Blog Awards!

Sara, a lucky lady who lives in one of the most beautiful places in the world, has presented me with this fabulous award!   I can’t explain how happy and proud I feel when a reader (who then becomes a friend) appreciate my blog and thinks of me when giving out a blog award.  Thank you so much, dear sis *hugs*

Check this out!

Rules of the Award:

• List five current obsessions.
• Pass the award on to five more fabulous blogs.
• On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.
• When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well.
• Don’t forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by leaving a comment on their blog.

My 5 Current Obsessions (in no particular order):

1.  Photography

This is an all-time obsession.  Though I often forget my cellphone at home, I always remember to bring my camera.  Whenever I go somewhere, specially for the first time, I feel – sometimes – as if I’m taking so many photographs that I am not enjoying the place myself.  It’s like I’m behind the lens ALL the time!  I truly appreciate my husband for his patience; he can wait forever while I take pictures.

2.  Sightseeing

I pretend being a tourist everywhere I go – even on my way to work each day.  I love looking at my surroundings, absorbing each and every detail, and committing them to memory.  And before going some place new, I like reading about it first.  Before we went to visit the Agra Fort, for example, I spent hours reading about the place so when I was actually there, I felt history come alive.

3.  Falooda

I can’t have enough of Falooda!  Back in Karachi, whenever an aunt or cousin takes me shopping, they know I must have my falooda.  Unfortunately, faloodas here in the UAE don’t taste as good as those available back home, but I still have them nevertheless, just not as frequently as I would in Karachi.

4.  Saris

A sari is something I thought I’d never wear because … well … it’s not easy to manage 6-7 meters of fabric!  But things changed when I visited India for the first time and saw all these women looking so beautiful and graceful in saris.  I started obsessing about saris!  When we visited Hyderabad three months ago, all I wanted to do was shop for saris -  and that’s what I did.  And I’ve worn only saris to all the parties I have attended since returning back to the UAE.  My mother in law will be coming to Dubai during the first week of September, inshaAllah, and she’s bringing more saris for me.  I’m so excited!

5.  United Arab Emirates

I’ve come to love this country so much that I can’t imagine living anywhere else right now.  Just the thought of leaving this country some day breaks my heart.  I love so many things about this country:  the masjids, people, parks, malls, buildings, roads, internet speed, grocery shopping, driving, lights, abayas, desert safaris, restaurants, cleanliness, and safety.  But most importantly, my family is here.  For me this is home.

I’m giving this award to the following fabulous blogs (in no particular order):

Uneekmuslimah

Shahrazad

Digital Niqabi (blog written by two fabulous sisters)

Alisha

Umm Travis

I wanted to share this award with so many more fabulous bloggers who I look forward to reading every day.  But the rule said “five” and I’ll stick to that (reluctantly).

UPDATE (Aug 28)

Hajar has just given me with this awesome “Adorable Blog” Award!  Thank you, girl!

Lost in Translation

This is so much fun!  While randomly browsing the web, I came across Google Translate and decided to give it a try.  Initially, I wrote a paragraph myself and had it translated, but it didn’t feel quite … exciting.   Therefore, I’ve randomly selected paragraphs from the blogs that I frequently visit (without their permission) and translated them to another language, like Japanese, Chinese and Arabic.  I then had them translated back to English.

The original text from Falakk

Now, before you start saying I should be enthusiastic about going to mosque because I get to learn about my religion and pray Qur’an and what not, let me interrupt you. We hardly do anything. Oh sure, we pray a little Qur’an and learn a little about our religion, but really, it’s not anything I didn’t know before. And hello, the mosque is chock-a-block full of little kids. They fight and pull each other’s scarves off, cry, sidle up to me and tell me I look very pretty, keep staring at me (this part is very creepy!), giggle and gossip. The mosque aunties yell for order, but end up chatting amongst themselves. Me? I sit there staring at the clock, waiting for 12 o’clock so I can go home already.

Translated to Japanese

さて、私の前に、私は宗教と祈るクルアーンとは、学ぶことについて私にお邪魔せ得るモスクに行くいきごむするべきであると言って開始します。私たちはほとんど何もありません。まあ確かに、私たちは少しクルアーン祈願し、我々の宗教については、本当に少し学ぶと、今まで何も知らなかったわけではない。捨て、モスクぎっしりですが、小さな子供たちの完全なブロック。彼らと戦うと、私ににじり寄る泣く互いのスカーフを成功させると私は非常にきれい、見て私のこと（この部分を見つめて教えて非常に不気味だ！ ）、クスクス笑うとゴシップ。モスクauntiesため、大声を上げるが、自分の間でチャットを終了します。私？私は時計を見て、 12時に帰宅することができますので、私はすでに待って座っている。

Translated back to English

Now, in front of me, I pray the Quran and religion, you start to say that the mosque should be enthusiastic about going to bother you I could learn about it. We do not have anything. Well certainly, we pray for a Qur’an, our religion is about, and really learn a little, but did not know anything until now. Abandoned, the mosque is full, complete block of small children. And fight them, the success of the scarf and I cry each edge up to me very clearly, I see (a very creepy I looked at this part!), Gossip and giggle. Mosque for the aunties, yell, and then close the chat among themselves. I? I looked at the clock, 12 o’clock, so you can go home, I sit waiting for now.

The original text from Specs

The stenographer is typing a document and she comes in to show the draft for corrections when the woman screams, ‘This one! She’s trying to listen in on our conversation so she can cheat me.’  The A. D texts me a message that says in so many words ‘RESCUE!’ so by the time I get there, there’s no lady there. Only the A.D. ‘Where’s the lady?’ I ask. ‘She just went to get something. Lets run,’ she suggests.

Translated to Traditional Chinese

正在輸入的速記員的文件，她是在顯示的更正草案時，女子的尖叫聲， ‘這一個！她試圖監聽我們的談話，讓她騙了我。 ‘ D文本的答：我這樣的消息在這麼多的話，救援！ ‘這樣的時候，我有，沒有夫人的。只有公元’在哪裡夫人？ ‘我問。 ‘她只是去獲得一些東西。可以運行， ‘她建議。

Translated back to English

The shorthand writer is typing a document, she shows that the correction in the draft, the woman’s screams, ‘This a! She tried to listen to our conversation, she cheated me. ‘D version of the A: I have news in so many words, the rescue! ‘This time, I have no wife. Only Year ‘Where is his wife? ‘I asked. ‘She is just to get something. Can run, ’she suggested.

The original text from Nisa

I’m very bad with road directions. I really should have a GPS navigation system in my car (hint hint). Typical female you say? Nopes, it’s just me. For the past donkey years before I got my driving license and when I was still being driven around (in car, cabs or bikes), the routes have never been of much interest to me. Instead of looking at the roads and the surroundings, I used to close my eyes (and daydream) till I reach my destination.

Translated to Arabic

أنا الطرق سيئة للغاية مع الاتجاهات. أنا حقا يجب أن يكون النظام العالمي لتحديد المواقع نظام الملاحة في سيارتي (إشارة تلميح). تقول امرأة نموذجية؟ Nopes انها مجرد لي. طوال السنوات الماضية قبل أن الحمار حصولي على رخصة القيادة ، وعندما كنت لا تزال تسير نحو (في السيارة أو الدراجة سيارة أجرة) ، والطرق ، ولم يكونوا قط من اهتمام كبير بالنسبة لي. بدلا من النظر في الطرق والمناطق المحيطة بها ،وكنت قريبة من عيني) واحلام اليقظة) حتى الوصول الى بلدي المقصد الأول

Translated back to English

I am very bad roads with directions. I really must be a GPS navigation system in my car (Hint reference). Says a woman pilot? Nopes it’s just me. Over the past years before I got my ass on the driver’s license, and when you are still moving around (in the car or a motorcycle taxi), and roads, have never been of great interest for me. Instead of considering the roads and the surrounding areas, and I close my eyes (and the dreamers) to get to my destination.

The 10 Honest Things About Me

Here’s the deal to do the Honest Tag:  tell your readers 10 things about you that they may or may not know, but are true. Tag ten people and be sure to let them know they’ve been tagged (a quick comment on their blog will do). Don’t forget to link back to the blogger who tagged you.

Ten Honest Things About Me (in no particular order):

1. I trust people very easily.
2. Every time I look into my husband’s eyes, I fall in love – head over heels – all over again.
3. Whenever my driving instructor gives me abrupt orders while I’m behind the wheel, I end up turning the wiper on instead of the indicator lamps.
4. I never refuse pasta or seafood.
5. I’ve recently overheard the most beautiful remark from my mother in law:  “Not every girl is like our Nadia.”  (We’re looking for a bride for my brother in law actually).
6. Whenever I try to save money to buy an SLR, something always comes up.
7. I am already planning for our annual vacation – for next year – somewhere quiet and romantic.
8. Having me as a wife has – based on my careful observation – immensely increased my husband’s level of patience.
9. I cry at least once a month, mostly on trivial matters.  But I believe it’s healthy because it helps cleanse my eyes.
10. As I type this, I feel immensely blessed (alhumdulillah).

Umm Travis, thank you for this fun tag;  I had a great time coming up with this list.

I’m going to tag (in no particular order):

1. Sabiha
2. Sara
3. Shahrazad
4. Masood
5. Haris
6. Humaira
7. Behbood
8. Falakk
9. Frozeefa
10. Nisa

It’s Been a Year!

The Purple Journal Turns One Year Old Today!

And it’s been one beautiful year for this blog, thanks to you all.

When I started blogging – consistently, that is – in June last year, I came across this quote by Alister Cameron:

“… blogging is not about writing posts … that’s the least of your challenges.  Blogging is about cultivating a mutually beneficial relationships with an ever-growing online readership, and that’s hard work.”

Based on statistics, and more importantly the number of wonderful friends I’ve made in such a short period of time, I think I’ve achieved just that.

I must admit though that often times it isn’t easy to update the blog.  There are chores to do around the house before leaving for work, and more chores upon returning home.  It becomes tough to type up a post worthy of displaying online for everyone to read.  Hence, I decided to make the most out of my camera;  pictures say a thousand words, they say.

And so, in June last year, the first month of it’s launch, the blog recorded 1,666 views.  In May this year, the blog was viewed 11,584 times!

First Year’s Stats:

Number of views – 97,646

Posts – 164

Comments – 2, 408

Thank you so much, everyone, for stopping by and spending time not only to read what’s on my mind but also for generously contributing your valuable comments as well.  YOU, my dear reader, are my inspiration to continue updating this blog.  Without you, my blogging experience would simply be reduced to a mere one-sided conversation – a dull, useless monologue.

There is no doubt that The Purple Journal is a personal blog, but I earnestly hope that you learn something new each time you visit the blog.

To Masood, the man chosen by Allah to fill my life with laughter and happiness:  thank you for your patience, support and encouraging words.

Three Ultra Cool Awards!

This month is very special for my blog.  It has received not one, but three very lovely and cool awards!  It has been extremely stressful and crazy lately, therefore I couldn’t visit my fellow bloggers regularly.  My Google Reader listed 102 unread items!  I better start reading soon.

And now, the awards.

This pretty award was given to me by Umm Travis, a brilliant photographer.  You should check out her photographs – she’s done an amazing job with each one of them!  Sis, thank you so much for the award.

I’d love to pass on this award to:

Mariamelle – I am in love with her photographs!

Miss Specs – A good read each time.

Serendipitous Life -  You haven’t written for quite sometime, Sis.  How are you?

Now, isn’t this a cool award!  This award was given to me by Miss Specs, who’s post about Don Bakrato (hope I remember the name right) still make me laugh each time I remember it.  You have to read her blog;  she’s amazing.  Specs, thank you so much for this award!

I’d love to pass on this award to:

Masood – The man who means the world to me.

Amir – My brother who’s getting very good at cooking.

Wakas – My very talented brother (he’s a very good RJ).

There’s a saying that goes, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’  Well, for the past few weeks, I did feel as if life has been generously giving me lemons, big and sour ones (despite the recession).  Fortunately, along came Mubi, who gave me this cool award.   Thank you so much!

Most of the time, I try to make lemonades.  But there are times when, frankly speaking, all I want to do is throw those lemons at someone.  BUT, I’m back to my happy self now, Alhumdulillah.  It just feels so nice to cleanse your heart and rid of all the anger and frustrations.

I’d love to pass this award t

Asma – I’ve spoken to her on the phone (she’s very sweet!).

Umm Travis – I know you have your share of big lemons too (we can do this lemonade business together; summer is kicking in very soon!).

Niyaz – Love your latest picture collection!