Three Travel Tips ✈

- Don't put off packing for the last day:
When you know you have to travel it's good to prepare beforehand. When you're flying the next day, it can get a bit overwhelming knowing that you have to sort all your stuff and begin packing just then. So start putting stuff away. It doesn't have to be in a suitcase. Just reserve a section in your cupboard or your room where you can place these things. You'll be so glad later.

- Make Lists:
Make lists of things you have to buy before you leave, stuff you have to get done, things you have to pack and a final check list of essential items that you can quickly look at before you step out of the house like passport, watch etc. Once you've made a list/lists stick them on your fridge or mirror or just someplace where you will surely look at them. Lists are a small thing with big benefits.

- Be well rested:
Although air travel is mostly restful, still you don't want be all, huh? When you are asked to show your passport. Okay here's the truth; airport makes me nauseous. Specially if I'm traveling alone. I am fine in the plane, flying, taking off and landing is actually fun. But waiting lounges and immigration lines are a nightmare to me. So I need to be alert and feeling well to stay sane. But not just for those reasons, being well rested means you can think better in times of unexpected events for instance, a flight delay.

Happy Flying!

Travel Bag Essentials

This is the stuff (apart from clothes) that I have decided to carry for a short trip where I won't have much time to be fussy so no cleanser, toner or any of that. Just the essentials.  The shampoo is still missing here but I don't really want to buy those small bottles. Thinking of getting a full size instead. 

Am I missing something here? Hope not.

I Am Blessed

"If you are thankful, I will give you more." Quran 14:7

I have a roof over my head, warm food at my table and a family that cares around me. This is something that many people around the world crave for right now. I am, indeed, very lucky. But oh, how easy it is to forget it and whine and complain. Instead of looking at what we have, we only see what we don't have. I want to sit back and appreciate all that I have in my life right now and be thankful for it. 

I am blessed to be able to go for Umrah this year as well. So many people asked me to pray for them. Some asked for something in particular and some in general terms. I don't know how many of my prayers will get accepted but I remembered each and every person. Usually, I can think of a billion things I'd want to wish for but when I get there, all my wishes seem so insignificant. Nothing really matters. I end up not asking for anything at all but just guidance and forgiveness.

 In Makkah and Madina, it's a whole new world. The residents are usually guiding and helpful. The only concern is getting to prayers on time. There seem to be no worldly burdens. The sacred water, Ab-e-Zamzam keeps us refreshed.

I find it very amusing to watch  the little children around. I got a cut on my foot and had to use a band-aid for it. This little girl looked at my foot twice as she went by and the look on her face was SO worried. It was the cutest thing ever. My Dad says I should have said to her, "a pigeon bit me". (hehe)

The beginning of May has not been an easy one for our family. I'm glad we got the chance to go to for Umrah and pray at this tough time. I know this tough time won't last but it's much more comforting to go and pray at such spiritually charged places. We return with high hopes and greater trust in Allah.

 Now that we are back home and it's been a few days, I miss being there and really hope to go back again.