Maaloula to Fudo

yet again, another blogging platform migration.. this time from blogspot back to self-hosted wordpress. google’s products are fine, but there is always someone out there that can kick some ass.. and wordpress sure kicks ass compared to blogspot. so this is the first blog entry, slightly different layout, and a new URL..

i have gathered from several of blog mailing list subscribers that the last couple of post notifications required some validation and login details.. not sure what the problem was but as i am keeping the older posts in blogspot, you can check the last two out via the following links:

Across Europa – a big collection of photos from Europe vacation last March

WOMAD ’09 – World of Music, Art and Dance festival in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Also, if you are using Google Photo Screensaver you might be interested in my screensaver photo feed which contains over 100 tagged and selected photos 1455×924 pixels each. you simply need to copy the following URL and paste it in your screensaver feed reader from the Settings panel:

I have been taking some photos here and there lately.. below is what I have ready for now and will post some more soon..

another summer in Syria – Deni came from Germany, her grandfather came from Italy.. and Majed and Magda came down from Turkey where they were visiting relatives.. it was a full house and so friggin busy! I actually did not take a lot of photos in Syria, even though we visited a lot of new places that i have never been to before..

the sign says: Dear Visitor – Please do not get close to the lake.. otherwise the lake monster will hunt you for dinner.. (Balloran Lake)

some mountains..

roadside tents.. very common in the mountains – they usually sell local fruits and vegetables.. i was too lazy to get closer for better shots.. we were on a road trip toward s the Syrian-Turkish borders.. some said it’s worth it..

behind the mountains we approached the Mediterranean seaside.. quite and interesting scape.. mountains.. water.. whatever.

this is hassan, our chaperon most of the vacation.. he got a great collection of topnotch mixes that he keeps playing in his minibus.

Majed and Magda came with a lovely surprise.. Magda is pregnant! She was in her third month in the summer and recently they knew it’s a boy.

The trip to Syria was not an easy one on Magda.. she put lots of efforts to keep up with us all in most of the trips, i could not resist taking this photo of poor Magda back then after we got back home from a horrible terrible trip to a beach house trip.. i told her i am taking a photo, not sure how conscious she was that moment,  i wonder if she will remember when seeing the photo =)

We visited Maaloula on the way to Damascus where we spent few days.. Maaloula, the land of Aramia.. I sure will pay this place another visit in the future.. a small village built in the mountains..

and this is its famous monastery..

Magda resting..

and Deni pulling her hair out of excitement ;)

I like the funny perspective in the two photos above next to each other.. this was in the path behind the monastery.. reminded me of Petra

My vacation was for three weeks.. I do not think I would spend 3 weeks in Syria in the coming couple of years unless I have a fixed plan which is something I would probably do when I am there all alone..

back to Dubai.. a smoke break in some parking lot.

Tarek..

and Abood.. with too many things in his hand..

Fudo.. some back street hidden cafe that is always too busy.. i am not a big fan of this place, used to.. but got sick of it.. i must admit they serve good food.. and the guys got some VIP access there because they break records in going there few times a week.. damn!

the sushi bar under some spotlights..

Mister Jamal in some flashy orange shirt..

making a heart shape out of smoke.. this photo is not edited or retouched.. the shape is natural..

Who can beat Abood in this? no one.. not even himself ;)

and finally the notorious shisha.. or water pipe.