One year of Random Blogging

Yeap... It is true, I actually let the date pass.. My 1st blog anniversary!

It seems that I had my first entry on this blog on the 25th of October.. and funny as it seems, one year has already passed.

CHEERS for my blog and CHEERS for all that nomadlife is...

Thank you and thank you and thank you all for making it what it is.

The fasting continues...

It seems that I have been able to endure my fasting challenge up to now... (except for these 2 days when I was entertaining someone and really had to drink some water and some cheese manakish, but it was kind of justified, as we travelled more than 80 kilometers that day - according to the Prophet you can be excused from fasting if travelling more than 80 kms)

I dont feel that hungry anymore except for yesterday and today.. I am really hungry and paciently waiting for the magic time.

It seems that, physically, my body has already got used to spending so much time without drinking or eating but mentally it is not the same... I feel like I am more anxious about the end of the day and sunset. :)

But I guess that is probably because past Iftar's have just been great. Good food, good friends and good atmosphere... It is almost as Sunday family lunches, if I can compare :)

Also, social life in Dubai is getting much better, especially because of the weather! It finally seems that Summer has arrived and you can finally walk on the streets without melting. Most of the restaurants and cafes have tables outside and it is lovely to spend the evening chating with friends over sheesha and morroccan tea (definetely my favourite hobby, followed by theme parties that mix sheesha and good music)

Iftar at my place

Golf & Tennis Party at Petra's

Itftar BBQ at the Beach

... Reticencias ...

"Reticencias" - when there is something you want to say, but you decide to leave it untold.

(...)

Speechless.

SUNSET... on my way home.

3rd Day of Fasting

Everyday that passes by makes me feel more right about my decision of fasting.
It has been a great experience and as someone as told me the physical pain is being replaced by calmness and patience.

I still fell stomach cramps but it seems that my body just got used to it....

Yesterday I cooked my first Iftar! And it was really good.. especially because I was able to share it with good friends.. And that is also one of my favourite things in Ramadan!

It looks good! Doesnt it?! :)

Today we are going out for arabic Iftar in one of the restaurants nearby our house... (It is definetely going to be more tradicional that my tomato soup and eggs with mushroom&cheese I cooked) :)

However, yesterday's highlight was definetely my Arabic class followed by "Ramadan Discussions" with UAE local girls and guys.. It was an amazing evening, prepared by Jana (UAE MC) and UAE Spirit cousin and friends.

It was really great to hear them and the dinner they presented us with was just amazing!! What a great way to celebrate Ramadan and all it represents...

Shokrun and Massalamah!

Less than 20 min left

20 minutes to break the fast... According to the newspaper, Iftar* is at 6.05 today

Overall it wasnt such a difficult day. Yes I am hungry but not starving.. The worst as some have mentioned is the lack of water... But I survived day 1!! :) (well, stil some minutes to go, but..)

Funny also how all this fasting and religious talks in the past days had me thinking about religion.. about what I really believe in, if I believe in something at all.

But this is not supposed to be a long posting so I will just postpone writing about those thoughts for some other day.

Anyway, I just discovered that there are other trainees fasting too so I just suggested that we celebrated Iftar everyday together and we would cook alternately! Sounds good, hein?

More about my Fasting challenge soon.. Keep tuned.

*A little bit more of "What is Ramadan" for all of you who are interested. (Copied directly from Thea's site):

For those who don't know, Ramadan is the 9th month of the Muslim Calendar. The month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran (equivalent to our bible) "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation." Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is apparently a time of worship and contemplation
During this month strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during the fasting. The fast start from sunrise to sunset, where finally at the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the 'iftar', which literally translated means breakfast. In the evening following the iftar, it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends, eating as much as possible is if, like the camels, storing as much food as possible for the next day, where the fast is resumed. I am infact teasing the girls at my place of work, telling them that the food they eat will all be stored in their hips and thighs!! ;P
Apparently, the good that a person acquires through the fast can be destroyed by five things:
1. The telling of a lie
2. Slander - (a false or malicious report about someone)
3. Denouncing someone behind his back
4. A false oath
5. Greed or covetousness
In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer. This is usually 2-3 times longer than the daily prayers, and some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer. Finally on the evening on the 27th day Muslims celebrate the Laylat al Qadr which literally means the 'night of power', where it is believed that on this night, the Prophet Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according tot he Quran, this is when God or Allah determines the course of the world for the following year - Weird ha!!!!
Finally when Ramadan ends there is the Shawwal which is celebrated for 3 days where the Muslims eat and eat and eat, as if to get back what they have lost during the fast. Gifts are also exchanged (the tradition is that the gifts are usually new clothes, and people have to wear new clothes during this feast). Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals.
All the streets are fully decorated with silver tinsel. Even the Center i work in has been decorated with ' RAMADAN KARIM' written all over the wall, KARIM thus meaning 'think about others and don't be selfless'

Ramadan Kareem!!

Although exhausted, I decided that I should only go to bed after knowing if Ramadan would start today or not.
Luckly I got the news before 9.30 pm!One of them also being that Sheriff is back in town after his Turkish adventures. (I missed you!)

Anyway.. So, Ramadan started today and that means that I am now officially fasting.

No, there is no religious purpose behind, but I feel it is a way to get closer to the culture of the country I am currently living in and a way (also) to detox my body.
No, I dont plan to eat like a pig after sunset... But moroccan tea and shisha, in the evening, in outside tents is definetely on my mind.

Also, I am not really sure if I will endure to stay so much time fasting (30days) so I pretend to take it slow... I dont want to compromise my work productivity, so if I feel that it is affecting it (by being too tired or too hungry..) I will probably stop.

Lets see.

Ramadan Kareem!!