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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Tag Archives: Travel
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
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.
Journal, My Visit to Arusha
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
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?
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.
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.
Meet the Lion
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.
24 hours in Lebanon
“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
The Scent of Jasmine & Cardamom in Tripoli – رآحة الياسمين و الهيل في مدينة طرابلس
Tripoli is so poetic; it is just like Jasmine and Cardamom mixed together and sprayed between the tree leaves. This city is ancient wonderland located Northern side of Lebanon. I have a weakness for architectural art. I would walk all day for it, I would stand still and look at it for hours, I can leave everything, find a bench and sit as I gaze at it. If I sound like you, then book your next destination to Tripoli, Lebanon.
You will experience understanding the mixology between architectural art, or maybe not truly understand it, but sense it. I am unfamiliar with architecture studies myself, but I am obsessed with it. I have seen art in Tripoli that dates back to the Mamluk times, Art Nouveau, Islamic Art and of course Ottomans. You walk the old city of Tripoli and it is just like a walk through history. There is also a Spanish Breeze as you explore the city, I felt like I was somewhere in Spain several times as I was exploring Tripoli.
I have taken few photos below of the Old city of Tripoli, Grand Mosque Mansouri Mosque, a popular dish by the name Maghrbieh, a popular dessert by the name Ma’jouka, a famous game that the elderly enjoy playing by the name Doma that is very similar to chess, and the Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles or Qal’at Sanjil Castle.
What about Byblos in the Mount side of Lebanon? عن جبيل في لبنان
If you have been to Lebanon, you sure have been to Byblos, and if you haven’t then here is a little bit about it. A beautiful destination, small very old and authentic Mediterranean city located north of Beirut. Byblos is eye gazing, so much to see all around, the old houses, stairs, the old market, the old trees, the sea, the skies, it is truly one of the places that is hard to find the right words to describe it. And then in the evening, it is sleepless. People from all over Lebanon head towards this authentic city to enjoy their evening outdoors.
Go there, find ancient temples, find the Byblos castle, find the Medieval city wall, find the Mamluk Mosque, find St John the Baptist church, and if you are there during the summer try to attend their annual summer festival.
Visiting Byblos
Visting Byblos
Visiting Byblos
Razan Masri 