Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Salaamaleykum, (0) comments When I was in Egypt, I noticed that Egyptians are particularly proud of 3 things; their Pharoaic history, their role in Christian/Muslim history, and Her Majesty Queen Om Kalsoum.  Nevertheless, she was larger then life, she's a great a human being then any Queen can ever be. At first, I was puzzled by the her influence on ordinary Egyptians, who admire and idolise her, decades after her death. I can't come to terms with why even the youngsters who were born way after her death still listen to her songs and get immersed therein. A simple search of her lyrics translated into English made me realise why so much she was so loved by Arabs in general, and why over 4million mourners attended her funeral.  Here is, her song Anta Omri (you are my life) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4hdaLB6EVk ... Your eyes took me back to my days that are gone
They taught me to regret the past and its wounds. Whatever I saw before my eyes saw you was a wasted life. How could they consider that part of my life? With your light, the dawn of my life started How much of my life before you was lost It is a wasted past, my love. My heart never saw happiness before you My heart never saw anything in life other than the taste of pain and suffering. I started only now to love my life And started to worry that my life would run away from me. Every happiness I was longing for before you My dreams they found it in the light of your eyes. Oh my heart’s life .. You are more precious than my life Why I didn't meet your love a long time ago? Whatever I saw before my eyes saw you was a wasted life. How could they consider that part of my life? You are my life that starts its dawn with your light. The beautiful nights and the yearning and the great love From a long time ago the heart is holding for you. Taste the love with me bit by bit from the kindness of my heart that is longing for the kindness of your heart. Bring your eyes close so that my eyes can get lost in the life of your eyes. Bring your hands so that my hands will rest in the touch of your hands. My love, come, and enough. What we missed is not little, oh love of my soul. Whatever I saw before my eyes saw you was a wasted life. How could they consider that part of my life? You are my life that starts its dawn with your light. You are more precious than my days. You are more beautiful than my dreams, Take me to your sweetness-- Take me away from the universe Far away, far away. I and you far away, far away. Alone. With love, our days will awaken We spend the nights longing for each other I reconciled with days because of you I forgave the time because of you With you I forgot my pains And I forgot with you my misery. Your eyes took me back to my days that are gone They taught me to regret the past and its wounds. Whatever I saw before my eyes saw you was a wasted life. How could they consider that part of my life? You are my life that starts its dawn with your light. Now, having understand this song, how can I not cry?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
salaamaleykum...
Well, al-Burmastani has landed in egypt..(well, since 2weeks back).
Yes, Egypt, land of the Pharoahs and the Pyramids. The home of Nabee Musa a.s. and Nabee Yusoof a.s. The weather is great here, cool breeze...winter is hoping in soon. Let me elaborate on my observations of Egypt-so far. First thing to notice at landing is...the heavy presence of armed personnels at the airport.Its worth to mention too that the Military Airport is right beside the civilian airport.But, I'm sure that doesnt explain the presence of truck loads of soldiers at the entrance of the airport terminal. While we're there, I'ld say that there is a considerbly large amount of police check points along the roads...either highways or city roads. Armed security force are suppose to make one feel safe..but..however, i get the chills and grave insecurity when i see them. Oh,fighter jets fly over my city (3hrs drive from Cairo) almost every 2 days once.
I guess i'm in a military state. The roads are really dusty.With piles and piles of rubbish every where.Every lot where there's no house, there is sure to be a mountain of rubbish.Its really amazing how the shopkeepers keep their premise clean...sweep EVERYTHING (dust+papers+boxes..etc) into the road..for the cars to drive over it..and perhaps fly it away. Speaking of roads and drivers, there are no traffic lights.Ironically, i've not come across a single accident since I arrived.Horns are sounded at every 1-3meters..which creates a very annoying sound pollution.Needless to mention, people here have absolutly 0% patience while driving.On the bright side however, at least they wont get any ticket for beating the light. One thing you can't miss when you're in Arab countries is their abnormal opening hours.Most shops here open around 11am (bear in mind sun rises at 5:45am) and closes any time between 12midnight to 3 am in the morning.Meanwhile the offices are really relaxed.They start at 8 or 9am..and closes at 2:30pm. Egypt, Egypt,Egypt...before i came here, and all the time I talk to foreigners here they just mention one thing-Beware of Egyptian cheaters. Well, i wont generalise every Egyptian as a conman...but even the Egyptians themselves admit to the high level of cheaters in this land. Its scary. Few days ago my friend came to visit me from a city about 2 hours drive away. We had a thrill together...until he found out he has been pickpocketed.Good Lord, save me! Food! That is a major problem in the land of the pharoahs. For a person of Indo-Pak ethnicity, spiciness is as essential as salt itself. However, Egyptians arent very hot-food-tolerent...heck! they cant even take food which we give to our youngsters.
Some food are nice, well, toleratable to my tastebuds..like shwarma, Kabda Iskandaria(alexandrian liver), and various forms of burger/hotdog they offer there.  However, some food are totally ridiculous..like this thing called Makarona..which is like egyptian form of Lasagna...minus the tomato sauce and minced meat....and there's this koshari..which is macaronni+rice+spagetti...which equals to puke. out of 3times I tried that meal, i vomited twice.
Best part of all is...fruits are really cheap..and they are superb! Sugar cane juice...for a whole mug...with no ice or sugar...costs just 50piasters..which is just about 6 eurocents. Fresh strawberry juice costs just under 25 eurocents. Well,Egyptstan...what can i say about you...you are indeed,VERY colourful! <<Home About:  Strada Placido means 'Placid Road'. The holistic nature of this 'road' will venture to areas of all type. Politics, religion, self-improvements, cultures, etc.
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