Work

 As always, this will be a random post. But will revolve around me ranting talking about my work.

Have you ever looked at someone at your workplace and wondered... how is it possible that this person has not been fired!!! What is their contribution? How are they even existing here till now?

And similarly, you would have looked at someone and wondered why are they still here? they know so much and this place doesn't deserve someone this good.

The funny thing is that every workplace has these people. The first category of people are utterly useless. USELESS i tell you, and yet have survived for so soo long. Its frustrating honestly.

I was talking to myself about this and something that I mentioned really hit me. (Yes, I do that at times whenever I need an expert opinion). I mentioned that their "rizq" is written from this place and therefore it will come to them until it is written. It doesn't matter if they're too good for this place or if the place is too good for them. And that's so true isn't it. This explains why and how they've survived for so long. And that's sort of calming as well coz you stop thinking about it after that (well, maybe for a while until they do something to frustrate you).

That's it for now friends.

PS: Its kinda lonely int he comments box, so if anyone's visiting, it would be nice if you could comments as well ;)

Life

 Ajeeb mukaam par thehra hai qaafila zindagi ka

Sukoon dhoondne chale thay, neend bhi gawa baithay

That rings so true when you think about it. When you're young you feel like adults have it all. That's THE life. And so you can't wait to grow older and become an adult, thinking that that is what sukoon (peace) looks like.

Alas, and then you realize that that is definitely not the case. As they say, with great power comes great electricity bill responsibility. As you grow older, responsibilities pile up. You become part of the rat race and then there's no stopping.

Its only when you get hit with something like the pandemic, do you realize what life is about, what everything is all about.

The world, literally changed when COVID hit. I don't want to get into details because everyone experienced it, but now it feels like, we're slowly slipping back into the pre-COVID life. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, or if that is what "normal" is but it just feels different. I have begun to feel that we didn't learn anything from the pandemic. We're going back to our old selves. It might not be a bad thing but.. I don't know.

My mind is a scattered mess today. I thought posting would help me order my thoughts but I'm too distracted.

Take care people, until next time.

Oh My GOD!!!

I hope you read the title in Janice's voice because that's how I wrote it.

It's been 11 years since I last posted. Can't believe it. For a few years I had actually forgotten the password of this account. Got locked out of the email etc. etc. Even today, had to jump through quite a few hoops to gain back access to this.

Hmmm... Where to begin from. Well, starting from 2013 onwards till now: I'm married, have got kids and living the happy married life, alhumdolillah.

I think I got in touch on and off with blogger friends but haven't been in touch with anyone for sometime now.

I started and finished my master's degree. That was one awesome ride. Made friends who were at least 12-15 years younger than me. Felt young being around those young people. And they never made me feel old (not that I am old) :) )

What else, what else... Oh yes, COVID. I know we've all seen a lot about COVID during that time, but I think that period left a lasting impression on all of us. Some of us lost loved ones as well but I won't go there today.

I hope everyone is doing well and smiling. I do plan to post on and off, now that I have dusted off my typewriter :-P

Please take care everyone. And if you're one of the old readers, please do comment. it would mean a lot :)

Ramadan

Falling ill is one of the worst things that can happen to a person living alone in pardes (foreign country).

From our childhood we have seen that every kid gets special and extra attention when they fall ill. I guess that sort of gets saved in memory and we expect special/extra attention whenever we get sick. However, there is no one there to give you that attention when you're living alone :(

I have been unwell since the past few weeks. Had severe fever and cough and flu for about four days and it drained me of all energy. Had to stop fasting for a few days because was too weak. I'm much better now alhamdolillah but the cough hasn't left me. Plus there is this itch in my throat which is very annoying.

When I was young and would go to the doctor with my parents, they would ask all the questions about what can I eat, what to avoid etc. etc. Now, the doctor just stays silent, I stay silent. He asks what's wrong, I tell him. He prescribes the medicine and that's it. Transaction over. Feels so robotic. I hate going to the doctor and I only went this time because I could feel that I wasn't well.

Bought a thermometer, panadol etc. first time in my life. (Yeah yeah, I know I'm spoiled). Ghar main to (at home) these things are readily available in a drawer or fridge etc. You feel really homesick during this time.

Ramadan has started and has gone by really quickly as well. Today is already the 16th roza.

It is so hot here these days plus it's really tough on us who have a cooking disability (not willing nor able to cook). You wake up at 3 am, go out in the heat to a restaurant to have sehri. Similarly, since there is no one to make pakoray, chaat etc., you have to go and directly have dinner for iftar instead of all those Ramadan specific yummy treats (pakoray, samosay, cholay, fruit chaat, dahi baray, I should stop before I start drooling (oops too late) :P )

However, I am glad at how Ramadan is going. The cooking disability has been with me for a while now. I really should learn how to cook.( Can't really live on boiled eggs and tea.)

Hope all is well with all of you and Ramadan is going well.

Keep smiling and keep blogging :)

As salam u alaikum

It really has been a while. The last time I blogged was last Ramadan. Can't believe how quickly time passes.

I guess one post per year doesn't really qualify me to call myself a blogger. So I'll be just a random writer, writing whenever I feel like it or get time.

So much has happened since then. Hmm, where to start from.

The weather here is extremely hot these days. And along with that, there is a lot of humidity. You get drenched even if you stand outside for five minutes. The problem is that it is as cold inside (due to the air conditioning) as it is hot outside. As a result, yours truly now has a bad cold and cough. Please pray for me. I am always in need of prayers.


I turned 30 last year (yay). The big Three O. Doesn't seem like a major accomplishment I guess :) But alhamdolillah, I am grateful to Allah. We never think about this but despite all the bad things that we do, Allah still gives us so much freedom and leeway. I read somewhere that (start of a bad translation) don't be unhappy that Allah doesn't fulfill your wishes immediately instead, be thankful that He does not punish you immediately for your sins.



Ramadan, the holiest of months is upon us. I read somewhere that you should at least finish reading the whole Quran in Ramadan and then finish one more in between one Ramadan and the next. I am planning to do it in-sha-Allah. If you do too then please comment as it will encourage me and others to do so as well. (By others, I mean the non-existent readers ;) )

I guess this is about it for today. Will post again (soon in-sha-Allah).

Take care friends, keep smiling and keep blogging :)

Long time, no see

Muddat hui sayyad nay chora bhi to kia chora
Tab-e-parwaaz nahin, rah-e-chaman yaad nahin

I thought of blogging so tried to log in, then I realized that I have forgotten my password so went through the reset process. Two things reminded me of the shair mentioned above. The first one (not as important) was the realization that I haven\t blogged anything in a year. You get bust with other things and forget that you even have a blog. And then when you come back to check you discover that; One: you have forgotten your password and Two: you don't know what to write about or in fact how to write :(

The second and most important is about how you get sucked in by the activities of this world, your job, your life, your family, your friends etc. and get so busy that you forget the important stuff, you
forget that there is someone who had made allof this possible and you haven't thanked Him at all.

We get so busy with our life that most of us realize this too late that our main goal is to be successful not in this world but in the hereafter. And by the time we realize this, we don't even know what to do, where to begin.

Ramadan, the holiest of all months is upon us, please pray for all Muslims that may Allah forgive all our sins and keep us on the right path. Also, please pray for all non-Muslims that may Allah guide them to the right path.

That is all for today my friends, keep smiling and keep blogging :)

Hmmmm

It seriously seems like ages since I last updated. I hate this... this writer's block. I've just lost interest in reading and writing. It's been a while since I read a good book and as I said it's been quite a while now since I blogged.

Update on Life: Life is good alhamdolillah. Thanks to Allah, I am surrounded by nice people. Oh yes, that reminds me, Ramadan Mubarak to everyone. May Allah bestow His choicest blessing on you and your family and may you have a very blessed Ramadan, ameen. And if I don't see you then I wish you a very happy Eid as well. May each coming Eid bring you more and more happiness and prosperity, ameen :)

Anyways, can't think of much to write now. Oh yes, the weather here is very very very hot. I mean just walking to the restaurant at 3 a.m. in the morning was dreadful(Yes, I said 3 a.m. when the sun isn't up). I guess it was 40 or 50, even the AC there didnt seem to change anything. In case, you were wondering, I go to a restaurant nearby for sehri since I don't cook and cornflakes/oatmeal don't make a filling sehri (believe me, I've tried).

Take care everyone, keep smiling and keep blogging.

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Bachna aay haseenooo, loo main aagaya :P

Okay, I admit that the subject doesn't look (or sound) the way I wanted it to come out. However, I am sure it delivers the message, which is that I am back.

Wellll, one would then ask that was I gone before that I have come "back" now??

Anyways, life is going well alhamdolillah. I went to Pakistan a few weeks ago and it felt awesome. Although I went for ten days but time flew by so quickly that it felt as if I had just exited the airport and was now entering it again :(

Cricket fever is all over the place here with people cheering for their home teams. But I don't know why, I have lost all interest in the game. There was a time when I was crazy about cricket and you could ask me the latest score of any match happening at that time. But these days, I wouldn't even know who is playing whom.

Went to the Atlantis with colleagues last week and it was awesome. We talked, laughed and had a lot of fun. The food wasn't that great but we had a great time.

I just saw that my last post was on 16 December 2010!!! Seems like such a long time ago. It's just that I saw another blogger's blog just now and not only had the person updated but had also changed the template so that sort of made me make a post. I am thinking of changing the template as well, something green and white in line with 23 March, Pakistan Resolution Day :). Let's see, I'll update it if I get time.

Anyways, take care people, keep smiling and keep blogging :)

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Happy New Year :)

It seems like ages since I last updated my blog and I guess its time to dust off the keyboard and write something.

I’ll start with the weather. It is slowly getting cold here. I’ve stopped turning the AC on every night because then its freezing in the morning. Today morning, it was really cold, I don’t know after how many days I had to cover myself with my blanky (read blanket :P). Surprisingly, it doesn’t seem like winter when you go out. What I mean by that is everything is so green and colourful. The municipality have planted beautiful flowers on the side of the roads and they look so nice and lovely. It feels really nice to just sit outside and look at them :)

I went to Pakistan on Eid-ul-Azha. It was an awesome feeling :) I can not tell you how good it feels to be with your loved ones. A person can only know how I feel if they have lived away from their family and then go on to meet them. When I was leaving Pakistan, I had actually thought that I will come back in two or three years but then I missed my family so much that I just couldn’t resist and went for Eid and Eid-ul-Azha. The trip was really good and I enjoyed a lot. Met with old colleagues and friends, played loads of PS3, had long gup shups etc. This Eid-ul-Azha was also cool because I got the chance to talk to a new friend which felt really nice. Thank you for that :)

Overall, Thanks to Allah, life is good alhamdolillah. Dubai is an awesome place and something new happens here everyday. It seems like I just came to Dubai whereas it already has been quite a while. This year has just disappeared in to thin air, it flew by so quickly. (I know I say that every year but seriously, it does seem like it). It seems like yesterday was the first of Muharram of 1431 and already today is the 10th day of the new year 1432. Anyways, as they say, “zendagi migzara” :)

Take care friends, keep smiling and keep blogging :)


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Brrrrrrrr... :)

Oh yessss, winter has arrived in Dubai. Just a few days ago, it was really realllly foggy here and today morning I could feel a slight chill in the air. It is always so nice to walk in the morning (as in walk to the place where I have breakfast and then to the metro station, not walking walking :P). Which reminds me that I have to get a jacket and clothes for winter.

We take so many things for granted when we are at home, living with our family. You just open your cupboard and everything is right there. But when you live alone, it gets a bit tough. First and foremost is the problem of food. For someone like me (I once tried to boil an egg and it kinda got burnt), cooking is not an option. So you should live somewhere where you have many options for eating out or you get married :P. As you might have guessed, (NO, I didn’t get married) I live near a place from where I can get breakfast, lunch and dinner :)

And now following the weather (and life) update, we have an update on Lost Friends. No, no lost friends came back (I’m not that lucky!). In fact, I just lost another friend yesterday, a very special friend. And you wont believe how long this friendship lasted, barely three months!! That is one record that I am not at all proud of L. Hmmm, I’m beginning to think that it isn’t (always) their fault that ends friendships and (sometimes, maybe once or twice :P) it could me my fault too which ends our friendship. [Oh and this list also includes those friends whom I lost touch with because of changing schools, jobs, residence etc.]

Anyways, as hurt as I am, I know from experience that time heals all wounds and Zendagi Migzara, which means that “life goes on”, no matter what happens. To all the friends that I have lost, “May Allah give you all the happiness that you deserve and may all the tears that flow from your happiness be because of happiness, amen”. [Which roughly translates to: Jahan bhi raho, khush raho (apnay kharchay pay :P )]

Take care friends (& lost friends), keep smiling and keep blogging.

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Alhamdolillah :)

This post is just to say how thankful I am to Allah for everything. Allah has been there whenever I've called for Him and alhamdolillah life is good mashaAllah say.

I've made new friends ( one some of them is are quite stupid :P ) and have adjusted here alhamdolillah.

The weather here is slowly changing, it was quite foggy a few days ago and it gets cold at nights these days. So I guess winter is finally coming. I wish it snows as I've never seen it snow :)

Eid-ul-Azha is just a month away and I'm sure you can hear the ba'aa(s) and moos(s) of goats and cows in the streets of Karachi and coming from different houses :)

I went to Jumeirah Beach Hotel last week and the visit was awesome. It's an excellent hotel. It is also shaped like a sail like Burj-ul-Arab and is probably owned by the same group.

I'm planning to visit Wild Wadi before winter starts. Let's see :)

Anyways, I'll end this post with an odd question: "Have you ever had that feeling where you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming?" [And NO, I don't do drugs, I'm just high on LIFE! :) ]

Take care people, keep smiling and keep blogging :)

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In a hurry :)

In a hurry :)

Today I noticed that I was acting like the crowd here and was hurrying to the metro station and so on just like other people.

And now I realize why people do that, well at least why I did it today. I overslept and so to catch the metro and then the connecting bus, I had to almost run so that I didn't get late. So maybe people hurry because they have a lot on their hands or for people like me, they value their sleep a lot :P

Anyways, it's just been two weeks since I came back but it seems like such a long time and I'm already thinking if I can go for Eid-ul-Azha. Let's see.

The weather here is changing and it gets colder at nights. I hope it rains lots :)

Anyways, take care people, keep smiling and keep blogging :)


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28 & Alone :(

As salam u alaikum.

Ookay, as soon as read the title again, it seemed really desperate and pathetic :P So let me explain. I just turned 28 two days ago and I came back to Dubai yesterday. So I guess that explains the title now (and hopefully it looks less pathetic :P ). I think I should change it to "28, Single and ready to mingle" :P

My visit to Karachi was simply AWESOME!!! I am unable to explain it in words. And to add to the fun, it started raining as soon as I came out of Karachi airport. Alhamdolillah alhamdolillah it was great!!! I enjoyed a lot, caught up with family and friends, had a blast on my birthday and then came back here.

Last night, when I went to bed, it felt so strange. I felt as if I was lying down in someone else's bed even though I had slept in this bed for the past three months :s

Since Ramadan is over now and I am back, I am thinking of finally learning how to cook. I have to learn how to cook and stop eating from outside. I wonder if anyone will dare eat my cooking apart from me :P

I remember one time that I tried making a half fried egg. I had seen mom do it so often that it seemed like a piece of cake [ I guess that is a wrong example since I have no idea how to bake a cake :P ] So, I lit the stove, heated the frying pan, broke the egg and put it in. what I didn't do is that I didn't put in any oil and so what I made was called a black-burnt-egg-stuck-to-the-frying-pan. And since that was the first dish that I had ruined made so I ate it all and my stomach grumbled for hours after that :P

Anyways, that is it for now people. Take care, keep smiling and keep blogging :)


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Eid :)

Eid woh Eid nahin jiss main teri deed nahin
Deed woh deed nahin , jiss main tu qareeb nahin

*deed means to see someone in person or a picture

It is Eid in Dubai but I wouldn't know because...

I

AM

IN

KARACHI!!!!! :D


Yes, I'm in Karachi and it is an awesome, awesome feeling :)

Eid ka maza to apnoo k saath hi hota hay and so here I am with my family. Pakistan is celebrating Eid tomorrow and this is one Eid that I am sure I will not forget :)

I landed in Karachi yesterday, as soon as I got out of the airport I knelt down and kissed my homeland [I had to stand up quickly and spit the sand out but it was worth it :P]. Karachi has never looked so beautiful. The pollution emitting vehicles, the traffic jams, the crowded buses; everything looks so awesome :)

I haven't stopped smiling ever since I've landed in Karachi :) And the best thing is that as soon as I exited the airport, it started raining and it has been raining on and off ever since. Can you believe it!!! I love my family, I love the rain, I love my bed, I love my pillow, I love Karachi!!!

I am too overwhelmed at the moment to say much. It seems like I just came to Karachi but it already has been one day :'(

Take lotsa care friends, have a wonderful and blessed Eid. May Allah shower his blessings upon us and accept all our prayers, ameen.


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A Ship in the harbor is safe.. But that is not what ships are made for :)

Before I come to the subject of the post, let me just say that our mind works in mysterious (and wonderful) ways (well.. atleast mine does).

I make connections with things that I see/hear to things that I've seen/heard before in such an odd way that it sometimes surprises me.

Last night I discovered that the Dubai Creek is not far away form where I live (yes I am still exploring) so I went there and the sea had an amazing calming effect on me. I opted to take the boat ride instead of catching a bus or metro to go to the other side of the sea (now you know why I have that subject, somehow my mind made the connection of a boat with that quote). It just cost one dirham but the experience was worth a thousand. There I was sitting in this little boat, slowly taking hitch-kolay (couldn't find a better word in English) in the sea. There was a slight breeze and the water had a slight current as well so even when the engine was off, it was nice to just sit in that rocking boat.

It seemed as if the sea was calling me, whispering to me to come in to its arms, let go of all my worries and just slide in to the warm calming water (I know it sounds scary and suicidal but trust me the thought never crossed my mind). I have always loved the sea and I was glad that yesterday I went there. I just sat in the rocking boat and looked at the water. Believe me, it was very thera-pathetic therapeutic.

My friend's roommate is going to Pakistan on Eid and he wanted to go buy stuff for his wife and daughter (Don't be surprised, he's 50+ and my friend's uncle as well as his roommate). The thing I hate about going shopping with people is when they ask you "Yaar, yeh kaisa lug raha hay" while holding up a female suit. I mean come on people, I've never shopped for females. I only found out yesterday that there are three piece suits for ladies as well (which, by the way. is the qameez, shalwar and dupatta. And yes, I had only heard of men's three piece suits before that :P)

[I know this is turning out to be another random post but kia karsaktay hain :P. Also the below will make little sense to almost everyone so you can close the browser window/tab now if you want :)]

Oh yes, I wanted to thank this new friend that I've made. This person made my last week memorable and gave me many reasons to smile/laugh about [which always makes me grateful :)]. I learned things from this person and this perosn made me look at things in a new light [NO!, this person did not give me a torch to look at things in a new light :P]. Thank YOU for everything. I am sure that 40-50 years down the road I might forget you but I will most certainly never forget (some of) your dialogues and two of my favourite quotes, "Apna khayal rakhna" and "Brush kar kay soona [changed due to obvious reasons :P]"

[If you people are still reading and haven't listened to what I said (as usual :P) then please continue]

It is the 25th of Ramadan here. I can't believe that this blessed month is passing so quickly. It seems yesterday that I was thinking that there are just 4-5 days for Ramadan to start; and now it's just 4-5 days to Eid. I have no idea what I will do for Eid this year. [Pata nahin siwaiyaan milain gi ya nahin :( ]

Anyways, take lotsa care people. Keep smiling and keep blogging :)

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Another random post

Ramadan is passing so quickly that its simply unbelievable. It's the 21st of Ramadan here today and Eid is just around the corner.

I would go out with friends as Eid came near, to look for what to wear on Eid, get new chappals (slippers) [but wear old ones to the Eid prayer as someone stole my new ones once :( ], eat out loads, raid all the all you can eat buffets until they would put up our pictures on the door saying that we weren't allowed because we ate so much :P

And Eid day is always special. *sigh [Pata nahin kyun yahan ki har cheez say mujhay apnay watan ki yaad aati hay :S ]

Anyways, today was a bad day for kids on the Metro (and maybe for me too). And I say that because of two things that happened on the Metro today. Firstly, I was sitting on this large seat that seats six to seven people [well.. it would seat just 5 people if all of them were like me :P] and they were all part of one (big) family. One of the lady had a small baby boy (maybe an year, year and a half old) in her lap. Suddenly this really bad smell filled the cabin and I was sure the kid had pooped. The lady thought the same thing and you wouldn't believe it but an actual poop check started to happen. First she smelled the kid's bottom, then she passed the kid to the person next to her and she did the check, who passed it to the guy next to her and he actually put his hand in the poor baby's pajamas. Gosh!!!, can you imagine how embarassed the kid would be feeling at that time. I'm glad they didn't pass the kid to me to check :P Anyways, it remained a mystery as to the kid had really done it or not because the family got off before they (and myself) could find out.

The second incident, which I'm sure many of you have faced, was of a crying baby. His voice was worse than "screeching nails on a blackboard". And the parent was least concerned. I felt like banging my head on the door, or breaking the window and jumping out. And the worst part is that the kid would quieten up every once in a while but then start off again with even more enthusiasm :(. It was as if he enjoyed torturing us with his crying voice. Kids have become such sadists these days.

I remember when I was a kid [not that I'm not one right now (yeah right, with my twenty-ish ;) birthday in two weeks)], I was such a shy, quiet and innocent kid (just as I am now :P )

Anyways, this afternoon's train ride was quite errmmm, interesting. I like travelling in the metro or buses just because of these interesting human interactions :)

Take care people, keep smiling and keep blogging :)

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To Old Friends and New

I remember the names of my first friends. I probably made them when I was five or six years old. I don't remember their faces but remember their names. I lost touch with them when we moved from there.

The next memory that I have is when I was in Class 1, then its of Class 3, then Class 5 and then Class 8. I lost a lot of friends after Class 8 since half of our class went on to do Matriculation and the rest of us went on to do O Levels. The three years of O Levels are some of the best of my life. We enjoyed, we studied and we had a lot of masti. Those years were really good and I still miss those times and those friends.

After that I made friends in my university and we had good fun times in those years. Once I started working, I lost contact with those friends as well.

After that, my friends changed when my job changed. I made excellent friends while working and I will miss them no matter where I go. even this blog has given me some great friends whom I miss.

There are friends who left, sometimes because of my stupidities and sometimes because of their own ( :P ). and there are some who have chosen to stay and tolerate me (read bask in my awesomeness :P)

This post is dedicated to all those friends. These people gave me their time, they would listen to me when I wanted to talk, they would cheer me up when I was down and they would definitely bring me back to the ground when I started to fly too high :P

To all my friends, old and new, people who are still a part of my life and people who 'were' a part of my life: All of you have contributed to what I am today [good or bad :P (yes, ofcourse, I blame you people for it :P)]. I miss you all.

I end this post with a saying of Hazrat Ali (RA): "Unfortunate is the one who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunate is the one who has gained them and then lost them (Through his deeds)".

Take care friends, keep smiling and keep blogging.


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Ramadan Kareem and Happy Independence Day :)

The holy month of Ramadan is upon us. A month to ask forgiveness and to do as many good deeds as we can as it is a very rewarding month.

This would be my second Ramadan away from home. Last year I was in Mianwali for about 15 days of Ramadan and this year I am not even in the same country. I know that I will badly miss ammi kay haath kay aloo kay pakoray, fruit chaats, podeenay ki chutney and see-wai-yaan (mouth starts watering :P) but what to do. Maybe this year,for a change, I will lose weight in Ramadan (yeah right! :P)

May I request everyone to take care of their health, keep their anger in check and pray for me during the month of Ramadan :)

Moving on to Independence Day (it really was a nice movie & I think Will Smith acted well in it :P, kidding). It does not quite seem like the month that marks our Independence Day over here. There aren't any stalls beside the road selling flags and badges. Houses aren't decorated with Pakistani flags, no jhandiyaan on the electricity poles [Infact, there aren't any electricity poles here!! and yet the electricity situation is excellent] I brought a shirt from Pakistan with me specially for 14 August. It has Pakistan's flag on it. [Well.. it also says celebrate Independence with KFC, I got it from KFC last year when I ordered a large zinger combo WOW meal (mouth starts watering again) in August 2009 :P]

Pakistan is going through very trying times these days. The flood has already claimed 1500 lives and God knows how much more destruction it will bring. Apart from that, there recently were killings in Karachi and I think around 80 people were killed in that. Also, there are the power cuts, inflation and shortage of stuff as Ramadan nears. This one thing I could never understand. I've heard that most countries lower prices when their religious festivals come near but Pakistan always seems to increase the prices whenever Ramadan arrives :(

Therefore, may I request all of you to take some time out and pray for our beloved country Pakistan. In Pakistan, we are all Pakistanis but you realize what it means to be a Pakistani, when you leave Pakistan. You realize the things that you have always taken for granted when you are in your own country.

As they say, "Ask not what you country has done for you [Ask what's for lunch :P], Ask what you have done for your country". So let us be good Muslims and good patriots in this month and become better as time passes. I am sure that one day you will be telling your kids stories about how you lived with no electricity, water and still loved Pakistan (and your kids will ask you "what is electricity??" :P )

That's it for today. Keep smiling and keep blogging people.

Ramadan mubarak to all of you :)

Pakistan Zindabad!! :)

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I love…

The single thing about Dubai that I love the most right now is the call for prayers, Azaan. You know what, you hear Azaan on television with the Arabic accent and it doesn't effect you much. Well, it didn't effect me as much as hearing it live. You're sitting in the mosque and then you hear the Azaan with this beautiful Arabic accent. To tell you the truth, the first time I heard it, it brought tears to my eyes. And even this Friday, when I heard it, it was enough to give me goose bumps. It truly is a sensational feeling. The effect is so awing and so refreshing. Hayya As Salat, Hayya As Salat = Aao Namaz ki taraf, aao Namaz ki taraf.   It's a heavenly feeling. Alhamdolillah, I'm thankful to Allah for blessing me with this.   Make it a habit to pray five times a day. Who knows that you might be hearing the voice of Azaan for the last time?   Please pray for me friends that I get to listen the Azaan in Mecca, that I perform Hajj soon inshaAllah, ameen :)   Take care friends, keep smiling and keep blogging.   .

High life in Dubai

Can't believe that already a month has passed since I left my beloved city Karachi. However, for some reason I did not feel sad, neither did I feel excited. It was as if I was numb, don't know why though. Haven't figured it out yet.   So I landed in Dubai on in end of May. I had already asked a friend to pick me from the airport. Dubai's airport is huge. There seem to be a lot of terminals. You could easily get lost there :p So my friend picked me up and we caught a taxi to go to Sharjah where he lived. It took us 2.5 hours to get there!!! And then I realized that that is how long it usually takes in rush hour to get from Dubai to Sharjah. I lived with my friend for 2-3 weeks, until I could find a place of my own and you wouldn't believe what my timetable was there. I woke up at 0400hrs (yes that means 4:00 a.m. in the morning!!). I mean even the birds hadn't woken up till then :p Would get ready to catch the bus at 0530hrs. It was a pleasant 5-7 minute walk from the house to the bus stop. (OF course it was pleasant, what do you expect the weather to be like at 0530hrs?? :p) (Its so surprising that buses don't stop wherever you want, just like they did back home, it was so convenient back home :p). Took the bus to the Rashidiya metro station. [Metro is the local train in Dubai (Lolzz, it seem so odd to call it a local train because karachi's local train comes to mind :p)] That is in Dubai and that is where the metro line starts. So I caught that train to my destination station, which took around an hour and I reached office by 0800hrs. Had breakfast and then started work by 0900hrs. (Noo, I do not eat for an HOUR!!. I just sat there looking around for the rest of the time :p) The ride back was the same, first the metro to Rashidiya and then a bus to Sharjah. Reached home by 2100hrs (Yes, that means 9:00 p.m. at night :( ). And was too tired to do anything so went to sleep.   But now by the grace of Allah, I have shifted to Dubai alhamdolillah. Wake up at 0630hrs, leave home by 0715, walk 7-10 mins to the metro station, catch the metro and reach office by 0800. Have breakfast, start work at 0900hrs and I'm home by 1800hrs. Have been reading a lot these days since I have so much time on my hands. Read a few books of Ludlum and now a colleague has given me Ken Follett books which are quite good. I'm trying to find a place to learn swimming as that is something I have always wanted to do. Let me know if anyone of you know of such a place in Dubai.   Life here is very fast and people have no time on their hands. So if you see a (not so) young guy, taking his time to stroll on the metro station or on the streets (looking as if he has nothing else to do :p), then you can be sure that it's me because I have not seen anyone else who walks slower than me :p (By the way , I walk slow because I want to, not because I have to).   That's it for today friends, I guess I might blog more since I have so much time on my hands but cant blog from home because don't have a lappy (read laptop) at home yet, planning to buy one, probably in August, lets see.   Take lotsa care, keep smiling and keep blogging :)   .