100 MOVIES OF SUMMER

Hey y'all.

It's been a while., hasn't it?

First off, a little catching up:

The Review Project: Are y'all still into that? It got a pretty good repsonse (Nearly 200 views in all, so far), but if you want me to go on, I may start a kind of poll or something - fully anonymous, so let me know what you guys want, and I'll go with that.

The Loud Project: Next up is a copy of Taylor Swift's Red album cover. No promises for when cause my schedule is so full, it stopped being funny a long time ago.

Okay, that seems to be it. On with the show.

Summer's here! What a bitch, right?

Anyway, Ramadeen Kareem to everyone, and honestly, to all of you guys who're gonna be fasting this summer, you bitches be hardcore, man. Respect.

Still, now you have all this time, and nothign to do. And movies, well, movies are always an option right? Here's another of my crazy lists:

100 of the GREATEST SUMMER MOVIES EVER:

Kinda important note: If you don't actually wanna read the whole thing, a bare list is there if you scroll all the way down. Still this is the fun version so, you know, take your pick.

Summer Movies = not too much plot, hell of a lot of fun, and some crazy hot boys (and girls. Angelina Jolie, yum).

1.    All the Marvel movies ever made (Avengers, Iron Man, CApt. America, Thor)

(Except Edward Norton as Hulk (2008). What as absolute fucking disaster.)

2.    James Bond movies. Especially the ones with Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. Not because they're pretty (though they are *drool), but okay. This happens pretty often:

Aaaaaaand this blog is officially not PG anymore. (Not that it ever was, but still.)

Anyway, check out Die Another Day, Golden Eye, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.

3.    Despicable Me & Ice Age & Madagascar & Shrek

Yes they're animated, and honestly? okay, honestly? I do not give a fuck how you're too macho or "cool" or whatever you are to not watch it, okay? FUCKIN WATCH IT. ...I'm such a bully. :s

4.    Independence Day

I'll admit, the CGI is just shit, but, okay, WILL SMITH BATTLES ALIENS PILOTING A SPACESHIP. 'Nuff said.

5.    Indiana Jones Trilogy, bitches!

You thought James Bond was smooth? Awww, that's cute. ....no. This guy was all leather and whips before that pansy-ass bitch Christian Grey became popular. Indiana Jones is a GOD, okay?

So hot you barely notice the man purse. ("IT'S A SATCHEL!") (speaking of which, go watch Hangover, because you're a teenager, and life is awesome.)

5 and 1/2: Lara Croft Trilogy - Why? Because she's the female Indiana Jones. Also because Daniel Craig. Also because treasure hunts and hidden treasures and general kick-ass-ness.

6.    Armageddon, because SHIT. BLOWS. UP. (It's a Michael Bay movie, by the way. You know, the guy who made Transformers? Yeah. Him.)

Also because Ben Affleck is really fucking hot.

God, such pretty lips. (WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME UGH!!!)

Also, if you liked Armageddon, then The Day After Tomorrow because, like Armageddon, the world almost ends, which is always fun to watch, and, like Armageddon, it has that one hot guy you drool over - here, that's Jake Gyllenhaal.

7.    Ted, because you watched all the Hangover movies (and all the American Pie movies) and now you need more pervy crap.

8.    Sherlock Holmes, because Cumberbatch won't be here for another 2 years and we need to make do with Robert Downey Jr. Also, because Robert Downey Jr.

9.    Wanted, because you watched Lara Croft and now you need more Angelina Jolie. Also, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Who kill other people, because that's just how they roll. It's awesome.

If you liked Lara Croft and Wanted, go ahead and watch Salt, because Angelina Jolie is a Russian spy, and wears a trenchcoat. Also, this happens:

Angie's all like, "Jeez, this bitch again. Die." So good.

10.   The Matrix, because it's got mind-bending (LITERALLY) science-fiction, the slickest superhero ever, and lots of people in black leather trenchcoats. Cause let's face it. Trenchcoats are always a sign of good things to come.

The Matrix is a trilogy, but seriously, watch the first movie and then let it go. I don't know what the director was smoking, but I'm pretty sure his dealer took a piss in it, because the sequels suck so bad, they broke my heart.

If you liked the Matrix, or if sci-fi is your thing, go watch Tom Cruise's Minority Report, where there's crazy murders, an evil government, and the best kind of one-man fight for freedom. Be warned for massively insane plotlines and a crazy AU.

11.   Pretty Woman, because this is closest thing I have ever seen to a Cinderella story, and it makes me cry every single time. Also because the lovin' will set your panties on fire. Not for the boys though, sorry.

If you liked Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, be sure to check out Notting Hill, because Hugh Grant and Jules makes the most adorable couple ever. Also because it's kind of a reverse Cinderella story, and Grant is adorkable.

AND, if you like Hugh Grant in Notting Hill, you'll probably love him in Two Weeks Notice opposite Sandra Bullock.

AND, (I'm on a roll now) if you liked TWN, go watch Sandra and Keanu Reeves (the Matrix guy) in the MOST ADORABLE MOVIE OF ALL TIME: "The Lake House".

AND, The Proposal because it's wonderful and dorky and cute and Ryan Reynolds has an amazing butt.

Kay, back to non-sappy movies.

12.    The Ocean's Series and Fast & Furious, because holy shit, how slick are these guys? Two of the best heist franchises I've ever seen (Avoid F&F3:Tokyo Drift, because there has never been a worse movie ever. EVER. )

If you like any of the movies from these two franchises, check out Inside Man featuring Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, as well as Bank Job featuring Jason Statham. Another amazing heist movie is The Italian Job, featuring Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham and Charlize Theron.

Also, if you're as in love with Jason Statham as I am, check out the Transporter Trilogy, The Mechanic and the Crank series.

If, on the other hand, you just want a good heist/racing movie, then check out Nicholas Cage in Gone in 60 Seconds, and Death Race 1, with, yet again, Jason Statham. I'm in love, whatcha gonna do about it? Huh? HUH?

13.   Terminator, because Arnold Schwarzenegger. Also because okay, machines have feelings too, you heartless bitches. Also because I managed to spell Schwarzenegger.

Real Steel, and look, I know Rotten Tomatoes gave it a shit rating, and I know I'm biased because it has Hugh Jackman, but man, I've seen this movie 4 times now, and I still find it awesome and adorable and totally kick-ass, so it's got something beyond Jackman's triceps going for it okay. It has this:

See that kid? Yeah. That kid is the best thing to happen to cinema in a long while. You watch the movie for that kid, and you're golden, mate.

If you liked Real Steel, I, Robot is pretty much a slam-dunk for you; equal amounts of metallic badassness and robots-have-feelings-too mush. Oh, and Will Smith. That man has the best smile ever.

14.   Every single Christopher Nolan Movie ever made.

·                The Prestige (Dhoom 3 was basically a bad rip-off)

·                Memento (Ghajini was basically a non-sucky rip-off)

·                Inception

·                The Batman trilogy (he gave you Anne Hathaway in a leather catsuit. You owe this man.)

·                Coming soon: Interstellar (Link to teaser trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WzHXI5HizQ)

15.   The Wolf of Wall Street, because Leo didn't get an Oscar (again), but he sure as hell deserved one.

Can I just mention here: Even though a lot of people have been whinging about how DiCaprio deserved an Oscar and didn't get one for Wolf and blippity-blah-blah, the real movie where he deserved an Oscar was long, long ago: Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can features Leo as a cocky twenty-something who, disguising himself as a pilot, scammed Pan America Airlines of millions of dollars and managed to travel the globe too - for free.

16.   Die Hard series, because Rambo is too old, and The Expendables is too fucking stupid, and Bruce Willis is the ultimate BAMF.

If you liked Die Hard, check out Liam Neeson's Taken, for more father-daughter sappiness, and older men kicking some serious ass.

17.   Now You See Me, because Jesse Eisenberg is the most fabulous bitch to have ever lived, and Dave Franco is heart-breakingly pretty. Also, because it kinda reminded me of The Prestige and Inception and Ocean's Eleven all rolled into one, so if you liked any of those, you like this even more. Also, um, there's Morgan Freeman and Micheal Caine, so if that means anything to you then... yeah. GO WATCH IT.

18.   The Silence of the Lambs, because if you don't Hannibal Lecter will eat your fuckin' tongue. "With a nice Chianti and some fava beans." Hannibal, as played by Anthony Hopkins Jr. was rated as the greatest villain of all time and with good reason people. Don't watch it alone, kay?

19.   The Devil Wears Prada, because dude, you'll be an intern soon, and no matter how much your boss will suck, it can't get any more worse than Anne Hathaway's situation. Also, because like pretty dresses!!!! :D

20.   G. I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, because I've been in love with Channing Tatum since I was 11, and I haven't gotten over it. But honestly, not any other reasons. Sorry.

21.   The Bourne series, because, no matter how popular Mission IMpossible becomes and how often "The name's Bond. James Bond.", is repeated, Matt Damon as James Bourne is hands-down, pants-off the best spy thriller series ever made.

Also, because this blog needs more Johnny Depp (all good things in life are better with Johnny Depp) go watch The Tourist, if you're not already sick of Angelina Jolie. Also kick-ass, but mostly adorable, and just incredibly sexy, and cute and happy, and okay, do you see how much I like this movie? It's got the FBI and CIA and Interpol, and all I could say the whole time while watching it was, "Awwwwwwww." Seriously, girls, go watch it.

22.Knight and Day, because Tom Cruise is like fine wine; he gets sexier with age. Also because holy macraoni, Diaz in a bikini! Best thing 2012 gave me:

Life is good, man. Life is real good.

And if need some more Diaz in your life, check out Charlie's Angels from 2003, which actually does not suck. Much.

On the other hand, Tom Cruise has a lot to offer besides Mission Impossible - if you're into sci-fi (and even if you're not) check out Minority Report, Oblivion and Edge of Tomorrow.

And if you're not into sci-fi but still want some Tom Cruise action, you could try the 1986 classic Top Gun, or the movie quoted most often in the hit TV show Suits, Jerry McGuire. ("Show me the money!", remember?)

23.   For some of the best duos in Hollywood,

·         Starsky and Hutch, with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson

·         Shanghai Knights, with Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan

·         Rush Hour Trilogy with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker

·         21 Jump Street, with Channing Tatum (!!!!!) and Jonah Hill

·         22 Jump Street, which is surprisingly enough, just as good as the first

Well that's it. I know there's only 24 bullets, but that's a list of 100 KICKASS SUMMER MOVIES.

If you don;t believe me, here's everything I talked about:

1.     Avengers

2.     Iron Man 1

3.     Iron Man 2

4.     Iron Man 3

5.     Captain America: The First Avenger

6.     Captain America: Winter Soldier

7.     Thor

8.     Thor: Dark World

9.     Guardians of the Galaxy (COMING THIS SUMMER)

10.   Die Another Day

11.   Golden Eye

12.   Casino Royale

13.   Quantum of Solace

14.   Despicable Me

15.   Ice Age

16.   Madagascar

17.   Shrek

18.   Independence Day

19.   Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

20.   Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

21.   Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

22.   Lara Croft Tomb Raider

23.   Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life

24.   Armageddon

25.   The Day After Tomorrow

26.   Ted

27.   Sherlock Holmes

28.   Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

29.   Wanted

30.   Salt

31.   The Matrix

32.   Minority report

33.   Pretty Woman

34.   Notting Hill

35.   Two Weeks Notice

36.   The Lake House

37.   The Proposal

38.   Ocean's Eleven

39.   Ocean's Twelve

40.   Ocean's Thirteen

41.   The Fast and The Furious

42.   2 Fast 2 Furious

43.   Fast and Furious

44.   Fast 5

45.   Furious 6

46.   Inside Man

47.   Bank Job

48.   The Italian Job

49.   Transporter

50.   Transporter 2

51.   Transporter 3

52.   The Mechanic

53.   Crank

54.   Crank 2

55.   Gone in 60 Seconds

56.   Death Race 1

57.   Terminator

58.   Terminator: Judgement Day

59.   Terminator: Rise of the Machines

60.   Terminator Salvation

61.   Real Steel

62.   I, Robot

63.   The Prestige

64.   Memento

65.   Inception

66.   Batman Begins

67.   The Dark Knight

68.   The Dark Knight Rises

69.   Interstellar (A Christopher Nolan movie, coming this summer!)

70.   The Wolf of Wall Street

71.   Catch Me If You Can

72.   Die Hard

73.   Die Hard 2

74.   Die Hard with a Vengeance

75.   R.E.D.

76.   Now You See Me

77.   The Silence of The Lambs

78.   The Devil Wears Prada

79.   G. I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra

80.   The Bourne Identity

81.   The Bourne Supremacy

82.   The Bourne Ultimatum

83.   The Bourne Legacy

84.   Knight and Day

85.   Charlie's Angels

86.   Mission Impossible

87.   Mission Impossible II

88.   Mission Impossible III

89.   Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

90.   Oblivion

91.   Edge of Tomorrow

92.   Top Gun

93.   Jerry McGuire

94.   Starsky and Hutch

95.   Shanghai Knights

96.   Rush Hour

97.   Rush Hour 2

98.   Rush Hour 3

99.   21 Jump Street

100.  22 Jump Street

Sometime next week, I'm doing a full list of chick-flicks and animated movies, so be sure to check in then.

Do you want me to continue the TV show reviews as well? Let me know! Also, don't forget to share, google+ and add me to your circle, for updates on new posts.

Thanks for reading!

Cheers, Ketki.

That Annoying Phenomenon called Feminism

I hate feminists.

Yes, I'm a woman. 

Yes, I realize this is somewhat hypocritical.

Do I give a fuck? Um, NO. 

Cause I feminists piss me the fuck off.

I don't get the whole liberalization thing. I mean, yes, I'm glad women can vote and own property and drive cars ...in most parts of the world anyway. I'm all for that. Go suffrage! Women in the army! Whoop di doo! 

The rebels, the ones who dare, who choose their causes and who fight for women's rights - those feminists I can appreciate, I can admire, I can aspire to.

Then there's the other kind - the "we're-feminists-when-it's-convenient" kind. They're the kind who really need to pull the giant stick out of theirs and stop bitching about how terrible men are.

You will meet this kind of girl, boys, and eventually you'll go bald from pulling your hair out a little too often. Don't fucking whine when it happens. Don't tell anyone you didn't have warning. Because this girl, this conveniently feminist chick, she's testing you. All the time.

Don't fall for it. Especially when, after a dinner date, she says we'll split the bill. Pay half and half each. Minefield, right there. She doesn't wanna pay the bill. She doesn't want to show you her wallet. Ever. Period. 

She's testing you. This would be the right time you insist that Father taught you a "man" always picks up the tab. That may just end up being the sum total of your function in the relationship. Paying the bill. Also, carrying the bags, opening the door, and saying please, thank you and, most importantly, sorry. Sorry will happen pretty fucking often.

The Indian feminist is occasionally even more annoying, because we have so much more to rebel against. Seriously. We've got arranged marriages. Sex before marriage. Kids before marriage. Divorce. Being a single parent. Being unmarried. Oh the horror of being unmarried. 

Yeesh. You'd think we'd leaked nuclear codes the way adults fret about it.

Being a feminist is right, but only when it's called for (and this is the lesson that a lot of women seem to forget when attending empowerment seminars). 

Getting married instead of getting a job is not anti-feminist.

Adjusting your habits for the men in your life is not anti-feminist.

Being a girl, and I mean a I-kinda-really-like-pink, I-fucking-love-ball gowns, I-wanna-get-my-nails-done kind of girl is not anti-feminist.

Dammit, I don't get it. What is wrong with the women of this generation? Being a girl is okay! 

Being shallow and silly and gay is alright! Just as much as you're allowed to put all of that on a back burner, dedicate yourself to your job and become a CEO in a Fortune 500 company. 

Being a girly-girl is okay!

You don't need to be insecure about shit like that! What you need to get insecure about it ridiculing others for the choices they make. We're allowed to make choices. We're allowed to be what we want. If that's being a tomboy or fucking Nicki Minaj, it's UP TO US. And no one, I mean NO ONE, has the right to ridicule that. 

You think being a mom, a daughter, a sister, a wife is not a full-time job?

You think the only measure of your success is your degree, you job title, your club memberships?

You're wrong.

If you think your mother has ever had it "easy", handling your incessant demands, you have WAY too fucking big of an ego and I ain't even talking to you anymore, lady. Fuck off.

I know the name Rose Kennedy. She was a mother.

I know the name Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a wife.

I know the name Priyanka Gandhi. She is a daughter.

I know these names and I respect these women. These women had great men in their lives. They stood by them. They could have achieved greatness in their own right. They could have been corporate leaders like Indira Nooyi and Christine Lagarde. They could have been politicians like Hillary Clinton and Condolezza Rice and Sonia Gandhi. They could have owned that blinding white spotlight. 

They didn't though. They made a choice. To be mothers. Wives. Sisters. Daughters. 

To shape a new generation of leaders and writers and businessmen and soldiers. To keep the house warm and the meals hot. To be that ready, willing shoulder for you to lean on every time you needed them.

And I respect them. 

I respect them too.

I'm SO Flipping BORED

No really.
This is for real.

I'm typing out a blog entry cause I'm just super-mind-effingly crazy bored.
TV sucks. The internet sucks. Chocolate sucks. Books suck. (cowers in fear of le fearsome book gods striking wee little me down)

EVERYTHING SUCKS.
*insert le dramatic 'ugh' here*

^SEE? This is why being bored is bad for me. I start sounding like a California beach blonde/Valley girl who doesn't appreciate the full gamut of expression afforded by the English language.
In other words, I sound, like, stupidly stupid.
*more ugh-ing ensues*

So I did this stupid little thing where I type into Google - I'm so effing bored (only I swore properly). And, Jesus shit, there are others like me out there apparently. Check this out:

I know, right? Isn't it super-cool? Urban Dictionary actually has an entry for it!
I find this alternatively hilarious and depressing. Hilarious because, well, jeez, there's a bleedin' entry for this kind of crap ! xD And depressing cause people think the appropriate cure for boredom is sharing your woes with Google.

Google is a search engine, not your counsellor, people. 
Although, obviously, my brain is not willing to accept this state of events cause I'm crying to Google too. I feel not so great 'bout me right now.

But okay, like then I started doing that thing where I go to a web page and check out weird links. Of course, I'm not particularly enthused about knowing what poopsock meant, nor do I wanna know why you're so bad wanna suck your own d***, so I held back but apparently:
Cenosillicaphobia is fear of an empty glass.
Da da da DUM.
I'm sure that has some deep, philosophical meaning to it, but really, right now? So not in a mood to figure it out. Of course, now I'm stuck with a completely useless piece of nonsense in my head. I wish I could just delete it. *ugh* *yes, the 'ugh' again. let me see you trying not to ugh when you're mindlessly bored*

I wish I was Sherlock and I could just forget all the useless stuff. Who needs to know the Earth revolves around the Sun anyway? Bloody useless for an aspiring banker, you know. (<that was a Sherlock reference, btw. Worry not, I know exactly how the solar system works. Well, atleast whatever they taught in the second grade. Stopped paying attention after that.)
Meh. If I was Sherlock, I guess I wouldn't be able to appreciate his yummiliciousness. That boy is wonderfully yum  and I absolutely cannot wait for January 3rd. (Season 3 preimiere - flibberty gibbets YAY!!!) Come soon  to mamma darling. Oh and if you've been going through Cumberbatchian withdrawal like me, here's something to keep you afloat:

Look at him. Yummy. Adorable. And British to boot.
Really, asking for more would simply be rude.

And now I've run out of things to think about. Maybe I'll lie down and stare at my nightlight. Maybe I'll read something until I fall asleep. Maybe I'll check the freezer for ice cream again (even though I know there isn't any, because really, it might appear in the corner. It could happen. Really)

Gah. I'm just bored.
Are you?

Leave a comment if you are. Perhaps we should revel in our mutual boredom. How poetic that shall be. Ta!

Why Most Atheists are Assholes - And Why I'm an Atheist Anyway

Yes, I'm an atheist.

Yes, that really does mean I don't believe in God.

Yes, really. No temples, no church, no Gita, zilch, squat, zero, nil. Nothing. Clear enough? Lovely?

The thing is right, I don't get why most atheists are so IN YOUR FACE about their beliefs. Jesus. You don't like Jesus. Good. Good on you.

You think Hindus are backward hillbilly retards with no real understanding of the universe? You think Catholics are pseudo-science-spouting, assiduously ignorant zealots who refuse to play into your beliefs of a Godless existence? You think theists in general are all fanatical psychopaths out to destroy your carefully, 'logically' constructed universe where everything is explicable and everyone unlike you is a dumbed-down halfwit?

YOU THINK I CARE?

Honestly, dude, you need to sit the holy crap DOWN and re-evaluate why exactly you think you're the shizz. I mean, man, I like atheists. They have interesting intellectual debates that are purely based on facts and not based on scriptures during a time when Galileo was murdered for saying the Earth revolved around the sun (Yeah, I'm touchy about that). They're good, fun people with a devilish sense of humor and heaven help me, they're all rebels. Who doesn't like a rebel? 

The problem with this generation of atheists is that until now, we've had no mass medium of expression and of coming together. Christians had church, Muslims had mosques, Buddhists had temples, even vampire covens had mansions in Transylvania.

And then, Atheists had le Internet.

And then, shit went down.

Seriously, everyone is ranting and raving their heads off. You meet an atheist and all he'll try to do is convince you of how messed up your beliefs are until he's fucking frothing at the mouth - I've seen this happen, I speak from experience. 

Dude. You sound like a fucking evangelist one of those pro-terrorism camps. What'll you do next? Blow up a bus to prove that people don't actually go to heaven?

I like the cleaning lady who comes over to my place. She goes out of her way to help my mom, she makes my bed on days I feel particularly shitty and she believes in charity even though she can't afford to do much.

 She's a damned fine woman, irrespective of the fact that she has no idea what the words 'biological evolution' or 'quantum mechanics' mean. 

She held my hand, and prayed for me on my birthday a few days back. She prayed for my studies and my classes, my friends and my family, my future and my health. She prayed honestly and wonderfully, and I had tears in my eyes at the end.

Do I believe Jesus - or fucking Tinkerbell in her hot little green number - is going to wave a magic wand and sprinkle fairy dust and make everything come true?  

No.

Did it feel real nice that someone had in their heart to spend 5 minutes of their day just to pray for me?

Yes. Yes, it bloody well did. 

Do Christians organize themselves in masses to send aid and food relief to Somalia even if some of them are racist arseholes who deserve nothing better than a sharp kick where it hurts? Yes. 

Did Art of Living organize lakhs for the people who lost everything during the floods in Uttarakhand and volunteer for weeks in the camps set up there, even if Sri Sri is disgustingly, filthy rich? Yes.

Do Muslims religiously pay Zakat every year because it's right sodding there in the five Pillars? 

Yes, yes and fucking yes.

Shove that up your logical ass, Spock.

We're really, really messed up, alright? Some of us have a pathological need to look up into the stars and believe someone is watching over us. It is a need to be parented and mollycoddled and taught how to live life. Some of us just are that way.

And some of us are smart-mouthed rebels, so if you think you're 'all that', learn to live and let go and just chill dude. He's got Jesus; you got science. He's got Limbaugh; you've got Hawking. He's got the good Christian girl; you got the rebel (thinking of it that way usually helps you to stop caring whatever the holy smoke the religious ones are doing with their lives).

So why you gotta hate, man?

Just don't hate.

Strangers

I met someone today.
I don't know her name, but I know so much about her already.

I know she's a professor at a Lebanese university, where she teaches and researches in genetics and molecular biology.
She's 35 with 2 kids. The older one, a girl of 5 years, who, by the mother's own admission, is gorgeous. Even at so young, she speaks French fluently, and when she went for her new school's entrance exams, they were dying to have her.

The younger one is a boy, 1 year and 5 months old.

She's beautiful too, her skin easily puts mine to shame.
Her husband's a neurosurgeon and is attending an international  seminar in Dubai.
She's been to Dubai twice now, and she adores The Dubai Mall.
She was surprised I didn't know how to speak Arabic after 16 years in the country.
Apparently everyone in Lebanon speaks the language.

And no, I haven't been stalking poor doctor-ladies instead of shopping, so I'll thank you not to make such undeserved accusations.
I found out all this because there wasn't any space at Costa and I decided to share a table with a non-slasher-killer-seeming lady.
Because you know, being killed by someone you shared a table with would suck.

I've decided this is what I like best about going anywhere alone.
Meeting people.

That's the beauty of travelling, do you see it?

It doesn't lie in seeing as many ruins as possible, and taking as many Instagrammed pics as you can.

It lies in the people.
In mothers and sons, and uncles and grandmas.

I remember choosing a seat away from my friends on the flight back home from America. There was an old lady from Bangladesh sitting next to me.
Her Hindi was broken, but her granddaughter was beautiful. She was 2 years old, in a pretty white frock. Her son and daughter-in-law were aisle seats, but she told me her granddaughter's stories, about the peace in going back home.
I don't remember her face, but I remember she asked the flight attendant to get me my first Klondike bar.

The beauty of travelling also lies in little acts of kindness.
I will not forget her.

In all probability, I'll never again meet that Lebanese molecular biologist. I'll never meet anyone who berates Costa so sweetly for not providing balsamic vinegar salad dressing.

I'll never find that quiet easiness of sharing a few moments with a complete stranger who gets me ice cream.

But that's okay.

Tomorrow will come, and I'll explore somewhere new, write someone's story and discover another side to myself.

Tomorrow will come, and I will find the right words. And they will be simple.

But till then, I will carry on. For there are miles to go before I sleep. There are miles to go before I sleep...

Quoted: On the Road, Jack Kerouac; Stopping in the Woods..., Robert Frost

Something about the sea

The sea glitters at 5 'o' clock.

Which is decidedly a rather pointless observation but I hardly care, because it feels bloody fabulous when the sea glitters. I get all those half-arsed cliches running through my head about glittering diamonds and angel tears and other mushy things that'd make  a Hallmark card barf.

There's something wonderful about 5 'o' clocks when the sea glitters. A vast stretch of greenery, the endless ocean dipping down to meet the horizon when the sun sets... Barf, yes, I know. I can't help it sometimes, I do have some oestrogen, thanks.

Really, it's quite pathetic, this whole business of oestrogen. 'Nuff to drive me up the wall. I have better things to day-dream about than boys, thanks very much - not that there are any to daydream about. Unfortunately my head does not ever agree with my brain - yes, I know exactly how much sense that made so here I am, oestrogen-filled and contemplating the seas.

Something clicks when the sea glitters. With cable lines cutting across the bright cloudy skies, honest-to-God crows perched on them in neat little lines, the sea breeze blowing in, - it occasionally stinks like God's been blissfully farting away in heaven - and me, notes in hand, pretending to study while I idly plot new ways to get my friends to buy brownies at the canteen the next day - because God help me, they are the best damn brownies a girl could dream of; honestly who needs boys when you've got rich, chocolate-chipped brownies? -  and John Mayer crooning away about the queen of California, something clicks.

Like some indefinable part of me, that I'd forgotten a long while ago. A part that wondered abut the country where I was born, that I'd forgotten, only to find again. And to find it missing something vital.

God knows what that something vital is. Perhaps it's friendships, found and broken and forged again. Perhaps it's the routine of a school I'd grown to love and cherish and find home in. Perhaps it's the people, the Filipinos - sweet and wonderful and ever-helpful - the locals - boisterous and arrogant, like they owned the bloody country - or the exotic, swoon-worthy Lebanese dudes (and chicks). God who knows?

Perhaps it's just the shawarmas.

And bike rides on Corniche.

And movies at ADM.

And the Jamaica at Khalidiyah.

And bowling at Wahda.

Perhaps, home isn't where you're born. Perhaps, home is just where all your memories were made.

And me? I miss home.