Re-blog – Our Wonderful World

What A Wonderful World!

While spending yet another day inside my home and wondering about when and how the current pandemic will make an exit from our lives, I found out via Google Doodle that today is April 22nd.

The day of our Earth!

And I remembered a post I published back in 2017. Featuring Louis Armstrong’s classic What A Wonderful World, I shared snaps taken by me with the lyrics of the song.

So for few moments of your today, just think about how much wonderful this world of ours really is, despite what is currently happening here right now.

Blog of Hammad Rais

Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World is the only song, in my opinion, capable of describing in simplest of words what our planet is really all about.

And since we are celebrating Earth Day today, so I got this idea of showing you pictures I have taken, using the lyrics of Louis Armstrong’s classic number.

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Post I Liked: Blissful Bubbles

Have you ever played with bubbles?

I’m sure you must’ve as this is something entirely fun and amusing for all ages. I still cherish those moments when I blow out bubbles for Uzair in our home and he chased them around everywhere.

And speaking of bubbles, the very big bubble we all live in is going through something none of us may never imagined.

Much has been said on this for now and you probably read out in papers or watch news on TV almost everyday as the very big bubble of ours is under lock down.

But this doesn’t mean one can’t have some fun with bubbles. Right? 🙂

Join Kate as she is inviting us all to have some fun with bubbles, to blow out worries from our minds and hearts, even for a while.

aroused

strolling along the seashore
with my magic bubble mix
blowing out thousands of
rainbow coloured bliss

these bubbles fly in all directions
blown by waves and wind
please catch yours
to use it as you wish

they come with all my love
soft as feathers of a dove
they are a tonic cure
for all you must endure

you can climb inside
to let calm abide
or fill it with your woes
don’t worry where it blows

or your best friend may emerge
all fear and anxiety they will purge
or become your muse
to create and amuse

these rainbow bubbles of bliss
can be anything you wish
but please share how you
use it for our amusement?

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Post I Like – The One Thing We Need To Improve In 2020

For many, their workplace is a heaven but do they actually know that some of their colleagues may consider it as hell?

Because a place where most of us spend such a big amount of our weekly time should be a place where individuals are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their personal believes.

Kally of MiddleMe is talking about what should be done to improve and nurture a healthy working environment, regardless of its size.

Click on the link below to read it out!

MiddleMe

We are in the 21st century however, we are still very much lacking in basic human decency to treat an employee in the workplace.

In Japan, people are suffering from Karoshi – overwork death in Japanese. All over the world, females are being paid significantly lesser than their male counterparts. In reality, many of us are still suffering from workplace abuse and harassment. Something that nobody wants to talk about. A sensitive topic that managers and HR want to shush it under the carpet.

It’s shocking, isn’t it?

Bullies are not just in school or in the playground. They are very much real in our workplace. A place where we suppose to feel safe where we put in many hours, sometimes more hours than we spent at home.

It isn’t just about the one-time careless sexist remark from your coworker.

It’s about fearing you will be fired anytime because you…

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Post I Like: City Libraries – Sehba Akhtar Library

Sad I’m over the slow demise of mental stability!

Post I Like: City Libraries – Taimuria Library

A five minute drive from my home in North Nazimabad takes you a library, which is filled with books but sadly not with people.

Road To Big Test

Tomorrow is a big day for Uzair!

As all that he has learned, both in school and in home during last 3 years, will be put to a big test.

A big test in the form of an entry test in one of Karachi’s most renowned school!

And I’m picturing the preparation done by him in last 6+ month as if he had to walk on an bumpy, uneven path, which ain’t surrounded by jaw dropping gorgeous wonders of nature I often talk about on my blog.

I’m confessing here today that as parents of Uzair, me and Jia, made him took that uneven path. Despite knowing all along how much tired he will be in the end, we forced our own flesh and blood to take down that dirty path.

Now you might be wondering why in the world am I referring the topic of studying in school or at home as walking on a bumpy path.

To understand this thoroughly, I would like you to read out this post I wrote about 3 years ago (link mentioned below). I expressed my thoughts and feelings very clearly in that post when my nephew Abdullah, who was 5 years old back then, gave the entry test for that very same renowned school. He is now studying in second grade over there.

In past, Jia and I discussed so much about putting Uzair on that same bumpy path, like his cousin Abdullah. Sadly, he too had to went down that path but in the end, he crossed it eventually in the form of passing the entry test. After many discussions and calculating about all available options we have, Jia and I realized that we no other choice but to take that bumpy road with Uzair too.

Just like all loving parents of the world, me and Jia want to see our Uzair to be happy and successful in life. The very core reason behind my sitting in front of a computer screen for 8+ hours at my workplace on weekdays is nothing but to provide my Uzair with what he truly deserves.

But the world we live in ain’t gonna give us all the happiness and success without dragging us first on a bumpy path!

Blog of Hammad Rais

Is there a difference between a 5-year old kid, who is just about to get enrolled in a school, and a plant which has just burst open the ground to grow high?

I believe there is no difference. Both are young and they have so much to explore in a  new world, whether by opening their eyes or branching out with stems.

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Re-blog: Travel Series – Celebrity Eclipse

Oceans are mighty and they do call us often.

Not many can hear their call but those who do, often pack up their bags and head towards their nearest dock to board a cruise liner or cruise ferry. On those giant floating cities on water, those individuals can enjoy every luxury they can dream about under one roof.

Various indoor and outdoor activities on such cruise ships provide unlimited amount of travel pleasures to the passengers, who either seek an escape from their hectic daily routine or to finally enjoy all the pleasures they were dreaming about during their prime years.

As far as I’m concerned, I haven’t stepped on a cruise ship yet. I had seen one, an out-of-service giant which was docked on Gadani ship-breaking yard back in the spring of 1998. Since it was there to be dismantled up completely, I didn’t got the chance to step onboard and check it out.

So yes, I do like to step on a cruise ship and sail towards the horizon, where there’s nothing but water wherever you look. Though I may get seasick within a minute or two of my boarding, I may want to try it out. Just for fun 🙂

But until that dream turns into a reality, I can enjoy the snaps taken by Reymon de Real as back in December, he answered the call of the seas and boarded Celebrity Eclipse on a two-week South American cruise.

Head towards his blog for more lovely snaps and details about this magnificent cruise ship!

Reymon de Real Photography

I easily get seasick so I’m probably the last person you’d think would jump on a cruise ship in an instant. Surprisingly, I have been in more than a dozen cruises and am looking forward to my next one June of this year. I have sailed around Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, South America and across the Atlantic Ocean and my goal is to have cruised around the world before I eventually leave this planet. A month ago I was on a two-week South American cruise on board the Celebrity Eclipse and had an amazing time even meeting new friends. The cruise started in Buenos Aires, Argentina sailing down to Cape Horn, Chile, which is the tip of South America, then up to Uruguay before docking back in Buenos Aires. The ship is almost 10 years old but is still in great shape thanks to regular maintenance. Celebrity Cruises is the…

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Re-blog: Survive or Thrive

A world getting crowded up with materialistic wows each passing day but losing the true spirit of human nature and peacefulness.

What it is we are running after? A question we must ask ourselves every now and then because it can give us an insight about our own self.

I read this simple but amazing piece of thoughts at Kate’s blog about surviving or thriving in today’s world, which can be used as a set of good reminders about our own self, about what we do everyday and for what purpose.

Read it out below!

 

aroused

Is life busy but still a breeze

or just surviving with ill ease

Addicted to devices

Chasing desires and vices

Keeping up with trends

Catching up with friends

Botox to lips or face

World flying by at a rapid pace

Duties, commitments galore

Never satisfied, looking for that flaw

Fear and insecurities abound

Need constant entertainment around

Pause and reflect

to see what it is that you neglect

Living is much more than survival

Breath out, give calm a revival

Daily Prompt:  Survive

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Re-blog: 3,652 Days

In response to Kate’s Friday Fun for this week, I’m re-blogging an old post of mine I published exactly 3 years ago on January 20th, 2016.

That post was about spending a decade/10 years/3,652 days with my lovely wife Jia.

And since today marks our 13th wedding anniversary, I thought it would be great to read out all the thoughts I wrote 3 years ago about my life with Jia, what she means to me and the way she makes me feel.

You can read it also, along with me 🙂

Blog of Hammad Rais

That’s 10 years to be precise, including two leap years. And today, this number of 3,652 is very special for me.

Why?

Because 10 years ago today, which was January 20th 2006, I got married!!!!

The Day We Got Married

Yup, there you have it!! The Surprise I was talking about since last week, this is it!!

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Re-blog: You Just Can’t Stop Running

Because of last night’s late return home from a wedding event, I slept up late. Though I woke up on time in morning but somehow made myself late in leaving home for work.

Hence, I had to run a little to catch my bus, which was waiting for me at the stop, thankfully. That little running made me realized, after I sat in the bus and collected up broken breaths, that I can’t really run in real life also.

Despite being good at walking long distances, I can’t cover the same distance through running. Which is a definite sign for me that I’m now transitioning into not-that-young-lad-anymore era of my life.

And which is also reminding me today about this piece I wrote back in 2017 about running without any breaks.

Read it out!

Blog of Hammad Rais

Running out for so long

Sometime, I wish for a break

But there is no slowing down

Or even a pause sign ahead

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