Sunday, February 18, 2007
Monday, November 06, 2006
more sunsets...
Friday, November 03, 2006
Hmm...
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Eid
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Monday, October 16, 2006
PhotoBlog...
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
To the Nostalgic nomads...
A return from Dhaan. This is where the herd is taken to the nearest water place - in most cases this would be the nesrest tuulo. The camel is loaded with water too for general usage. A dhaan expedition is usually undertaken by a Male - females generally are responsible for the the goats and the sheep but the camels are the responsbility of a man, or in the case where a sturdy female is capabable of doing it herself.
A camel herder tending to his camels. These are just a few in number suggesting the decline of the this most treasured animal. Over the recent years many nomads have abandoned their hruelling, yet paradoxically pleasant, lives in Miyi and moved to the nearing villages as their camels either died of natural causes or were slaughtered. The decline of the nomadic life is upon us!
The urinating camel on the left has a rope strapped around its belly (if you can see it clearly). This rope is initially tied to its udder then strapped round its belly and hump. This is done when the udders are full of milk and the intention of this is to prevent its young (nirig) from suckling it before its milked. Upon reaching home the camel is milked and then it can suckle its young! This is called Candha-saab.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Blessed month...
Got about half an hour left to break fast, and i just hate waiting in the house while its being cooked. the smell alone might break my fast!
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Richard Hammond...
Some people would do anything for pure entertainment - Our pleasure anyways! i wonder what tonight's episode would be about though!
Friday, September 22, 2006
Ramadan kareem
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Marriage...
On Saturday, the 16th, my most treasured friend has uttered the words “Qabbaltu Nikaaxan…” after the Sheikh and departed from the “impoverished existence” of our likes. A companion for so long through life’s turbulent waves and solitary subsistence, he now is in the preliminary stages of the ever-gratifying epoch of wedlock. May Allah safeguard them from the teething troubles of marriage and bestow them with righteous offsprings! Ameen!
And indeed marriage is a wonderful thing and sustaining a pleasurable, long-term marriage takes effort - the simple unification of two souls is elevated to pinnacles of delight and happiness and is then gently wrapped in a lofty status. But instead of rallying towards these exalted moments of commitment and matrimony, people usually squander splendid opportunities when they become apparent before them. They do so in the false pretence that perhaps someone ‘better’ lies around somewhere.
“I’m just waiting for the right one” declares a female acquaintance of mine as soon as the subject pops up. Not surprising though, since the majority of women’s remarks are probably no different to that of my acquaintance’ on the question of marriage – without realising that the so-called ‘right’ one is nothing but a figment of one’s imagination!
Marriage has certainly been on my mind for a while, and now at 23 it has assuredly secured its precedence over many a thing. Though my earnest wishes are to return to the picturesque terrains of Sanaag and bask my sore eyes in the expanse of its scenery – and perhaps visit past scenes of delight, I need to work on investing something I can take along with me. ‘We live in a time laden with conventions, prejudices and mistakes of all sorts’ as Rilke once said, so it has to be but a stroke of fortune finding a woman worth marrying!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
In Reply to Nomad...
Haduu ku maqli lahaa Darwiishku wuxuu ku odhan lahaa,
Naagyahay waxaad damacday iyo dunida xaalkeedu
Waa labo duddoo oo kala fogaan doy isu lahayne
Dulligaad la joogtiyo sidii dahab u laacaaga
Doqonniimo hadalkaaga iyo duq iskayeelkayga
Waa dabo bangool iyo garkoo durufba meel yaale
Naa hoy dandaan lama rujo e maqal dabuubtayda
Naa hoy digniin baa ka timid dabaqi naareede
Naa hoy Salaadda u dedaal dunidana u fiirso
Naa hoy dan haw gelin hadday durufi kuu baanto
Naa hoy iblays miduu dirsaday gogosha haw daadin
Naa hoy dufule waalan oo daaddufaa guda'e
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Delusions of Grandeur...
A frail old Jaamac struts into the hut with his Hangool on the grand occasion of his daughters wedding ceremony. The recipient of the daughters hand in marriage had travelled many kilometres and by the time he got to the tiny dwelling of his soon-to-be bride, the excitement got him talking a mile a minute. Before long he revealed his tribal lineages and ancestry on which the proud Jaamac blustered “War Ma anoo nin reer Hebel ah baan gabadhayda inan-gumeedkan siiyaa!” Haku daalin jeedaal. And what would have been a magnificent wedding is annulled before it even commenced!
Even the ordinary Xalimo struts around like a peacock with the gracefulness of a colt, looks at you up an down (huruuf) and walks away stuffing her dirac in her Googarad.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Back to the Neglected Corner...
But this September, with the start of the school season, I have started a new job at a local Primary School - Bilingual Teaching Assistant – A rather rewarding job, I must admit and has kept the lethargy and laziness at bay. And with the number of Somalis in the school exceeding 45, the position is permanent and so far looks promising.
Working with children is in its self educational too, with their spontaneity, lack of pretension and childhood innocence that will warm the cockles of your heart. Especially the Somali children, who upon noticing that I am of Somali origin too, regard me as a parental figure whom they look up to with the same reverence they’d show their parents and relatives – they are more deferential towards me than the other teachers I noticed. Going very well so far, Alxamdullilah.
One other thing that is somewhat delightfully looming near is the start of university. I am looking forward to it for some reason – maybe it’s the few months of lack of any activity!.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Julian Beever...
by Julian Beever