Wanderlust

I was caught by the wanderlust bug ever since I was a kid. I would frequent the Ontario Lake Shore as often as I could just to get my fill. Being away from your mundane routine is very liberating. It often breeds creativity and allows you to be more yourself than whatever society tries to pigeonhole you into.

As the old adage goes, one of the best ways to learn about someone is to either lend them money or travel with them. Travel brings out many of our wonderful qualities, and some not so good ones, believe you me.

I can recall taking a friend on a road trip down to Miami. Things seemed great until the sandy shorelines were not enough to take my mind away from how annoying some habits can really get. One of my major pet peeves is bad eating habits. Imagine being stuck with someone, who smacks their lips with every bite, for a full weekend. Needless to say, that was the last time I was on a long trip away with that friend. I do hang out with him otherwise; I just pretend I’m not hungry or watching my weight.

I have been around some great travel companions as well. One of my best traveling partners is my youngest sibling. We are always in sync on many things. Interested in the same activities; matching my energy step for step. And it doesn’t hurt to have the same taste in food or know how to carry a boujee lifestyle. Those trips couldn’t have been shorter.

Each trip has given me a new perspective on life. Despite the anxiety that comes with airports, and the cramped spaces on trains/cars, I have always returned home a more well-rounded person. From Dune bashing in Dubai, to the great outback, to somber evenings in England, to the cobblestone streets of Roma, I have learned to appreciate culture and people.

Travel is great for the mind and soul. It installs you in a different place, outside of your comfort zone. To make you adapt, learn new ways of life, peer into the lives of complete strangers, or even find a new comfort zone.

A few days away is sometimes all we need to get a B-12 shot in our tired lives. So go ahead and plan that weekend. You can thank me later.

I’ll be back when the mood strikes, but until then, Happy Travels!

Resurrection

Before I tell you about this new show I have been watching, I need to make a confession. I am probably the worst person to ask for recommendation on new shows. This is mainly because I don’t watch a lot of TV. I am not really into Movies either. Something about sitting idle for 2-3 hours just rubs me the wrong way.

Having said that, I have watched all the critically acclaimed shows like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and House of Cards. I feel House of Cards doesn’t get as much credit as the other two. May be it’s the political jargon they use that many people in the United States won’t even know. What the heck is a filibuster again? But Kevin Spacey, despite all his recent personal issues, is nothing short of Genius. My anticipation for its last season dropped massively when I heard it wouldn’t have Spacey. But I digress.

Ertugrul is set in the 13^th century. The nerd in me wanted to watch this show for its historical reference. I had read about the Knights Templars and the Crusades. Ertugrul is about Resurrection. All the difficult times the Turks faced, at the hands of the Templars, and the Mongols. It is how the Ottoman empire came about and grew to be one of the most powerful states in the world. It is how Muslims reclaimed their long lost glory. 

A history lesson, dramatized for tv audience, filled with drama, treachery, and sword wielding knights? Sign me up!  

I am on the Third season of the show. So I must have watched about 200 episodes. Yes, that’s right! 200 something episodes in, I am still not bored. Did I mention I don’t watch a lot of TV? This show is so riveting; I don’t want it to end. Now I have heard Netflix only carries the first 3 seasons, which is a bummer. I am not really good with Torrents and I don’t know where to find episodes online with English Subtitles.

For those who are looking for the next show to binge watch, I would highly recommend Ertugrul. Those little snippets with “Ibn-al-Arabi” will surely put you in a trance. And who knows, you might even pick up some Turkish.

Vallahi, this show is çok Guzel.

Aye-Wallah 

Guess who’s back

‘Guess who's back, back again
Shady's back, tell a friend
Guess who's back, guess who's back?
Guess who's back, guess who's back?’

Yes i’m back from the Dead. I didnt even know i had a blog. But a very special reader has inspired me to continue. So i shall be providing you more brain candy, if thats your milieu!