I didnt picture ramadan to be this challenging in Doha... at least not more than i thought it was in london...!! before i go on, i need to point out that there are a lot beautiful values and rituals that are still practiced here...BUT, i cant get over the fact that ramadan is an exceptionally Sleepy month in this town....
People do get up and do their prayers, on time and in full... however there are other times in between that are completely dead! i can't take the long hours of the afternoon till iftar time, Everything is closed, u can barely see a cat in the streets and TV is just filled with sorrow and misery...what can u possibly do to kill time from 1 till 5 that doesnt involve food, public places or anything that doesnt require much thinking....even working hours are cut short to accomodate... not sure if thats a bonus for some of us or not...though my brain has been dead for the past two days... i still think people who dont have much commitments at home, should still be given the option to work overtime if they choose to...
Another hour that kills me, is the one between iftar and Isha....Again i cant stand getting depressed watching anything on TV, to top things up for me im running out of favorite/new TV shows reserves... and surely i dont want to nap...to wake up craving for sweets..
Having said all that, its the 3rd of ramadan, and yes i have snoozed a couple of times after iftar and yes i have watched a bit of TV and yes i have stuffed my face with syryp dripping sweets..hmm!
Though religous practices is set out well and just about right for now, there is still a desperate need for me to get proactive on other levels..
I cant get sucked into this cycle...No way...its time for me to wipe the dust off my camera (a common problem with every other object in our houses here) and cruise this town through its lifeless hours...
5 comments:
They always say that the first days are bad but after on you get used to it bull shit :P there is nothing to do other than going to supermarkets so join the club
Laboon
Its sad to hear that the dust from your lens is yet to be removed…
However, don’t fret as I have a few ideas to lighten up your long days…
Why not try some of the following…
-maybe try take some pics of the early morning sunrise at suhr
-do a now and then of what the streets of doha are filled with i.e. maybe nowadays the best pics would be of the masses of prayer goers filling the mosques. Maybe after eid those same streets will be less full and the streets of the centres and malls are fuller.
-Maybe take some pictures of the old man that decides to walk the same route every day to the mosque…remember “under the tuscan sun?” you’ll find a subject for your picture at every turn….or maybe the subject is missing and its what the beholders eye will make of your work.
-maybe take pics of the children who run from their tinted clad cars into the grounds of their schools…
-pictures of people praying always seem different…maybe do a project on this with pics of children praying all the way to an old man praying…I know clichéd as they all sound I am not your david bailey but I do clearly remember an encouraging comment that a tutor of yours once said about your work this time last year....i truly believe that though some work is always overdone its all about the different aspects of the same picture that make the difference between an amateur and yourself.
Though this all may sound rather combobulated I know that you’ll appreciate what I’m saying either way.
Enjoy habibti.
xxx
u can always watch 6ash ma 6ash 14 or old re-runs of 6ash ma 6ash!! They're just funny.
Do what I do cupcake, finish my work, then sit in the office for a couple of hours blogging and picking my nose. Around 3.30 or so head home chill in bed listening to ur ipod or reading a book till u fall asleep. Iftar time get up and stuff ur mouth with food !! then for the rest of the evening.. sit there wondering why the hell u just stuffed ur face with food and feeling sorry for the state of ur bloated belly !!
it's been so hectic and crowded in Doha lately that this might be a nice time to appreciate some calm...i think faisal gave you some great ideas by the way! plus, you still need to accessorize your house no? that's always fun...making it your own.
Laboon, Supermarkets, chai karak and video stores it is... lol
Faisel...
Man..u've revived... i've been waiting 2 c ur name back on me blog again...
As always, u never sieze to run of out ideas when it comes to helping me with photography...
Thank you habibi wala for all the inspiring ideas...love the old man idea and also the now and then idea... i will def give a few of them a shot and keep u posted on the outcome inshallah :-)
Anyway,how u've been darling? how is ramadan this year with family? i can imagine it being just what u need.. is ur dad back btw? would like to hear more of ur news bubu s...
Anon... you are funny...ur schedule doesn't sound too far off... but thanks for the inspiration ;-p
reem,
yes thats right, now im getting really busy with finishing off last bits in the house.. yet im still looking forward to making the most of this town while everyone else is dozing it off...
Post a Comment