I remember when I was a student at the Canadian university of Dubai, I was required with my group to cover a distinctive event that took place under the lush greenery of Zabeel park which is the Ripe Market.
The Ripe Market is a community event that fosters the creation of community engagement in terms of granting the local businesses and markets the instrument to empower the constant visits of residents and tourists to showcase the healthy and organic products as well as reinforcing the sense of engagement and belonging.
I was astonished by the influx of nationals, expatriates and tourists chasing vendors in the market and suddenly the park was roaring with people from all across the globe.
Tourists seized the ambience of community involvement as different communities converged in one of the most multicultural cities, Dubai.
Moreover, emerging businesses were placed in stands and kiosks to sell organic food and some had offered distinctive cuisines imported from the UK.
However, one of the main reasons that grasped my attention at this exhilarating place was community involvement. I think it is considered to have an effective and a dynamic impact on reviving community relations, community empowerment and strengthening of environmental restoration and enhancement of the quality of life.
Finally, I was amazed by the abundant offerings of fresh organic and healthy fruits and vegetables and other activities. Noha Mohamed Alsergany
A windy day
It’s been just a day since we landed in our own country from the Arabian Gulf.
It took a while for my eyes to get adapted to lush greenery from the concrete trees. The climate here is very cloudy and windy. Our phones were buzzing with tsunami and cyclone warning messages every five minutes. All our friends and relatives constantly reminded us to stay safe and not to go near sea.
Coming from the land of deserts, my instinct was to stay outside and to enjoy the cool breeze (I prefer to call it a breeze rather than storm). My little one and myself were having a good time in the verandah gazing at the tall trees dancing to the rhythm of the wind.
Since we were kilometres away from sea and I was sitting in the comfort of my home I wasn’t very much concerned about the warning messages. I could feel the tension in the voices of elder generation in the family. They were concerned of the damages and losses a storm can cause.
My princess was the most relaxed one in the house. She wasn’t worried about her distance from the sea or what would happen if we were struck by a storm, all she could perceive was tall green trees around her are waving at her.
She was merrily waving them back and shouting back “Hi” acknowledging the loving gestures of the trees.
I was amazed by the imagination of a two-year-old. When the whole world around her was tensed, she felt safe while she is near her mother. Nothing in the world has tampered with her creative mind; for her trees were just another living being who loved her. I realised as we grow old facts and figures stop our imagination from going wild.
We all stayed safe during that windy day, but I realised we need to unlearn a lot to be happy and creative as my two-year-old.
Somewhere down the timeline while we grow up fear and tension corrupt our mind. We forget to see happiness in small things. I wish and pray that my little one stays happy and safe like this forever. Divya Sunil
Zebra crossing
Zebra crossing is aptly named on roads to help crossing pedestrians. As a rule vehicles must be stopped there. Unfortunately, many do not follow the rules. Even when the white strips remain legible and reminds the motorists “Stop here and then proceed,” there are those who just do not care.
For many, not necessarily the motorists who haven’t seen a real zebra, the zebra crossing reminds them as how a real zebra looks like.
Incidentally, what happens when a cat wants to cross the road!
“Why cats?”
Cats are more often seen on the roadsides walking alone and in groups. Even though they could see vehicles coming in fast, cats don’t wait and look around, instead they try to cross the road. At times, their assumptions go wrong and they pay with their lives.
What surprised me the other day was something unusual and never expected.
While driving back home a little late in the evening, I happened to see a group of people walking along as they seemed to be returning home after their evening jog. When they reached a zebra crossing, vehicles at both the ends stopped.
I could not believe, as two cats and a few kittens slowly followed the pedestrians. A baby in the next vehicle was found cheering seeing the white kittens walking along and when the road was cleared she was trying to look back again.
The value of the zebra crossing was really amazing. Ramachandran Nair Oman
Happy wishing
Guess what I received by post today? A New Year card!
And my reaction was, what in the world is this? I mean, do these things even exist? This was the age of e-cards, e-greetings and picking up the phone and saying, “Hey, wish you whatever!”
Wasn’t that the 21st century, tech-savvy thing to do, besides saving up on precious time and money?
“To all my friends out there...” did the trick. Whoever saw your status got your greeting, and those who didn’t, well, what could you do about it?
But this card, this piece of thick paper, was not just a greeting. It was a souvenir of happiness contained in the fold of that envelope. It had a story to tell, a story in which my friend took the time to go shopping for cards for friends that included me, chose one for me, personalised it with my name and a sincere wish for me that she wrote herself and finally made sure it reached me by affixing the necessary stamps on the envelope and directing it to my postal address.
The card also brought with it wonderful memories of a bygone era when relationships mattered. The joy derived from sending out cards, making sure no one was missed, and the elation felt when your love was reciprocated with another card that came by post specially for you, well, that joy is immeasurable.
But even more enjoyable is when, on a hot summer afternoon, you pull out a book to read and out falls a stack of cards that you have collected over time, and the hot afternoon turns out to be a cool reliving of pleasant reminiscences.
This is an experience digital cards deprive us of. Nevertheless, a wish for happiness is a wish anyway. So here’s to happy wishing! Vidya Shankar
Green thoughts
I love nature and am against people spoiling the greenery of the beautiful environment. Planting trees means planting happiness and spreading awareness about keeping our surroundings green. I believe in the saying, “Green Environment, Clean Environment!”
Nurturing plants is a daily activity that I do in my house with the strong belief that life won’t exist without plants and trees.
It’s an activity that I do with pure enthusiasm and excitement of doing something that will help our nature, our beautiful environment.
There are many gardens in my school to promote greenery, interestingly named like “Our Own Blossom,” “Primary Patch,” “Toy Garden” etc. There is also a group in my school called “Go Green” and I am a part of this.
This group strongly focuses on the wellness of the environment. There are some unique gardens in my school for the higher grades which are Hydroponics and Aquaponics.
The beauty of my school is enhanced by such natural, mesmerising greenery.
A small tribute to the environment can make a bigger impact on the society. As they say, an existence without trees and plants is like a life without happiness and joy. Trisha Sayani
Bruce Lee fan
From childhood I have been a fan of Bruce Lee. His art of fighting kungfu and Wing Chun Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese martial arts always amazed me.
I used to keep all movie collection of Bruce Lee. My daily free time activity was to watch each movie and opt a style, and learn his moves and techniques of kungfu martial arts. It offered such a stunning feeling.
I urged my parents to allow me to join a martial arts academy to learn real self-defence skills. I learned a lot of new exercises. Martial arts training helps one live with self confidence, respect, discipline and humility which forever make one strong as a rock.
A lot of styles are considered in kungfu like tiger style, snake style, crane style, dragon style and many more. Bruce Lee has always remained my favourite martial arts inspiration. Adnan Mehmood
Look alike
Back home in my village most people look alike, may be because they live there for generations and somehow are related to each other.
Recently, a friend visited there for work by crossing a river. He was a trainee and his seniors accompanied him on a boat.
After completing their work, they reached back the terminal.
It was winter and they preferred to walk to the nearby market.
At the first turn where the road branched out, he asked one local person about the directions and followed the same.
After reaching a spot, he noticed the “same” man and asked for directions. This got repeated after he spotted the “same” man again.
He thought either the man was making a fool or the place was haunted.
His senior started laughing and said, “We are moving in the right direction. Not only the houses and roads look alike here, most people too look similar. You were not talking to the same person.”
Print
Send to Friend