mums school

photographs again....

Mombasa - Lamu

well i have finally found some internet again. and that is on the island of Lamu. just a quick update. lamu is very very very slow place. you have peace of mind. the only traffic is people. again. the posting of pictures will have to wait. and also i more in depth report! mombasa raha as they say. its a place most people will enjoy visiting. chaos, relaxed attitude. and the much safer place then Nairobi. anyway. must go again. peace people

Nairobi

yo! i can't seem to upload my pictures. so unfortunatley people. your jsut going to have to reading.... boring i know. i'm sorry. and my english skills are obviously not the best!..... sitting in Nairobi at the moment. where my mum was brought up. though, i don't think it was the Nairobi she grew up in. it has become a lot more conjested, taller buildings, and busted up streets.... it has a simlar feel to India. though. I felt india was more to do with food, textile and craft. here. it seems more to do with. mechanical stuff.... but i have only seen Nairobi so far.... so we'll see what the rest of the journey has in store..... went to see my mums fathers old factory. it was really nice to see how a simple skrew or a metal water heater and stuff. was made from scratch.... also, the language barrier is another interesting thing. in India i could get by. here its going to be a little more interesting to move around and get things. and not get ripped off along the way lol. anyway.... gotta jet peace.

Oman - Kenya

Ok, so i start my journey to Kenya today. leaving Sohar... to Musact and then landing in Nairobi , hopefully! still have too much luggage! i always remember this trekker me and Laurits meat in the Himalayas. he said he only carries 10kg and he told a story of hos he broke his girlfriends hair brush handle off. because he said it was useless weight lol.... and another friend Aaron who told me how he traveled through India. with just a rucksack. and here is me with so much. i don't even know where it all comes form. it just kinda appears. need to learn how to carry less stuff! but anyway.... hope this next leg of the journey is fruitful! just as the previous two have been.

Sleeping in India

I recently received this [below]and a couple more pictures from Sara. a friend from Sangath, in an e-mail. i was delighted to see the e-mail, that someone could remember me and go out of their way to pick the photographs and send them to me. there are some very thoughtful people in this world. and i met a lot of them in India. may they continue to be thoughtful! a story to note i heard from abdal aziz fredricks.
 Hatim al assam [my spelling may be off] a great great scholar. A woman came to him to ask a question. She came to him, about to ask the question..... and what happens? she breaks wind. she is so embarrassed
 and he sees how embarrassed she is. and he says to her, whats your question!? she asked the question. I can't hear you! he shouts.
 the woman stops and raises her voice. I STILL CAN"T HEAR YOU. WHAT DID YOU SAY? he turns to the people around him and says WHAT DID SHE SAY? Write it down! the scholar shouts.
so the woman begins to write the question down. OH! sorry i didn't hear you. as she was writing the question down. she begins to feel cool. "the guys deaf he didn't hear me, break wind she thinks". 
Hatim al Assam is called Hatim al Assam, the deaf one. for 20 years he pretended to be deaf!! to make the woman feel good about herself.... What people.

All that glitters is not gold

All that glisters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgement old
Your answer had not been inscroll'd
Fare you well, your suit is cold.

line in William Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice,

they use the synonym 'glisters'.

Jerry

Oh Man... Good times!.... 9am. "ALI!!" "N and S come running in, "Ali Paa, there is a mouse!". so i'm thinking, oh great i have to pretend i'm not scared and help with a mouse. anyway, the brave soul that i am. i walk into the room, everyones looking at this sofa [new sofa].  remember, i am half asleep at this point because i have not seen 9am for a long time lol. anyway.... the extra food for the house is stored under th sofa, thinkings life fizzy drinks, biscuits etc...  so we begin to take the food out, in search of this Mouse.... no sign of it yet.... everything is out. on the floor... hmmm we wonder.... everyone is stood around this sofa bed. looking into the empty compartment...[its blue btw]. eve.ryone is stook over the empty comparment... in silence... then the mouse pops its head out from under the comparment..... S shouts MOUSE! and everyone pauses, not knowing waht to do. the mouse pauses. everyone is looking at everyone, the mouse is looking at everyone. and then it rushed into the inside of the actual sofa. the place you lean your back.... Damn, he's going to set up camp there, we thought... now it was stuck....we lifted the sofa up vertically and started to smack it. then uncle realised if it comes out. we'll only have to catch it again in another part of the hosue. so we took the sofa into the garden.... continued to beat it.... someone had the idea of cutting the back of it.... so we did. destroying the sofa slowly... slit no mouse.... then we realised. if it comes out. its still in the Garden, therefore still able to get in the house.... now its in from of the house. in the middle of the society. kids are looking at us strangly as we hit thie sofa. and probs people form inside their houses. anyway. we stop... jsut watch the sofa for a while. and the mouse pops its head out.... it looks at us S gets scared and run inside... the mouse does the same..... anyway.... before we knew it the the sofa had been thrown away. it rested peacfully near the public bin. uncle informed aunty about the sofa. she was shocked and confused to the removal of the sofa. uncle said. look "it was either the sofa or the mouse". but it was a new sofa she added "look on the positive side, you got rid of a mouse and you get to buy a new sofa"

and the sofa now lives with a bengali family we saw taking it. little did they know this item comes with a free toy......

0.99999..... = 1

My sister just enlightened me with this 0.999.... is equal to 1

Proof:-

X = 0.999....
10X = 9.999...
10X - X = 9.999.... - 0.999.....
9X = 9
X = 9/9
X=1

therefore 0.999.... = 1

with that, a slight humoured maths joke, for all you geeks,

Q: How many mathematicians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: 0.999999....

Architecture Personal Statement

 “There is a field beyond what is right and what is wrong, I will meet you there”, Rumi said. He challenges the notion of being definitive. For me this was a very powerful moment, where my perspective on life and architecture shifted. I left my undergraduate degree thinking I had finally understood architecture. Then leaving my internship in India I realised how naïve I was.  That field Rumi spoke about became a lot clearer.  It was not just about the definitive in and of itself, it also referred to the approach of the definitive action.  For example, to access a space it may be necessary to make a door. Louis Khan gave 2 metres for the opening, whereas Le Corbusier was a little more generous, giving 2.26 metres. Both knew a door was to be made, but each took an alternative method in exploring the transition. Considering this and other thoughts, I began to embrace a culture far different from my own. India.

Optimum is a word I learnt from my time in Sangath. It means, in brief, to bring something to a level where it has the greatest opportunity for growth, which is what we want architecture to do: to grow and breathe. It must be seen as something that will develop as it interacts with the users. We were also taught to look at previous projects from the office, and then take the questions to B.V.Doshi himself. He proved to be a fountain of knowledge and a great mentor to whom I am ever grateful. Along with the aesthetic, I have also understood the more pragmatic side of the architectural world. I was involved in the many challenges of the profession from demanding clients, late hours, building codes and law, and the logic of engineering. Together they brought a fresh perspective to my outlook of architectural design and implementation.

My final project for part one, ‘New Fallujah’, raised issues of social distress and the need for architecture to provide facilities for a new beginning. At some level I thought this was quite a Romantic dream until I saw projects in Vastu-Shilpa. They are trying to bring life back to places destroyed by earthquakes showing architecture can facilitate a new beginning, which takes people out of turmoil and brings them to a felicitous new life. In the future I hope to be involved in other companies that share similar ambitions.

Being an ECB [English Cricket Board] coach I have gained leadership skills, the ability to understand how to handle responsibilities and how to motivate others as well as myself. I was elected year representative and later Islamic Society president. Not only did I work with others to improve the quality of our own education, but I also worked with people from other courses, to help take our university forward. As the president of the ISoc during the terrorism incident at John Moores’, I had to take the responsibility of liaising with the media (CNN, BBC, Guardian and others) as well as keeping relationships between the Muslim community and the university calm and peaceful. This proved to be a testing time, but one that also proved to be fruitful for my social education.

I believe London Metropolitan is the optimum place for my architectural development. A fifty percent design based course is ideal for enhancing my design abilities in a vibrant city. In addition, the descriptions of the modules [‘The Problem of Irony’ and ‘Forgetting Air’ in particular] present challenges I look forward to tackling and believe will allow me to continue my journey through the vast ocean of architecture. Furthermore, I am more than capable of representing the school in terms of quality and tradition through my experience and character. From the University’s inherent drive to educate, I also believe that knowledge and the desire for it are never lost, only the student must make knowledge the means to a great change, which is what I trust this institution will ultimately provide.

So It Begins

Its that time of year, Easter. When we suddenly realise, "crap we have exams soon!!! i finish soon!!!!" and you rush to your books and begin to crack on in the holidays. Therefore the Easter holidays really become an Easter prison sentence. locked away in rooms all around the world.

HOWEVER, with the invention of the internet. locking the room is just a ritualistic act. the moment we turn on the computer or keep our mobile phones near by. we have opened up far larger door ways. so we risist and we plough through the work. page after page, book after book. its a long journey! one that will make you go slightly mental. get bored for hours on end and make people neat freaks. tidying their rooms to distract them. or become religious. in the end. its all a bunch of craziness.

but, for me. as i sit far away from the chaos for once. i can only enjoy the freedom of that stress. knowing i may return to it one day. so for all those of you struggling along that difficult path strengthen your resolve with stories of people who have achieved great things. and know that with hard work, you too can achieve. also remember,.... how ironic, i forgot what i was going to say. got distracted. hmmm oh well i guess thats the end of my thought. if i remember i'll post a part two haha. peace.

The last words of Spartacus

 

The last words of Spartacus – by Amal donkol (1940-1983). He was a rebel and was was taken as a political prisoner many times in the 60s for his views, and was let out by Sadat in the mid 70s. He died of cancer at the age of 43.



Glory to Lucifer ... worshiped by the wind
Who said No to the face of those who said Yes
Who taught Man to tear down the evanescence
Who said No … so he did not die
And remained a soul eternally in pain


I am hanging from the morning gallows
My forehead is bowing to death
Because it did not bow while I was living
O’ brothers and sisters passing through the main square with your heads bent low
Gliding towards the end of evening hours, down ‘Alexander the Great avenue’*
Do not be ashamed
Do not be ashamed and raise your eyes toward me
Because you are hanging there beside me
Hanging next to me on Caesar’s gallows
Raise your eyes to me
For maybe if you do, and your eyes meet the death in my eyes
The extinction within me might smile
Because you raised your heads up if only once

Sisyphus

The rock is no longer on his shoulders
It is now carried by those who are born in the dorms of the slaves
While the sea
The sea is like the desert, does not quench the thirst
For only tears quench the thirst of those who dare to say No
So raise your eyes up to the hanging rebel
For you will end up like him tomorrow
And kiss your wives
Kiss your wives right here in the middle of the road
For tomorrow it is in this very place that you will perish
Bowing is bitter
And the spider on the necks of men is knitting their fall
So kiss your wives
For I have not kissed mine goodbye
And if you see my child whom I left behind in her arms
Missing an arm
Teach him to bow
Teach him to bow
God did not forgive Lucifer when he said No
And the gentle hearted and the kind are the ones destined to inherit the earth at the end
Because they do not get hanged
So teach him to bow
There is no escape
And do not dream of a world full of happiness
For after every Caesar that dies
Is born another Caesar
And behind every rebel that dies
Is pointless sadness and wasted tears

Salalah Beach

House of Sahibul Mirbat: Muhammad Bin Ali

mausoleum of Sahibul Mirbat: Muhammad Bin Ali

Prezi

My uncle just introduced me to a new software, Prezi. Power Point had its limitations and Prezi has gone out to correct them. turn the limited canvas into unlimited space for a more flexible presentation. and some features. check it out.

http://www.prezi.com/

Bicycle

Gentlemen's Club, The Omani Way

Quote

I am the punishment from God. If you had not commited great sins. God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.
                                   
                                           Genghis Khan

Mirror

you know, i have come to Oman and a lot things have been imported from India, in terms of people and habbits, not just products. when you go to Saudi or the UAE you see the same. in England we have definatley had a lot of Indian influence. come on the "curry" has become a national food. i assume this trend is seen across a lot of countries. in Oman i seem to see just as many Indians as Omanies.

Now, before i left India the news broke that India's population was now 1.2 Billion. i wonder if the population of Indian's outside of India matches that figure. honestly i would not be surprised if it did. can anyone find out? lets see if the inside population mirrors the outside.....

@ Sheikh Samir's House In Uniform

Oman

First i should extend a public thank you to all those in India. for being part of an amazing experience. as the T-shirt i wore towards the end said 'A World Without Strangers' and thats what it felt like. no matter who came, they were always like family. may we meet again soon people! hope your still carrying on the crazy times :) 

anyway, got to Oman safe. its always nice to meet family. thinking of what trip to take next. its looking like Kenya, apparently there is a boat that leaves from Muscat. so i need to investigate this further. 

oh and before i forget, the culture shock from India to Oman was VERY big. i think i'm still feeling it now.

The Gang

Team INFLIBNET [Information Library Network]

The Windows i Have Been Working On

Celebration Dance After Victory

India Vs Pakistan in NID [National Institute of Design]

Re-thinking the Sandwich,

Rethinking the sandwich, 'Indian Ishtyle ;) '. The sandwich consists of, cheese, chocolate, vanilla ice cream, butter and not forgetting bread.... Yum.

Random Elephant

Flower Market

The 90's Were Cool

Can I Have a Pink One Please?

Chicks for sale in the sunday market.

Frame in a Frame in a Frame in a Frame in a...........

Adalej Step-well

When All Else Fails.... Drink A Chai

Dinner Near a Dam

Thali

India Vs Australia

so the city of Ahmedabad is going crazy. India have finally, after 3 years, knocked Australia out of a world cup. and in what fashion. the cities atmosphere was electric. especially with the prospect of wednesdays fixture against Pakistan. its hard to tell what people are more happy about.  beating Australia or playing Pakistan in a world cup semi in India. and in the state of punjab aswell. lets see what happens....

Holi

3rd Place

Quick note, only have two weeks left. and the land lady wanted to full months rent. so i decided to save the money and move out. so i'm currently residing in the Cept University Hostels. if anyone wonders what they are like, similar to the ones in the movie 3 Idiots, just a bit more litter everywhere. its actually a really cool place to be. very relaxed. though i'm kinda a Gypsy staying at friends houses. like last night. we had a water fight with guns at like 12am at night and then slept on the roof. which was amazing until like 8am and then we started to become chicken tandoori! ah well....

England Thrill Again

World Cup Group B, Chennai:

England 243(48.4 overs) beat West Indies 225 (44.4 overs) by 18 runs

The Kings Speech

Really nice film.


extract from IMDB:


The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.

Just Like In The Movies.....

So Thats How Its Dried... [Linen]

linen maze

Mill Houses

A Weird Day

Some days so many weird things take place, that you forget what happened. and all you can remember is that strange things happened. then you think about where you started [at a flower market] where you were half way, [in the middle of farm land amongst eagles, buffalo's and elephants]. and then where you end up, [in a 'theme park' on a swinging boat ride]. and all the more in the middle that you really can't remember. therefore you just decide to forget trying to remember all the weirdness and fall asleep in the memory of a world with so many different things.

The House

Surat

Took a trip to Surat on the weekend. it is said that Surat was the place where Islam first place Islam graced in India. just as Liverpool was where the first mosque of england was erected. a man from Hadramount travelled to Aden and then was later sent to India. his name Seyd Udroos. after reading up on this small fact. i went in search of this history. wondering if there was a tomb of this person. we found a mosque by the name. and asked at the train station when we arrived. and people just kept pointing us in the direction of mosques and muslim area's. eventually the closer we got the more people knew. and before we knew it we were stood outside some sort of tombs. then a little kid arrived, who spoke english and began to tell us about all the graves. and how each person from the family of Seyd udroose is buried there. and then later we meat the descendant. and he spoke to us telling us stories. about how his family came, where they went etc etc. they have a 9meter scroll of their linage dating back to the prophet peach be upon him. amazing.

after this start. we visited some architectural buildings by Matharoo. a crematorium, and two houses. later we visited a Bohra community. its when i realised how  strange cult culture is. first they would not allow up to see the hostels. but after 30 mins conversation. a student showed us around. its a really nice urban intervention. like a vatican city just woven into an India city. you would not notice this place if you didn't know about it. also later it was prayer time. and the guide was very hesitant in telling me where they mosque was and didn't really want me to come. which was strange. i went anyway. but he did not want to be seen with me. so he said you can go if you want. and left. in the mosque every male was dressed exactly the same! incredible and strange at the same time. 

after this we hit the streets at like 8pm, where we ate eggs on the street sitting on the pavement. and then some dessert. heading back home. and before i end this long blog, i should mention that Roberto came with me, we travelled on general class. which is always exciting. meeting so many people but Roberto meet a very unique character. we took the train form Ahmedabad at 4:55am. while we slept on the seat. a woman woke him up and asked to sit where he was sleeping. then sat next to him and began to flirt with this Italian guy in Hindi and later started to complain why she had to get off in Baroda and couldn't go with him to Surat. eventually she got his number off him and went on her way. telling him that she would ring him..... good times.....

O' Cow

On Thursday i took a day off from the office. when many would have chosen to spend this time to sight see, relax or what not. i chose to spend the time following a cow around Ahmedabad. yes, thats right. follow a cow around the city. just as you are thinking, 'what a crazy guy'. those in the office spoke them same words. two reason brought me to following a cow. first i was always interested in why Corbusier was so interested in the cows and the myth. that a cow can find its way back home. so i set of on a day following a cow. me and a mate called Arun, from Holland. the day was very normal if you look at it from a objective point of view. we saw them being fed at 7am. they pooped. they ate. urinated. pooped. they were milked. their poop was collected and taken to be used. then they rested. after all this. they were sent on a 3km walk to an open field to graze. for about 4 hours. they bathed while grazing. (an area hidden away in the city amongst a load of bungalows) then they headed back home. the myth was destroyed at this point. the man came to collect the cows, sounding a very strange horn like sound form his mouth. the cows began to all head towards him and make their way home. he noticed that one of the cows had gone missing. so he got on the motorcycles and began to search for it. therefore first point to note. cows are so lazy/gormless. that they will be where ever they are doing what ever they are doing. without actually thinking anything. so someone has to come and tell them to go home. otherwise they will just never move. another thing. as the cows are going home. the owner is sitting at some near by chai place. keeping an eye on them. dressed like a normal 20-30 year old. you would never know. it seems like the cows are on their own. but infact they are always watched form a safe distance. then while i was sketching the cows and just taking in and learning form the day. i realised by corbusier might have liked the cow. its because its strong like a horse. but also very soft like a woman. i terms of body. and manner of gliding. so you get this really beautiful blend of strength and gentleness. and its only through the sketching where you can really appreciate it. 

Into The Wild

just saw this film, thought it was amazing. please watch and let me know your comments. 
here is a description i took of IMDB:-
After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

Sonke Hoof : Mentor in Sangath