Echos Of My Neighbourhood

Hibernating in the malls – Echoes of my neighbourhood

Our Summer days over here are not filled with barbecues and frolicking at the pool side. It’s steaming hot, that staying outside for longer than is required is asking for heat stroke. If the idea of leaving your side of ribs on the sidewalk to sizzle and grill appeals to you, then by all means indulge and yes it’s possible, I’ve eaten sand-baked lamb and the gentle roast is flavourful.

So, these days with children on vacation and going cabin crazy, most malls are flooded with folks and families seeking momentary respite while we wait with bated breath for the cooler months of Autumn and Winter for our days by the poolside and other wonderful indulgences. For now, we turn into night bats and recreate as the weather permits.

Echos Of My Neighbourhood

Central Souk and The Walkabout – Echoes of my neighbourhood

One fervent thought that is crystal clear in my mind is to enjoy where ever I am at each point in time. To be at peace with myself and my environment.

Sometimes people ask me ‘how do you cope with living in a predominantly Muslim society,‘ and I smile in response with a simple statement ‘I’m loving it.’

The differences in culture and society are certainly there but the real truth is that this place is a potpourri of nationalities and there’s so much to learn from being around others.

My message here is that wherever you find yourself – even if it’s in your good old hometown, live with open eyes’ embrace each day with positive energy.

My weekly meanderings took me to the central souk in Sharjah. I always try to find a new location within a day’s travel at most from me to visit and I enjoy a leisurely train/bus ride to the place. Sometimes, I drive myself as well but most times, I just enjoy the process of the journey – that’s the fun part.

Lady Lee shares her weekly smile with us. Do take a make and grab a smile 🙂

If you would like to show us your neighbourhood, the challenge is quite simple and you can find out more about it through this link.

Jacqueline

Guest Posts

Getting to Know My Friend Shiva

His wise words and cheerful demeanour drew me to want to know him better. Whenever Shiva visits, his presence is felt. In my months of blogging, he has been a supportive presence and I would like to extend my appreciation to the gentleman whom I silently title ‘Lord Shiva’ in my head 🙂

shiva

A Bit About Me

I am a third generation entrepreneur from India, born and brought up in a Joint Family but now I have my own nuclear family with two daughters, one is a Software Engineer and the second daughter is studying Medicine.

I am busy in the business of manufacturing of doors and shutters. I am a sportsman and a health-conscious person.

I have learnt and taught yoga and I practice it. I am also an actor and having acted in many dramas in our Amateur Dramatic Association in the local area. Though I like openness and being frank, I do not indulge in gossip and I am not fond of people who do so.

I like to study spirituality. History and space fascinate me. I am friendly and enjoy being with like-minded people. I do not make enemies. If anybody wants to become or attempts to be one I keep away from such a person.

I love my Family, my Workers, my Friends and who have come my way. It has been easy for me to fall in love with anything and anyone. I have my Pets who love me in return.

My Posts “Shower Happiness” and “I know you are the Soul, But..” are the ones that could give a better understanding of my background.

Of late, I have taken to writing and I am surprised to know that I can write poems too.

A Bit About My Blog

I had no intention of blogging or joining the blogging world. When I sent my writings to my friends and cousins who are all over the world, one of them suggested that I should start a blog of my own.

Until then, I knew nothing about blogging. However, out of curiosity I explored into that and found WordPress. Somehow I signed and the blog was opened for me.

While giving a name to my blog I thought what would be a proper name for that, I pondered on it and ultimately got the answer to have a name as “the shivas ponder” that sounded better as the articles I write are to be pondered.

Then came the ‘Tag’, since I thought the articles written by me are to be pondered by me first and then by others, my tag reads – “For Me You and Everyone”.

To know a bit more of my blog experience you could check “My 100.”

So it continued. I am a person who would be after something and would go further deep into it, to its core.

I started blogging and got to know its trends and etiquettes. I befriended many who have now become good friends and a part of my life.

I derive maximum satisfaction, happiness and inspiration being here and truly salute the blogging phenomenon and the technology behind it.  I am deeply indebted to it.

Well, who knew we would be getting friends from all over the World in such a short span of time. It is this Blog World that has brought the World closer and has made it easy to interact with people with their thoughts and feelings.

I have my Facebook page too, but I am never active on that. Personally, I do not like the things going on there. I feel it is a farce. I have seen people on FaceBook who could be your own friends or relatives; when they meet you they don’t even look at you, let alone talk to you.

This is just nonsense… a sheer waste of time… and an addiction… I feel it’s ridiculous.

No doubt people have derived some sort of satisfaction in that, as they find quotes and other good messages and try to meet old friends.

Staying Motivated

Oh! The Motivation part. I keep myself motivated in all wings of my life. I think I have become a more responsible person after starting my Blog since I have to set an example, I keep thinking of bettering my ideals. That motivates me further and guides my actions accordingly.

The blogging world provides lots of information, knowledge and true friends who are capable of doing so many things. They display their talents and creativity. Furthermore, you get inspired and would want to do and give more.

Bits of Challenges

I have had very good and few bad experiences here, which has ultimately taught me many things.

I feel challenged to give more to my writings and creativity and to further my understanding of what others do.  The English language has been a good medium for communication; so I should improve my usage of language and its vocabulary.

I also feel that I should always be a sort of inspiration to others and that I can do only do that if my language and the communicating skills are intact.

You’ve Got to keep Blogging!

I definitely encourage others to blog. We all get to know so many things here. Be it personal or of Life in general.

Many bloggers write about their personal accounts which help especially the younger ones’ on how to lead a wonderful Life. We get to see the real world on our screens. Many bloggers contribute and share such good posts that enhance the knowledge of the readers. Be it a Travel Post, a Cooking Recipe Post, a Quotable Quote Post, a Spiritual Post, a Lovers’ Feeling Post or a Post on Nature and so on.

My personal feeling is that we should not make the Blog World a Nonsense area. It should not be like a Face-Book joint.

Of course, I am happy having met some wonderful people here who are not only writers but are very creative in their work. Many are concerned about the well-being of others which they would like to see through their own work.

One should be aware that what they are doing on their pages reflect on those who read and come across them. Anything helpful to others in bringing them happiness and a sort of building a good relationship is most welcome.

Keeping personal matters to themselves, unless one wants to share them for good reasons.

In the days to come, we shall see a New World which shall be a Conglomeration of all peoples of all countries. We are the builders of that New World so to say “The Pioneers”. As such we are to be responsible people. We have to set an example for future generations to come.

Going Forward

Asides from my blog, I do not have any published material and don’t have any plans in the offing though I have plans to write a novel which is still in my head.

My Observations

I have seen some of the newer bloggers in order to get more traffic and follows on their blog, tend to act ridiculous. They just go on putting their likes without any comments. The likes may stretch to the extent of 10 to 30 numbers at a time in a few seconds.

How can that be a possibility? If you have to comment on the Blog Post it means that one has read the post, and they would not have read it. After which they are not traceable once they get a follower. Hahaha!!!

I always go to a Blog Post read it with patience; if the post is interesting I may read it more than once and put my Like; most of the times I comment on what I feel about the Post. Some of my comments are of few sentences pertaining to the post which could make the author glad.

While we blog and visit other blogs it is very important to see that your visit and presence has been felt and that you have added some value to the persons involved and also to others who shall visit those posts.

Blogging etiquettes are important and one should understand them through other experienced bloggers. One can take the Blogging classes rendered by WP. In any case, I feel one’s attitude is displayed through their actions. Sometimes I give a smile when I feel the pulse of the blogger.   I am very thankful to WP for having given this opportunity.

““Having a Blog is Constructing a Blog”

“A Blog is like constructing a beautiful building and creating an Amazing city”.

“Building a Blog takes time, so One has to be patient and put efforts to make it a Fascinating One”

I really appreciate the work you do, Jacqueline.

A little clip on SHIVARATRI – The day of Shiva’s night.

A Click A Day

The Little Shopper – A Click A Day

It was interesting to watch the little boy with his own shopping trolley busy himself selecting items of his choice.
I would have totally loved to see how his mother talked herself out of this shopping spree at the counter, unfortunately, I was dashing off to get my children from school.

picsart_10-27-11-35-551 picsart_10-27-11-36-361

We will be having our monthly blog party this weekend – Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th. It’s a Halloween themed party. Stay tuned and hope to see you in your dreary, scary drags.