May 2010

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On board Gaza’s Freedom Flotilla

May 31, 2010 in Change, Middle East, People, Video by Zain | No comments

*See video.

A flotilla of aid ships left a port in Cyprus on Sunday afternoon bound for the Gaza Strip.

A total of six ships were expected to set sail carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists destined for Gaza in defiance of an Israeli embargo on the Palestinian territory.

The flotilla from Turkey, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Greece, Kuwait and Algeria is carrying roughly 10,000 tonnes of aid, including cement, water-purification systems and wheelchairs.

Al Jazeera’s Jamal El-shayyal spent 24 hours on board the Mavi Marmara – the lead ship in the Freedom Flotilla.

In this video blog, he looks at what is on board and how the 600 passengers are coping with what is already proving to be a difficult mission. (30 May 2010)

- AlJazeera

Sleepwalking Dog

May 31, 2010 in Video by Zain | No comments

*Click on link to watch video

(Zain, you) must watch. it will make you forget all the stupid people in the world.

Juria Toramae

http://ZainHD.com/2010/05/sleepwalking-dog/

Simple Pragmatism

May 30, 2010 in ATWJJ10, Self, Travel by Zain | No comments

“Hmm. I don’t know what else to show you. So far you don’t seem to be impressed with anything.”

When going places, often it is the basic observation and experiences that strikes me. One example, the simply pragmatic preparation and arrangement of the breakfast I had. Nothing sophisticated or elaborate. Neither draped in history and art, nor science and technology. Just is.

*Thank you Yasmin and Yorkshire for the time given by you, much needed by me.

http://ZainHD.com/2010/05/simple-pragmatism/

Wallpaper

May 28, 2010 in Art, ATWJJ10, Europe, Travel by Zain | No comments

Lucia Restaurant, York.

Feel This

May 28, 2010 in Africa, Music by Zain | No comments

Sou – Les Go

Collective Heat, ATWJJ10 #3

May 27, 2010 in ATWJJ10, Ideas, Travel by Zain | 1 comment

Day 2

26 May

2204

Victoria Coach Station

I’ve got a tip to share. Something new I thought of. Managing temperature.

While it is not silly cold here at night in late May London, I must say on some end, the chill does take me by surprise from time to time.

I’m in jeans, t-shirt, flip flops and a soft shell jacket at the Victoria Coach Station, waiting for my 2330 bus to York.

I can manage the chill easily, but that does not stop me from looking for the warmest place possible in this possibly no-heater vicinity.

There are other people, scattered but in groups, cliques, waiting for their buses. After walking across the waiting area, from end to end, I observe it is warmest where there’s more people.

In most instances, I would avoid crowds, but with the objective of comfort cold, it is in the best interest you stay near them.

http://ZainHD.com/2010/05/collective-heat-atwjj10-3/

Actual Want, ATWJJ10 #2

May 26, 2010 in ATWJJ10, Self, Travel by Zain | 2 comments

Day 1

24/25 May

2326 Destination time

Location: Airborne

Following the last paragraph from the previous post:

I bring this point forth because a lot of people have expressed interest and intentions of doing trips similar to mine. Put aside destiny, sometimes some people don’t actually, really, want to do it. Some have the mindset that they can’t do it, not possible given their personal circumstance.

My take is that it has more to do with mindset first and then genuine interest, one that is heavy enough to make (sub)conscious measures. If you are shopping more than you are traveling, then your genuine interest is clearly on shopping, greater than that of traveling and not because you can’t afford it.

Observing others doing things that you find attractive, and trying to achieve the same (para materia) for yourself, is not wrong. But because you’re doing it for different reasons, you’ll be surrounded with a different set of circumstances, freedoms and constraints, internally and externally.

http://ZainHD.com/2010/05/actual-want-atwjj10-2/

Build-up, ATWJJ10 #1

May 26, 2010 in ATWJJ10, Travel by Zain | 2 comments

Day 1

24/25 May

2240 Destination time

Location: Airborne

*See pics here.

I am on the way to my first destination (London), in what to date is my most extended trip so far, 9 weeks. 25th May – 30th July. During which, the plan thus far, is to spend

three weeks in London for a wedding,
four weeks in South America for an expedition via the Amazon,
two weeks in the USA for the remaining time that I just have.

Three months ago, this was meant to be a nine day trip to London and back. But in late March, at the end of my six month probation tenure at a company, I decided against confirming the employment. Given the flexibility of time of an entrepreneur, a start-up, a self-employed, non-paid individual, nine weeks is as much as I can get whilst working away from my base.

So then it became KL-London-New York City-KL. Then I thought since you’re half-way round, why fly east and go via London again? So it became KL-London-Boston-Maine-New York City-Seattle-San Francisco-Los Angeles-KL. Hence the working name, Around The World June July 2010, ATWJJ10.

But during my USA Visa interview, I was reminded by the officer that I may or may not get a visa, and it may or may not be ready in time before I flew off to London (two weeks after).

The only other place I was itching to go to was Brazil. Very unexpectedly, some days after, I was confirming my participation to be part of a 4×4 road expedition from Buenos Aires to Caracas via Amazon.

After some assessment, it seems that my last two weeks will be in San Francisco, and possibly Los Angeles. Although following the buildup of this trip said it should be NYC, the place I’ve been longing to go since I was last there in June 2006, but my visit to SF in 1997 with the family, called for another with my own.

While yes the decisions derived above were conscious ones, but neither were they clear visions of locations I’ve to tick of my box. It all took place by default, by the itch I had at the moment of consideration, and I just followed through. Nothing complex.

http://ZainHD.com/2010/05/build-up-atwjj10-1/