adventure, beautiful, blogging, fun, ramadan, travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Asian Escape!

iAfriCan

I couldn’t believe that a month had passed in a flash and, it was already time to bid Ramadan farewell and venture into the EID weekend. What came to my mind? You guessed right, travel! Unlike many travellers, I’m generally not the kind of person who plans trips in time. I tend to enjoy the last minute rush however, in the past I’ve faced unfortunate consequences whereby I ended up regretting allowing for such a situation. Let’s face it though, what’s life without risks? Planning for a short stay, I needed nothing more than a four-hour flight but slightly longer … Continue reading Asian Escape!

adventure, beautiful, blogging, Dubai, fun, photography, ramadan, travel1 Comment

Dawn of Sahūr

iAfriCan

Drawn by the anxiety to take part in the eagerly awaited gathering, with a smirk on my face I might add, I made my way into a ballroom brimming with well dressed guests. The fact that it was well after midnight partly sums up the concept of Sahūr. In layman’s terms, Sahūr is an Islamic term referring to the meal consumed by Muslims early in the morning before fasting begins. It was much to my surprise to be welcomed and surrounded by joyful and exuberant people who in turn passed on their contagious positivity onto me. Without a moment’s hesitation, … Continue reading Dawn of Sahūr

adventure, beautiful, blogging, Dubai, photography, travelLeave a comment

Ramadan Kareem: In Preparation of Iftar

iAfriCan

I remember fasting for the first time back in Zimbabwe at the age of twelve. While being the type of person who doesn’t do things by halves, the decision to do so was hardly an easy one. Fast forward a decade, with a considerable change in location, my former misgivings have gradually melted away as the task itself has gotten easier. On the other hand, while highlighting my change in location, “it’s 39 degrees celsius outside,” I exclaimed, but little did I know that the heat index was inching closer to an unbearable 45 degrees celsius. Exhaustion, thirst and lifeless … Continue reading Ramadan Kareem: In Preparation of Iftar

adventure, beautiful, blogging, fun, photography, travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Blessings To Savour

iAfriCan

A breathtaking skyline ever dominated by towering skyscrapers & iconic structures such as the Helix Bridge, Marina Bay Sands, The Burj Khalifa and the Taipei 101, to mention but a few, leaves one having to conquer their own credulity and accept the realisation of a dream rising out of the vast desert sand. Before I had any inclination as to what I needed to know on this journey, you, my avid readers, were my fort of inspiration & confidence. In despair, your voices rang constant, “it’s okay to fall but necessary to get back on your feet and try again. … Continue reading Blessings To Savour

beautiful, blogging, Dubai, fun, photography, travel, Uncategorized10 Comments

The Last Ifthar 

iAfriCan

Overwhelmed by the aroma & a vast selection of dishes and flavors, I walked around the room in awe of what lay before my very own eyes. As I made way talking to myself & filled with much curiosity towards the proceedings, I made sure no moment went uncaptured. “All that food!” I thought to myself. At my amusement this lady approached me & asked, “Is this your first time in Dubai? Follow me.” She proclaimed before I could even answer her. As flattered as I was by her kind gesture (believe me you I was), my curiosity heightened. “Iftar is … Continue reading The Last Ifthar 

adventure, beautiful, blogging, Dubai, fun, photography, travel, Uncategorized26 Comments

Introducing Viceroy Dubai!

iAfriCan

April is an opportune month to explore and dabble in Dubai’s rich and pristine variety. Far from lectures, far from routine and with so many things happening, one would need to get their groove on! Activities to selfishly engage one’s fancy. These include though not limited to, the following: hugging penguins, beach polo, Arabia travel market, JBR beach, going to Deira, truckers, Ferrari world, camel racing, riding chairlifts, bobsledding, race car drifting, regaining your breath and starting it all over again! Dubai’s ability to please the senses is infinitely remarkable. What stimulated my impetus to put word to paper is … Continue reading Introducing Viceroy Dubai!

adventure, beautiful, blogging, Crocodile, fun, photography, travel26 Comments

Crocodile Cage Thriller 

iAfriCan

Having had my thoughts of swimming in the Zambezi River rendered null & void on my last excursion because of the threats posed by the Nile crocodile which is considered as the second largest extant reptile on planet earth. Crazy as it may sound, I could not wait to be first in line for an up close & personal experience with the ancestor of the dinosaurs – crocodile cage diving. So I picked up my cell and called Vanessa. “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” I asked. There was a long pause before she … Continue reading Crocodile Cage Thriller 

adventure, beautiful, Birds, blogging, photography, travel10 Comments

A melody unsung 

iAfriCan

In as much as binoculars & a camera are essential for birdwatching, patience too is a good virtue if you intend on observing fascinating behavioral traits coming to the fore! The rainy season in the Zambezi Valley is a great time of year for bird-watching, and around Victoria Falls is no exception. Known as the emerald season, the rains bring life, colour to the bush & offer rich rewards to the traveller. In addition to the already varied resident bird species – 700 species thereabouts, the rains bring new species to the banks of the Zambezi. All with a distinct … Continue reading A melody unsung 

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I dreamt of The Zambezi

iAfriCan

Having spent most of the night reminiscing on the statistic – Hippos kill more people than any other animal in Africa each year. I couldn’t help but dream of the much dreaded population of hippopotamus that lurk in the waters of the Zambezi River Valley. At around 0400 in the morning and much like a fish as my eyes wide openly glared at the alarm clock, thoughts marauded my mind, “Kashif, are you entirely sure about this, I mean who would be insane enough to go bathing with the hippos?” Being the soldier that I am, I got up to … Continue reading I dreamt of The Zambezi

beautiful, blogging, fun, photography, rotary15 Comments

Child of Rotary

iAfriCan

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience & passion to reach for the stars, to change the world.”                             -Harriet Tubman Faith without Action is dead! Probably that’s subject to debate for some but, ask me why I am Rotary and I’ll tell you that it’s because I want to be a part of something greater in life (Service above Self). Having been nurtured from a young age through InterAct & RotarAct, I grew up knowing that … Continue reading Child of Rotary