This week, I attended the WITS poetry workshop, which Joshua Nguyen taught. We learned about haibuns (poems which have a paragraph in the beginning and a haiku at the end) and got a chance to write our own. I had so much fun with this and this is my haibun.
I wrote my haibun about a longing to be at the beach.
There is a longing inside of me to see a beautiful blue-green sea, slowly fading into dark blue. I wish to have my feet buried into the warm sand while a book captures my attention. I wish to be where trees line the background and I can sit peacefully with an ice-cream cone. I want to hear the shouts and joy of kids, but still live in my own world of tranquility. I want to relax in the shade of a tree while still staying warm, courtesy of the sun peeping through the branches. I wish to be as relaxed as I was there and never care for anything in the world.
I want to see the
wondrous ocean again
and relax, happy
What are you longing for during social distancing?
When I went on my vacation to Langkawi, I was pretty surprised that our hotel was in the midst of a forest. The landscape there was very pretty and the animals galore.We saw so many trees and the water on the beach was very clear. The hotel atmosphere was very calming and the staff was very nice. We took some tours that let us see some of the best and most interesting creatures. One of my favorite parts of the trip was spotting a colugo and the other was ziplining.
I had been wanting to zipline for a long time but I was quite nervous. At Umgawa, I didn’t have to worry. The instructors there were very nice and walked us through the guidelines. We walked for some time and came to our first line. It was a practice line and I was nervous, but ready. When I flew through the air, I leaned back and relaxed. I felt so free flying through the forest.
The scenery was beautiful and I loved every second of it.Nothing could beat seeing the Andaman Sea or a waterfall on your side while flying through the forest. I spotted a whole family of dusky leaf monkeys leaping through the trees. A few of them had babies and they all played with each other. I found this to be a super cute scene. We also saw tons of butterflies flitting around the trees. My favorite animal of the day, though, was the hawk we saw. We saw it two times. Once when we were walking on one of the rope bridges and before we abseiled(went down).
I definitely recommend Umgawa to any family looking for adventures, wildlife(pictures), and tons of fun.
When you walk into Carrabba’s, the first thing that hits you is the smell and the bustle of people. Carrabba’s is an Italian restaurant in Upper Kirby in Houston. This restaurant is a bustling place with many people, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.
The service at Carrabba’s is very nice. We were seated almost immediately and a waiter was with us soon. Our waiter was very attentive and full of suggestions. Out of all suggestions, I enjoyed the dessert the most. We ordered the seasonal special; the Italian Sundae. The sundae had a vanilla ice cream base. Topping the ice cream was a drizzle of strawberry balsamic vinegar glaze and crumbled almond biscotti . It was absolutely delicious.
We ate family style; sharing everything from everyone’s plate. We got the Minestrone soup, Mamma Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken, Mushroom Ravioli, Stuffed Shrimp Mandola, and my favorite classic…..Margarita Pizza!
Every thing we ate tasted amazing. I don’t think you can go wrong at Carrabba’s.
I recently visited Dubai and I enjoyed it a lot. Here are a few of my suggestions on what to do.
1. Go to the top of Burj Khalifa: The first thing we did when we got to Dubai was see the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa is 828 m tall which makes it the world’s tallest building. We went to the 148th floor and relaxed in the lounge there.
2. Sunset at The Pointe: The Pointe is on The Palm. It is on one of the fronds of the man-made island. There’s a small beach lined with beanbag chairs which are very comfortable. Overlooking the beach is the famous Atlantis hotel. There are many activities and games on the Pointe. There are also quite a few gift and coffee shops around.
3. Take a speed boat tour: A speed boat tour is perfect near sunset. As the boat crashes over the waves, you feel carefree. Ours was at the perfect time. When the red sun started to set behind Burj Al Arab, all the phones came out. With the sun hiding, the effect was spectacular! I definitely recommend a boat tour near sunset.
4. The Optical Illusion Museum: The museum, located in the Al Seef area, may seem small but it’s full of optical illusions. There are some games and pictures which might have you scratching your head. One of my favorite things to do were the optical illusion picture “booths”. One person would stand in a certain area based on the instructions and the other person would snap a pic on the labeled spots. This was one of my top favorite places.
5. The Dubai Miracle Gardens: The Gardens is full of vibrant and colorful creations. The amount of plants and flowers in a desert astonishes me. There are many sculptures like dancers, an airplane, horses, and more! This place truly is a miracle. It is my top pick in Dubai!
Last summer I went to Udaipur, Rajasthan with my family.
I marveled at the mesmerizing buildings and wondering how much effort has been put into constructing them. Udaipur is a place I’d visit
The intricate architecture caught my eye and I couldn’t wait to see more of it. Udaipur has interesting architecture around every corner. During my trip to the Udaipur City Palace, I noticed how detailed and descriptive the drawings and pictures on the walls were. The space was well utilized.Every piece of architecture fit in perfectly.
Decorating with mirrors was a very common theme I noticed in Udaipur. Typically, a picture was painted and mirrors are placed in suitable locations. My family and I were equally amazed by the amazing architecture.
I couldn’t wait to learn more about the history of Udaipur. Udaipur has a very interesting past. Udaipur was ruled by the Mewar kings and the members of the royal family still live in Udapur. I am fascinated by the life in the era of kings. The kings in those days used to hunt and trap tigers and panthers in the surrounding Aravali hills. They also like to watch elephants wrestle for entertainment. My visit to Udaipur gave me a peek into a time period very much unlike mine. See you there!
We’re Dough is a popular Lebanese bakery in Houston, Texas.
As you enter the shop, the smell of sesame seeds hit you. The large neon light spelling out” How You Doughin’?”make this place a popular destination for Instagram and Social Media fans. The beautiful lights and the dark velvet chairs call your name and invite you to take a seat and linger around for long conversations.
The appetizing Shakshousa eggs were mouth-watering! The spices came through well and I found myself wanting more.These eggs were good on their own, but when they were with the pita bread and the juicy cucumber my mouth exploded with flavors. These are not the traditional poached eggs but they make a great weekend brunch item.
The delicious, crispy Nutella Kaak makes a great desert. The savory sesame seeds and the sweet nutella inside the bread work together perfectly. An unlikely duo, they are one of the best pairs of food I have ever tasted.
We’re Dough was a little bit crowded on the Saturday morning I went there and the service was a bit slow, but that won’t stop me from going there regularly.
We’re Dough is one of the reasons I love living in Houston. With so many diverse restaurants, I’m in a different continent for every meal.
I go to Roberts Elementary (the best school in the world) in Houston, Texas. Every year, we have an International Festival (the best event in the world) where different countries set up booths and have games and samples of their native foods.
This year I performed a semi- classical Indian dance. It gives me an opportunity to showcase my skills and share my culture with my friends. When I perform solo, I get much more confidence and I’m ready to perform solo on other occasions.
The International Festival helps me understand how other cultures work, why they’re important, and how I can tie in with it. It broadens my perspective of worlds I’ve never traveled to.
The International Festival is about being open minded and respecting other people’s opinions and cultures. That is one of the reasons my family goes to the International Festival at Roberts.
This year we had 30 countries being represented and tons of volunteer parents and staff.
