Syria's First Lady on Gaza

I got this link in an email a while ago, and thought of sharing it with whomever is interested!

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/01/10/perry.turkey.syria.first.lady.intv.cnn?iref=videosearch

Flying Afloat

YES I got the window seat, and on a night flight :D…I love night flights! So just in case you were wondering where I was for almost 2 hours of the flight, well there you go, I also take pictures on the plane. :P Hmm somehow no matter how good a holiday or visit away from home has been, there is always a little spark inside my heart on the thought of going back “home”, somewhere I am familiar with and where all my belongings and close ones are. So at this sight, and with some Enya/Era music playing through my headset, I made a little prayer thanking God for all that I’ve got. A moment, in which, I completely felt the presence of my inner peace and joy.

More D'Alep

Some more pictures of the part of Aleppo I am mostly around, basically the street by Grandma’s house that I walk through every day. The first two are of “Jame3 el ra7man” Al Rahman Mosque, I just have to type it in Arabic, it gives me a feel of how it is pronounced with an Aleppine accent :p every time you take a cabbie to grandma’s house, you would know that you are heading at the right direction when you pass it. I love looking at it while I am walking. Often, in front of it is busy; microbuses stop by and people are going in and out of the mosque. The pictures at the intersection are right after the mosque by “madresat el Franciscan” which is the Franciscan School, left on the picture, oh and it is also a church. This again is VERY old, when Syria was under the French mandate. Anyways so this again, once you’re there, then you’re in the right way to grandma’s house and it is close to Khalo Nabeeh’s house. I pass by this intersection all the time when I go walking to the internet café and to the dentist. I take the turn at the left. Oh and the picture has Aleppo’s famous yellow cabbies and the bus is part of its reformation in public transport services. :)

Some D'Alep

Part of a visit to Aleppo at Grandma’s house is conditioned with an outing with Nana and her groupie :) so yesterday morning, grandma told me that we are passing by Khale Bushra to go for a morning visit and I was happy to comply. Half way through the visit, I wondered out into the balcony and got a feel of the beautiful weather, it is around 8c here. The pictures below are the best I have of actual Aleppo. For those buildings, is exactly what everyone who visits Aleppo would tell you distinguishes it from the other provinces architecturally. Most of the buildings are around 50 or more years old and are made of big stone bricks. I love them. The narrow streets are a tribute of it being an old city, full of civilization and history. This is my Aleppo to you for now :)

            

Arriving to Aleppo Land

I have come to Aleppo, Syria, numerous times, yet I have never left a repertoire or a brief description of any of my visits. Even though I’ve been coming here quite often recently and within short intervals, every visit is always unique in its own way and always leaves me with different experiences, thoughts, and feelings, which really makes it a fun and interesting place to be. Also as many know, Syria and Aleppo is where I would like to say “my heart belongs” and what completes my identity, it is a land I love.

Well this time I didn't come for a vacation, but rather to see a dentist and hence did not come with any exquisite plans. In addition, having to pay for many expenses last month, I had to lessen my budget this time, therefore, not having the chance to do very much. I basically came here to just finish what’s needed and see grandma. So there is nothing particularly exciting here, just thought of sharing some of the things little things that happened with me.

Hmm well my flight here was a pleasant one, it was an early morning flight and I did not have much sleep the night before which you can say took care of 2 hours of the flight, leaving an hour and a bit for reading. Ah I guess after experiencing a 13hours flight, 3 hours is more than tolerable.

So the first thing I notice, as many other fellow Syrian friends would is the Aleppine accent :D and that’s when I know I reached. Long time ago, when I was much younger and only occasionally came to Syria, I would feel like I am in a new place/country, now I just feel like I am in my home land and it feels great!

Well ironically however, this time, 3 Emirati men were in flight and as soon as I stood in line at passport control, I could hear them chit chatting behind me. I tell you it felt wrong, for a moment I felt like I was back in U.A.E., what on earth were they doing here, although I knew it was a stupid question to be asking, I know how people from all around and especially the Gulf come to beloved Syria, I just wasn’t used to seeing them around with their costume and accent.

The next thing that happened was that the police men were “requesting” the people to stand in line and wait behind the red line on the floor until the person getting their passport stamped was done. YES I thought, there is hope, I was very proud. AND the police man would “kindly” ask them to stay within the line every time they came out of it. You see some people just need reminding.

So I was standing in line and this lady behind me kept grudging to the lady in front of me about 'why is the police man taking with the person at the cabin, getting their passport checked', and she kept on complaining. I just don’t understand why people are always in a rush, and the point of her rattling. Apparently there was something wrong with the man’s passport. Anyways and you will be happy to know that 2 women took my turn, they actually came from the line next to mine to the cabin I was waiting at. THE NERVE. I was mad and wanted to ask them to go back, but I just brushed it off, thinking they at least stood behind the red line, plus they were old, but I promised myself that the next time it happens I would tell them off.

I got to the cabin and the following routine has to happen; police man shuffles through my passport, asks me a couple of questions, jokes around, and finally lets me go :p I guess I only do need these scenarios to be assured I am in the right place :p

I have to tell you, the most thing I look forward to as soon as I get to Aleppo, is my exit from the airport doors to the bustling road outside. I get that vision or feeling that you see in movies where a big door suddenly opens to a scene of a bustling, busy city at daylight, filled with people and cabbies running about doing their thing. And so I had that moment, I took in a full gasp of Aleppo’s beautiful crispy morning and by the time I took my second step a cabbie man ushered me to a taxi and off to grandma’s I was.

As usual, I was welcomed by a healthy, loving and smiling grandma, telling me that the house got brighter with my arrival :D to which I was flattered! I tell you; even if I am not hungry, deep down I am always looking forward to the food she has prepared for me. What do you know there was Me7shi, nothing I can completely sucker up for than that.

And the following happens, we fill in each other with all that’s recent, basically which is mum and then mum and then mum :p lol and everyone else of course. Well just in case you’re curious, I did have a full fledged Aleppine meal and an extremely delicious one. There was salad, Molekhia, Frikae and Me7shi bel bergole and Laban :) ah yes I know…eat your heart out!! :D

Don't Ever Drink From Hotel Glasses

Got this link on a forward...

http://www.bestviral.com/video/6629/dont_ever_drink_from_hotel_glasses

I think it is very unethical for the hotel management to not implement or make sure that cleaning procedures are carried out in an appropriate manner. It not only is dangerous but makes you question the validity of "best quality service" you are paying for.

Not sure if we're better off not knowing...I know it'll make me too careful and paranoid the next time I go into a hotel, or do you think we should just try to believe that, maybe, some hotels are genuinely sincere with their serivice.

Generation Y peeps :p

People born between 1925 and 1945....Are called...

The Silent Generation

People born between 1946 and 1964...Are called....

The Baby Boomers

People born between 1965 and 1982...Are called....

Generation X.

People born after 1983....Are called....

Generation Y BUT......... Y

Why do we call the last group of people...Generation Y ?

I had no idea until I saw this caricaturist's explanation! A picture is worth a thousand words!

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Thought it was quite funny :p

Let it go..

Thought of sharing this. Whatever it is, it's important to remember and know when to let it go!

Let it go ...by T. D. Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk.

I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.

When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.

People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go.

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person, it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead.

You've got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye.

It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay. Let them go!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to ..LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains ... LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth... LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you ... LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge .. LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction .. LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents .. LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude... LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better... LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him... LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship..... LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves.. LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed .... LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying 'take your hands off of it,' then you need to... LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for 2009 !!! LET IT GO!!!

Get Right or Get Left .. think about it, and then LET IT GO!!!

Art on hands

I got those pictures from a forwarded email. Apparently some talented artist does this art on hands and then he takes their pictures for posterity...It really is amazing...I think it is even harder than drawing on paper..a lot of patience is required to make sure the intricate details on the skin come out properly...also for whoever is holding their hands like that. There is so much talent out there!

Unfortunately the email did not have the artist's name, which makes it easy to say that the photos are one of "photo shop's" wonders! :p I think I'd like to believe otherwise for now :)