Because life is the way you want it to be… Just make it yours, click here to learn more about the Zanzibar life and culture.
Zanzibar Sightseeing
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Author Archives: Razan Masri
We Will Always Remember
A photograph of Nazareth, Palestine, before the Israeli Occupation
Maru’s Well – Photograph by Karima Abboud
Culture on Bicycles
There is so much culture and history to explore in Zanzibar. It is said that it has been home for humans for over 20,000 years. Zanzibar was used as a base for trades happening between the Middle East, Africa and India. Zanzibar; a Swahili culture, influenced very much by the Omanis and many Arabs who immigrated and passed through Zanzibar for trade over the years. Zanzibar then became part of the Portuguese empire in 1503. In 1698, Zanzibar became under the Sultanate of Oman. Around the late 1830’s, The Omani Sultan moved the capital of Oman from Muscat to Zanzibar. In 1890 it became a protectorate of Britain until 1963 when Zanzibar finally became an independent country.
Because life is more beautiful on a bicycle, learn about Zanzibar by clicking here.
What Drives You?
So what is it that drives us? Where do we want to go anyway? We move and sometimes things move us, but how do we know what drives us? How do we know where do we want to go? We learn by example, or we learn by experience, we don’t always need to know what “exactly” it is that we want or that moves us, if we have that desire to want to know then we are already half way there, that desire is a movement, just go with it, let it lead you don’t try to lead it, let it take you, try, fail, it is okay, but try, try as hard as you can, and don’t stop. You will come upon a scene, or something that will scream at your face and tell you “here I am, I am your drive, I am your movement” and you will know where you want to go, without your drive, you will never know where you want to go, so listen, listen to that inner thing moving that takes place when you are quiet, or loud, when you are in the center or on the side, listen… let your ears lead you to your drive, and let your drive take you to your destination.
Daily Prompt: Drive
People of Zanzibar
My favorite part was the diversity in their wardrobe, influenced by many cultures, the Swahili culture influenced by the Omani culture. The last photograph is a picture of what their public bus looks like. Learn more about Zanzibar by clicking here.
Architectural Details
Venice, Doge’s Palace is all about the details for me, every little inch of it is a form of art, architectural art, how wonderful of a time had the architect enjoyed during his work of art, this is some type of forever beauty that can never have the lights dimmed on but always highlighted. People from all over the world come to see it, to study it, to meditate on its beauty, manmade beauty, a form of art that can not be missed or misjudged, but aways loved and studied. This is what details are about, if we can not use the details for our own advantages then let us not use details at all. Love the Details.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Details
Zanzibars Heaven Side
Zanzibar (also known in Arabic as Zanjibar) is a beautiful Island to explore by the Indian Ocean. We first went to Paje beach, which is located in the southeast of Zanzibar, we stayed in a hotel that looked beautiful but was extremely dirty (Paradise Beach Bungalows). Make sure there is an air condition working in your room, it is very hot. Paje is a lagoon and it is famous for its kitesurfing and kiteboarding.
Visit The Rock Cafe which is on the Michamvi Pingue just 10 minutes away from Paje by car, the Cafe was voted to be one of the most beautiful restaurants around the world. Make sure you do early reservations as it is always fully booked. You can also try Upendo which is opposite of The Rock Cafe and offers great food and ambiance.
We then moved to Nungwi, which was recommended by most of websites and people who have been to Zanzibar. It is also known as Ras Nungwi (Ras in Arabic stands for head/tip) as it is located in the far north tip end of the island. We loved it, and stayed there for about a week, our hotel was amazing and is highly recommended (Mnarani Beach Cottages).
I would recommend you settle in one area in Zanzibar and enjoy the breathtaking scenery that you will never get enough of. The distance from one area to another is long, about an hour or an hour and a half from Paje to Nungwi.
Learn how to play Bao, check out the shops by the beach, have seafood, try Langi Langi (an Italian cuisine, with great food), meet their people, stay away from the beach boys who will always try to sell you something (and sometimes you can actually get yourself a good offer), watch the sunset, lay down on the sand and get a beautiful suntan.
Click here to learn more about Zanzibar and what more to see during your visit.
For the Foodies
Because I love food, and more than food I love the setting of food, I love coming up with new themes, trying new recipes, I love inviting people over, see their faces when they try new flavors. I love browsing the internet for new food styling, new recipes, new cafe’s and new photographs. I love how different each ingredient can look with different backgrounds and settings. It is beautiful what one person can do with one item, and the more items you have the bigger your art piece can appear to be. I love how one ingredient can serve several dishes, and one decoration can change the whole setting, I love how food speaks culture, how we can learn about people from the spices they use, from the taste of our mouth, I love how endless recipes have come to be available today, I love trying new things all the time. Below are food photography that I have enjoyed finding on my instagram account.
Top With Cinnamon, Food 52, Kraautkopf, Trotter, Marmalade, The Artful Desperdo, Duygu Elis Ntagkala, Tara o’Brandy, Tara o’Brandy, Athena Coldrone, Gather Journal, Athena Coldrone, Bashar Alaeddin, David Frenkiel, Food 52, A Guy Named Patrick, Caroline Adobo, Egg Shop, Our Food Stories, Diala Canelo, Food 52, Tara O’Bradym, The Cakery
Cana of Galilee
I found this stunning photograph of a village in occupied Palestine known as Kafr Kanna or Cana of Galilee, I then found out that this photograph was captured in 1925 by a female Palestinian professional photographer who used to work between Lebanon and Palestine before the Israeli occupation. She captured beautiful images, and exhibited them during the first half century. Karimeh Abbud was her name and she was born in 1896 in Shefa Amer, Palestine, known as the Lady Photographer, she died in Nazareth in 1955.
The second photographer is another beautiful photographs of the Jordan River, also captured by Karimeh.
Today’s Guest for the wordpress daily prompt.
To the Intelligent
The meanest earning that goes on in the world,
is it ever practiced without the guidance of a master?
It begins with knowledge and is followed by action
That it may yield fruit after a while or after death.
Apprentice yourself, O possessor of intelligence,
To a generous and righteous craftsman.
Seek the pearl in the oyster-shell, my brother,
And seek craftsmanship from the skilled.
If you meet sincere spiritual counselors,
Deal fairly with them, and be eager to learn:
Don’t put on any airs.
If a tanner wears a threadbare coat,
That doesn’t diminish the master’s mastery;
If the blacksmith with massive biceps
Wears a patched apron while flexing the bellows,
His reputation doesn’t plummet in people’s eyes,
So strip the raiment of pride from your body:
In learning, put on the garment of humility.
Rumi – Mathnawi
DailyPrompt on Layers
Razan Masri 