pilgrimchic

My Cup of Tea

September 13, 2014September 13, 2014Travel4 Comments

Do you believe in God?
I do. In my religion, Islam, we call Him Allah, and from hereon I will refer to Him as so in my posts 🙂
So I ask again, do you believe in God?

He is everywhere. And the proof of His Magnificence is in all His creations. The air you breathe. The ground you walk upon. Your human anatomy and how your body works. How trees give us oxygen to breathe; the fact that everything He created is seamlessly interconnected with each other. The beauty.. Before this post turns into a sermon, I’d like to share with you some pictures I took over the weekend.

I thoroughly enjoy the drive to Limuru, listening to some Coldplay and taking in the fresh air and beautiful sights and wonderful tea farms.
Whenever I see the beauty in nature, I get this deep appreciation for Allah’s Genius and say a prayer, “Oh Allah. Bless me with even a drop of Your Knowledge’.
Does nature give you this profound feeling? Like your heart is filled with an emotion you can’t describe, and you just want to sob and smile at the same time because of the beauty before you?
Perhaps not.. But then again, I am a weird cry baby 😀 🙂

I hope you enjoy this read! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
XX

Tea Farm

I couldn't hold myself back when I saw this lovely little shed. We spent about thirty minute just soaking in all the beauty. — I couldn’t hold myself back when I saw this lovely little shed. We spent about thirty minutes just soaking in all the beauty and fresh air, beautiful scenes.

These happy children spotted us taking pictures and posed for us :) — These happy children spotted us taking pictures and posed for us 🙂

All pictures taken on my Google Nexus 5 phone.

Desired Things

September 2, 2014September 13, 2014Life and People2 Comments

If the title of this post made you expect a wish list of sorts, you have been misled.
Desiderata (“desired things” in Latin), is a poem by Max Ehrmann, and the last line carries the weight of the whole poem (pun intended).
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy this week and every other week. 🙂

“Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”

All pictures taken on my Google Nexus 5 phone.

Coffee by The Fort

July 30, 2014October 2, 2015TravelLeave a Comment

I have a feeling I will enjoy this ‘vacation’ more than I usually do. Every so often, the family travels to Mombasa to keep Bibi (my grandmother) company. Eid is one of those ‘every so oftens’.
To mark the end of Ramadhan, Muslims celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, a day to celebrate family, love, friendship and food. And in my opinion, there’s no better place to enjoy Eid than Mombasa.
That being said, Eid was two days ago, 28th July 2014. The house was super busy, guests coming in and out. Family. Neighbours. And the occasional stranger who needs a glass of water and perhaps some fare because they lost their way..
I wasn’t able to take many pictures as Mama needed help in the kitchen but my little brother managed to snap a few that I’ll upload on my next blog post, in’shaa’Allah.

Now for today’s subject material. Fatma has a new favourite coffee spot.
The lovely place is called Mikaye Restaurant and it’s just by The Fort. I can literally smell the ocean breeze from where I sit as I listen to Florence and The Machine ‘Ceremonials’. The air is cool as it rained just a few minutes ago. And my bladder is slightly full as I just downed a cup of cappuccino. A blogger in a coffee shop, how cliche. Hah!
I recommend this place to anyone who loves their space and just wants to look outside at the clouds, contemplate and drink some coffee as they are at it 🙂

“Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa”

Lots of love
XX