Dubai Misses You

Have you ever thought what it would be like to visit Dubai for just a day? You might loose yourself in the Gold market, find exotic shoes, or trip over a bucket of spices. These might be a few of things that first come to your mind when you think of the Arabic peninsula. You might even as I had, the opportunity to be taught how to pray at a couple mosques (one which was quite enormous). They will buy you clothes a Kufi (Muslim traditional hat), and introduce you to the local Shehe (religious leader) in hopes that you will mutter the words of conversion. They will then drive you around the city in their Mercedes and chant religious prayers for you (partly because they can not speak English). As the day slowly creeps on these two kind Muslim Arabs you slowly started to realize that the once image of spices, desserts, gold, and trade has been replaces with people who in every action thought, chanted and walked with their god. Despite the uniformly built buildings and westernized shopping centers the landscape is void of moisture and full of mystery. And as you slowly made your way back to the airport to board the plane you feel a sigh of relief and remember the thoughts of before you arrived. You have finally experienced Dubai.

Mostar's New Bridge in Bosnia

During the Bosnian war this bridge was destroyed. This very famous bridge separated the Muslims from the Christians in the city of Mostar. I took this picture in the summer of 2003 and there was much work yet to be done. I came across the finished bridge appropriately shown by a great organization... The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees but for a complete explanation of the bridge visit here. I also like this picture which was taken recently since the bridge's completion.

Bosnia vs Themselves

The sun was hot as I peered through the overcast sky as dozens of minarets scattered the city. A sudden bellow could be heard and then another and another as the prayer call started for the evening. “Allahu akbar” was the chant which ironically means "God is great" and which perplexed me a little from the history of the area. I thought how could God be great where religious and political fanatics claimed death in the name of God? I suppose the only answer to that is either I don’t understand the complete context of the Bosnian Genocide of 1992-1995 or I completely understand that racism and prejudice (which are not godlike qualities) had infiltrated the psyche of the main groups involved. While some were just fighting for survival and protection of their family others were fighting in the name of God as if there was a signed document to kill your neighbor. The more I wandered the sprawling city of Sarajevo the more I needed to focus on how great a city it used to be. I kept in mind that this was a stable state pre-1980 under the command of Tito (despite the fact that he divided Yugoslavia into six distinct administrative regions). After his death Slobodan Milosevic stepped in and took over presidency and in just four year Sarajevo was awarded the 1984 XIV Winter Olympic Games. The first time in fact that the Winter Games had ever took place in a Socialist country. But now things were different. I was amazed to see the crumbling buildings, pot holes on many streets, and almost every building with pieces of concrete missing from the obvious shrapnel and bullets. The hills and area surrounding (although green) were covered with thousands of deadly landmines waiting for some desperate or careless person to lose their way. The feeling of troubled history fizzled at the bottom of my soda as I sipped thoughtfully to find one proof that the war did not happen. The people (with the occasional legless or armless passing by) stared with wide eyes piercing my innocent soul as if to say "do you see". It was the lasting testimony as over 200,000 people were murdered, all in the name of difference. Even as we speak the former Yugoslav President Milosevic’s War Crimes Tribunal squeals insufficient funding stretching for the past 11 years. Will justice ever be seen, will people ever be held accountable. I suppose it all comes back to one of the main reason this war ever took place…God. He will be the judge and finalize any inconsistencies that have not yet been arranged. So in saying “God is great” we are least closer to the truth than realize.

Sailing Freaks

As far as I can tell two spectacular places to sail and live would be Vancouver, Canada and Auckland, New Zealand. Despite the fact that I have lived in Vancouver but only visited Auckland I can't help but feel a vague similarity in people, culture and attitudes. If there is any who can shed more light on the sailing subject in these places please lend a helping hand. Until then enjoy the Auckland Harbour.

Gone Monkey in Nepal

If you have gone "Monkey in Nepal" you might find your self lost in translation meandering up the grand long steps to the famous Monkey Temple at Swayanabath in Kathmandu. Just when you think monkeys are cute and cuddly there bombards you hundreds of these sneaky creatures ready to grab anything in your hands. I say creatures because they seem to hold some surreal sense of belonging to this Temple. No where else in Kathmandu can you go and feel the ownership of the monkey more than here. There are also the ominous mysterious ever seeing eyes on all four sides of the stupa that remind you “we are watching you”. The nose is the number one, signifying the predominance of Buddha. This sacred building that has been around for hundreds of years is dear to both the Hindu and the Buddhist. There is of coarse the huge tourist entry cost the helps you feel important even though begging and groveling and swearing that you have come there to worship it will help none to lower the price. Dish out, then pray hard. The Monkey Temple of Kathmandu a must see for religiously inclined…or monkey inclined. Enjoy more interpretation here. I hope that these original works will inspire and help you on your road to freedom. You may want to find out more about photoblogring | random.

The Untitled Poem for HKTT (please think of a title for me)

Swimming through a swamp of Mud, It beckons me to feel the way, My heart keeps sinking with a dud, There must be more to life I pray. Mussing, mussing singing my song, With thoughts of reckoning in my head, Suddenly she's standing her hair dark and long, She takes me by the hand and puts me to bed. My sleep is a dream where reality breaks, I am composed of red where my body quakes. Will this feeling every go will it be my goodbye, Will she come back to her home and look in my eye, Emptiness is real it does not compensate, For this feeling of rage for this feeling of hate. I am alone!

Hello HKTT Students....Coming soon your special Poem with love from McKay