Winds of Change.

Hey everyone! 

So basically, I'm back from the dead. (If that's what you want to call it.) 

I'm officially switching up my blog. :)

It will now completely be travel oriented but of course, I'll throw in some 'life' posts here and there. To start off I'll be posting pictures in this post of my wonderful and much needed weekend with my friends. 

Although Bahrain is small, it DOES have a lot to offer. It saddens me that most people are unaware that it even exists. Therefore I am going to start appreciating and publicizing it's beauty in hopes that you, my dear readers will do the same and share it with your friends and them with theirs...

I've always had a thing for beaches. The wind in my face, sound of the waves colliding, digging my feet into the sand and watching the sunset kind of thing. Go ahead and call it romanticism- because that's exactly what is is. Not the whole 'marry me and be the father of my kids' kind of romance but rather the, 'damn, I didn't even know that shade of blue existed' kind of romance. So you can imagine my absolute delight when the plans I'd made took a slight detour and I ended up on the beach. 

I can see how the title of this post might have been misleading because where does the change part of it come into all of this? It does though. Beaches are symbolic for being the barrier for two states of the mind. Or anything for that matter. In this case, I would like to assume that the water represents the countless directions and paths one can/may take. The opportunities are endless because just like the water...because obviously...there doesn't seem to be an end to it haha. As for the sand, it represents stability or the act of being stationary. And no, I don't mean standing in one place in the literal sense but rather never moving forward in life. Sinking your feet in the sand, curling your toes, gluing yourself to the ground kind of stationary. But when I do that I'm washed with the thought of "What if I just...let the ocean take me?" And I mean this in the most non-suicidal way. What if I just allow the waves to wash over me? To take me where they want, as and when they please. Although there's a lot of uncertainty in allowing 'the waves' to take you where they go, such is life. Or so I am told. And as cheesy as it sounds, life IS a rollercoaster but the view is great!

I spent the weekend in what is known as Old Bahrain, basically the Marina area and Funland( an ice skating/bowling centre) and for those of you who live here, the first thing you notice when you drive into the city is the transition from old to new. It's almost as though you're being taken on a tour through the heritage and then slowly being made to see all the progression that has taken place over time. Either ways, you can see it in the picture above. (There are still some buildings being constructed- but you can see the transition from sea to buildings) Although I've been to this place heaps of times yesterday's view caught me by surprise. It was amazing to see all the shades of blue in variation( Blue is my favourite colour) and along with a good view, good company does wonders! 

If you're in the area, hit this spot up! It's just at the back of Dolphin Park. Peaceful, just begins to describe it and there's a great view, not only of the sea but of the sheesha cafe just across which is wonderfully lit at night by the way. (Didn't manage to get a picture.) 

Until next time guys!

XXO,

Sara Malik.

(P.S- All picture credits are mine.)

Elastic Heart

Hey guys,

Far out, I can't believe I haven't written for such a long time. I honestly was SO busy and I'm really sorry. :(

But I'm here now and with the school halls empty at this hour and L.O.V.E courtesy of Michael Buble playing on my phone, I can relax and write. (OK, not completely but I will get this done.)

There's been a lot of speculation around Sia's wonderful, wonderful and might I add WONDERFUL song, Elastic Heart. Now normally, I never listen to any songs past the 90's but this had to be the exception. Sia managed to combine sick beats and emotional conveyance into one song and boy has it received a lot of critical reception, especially the video featuring Shia Labeouf and Dance Moms', Maddie Ziegler. Some criticisms include the nudity and sexuality suggested between the two dancers in the video and the interpretation it holds in its representation. So I've decided to write about how I see the video.



In the opening scene itself the two are shown on opposite sides of the "cage" as though they are animals preparing to fight with one another followed by the two charging at each other. I have deciphered this as a father figure and his young one at war with each other because of their different ideas of the world and how they should live their life.

The girl represents innocence and a desire for wanderlust. She wants to leave the "cage" which represents captivity and his hold on her but he doesn't realize he's suffocating her. The guy represents fixation. He's so set in his ways and is determined to keep the girl in the "cage" so he can control her but she's at her breaking point and that's why she acts out in the video but him being the adult, he fights back to exercise the control he has and when she slams him against the "cage" she is taking charge of her freedom. He hangs onto the railing and jumps on top of her to show his dominance in the situation and at this point she lies there almost admitting defeat. He can be a means of love and support for the girl which is shown when he carries her around and makes funny faces, proving that he can be the father figure he needs to be. When she finally breaks free from the "cage" that is his mind she can see he's struggling himself because of the way he's been all this time and she tries to coax him out of it but he is just shown banging against the cage showing just how stuck he is because he can't change who he is.



Sia beautifully incorporates what being trapped in someone else's mind distinctly feels like. My personal favourite line is

"I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard."

There are very few people who can deal with or bear being pulled hard from every angle. That being said there comes a point when those people who CAN deal with it snap. Being human means feeling pain, feeling pressured and that is exactly what it is shown in this video. It is in no way explicit or sexual or even remotely controversial. All over the world people are fighting for freedom of speech and the right to say exactly what they feel without being shot, condemned or judged for it. And this is exactly what Elastic Heart is. Freedom of speech in the form of artistic expression. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I've got thick skin and an elastic heart.

What about you?

Until next time,
XXO,
Sara Malik.

The Decline of Our Society.

Hello my lovely readers, 

I'm going to get straight to the point and rant. 

A few nights ago I was with my family and we'd come to a halt at the signal however something was wrong because I could see the light was green and people were honking continuously. Out of curiosity I leaned out of the window to see what was going on and immediately 3 young local boys were standing and one of them was leaning into the car at the beginning of the traffic line. At first it looked appeared as though they were stopping cars and making inquiries but it soon turned ugly as they physically ATTACKED the elder expatriate man who was in his late 50's as his family was forced to evacuate the car and watch helplessly but not before they slammed the car door on him THRICE and no one getting down to help him.

As we drove away my first inclination was to call the local authorities and report them however with the lack of proof prevented me. Seeing this incident bothered me the entire night and still continues to bother me. Being a youngster it completely baffles me when I wonder what has become of the humanity in the younger generation? These people are distinctly aware that being locals they have the power to do as they like and it is just disgusting as a local myself to see them ABUSE that power so undeservingly bestowed upon them. That expatriate man and many more like him come to our country and labour hard in the worst conditions in order to contribute to our economy and yet that are treated as nothing less than dirt. If only I could apologize for the inhumanity shown towards that man I would in a heartbeat. 





This place used to be recognized for its hospitality but it 
continues to lost it's touch of humanity and not to mention humility each day and this is truly upsetting to see how far a nation can progress and yet regress due to the ignorance and inhumanity of a few especially considering with everything we've seen over the last couple of days with the Sydney siege and Peshawar Massacre.




Secondly, social media in its true form is made to be used to connect with your friends and loved ones and NOT to harass people of your disliking therefore one can understand someone's annoyance when you receive questions such as "u smell like a prostitute at school" and "non-muslim bahraini? u look Indian tbh" 

Not only do these kind of comments make me question what parents are teaching their children but it make me laugh as I am made to see how little people are learning at school- specifically in terms of grammatical skills anyways.


1) However flattering(NOT) it is that you have taken the time out to analyze people's scent, the fact that you have compared it to a prostitute suggests that you have former experience of one which calls into question who the less moral person is here. :)

2) A prostitute is someone, specifically a woman, who engages in sexual activity for payment. Just putting that out there seeing as how little you are benefiting from your education. 

3) Their nationality/religious beliefs have nothing to do with anyone or how they should be perceiving them.

People are NOT and I repeat NOT defined or identified by their religious beliefs and since they are THEIR BELIEFS I don't see how that in anyway involves YOU. 

It is really sad to see that despite living in a multicultural society we are faced with such disgusting and judgemental comments and it sickens me to the core. 

Coming into a New Year however there is always time for reformity and as long as people are willing to change that should be what matters.

Until next time,
XXO,
Sara Malik.

The Island of the Misfit Toys.

Dear readers,

Do forgive me for my long and unexplained absence. I was busy. Gaining calories...and I am now trying to lose them in the cold, snuggly months to come which does NOT look good for me...BUT I'll let you know how that works out. 

I'm trying out something new....let me know if you like it!

I knew it was a mistake the moment it was over. The dolls I'd treasured for years were scattered on the floor. Brown hair, blue eyes, perfect blushed skin. I always thought their arms were too small and their heads too big but what did it matter now? This was supposed to be behind me. I'm not supposed to care about stupid dolls. Or stupid people. I'm supposed to care about me. Me. Me. ME! In frustration I kicked the baby beanie doll across the room and she sure made a lot of noise. 

"Sydney?" Mum called out. "You alright?" No,Mother. I'm not.

"Syd?" She called out once more, her steps drawing nearer to my bedroom door. 

"Yeah, sorry I just tripped." I responded flatly.

"Be careful, sweetheart." What a dumb word. Sweetheart. What if someone was a bad person? Would they be called 'bitterheart'? As someone who has loved English all her life, words fascinate me but in this particular instance not even "special" or "one of a kind" could make me feel better. Words are nothing. Meaningless. Empty. Bloody. Promises.

I turned my head to see the only doll remaining on my bed staring at me with what seemed to be contempt. He was my favourite, And not even a doll but a bear. A light brown, product of fur teddy bear. And oh my days, how stupid of me. I wasn't even allowed to keep him on my bed because I was allergic to fur. Jev, I had called him.

"What kind of name is Jev?" I'd been asked on several occasions and only now had it dawned on me that it was my kind of name.

"What the hell are you staring at?" I asked, half expecting a reply but my childhood comfort said nothing as I drowned in my teenage angst. I don't remember who but someone told me when I was a kid that toys REALLY came to life when we go to sleep. (Not taken from Toy Story) I used to think Barbie had her own little drunk pool party and all the other toys would roam around my house in the dark hours of the night. Didn't they get tired? What about my so called "son" Jev? He didn't look like a party animal to me. He always wore a sad smile and appeared to be in deep thought. And his brother, Toby, who happens to be a lion cub, didn't seem to enjoy those sort of things either. And yes, a bear and a lion are brothers, oh the unending limitations of a child's imagination. 

So like, I stayed up one day with the thick sheets all the way up to my head and left a crack open for me to look out into the hallway where the store room door was wide open waiting and waiting for the magic to happen. Unbeknownst to a silly 8 year old me, the toys were under my bed. 

But those were silly things and countless times I have wondered why I bothered growing up because you see the magic never really left me..it just...came to a stop.

What did you guys think? x

Until next time guys!

XXO,

Sara Malik.