Category Archives: Photography

A little bit about my first day in Tripoli – Lebanon | عن رحلتي في طرابلس لبنان

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Old, authentic, and a great exploration. I spent my first day in Tripoli just browsing around the city to take a glimpse of what it is about. Just to estimate the amount of time I need to explore, and it sure is one of those cities that need at least a good week to find the best of the best inside out. It has so much to offer, but things are a little buried under.

In my photos you will first see a great spacious exhibition area that used to hold alot of concerts in the past and theater shows. Today it is used as an automobile exhibition. We then went for a quick roam around the old city of Tripoli, where the market is, and the old mosques and churches reside. The architecture in Tripoli is brilliant, you will see the Islamic art, the arabesque, the Ottomans, very similar to architecture resemblance found in old Palestine.

We then had lunch at one of the most popular restaurants “Akra”, that can be visited for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. It serves traditional dishes of Tripoli and the Middle East like; Hummus, Fatet Hummus and Fool. After which we walked towards “Khan al Saboun” Soap house to shop for some hand made authentic soaps that are made with lavender, rose, olive oil and more scents and herbal spices. We then went for some Arabic ice-cream from the Mina area as we enjoyed watching one of the most beautiful sunsets to take place ever.

Best part of the day was the evening of it, we ended it at one of the most famous arabian desert making shop “Al Halab”, we had knafeh with chocolate and some lahmeh bajeen. Delicious.

Visting Tripoli
Visiting Tripoli
24hrs in Lebanon

About a mountainous town in Lebanon… Ehden | عن قرية جبلية في لبنان، اهدن

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I spent a beautiful day at this gorgeous breezy northern village in Lebanon, Ehden. It truly is beautiful, breathtaking, has so much to explore although it is also very tiny. Woke up to a beautiful mountain view, and the scent of food making, preparations for their traditional dish “Kibbeh Mashwieh / Lebanese Kibbeh / Grilled Kibbeh”.

We started our day by heading towards a church that is situated at the tip of the mountain “Saydat Al Hoson Church” on a sunday morning, enjoyed the sound of the prayers, and the beautiful view. As we drove back out, we passed by this beautiful massive antique building that today is a police station, and I couldn’t resist but ask for them to park the car, as I took the chance to walk around and enjoy the true treasures in the village. The windows are an absolute admiration, the stone houses are gorgeous, the colors of the doors are inspiring.

We then headed towards another relatives house as we had some ka’ak with dates/ajwa and tea, overlooked Ehden from the roof, overlooking the famous ancient Ketel Church Mar Jerjes. Then we decided to walk back home again to enjoy the very last bits of the village, as we arrived to the ready home-made Kibbeh Mishweh for a late lunch.

Places to see in Ehden: Midan, Ketel Church Mar Jerjes, Kobra stairs, Ssydet el Hoson church, Saraya, Sama Ehden Autostrad, Bowayda, Nabeh’ Jouit

Visting Ehden

10 beautiful quotes to live by a great Man… Read to learn more on Love and Kindness.

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  1. There is no beauty better than the intellect.
  2. The best richness is the richness of the soul.
  3. The seeking of knowledge is obligatory.
  4. From the best virtues is to reconnect with the people who disconnected you, and give those who deprived you, and to forgive those who were unjust to you.
  5. The best charity is to learn the good and then to pass it on by teaching the good that was learnt to others.
  6. Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it. Whenever it is taken from something, it leaves it tarnished.
  7. Each faith has a distinct characteristic, and the distinct characteristic of Islam is modesty.
  8. The best among you is the one who doesn’t harm others with his words and hands.
  9. Give to the one whose door is nearer to you.
  10. Help those with sorrow, and guide those who have lost their way.

Quoted by the Prophet Mohammad PBUH

In a day like today, we need to remind the world, that the discrimination and racism against Islam is only a propaganda like all the past propaganda’s the world have witnessed in history that created discrimination, hate, racism, and broken homes.

Today is the Birth Date of the Prophet Mohammad PBUH in the Hijri year of 12 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436 AH and I believe this day must be celebrated in the simplest ways by sharing love and kindness like the Prophet once shared with the world. Most his quotes are associated to being kind, giving, forgiving, and treating people with love and respect. The stereotype of Islam today is false; for violence, terror, and savages are 3 things that are not welcomed by the Prophet Mohammad PBUH or by Islam as a religion. Islam stands for peace, and peace is what all religions and faiths preach for.

Therefore, today I wish to celebrate with you Love and Kindness in the name of our beloved Prophet.

Some photographs are mine, and some are just from Pintrest. You can easily search them by using the title of the image.

Morning Diary 24 – A love affair in between the old streets of Barcelona

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Saturday, November 22 2014

Day 7

Always leave the best for last, although sometimes it also isn’t the best thing to do given the nature of life and how unpredictable things are, but gladly I must say, today was fantastic. Started my day with my cousin Darine, biking to the beach sight to watch the sunrise, returned my gorgeous bicycle and started my walk between my favorite streets in Barcelona. Starting point was Gracia, to send most of my time in my favorite area taking it down to Sagrada Familia, down to the center of Catalina, Ramblas, Gottica and El Born. Getting lost between streets, finding incredible finds, and the deepest jewels are always in the lowest bottom end of the ocean, so you got to keep digging until you find shops, people, and wisdom that you will always and forever remember. This life we live in, if it is lived without art surrounding us, then it truly is missing out on the best there is. Don’t settle down for less than the art you enjoy, the art you connect with, the art you can use to speak for you. Art is in everything.

When it is time to say goodbye, it is also time to listen to songs you relate to and sing them out loud: Riding through the city on my bike all day cause the filth took away my license It doesn’t get me down and I feel okay Cause the sights that I’m seeing are priceless. You might laugh, you might frown Walkin’ round the mid town… Sun is the sky Oh why, Oh why would I wanna be anywhere else? Sun is in the sky Oh why, oh Why would I wanna be anywhere else?

Here is Ldn by Lily Allen

All photographs are taken with a Canon 70D

Morning Diary 23 – How to spend a day living the 1900’s only right here and right now? … I did it, and it really felt like a dream.

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Thursday, November 20 2014

Barcelona, Spain

What a beautiful day, my vacation is almost over, and I am now trying to soak in the very last bits of my traveling encounters. When traveling, I love checking out the festivals and events happening in the city and if they interest me at all, I take part, and to my luck, today, was an open day to many museums in Barcelona, but since it was a beautiful sunny day, I had to divide my time into 3: museums, beach and the famous 1910 amusement park. Truly this Tibidabu Park is over 100 years old, isn’t that just insane? No actually it is the best thing ever, not only is it so much fun, it is truly something beautiful to witness, photograph and just enjoy. I love fairy tales, Disney world, toy land, lala land, the fairies and the angels, call me crazy, call me a dreamer, but I believe they all exist and when I get the chance to visit an amusement park and one that is over 100 years old, then I sure consider myself lucky.

And here is a little something for you to go back to even before the 1900’s for the love of Beethoven

All photographs are taken with a Canon 70D

Morning Diary 22 – I can’t think of a better day… Spend your day between the beaches and the mountains of Barcelona.

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Tuesday, November 18 2014

Barcelona, Spain

Another irresistible sunny day, where me and my bubbly cousin decided to take the day off and bike to the Bogatell beach area for a quick tan before we head towards Montjuic for a sunset view only to realize that the sun sets from the other mountain side which is where the Tibidabo is. Nonetheless, Montjuic is worth a full day for it is one incredibly huge park that is just filled with magical nature, and for the love of nature, you do need a little nature self time every once in a while. I also probably haven’t mentioned this before in my posts, but my best advice for all those who are planning to visit Barcelona is to rent a bicycle as soon as you arrive. Getting around is very easy and it becomes so much easier and much more fun by bicycle.

A great folk song for you today by The deep dark woods, All the money I had is gone.

All photographs are taken with a Canon 70D

Morning Diary 21 – A day with Gaudi in Barcelona

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Monday, November 17 2014

Barcelona, Spain

I dedicate this post to Gaudi, and pray: may your soul be as freely creative as it once was and thank you for the beautiful architecture you have left us to get inspired with and go by example. Truly nothing is impossible, today I decided to elaborate and search within my soul for the connection I have felt with Gaudi’s work and I share with you the following: 1- Trust your instincts 2- The best things happen unexpectedly and 3- Everything has beauty.

Now enjoy the life you have between your hands, and listen to your deepest callings, try to be the most different there is in you, and stand out. Only those who share with the world, this that they believed truly and deeply in but no one else was able to express are the ones who will always be truly remembered.

Here is one of my favorite alternative rock songs by Half Moon, Run half circle.

All photographs are taken with a Canon 70D

Morning Diary 20 – Strolling the hipster corners of Barcelona

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Sunday, November 16 2014

Barcelona, Spain

When I travel, I usually like to find the unusual and most artsy shops. So I do my research and read what other bloggers have to advice. In my below photos, I have decided to follow one of the online travel guides for 12hrs in Barcelona which I highly recommend you checking out since I truly had an incredible time hoping from one shop to another and experiencing the most tasteful artful and urban shops in Barcelona. Of course, you will always find your little something in between, so while you follow someone else’s advice do not hesitate switching gears and following what calls on for you. From Sant Antoni, to Ramblas, Boqueria market, Carrer del Carme, Gotica, and El Born. I will be talking more in depth about them as soon as I add Barcelona to my travel tab, meanwhile enjoy this indie song by Zack Sobiech, clouds.

All photographs are taken with a Canon 70D

Visit El Raval

Morning Diary 19 – For the love of Architecture visit Barcelona…

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Barcelona, Spain

Today, I decided to take a break, hop on a bus and relax. Learn about the city am spending a week in and look at things from the top. The first thing that astonished me in this beautiful city of Barcelona is its architecture. Gaudi is everywhere, and when he isn’t there, you can see the people who are inspired by him. I’ve always heard about La Sagrada Familia, but I did not expect what I was coming to. Really this piece of art is nothing like the photographs, it is beyond words, beyond reality and beyond art; I was blown away. As for the rest of city, it has reminded me of Beirut’s beautiful streets and architecture in Lebanon. Buildings are very close to one another, and balconies are almost connecting neighbors, you can just easily step out from your own balcony into the one right across from you. The best part about the buildings in Barcelona is the random prints that surround some of them, that create authenticity, and history speaking between walls. While you take a look at my photographs, enjoy one of my favorite folk ambient songs by high highs, open seasons.

Morning Diary 17 – 24 hours in Zurich Switzerland – Part 2

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Tuesday, November 11 2014

Zürich – Switzerland

After spending 12 hours in Zürich, I was lucky enough to have yet another 12 hours day time in this stunning city and I decided to just walk all over Zrich by foot from one area to another. It is quiet small and easy to move around, a bicycle would be faster and more fun, but if you wish to just stop when you want, take a photograph or just stare while you get inspired by all the little details and breathtaking architecture, then do it by foot. Zürich is one beautiful gothic medieval city that is just full of yet more surprises coming out from every corner… An art piece, a city full of art, a trip to remember and to repeat. Love Switzerland.

On embracing what’s Important, the Real Joy of Living