Snapshot: Deer in my backyard

One of the things that I enjoy a great deal about living in the suburbs, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, is the easy access to nature and wildlife. Last week, while I was sipping my morning coffee and flipping through the weekend edition of the Washington Post, I glanced at our backyard and low and behold there were deer, four of them, right outside my dining room.

They just wandered around, nibbled on some of our trees, and chilled for a while until they decided it was time to move on. Such beautiful animals, I tell you! This is a scene that is really worth my daily commute back and forth to work. Long live the suburbs!

Photo essay: "Welcome to Bear Country"

Probably one of the most memorable moments of this summer was when I saw the bear. This happened last weekend during our weekend camping adventure on Virginia's Skyline Drive. The night before the sighting, the possibility of seeing a bear (a first in my lifetime) was the only thing on my mind. The reason for this was primarily because we were welcomed to our campground by a big sign that read simply: "Bear Country." I could not sleep much that night. I kept waking up in the middle of the night thinking about the possibility of a bear hovering outside our tent. Also, seeing the movie about a man being eaten by a bear just a week before did not help things.

The bear sighting occurred the next day around noon during the tail end of a five-mile hike (a hike that alone almost led to my demise). It was surreal. After taking a break, we were just starting down the trail again when we saw it. The bear was some 150 meters away from where we were standing. It was calmly drinking from a creek when my shouts interrupted its moment of peace. Hearing my cries, it raised its head to look at us. While I was busy shouting and cursing the day, the rest of the group were taking pictures. The bear looked up at the animated crowd and then just walked away. Just like that, the mammoth beast was nowhere to be found.

I have to say that although coming face-to-face with the bear gave me the scare of a lifetime, it was exhilarating. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Snapshot: Frogs at the Nataional Aquarium

This past Memorial Day Weekend, we took my long-time friends, who were here visiting from Amman, to Baltimore to marvel at the breathtaking sea creatures on display at the National Aquarium. While there, my super-talented husband took this phenomenal picture of this live frog chilling inside a tank at the aquarium. In my humble, completely unbiased opinion, I think this is one of the best photos I have seen in a while. The picture is just too good to be true. The colors are so vibrant and alive and the frog just looks extremely engaged. Just look at its tiny hands! It is just perfect. Way to go hubby! Here are some more frog pictures taken by the talented Mr Tynes. [Clicking the picture links to a BIG version.]

A stunning scene

One of the most memorable things I did last week was to go off to the the Tidal Basin during my lunch break to see the cherry blossoms at their peak. I figured I had only a one hour break to see them, so I thought I would take a cab instead of simply walking. My decision didn't prove that wise, as the place was jam-packed with tourists, making it impossible for cabs to get there. The fastest way to reach the place turned about to be on foot. Anyway, I managed to reach my destination after walking the last part of the way.

What I saw when I got there was even more exhilarating than I expected. It was simply stunning. The cornucopia of white and pink reflecting in the basin took my breath away. Of course, I had to maneuver between the many, many tourists to find good locations to take pictures but the hassle was worth it. What was amazing about the whole scene was how the trees themselves were shedding, which made for a wonderful scene as everyone was engulfed in white flurries, adding a unique touch to the beauty of the moment.

What made the trip still more special for me was the fact that it was my first. During this same time last year I was in Jordan with family and friends. Of course being surrounded by cherry blossoms is not as fulfilling and worthwhile as being with your family. But somehow, and just for a moment, I got a similar warmth simply by being amongst those trees that grow in a place far, far away from home.

Enjoy these pictures [they enlarge on click] taken by yours truly.

Snapshot: Lost in Narnia's world

The very day after Amal's arrival here for a five-day vacation, the DC metro area got hit by a huge snowstorm. It was the biggest so far this winter, pumping out about six inches of snow in the suburbs where we live. Amal loved it. Somehow it helped her turn off and detach herself -- at least for a bit -- from the political madness she left behind in her home, Beirut. After taking a nice walk in the nearby park on the day of the storm, we returned home to look at the pictures we had taken taken. "Wow! This is amazing ... this looks like Narnia," said Amal of one of the pictures. [Image enlarges on click]. Indeed, for a while we were in Narnia's world, far, far away from a land we both adore, a land that will eventually always conquer our thoughts no matter how hard we try to distant ourselves from it.

Blast from the past: Zahran Steet 1955 vs. today!

UPDATE 2: My friend Sinan has provided me with a picture showing the detail of the very same location (circled in red) in the context of all the recent development.

UPDATE: I received a recent picture of this same location today from a slightly different angle. Thanks again Scooby! I'm going to reorient the page for comparison. Amazing!

Reader and friend Scooby provided me with this phenomenal picture of Zahran Street in 1955 [And the new one after the update]. It goes without saying that that the development that has occurred throughout the years to this street and to the city of Amman generally is mind-boggling.

Can anyone provide me with a more recent picture more recent pictures of Zahran Street?

Snapshot: Santa convention

While driving around the National Mall in DC last weekend, we came across something that resembled some sort of a Santa Convention. What we saw was more than two dozen Santas gathered in front of the entrance to the Smithsonian National History Museum. The Santas were not doing anything special besides just hanging out.

My mother-in-law and I approached the congregation and asked one of the Santas about the reason for this mammoth gathering. His reply was simple: "It's Christmas!" Good answer.

A few days later, I was reading John and Jenny's blog when I realized that they too had come across a similar scene in Seattle. After following the link on their blog, I discovered that what we had stumbled upon in DC was a special group that goes by the name Santarchy and/or Santacon. This is how they describe themselves:

Every December for the last 13 years, Cacophonous Santas have been visiting cities around the world, engaging in a bit of Santarchy as part of the annual Santacon events. It all started back in 1994 when several dozen Cheap Suit Santas paid a visit to downtown San Francisco for a night of Kringle Kaos. Things have reached Critical Xmas and Santarchy is now a global phenomenon. You'd better watch out! Santa's coming to town!

Merry Christmas everyone!

In more Santa-related sightings, apparently globally there are a number of mass Santa convocations. Some suggest it is a sure sign of the apocalypse. These images document a gathering of Santas, called "Sinister Santas," in Moscow. This article suggests something more than Christmas merriment afoot: "Its purpose and appearance had been painstakingly created to appear benign. Few of the 70,000 or so who gathered were older than teenagers and their uniforms were so incongruous as to be unthreatening ... according to Russia's liberal democrats, scenes like this are less a display of benevolence than a show of force ... As the youngsters swayed ... a voice boomed out from the loudspeakers exhorting them to reinvent Russia's lost glory. "Let the miracle happen," the voice cried out. "Let heart reach out to heart so our country can rise once more."

Thanksgiving in the Valley

We spent this Thanksgiving weekend in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, where we gathered with family members for fellowship and divine food. It is goes without saying that gathering in the breath-taking valley adds a special vibe to this fall holiday.

No matter how many times we visit the Valley, I can never get over how beautiful it is. There is something about the mountains there -- the Blue Ridge and Massanutten -- that simply take my breath away.

No wonder this stunning place is listed among the 1000 Places to See Before You Die, a book I picked up at Staples while the husband was trying (and succeeding) to land a good deal on Black Friday.

Now, I will let the pictures speak for themselves. These photos were taken by the husband on two different occasions and in two different locations in the valley: Lake Shenandoah, near Harrisonburg and the Skyline Drive. Happy Thanksgiving and happy holidays.

Snapshot: Jordanian policewomen on motorbikes

According to Jordan's national news service, Petra, Jordanian policewoman are currently being trained to ride motorcycles. Is not that just too cool? It seems we are soon going to see Jordanian policewomen zipping about on motorbikes on the streets of the Kingdom. Neat! Hat tip: [Salam]

3rd anniversary snapshots

In what is becoming a rapidly evolving tradition each anniversary, we left town last weekend to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. Our first anniversary was celebrated in Dubai, while the second was in New York. This year, our destination of choice was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia is pretty neat, feeling somehow like a young town with a number of quaint streets laden with European-style pubs and off-beat shops. It also has tremendous significance in American history, as the city is home to Independence Hall, where the American constitution was signed, the Liberty Bell, the first US Post Office, and the home of Betsy Ross, who is said to have sewn the first US flag, among other things.

Touring on a bus that converted into a boat was an exciting way to see the city and the Delaware River. While on the tour, our guide showed us Will Smith's house, right on the river. According to our guide, the residents of Philly know Smith is in town when they see flags mounted outside the house. Smith's dad, who lives in the house year-round, puts out the flags whenever his son comes home. I guess this makes life for Smith's stalkers much easier. Anyway, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Williamsburg: A trip back to colonial times

One of the most unique places I have visited in this country so far is Williamsburg, Virginia. What made this place special for me is it the vast amount of history associated with it. During our two-day visit there a few weeks back, I received a crash-course in American history.

Thanks to our quick museums tours, I got to know about the Revolutionary War, the victory in Yorktown, the Boston tea party, what taxation without representation is all about and the daily doings of the early immigrants who formed the first colonies.

Visiting Jamestown, which is right down the road from Williamsburg, was pretty eye opening as well. I laid my eyes upon the original location of the first colony that gave birth to what is now the United States. It was exciting to see the early haunts of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas, two characters that for awhile I thought of as mere fiction.

Downtown Williamsburg was the most enchanting part of it all. It was a bit surreal for me to wander down cobblestone streets alongside people dressed in colonial clothes, speaking in colonial accents, while listening to colonial music and eating colonial food. It was a trip back in time in every sense of the word.

Dining in Williamsburg was out of this world, as we savored a colonial dinner in the dark using only candles for lighting -- just like the good old days. Overall, it was a memorable trip. I will let the pictures -- taken by the super talented husband -- speak for themselves.

The roller coaster rider

When the husband told me of his desire to take me to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia I answered saying: "Great. But no roller coasters." "We'll see," he said under his breath.

As soon as we arrived, the first thing we did was ride a roller coaster, the park's legendary Loch Ness Monster. I have no idea how he convinced me to do it. I just succumbed so quickly -- with no resistance. The experience was terrifying in every sense of the word. I was so scared that I decided to close my eyes during the ride and pretend that the whole roller coaster experience was just a bad dream. As soon as this near-death experience came to an end, the beaming husband asked me how I felt. "I need a beer," was my reply.

The day rolled on with still more adventures including haunted houses, bumper cars, Halloween shows, water rides and one more roller coaster. Yes, I succumbed one more time. "I want to you to share my love for roller coasters," he said in his latest attempt to convince me to ride another roller coaster -- this time the Big Bad Wolf. I obliged for I'm too weak. This second ride was as terrifying as the first except that this time I decided to conquer my fear and keep my eyes open. I did not conquer anything. I was scared to death.

By the end of the day, yes, the husband wanted to try yet another roller coaster. This time I resisted. "Come on how can you keep doing this?" I asked a bit annoyed.
"Well I'm like Grissom in CSI. I love riding roller coasters," he explained.
"Did he say that in the show?" I asked.
"Oh yeah," the husband said smiling. "Do you know when I was about fifteen, my friend Steve and I once rode the Loch Ness some 25 times in one day."

After three years of marriage I discovered something new about my husband: he rides roller coasters.

A Myrtle Beach vacation

We spent this past week at South Carolina's Myrtle Beach for a big family gathering. Among the many unique experiences I went through during this marvelous vacation -- besides spending quality time with family -- was swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. It was a first for yours truly.

What was so exhilarating about this activity was battling the "ferocious" waves and eventually learning to ride/surf them. If memory serves, I don't recall ever facing high waves while swimming in the Red Sea -– the site where most of my outdoor swimming experiences took place. Is this what distinguishes a sea from an ocean? I wonder. I must admit, being whacked by a strong wave can be painful but it's loads of fun.

Another fascinating moment was watching a fisherman catch a shark, drag it and gut it out to get its meat. I was not the only spectator either, as many tourists gathered around the fisherman to take pictures of his most recent acquisition. However, I was the only one who asked the fisherman: "Is that a 'real' shark?" Somehow the whole thing was just surreal. Anyway, I'll let the pictures [they enlarge on click] speak for themselves.

A dip in the West Virginia whitewater

I think this picture speaks for itself [Yes, it enlarges on click]. Last weekend was simply out of this world. I never thought I would do something like this in my lifetime ... ever! It was something I used to see in the movies. But after some planning and encouragement from the husband, I decided to embark on my very first whitewater rafting experience on one of the oldest rivers in the world, the New River in West Virginia.

I have to admit, though, I was dreading it. I was so worried the night before that I stayed awake almost all night. I kept thinking I would end up clinging to a tree after the boat flipped, just like in the movies. But I didn't! With our friends: Sarah, Elliot,the husband and me, the whole experience was absolutely exhilarating. I would do it again in a heartbeat. What a weekend!

Jordan and the scooter woman

I never thought I would live to see the day when Jordanian women would be zipping through the streets of Amman on scooters. Apparently I was mistaken, as women in Amman are indeed scooting about! I have to admit, I'm loving it. The woman in this picture is Haya Karadhseh Qubain who, according to Ahmad, is a teacher at an Amman school. It is worth noting that this woman comes from my hometown of Madaba. Here's a profile of Jordan's scooter woman as a PDF file from Al Rai (Arabic). Via: [360 east] For the record, scooters and motorbikes were banned in Jordan until fairly recently. I believe the decision was made in the early 80's after a series of fatal traffic accidents involving motorcycles. Nowadays, scooters are allowed on the streets of Jordan. Motorbikes, however, remained restricted. They are allowed for business but can't be owned by individuals.

Killing the messenger

Lebanese photojournalist, Layal Najib was killed by an Israeli strike on Sunday. She was only 23. This is just horrendous. Najib is yet another innocent victim of the Israeli collective punishment of Lebanon. Why did she have to perish at such a young age? This is an image Layal took while covering the invasion. It was published on Friday by AFP. The caption read: "A destroyed residential building in one of Beirut's southern suburbs. Israel was amassing thousands more reservists on the Lebanese border to stage ground incursions aimed at destroying Hezbollah positions, warning it would not rule out a full-scale invasion despite mounting calls for a ceasefire.(AFP/Layal Najib)"

4th of July in the nation's capital

Right after watching the out-of-this world World Cup match between Italy and Germany, we jumped on the Metro and made our way down to the National Mall to celebrate Independence Day along with hundreds of thousands (estimates of 400,000) of people that flocked to the nation's capital.

As expected, this once-a-year mammoth event was extremely enjoyable. Festivities were in full swing all over the mall. There were musical concerts, shows and even a Hare Krishna performance. We also managed to get a glimpse of Vanessa Williams, Jason Alexander -- who played George on Seinfeld -- and Elmo (the infamous Sesame Street puppet) after walking down to the Capitol building where the country's main 4th of July concert took place.

Watching fireworks from the base of the Washington Monument made for a memorable sight. The cornucopia of colors coupled with the impact of the forceful explosions was simply breathtaking. Happy 4th of July everyone!

A look back: A young King Hussein

My wonderful friend Muna provided me with this historic photo that shows the late King Hussein as a young boy sitting in the lap of his grandfather, King Abdullah I. Isn't it just priceless! Thanks Muna!

A look back: Marka Airport arrival

Reader Fred drew my attention to this Jordan-related photo on Flickr [click to enlarge]. From what I can see it is a snapshot of the arrival of a military convoy (I assume it is a British convoy) at Marka Airport. I just love old photos of Jordan.

Meeting the Moorish Girl

I had the opportunity to meet Moroccan author Laila Lalami face-to-face the other day in Washington, and I must say that she is extremely admirable and more impressive in the flesh than in cyberspace. She was in Washington, DC this past Thursday to read some excerpts from her debut novel, Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits (signed copies link), which I read several months back and liked very much. I enjoyed her reading immensely as I did the discussions that followed. Lalami eloquently managed to answer every question directed at her, the majority of which came from euroarabe.

One question someone asked was who she has in mind as her audience when she writes. Her reply was simply: "I write for myself. I am my ideal audience." I thought the answer was brilliant because as an aspiring fiction writer myself I tend to fall into the trap of thinking a great deal about my audience, something that can sometimes make me feel mentally impotent. I end up failing to jot down anything for fear of retribution from a certain individual or a group. I think I will try her method and think solely of myself when I write.

It was also fascinating for me to see the large amount of her blog readers who showed up at the event. She got a great deal of praise for her blog from the audience with one describing her site as "the best literary blog out there." Following the reading, I had a quick but pleasant chat with Laila in which we exchanged compliments and pleasantries and took a couple of pictures. The husband and I wrapped up the evening with a nice dinner in DuPont Circle with some wonderful friends, including Basboos, Leilouta and her husband, euroarabe, and another non-blogger friend of ours. All in all it was a perfect day in the city.

The DC Metro female Arab blogger meet-up

Leilouta has already discussed the embarrassing incident of several days ago, exposing my footwear dilemma (and Hal's shoe supply service), so I'm not going to dwell on it here, as I've yet to recover. Instead, I will focus this post on the wonderful time we had during our Metro area female Arab blogger meet-up here in the nation's capital this past weekend.

Those who attended the meeting were Beisan, Hala, Leilouta and yours truly. We had a truly wonderful time, hitting it off as if we'd known each other for years. We talked mostly about blogs (of course), Arab politics (what else!) and life in the US. Joking about our different accents also dominated the discussions [can we really avoid that?].

Sometimes it really blows my mind when I think about the number of truly amazing people I've been fortunate enough to meet through this remarkable outlet called blogging. Life never ceases to amaze me.

Snapshot: Naturalization on the mall

The other day I was invited to attend the naturalization ceremony of my Moroccan friend. The event took place on the national mall in Washington DC. The most fascinating aspect of the ceremony for me was the tremendous diversity of people becoming US citizens that day. They really came from all over the globe: from Asia to Latin America to the Middle East. I heard Costa Rica, Paraguay, Morocco and Pakistan, among others. This was my up-close and personal experience with the melting pot that makes the United States of America. Neat! [Image enlarges on click]

A Virginia wedding

Several days after my return from from Jordan, we drove to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley to attend the wedding of my brother-in-law David to my now sister-in-law, Diane. The wedding was really wonderful in every sense of the word. The newlyweds were ecstatic and all those attending were happy to be there for the wonderful occasion. There was lots of eating, chatting, more eating and loads of fun, all taking place in the wonderful turn of the century home of my parents-in-law. What a great time we all had. Many congrats to the newlyweds. Happy times await!

A peek at Abdoun's mammoth 'air bridge'

I've passed by the construction site for the new 4th Circle to Abdoun air bridge a number of times during the past two weeks and each time we drove by I had to pause for a moment just to marvel at this mammoth structure. If I'm not mistaken, this is supposed to be the Arab world's first air bridge. It does look quite impressive at this stage, as things are shaping up. I'm looking forward to seeing how it affects Amman's traffic when it is finally done. From what I've seen, it seems that the next time I'm here the bridge will be completed. We'll see!

Shopping in downtown Amman

In my pursuit of the most authentic Jordanian souvenirs for gifts to friends and family in the US, I decided to venture into downtown Amman, or Al-Balad. I was thrilled to find that downtown is still its same old self, so vibrant and full of life. The scenes, the smells and the sounds were just as exhilarating as I have always remembered them. Also, the familiar offbeat characters that I used to see wandering about on the streets of Al-Balad -- including a self-assigned traffic controller -- still occupy their prime places.

As for my shopping spree, it was loads of fun. It reminded me how bargaining downtown can prove so tremendously entertaining, particularly when accompanied by my mother: the master bargainer. She is one of those that when she finds an item she likes, will b