tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16156903370136400332024-03-12T23:51:50.365+00:00Saba and the CityPondering life, etc.Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-4085688504768349342016-05-07T09:58:00.000+01:002016-05-07T09:58:41.021+01:00Harry Potter World - London
In February, we took my sister and two of her friends to Harry Potter studios here in London for her birthday treat. Not a big Harry Potter fan myself, I was happy to see her show an interest in the HP books as she rarely reads (and, you know, I'm a nerd and I just can't understand how anyone wouldn't enjoy reading...how is it possible?).
Anyway! I won't go on forever about the tour because Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-56740707600680842192016-02-20T11:19:00.000+00:002016-02-20T11:19:29.870+00:0030(ish) day challenge complete
It's true - I completed 30 days of yoga! Ok, I did do it in 32 days but I did do it.
Have I mentioned I'm impatient? Well, I am. I want results now. So as I sit to write this I very much was wishing I'd be uploading an incredible photo of having my hands flat on the floor, looking up with a flat back. Instead, I can only really upload a photo of my feet. You're welcome.
The coloursSabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-53865555622306887682016-01-26T23:20:00.002+00:002016-01-26T23:20:28.330+00:00Renewed Year, Renewed Me.
Unlike some, I don't have a love or hate relationship with New Year Resolutions. I like giving myself some "to do" tasks but I don't hold myself to a time or worry that I didn't sign up to the gym on 1st January (note: instead I decided to sign up in November and pay three months' worth of membership already...oh dear). After all, we set ourselves tasks throughout the year so I figure this Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-81090517566893618862016-01-06T14:42:00.001+00:002016-01-06T14:42:45.466+00:00Hello there.
I remember the night that Louis
declared….
... “the Saudis are bombing
Sana’a”.
I was awake due to my full
bladder, having gone to bed without any sign of distress or imminent conflict
in Yemen. It took all of my willpower to avoid checking my Jordanian mobile
phone, knowing that if I was contacted on that, then things were bad. Instead,
I chose to send a WhatsApp to my Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-53143592329660624412015-04-07T22:17:00.000+01:002015-04-07T22:31:51.220+01:00First Gear, Full Speed!
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Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-41130878693008217562015-03-08T21:59:00.001+00:002015-03-08T21:59:59.020+00:00I am Girl
In May 2013, I watched The Stoning of Soraya M., and I started writing this blog post.
Today, on account of it being International Women's Day and the discussions happening all around me, I will finish what I started writing. I must preface my post by saying that I am not a social expert. I am not a historian. I am only an observer in this life of mine, trying to make sense of Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-88140460002573469812015-03-04T17:30:00.001+00:002015-03-04T18:23:39.109+00:00Certified Muscateers!
Normally, I only need a holiday after a holiday if that
holiday involves visiting family (mainly due to the many outings, gatherings,
lunches, etc). But, I've been back from Oman for almost two weeks and my body
must've been craving some form of rest because I've been at home with a nasty
cold for 3 days. Today is the first day I've actually felt remotely human, and
my good intentions to leave Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-48700758775547897152015-02-02T23:03:00.001+00:002015-02-02T23:03:42.421+00:00Full of grace?
You know how they say that you are measured not by how you react to success but it's how you react to challenges or failures? I'll be the first to admit, I'm not one who exhibits qualities of grace and gratitude that easily. More often than not, when something "bad" happens to me, I'll moan and tell you how I'm the victim. Sometimes I don't, sometimes I will listen to that particular Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-5366752243435272752015-01-08T16:04:00.001+00:002015-01-08T16:04:34.127+00:00BuhBye 2014
I'll claim that I'm publishing this "new year" post late on purpose. One week in should be enough time to figure out what resolutions I may actually accomplish. Last year I resolved to take more photos and be more considerate. I can happily say that I took LOADS of photos and look forward to taking more this year. As for being more considerate...might have to keep at that one I'm afraid!
Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-51389115428312901542014-12-17T11:13:00.001+00:002014-12-17T11:13:58.690+00:00The Beef Stops Here
I'm normally a
chicken kinda girl. Or sushi. If sushi is involved, sushi is normally chosen.
Having said that, I do enjoy a nice steak or burger but I'm quite picky about
how it tastes.
But.
There's one place in
Amman you're guaranteed to get amazing, tender meat.
Brisket.
Brisket. Just typing
their name makes my mouth water. It's a little unassuming place Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-64956028230442139572014-12-05T10:43:00.002+00:002014-12-05T10:43:16.215+00:00The introvert bubble
You may remember how much I love personality tests. In particular, the Jung Typology Test, which defined me as an ISFJ (Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging). I remember reading the results completely awestruck because it.was.all.so.accurate. (highly, highly recommend taking the test - here)
I've been thinking a lot about the introverted aspects of my personality. I don't believe that Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-5149970039618000922014-11-21T14:16:00.003+00:002014-11-21T14:16:19.855+00:00Gerasa
There's a place
steeped in history not too far from our little West Amman bubble. It's not even
hidden, rather exists side by side with the modern city that has sprung up around
it.
Jerash,
previously known as Gerasa.
I love going to
Jerash. It’s one of the best preserved ancient Roman cities, and in fact I’ve
read that it is the most complete of any of the ancient Roman cities. When Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-873311433779174212014-11-06T19:10:00.001+00:002014-11-06T19:10:07.652+00:00Where to from here?
I know I've not been very vocal on here for a while.
I do have some exciting photos and reviews I'd like to share with you.
I do have posts that are lighthearted and liken me to Dora the Explorer.
But it's been difficult when my mind has been really occupied with figuring out how to escape the maze that is my brain.
Conundrum.
I'm not one to plan where I want to be and by Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-64140575755390926912014-10-23T11:57:00.001+01:002014-10-23T11:57:09.718+01:00First time for everything
There is a first time
for everything. For us, it’s the first time we have a portable, open gas fire in
our flat. Yes, it’s out there, in the open, spewing delicious fumes and
threatening to consume unattended items of clothing. It may come surprising to
some, but Amman gets really, really cold. We live in the constant fear
highlighted by Game of Thrones, waiting for winter to finally come. In Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-75985714310936748022014-10-14T22:12:00.002+01:002014-10-14T22:12:44.419+01:00When in the Levant, go to Levant!
One of my favourite restaurants in Amman is Levant, which serves a mix of Levantine and Armenian food with surprising twists here and there. I'm lucky to say that I've been there twice in the last few weeks (waist line not so lucky). I literally would be happy going there and ordering mezze after mezze and stuffing my face with bite size goodies.
Once you've sat down and ordered your food, Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-88974957330651195052014-09-22T19:33:00.002+01:002014-09-22T19:33:18.253+01:00Third time was indeed a charm!
I'd failed twice.
I persisted. And my third time paid off.
The Amman Citadel.
We started off with a delicious brunch at Jafra downtown. Jafra is normally a hit or miss for me and this time, it was a big hit. I might just have to go there again and do an exclusive post for it, because it's quirky, fun and the food is yum.
Needing a bit more energy than what the mezzes afforded us, weSabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-37642471944143801642014-09-02T23:12:00.000+01:002014-09-02T23:12:02.280+01:00Serene Bath
Bath had been on my list of British cities to visit for a while. Unfortunately, its fairly western location meant that we never really found an excuse to go there, and most definitely not for a day trip. So when I realised that it was only 1.5 hours away from our friends' house who we were planning to visit anyway, I quickly convinced Louis that taking a day for ourselves to explore it was the Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-91729126699911013202014-08-30T19:44:00.001+01:002014-08-30T19:44:19.760+01:00HashtagFirstWorldProblems: Reading a book you just can't seem to finish
Has this ever happened to you? Surely it has. It must happen to everyone (cough cough in a first world conundrum like me). I'm reading For Whom the Bell Tolls. This is attempt number 3, if I remember correctly. My Kindle tells me I'm 41% through. My brain tells me I have 41% of my sanity left. But I want to finish it. I don't want to give up. It's a phase, you see. There came a time when I Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-85710268532077381012014-08-19T19:31:00.001+01:002014-08-19T20:56:49.562+01:00It's a buuuuuurger record!!
Don't ask how, but amidst all of our meetings, dinners and weddings, Louis and I managed to have THREE burgers in the two weeks we were back in the UK. I think we deserve a medal...or a Weight Watchers voucher. Whatevs.
Round 1 - Byron Burgers - O2 Centre, Finchley Road
We'd heard about Byron from some friends and Tripadvisor and so as soon as we stumbled on the one in the O2 CentreSabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-11489750939173769142014-08-13T16:55:00.001+01:002014-08-13T16:55:51.551+01:00World, I'm 30!
First, I have to apologise for pulling a disappearing act (again). I'm sorry but I promise that I have tons of photos to share over the next few posts as I've just come back from Sunny England, which was truly sunny for once!
So, you guys. I turned 30 last week. At.Last. Why you ask? I loved my 20's and all that, but my God am I happy to finally move on to my 30's. I already feel like Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-86752334885994010302014-07-23T19:03:00.001+01:002014-07-23T19:03:18.642+01:00Travel essentials
You may remember that I'm not the best of travelers. I see photos of people jet-setting with impeccable hair and matching luggage and I wonder how they do it. It feels as though every time I travel, no matter the size of my carry on or handbag, I cram it full of stuff and end up exhausted from carrying it around and from trying to find anything in there. I have a friend who travels carrying hisSabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-46841347654155235312014-07-08T19:53:00.003+01:002014-07-08T19:54:50.487+01:00Show me the Bouza
Pistachios and mastic. Synonymous with the Arab world where we try to stuff everything we can with some form of nut, rose water and sugar. About a year ago, I watched a BBC program on Syria and it had a feature on Bakdash, a popular and very old ice cream parlour selling Arabic Bouza. At the end of the programme, they mentioned that Bakdash had to open a branch in Amman due to the growing Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-29593877909950532742014-06-30T20:08:00.002+01:002014-06-30T20:08:31.601+01:00Delightful Souq Jara
First and foremost - Ramadan Kareem everyone! Fasting and non-fasting, I wish you a blessed month and not too many thirst induced hallucinations! *wink*
There's a quaint Friday market just off of Rainbow Street called Souq Jara. It's open from sometime June-ish until late September, and attracts a mass of local handicraft groups, artists, chefs and trinket sellers who set up under Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-77941296051298827542014-06-20T14:01:00.001+01:002014-06-20T14:01:41.482+01:00Umm Qais Umm Qais
I'm sorry this is SO late! I can't even remember when it was that we went to Umm Qais! So let's just say that this post will not be too wordy (lucky you eh?)...
Umm Qais is located practically at the northern border of Jordan. To drive there will take you around 2 and a half hours, as you go through some northern cities like Irbid. Umm Qais is an ancient Roman town and is steeped in history Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615690337013640033.post-53446737878017717412014-05-30T13:30:00.000+01:002014-05-30T13:30:20.051+01:00Madaba and the Map
It's been over a month of flat hunting and if you've ever been on the hunt for accommodation, you'll know how frustrating, heartbreaking and at times soul destroying it can be. Which is why, in between all of the phone calls to random people, Louis and I decided we should leave Amman for a few hours and enjoy some of the historical culture Jordan has to offer.
Last Friday we drove out Sabahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259920010050895587noreply@blogger.com1