was special to them, and I got some really amazing answers, as well as some really unexpected answers.
Mansur
So I was not allowed to bowl in my national dress when we go to the bowling center, but, the ladies were allowed to do so. Gender discrimination, but thankfully, I had an extra set of clothes in my car, and I changed, and we all bowled. I came in 2nd with a score of 110, while the winner got 114. Dinner was at Kabab Rolls, a Pakistani restaurant, where N was able to convince the owners to play her Pakistani CD. So, we all ate Kabab rolls, heard Pakistani music and drank Pakolas! I also made a long video of every one there, asking them why Aug 14th was special to them, and I got some really amazing answers, as well as some really unexpected answers.
Mansur
Tagged by Tears and Rain
Hey friends,
Phaedrus over at Tears and Rain tagged me. So here goes:
1) if you could have dinner with any three people (except Mohammed, Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr, Ghandi) then who would they be? (don't say Mother Teresa either)
Let's see, well, for one it would be a certain friend who I lost 9 years ago. Two, my best friend in Riyadh, and thirdly, Princess Diana, to ask her how she managed to get so perfect at being a humanitarian (the fact that I have met her once only made me want to spend more time talking with her!)
1a) what would you eat?
Something like a juicy steak, be it chicken or beef, served with mashed potatoes, with gravy sauce, and then top it off with cheesecake for dessert.
1b) what restaurant would it be?
Well, it would be some place causal like Chilis, or something like it.
2) if you could force everyone in the world to read one book (except for the Quran or the Bible) what would it be?
Well, The Ice Candy Man, just so they can see what my country had to go through and can be more appreciative of how Pakistan was born.
3) is there a tv show you'd cancel dinner with your best friend for if you knew that a new episode was going to be airing once only? what is it?
Clearly that has to be Lost! I am on season 2 now, with the last five remaining episodes left!
4) if someone told you that you could only have one hobby/favorite pass time for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
Playing the guitar definitely.
5) which song is on the soundtrack of your life?
Turn Back the Clock by Johnny Hates Jazz and/or
Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt
6) How old were you when you had your first crush? who was it?
I was a mere a teenager, I think, when I realized how much I liked a certain girl, and for the sake of privacy, I won't name the girl's name. You can just keep on guessing...!
7) if you could read the thoughts of any one person, who would it be?
Let's see, my dad. Sometimes he doesn't say things out to me, and I wish I knew what he were thinking about me.
8) if you could block your thoughts from only one person, who would it be?
My boss! LOOL!
9) if you could choose between life on earth forever or going to heaven, which would you choose?
Heaven. The earth is too messed up for me.
10) when you die, what will your contribution to the world be?
My loyalty to my friends, my helping them out and the charity.
I know my answers seem really boring, and dull, but I am being honest.
Mansur
Phaedrus over at Tears and Rain tagged me. So here goes:
1) if you could have dinner with any three people (except Mohammed, Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr, Ghandi) then who would they be? (don't say Mother Teresa either)
Let's see, well, for one it would be a certain friend who I lost 9 years ago. Two, my best friend in Riyadh, and thirdly, Princess Diana, to ask her how she managed to get so perfect at being a humanitarian (the fact that I have met her once only made me want to spend more time talking with her!)
1a) what would you eat?
Something like a juicy steak, be it chicken or beef, served with mashed potatoes, with gravy sauce, and then top it off with cheesecake for dessert.
1b) what restaurant would it be?
Well, it would be some place causal like Chilis, or something like it.
2) if you could force everyone in the world to read one book (except for the Quran or the Bible) what would it be?
Well, The Ice Candy Man, just so they can see what my country had to go through and can be more appreciative of how Pakistan was born.
3) is there a tv show you'd cancel dinner with your best friend for if you knew that a new episode was going to be airing once only? what is it?
Clearly that has to be Lost! I am on season 2 now, with the last five remaining episodes left!
4) if someone told you that you could only have one hobby/favorite pass time for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
Playing the guitar definitely.
5) which song is on the soundtrack of your life?
Turn Back the Clock by Johnny Hates Jazz and/or
Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt
6) How old were you when you had your first crush? who was it?
I was a mere a teenager, I think, when I realized how much I liked a certain girl, and for the sake of privacy, I won't name the girl's name. You can just keep on guessing...!
7) if you could read the thoughts of any one person, who would it be?
Let's see, my dad. Sometimes he doesn't say things out to me, and I wish I knew what he were thinking about me.
8) if you could block your thoughts from only one person, who would it be?
My boss! LOOL!
9) if you could choose between life on earth forever or going to heaven, which would you choose?
Heaven. The earth is too messed up for me.
10) when you die, what will your contribution to the world be?
My loyalty to my friends, my helping them out and the charity.
I know my answers seem really boring, and dull, but I am being honest.
Mansur
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