My top 5 travel destinations

Yep… it’s official. 2015 is almost over. And just when I was getting used to writing 2015 instead of 2014! Is it just me or did this year whiz by faster than the Formula Rossa?

15 Thankful Thoughts for 2015

I am thankful…

Inconvenience

Sometimes it helps to laugh at yourself. Especially when you’re having a phenomenally bad week. So on that note…

From Paperboy to President

I have suspended today’s TTLT post in deference to a far more worthy subject.

Enough has been said about the life and blindingly unexpected death of the former Indian President, the remarkable APJ Abdul Kalam. A profound thinker, an exemplary leader and a model of hard work and humility.

You can read about his last day here as reported by NDTV. He died as he lived… teaching, moulding and inspiring the youth of a nation.

There is nothing I can write that would do the man justice. So instead I will let his words speak for him…

It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very hard to win someone.

All of us do not have equal talent. But , all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.

If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.

Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.

To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.

Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.

We should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us.

This is my belief: that through difficulties and problems God gives us the opportunity to grow. So when your hopes and dreams and goals are dashed, search among the wreckage, you may find a golden opportunity hidden in the ruins.

Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action. Dreams are not those which come while we are sleeping, but dreams are those when you don’t sleep before fulfilling them.

Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.

If you want to leave your footprints on the sands of time, do not drag your feet.

Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.

If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.

You have to dream before your dreams can come true.

Rest in peace Dr. Kalam.

The birth of a blog

I have been prompted to start a blog for quite some time now but in my tranquil wisdom (more on that later) I have bravely fought off all prior urges and inklings. There were many, many reasons why I held off as long as I did some of which you will see below I have managed to resolve to a certain degree of satisfaction…

What on earth would I write about?

Anything and everything of course! For once I have free reign to write. I am not bound by word, space or topic limitations as is often the case with those dreary English essays in school. I can let my creativity soar unleashed. And that, to me, is exciting beyond belief. I can and will be writing about my passions – past, present and future. About my travels. About my love of food. About my dislike of anything that requires me to leave the comfort of my cozy bed (Yes, I have sworn an undying oath of allegiance to the CPC – Couch Potato Club. No, I did not just make that up).

What could I possibly have to write that hasn’t already been written and has used up enough paper in the process to deplete  an Amazonian rain forest (or a digital equivalent of the same)?

Quite possibly not very much. There are plenty of self-made gurus out there who can give you guidance and advice galore. I am not presumptuous enough to think that I am in any way qualified to hone in on their market share. What I can bring to the table however is a distinctly unique spin on things because I will be writing about MY experiences. What you will most likely see here are snippets about the life and times of a 20-something female expat living in the UAE.

Is this something I am really committed to doing? Or is it another one of my fleeting fancies that will make the lifespan of a fruit fly seem like an eternity?

Honestly? It’s way too soon to tell. I was quite determined not to start yet another activity I couldn’t carry on for a reasonable amount of time. I face enough ridicule on that subject with all my other hastily implemented and just as hastily abandoned projects. I am afflicted with that rarest of ailments that cause me to crash headfirst into a newfound project like the proverbial bull in a china shop. Each time I pick up a new hobby I am convinced that THIS is going to be my eternal and undying passion but then wind up disillusioned when it is not all I imagined it would be. I can already envision my Mum reading this and rolling her eyes as she counts off the innumerable half finished (and sometimes even unstarted!) projects that clutter the family home.

In my defence… life is too short! So why chip away at something that no longer brings you satisfaction? Am i right or am I right? Yes it may have been good while it lasted. But sometimes you just have to move on to newer and more challenging assignments.

So back to the blog… Although this idea has been brewing in my busy head for over a year I gave it due time to see if this urge to write was something that would last. And you know what… not only did it last it even grew stronger! And so here I am.

Looking forward to what this new chapter holds for me and hope you will join me on this new adventure.