Nostalgia..

Today I spent some time with my father wondering around in our beloved Amman in order to take some pictures of the city. I may seem childish when saying this but every second I spent it today with him was full of joy, fun, happiness and wisdom in the same time!

Simply we were a father and his daughter searching for a great spot for photography! And since Amman is a set of mountains, we kept on moving from one mountain to another... ‘jabal ilashrafyeh’ ‘jabal ilmareekh’ ‘jabal iltajj’ jabal nadeef’ then of course we had to visit down town, it’s one of our sanctuaries! We love the smell, the noise and the crowdness of people there! Maybe it all because of the nostalgia...

On the other hand, it amazing how a tool such as a camera could change the behavior of people passing by the photographer, some of them smile or giggle shyly, some of them try to walk faster in order to hide, and even some may ask you questions and start small talks out of curiosity!

I may have documented some of the sites in Amman, but some of today’s memories can’t be captured, yet it’s engraved in my memory, for instance the moment when we saw a kid was about to be hit by a car.. And when we stopped in one way curved roads with the flushers of the car on and trying to pause the time for seconds! Another moment when we had some delicious Armenian pastries from Arteen’s bakery! Also when dad forgot the car key’s inside the car and we stayed outside laughing! Basically it was a day of memories and remarkable events, and now I’m waiting eagerly for the next time, where we will visit ‘jabal Amman’ ‘Jabal alnaser’ ‘jabal ilwebdeh’ for taking some pictures and listening to my dearly loved father talking about Amman passionately.

JAWAD

Jawad... my cute little baby! Although we call him ''my son'' but in fact he is my cousin! if i start talking about his fluffy soft kalabeez i'll never stop so i better let the pictures talk! ;)

TAGG: smells i love

I've been tagged by my twinny Naryat... about the smells i love. Although they are so many but these are the ones i recall now :

1. The smell of freshly baked cinnabon with melted cheese creams on top of it
2. The smell the first rain drops in spring/winter
3. The smell of cute fluffy babies and bare in mind that in my opinion there is
a different smell for each baby!
4. The smell of Vanilla.. in fact in the past two months i've been opssessed with vanilla so i got the fregnance oil for my room and the vanilla scented candles and vanilla body spray :P
5. The smell of my favorite perfumes: coco chanel... lancome mircale... kenzo
6. The smell of deep blue dunhill.. hugo... 212 men
7. The smell of mom's baked 7alogh (circassian bread)
8. The smell of ditol and tide.. nadafeh ya3ni!! (mwaswaseh mo b2idi) :P
9. The smell tita's old house... childhood memories :)
10. The smell of watermelon gum EXTRA specially at the ahli club ;)

TAGGED

I’ve been tagged by my friend (bro) zeid to list 10 simple pleasures and the rules are:

a. You have to use the picture in my post.

b. You have to list exactly 10 points.

c. You have to tag 3 bloggers when you are done


so here are my top 10:

1. when i'm with my soulmate
2. when i'm with tita and tala!
3. when i drive my car in aljandaweel and alkursi just before the sunset
4. when i play with the chubby babies and their cute lil hands
5. when i enjoy a hot big cinnabon with a cold caramelatachill
6. when have a good night sleep after being so much tired
7. when i play a good tarneeb or trix game with my frndz
8. when i look at my room and see everything tidy and cosy
9. when i do stuff i used to do as a kid like playing hide and seek or za26a o morje7a :P
10. when i make people happy because of smething i did for them

12 questions

1. Who are you?
2. Are we friends?
3. When and how did we meet?
4. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
5. Describe me in one word.
6. What was your first impression?
7. Do you still think that way about me now?
8. What reminds you of me?
9. If you could give me anything what would it be?
10. How well do you know me?
11. When's the last time you saw me?
12. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?


These 12 simple questions, if people answered at them you'll know a litlle bit more about your friendship with them, but if the person is so close to you and gives u back 12 perfect answers you'll experince a warm feeling inside you telling you that there is in this world that special person... who you feel totlly yourself with!

Layanah and I

It’s amazing to feel the rush of the blood in your veins when you are in a speedy car and you can actually feel the tears of joy racing on your checks heading towards the back of your head! This was my feeling when my friend Layanah was driving the car madly! We enjoyed every second in that drive! All what we can hear was the laughter and the background of the music! Really gooooooood times!

M3 ta7yat abo il3idwan o abo sharkas :P hehehe!

fluffy snow

One of my happiest moments in this snowy day... Is sitting in the car, going back home from university, watching the fluffy feathery snow falling from the peaceful sky down on the crowded earth! The background of the music from my radio was completing the scenery… and because of the tranquility of the falling snow I was able to eliminate all the noises around me and listen to the harmony of nature! It’s truly amazing!

P.S. I’m glad that my car didn’t turn off although I skidded few times but I was enjoying these moments anyway!

Jido

It’s incredible how it’s possible to love a person without seeing him, or even trying to be like him without knowing him face to face! That’s the way I feel about my late grandfather ‘’Mazhar Shawqi’’. If I can see someone from the dead I wish that I can meet my grandpa… Pictures and tita talks aren’t enough! For me, ‘’Jido’’ is a puzzle that I try to figure out constantly, I gather the pieces from tita, 3amto, dad, pictures, and I hang with every memory and I try to picture it the way it was!

I don’t’ know why I picture ‘’Jido’’ a perfect person, maybe because I never heard anyone saying something about his flaws or mistakes or bad habits! But I like the way I look up to him and try to be like him! Although ‘’Jido died before 26 years and never saw him but once dad told me that I do have almost the same handwriting as his, I was thrilled to know that! It’s the mystery of ‘’Jido and me’’ J

I love you Jido.. Allah yr7amak

Bersieq’s gathering at La bruschetta

Yesterday, Hashaem, Haya, Munther and me went eating out at La bruschetta , and if you eat there YOU HAVE TO TRY THE MOLTEN CHOCOLATE there! It’s a piece of your sweet sweet dream! The four of us just sat there, waiting patiently, chatting and talking and making noise, till the four dishes arrived… after that, all you can hear is MMMMMMM! None of us stopped eating because it is so delicious! After feeling full we left, took my cousins Haya and Hashem back home, then continued –my brother and I- our “laflafeh” to our home! What an amazing meal: P

WELCOME TO JORDAN :)

3anjad mo daroori ilwa7ad ya3'aleb 7alo o ytshan6a6 3ala blad barra iza sa77elo kol hal ''3izz'' in Jordan! ''HALA 3AMI!!!''

Spiderman in Jordan

little cute angel

Yasmin... is this little cute angel
it's one of the best photos I ever took! I hope you'll enjoy it!

favorite books

Some of my favorite books:

1. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
2. Veronica decides to die – Paulo Coelho
3. The devil and miss Prym – Paulo Coelho
4. The Zahir – Paulo Coelho
5. Woman at Point Zero – Nawal Elzaadawi
6. A Million Little Pieces – James Frey
7. The Circassians – Amjad Jamoukha
8. The speed reading book – Tony Buzan
9. Fawda al7awas – A7lam Mostaghanmi
10. Dafater al6ofan – Sami7a khries
11. Alsa7en – Smai7a khries
12. Nara – Sami7a khries
13. Shar8 almotawset – Abdul Rahman Munif
14. Pygmalion – Tawfiq alHakeem
15. Ista5dem 3a8lk (use your mind) – Nasri Tarazi

Tala's Birthday!

Today is Tala’s birthday! My cutest little cousin’s birthday! We’ve been together for the past three years! Almost everyday we play together and talk! I can’t imagine my life without Baby Tala! I know everyone will say that babies are cute but it’s not the same with Tala! She’s witty, entertaining and fun to play with!

Baby Tala.. Toota.. sa3deeh.. kambayeh.. 7ababeh are some of the nicknames! Hehe! But at the end of the day she’ll be Tala! A combination of cleverness, silliness, happiness, joy, thrill and warmth! I simply love her!

‘all times’ favorite songs

Some of my ‘all times’ favorite songs:

1. Have a Nice Day – Bon Jovi

2. It’s my Life – Bon Jovi

3. Bed of Roses – Bon Jovi

4. Let me Go – 3 doors down

5. Six Feet from the Edge – Creed

6. Dust In The Wind – Scorpions

7. Winds of Change – Scorpions

8. Still loving you – Scorpions

9. Desert Rose – Sting ft. Cheb Mami

10. The Scientist - Coldplay

11. Lips of an Angel - Hinder

12. October - Evanescence

13. Are you there – Anathema

14. Windowpane - Opeth

15. Que Sera Sera – Doris Day

16. Fall at Your Feet - Jesse Cook

17. Gravity - Jesse Cook

18. She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5

19. Sabre Dance – Vanessa Mae

20. Ghira Kafe - Samer Sami

21. Fantomas Kafe - Zwingenberg Xase

22. Chachan (Jeel club) – Samer Sami

23. Adiganamis – Ivan Bakij

24. Pasare kafe – Ivan Bakij

25. Ubykh kafe – Nostalgia

26. Urdon – Rum Tareq Al-Naser

27. Dagg Galbi - Rum Tareq Al-Naser

28. a36ini ilnai – Fairouz

29. Gai bilsalamah – Cheb Mami

30. ili beni o benak - Amr Diab

RUM- Tareq Al-Naser

Tareq Al Nasser... ''A pioneer in the creation of a new movement in modern Arabic music: TV Drama music scoring and tracking. His innovative talents are present at many intervals including musical composition, arrangement, & rearrangement of old pieces and folk songs of music.''

Rum music suits the soul and fits perfectly in the harmony of our busy crowded lives! For me, it's a mixture of creativity, harmony, happiness, madness, authenticity and pride… Usually it gives me a boost to carry on and to enjoy every single second of my day… Simply, Rum music is an amazing simple yet sophisticated music that soothes the spirit.

The latest CD is called URDON
Composed & Arranged by: Tareq Al Nasser
includes these songs:

- Urdon
- Rohy Ya Rouh
- Lamma Teshti
- Jattna Resala (Jordanian Folklore)
- Iram
- Ya Yumma
- Hob
- Eshna
- Dagg Galby
- Men Nos Sa’a
- Mosaic

www.rummusic.com

Movies!!

فيلم أجنبي

سيارة مسرعة تصدم كلب إمرأة عجوز
يصاب الكلب تتصل العجوز بـ 911 ــ
ثلاثة سيارات شرطة تطارد سيارة المشبوه التي تنطلق بسرعة
يراوغ المشبوه من سيارات الشرطة.... يطير فوق سيارة الشرطة
الأولى فتصدم باص طلاب مدارس
يسبح تحت سيارة الشرطة الثانية فتسقط في النهر وتغرق
بقيت سيارة واحدة ... إنها تستمر بالمطاردة
يطلق الشرطي المقدام النار على عجلات سيارة المشبوه ... فتنفجر العجلة
لتنقلب سيارة المشبوه ثم ترتطم بمحطة للوقود........ بوم ....
نال المشبوه جزاءه ومات حرقاً
النتيجة = تضرر باص مدرسة وسيارة الشرطة الأولى وموت تلميذ +
غرق الشرطين وسيارتهما + موت المشبوه وحريق بالمحطة + وقبلة في النهاية بين اثنين ليس لهما أي علاقة بالموضوع

فيلم مصري

"بحبك يا زيزي "
" بحبك يا حنفي بس لازم شقة لو حتى أوده واحدة كفاية"
حنفي بالشركة تعرض عليه رشوه ويقول: أنا
ما أبعش ضميري
العصابة تلاحق حنفي وتبدأ المطاردات
أصوات تشحيط عجلات السيارات وهي تمشي بسرعة 10 كيلومتر
حنفي يموت قائلاً العبارة الشهيرة: ــ
"أتـلـتـني يا مجرم

فيلم مكسيكي مدبلج

روزاليندا عندها من الفريد خمسة أولاد وهي حامل السادس
قرر الاثنان بأن يتزوجا
أما ماريا فهي حامل من أخو زوجها رينالدو إلا أن زوجها لا يدري
ولوسيانا تريد أن تتزوج من إغناسيو إلا أنها لا تعلم أن ابن عمها هو خالتها...
ينتهي المسلسل بعد حوالي عشرة قرون حيث تحل جميع المشاكل في
جميع المشاكل في آخر خمسة دقائق من الحلقة الأخيرة... ــ

فيلم هندي

يحبها وتحبه
تغني له ربع ساعة
يغني لها ربع ساعة
فجأة كل الذين حولهم يبدأون بالرقص
وتظهر أصوات الموسيقا لا أدري من أين
ابو البنت يغضب من بنته التي أحبت ذلك الشخص الفقير ، ثم يقوم يحبسها
يأتي حبيبها إلى نافذتها ويغني لها ربع ساعة ، تغني له ربع ساعة
وفجأة يبدأ الحراس وأبو البنت بالرقص
تأتي صديقة البنت لتزورها في غرفتها ... وتسألها عن حبيبها
البنت تغني ربع ساعة
ورفيقتها تغني ربع ساعة
يسمع الأب ابنته وهي تغني فيرحمها ويعفو عنها
يتجه الأب لبيت حبيبها ويطلب منه يزور بنته ويوافق على زواجهم
يهرول الحبيب فرحان إلى حبيبته ويغني لها ربع ساعة
تغني له ربع ساعة
ويبدأ خدم البيت بالرقص
يعود ابن عم البنت من السعودية تاركاً عمله هناك
في الهند لم يعجبه الوضع... فقام بقتل حبيب الفتاة
تصيح الحبيبة وتكبي على قبر حبيبها
ثم تغني بحزن ربع ساعة ثم تموت...
لم ينته الفيلم هنا
روح الحبيبة وروح الحبيب تجتمعان بشكل خيالي وتغنيان! ساعة
ونصف ، وحتى نهاية عهد الديناصورات

WELCOME TO JORDAN :)

ابتسم فأنت في الأردن .....

إذا مشيت بالشارع يوم من الأيام ... وشفت سياره تكسي صفرا ...
من جوا ضو أزرق ... وسي دي معلق على المراي ... وجواتها شب مربي سكسوكه ولابس بنطلون كونز ومعبي السيارة من برا تعليقات وملصقات ... فأنت تسير في شوارع الأردن ....

إذا كنت واقف على الإشارة ولما تصير صفرا بتسمع سبعين واحد بيزمرو وراك .... فأنت في الأردن

إذا كنت ماشي وعلى بعد 200 متر إشارة خضرا .. وشفت كل السيارات بتتجاوز عنك عن اليمين .. عن الشمال ... مش فارقه .. المهم يلحقوا الإشارة خضرا .... بتكون في الأردن ...

إذا دخلت أي دائرة حكومية وشفت الموظف قاعد ماد بوزه ومكشر ووجهه فلتبتسم لانك في إحدى الدوائر الحكومية في الأردن ...

اذا سمعت الحوار التالي .....

- ألو ...
- ألو ...
- مرحبا
- هلا .. هلا ...
- كيف الحال ..
- والله الحمد لله ... انت شو أخبارك
- تمام الله يسلمك ...
- شو فيه ما فيه ..
- والله صافيه وافيه .. مين معي
- انت الطالب .. مين حضرتك
- مش تليفون ابو غازي ..
- لا يا خوي النمره غلط
- آه ... حقك علي يابه ..
- ولا يهمك .. كسبنا سماع هالصوت ...
- يا سيدي الله يحي اصلك .. من وين انت ...
- انا من الملاطشه ...
- هاظا احنا قرايب ...
- يا سيدي حياك الله ... مع السلامه
- هلا .. هلا .. الله معك ...

طبعا اذا سمعت مثل كل هذا الحوار ... والنمره غلط ... فأنت أكيد في الاردن ...

اذا كنت تتحدث مع شخص عن أسعار الاراضي ... وقالك انه الارض الفلانيه اللي بعبدون كانت لجده وكان يزرع فيها بندوره وفقوس .. وباعها بثلاثمية ليره بالستينات ... فأنت اكيد في الاردن ....

اذا كنت ماشي بالشارع ... وشفت واحد بيجح بخلقتك .. هيك بدون سبب ... لا هو مسلِم .. ولا هو مبتسم لك ... بس بيجح كانك قاتل ابوه .... فانت ماشي في الاردن ...

اذا رن عليك واحد مش شايفه صار لك عشرطعشر سنه ... وساعه وهو يسلم عليك ويمدح فيك وآخر اشي سألك : بالله وين محول راتبك .... اكيد بتكون بالاردن ...

اذا كنت قاعد بمكان عام ... وكل اللي حواليك ماسكين موبايلاتهم وسمعت .. " بالله شغل البلوتوث .. بدي أبعث لك شغله طقع " ... بتكون بالاردن ...

اذا سمعت كلمة صافيه وافيه ... وهي لا صافيه ولا وافيه .. بتكون بالاردن ..

اذا شفت بكم ديانا موديل الف وتسعميه وخشبه محمل بندوره والشوفير شاد الشماغ على راسه ومش شايف لا شمال ولا يمين .. ويا أرض اشتدي ما عليكي أدي .. بدي أسبق كل التكاسي .. بتكون بالاردن ...

اذا الدنيا رشت شوية بَرَد ...ووزارة التربية علَقت الدراسه .. والحكومة اعلنت عطلة رسمية بسبب خوفها من الثلج الغادر .. والتلفزيون بث مسرحية العيال كبرت .... معناته انت كمان بالاردن ...

اذا شفت الجو ..هَه .. برشرش ثلج والناس بتقدر تركظ عالخبز والكاز بس ما بتقدر تروح تداوم ... برضه بتكون بالاردن

The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything

Such a simple number.. but you may be surprised to find out that it might be the Answer to The Ultimate Question Of Life, the Universe, and Everything according to a fictional solution in Douglas Adams's science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In the story, the Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything is sought using the hypercomputer Deep Thought, however the computer was insufficiently powerful to provide the Ultimate Question when asked after it had produced the Answer (after a very long computation time — 7.5 million years). The answer given by Deep Thought prompted the protagonists to embark on a quest to discover the Question to which this is the Answer.

The author of the HGTG simply says: The answer to this is very simple. It was a joke. It had to be a number, an ordinary, smallish number, and I chose that one. Binary representations, base thirteen, Tibetan monks are all complete nonsense. I sat at my desk, stared into the garden and thought '42 will do' I typed it out. End of story.

For me, i enjoyed the movie and now i'm enjoy the book... and still working on the answer to life, universe and everything! hehe! 42... mmm... what a simple number!

CINNABON

CINNABON… in my personal point of view is the greatest food created ever! It’s a perfect mixture of cinnamon and sugar and melted cream cheese! It’s an amazing food that gives the ultimate pleasure! It’s a great reward for doing anything! It’s simply.. THE BEST FOOD EVER!

childhood stuff

childhood stuff

grew up in Amman in 80's and 90's and can relate to the following:

You watched Al Manahel everytime it's on, and you know what does "Aqwa men al Shadda, Ahda2 men Al Sukoon" means!

You can recite the theme songs of Jongar, Grendizer, Al Rajol El Hadidi, Lady Lady, Sally, Adnan Wa Lina, Al Haddaf

You watched: Captain Majed, Sandy Bell (even if you're a boy), Judy Abbott, Bell wa Sebastian, Al 7oot El Abyad, Lady Oscar (bass balash lady, abu el shabaab), Labeeba (who we never tend to know she got hair for hands or hands for hair), Sonbol, Tamtamm, Jazeerat El Kanz, Maymouna, Al Ra7alou El Sa3'eer, Flona, Sindibad, Tom Sawyer

You watched Eftah Ya Semsem, and later on in your life found out it's the Arabic version of Sesame Street.

You know the two flavours of 'Shokalatet Moody'. Yellow and Pink

You bough from Dukkaneh:
Dam3a, Zaki, Double Wheel, Tootoo (Tweety), Raas El 3abed, SB 3elket Ma5addat, Roco, Tiger Chocolate, Shebs Ringo, Askimo, Shukala 3ammar, 3elket Mentaad, Halawani Shebs, Baskoat Marie, Katakeet, Mr Shebs (not CHIPS, SHEBS haha), Petra Ice Cream (the 'expensive' one with double layers), the red ULKER chocolate with the cubes.

You know the tune the Cotton candy man does (Sha3r El Banat)

You played Ghommayeh, 6ummayeh or whatever you call it and when you touch the 'place' you say "Kummesteir" and 'til now you don't know what the hell it means!

You had a crush on 3aroob Sobo7 (if you're a boy) with her show "Waqt El Mara7" and if you're a girl, you had a crush on the always-wearing-a-cap goalkeeper in Captain Haddaf.

You drew Fido Dido at a certain phase of your life

You had a pair of big white sneakers, and most of you had Reebok Pump.

Atta-Ali and Jabri were the best restaurants in town.

You had an Atari, and somewhere in your house you still have that Joystick somewhere in the house.

You know Abu Yousef, and you can at least sing one of the three songs of his

In the back of your mind there's a song called "Tgool Ahwak" by an ancient Jordanian band called Mirage

You know that Atta Ali has 46 Ice Cream flavours! Beat that Baskin
Robins!

You attended weddings in Jabri, at Knafeh from Jabri, ate actual food from jabri and ate the Nestle-Lion-Imitation Tiger Chocolate (by Jabri bardo!)

You know the tune of "Fares El 7alqa" from Yes3ed Saba7ak, every Friday morning on Jordan TV.

You thought that "Ya Ayoha El Maleko El Ajal" by that Sofia woman was the new Anthem for Jordan, haha

You remember the bookshops in Amman celebrating "Al 3awda Ela El Madares" with you buying stationery.

Your family had a workshop in the house, laminating your books' covers with what is called "Tajleed Contact"

After laminating the books, you go to school with some having bubbles in them. And you know what you did in class with these

You never called the Jordanian sole channel Jordan TV, it was always "Amman"; and you watched American movies on "3amman El Tanyeh"

"Yahya El Thakaa2!"

You know three bees: Zeina, Nahool and Sewar el Asal.

"Ayaseeeedi, Romo Yalla Hat"

"Bestek Bestek Bestek NAW, Shukalata Jersey makla el GAW"

You Had nightmares about Abu Shakoosh

You wore "Boat Amigo Bedwi w Betfi", and walked proudly in the Jordanian streets

You actually saw a Monkey in "7adiqat al Tuyoor"

You actually called Abu El Dahab center "El Dobb" cause there's a big Panda there

You consumed Zeit and Za3tar sandwiches in school that could feed 50 Families for 10 years

Your local Disney Land was Mujamma3 Bank El Iskan

Your other Disney Land was Luna Park

You cut your classes in school to go buy Falafel sandwiches from the restaurant next to the school.

Shebs Disco, colored fingers. And Shebs Bitza, rings for your fingers

You watched the Quran in the morning, just waiting for it to finish so you'd watch morning cartoons.

You watched "Sameed" before school, and wondered how tyres actually tastes like!

PRISON BREAK

Although I’m a TV addict and I watch several series but I usually like a certain series for a period of time till I’ll discover a new series and watch it. This time I guess it’s different, because the series I’m watching now is called PRISON BREAK is radically different. It’s almost near to perfection!! Maybe its one of the few TV shows that the makes the one of us eager to watch the next episode… or even waiting for the coming season! I doubt that one can miss any episode of it!

The writer of such a series is really creative, not because of the show itself, but because he was able to make use of the human curiosity! Thus the writer keeps us on the edge of our seats while waiting for the episodes!

To know more about PRISON BREAK you may click the link and see more info about it, yet the beauty of it is to WATCH IT AND ENJOY IT: p

http://www.fox.com/prisonbreak/