Manipulative minds or manipulated minds …. hmm

“I put my heart and my soul into my work and have lost my mind in the process”, Vincent van Gogh.

I use this quote as an example of how all people, even those of exceptional talent or wealth, have problems one way or another.  Not only mental illness like the great Van Gogh but it could be ego bust, trust issues, over possessiveness or simply an unhappy personal life. No one is completely happy or free of problems. 

Life in a coconut

First of all, let’s all understand the term coconut, maybe we are not all familiar with what it means exactly. When we say coconut we can refer to the coconut palm tree or to the large, hard-shelled seed of the coconut palm, lined with a white edible meat, and containing a milky liquid. With the clear idea of what a coconut fruit is now, I would like to share a few of my beliefs and thoughts with you.

The power of insecurities

Demon in all of us? Here is a little real story that disappointed me in many ways and made me realize how malicious mankind is.

Travelling in a very poor country for a friend’s movie shooting I am seated at the table in a very unhygienic fast food, acting. Since we asked a very unfortunate child to act in our movie that was ironically about humanity, other unfortunate children gathered at the door just out of curiosity since foreigners( not to mention cameras) were hardly seen in that

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence… isn’t it?

We all have something to look forward to (one way or another) at the end of the day. Some people’s dreams are bigger than other people’s dreams but this doesn’t make them less than the rest, it is just that we all have different views and priorities in life.

A major mistake we all make as humans is comparing our achievements with others’ achievements forgetting in fact the reason why do we do what we do.

From a very young age my parents taught me that I needed to be good, not to fight, and not steal. That I had to study, go to school and be somebody. They wanted me to have a name that would

The Ghost of Al Qudra Lakes

After a long flight from New Zeeland, on a fine morning, I got a message on my messenger. I never bother replying strangers, especially not at 2 a.m., but this stranger was interesting. He was a photographer from a photography group I was a part of. I was surprised he contacted me, so I became curious to see what he wanted since I never had the nerves to post any of my pictures on the group. After a bit of small talk, I was asked to join for a shoot for Milky Way in the desert. Politely, I refused since I was busy with studies – my favorite thing to do those days.

A pant-less ride in the beautiful New Zealand

I heard New Zealand was a wonderful place. In every corner of the world you find beauty but the way it is preserved in New Zealand, it is totally different from the rest of the world.

After an eventful day that we all had, seeing the Hobbit movie set and the Glowing caves, we decided to explore the remote areas of a beach. There were no phone signals, internet access or shops. As we drove with a former police officer through a scenic route, we also saw some dangerous serpentine's chasing the grounds as fast as a Formula One race car. This also made realize how fast we were driving. I felt like I was in a shoot of a Fast and Furious movie. The drive led us to an empty beach.

A Reckless Visit but Worth the Risk at Se Cathedral, Sao Paulo, Brazil

After a full day tour of several attractions, a bit tired and concerned that I have been pushing myself a bit too much, I thought of returning to the hotel. On a second thought, I decided that it might be a good idea to go to the Se Cathedral since it was on my list of places to see in Brazil. I was warned that the area around is not the safest. I was stuck between exhaustion, concern and excitement.

I decided to still go, I mean come on! I have been around the world by myself. A neighborhood cannot come in my way!

Turkish Hospitality Taken to a Whole New Level

The long wait to my holiday came to an end when I finally boarded the plane, last minute, to my most anticipated trip to Istanbul. As if I had never travelled before, I couldn't hold my excitement. I felt like jumping up and down, and I'm pretty sure it showed on my face.Hungry, tired, with a cabin bag held in one hand, while trying to munch down the pizza I bought last minute, I make my way to my seat. I could see people looking at me, but I wasn’t sure if it was because I was constantly smiling or because I looked ridiculous. Least bothered about all

the eyes on me, I made my way to the seat thinking of Istanbul and seeing the Blue Mosque; I had been dreaming about it for more than ten years.

The Malicious Plan of the Tiger and the Entrance of the Demon

Knowing that he was under observation, the tiger was very careful about how to play with his prey so he does not lose it. Very sweet and caring at all times, the tiger acted as if he was really interested in conquering the tigress. Behind the scenes, he was probably planning on how to slaughter her instead. Nothing was worth more to him than making sure that his plan is achieved to his best abilities.

Even though the tigress was cautious, after so much care and attention from the tiger, she fell for him. Months of wait and play followed, and the two enjoyed each other’s attention until it became more and more difficult to give up on each other. Deep inside, the tiger knew

The Eyes of the Tiger

In a place full of mystery, where everything is from another era and where the time seems to have a plan of its own, I was seated on an antique sofa, and my eyes accidentally intersected with the eyes of the tiger. For a second, the clock forgot to tick and everything around vanished, like a ghost after spooking someone. It was the longest second and it made me tremor. If I was not seated, I would have fallen off the sofa.

There was no need for words because the eyes of the tiger were so vicious that a shudder ran down my spine each time they lay on me; as if he was ready for an attack but holding his ground, waiting for the right moment to hunt his prey. I was just preparing myself mentally for the tiger’s attack. Frozen, with loss of movement or ability to think straight, I wasn’t sure how to face the tiger’s eyes. As if possessed by some spirit, I was desperately trying to get away from its claws.

The hug given at the right time

After a long flight and a walk at the airport with swollen feet, all I could wish for was to be in my bed with a snap of my fingers. I didn’t actually know what was more painful; the tiredness, the swollen feet, the back or the heart that made me feel that every step I took was on sharp nails. In that instant I realized how desperately I needed a hug. A sense of jealousy crept into my bones when I saw others waiting to welcome their loved ones with flowers and hugs. It was my first flight after a long time spent on ground, and it felt like a punishment.

While feeling empty and sad with my head lowered, trying to keep the decorum of my uniform at the same time, I heard my name. I thought for a second that I was hallucinating or perhaps I had left something behind in my confusion. I looked around me and it was nobody except a few of my colleagues.

Mission Karachi: Taking a Selfie with the Donkey

I was planning the trip for over five months since my friend had invited me to Karachi, Pakistan. Finally, it was the night before I flew to Karachi with my close friends, Miss Cool and Angel. I was so excited that I couldn’t even sleep. I stayed awake the entire night, counting the minutes until my flight. It was such a weird feeling for a person who goes on holidays every other month. I could feel this holiday was going to be different from the rest.

Little did I know that I will be running a marathon at the airport next day. Running a bit late, I had to sprint through the crowd as the aircraft was parked all the way at the end of the terminal. Oh God! I hope I make it on time for boarding, I kept thinking to myself. My phone was constantly buzzing with messages of my friends who were waiting for me on the plane.

Mistaken for a homewrecker in Dubai

After two long weeks of study and hard work, I needed a break. It wasn’t easy to study especially because it had been ten years since I last studied. I felt like my head was going to explode any minute. To freshen up my mind, I immediately accepted my colleague’s invitation to a hangout with a bunch of friends.

I was really excited because it had been two weeks since I had arrived in UAE and I couldn’t wait to explore what the city had to offer. Even though it was the season of blazing summer and the holy month of Ramadan, I was still excited to meet new people and socialize.

The taxi driver dropped me right at the building’s entrance where my friend lived with his brother. All I knew was that his brother was on a holiday with his family and my friend was alone at home. His place was the meet up point for everyone as it was conveniently located in the middle of everyone’s route.

A breath taken day in the land of wanders, Machupicchu, Peru

On a rainy cold morning, I was all set for a much awaited dream to become reality. After a long journey and witnessing many wonders along the way, I was sure nothing would be in comparison with what I was going to experience later in the day. My heart was pumping so hard that I needed to give myself an inner talk so I could calm down.

The scenery around this place of wonders was absolutely magnificent. The fresh air rushed into my lungs. I patiently waited in a queue to get into the bus that would take me to Machu Picchu in Peru. I kept glancing at my tickets anxiously. I had two tickets; one for Huayna Picchu and the other for Machu Picchu. The sight in front of my eyes was not something you would witness every day. The green mountains, covered in vegetation that was exclusive to this place, made me feel as if I was daydreaming. The mist was breaking and I could see all the way down the sinkhole.

A sunny day in Puno, Peru and the Lake Titicaca experience

After an unforgettable bus ride of almost eight hours from Cusco to Puno, I arrived safely at my hotel. I was almost at the end of my trip to Peru and I couldn’t wait to go home, but not before I see the locals who live on water on small artificial islands, handmade from a plant called totora reeds which has multiple uses including teeth whitening.

While trying to sleep, feeling bad for the past three years I had wasted and hating the fact that I still can’t make a decision of whether to keep contact with a man that was not worth my attention, I realized that I was short of breath. It was not because of my regrets, but it had something to do with the place. I was lying in bed, the windows were open, I had also

An adventurous day to Forbidden City, in Beijing, China

After a well-rested night of sleep in Beijing, I decided to go on with my adventure to the Forbidden City, a place visited by 50,000 people daily who desire to see what a Chinese Imperial Palace from the Ming dynasty was once until the end of Qing dynasty (1420 to 1912). It is called the Forbidden City because nobody was allowed to enter or leave the walled city without the emperor’s permission.

A foggy day combined with humidity made the palace look even more mysterious. As you walk towards the large gates, thousands of people walk in the same direction as you. It is

The unexpected twist of my first job interview

I was not feeling well. It is not easy to move on. Some years ago, I decided to move on with my life and leave my past behind. It required a lot of strength and the fear that my decision may cause me failure haunted me. I had to be strong and keep myself busy, so I decided in my last year of university to get a job in order to support myself since I couldn’t rely on anyone.

I decided to apply for jobs and got a call for an interview right after which gave me a panic attack. I was not sure if I was prepared as it would be my first job interview. The beat of my heart was so fast that I thought it would jump off my chest any minute.

Sunset in Amsterdam

I don’t know why, but I decided after a long flight to go out to Amsterdam, Netherland. It was a chilly day, and none of us had appropriate clothes to battle the chills. It was funny to watch a group of seven people going out shivering, and if you wore close enough, you could hear actually the teeth chattering!

We were a group of diverse ethnicities, but we all had a common goal to see Amsterdam and have a good meal and freeze to death; no not really. We strolled around the beautiful streets, laughing out loud and capturing the moments in our cameras.

We decided to eat first so our stomach grumblings do not accompany the teeth chattering.

Spartan in Action! – Part II

In twenty minutes precisely, the Spartan rang the doorbell. When I opened the door, I could not stop myself from laughing. He stood all nice, tall and roasted. He was as red as a tomato. His nose was a bit darker than the rest of the body; he looked as if he was on fire. I could see now how hard he worked out at the gym the entire weekend.

As a good “babe”, I offered to apply some lotion to his body. In a coo coo voice, he replied, “Yes please, babe”. I was pressing his body so hard that I could feel him screaming in pain internally, but he didn’t want to reveal it to me. He was flexing like a chimpanzee in order to impress me when I offered to rub some lotion on his chest. Not much to be impressed of, I was more disgusted of his cheapness.

Watch out for Spartan! - Part I

There is nothing wrong in working out and taking care of your body, but there is a lot wrong when you try to use your Zeus like body to get girls.

I met this guy who thought he looks like Zeus and behaved very much like a Spartan. I have to admit, he had a good body. After talking for a while, he asked me out on a date. I laughed out loud with my friends later, thinking that I might need to lose at least ten kilograms so I don’t feel embarrassed while out with this guy. I was actually worried the date will be a disaster and he will only discuss protein shakes, healthy food and exercises.