I've been interested in photography for as long as I can remember. It started with an obsession of a camera phone (I had a 8 megapixels Samsung) with which I snapped anything small that came my way. I'm now happy to own a Nikon D5200 and whenever this pharmacist gets time outside her science world you'll see her, One hand on camera, one hand on the zoom lens, zooming in and out and trying to get some good photos. Here's some of my work- I only try!

Dubai Trip October 2013 :-)

White Royalty on the Dubai Creek

The Dubai Museum

Burj Khalifa emerges in the distance- view from the Evening Sonata

A Small Abra (Water Taxi) floating on the Dubai Creek

Sunset on the Dunes 

Love at Sunset Sight - Desert Safari <3 p="">

Canopies of Arabian Setting

The tallest structure in the world- The glitter of the Burj Khalifa

Dancing to the music -The Dubai Fountains

Watch this space for more! And feedback is always welcome :)

Ramadhan- The Month of Reformation...

It is that time of the lunar calendar

Where a guest has come knocking on your door

Its up to you to take advantage of it before it's all over

So why don't you allow your good deeds to soar?

A guest so special that gives rather than takes

An opportunity to earn more without doubt

A guest that gives you the spring in your feet

Then what are you complaining about?

Shahr Ramadhan is your special guest 

And you're fortunate it has come around for you again this year

A month which has nights better than a thousand nights

So do you take advantage of the Laylatul Qadr?

A month that bursts with liveliness

And gives you thousands of moments of reflection

Upon all the blessings that are showered on you

But do you see it from that perception?

You represent a muslim community

So wherever you go you will surely be asked

Of how you can cope without food and drink

So do you succumb to the question and let it's true definition be masked?

This month is not limited to food and drink

And to socials and gatherings and meetings

Instead the wider objective is to deeply think

About the life of the less fortunate with nearly nothing

Think about the people of Syria and  Palestine

And Africa and Pakistan and various countries 

Who have gone for days on an empty stomach

And even if they get water it's filled with debris

Can you imagine what they go through on a daily basis?

Every country has its own challenges for the fast

For some it's the heat during the fast, and for some it's the length

Agreed, fasting is not easy and no doubt that is a fact

Because if it were, then how would you appreciate your bounties' strength?

So welcome this guest with open arms

And hold onto it tight before it slips away

Seek from it a better you that reflects and appreciates

And make your guest have a pleasant stay

And when this special guest departs when you sight the crescent

Have a tear in your eye upon its leave

But as a farewell gift fill up bags of good deeds to give away

And in Jannah (Paradise) a place you will receive

Ramadhan Mubarak :-)

Live well. Love much. Laugh Often.

Live for yourself, they say

do the things that please you

Easily said than done, you may think

But time to find a new you

It's funny how one morning you get up,

And get overtaken by a sudden positivity

And life has taught me something special

Only until more recently

I wonder sometimes how we let go of the present

and think about things so unreal

I wonder sometimes how we wonder what the world thinks

and to them what does or doesn't appeal

They say people find varied topics of interest

to converse over as they let their time pass

So today it might be you...tomorrow it'll be another

you surely won't be their topic to forever last

Besides the world seldom tells you the truth on your face

then why do you want to go around pleasing them?

Do the things that make you happy

And treat yourself like a rare gem

Remember, you live your life just once

So it's your only shot at pampering yourself

Love yourself more than anyone else does

Spread joy around you and make peace with your inner self

See life through the eyes you want to see

And that, is the key to happiness

Don't be forced to look in the world's line of vision

And that, is the key to success

So all the keys are really in your hands

Don't go around complaining about a change of locks

Live well, love much, laugh often

because in all honesty, life rocks! :D

Happy Living people!

Rumi Time!

“If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?”

“You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”

“What you seek is seeking you.”

“Knock, And He'll open the door

Vanish, And He'll make you shine like the sun

Fall, And He'll raise you to the heavens

Become nothing, And He'll turn you into everything.”

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

“A thousand half-loves must be forsaken to take one whole heart home.”

“Be like melting snow -- wash yourself of yourself.”

“They say there is a doorway from heart to heart, but what is the use of a door when there are no walls?”

“When you feel a peaceful joy, that's when you are near truth.”

“You think because you understand 'one' you must also understand 'two', because one and one make two. But you must also understand 'and'.”

“The truth was a mirror in the hands of God. It fell, and broke into pieces. Everybody took a piece of it, and they looked at it and thought they had the truth.”

رومی

-Rumi

Thoughts in moments of despair...

*I came across a song with beautiful lyrics the other day, and I thought to myself that after quite sometime here were some meaningful, intense lyrics with alot of depth to them. Enjoy the lyrics below.*

After separating me away from my dreams

I wonder where God is

I dont even know when I became a stranger to myself it seems

How do I live when wandering my soul is.

Why do my paths question, 'where's the destination?'

the paths of the heart are such that there is no destination

search for me i live sumwhere around lost

My heart is elsewhere

and life is elsewhere

My breaths are there then why am I not alive

my fate is scattered everywhere and flowing like sand

Out of my hands

how then can I write a new story,

when all I can see is just despair.

But the paths I chose were my own decision

then why am I still dissatisfied

It beats me that what mistake have I made

to experience such a life

the few lines on the forehead are what the world is about

They tell me, as I wipe away my tears,

they tell me that God's plan is not to be wiped

The paths of the heart are such that there is no destination

search for me I live sumwhere around lost

My heart is elsewhere

and life is elsewhere

My breaths are there then why am I not alive

Why should I be awake while someone else gets the chance to dream

Why is my God watching yet nothing seems to be happening

Then tell me, Why should I be awake while someone else gets the chance to dream

Tell me, Why should I be awake.....

Home is where the heart lies...

How wonderful this place is, where do I begin

A sense of peace deep down from within

An abode that is like no other

A destination filled with wonder

A smile spreads across the face

When you remember fond memories of this place

Some say the heart lies here

Indeed remembering it also makes you shed a tear

When we're away from it for too long

We realise its value more and know where we belong

And on quiet nights like this one tonight

Closing our eyes we bring it in sight

And imagine that we're sitting right there

amidst the warmth & love of family everywhere

and there's this sudden rush of protection that surrounds

with familiar voices and hustle bustle and sounds

How we miss home we all question time and time again

By staying so far from it, what do we attain

A difficult call, but there's no gain in dismay

And in the hope of a better future we continue this way

How wonderful home is, what do I say

A glimpse of it would make our day

Home is indeed an abode like no other,

And truly a destination filled with awe & wonder.

Some nice words...(I wish they were mine!)

Nothing like home!

I have recently been missing home alot, the good food, the atmosphere, and most of all the people. Then I came across some beautiful words on Kenya and I thought nothing better than to blog it, hence the post below ! :-)

Once upon a time God took the world's most beautiful holiday destinations

He took the greatest game on earth and put it to roam freely in 59 game parks

He took the world's most romantic beaches washed by an ocean that teams with

life

He took the mountains and the valleys, the lakes and the hills

and turned them into a sporting paradise

He took the world's most welcoming people and spread them across 42 different

cultures

then God rolled all these into ONE beautiful country, and called it

KENYA :-)

Kenya, experience a different SAFARI everyday! :)

And Life Goes On....

Nearing another birthday, I'm getting a lil freaked out that time's flying and I'm growing old. I remember a friend mentioning once, that when you hit 20, u know a third of your life is over! Sad ...but a fact. So reaching 23, I'm looking back at the 22nd year of my life and realising that time has really flown at concorde speed! Nevertheless I'm thankful to God, for blessing me with yet another peaceful year.

I'm just reflecting over the previous year and thinking of where I was and where I am now, and what difference this year has made to my life. My 22nd year has been eventful...from achieving a profession to developing new relationships. It has been a year filled with changes. From life as a student to life as a professional. A massive change indeed! It's true when people say that working life is different. It just makes you appreciate all the chances you had to snooze in lectures at uni. In contrast, snoozing even a lil bit now comes with its own consequences and responsibilities. Sometimes I wish I could go back to it, even with the exams ( I know I'm probably only saying that for now, in real sense I mean Uni life minus exams!)...But life goes on and dwelling in what has already passed doesn't help. Instead it's best to add it to my experiences' list and move on.

It's funny how some rules are just made to stay. Like life goes on. Like Time flies. Wouldn't it be cool if life could be paused where you like and lovely times could go slowly (you can tell from this sad thought that I'm really freaked out to turn another year older lol). Time is flying so I thought that I'd reflect over my 22nd year and make a list of all the things that I want to remember from it, and also things that I don't want to remember from it. So that's what I'm going to do now before I'm off to bed. It might just make me feel that time didn't really fly as I count the moments. Or if nothing else, I'm sure it will be something that brings a smile to my face a couple of years down the line when I'm in one of those reminiscing moods.

Oh yea and Time flies...it sure does! Life goes on...it sure does! It's just about finding the joy in pocketing those experiences and savouring those moments! God willing, my 23rd year of life turns out to be a year of learning, personal development and peace.

Happy living people! :) After all, the meaning of life is what you want it to be.

Life is about contrasts

Ever wondered how something means one thing, and it's equally its opposite meaning too?

Like a long break can still be short
A silly joke can still be witty

A happy occasion can still be sad
An annoying event can still be funny
A lost friend can still be as good as never lost
A tiring journey can still be fun

A reality can still be a dream
A freaky coincidence can still be nice
An unexpected comeback can still be expected
A forgotten figure can still be remembered
A dark room can still be lit as your eyes adjust

An old season can still be new

A decision to not intervene can still be an intervention
A silent conversation can still say alot
An audience who listens can still be oblivious to your real message

Isn't it wonderful how our grey matter does the thinking? The fact that we can contrast things allows us to carry out an analysis of extremes and then make the 'true' decision for ourselves. Therefore, there is one thing that has just one meaning : The Truth. You cannot lie about something and still be saying the truth. So if there is one person who can be honest with yourself its YOU. So long as YOU know what the truth is, based on this YOU can make the decision and justify yourself...and the world will listen.

Happy Honesty Day!*

And since life is about contrasts, this post is 4 days late and it can still be 361 days early!

*M. Hirsh Goldberg founded National Honesty Day in the early 1990′s and established April 30th as the day, in order to end the month “on a higher moral note” since we start the month with April Fool’s Day, a day of spoofs and lying.

All over a Cuppa Coffee...

Of the several things I like
From watching a movie to riding a bike
There's one thing that has always been fun
And that's a cuppa coffee with a friend even though there's not much done

I guess everything has its own time and mood
Sometimes its good music, sometimes good food
Or more happening outings like visiting a new place
Or equally, sipping on refreshing coffee whilst conversing with a familiar face

My coffee meet ups have always been interesting
They range from light hearted talk and reminiscing
To some serious, intense issues and life's mysteries
and even though the cuppa coffee's over, this isn't true for the stories

I'm sure I have upp'd the coffee houses' sales,
But in return I've acknowledged the beauty of telling tales
And by that I don't mean small talk or gossip
Although some of the latter is allowed, with every odd, alternative sip

I have gotten to know people by allowing them to speak
By letting them express themselves and talking about their week
And it slowly becomes a dialogue after I've done my listening
where we share opinions and the conversation continues rolling

And, without saying much, there has to be something funny to see
Funky music or talking over the vacuum's noise, or a couple spilling their coffee
Amidst the talks the uncontrollable laughter sweeps in
Making this another memory to blame on the coffee spin

So whether its sharing life's experiences and encounters
And relating to the lives of one another
And in the process getting myself to better understand 'Me'
It's all worth over a cuppa coffee...

It's Complicated!

Avoid trying to dazzle your audience with impressive looking equations or complicated lines of reasoning!

In search for being different
and being the exceptional one
We sometimes forget ourselves
and try to be the other person

It's true that the world judges you
and majority go by first impressions
But that doesn't mean you need to
put on a mask to hide your expressions

You are who you are
live up to it and don't feel ashamed
It doesn't matter what the world thinks
just don't go around being blamed

Being yourself will be easy
as you don't have to keep remembering
When to act or be yourself
and things will be smoothly flowing

At times what happens with us
is that we complicate matters for ourselves
We find that the world is at a such a speed
that no-one will remember a norm self

We strive to be people we are not
we want the good of both sides
We want to be the ones who win
but we cannot change our insides

In doing so, the essence
of diversity is sadly lost
A meaningless effort to impress only lasts
for as long as you can keep your fingers crossed!

So be the person you were born to be
and don't complicate things people
Your time is limited so don't waste your entire life
instead keep things Sweet & Simple...:-)

Looking for a place...

As the flurries float in the air

And settle lightly on the ground

I stick my hand out through the window

It feels so magical, without any background sound

By now the green grass is covered

And the earth sleeps beneath a blanket of snow

The air is fresh and silent

With nature's beauty at its peak flow

I absorb the view slowly

And the child inside me smiles

I like such moments to be honest

Where one gets to look outside their busy lifestyles

A pigeon lands on a disant tree

But quickly flies away

I think to myself it must be cold

For otherwise it would stay

It flies to the top and repeats its action

Realising the tree is the same everywhere

But this time it's determined to make its place

And doesn't leave in despair

It cleverly scrapes off abit of snow

And then some more with its feet

And once it has made its own space of comfort

I know it hasn't accepted defeat

So you might think I'm abit tipsy

Analysing a bird's doings

I have to admit when I thought of all this

Even I was assured I could do with some reality meetings

But what I realised was thankfully sane

And I felt quite philosophical

I found myself putting pieces together

To make everything seem logical

And I understood that the pigeon had left me

With a vital lesson to learn from

A place doesn't exist on its own in a difficult surrounding

We need to make our own room therefrom

It applies to life and its downs

Where sometimes we're forced outside our comfort zone

It's up to us to blend in and adjust

By taking an action to combat being thrown

Okay...I also know flurries may not be that exciting for some

But let's create our own magic

Life's too short to rely on just big things

To make it ecstatic or tragic

So the point is appreciation can start

At a very tiny moment in your life

It's your positive outlook on things that matters

And life will seem less of a strife...

The Sunset

It has seen you staring back at it
It has seen you struck in awe
It has seen you get excited and your face lit
It has seen you shift your gaze from high to low

It gives an inner tranquility
It signifies moments of love
It speaks utter volumes with its beauty
About the creativity of the One above

You have seen people point at it
Admiring it's elegance with a smile
You have seen couples hold hands while watching it
It's warmth making their relationship travel that extra mile

The calm blue sky & the white clouds make way
For a powerful fiery form to stand out
It just looks such a pretty mix of colours that stay
For as long as I can admire without any doubt

After a long day at work I instantly know
There couldn't have been a better moment in the day
The pure satisfaction I achieved from where I saw
And the appreciation of the end of another day

Wherever you see it from, as far as your vision will reach
You will, like me, be left to silently ponder
Whether it’s from the end of a road or the shore of a beach
Why don't I see the sunset more often? -I wonder

My Bus Journeys

So I realized it’s been long

Since I synthesised a poem of my own

Thinking of a subject this came to mind

Where buses r the object coz there was nothing else I could find!

But my bus journeys r entertaining, so this should be a good read I hope

For both me n you when we're procrastinating, so lets begin: at the bus stop

You know the feeling when a bus is coming, and you think 'Oh finally it's here!'

Just to realize that it won’t be stopping, it’s too packed- no room for us- our biggest fear

So standing in the cold in the morning, we wait for the next bus to arrive

And although '10 minutes' on the screen is flashing, its funny how everyone throws glances at the screen literally after only counting five

And when the next bus can be seen from a distance, everyone reluctantly edges forward

And a queue-ish like thing is made with some resistance as everyone's secretly chanting one 4 letter word.

Stop!...but this one also goes past whizzing, and someone tries so hard to run behind it to bang with a pole!

Though I'm getting late, I can't help but find it amusing, at how everyone's expression changes: from hope to 'what the hell!' on the whole

So now let's say we finally get on board, allow me to narrate what I've witnessed during the journey

For every time I commute there's always something to add to the record, be it about someone else or about myself, there's always something funny

I've sat next to a lady who had nothing much to say, but instead started singing aloud

And when the whole bus looked my way, I wasn't sure if I should have felt proud?!?

I've sat next to someone who slipped into deep slumber, and fell asleep in the evening traffic

And I had to wake him up which took forever, as my stop was next-what an annoyingly funny freak!

And then there was this one time when a man who was switching seats at every stop, lost his balance

And whacked me with his walking stick real hard on my leg, a rare incidence (thank god!)

And another lady who wasn’t holding the pole tight enough and this one deserves claps

For as the bus turned a corner she swung around and sat straight on a man's laps!

A friend of mine once grabbed a lady's hair in an attempt to reflexly hold the pole

And she shot us a horrible look , as if by what she'd done we were having a ball

Another friend went flying to the front with her head landing on someone’s shoulder

And someone banged his head while going to the front coz the bus jerked, and hand in hand was a toddler!

Speaking of everyone having their imbalances, I’ve had my bad days as well

Where I missed the bus step and straight on my knees I fell

Reflexly to save myself I put my hands in the air

And managed to instead push a security guard who gave me a long stare!

I didn't know what to do for as much as I was embarrassed, I had this sudden urge to laugh

But funnily no one around me found it funny enough

So I quickly apologised and headed to a seat behind

Where I could hide my face away and finish off all the laughter that I could find

But every time I tried to stop, my brain hit replay

And the whole scene would come up again, my laughter would not stay at bay

And I still manage to crack up , as I write all of this today

Bus journeys are entertaining despite all the 'delay!'

A long day multiplied by no sleep at 2 AM equals the product below...

It was nearly two in the afternoon. I was getting paranoid. I didn’t know what would happen when I’d see you. I just wanted this meeting to be over as soon as possible. After this, indeed would come my freedom.

I was seated on my own at a table in the corner when I saw you. You had your back towards me and I did not dare touch you. But nevertheless I kept looking at you wondering what you had in store for me today.

When finally I turned you towards me I was shocked. You looked a lot more different than what I had expected. You were much taller than what I was told and not at all what I was hoping for. Immediately I knew that this wasn’t going to be a good time.

You couldn’t talk to me and I didn’t feel like telling you anything. Still, you wanted me to answer your questions- the answers to which I had not. That’s because you asked me to explain certain things that I had never thought would be relevant for this day. Why did you do this? I was so prepared to tell you all that I thought but you never gave me a chance. You really were different. If only I would have been informed.

You weren’t fair even one bit. Surely this meeting couldn’t have been any worse? I sat there for one and a half hour trying hard to figure you out and I think you clearly enjoyed seeing me in this frustrated state, for every question that you asked, was progressively worse than the previous. To top it up, you knew that I wasn’t in a position to do much to you. It was like you had the upper hand and I did not like this tone of yours at all.

Indeed, I was glad when our time was up. But my freedom did not bring me the joy to the extent that I was hoping for. I wanted this to end in a nice way; amicably if you like. But seems like you didn’t want this to happen to me either. It’s over now and I try not to think about it; but whenever I do, I still think you let me down…I think you really did.

PS: For those of you who are getting worried for me, STOP. I am not undergoing any emotional saga in my life (Thank God for that!). All I’m doing is complaining about an exam I had recently, with an exaggerated expression instead of: ‘Ok this exam was hard!’ If that feels dodgy, go back and read it again: this time with an exam in mind! :)

I like

I like humour that doesn’t need to be retold, to make u laugh...only recalling it is enough to get u into fits

I like intelligence which is not screaming to make you notice...its silence however speaks volumes

I like appreciation that does not have to be decked up with words...but when said while looking in the eye means a lot

I like company that may not necessarily be by my side all the time...but its presence makes up for all the times of its absence

I like conversations that do not have to be lengthy, to get you interested...but are fun and honest to be worthwhile remembering

I like fun that doesn’t have to be planned in advance, to be counting down to...but is spontaneous enough to enjoy every moment

I like arguments that aren't impulsive or full of taunts, but where…with all due respect, both sides allow trains of thoughts to be built

I like responses that do not have to be chased to be received, but…are received as soon as the question is raised

I like... a lot more things…but to end on a lighter note

I like sleep that doesn’t need tosses n turns for its arrival…simply placing the head on the cold pillow sends u off to dreamland

PS: I’m going there rite now!:)

Colours ...in Gaza

As much as colours have a cheer and excitement essence,

The people of Gaza perceive them with an utter difference.

The scene in Gaza is one that sees a mixture of colours,

While they rightfully claim 'The land that you so barbarically snatch is ours!'

If red represents affection and love,

In Gaza, it is the blood of a close one, who has now gone above.

If green represents the beauty of nature,

In Gaza, it is the liberty hidden in the country's flag, which Gaza asks for from its snatcher.

If black represents courage and confidence,

In Gaza, it is the smoky atmosphere and the sooty winds which too have reached peaks of tolerance.

If blue represents eternal water bodies and peaceful skies,

In Gaza, it is sensed as feelings of lows, as news are received when a relative dies.

If purple represents grandeur and royalty,

In Gaza, it is just a consequence of a bombing that has left bruises which will not erase even with difficulty.

If white represents peace and tranquility,

In Gaza, it is the fear observed on the faces of the innocent children, wondering when good times will be in their visibility.

If yellow represents illuminating light and vibrance,

In Gaza, it is light that scares, raises the fear of being attacked, a most likely chance.

It is utmost inhumane to receive definitions of colours in this sense,

Then why does Gaza have sufferings to such immense?

It is important for the whole world to comprehend,

We need to help restore the true colours for the people of this land.