Our room with a view
We spent three heavenly days driving through spectacular mountain valleys, swimming in the resort pools and discovering beaches, each one better than the next.
Driving through the clouds on PR-18 returning from Fajardo
Li'l Miss and Mr. O relaxing in the hot tub
Playa Santa en Guánica, PR
Loquillo Beach east of San Juan
I'd say the only thing that was sorely missed on the Island of Puerto Rico was a good local breakfast. This is a meat-eater's paradise...even breakfast consists of meat meat and more meat. No bread, bagels or muffins here! Even the Dunkin Donuts that we finally discovered in Fajardo didn't carry bagels....what horror!
Another unforgettable moment was watching the guide swim in the bioluminiscent bay near Paraguera's village. The trip to the bay itself was spectacular: The local club scene, the bazar that looked like a gypsies have taken over ancient ruins, the boat ride during which we kept joking that we're going to get our organ's stolen and sold. I got to splash my hands into a bucket of the bay water and watch little sparkle's shoot out of my skin. T
There is a reason some things are impossible to catch on camera: You have to see it for yourself!
Other uncapturable moments:
*Waiter's chasing the blackbirds that kept flying into the open dining area in Hilton hunting for crumbs.
*How while driving, you can cruise into a rain cloud that's pouring buckets and back out into the shining sun within seconds.
*When after years of disliking spanish music, you have only spanish radio for three days. One of those days you hear a song that makes you pause and think "Oh MY GOD! I have to find the name of this song!" while goosebumps are rising on your skin.
*When even the Li'l Miss is so happy with the warm weather, beaches and water that she frequently grabs the face of whoever happens to be holding her, and land a big loud Mmmmmm PPCHUA! without any previous begging or groveling requesting from the parents.
Leaving Puerto Rico was sad and became even more so when my brother-in-law reported on the phone "It's very nice weather here this weekend actually, we hit like...30 degrees!" While I was shiedling my eyes from the 85 degree sun. I didn't know whether I wanted to laugh or cry.
All I can say is, Puerto Rico, me gustas mucho!
I'm not saying this isn't a good look for my Monster, but meeh, I'd rather see her sweet face. My NYC moms and Sunnymoms, any suggestions? And how about what style should I have it cut, should I ask her to peruse some style magazines or is it too early to think about curlers in her hair?
During our Sunday morning breakfast while eating and talking, I started to randomly arrange the olive pits, thinking I'd surprise Mr. Ozturk with a little message. Halfway through however, he caught the drift without my saying anything, and began helping me in writing this little message of love.
Photo credit: www.alongthe7.com
Here's to our beautiful five years and to many more years till we meet again in Heaven insha Allah.
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a. She's single and a culinary chef;
to make new hijab pins. I found the above bracelet. At first I admit, I kinda looked at it wondering if it's a piece of the original bracelet, it looked so tiny and fragil. Both the clasp pieces were intact so I tried it on. It fit! Looking at it chiming on my wrist, I finally remembered where it was from.
It's from either 2001 or '02. I tagged along my brother's friend and their team of Pearl Continent of Lahore's PR, Accountants and General Managers, and went for a day trip to Murree in Northern Pakistan. We left early in the morning and after hours of chatting and introductions, I already felt like I was among old friends. They were all much older than me and were teasing me like they would a child. I was used to the teasing and chiding being the youngest in my family as well and played along.
In Murree we went shopping, sight seeing, eating the crappy fried food from the side streets and were totally happy. We threw snow balls at each other and sat on the meagre accumulated snow to take pictures really close up, so it looked like we were surrounded by mounds and mound of snow. Some of us had never seen snow before that day.
On Mall Road, there was plenty of shopping to be done, and I really liked this bracelet that another girl from our group was going to buy. I asked her if it was ok with her that I bought the same thing. I figured, it's not like we're going to be in each other's company all the time, it should be ok if we both wore the same thing. I bought the bracelet while she was still looking through other things and walked out. Later, I saw the same girl walking miserably around behind us. I asked someone what was going on and found out that she was upset that I bought the bracelet. I specifically remembered there being like 5 more of the same bracelet. I almost began to feel sorry that I'd bought it, but quickly pushed the thought out: I was in the company of adults, I told myself. If they want to act like teenagers, let them. It's there loss.
I've often applied the same logic to many different incidents and am realizing now, that buying that bracelet and holding on to it may have been the beginning of a new me. It was around the same year that I stopped stooping to other people's standards just to be accepted, bending over backwards to show that I belonged even when I really knew I didn't. Those were the times I began to stand up for myself.
Although I may have forgotten why year after year, move after move, I've somehow held on to this tiny little keepsake. I'm thinking maybe it's fate keeping it in my hands even though I seem to lose anything under 3lbs in weight almost magically.
So Fate, thank you for the reminder. And hello, Bracelet!
Catching Monster in all her mischief is an ongoing project however, and that is why this photo blog will never truly be abandoned.
As per one of my resolutions, I've started to pray more regularly. That has resulting in Monster wanting to join me in my efforts and as soon as I pick out a scarf and a ja-e namaaz, she runs to get her own mini ja-e namaaz and a random scarf whatever happens to be laying around (which in my home, amounts to at least 3-4 laying around randomly).
She even attempted to drape it around her head today, so I decided to give her a hand. Of course, this isn't the first time I've dressed her up as a Muslima Baby.
Tee hee! =)
