Mind.Wanders

This year's Ramadhan has been a roller coaster ride for me. It's been very meaningful but VERY emotional at the same time. 

In Malaysia, we've been nurtured that Eid is the celebration. So everybody is looking forward to celebrating Eid. At the start of Ramadhan, people are already filling up their weekends with shopping for new raya clothes, selling their home-made raya cookies etc. Ramadhan is filled with flashing in social media what you had for iftar, your iftar buffets at hotels and posh restaurants, if your food was pretty enough (read: Instagramable) to share it with the public via Instagram. And I'm not saying this is totally wrong and I admit that I do them too sometimes. But my point is, are we taking advantage of Ramadhan like how we should be? Are me making the most of it?

For some reason, this year feels extra special for me. I really felt it. I feel really sad and reluctant to say goodbye to Ramadhan. I genuinely feel my heart is heavy as we are coming into the last 10 days of Ramadhan. The fact this is the special month, the opportunity month that we should try to get closer to Allah s.w.t.; the month of ibadah; the month to repair and clean the mind and the soul; the month of trials; the month of happiness and many more (whatever you want to define Ramadhan in your term), but it's slipping away now, so fast you don't even realise. 

I pray that Allah s.w.t. gives us the chance to meet Ramadhan again next year and provide us more chance to better prepare ourselves before it comes. To enhance ourselves in humanity, spirituality and faith; to be a better Muslim, if not a better person - a better you than you were previously. InsyaAllah. 

What do you like to do when you're visiting a new city?

I know some people search for the nice bars in the city, or best restaurants and cafes, markets to experience local food, and then obviously, there's the city's famous landmarks. When I'm planning a trip to a new city, I like to search for a place that gives me a whole view of the city, and this usually involves higher elevation.

Here are my reasons why:

#1 SATISFACTION
It's definitely a personal satisfaction for me because I've always liked to climb to a higher place especially for the view. It's more satisfying when the climb is a tough one (especially hiking or climbing numerous steps), and you have to go through a lot of sweat and losing lots of breaths, but when you finally reach the top destination, nothing can beat that feeling!

Reykjavik - Hallgrímskirkja | January 2016
(Post on Reykjavik city stroll here)
#2 TIME AND SPACE TO REFLECT
Sometimes when you're at a higher level/place, you just don't realise that you're staring out into the horizon, not really thinking about anything, just simply enjoying the moment. At other times, I stare again at the far horizon and ponder. About many things. Reflecting and giving me a different perspective. I know this may sound a little dramatic, but it's true. When you see things from higher place and you see how big the area, the city, the place, the world really is and that you're just one tiny human being amongst it all.

Dubai - Burj Khalifa | July 2016
 #3 SEE THE PLACE DIFFERENTLY
Being able to view something from above is the best thing. You're able to see things that the people down there cannot. In a way, you see what's in front of them and what they'll encounter. It's like you're looking at a maze from above. At least that's how I feel. haha. You also get to see the big city all at once - and with the perfect weather, its a bonus to enjoy.
...and not to mention, the view will be ten times more fantastic from up here.

(See here for my Paris post and more magnificent views from this tower)


#4 ENCOURAGEMENT & POSITIVISM
Stating the obvious - nothing much to say than this;

Higher places offer better view.

London - Sky Garden | November 2015
(See here for my post on the Sky Garden)