Birds Represent Freedom

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Razan Masri

We think being in a cage keeps us protected, keeps them protected, we think we are doing our selves and one another a favor when we put a cage around us. But birds were born free, we were born free, we learn things as we grow, we are who we are when we are set free. Yes, we can trip, and fall, we can do mistakes, and the chances of making mistakes are high, but without them, how do we know what life is? Who we truly are? Stop putting a cage around us, around each other, accept your children as they come, as they grow, as they rebel, just be there, watch them, protect them, listen to them, speak to them, but don’t put a cage around them. Don’t prevent your children from exploring life and the colors it is painted with, let them fly as far as they want and where ever their instincts take them. Don’t try to change the way they speak or dress or sing, don’t force them to make you proud just to make you feel better about yourself. The best feelings ever is seeing your loved ones spread their wings on their own and fly, the best feeling is to see that their wings are different from any other, and that they are still as beautiful or even more beautiful. Allow them to settle, allow them to be, independent or dependent, allow them to be silent, or speak their brains out, allow them to perform, or to be isolated, allow them to try. But be there to listen, to watch, to care, to love, to praise, to reflect, to smile, to hug, be there to make them feel they are not alone. Set them free.

Click here for the full Safari experience.

A day in little heaven… Kikuletwa

Posted on May 22, 2016 by Razan Masri

A continuation from my Tanzania Journal:

Arriving at Kikuletwa Hot Springs

December 28th 2015

And you think it could not have gotten any better, this place is magic. True meaning of Magic. The water can never be more blue, metallic blue, and the green surrounding it creating shade for you to swim in full peace, a taste of serenity, a lasting drop of zen into your core. I can never forget the feeling I received in like a message from the Divine into my soul. You will for sure doze off, space out into your own world of connection. Love at first sight it is.

Kikuletwa, hot springs, water, africa, tanzania, african, nature, magic, divine

Kikuletwa, hot springs, water, africa, tanzania, african

Source: Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mochi, Kikuletwa

Journal: What it Feels like to be Followed by Mount Kilimanjaro…

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Razan Masri

December 28th 2015,

I continued celebrating my birthday side by side with Kilimanjaro. We decided to visit the Kikuletwa Hot Springs that were about two hours away from Arusha passing by Moshi and overlooking the highest mountain in Africa.

You would not feel the presence of it, until you see it, it is a Dragon of its own world, huge and just hanging there between the clouds, we gasped as soon as our eyes met it, it was beyond what the normal eye is used to see. And we kept moving and driving for two hours while Kilimanjaro would never run out of sight. Even the clouds would crawl and expand around the mountain, but Kilimanjaro would not go out of sight.

We were lucky, it was a beautiful day, and a beautiful day for Mount Kilimanjaro. We stayed in contact throughout the drive, and it is as if you are getting to know yourself in reflection to how you continue to see the Mountain. It never hides, and when it does, its shadow would still be looking over at you. It felt like the father of Tanzania, in close contact with its people, its trees, its houses, its ground, its air, its sky, its breeze, its sun, and its clouds. Everyone knew Kilimanjaro, and everyone praised it. Unshakable, unmovable, you move, and it followed you. Overlooking everyone and everything, like a protector, like a witness, like a massive healer to earth. It sure was worth the two-hour drive and again the two-hour drive back.

Nature, African, Tanzanian, Moshi, Tanzania, Kilimanjaro

mochi, hot spring, Kikuletwa, Hotsprings, kili, kilimanjaro, mountain, arusha -24

People, African, Tanzanian, Moshi, Tanzania, Kilimanjaro

mochi, hot spring, Kikuletwa, Hotsprings, kili, kilimanjaro, mountain, arusha -25

mochi, hot spring, Kikuletwa, Hotsprings, kili, kilimanjaro, mountain, arusha -41

Source: Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mochi, Kikuletwa

Journal, My Visit to Arusha

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Razan Masri

Arusha

Celebrating my thirty-first birthday

December, 27 2015 – Arusha was very chilled place, we stayed in Hotel Arusha which is recommended, it was close by to everything and clean. There is not so much to do in Arusha except to really enjoy the nature, meet beautiful people, check out the Arusha Market, and few other places to eat in.

Read more on Tanzania and photos of Kiliminjaro: Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mochi, Kikuletwa

Journal – My Visit to Dar es Salaam

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Razan Masri

Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) – December 26th 2015

There was nothing much to do in Dar es Salaam, we stayed for a night in a very cute hotel next to the airport “Trinity Hotel”. It is a good hotel to stay in for a night or two. We only had the evening, so it was dark, we were recommended to go have dinner at Slipway hotel (which was nice). The very following morning, we headed to catch our local flight to Arusha.

Click the link to See A little on Kilimanjaro: Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mochi, Kikuletwa

Why you should visit Saraya Aqaba next?

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Razan Masri

That is if you are in Jordan or around Jordan.

Saraya Aqaba is ready to be cruised. I was lucky enough to get an invitation, and go drop it a visit last weekend, was welcomed by a very friendly staff, who took me and a group of other bloggers and social media influencers around.

First We Indulged in its foremost design. Interior and exterior. It is like a new wonderland. Only the Arabian themed wonderland. So full of our own oriental culture, authentic yet very modern. It lavished us with infinite luxury and poetic rhythm.

Saraya-Aqaba-Jordan-Travel-Red-Sea-easgle-hills

Second we familiarized ourselves more on Aqaba. Got to know the Red Sea from the Saraya scenic view. Found the lagoon at the heart of the project with the mountains on one side and occupied Palestine on the other.

Third If you are an architect or an artists, the architecture will take you to a new experience. I personally felt I entered the land of Aladdin, with the details being focused on the arch doors and windows, with the dome-shaped roofs. The villas looks like tiny squared houses cocooned one on top of the other.

Forth Enjoyed the different patterns, rugs, and flooring. From under construction, to fully constructed, to beach sand, from seeing myself in a glamorous gown, to casual jeans, and bare feet bikini. All throughout with my polka dots Nike.

Fifth Go with friends, family, partner(s); go with a group of people you enjoy your time exploring with. I went with like-minded people, who care about sharing what they experience to the world. Bloggers, tweeps, food critics, fashion followers, and social butterflies. (Find them on twitter from right to left: @Mahoozz @Eakhaldi @ZaynaHamarneh @Bigullak @LHaddadin @HamzehQasem @HadeelNourddin and myself @RazanMasri also find @kawthershabani @sal3885 @Emaneh45 @SarayaAqabaJo)

Sixth Finally we met the space. Met the future. Once a dream now is coming into reality. We headed towards the Sale Center and asked for a tour, checked out the furnished space from town houses, to villas and of course rested a while by the beach.

Seventh I never want to miss the colors of the sunset. And especially when by the beach. The reflection, the changing colors, the serene sound and feel, we used the time for some meditation, reflection, romance, just getting hypnotized by the spell of the Red Sea.

sunset-Saraya-Aqaba-Jordan-Travel-Red-Sea-easgle-hills

Meet the Lion

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Razan Masri

Face to Face. The lion really looked me in the eye. Do they have names? I am not sure how it goes, but to us, all lions are called a lion. Maybe if I happen to live between them, I will have to start naming them. Well in the photos below, there are three different lions. And one of them seem to have trouble with his eyes. He actually looked scary.

During my Safari trip, the first animal we saw as soon as we entered the Serengeti Park was the lion. It really felt out of this world, to see a lion. I mean I probably have seen a lion before in some zoo, but just to see a lion, right there, just free in his own jungle, that felt incredible, out of this world, blank. You just would forget everything and just concentrate, zoom in into that lion, and try to understand its presence.

We were over 10 different safari cars, all parked, one after the other, filled with people who have their heads out of the car’s roof, staring at the lion. And the lion, is just sitting there, looking back at us, looking around the jungle, turning and rolling over. I have a cat, at home. And the lion really reminded me of my cat. After all it is from the cat family, and they really act alike. They pretend they don’t see you, even though they would stare at you, but then they would yawn, and turn, and lie down, and sleep, as if you are not there. They give you the feeling that “they just don’t care”.

Serengeti Park, Tanzania.

Sun Setting over Lebanese Mountains

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Razan Masri

It can be dreamy, to watch the sunset. But it can also be awakening.

To a day, when the road started from the suburban area in northern Beirut, Rabieh, up towards the Cornet Chahwan town in the Mounts of Lebanon. We parked to overlook the magical Mediterranean Sea. The sun was on a straight angle towards the sea, forming a shiny magical luster that ends in merging the skies and the sea. The trees automatically became darkened, and the shadows of the clouds imprints over the waters, forming an illusion. It was the perfect start of the day, a perfect form of meditation.

We then started to go upscale, passing by Ain Aar, Bikfaya, Beit Chabab,towards Zaarour. We came across this stunning building that reminded me of the Renaissance architecture, it turned out to be an old tobacco manufacture. We then stopped by Beit Chabab and walked around its old village before we reached to our final stop Zaarour to watch the sunset.

We walked into the edges of the mountain, and sat between the clouds, as the sun started to set over the mountains, forming different shadows between every curve of each mountain, blending their presence into one another. It truly felt like waves of sound turned into a visual experience, tuning in the shadows together, forming a melody. The colors of the sky started to divide into levels, forming lines on top of one another like rose petals, with the sun fully circle, located in the very heart and center of the sky, looked like it was surrounded with warmth, while it was spreading eternal love.

Visiting Zarour

The sunset view from the mountains of Lebanon

Zarour, زعرور-Zarour-Lebanon-بيروت-زعرور-لبنان-53

24 hours in Lebanon

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Razan Masri

“All you have shall some day be given. Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors. You often say, “I will give, but only to the deserving” The trees in your orchid say not so, nor the flocks in your posture. They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish…”Jibran khalil Jibran

Always start your day with coffee, turkish, espresso, american, arabian, just start it off fresh. Then start walking, down town Beirut, Hamra, Ein Mreisse, Rass Beirut, Zaitunay Bay, Beirut Souks, Saifi Village, Gammayzeh, Monot, Achrafieh, Mar Mikhael, Bourk Hammoud. Just walk where the wind takes you, look at the authentic streets, the old carriages, the people running in the morning along the port, people fishing, experience things you have never imagined you ever will. Speak to the locals, listen to their stories, eat their food, look into their eyes, look for the art, the graffiti, the music, be spontaneous, pray in a temple, which ever one that calls upon you. Get into a house, have more coffee at their balcony, walk some more, keep a smile on even if you see anyone frowning, take a cab to the closest beach town, Batroun, Jiyeh, Jbeil, Jounieh, Faraya, Tyre. Swim if the weather is fantastic, read a book if it is a little cold, drive around a close by mountain town, Zarour, Arz, Laklouk, Faraya, Tannourine, overlook Beirut from above. Head back downtown, join a protest, there must be one around, listen to the people chant, wave their flags. Walk again between the old streets, watch their sunset, and try to find a Lebanese dabkeh or traditional dance near by at night. Enjoy Lebanon.

For more on Beirut Beach Towns

24hrs in Lebanon

On Forgiveness

A Mediterranean city dipped in Rose Water – Beirut – الى بيروت –

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Razan Masri

Where ever you are, in what ever circumstances you find your self, always strive to be a lover, a passionate lover. When love becomes your possession, you will will always be a lover – in the grave, at the resurrection, in paradise, forever. When you plant wheat, it will surely be wheat that grows; wheat will be in the storehouse, and wheat will be in the oven. “Rumi”

Beirut is dipped in Rose water, because their people are passionately in love with it. It is dipped in rose water, because where ever you go, you see people speaking passionately about it. Beirut speaks love in every corner, it is furnished with Rose water. It has witnessed miracles, surviving its continuous agonies; the people of Beirut know exactly how to keep healing it. They are lovers to it. And once you decide to visit Beirut, look into its history, but let its history power you with hope. It is joyous, no matter how upset it is, it maintains its joy, because of the love, the people of Beirut, pour into it. Because they are aware of every little wound, and they are aware that love is the answer, and with love, Beirut can survive all of it.