Photos: amore questo e Verona

I Had the great opportunity this past March to travel to Italy with my mother who was on business, We visited the little town of Verona, home to Romeo and Juliet! I usually upload more photos but decided to stick with my favorite 6 this time.

The Other side of Thailand

Listening to the strong winds as it passes its way from my room whilst the rain is constantly knocking my windows, what a crazy weather here at St. Andrews.

I try and mute the sound with my latest ministry of sound album while working on my epic journey to Thailand that had to be put on hold because of my crazy hours of studying.

Enjoy, the other side of Thailand

Reflection/photography: Once upon a time

Lost, yes lost, is perhaps the word that would describe my past temperament in life; I wasn’t sure to what extent my abilities in various outlets would lead me. I wanted to do many things simultaneously instead of focusing my energy towards one creative array.

However, what I never realized was that my various hobbies and dreams do point to a specific commonality and that is my deep and undying love for storytelling.

Ever since I can remember, I always loved telling stories, perhaps enjoyed the indulgence of the attentive listeners as I weaved up a short fiction story or spoke of my journeys around the world (perhaps this is the reason I talk far more than I should :p) and I always wanted to keep my stories s alive, hence I began putting them down on paper while at the same time I would take every chance my family gave me to use their camera hoping to keep evidence of my story.

Yet when it comes to photography, I cannot explain to you the sense of serenity I feel when I hold that camera and I click away.

Through the lens, I watch as a story is being unravelled before my eyes, a story that needs to be heard. My dream of being a photojournalist is something I would love to pursue in the future, I believe that there are many interesting stories around the world that needs to be heard, but for now I understand that my dreams may have to wait, yet I do not let that put me down and I continue to enjoy my love of storytelling.

Here is my recent shot with some family friends, these kids (and kids in generally )are more enjoyable to take photos with than adults because they never put up a wall, but rather never shy away from raw emotions. I hope you enjoy this story :)

Reflection:We are Fighters

January 4^th marks a date that will always remain a historic moment in the history of the UAE.

Last night, I was caught between the midst’s of a crowd that came to watch one of the most spectacular moments in history, the

opening of the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa.

It was 8PM as the White Mercedes G55 with the familiar licenses plate number one arrives at the scene. Everyone recognizes that car and the crowd begins to get excited! Everyone was watching the screens and awaiting the most beloved man in Dubai.

As we caught the first glimpse of the Vice President getting out of his car, the UAE national, Arabs, Indians, Asians, Europeans and the rest of the multicultural groups present in this crowd began to cheer.

I have always found Sheikh Mohammed to be an inspirational leader and thought that this feeling was perhaps a shared belief amongst us UAE nationals, but looking at the crowd of faces as they watched our vice president make the stage, I could see the proud faces of the residents of Dubai, I forget that this place is home to many other eclectic groups.

As the ribbons were cut, marking the opening of the Burj, Sheikh Mohammed announced, “The highest point should be associated with the biggest name, I present to you Burj Khalifa.” Everyone was shocked, yet we all understood the solidarity of our sheikh. His emotional attachment and his sense of uniting the emirates (something his late father preached) comes before anything. It is the proof that we shall always stick with our brothers through thick and thin.

In my opinion, ever since the late President passed away and the economic boom in Dubai, this intense rivalry and hatred between the people of Abu Dhabi and Dubai grew parallel. I do not understand it largely because at the end of the day we are all one country and I think this was not a proud moment in the history of Dubai but the UAE.

Now lies burj Khalifa, on Sheikh Zayed Road, a monument that will not only be seen at any point in Dubai but can be glimpsed from outer space, this is truly a proud moment for us all.

As I watched us and our ruler celebrate a moment in our history together, it is something that perhaps no CNN , no BBC nor Business week could ever manage to write down in words or explain, you had to be there to understand it and this was the same feelings amongst the face of crowds of the people present. I saw it in my mother’s eye who stood by me on my right and the Englishman who stood on my left, we all felt it, this intense emotional attachment to Dubai.

What no news agency realizes (due to their cynicism) is that Burj Khalifa has a deeper and symbolic meaning to the residents and UAE nationals. It symbolizes that we can always aim high, that despite everything, despite the debt and despite the recession, we carry on because this is who we are, we are fighters and this is the true symbol of Burj Khalifa! not a world record breaking building, but a symbol of who Sheikh Mohammed is and who we are!