This post is strewn with random photographs that I’d taken over the last few months, in no particular order whatsoever. It’s an update post of sorts;…
“Climbing is all about flirting with the impossible and pushing the boundaries of what you think can be done,” says Tommy Caldwell. Together with another professional…
When a blue whale dives into the water, its head is already deeper than most scuba divers dare to go before its tail leaves the…
It’s been around since 2008, but it wasn’t until October last year that I’d first started looking for a place to stay in using airbnb. Masood and I…
Translating my thoughts and emotions into words for the Hajj Journal series is not easy. First, whenever I reflect on this Holy journey, the entire…
“Get some rest. We’ll leave for Mina by 10am,” said our group leader as he instructed us where and when to meet later. We were…
He hurled the tiny pebble toward the wall with too much force and fury. It was as if an enemy stood in front of him, all…
From almost nothing but acres and acres of untouched land, in more recent years the United Arab Emirates has now established itself as one of…
We were going to sleep on the roadside tonight, and I was pretty excited about it. After spending the entire day in Arafat, all the…
Fukurou means owl in Nihongo. In Japan owls symbolize good fortune, protection from hardships and suffering, and wisdom. I was, therefore, under the impression that I’d be…
“There is no day upon which Allah frees His servants from the Hellfire more than the day of Arafat. He draws near and then…
About 8 kilometers east from the Holy city of Makkah, cradled in a low-lying valley, lies the incredible city of tents called Mina. What’s even…
This quaint Lebanese restaurant is located in the Fisherman’s Harbour in Jumeira 1, a place that is a pain to locate for those who…
“…the redness had seeped from the day and night was arranging herself around us. Cooling things down, staining and dyeing the evening purple and blue…
From hosting 18 country pavilions in 1997, Global Village has expanded over the years to now include 31 pavilions representing more than 70 countries, with…
Umrah was being discussed over freshly-baked bread, chicken sausages, spicy omelets, and green tea. All the meals at Anjum Hotel were elaborate with good selections from various…
The bus crawled its way slowly through the massive traffic of Makkah. We were passing through a tunnel and everyone was wide-awake by now. Right…
While the world outside was running its business as usual, there was an unmistakable feeling of excitement within me. The taxi smoothly cruised along the…
One day I’m in the heart of Arabia, performing Hajj amidst more than two million Muslims, and a few days later I find myself…
In about fourteen hours, we are about to embark on a journey that is the most important one for every Muslim, insha’Allah. We received our e-tickets…
IZ (pronounced as ee-zee) is an award-winning high-end Indian restaurant within the Grand Hyatt hotel that serves tandoori cuisine prepared and served at live cooking stations. They…
Oh, the heartache upon learning that my favorite bridge isn’t actually the London Bridge; it’s called the Tower Bridge, a very unimpressive name, if you…
It’s been a long, long drive and we’re completely relying on the GPS to guide us. We’ve just spent an evening in an inn at…
There is an Indian restaurant here in Dubai called Little Hut that my family and I frequently go to whenever we crave for some good sizzlers.…
It’s minus 3°C and the visibility is getting lower with each passing minute. “They closed Phase 2 this morning,” announced the guide as he leads…
I recently had the chance to work with Reg Tag, a chain of value fashion and home stores spread across the Middle East and Asia. They…
The pictures that I am sharing with you today were taken in the kitchen of my previous apartment, and I have made this pulao numerous…
تَقَبَّلَ اللّهُ مِنَّ وَ مِنْكُمْ May Allah accept (the fast and worship) from you and from us. “I have always loved the desert. One sits…
“After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy…
One of the several things to enjoy here in the U.A.E. during Ramadan is having Iftar −either at someone’s home (if you are visiting and…