Coronavirus and Information

And just like that the whole world has come to a standstill. Schools are closed, businesses shut down, jobs made remote, while we all wait at home for answers. We're at a point in time where information is available instantly, but knowledge is lacking. News is spreading faster than people can keep up with. But with this comes lack of research and truth. Instant info leads to instant fear and panic. There was a time when journalists had time to process information, question sources and make sure it was valid before publishing. Today, anyone can click a button and publish anything they want and it has the potential to go viral within minutes if not seconds. This is very scary. And part of the reason why things are happening the way they are around the world.

Coronavirus, or COVID-19. Nobody really knows the truth. Where it came from, why or how. What it does to the body, how it spreads, or how to stop it. But there is limitless information on the internet and social media. Stores have run out of supplies overnight. Case in point, toilet paper. Why or how that's related to the virus is a mystery in itself. But panic and fear has set in to the public as they hoard supplies. We're advised to stay home and self-isolate, but everyone ran to the local stores in mass crowds. What's the leader of our country doing? The president of the strongest country in the world. One day he's saying it's not a big deal, it's just like the flu and it will go away. The next day he's declaring a national emergency. There aren't enough test kits available in the most advanced country in the world. It's 2020 and we don't have real numbers for anything.

As I sit here reflecting on all of this, I can only draw one conclusion as a believer in God, a Muslim. It just shows the power of God. The whole world is at a standstill over something so small that cannot be seen with a human eye. No matter who you are, how much money or power you have or don’t have we’re all the same at this point. Everyone is equally vulnerable. No matter how big or small your house is, everyone is trapped inside of it. Nobody has any answers. Except for God. And whenever He wills, it will all disappear. That is pretty remarkable.

The only thing we can do is pray. Pray for forgiveness for all our wrongdoings. Pray for God to send answers and send the utilities and knowledge needed to create a solution. And in the meantime we have to thank all the doctors, nurses and hospital staff who are working countless hours helping those in need. It's time to reach out to our friends, family and neighbors. If you have to make a trip to the grocery store, ask them if they need anything, especially those who are elder and offer to deliver to them. It's time to behave the way God wants us to be- as one Humanity.

Islamic Center of Malibu!

It is with great enthusiasm that I announce the opening of the Islamic Center of Malibu!! Just in time to visit during the beautiful month of Ramadan! Bring all your friends!

Crazy Cabo

Have you ever traveled to a place where every person from the moment you land in the airport looks you in the eyes and lies to you? Well, welcome to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! A place that thrives off of tourism and timeshares, and offers beautiful beachfront resort vacations for incredibly low prices. (And we all know I'm the number one fan of the ocean)

As soon as you pass customs at the airport, dozens of people approach you in trying to sign you up for a timeshare presentation. Here, they will offer all kinds of activities at no charge in an effort to sign you up. From this moment on, be aware that every person you talk to until your last day will be telling you a different story, to the point where you don't know who works for who or who to believe anymore, including your hotel staff. The vouchers for the activities will be given to you, but the timeshare presentations are ruthless. Just keep in mind that it will take at least 3-4 hours of your day. 

However, once you pass all that your vacation will be amazing. You can indulge in unlimited exhilarating water activities or just relax by the ocean and enjoy the magnificent views. From jet skis to parasailing to banana boats...this is the place for it! 

All in all, Cabo is a great place for a quick getaway. It has beautiful beaches and nice all-inclusive resorts for great prices.

But, be careful because unfortunately too much fun can lead to this...

Until next time...Safe Travels! 

Sunny Seattle?

Mount Rainier- one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes- from 40,000 ft....spectacular! 

A Bite Out of the Big Apple

Everyone is in a hurry, cars honking, incredible skyscrapers all around, $13 toll roads, a beautiful river, delicious pizza, impeccable fashion…welcome to the city that never sleeps….New York City!

There truly is no city in the world quite like New York. It appears to be a whole world in itself. So alive and so busy at all times. Where in the world can you get freshly baked chocolate chip cookies delivered to your place at 3am? New York! You can walk around in bustling Times Square and not see a difference at 2pm or 2am.

But I have a question…what is the hurry? Everyone is rushing. You can’t stand in line in a coffee shop and take a few seconds to think about what you want without a line of people getting mad. It’s so funny because you can instantly differentiate between the locals and tourists. Especially those from Los Angeles, who are strolling behind everyone else. The honking was noticeably loud. Drivers are so impatient and will honk at you if you are one second late in turning or driving when the traffic light turns green. The taxi cab drivers are ruthless when it comes to driving and changing lanes. One thing is for sure, I could never drive in New York! And who charges $36 for daily parking? Thank goodness for public transportation.

Kudos to the fashion! Everyone is dressed so beautifully, so sharp and so poised. I was very impressed. I’m so disappointed when I see people dressed in their pajamas out in public in Los Angeles.

Central Park is my favorite part of New York. Every time I go there, I feel like I can spend all day there. It’s just so peaceful and beautiful. The cherry blossoms were absolutely breathtaking. Combine that with the lake as a backdrop and you have postcard worthy moments.

I love New York. I can visit anytime. However, I could never live there. I need the beach life, where it’s ok to walk slowly, take a deep breath and smell the roses.

Thank you New York for the absolutely perfect weather!! You were a perfect host.

Until next time…safe travels!

Being Grateful

Happy New Year!

May the new year bring lots of love, peace and happiness to all. We all have so much to be grateful for. Time passes by so quickly that we should embrace every moment. So laugh often, give lots of love, breathe deep, practice peace, see the beauty in all situations, don't worry about the little things, and stop comparing. But if you must compare, compare your life to those who have less than you, rather than those who have more. Maya Angelou once said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." So, make your new years resolution to bring a smile to someone's face everyday. Wishing everyone a prosperous and healthy new year!

Where do we draw the line?

In the wake of the horrific act that occurred in Connecticut two days ago, words are beyond any explanation or grievance. How someone can do that is beyond fathom. What the parents of those innocent children who were killed are going through right now is something that no one should ever feel. Condolences and words will never suffice. May God give them strength and patience to survive each and every passing second, minute, hour, day. 

The reason I'm posting here today is because I read a something that intrigued me. It was a statement that some say Morgan Freeman made, while others say it was just a hoax and not really made by him. Regardless, I think it had some very important points. The statement tells people to turn off the news and remember the innocent lives lost. It criticizes the way the media outlets have been reporting the news. And that the shooter, and all other mass shooters, are treated like celebrities. Their name goes down and their picture goes up for making history, only to prompt the next person to top their act. It says, "Disturbed people who would otherwise just off themselves in their basements see the news and want to top it by doing something worse, and going out in a memorable way. Why a grade school? Why children? Because he'll be remembered as a horrible monster, instead of a sad nobody." 

It makes a lot of sense. We will always remember the Batman theater shooter because he kept being compared to Joker, giving him exactly what he wanted. Studying and working in media, this statement really affected me. I have always been intrigued with word usage in media and the the immense power it has. When a Muslim commits a horrific act, it's always labeled as "terrorism." But, when the same horrifying acts are committed by others, why is it that it always leads to a psychological disorder? We all know of the power of media, do we know the responsibility that comes with these little things like word usage and choosing what to report? 

The statement ends with, "You can help by forgetting you ever read this man's name, and remembering the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem. You can help by turning off the news." Would that solve the problem? I don't think so. Turning off the news isn't the solution. However, I believe in changing the way news is delivered. Which is something that is more possible today than ever before, with digital journalism taking over mainstream news outlets. 

Inspirational Quote

"Talking with quiet confidence will always beat screaming with obvious insecurity." I don't know the source of this quote, but as soon as I read it, it touched my heart. It has so much meaning. I loved it and had to share it. Please reflect on it and share any thoughts...

The Lushness of Norway

I have been to many countries in Europe and really never imagined I'd be going to Norway. But, after traveling there, I'm really happy I did. Norway can be described in many words...lush, green, cold, quaint, beautiful, and above all else....Expensive! Of all the countries I've visited in the world, Norway was definitely the most expensive one. I guess not being part of the European Union has helped the country because it seems like they are doing just fine when all the other European countries are going downhill. Everything, from food to clothes to just about everything else, cost about three to four times more than there in the states. One ordinary carry-out veggie pizza was $46, need I say more?

I was very surprised to see so many foreigners living in Oslo. I really didn't expect that. I can honestly say that I saw more immigrants, from all parts of the world, than I did Norwegians in Oslo. I saw a lot more women wearing the hijab than I have ever seen in Los Angeles. Which was a huge surprise for me. Apparently, the ban in France has motivated Muslim women in other European countries to adopt the hijab.

Once again, traveling to Europe, I absolutely loved the public transportation system, something that is hugely lacking in Southern California. It is extremely convenient. No one ever has to own or drive a car to get around. Public transportation is practically at your doorstep and will get you anywhere you need to go. In Norway it was called the T-bane and we used it to get to the city center many times throughout our trip. Which brings me to my next point...People actually walking instead of becoming immobile. Before I went to Norway, I was at a very large convention called ISNA and one of the speakers there was talking about the obesity problem in America. He pointed out that people are becoming like balloons here and it looks like we are competing to become blimps. It made me laugh but I realized how true it was when I got to Norway. He said that people must walk at least 10,000 steps every day to stay healthy. While in Norway I realized how immobile we really are in America, especially Los Angeles. We drive our cars everywhere. Once in a while when I do decide to walk to the corner shopping center, I get people staring at me like I'm crazy. I know that other parts of the country are better at walking, but we need urgent help in Southern California. Maybe if public transportation improves, people will feel less inclined to drive their cars everywhere, which would force them to walk a little more.

While in Norway, we traveled to Lillehammer, the host city for the 1994 Winter Olympics. It was absolutely gorgeous. The air was crisp clean and the views were astounding. Being a giant fan of water, I loved the rivers and lakes the city had to offer, in addition to more greenery than I have seen in all my life. I hear that the West part of Norway is where all the scenery actually lies, but we didn't get a chanBelow is a picture from Lillehammer...

On our flight back, we flew over Greenland and let me just sum it up in one word...Remarkable! It was covered in beautiful plush white snow. Every inch of it. Wow!

Until next time....safe travels! 

Pacific vs. Atlantic

I just came back from a trip to the east coast, visiting three different states. I was born on the east coast, but have lived on the west coast for most of my life. This past week may not be a fair week to compare the two because of the extreme heat wave sweeping through the east coast, but I'm still going to offer my two cents.

The trip started out in Raleigh, North Carolina. I absolutely loved this place! It was so green. And for the first time in my life I said the words I never thought I'd say..."I would move here." I never thought I would want to live anywhere else in the world other than Los Angeles. In my opinion Southern California is the best place to live on earth! But, Raleigh grabbed my attention. Except for the fact that it was unbearably hot, it was such a beautiful city! I fell in love with the tall deep green trees along both sides of the roads and highways. I'm used to buildings all around me everywhere I go in Los Angeles. But, these trees were such a refreshing change. I know a lot of the country may have this, but I was in Missouri recently and it had a lot of trees as well, but it didn't have the same appeal. So, thank you Raleigh for welcoming me to your city with such a nice breath of fresh air! (Pun intended :) )

The second part of the trip was in Sterling, Virginia and Washington D.C. I love the variety that D.C. and Virginia for that matter has to offer. I went to the Natural History Museum for the first time and it took my breath away! Wow, what a fascinating museum! If anyone goes to D.C., you must stop by. And be sure to allow at least 3 hours for it. The live butterfly pavilion was so cool! I love butterflies and flowers, so for me it was just what I ordered. :) The coral reef IMAX movie was also beautiful. The temperature was scorching hot during the daytime, so our activities had to be limited. Don't worry, we took advantage at night. What I loved about D.C. that I wish we would implement in Los Angeles, is the many opportunities to rent bikes. In and around downtown there are dozens of bicycles available in the middle of the street to rent out for as long as you want. I loved this idea! What a way to cut back on traffic and get in the exercise that we all need. Love love loved it! Especially, at night! So beautiful! Virginia also stands out in the the variety of different ethnic foods it offers. Love the diversity.

The last part of the trip was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. And as you all may know by now, I'm the ocean's biggest fan, but I'm sorry to say, that Atlantic vs. Pacific....Pacific wins hands down! Myrtle beach was a lot of fun, but nothing compared to the cities along the Pacific Ocean, especially my beautiful Malibu. I will share the one moment in Myrtle Beach that was most special to me. I felt like I was so far away from home and everything familiar for so long by this point of the trip. I really didn't like Myrtle Beach when we landed and were driving around. Again, it was unbelievably hot and Humid! Again, the west coast wins when it comes to weather. Yes, it may be hot here, but the humidity is a whole other story. You feel like you can't breathe! I will take the San Fernando Valley's 100 degree heat any day over any temperature with humidity. Going back to my story, so after driving around for a little while and eating lunch, we decided to find a place for prayer. It was Friday, the holy day for Muslims, and Friday prayer (jummah) is very important. So, we found a small office where the Muslims pray jummah. We went in, it was a small room, split in two for men and women. It was incredibly hot inside. But the moment i sat down and heard the word 'Rasulullah,' an inner sense of peace captured my heart. A feeling of belonging and happiness overtook me and I couldn't help but smile. All of a sudden, it didn't matter that I was on the other side of the country. I felt like I belonged. I looked around me and there were five other women, maybe locals, maybe travelers like myself. And I felt like they were my sisters. I was so happy to be there. Right at that moment the concept of self identity and community had a whole new meaning to me. I was so blessed to be a Muslim, where no matter what part of the world I'm in, I can relate to others and belong to a community. How special.

Below is a picture of Myrtle Beach Pier from the Skywheel. Pale in comparison to the Malibu Pier. Safe Travels!

Love is in the Air

Love. How can one simple word be so powerful? What does it even mean? The answer to this question has been researched for centuries. And yet is there one answer to it? 

There are so many levels of love. So many types of love. The love you have for God, for your parents, for your spouse, for your children, for your best friend, for your pet, for humanity, I could go on forever. But, in any case, your heart takes control and feels for another.

Valentine's Day is around the corner. You can't forget because every store you walk into, red and pink hearts are everywhere. It has become an incredibly commercialized holiday. What hasn't? Flowers are marketed 200% from original price. Jewelry businesses have taken over commercials. A regular $30 dinner at a restaurant now offers "Valentine's Day Specials" for $275 per couple. And there are more teddy bears in stores than there are people to accept them.

This blog is not about Valentine's Day. It's about love. To take a moment away from the red balloons and express that love to whoever is important in your life. And to simply say thank you. Not only on February 14. But everyday. "Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand."--Mother Theresa 

In Islam, love is emphasized in all aspects of life. The Prophet (pbuh) said, "None of you has (truly) believed until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." When reading the Qur'an, you can recognize the emphasis put on God's love, compassion, and mercy; and the love and bond between parents and children, between mankind, and the special love created between spouses.

"And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for those who reflect." (30:21)

To me, love is faith. Whether it be faith in God, faith in a person, faith in an object, faith in an idea, or faith in a relationship...you can't have one without the other.