This is the Central Market (Blue Souk) that stands near the famous Khaled Lagoon in Sharjah. It is well-known for jewelery outlets, antiques, carpets, electronics and garments.
Photographs by Kulsoom Ali
A long shot of the souk from the street. The Central souk is constructed with two adjoining wings (seen in the picture) connected with a bridge-like tunnel. One wing deals with garments, electronics and gifts while the other is solely dedicated to jewelry outlets.
The frontal appearance of the souk's entrance. The blue tiles ornated on the walls can be seen in the picture. 
A small fountainhead facing the entrance enhances the souk's outward show.
A low-angle shot from the souk's entrance on the ground floor. Shops are lined on both sides with a pathway in the centre that leads to elevators and stairs leading to the upper floor.
A busy market place. Paintings displayed on sale; the background illustrates customers engaged in shopping and conversations.
- SJ
Friday, February 29, 2008
The Central Market (in pictures)
Monday, February 25, 2008
Any dissimilarity between Kosovo and Palestine?
"..........Therefore, we call upon our great people to rally to the banner of Palestine, to cherish and defend it, so that it may forever be the symbol of our freedom and dignity in that homeland, which is a homeland for the free, now and always." -
An extract from Palestine Declaration of Independence (15 November 1988)
Resolution 3236 of UN General Assembly, issued on 22nd November 1974, discusses the 'Question of Palestine' and earmarks the right to 'independence' of the Palestinian state. The excerpt of the resolution is as follows:
Expressing its grave concern that the Palestinian people has been prevented from enjoying its inalienable rights, in particular its right to self-determination, it has the right to national independence and sovereignty. It reaffirms also the inalienable right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property from which they have been displaced and uprooted, and calls for their return.
The hegemonic powers refuse to abide by the UN charter and the Palestinian-Israel conflict remains unsettled. It is abnormal to see a country's proper recognition under international law and yet it is battling for freedom from those occupations that are illegal under the same international law.
But when it comes to Kosovo seeking independence from Serbia, the hegemonic powers quickly recognized Kosovo's declaration. And here the issue of Palestinian independence still remains up in the air since 40 years and on.
-SJ
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Life is like a Rainbow
It always happens that the day you're not carrying your professional photographic equipment, you lose out on capturing great shots at scene.
Regrets apart. On a fine morning, I noticed this mini rainbow patterned by the dispersion of sunlight in driblets of water from sprinklers on the grass.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
A New Version of Me
This article was published in a local student publication (Campus Journal) in the New Year supplement, 2008
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A New Version of Me
by Kulsoom Ali
Another year is slipping away, ushering the pangs of yet another crisp New Year at the threshold. The year 2007 shall soon be vaporized and stamped as history and the future shall now become our present. We all are anticipating this New Year with silvery hopes to yield happiness, prosperity and a good life but what lies ahead is shaped by our sole efforts in leading either a victorious or a flat, defeated life.
Every human constantly struggles to mould a better-looking future. We make a resolution or two at the onset of every New Year to turn ourselves for the good and some of us might have invented the most nonsensical and freakish resolutions for the New Year but a few serious ones amongst us earnestly aspire to turn into a new leaf. Girls target a new year fighting the flab, boys let go of the fags and some even make serious pledges to show up regularly at colleges and universities!
Such efforts are definitely to be lauded upon but before we take pride to make a resolution, let’s question ourselves, ‘Will I sincerely keep on with the pledge?’ Because it’s no big task to simply grab a pen and a notepad to jot our resolutions down. What happens soon is a death to these resolutions because a written vow without a serious intention and handiwork gets you back to a zilch!
“Resolutions and promises always fail,” states Rachana Sippy, a clinical psychologist working as a Student Counselor at Our Own English High School, Dubai. But she quickly adds, “Unless you are committing yourself to excellence that pushes you in accomplishing high standards.” Rachana feels that students must form resolutions for the best by believing in their capabilities first. She says that every individual has a unique talent and potential that might be missing in the other individual. “I suggest students to aim for small but achievable and realistic targets. If you do happen to fail, don’t grumble. Try various formulas - if method A fails, adopt method B which might succeed. But never wait for the next hour because most of us procrastinate so always say to yourself, ‘I must complete if I undertake a task. I must do it now and not tomorrow.’”
She strongly believes in the magic of the paper. She says, “Always think on paper! Write down your goals and identify your favorite reasons and excuses for dilly-dallying and see what’s holding you back. For instance, break the monotony if you have to study a boring subject. Begin by selecting a subject that interests you followed by the uninteresting one. When you achieve this goal, pat yourself on the back and say Wow, I’ve done it!”
But, are students under the opinion of forming resolutions at New Year? Neha Rafeek, a third year Bachelors student of Media and Communications at MAHE, Dubai says that resolutions need not be made at New Year alone. She opines, “I don’t believe in the concept of New Year resolutions since it’s just another fancy culture today.” She feels we should write resolutions if only we can adhere to them but not to follow the usual trend. “I don’t understand why people have to wait for a 365-day cycle to revolutionize themselves for the good. I can write a resolution today, tomorrow or next month and not necessarily at the onset of a New Year to improve myself! As an illustration, I would like to control my short temperedness in near future. But I certainly wouldn’t wait for January 1st to dawn for practice.
A better future for students weighs importance mainly through good grades, a rewarding peer support and a non-obese lifestyle. Girls always plan to shed a few kilos at the beginning of the New Year. It is probably more of a desire to pick up those shaped curves rather than a serious workout. “The initiative to work something for the good is greatly missing in youth today,” says Mehfuza Haffiz, a dietician and a nutritionist by profession at VLCC Centre, Sharjah. She believes that taking an initiative itself is a challenging task. “I highly encourage students to aim for a healthier life in future. I’m not convincing them to isolate junk food from their meal plans but I suggest they take heed before they hit obesity.”
UAE is ranked one of more than 40 countries in the world with increased levels of obesity and people who are overweight. Mehfuza reasons that physical activity is barely on the mark in the UAE and recommends regular bouts of cardiovascular exercise to help keep oneself in shape. “The youth must at least devote 45 minutes to an hour to regular exercises like walking, cycling or jogging. It increases your stamina and most importantly knocks down your weight and eventually boosts your self-esteem.” Planning nutritional yet delicious meals keeps us away from those extra kilos too. She couches, “It is a good idea to select healthier recipes that call for bakes and grills rather than deep-fried items that simply add to your weight.”
Mehfuza also acknowledges that the students today are hard-pressed for time but she also identifies the benefits that we, as youth enjoy. “I do agree that a lot is expected from the students that pose them a big challenge but they should know that they also possess the state-of-the-art technology that we couldn’t enjoy in our school days. And probably this is one reason that snails them down for vigorous physical activities as part of their regular schedules.”
Veritably, we may emerge as medalists, only if we harmonize our resolutions with fervid actions. Before planning to write your goals especially at this onset of the New Year, convince and encourage yourself that you shall religiously commit to the new resolutions. G.K. Chesterton ‘….’ says, “The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes.” Hence, don’t just envisage a bright ‘year’ ahead but promise yourselves that you are metamorphosing till the end of era. But always remember the golden key to believe in yourself first.
-SJ