A story worth telling – Qirtas and the inventions of the Islamic Golden Age
This post is the inspiring story of Qirtas and the beautiful, brave and intelligent woman who founded it. I think you know the saying: Behind every great man is a great woman. Well, in this case, it is behind every great woman is an equally great man.. as we will …
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Celebrating Makloubeh: Loved by young and old alike!
Basema’s eggplant makloubeh With my nieces and Basema right after the unveiling These two weeks have been particularly precious to me, as they have helped me come to terms with what I do best. Thanks to my friend Anna, what I do now has a title. I am a ‘Social Learner’. I …
Continue ReadingThe Art of Storytelling in Sharjah – From Palestine, Tunisia and More!
Some of my loveliest memories of childhood are around stories, both hearing them and telling them. My eldest aunt, my mother’s sister, Nafiza, was the storyteller of the family and she was great at it. She would send me to the neighborhood store in Amman for yoghurt and I would …
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Yasmina Khadra – An Algerian Literary Treasure
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is one of my favorite events in Dubai. After I moved from New York to the UAE in late 2005, attending the festival was the first time I truly felt at home here. There is a vibrant and positive energy that comes from young …
Continue ReadingEgypt’s musical legacy lives on- Joseph and James Tawadros
This post is a series of seemingly unfortunate events that turned into a wonderful tale of discovery and a story that tickles me every time I think of it. Recreate the atmosphere of this wonderful duet by playing the selection of music below as you read. It all started when a dear …
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Menn Baladha- a modern twist on age-old crafts
I love nature and from it, I derive many other loves. I love anything that reminds me of it or brings me closer to it, especially natural materials. What’s not to love about this Divine life-affirming healing art and life source that surrounds us! One of my favourite natural materials, …
Continue ReadingA special bookshop in Paris – Avicenna Librarie
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been researching three different posts and I couldn’t quite decide which one to write first. When I woke up this morning, I was given a clear sign that the story I should tell was that of the Avicenna Librarie, an Arabic bookshop …
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Epicenter- Artistic reflections of Saudi artists
I found an unexpected gem which makes it all the more precious! The Arab American National museum has been on my bucket list for years now since it was created in 2005. This summer my niece had an internship in Washington DC. She told me she would like to travel …
Continue ReadingThe Mecca Retreat
The ultimate Muslim experience is a visit to the Ka’bah (1). I began my annual Umrah visit at the age of 14 and continued until 3 years ago. When I returned this year, I could feel the gap since my last visit. I pray that
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