Harmony Day.
21 March 2013.
Many Stories - One Australia
My school is probably one of the most diverse schools in Australia with students coming in from all corners of the world including Philippians, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Burma, Ethiopia and many many more countries.
I have no doubt that the world’s top bloggers are busily writing
away all their dreams and hopes of 2013 and their conclusion of 2012. I am too
going to be busily writing away about the New Year; I too am sucked in the
quicksand of popular writing topics.
And so I will start with the popular question on everybody’s
blogger of ‘What will 2012 be remembered for?’ the silence after the battle or
maybe the calm after harmony? What was a more common; undertakers or midwifes?
I can’t write on behalf of 6,973,738,433 people, but I can write on behalf of
myself.
I will remember 2012 as being a year of change, a year that
I have learned so much from and I say this without the need to exaggerate. You cannot
label a year as being either good or bad, a label as powerful as this would mean
that the other never happened. Assuming 2012 was a bad year, it would mean that
nothing ever good happened in the 365 days, 8765 Hours, 525948 Minutes and 31556926
Seconds. Not even making new friends or an A+ in a midterm paper or a cookie
that is master chef-worthy or even a simple smile from a complete stranger.
Christmas Tree in the City in December
What was
the reason of starting a blog? It is this reason that I should take you back to
my first post which is titled “Let's Talk About Beginnings” and that is exactly
what I did, talk about beginnings.
So I will answer the next popular question on everybody’s
blogger of “What changed in 2012?” What change have I committed? Let’s start
with my English, it was devastating, even in less than a year, it was devastating.
My attitude towards my life can be many things today, but I will never refer to
it as being ‘boring’ ever again. Let’s hope anyway! I have not changed my ability
to make people happy; to cheer anybody up nor have I changed my love for music.
I went to Iraq; traveled to the south
and the north not forgetting the middle. I was home-schooled and learned to be self-sufficient,
organized and motivated. I started a Blogger, Twitter and Tumblr and made so
many friends. I am more educated in politics and religion thanks to these
social Medias.
The City on New Year's Eve/Day
What about 2013? What will happen in the New Year? Many have
resolutions for the New Year and I think that is a terrific idea. I made some goals in a post I made titled ‘Let’s
Talk About Goals’. I think many thought it was a post about football or something.
I was jumping topics in that post and I don’t know if anyone understood a word
I had said. Nonetheless I had goals! Here is a quick copy of my 2013 New Year’s
Resolution too.
Eat health. Even though I do, most of the time, eat healthy,
I am starting to be slack.
Iman or Faith. Aim to pray 5 times a day and READ THE QURAN!
MUST! MUST! MUST!
School. Get a good ATAR or university entrance score so I
can… you know… enter university at least! Aha aiming for architecture.
Finance. Make a budget and not throw away money in the sea
so to speak.
I guess that is all I’ve got right now.
I realize not many would be reading this for I haven’t
written in a long time and many had forgotten who I am anyway, but that is no
reason for me not to love you all anyway. It’s like an anonymous vibe sent from
a little blog in a little corner of the World Wide Web and I have filled this
vibe with hugs and
kisses.
I wish you, whoever is reading this, a fantastic year filled
with love and hope.
Sunset at home
The song at the top:
Dark Phantom’s idea began in Kirkuk, Iraq late in 2007. The impression was to reach their dreams in western music and to express the inferior circumstances in the city, and explain it to the universe. But things wasn’t able to progress, due to the bad situation in Iraq, and that lead to postponement of forward progress and a period of hibernation, for their safety.
This was for survival, without any developments in the level of art.
In 2008, the band was able to start up again and started rehearsal, despite all the dangers. Death was a consequence, of being caught playing this music in an Al Queda controlled situation. It was a volatile situation.
Dark Phantom could then, hardly compose their first song, before there was a decline in the band's musical direction. They turned to cover songs, and, at the same time, worked on original music.
There was a lot criticism in the Iraqi arena, to the band's music after the war, but the band was still looking to faith and hope, to guide them in what they believe – that music, itself, means life.
In 2009, the band managed to have a birth of their own music, by starting to write the first songs after many months in rehearsal. The final result was good, but no one regarded it. The band started to find ways to rerecord it, but unfortunately needed lessons in audio technique. After some instruction and added new hardware and software, the band continued preparation for more songs, and they set to make their first album.
At first, it took a while to figure out the name of album. They settled on "Beta ".
In 2010, the band played their first concert in the city of Kirkuk. It was unforeseen, that under the same circumstances (volatile aggression, anti-metal music “laws”, etc.) a crowd came to see them and news of event rocked the small city.
After the success of that gig, the band returned again to their studio to finish the album that they promised to their new fans.
After a lot of demand from the fans on the band's Facebook page for a second concert, in 2011, Dark Phantom was ready, but there was another situation that made it impossible. Terror groups and their allies began threatening to close all the of band's pages on the internet. The band was also warned, again, to stop their activities, or else.
Now, in 2012, Dark Phantom’s members return to work on the final touches of their album. Now, as they finish it, they still struggle for local and worldwide promotion, and are awaiting the day that their dreams become reality, through their faith and hope in humanity.
Here's some pictures to Celebrate!!!! Inshallah I will upload some more in the next few days :)) P.S these pictures do not belong to me, they belong to their rights' holders and you can find them by googling 'Ramathan Kareem'. You will find all these pictures on the first page :) LOL you don't have to look far ;)
You should know about now that I love Iraq. You should also know that I love Australia very much.
SO I says to myself, I says 'why don't I write about Australia?' and this is what I am going to do and this is what I am doing BELOW if you should happen to land in Aussie soil :)
While in Iraq, a friend asked me
"Oh how is Australia! So did you drive up to Austria in the holidays?"
"It's a long way away, Austria is."
"Oh is it? How many kilometers away is it then?"
"Oh ONLY 13242 kilometers!" *said ONLY sarcastically*
The yellow dot is Vienna, Austria and the red dot is Perth, Australia
Don't confuse Australia for Austria!Two VERY different countries in different continents. .
So now you know WHERE Australia is, you should know WHEN Australia was first established or founded. The26th of January
So what do you do on Australia day?
I still remember my very first Australia day in 2000 and something. I had KFC in King's park with Swan Lake in front of us and the fireworks above us. Typical. Fun. I love it. I had the Aussie flag on my cheek and Zink on my nose (Coloured sun cream). People were shouting Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! and naturally I would reply with Oi! Oi! Oi!
When I say Aussie!
You say Oi!
Aussie!
Oi!
Aussie!
Oi!
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!
Oi! Oi! Oi!
Of course in the month of January it would be summer, SO get out your insect repellent and SPRAY those Mozzies (aka Mosquitoes. Did you know I didn't know mozzies were actually called mosquitoes until I met a very friendly American girl. She had no idea what I was talking about, these 'mozzies')
Thirty years after he first graced our television screens with his Slip, Slop, Slap message, Sid the Seagull is back with a new song that includes all of SunSmart's revised key messages.
Transcript: (Sid the Seagull sings:) Slip, slop, slap, seek and slide. Have fun outside, but don't get fried.
Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat. Seek shade, slide on sunnies - simple as that.
Slip, slop, slap, seek and slide. Have fund outside, but don't get fried.
So I'm neglecting my blogy wogy now?
I'm sorry to my reader(s) for this delay, I've been busy with travels/school/family life you know the norm.
I don't have songs at the start and I don't have HELLO in a different language, you have to excuse me just this once, BUT I will leave you with pictures!! YAYAY I can almost hear you saying YAYAY. Let the slideshows BEGIN!
Iraqi Palm trees
Typical wall in Baghdad
Koobat Halab for Halab, Syria :(
Deep fry the koobat of course
Soup for Ramadan
Kletcha!!
Chai!!!
Finished the koobat! yummm!
Gamar and Teen Jam!!
I made this pizza so it's automatically really tasty :)
Lights at night in Baghdad
Bulbul, birds on electricity lines.
Travel travel travel
DUBAI!! LOOK AT THAT CANDY TREE!
On my way to school... and look who I find :)
You must say either "MashAllah" or "That's Amazing!" to the next few photos if you like :)
Airplanes - BoB & Hayley Williams of Paramore (Boyce Avenue feat. DeStorm cover) How could you forget? It’s just once a year. It’s not like it a million dates you have to remember; just one, measly day. I swear I don’t want cakes with sixteen candles on top, or bikes or caramel cantered chocolates. I don’t want parties or painted portraits. I don’t want gatherings or trips or your puppy. I don’t want tiaras or your dresses or Prada shoes. I don’t want coloured, helium balloons or rainbow streamers or fairy floss. I don’t want money or gift cards or designer brands. I’m not hard, I swear I’m not. I’m as clear cut as a diamond. I’m an open book; what you see is what you get. I’d rather give, I swear I would. I’ve got all that I’ve ever wanted. I don’t need more. But I do want one thing that cannot be bought in any shop, store, or bazaar. It doesn’t require much effort. You don’t even have to mean it. All I wanted was a kiss, a hug and a happy birthday. A smile that says, “Of course I remember! Of course I remembered you!” Silly me. I thought you’d forgotten.
Frangipanis are my favorite. Taken on an LG phone in Australia. (wayyy off topic)
Now this is par with topic! Hurrayy!
* * *
NOTE: #1: The hash tag in the title is a hash tag that I will use more often in my twitter to remind you that love isn’t expensive. #SpreadTheLove <3 NOTE #2: I’d like to thank the person who encouraged me to open a twitter account in the first place. Thank you Sazan, I love you <3 Click her name for her blogspot!!! I recommend it!! Don't forget Tasbih & Cha! * * * Song at the top: I really like Boyce Avenue's music. Really Great :D Worldwide Tour Dates Coming Soon!
Hey everyone! Here is our good friend DeStorm! This was one of our jams of 2010 and he came in and nailed the rap in his own style and with his own story. He is insanely talented and we had a blast working with him! Check out his channel!http://www.youtube.com/destorm
Produced & Directed by Alejandro & Daniel Manzano All parts arranged by Alejandro Manzano Original Rap lyrics by DeStorm Lighting by Casey Brooke Lawson Filmed by Casey Brooke Lawson & Michael Rutherford Audio Mixed & Mastered by Adam Barber Additional Mixing & Mastering by Alejandro & Daniel Manzano
