The key to my escape is a simple smile

When I’m constantly shadowed by my stress triggering lifestyle it’s quite hard to reminisce on things that once made me smile. I’m a very simple person inside, very simple. Little things can make me enormously happy. The one thing that never fails me is the rays of the golden ball. My mood can instantly change from an awful to a cheerful and jolly one. Regardless of the process, all I know is that I need to move out of this country. Britain as much as it seems like everyone’s dream destination, a train away from Paris and a plane away from the rest of Europe; it’s not the case for me. I need sun, I need to escape from the 9 to 5 routine, I need to be free and enjoy what life got in store for me. But I will continue smiling in a hope that one day I will get what my heart, soul and mind desires.

Brain on standby!

I’m literally waiting for ideas to trickle down in my brain. I’ve been sitting here for more than 4 hours. I don’t have as many distractions as I would usually have. Here I’m in a big office with a cosy atmosphere. In less than 48 hours I’m required to present a presentation on role conflict in inter-professional healthcare. I have all the materials I need from scattered journals to text books. I even thought some food may stimulate my brain cells. But no LUCK! 

I’ve realised that I work best under immense pressure. It’s almost as if my brain cells are being squeezed like a lemon. I can promise you tomorrow, same time I will be furiously typing on my laptop. I wont even have a second to spare … I lied, maybe a second or two to tweet! : )  

 

I think I should get off now … wish me sleek mayhem tomorrow.  

The 3 musketeers’

Who? Yes, us the three musketeers. Moi, Hiba and Hanaa. Isn’t it so sweet to have friends who you share the same initial with?!

It was on the 4^th of Jan when Hanaa text me with “girls do you want to go to China Town on Thursday?”  I instantly texted back with “I’m on it. Sounds fantabloussssss!”… However I only realised after that the message wasn’t delivered. Such a mood killer but hey she got it afterwards. Guess what? I have been in London for nearly 10 years and I haven’t stepped a foot in China Town ever *gasps*.

Knowing that I went out the night before with the beautiful Sagal and Amal, I was guilt conscious about the time I’m spending on socialising. Mind you I have a long to-do-list for my university deadlines. But this was a must or else I won’t be part of the musketeers.

It was a cold, wet and gloomy day and anyone with their right mind would rather stay in the comfort of their own house. I battled my temptation to stay home and wrapped up with my newly bought jacket, I was wholly hugged by it. I caught the bus and luckily my commuting was smooth. Hiba & Hanaa were in their way to Piccadilly Circus to meet me there and as predicted they got there before me. I got of the bus and after several attempts to explain where I’m exactly I met them as they were wearing the prettiest smile in such weather.

I tweeted about my location and asked if there’re any recommendation as to where is best to eat and checkout in China Town, but it seemed not a lot of my London follower’s are familiar with this location. Except of course Miss WaAniga; who declared China Town as her favourite place.

In route to China Town we popped in Costa, I had to drink something hot. My feet were about to go numb in the so un-cosy wellington boots I bought recently. I feel guilty because I promised myself to not drink from branded café.

We’re in China Town and all I can smell is roasted or fried duck or I assumed it to be. It actually felt like I was a tourist in China. The place is dominated by restaurants I think the Chinese are foodies. Can you believe that everything is nearly written in Mandarin? Even HSBC Bank. Walaaaaaa! I even got myself their newspaper in hope to learn a word or two.

Checked many Chinese corner shops and we were fascinated by it. Of course as we roamed the area I snapped couple of photos and the iphoneography challenge was in mind. Here are couple photos!

Then it was about time we search for Halal Chinese restaurant. But we failed miserably. Quoting Hanaa ‘Omg I can’t believe this. We’re in cosmopolitan London and in China Town there are no Halal restaurants!!!’ .. We even asked the corner shop keeper if there is any and bless her, she pronounced halal like a Muslim!

So I suggested Vapiano. Don’t judge me it was only around the corner and I promised to take them one day. I guess I had to hit two birds with one stone. The experience was a great one and as usual I took more pics. Eeeeeek!

Amal and the birth of iphoneography

It was on the 4th of January when I and my friend Sagal aka Assiyya met the beautiful Amal from Canada. I had the pleasure to meet Amal through twitter and this was our first encounter. I got to know about Amal before and even had her on my flickr account but we've become a little close through twitter. I look forward to knowing her more!

Amal came to visit her family in London; so me and Sagal thought, this is the best opportunity to get together and have a hearty meeting. This is what happened exactly. We've decided to go to the one and only Vapiano, an Italian restaurant I was introduced to via Sagal and Shakur again through twitter and this was our second visit with Amal. Beautiful place with a captivating ambiance and of course the food is mouth-watering and yummy!

I think we've talked about everything and anything; it was a night full of food, laughter and great memory. Around 6ish Amal left us to commute back home. Till now I admire how she commuted alone in this big city. If this was me in Ottawa I doubt I would’ve had the guts to commute alone. I and Sagal decided to hang around in Oxford Circus and it was a must to take her to Momo's cafe. A place my friend Hanaa introduced me to last year, absolutely where you would want to sip a traditional North African mint tea in. Let me not forget about the aroma, oh dear, oh dear! The interior is amazing with a ceiling full of lanterns looking lamps.

 

The room is almost dim and the candle light shines on your face and masks your features with a golden glow. The seats are so soft and let you sink in comfortably. The tables are oak brown and big circler golden trays are placed on top of it to compliment the design. The background music is totally African, I even once heard Maryam Mursal's songs played and at the time I was furious because I thought they claimed it as North African artist. In fact Maryam is from the horn of Africa; specifically Somalia. Of course they didn't because in this visit they even had one of Fela Kuti's songs playing; you should've seen the big smile on Sagal's face. Totally in love with the guy!

After me and Sagal had a heart filing conversation we left Momo and made our way to the underground station and as we walked I couldn’t resist myself from capturing photographs with my Iphone 4. London looks best at night especially with wet floors due to rain which reflects the city's light amusingly. It was then when Sagal suggested that I join Leyla and Ahmed 365 days photography challenge. I wasn't too keen on a whole year round challenge since I don’t have the time and commitment it requires. But as usual Sagal knows how to make the hardest thing sound so easy to do. After a long bus ride contemplating I decided to join them and also threaten them *grins*. I mean you have to scar your competitors so that they keep in mind you're not an easy target *double grins*.

Now it has been 3 nights and the competition is heating. Everyone is producing a gobsmacking iphonegraphy and Mr Ahmed is raising the bar by adding a commentary with each photograph. All I know I need to step up my game. I'm against two passionate competitors and I'm not here to give up on what I'm fond of the most.

- ps: all photos are iphoneographed and edited!

My six senses!

I want to escape from reality, not because it’s a bitter one I’m living; no it’s not. I just want to live what I feel and feel what I live. I want to be lost in my wistful thoughts, to be transferred to a world of my own, where my soul smiles and my eyes shed the tears of happiness.

I often look into photographs which happened to complete my thoughts. Photographs which make me appreciate life and the little details it holds into dearly.

Colours activate my bliss receptors without a shadow of a doubt … I want to touch, smell, feel, hear the whole lot and do it all again in immense contentment.

 

I love it when I’m absolutely random; it makes me who I’m. I’m random!

I’m happy now or maybe pretending to be!



1-1-2011

I've never been a fan of odd numbers, here I'm starting a new year to what suppose to be arbitrary numbers & resolutions. I decided to not fool myself again and make a wishful thinking based on numbers. Yes, numbers is what makes us and what made something of us whether we like it or not. I guess it is a new way of thinking. I'm already contradicting myself. *shrugs*


On a positive note, I bought a new diary. For the sake of my studies and general life. I love it and this time it is a little too girly whirly. A bit too pinkish inside a little lovey dovey on the outside. I promise myself everyday that I will be more organised & this beautiful diary should kick start things for me; or so I hope!

It's true when they said keep a diary, and someday it'll keep you.

ps: this blog will follow suit.