#pakistan to mecca by road

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Grist:

The weather was bound to be bad in 2024, the hottest year on Earth out of the last 125,000 of them.

In Saudi Arabia, temperatures climbed above 125 degrees Fahrenheit during the Hajj in June, killing 1,300 people on their annual pilgrimage to the city of Mecca. Across the Arabian Sea, a prolonged heat wave led to hundreds more deaths in southern Pakistan. Hurricane Helene brought 30 inches of rain to an already-waterlogged western North Carolina in September, filling mountain valleys with mudslides and floods that surged through homes in one of the most destructive hurricanes in recent memory. Then, in November, a year’s worth of rain fell on Valencia and across eastern Spain in just eight hours. The floodwaters swept through towns, and flash flood alerts came too late for people already on the road or trapped in garages underground.

As climate change intensifies extreme weather in multiple ways, the kind of push alerts that popped up on phones around Valencia are arriving more and more often. But overwhelm people with too many warnings about heat or flooding or bad air quality, and they might start tuning them out, a phenomenon called alert fatigue that’s been troubling emergency managers. “It may be one of the biggest problems facing their field as climate disasters mount,” the journalist Zoë Schlanger wrote in The Atlantic this summer.

The phrase comes from medicine, where overworked doctors blasted with hundreds of medical alerts every day got so many false alarms, they’d learned to ignore them. Alert fatigue could also describe the dynamic of becoming numb to warnings about climate change more broadly. Since the late 1980s, scientists have been raising the alarm about the devastation that global warming would bring. Nearly two-thirds of Americans now understand that climate change is affecting their local communities, and yet they elected former President Donald Trump, who has promised to boost fossil fuel production and undo much of President Joe Biden’s climate agenda.

[international-intelligence-inc]

How I Met Lived a Year With Osama Bin Laden in the Tora Bora Caves with My Father As Northern Alliance and Osama Bin Laden Negotiator.

As you can see in the early 1970s when my father worked for Chas T Main the infamous NSA/CIA contracting company my father was first and foremost the boss of the author of the NY Billion dollar best seller and his book is entitled "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man." Secondly during the early 1970s, Saudi Arabia was in turmoil and became an ally of the USA. As you can clearly see in my father's resume, my father was stationed in Saudi Arabia, and I went a long of course while my father managed the project of building Saudi Arabia's first 14-billion-dollar Nuclear Power plant. Then the CIA threw in a sweetheart deal for the Saudi's, they decided to pave all the roads leading to both Mecca and Medina yearly to help the Muslims on their yearly Hajj yearly over the Ramadan holiday.

The CIA designated my father, and we are both Jewish, the job of talking me over and hiring the Bin Laden Contracting Company to conduct all of the paving of those roads. I am very proud of this. Anyway, I became extremely close with all of the Bin Laden family. Osama and I always used to take karate lessons together. And me and his sister used to go to the amusement park and Blue Mosque together. Thern, I watched as Osama became increasingly radicalized and begam bombing the royal family there demanding they leave the country etc etc. He needed a country to go to which brings us just about up to the Afghan-Soviet War. As the war began my father became stationed in Aghan in Kabul Afghanistan at the USA Embassy there. I remember it quite vividly because 6 days a week the Afghans still went to their single ballpark in Kabul and used to practice for the Olympics 6 days a week. on the 7th day there was no ball practice and the ballpark because the assassination site for all women for such things as adultery etc. A bag was placed over each women's head and one bullet they were each shot once behind their right ear the professional mark of a hit man. Most of the females killed were innocent. Anyway, the CIA needed to use Bin Laden as a buffer against the Soviet Republik at that time and armed and my father trained him. The CIA also allowed him to go and leave Saudi Arabia and run things in Afghanistan. My father became the sole negotiator between Osama Bin Laden and the Northern Alliance.

I had lots of good times in those caves play9ing handguns and guns along with Bin Laden's son Omar now married to Hajo. In fact I remember when Bin Ladens' 9th and most beloved wife Haji came from Yemen/ My father brought her family in Yemen his 10 Million dollar dowry and no one else knows that is the price even Joe Biden does not so I can easily prove I was indeed living in those caves with Mousousi about one year. What weas it like. I gave me odd habits. There were no showers and we all slept on the dirt ground on a tiny mattress. Once every 5 months we poured some water for a shower over our heads. We ate cold food out of old world war cans and Bin Laden HAD a generator for electricity. Bin Laden always carried two things 1) A 25.000.000 check the exact amount of his bounty cashed in any deniomination and 2) A CELL phone which he rarely used and when he did he was caught and assassinated. Jilly

More to come interviews welcomed

PS: The Pakistani's are a bunch of liars taking USA dollars saying the can not go into the Northern part of Afghanistan because "it is too dangerous there." I can not be too dangerous because I was there at age 7 with Daddy and Osama Bin Laden. What do they do in Northern Pakistan. That was where Bin Laden had his "strong-hold complex," as he called it and he lived there with all his wives and "widows." They used to walk me around his complex and hold my hand. He used to watch TV all day and look at him in all these press and magazines. If the USA just ignored him and left Bin Ladan out of the press he probably would have committed self-suicide. Anway, Dad used to go there for many reasons with me. Sometimes we went to pick up tapers Bin laden made to give to the BBC and western press and both sad and ironic it is his death place and would have wanted to die there in my estimation. IN northern Pakistan Bin Laden used to have theses huge pizza types ovens where he would have a his specialized weapons hammered out like blacksmiths do in the large pizza like oven. Even the Avril Haines CIA chief does not know this. JILLY

[travellerbird]

Places to visit in India | Best Places to Visit In India in 2023.

Places to Visit in India. India is an enormous and diverse destination. Bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, not to mention the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, means that there are many different sides to the country.

 1. Mysore

In the southern tip of India places to visit in india , famous places in india you’ll find the city of Mysore. Once the capital of the Wodeyar dynasty, Mysore is best tourist places in india known for housing the magnificent Mysore Palace. The palace is the epitome of opulence, and a tour through the structure will reveal upscale touches like carved rosewood doors, ceilings decorated in ivory and countless paintings on the walls.

best places to visit in india If you’re in Mysore, you won’t want to miss the incredible Devaraja Market, an outdoor experience on Dhanwanthri Road where you can buy some chai tea and then browse stalls offering produce or sandalwood carvings.

2. Amritsar

In the northern province of Punjab is Amritsar, famous places in india a holy city and a mecca for the Sikh religion. The main attraction in Amritsar is the Golden Temple, also known as the Harmandir Sahib. Built more than 400 years ago, this temple truly is golden, and it is always packed with Sikhs visiting from around India tourist places in india and the rest of the world.

3. Ladakh

In northernmost places to visit in india, in the heavily disputed Kashmir region, is the mountainous destination of Ladakh. This region is large, but it has a low population density and a number of nomadic residents. Breathtaking, pristine scenery is a major draw to the area, but virtually all travelers will also spend time in the town of Leh.

The town is located at a very high elevation, and it is also home to the 17th century Palace of the King of Ladakh. Buddhist culture is also prominent in Leh, and you may wish to explore some of the best tourist places in india many Buddhist monasteries and temples in the Old Town. tourist places in india.

4. Goa Beaches

On the western coast of best tourist places in india is Goa, a former colony of Portugal that blends tourist places in Indian culture with colonial influences and plenty of international tourism. Goa is popular largely because of its spectacular beaches.

The busiest and most popular places to visit in india of all is Candolim Beach, where travelers from around the world flock to soak up the sun. Anjuna Beach, by contrast, is far less crowded. It is also an amazing place where you can walk to Chapora Fort and admire the sandy coastline from a new perspective.

Palolem is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Goa with it’s natural bay surrounded by lofty headlands on either sides. Goa is best places to visit in india widely loved by adventurers, and recreational activities are plentiful for those eager for some fun in the sun.

5. Delhi

About Delhi Tourism: Boasting cultural diversity and rich heritage, Delhi is places to visit in india to several temples, tombs, gardens, forts, museums, markets and more tourist places in india. Holidify’s wide range of Delhi travel packages are suitable for all kinds of travellers and take you to some of the best places to visit in indiaspots in the city. So whether you are looking for a Delhi package for a historic getaway or just a Delhi holiday package with family and friends, pick the best places to visit in india one at Holidify.

There are plenty of locations around the city that are a testament to its Mughal and then colonial past, such as the majestic Humayun’s Tomb, the first garden-tomb in the subcontinent, the resting place of Emperor Humayun. Also, the 238-feet tall Qutub Minar in the Mehrauli area was sanctioned by Qutb Ud-Din-Aibak in 1192 and is associated with the Delhi Sultanate.

Made of red sandstone, the magnificent Red Fort in Old Delhi was built by Shah Jahan and should be on your list of places to visit here; every year, on Republic Day and Independence Day, crowds flock to the fort to witness the flag hoisting ceremony. Some other historical sites included in Delhi tour packages are Agrasen ki Baoli, India Gate, Jantar Mantar and Jama Masjid.

f you’re spending any time in Northern India, you will almost certainly visit the capital city of Delhi. The enormous sprawling destination is home to several districts, and it is considered to be one of the oldest cities in the world. One of the top sights in Delhi is the Red Fort, or Lal Qila, which was built in the 17th century.

The Red Fort is made from sandstone, and you will be able to walk through its Lahore Gate, into the bazaar, through the jewel palace and even into the former residence of the sultan. best places to visit in india While in Delhi, you should also make time for the many museums and religious structures that make up the city.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.11

532 – Nika riots in Constantinople: A quarrel between supporters of different chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens—in the Hippodrome escalates into violence. 630 – Conquest of Mecca: The prophet Muhammad and his followers conquer the city, and the Quraysh association of clans surrenders. 1055 – Theodora is crowned empress of the Byzantine Empire. 1158 – Vladislaus II, Duke of Bohemia becomes King of Bohemia. 1569 – First recorded lottery in England. 1654 – Arauco War: A Spanish army is defeated by local Mapuche-Huilliches as it tries to cross Bueno River in Southern Chile. 1759 – The first American life insurance company, the Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of the Presbyterian Ministers (now part of Unum Group), is incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1779 – Ching-Thang Khomba is crowned King of Manipur. 1787 – William Herschel discovers Titania and Oberon, two moons of Uranus. 1805 – The Michigan Territory is created. 1861 – American Civil War: Alabama secedes from the United States. 1863 – American Civil War: The three-day Battle of Arkansas Post concludes as General John McClernand and Admiral David Dixon Porter capture Fort Hindman and secure control over the Arkansas River for the Union. 1863 – American Civil War: CSS Alabama encounters and sinks the USS Hatteras off Galveston Lighthouse in Texas. 1879 – The Anglo-Zulu War begins. 1908 – Grand Canyon National Monument is created. 1912 – Immigrant textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, go on strike when wages are reduced in response to a mandated shortening of the work week. 1914 – The Karluk, flagship of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, sank after being crushed by ice. 1917 – The Kingsland munitions factory explosion occurs as a result of sabotage. 1922 – Leonard Thompson becomes the first person to be injected with insulin. 1923 – Occupation of the Ruhr: Troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area to force Germany to make its World War I reparation payments. 1927 – Louis B. Mayer, head of film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), announces the creation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, at a banquet in Los Angeles, California. 1935 – Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. 1942 – World War II: Japanese forces capture Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federated Malay States. 1942 – World War II: Japanese forces attack Tarakan in Borneo, Netherlands Indies (Battle of Tarakan) 1943 – The Republic of China agrees to the Sino-British New Equal Treaty and the Sino-American New Equal Treaty. 1943 – Italian-American anarchist Carlo Tresca is assassinated in New York City. 1946 – Enver Hoxha, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Albania, declares the People's Republic of Albania with himself as head of state. 1949 – The first "networked" television broadcasts took place as KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania goes on the air connecting the east coast and mid-west programming. 1957 – The African Convention is founded in Dakar, Senegal. 1959 – 36 people are killed when Lufthansa Flight 502 crashes on approach to Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport in Brazil. 1961 – Throngs Neck Bridge over the East River, linking New York City's boroughs of The Bronx and Queens, opens to road traffic. 1962 – Cold War: While tied to its pier in Polyarny, the Soviet submarine B-37 is destroyed when fire breaks out in its torpedo compartment. 1962 – An avalanche on Huascarán in Peru causes around 4,000 deaths. 1964 – Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Luther Terry, M.D., publishes the landmark report Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States saying that smoking may be hazardous to health, sparking national and worldwide anti-smoking efforts. 1972 – East Pakistan renames itself Bangladesh. 1973 – Major League Baseball owners vote in approval of the American League adopting the designated hitter position. 1986 – The Gateway Bridge, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia is officially opened. 1994 – The Irish Government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the IRA and its political arm Sinn Féin. 1995 – 51 people are killed in a plane crash in María La Baja, Colombia. 1996 – The Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on mission STS-72 to retrieve the Japanese Space Flyer Unit. 1998 – Over 100 people are killed in the Sidi-Hamed massacre in Algeria. 2003 – Illinois Governor George Ryan commutes the death sentences of 167 prisoners on Illinois's death row based on the Jon Burge scandal. 2013 – One French soldier and 17 militants are killed in a failed attempt to free a French hostage in Bulo Marer, Somalia. 2020 – COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei: Municipal health officials in Wuhan announce the first recorded death from COVID-19.

[nebris]

Halfway to boiling: the city at 50C

It is the temperature at which human cells start to cook, animals suffer and air conditioners overload power grids. Once an urban anomaly, 50C is fast becoming reality 

Imagine a city at 50C (122F). The pavements are empty, the parks quiet, entire neighbourhoods appear uninhabited. Nobody with a choice ventures outside during daylight hours. Only at night do the denizens emerge, HG Wells-style, into the streets – though, in temperatures that high, even darkness no longer provides relief. Uncooled air is treated like effluent: to be flushed as quickly as possible.

School playgrounds are silent as pupils shelter inside. In the hottest hours of the day, working outdoors is banned. The only people in sight are those who do not have access to air conditioning, who have no escape from the blanket of heat: the poor, the homeless, undocumented labourers. Society is divided into the cool haves and the hot have-nots.

Those without the option of sheltering indoors can rely only on shade, or perhaps a water-soaked sheet hung in front of a fan. Construction workers, motor-rickshaw drivers and street hawkers cover up head to toe to stay cool. The wealthy, meanwhile, go from one climate-conditioned environment to another: homes, cars, offices, gymnasiums, malls.

Asphalt heats up 10-20C higher than the air. You really could fry an egg on the pavement. A dog’s paws would blister on a short walk, so pets are kept behind closed doors. There are fewer animals overall; many species of mammals and birds have migrated to cooler environments, perhaps at a higher altitude – or perished. Reptiles, unable to regulate their body temperatures or dramatically expand their range, are worst placed to adapt. Even insects suffer.

Maybe in the beginning, when it was just a hot spell, there was a boom in spending as delighted consumers snapped up sunglasses, bathing suits, BBQs, garden furniture and beer. But the novelty quickly faded when relentless sunshine became the norm. Consumers became more selective. Power grids are overloaded by cooling units. The heat is now a problem.

The temperature is recalibrating behaviour. Appetites tend to fade as the body avoids the thermal effect of food and tempers are quicker to flare – along, perhaps, with crime and social unrest. But eventually lethargy sets in as the body shuts down and any prolonged period spent outdoors becomes dangerous.

Hospitals see a surge in admissions for heat stress, respiratory problems and other illnesses exacerbated by high temperatures. Some set up specialist wards. The elderly, the obese and the sick are most at risk. Deaths rise.

At 50C – halfway to water’s boiling point and more than 10C above a healthy body temperature – heat becomes toxic. Human cells start to cook, blood thickens, muscles lock around the lungs and the brain is choked of oxygen. In dry conditions, sweat – the body’s in-built cooling system – can lessen the impact. But this protection weakens if there is already moisture in the air.

A so-called “wet-bulb temperature” (which factors in humidity) of just 35C can be fatal after a few hours to even the fittest person, and scientists warn climate change will make such conditions increasingly common in India, Pakistan, south-east Asia and parts of China. Even under the most optimistic predictions for emissions reductions, experts say almost half the world’s population will be exposed to potentially deadly heat for 20 days a year by 2100.

Not long ago, 50C was considered an anomaly, but it is increasingly widespread. Earlier this year, the 1.1 million residents of Nawabshah, Pakistan, endured the hottest April ever recorded on Earth, as temperatures hit 50.2C. In neighbouring India two years earlier, the town of Phalodi sweltered in 51C – the country’s hottest ever day.

Dev Niyogi, professor at Purdue University, Indiana, and chair of the Urban Environment department at the American Meteorological Society, witnessed how cities were affected by extreme heat on a research trip to New Delhi and Pune during that 2015 heatwave in India, which killed more than 2,000 people.

“You could see the physical change. Road surfaces started to melt, neighbourhoods went quiet because people didn’t go out and water vapour rose off the ground like a desert mirage,” he recalls.

“We must hope that we don’t see 50C. That would be uncharted territory. Infrastructure would be crippled and ecosystem services would start to break down, with long-term consequences.”

Several cities in the Gulf are getting increasingly accustomed to such heat. Basra – population 2.1 million – registered 53.9C two years ago. Kuwait City and Doha have experienced 50C or more in the past decade. At Quriyat, on the coast of Oman, overnight temperatures earlier this summer remained above 42.6C, which is believed to be the highest “low” temperature ever recorded in the world.

At Mecca, the two million hajj pilgrims who visit each year need ever more sophisticated support to beat the heat. On current trends, it is only a matter of time before temperatures exceed the record 51.3C reached in 2012. Last year, traditionalists were irked by plans to install what are reportedly the world’s biggest retractable umbrellas to provide shade on the courtyards and roof of the Great Mosque. Air conditioners weighing 25 tonnes have been brought in to ventilate four of the biggest tents. Thousands of fans already cool the marble floors and carpets, while police on horseback spray the crowds with water.

Football supporters probably cannot expect such treatment at the Qatar World Cup in 2022, and many may add to the risks of hyperthermia and dehydration by taking off their shirts and drinking alcohol. Fifa is so concerned about conditions that it has moved the final from summer to a week before Christmas. Heat is also why Japanese politicians are now debating whether to introduce daylight saving time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics so that marathon and racewalk athletes can start at what is currently 5am and avoid mid-afternoon temperatures that recently started to pass 40C with humidity of more than 80%.

At the Australian open in Melbourne this year – when ambient temperatures reached 40C – players were staggering around like “punch-drunk boxers” due to heatstroke. Even walking outside can feel oppressive at higher temperatures. “The blast of furnace-like heat ... literally feels life-threatening and apocalyptic,” says Nigel Tapper, professor of environmental science at Melbourne’s Monash University, of the 48C recorded in parts of the city. “You cannot move outside for more than a few minutes.”

The feeling of foreboding is amplified by the increased threat of bush and forest fires, he adds. “You cannot help but ask, ‘How can this city operate under these conditions? What can we do to ensure that the city continues to provide important services for these conditions? What can we do to reduce temperatures in the city?’           

Those places already struggling with extreme heat are doing what they can. In Ahmedabad, in Gujarat, hospitals have opened specialist heat wards. Australian cities have made swimming pools accessible to the homeless when the heat creeps above 40C, and instructed schools to cancel playground time. In Kuwait, outside work is forbidden between noon and 4pm when temperatures soar.

But many regulations are ignored, and companies and individuals underestimate the risks. In almost all countries, hospital admissions and death rates tend to rise when temperatures pass 35C – which is happening more often, in more places. Currently, 354 major cities experience average summer temperatures in excess of 35C; by 2050, climate change will push this to 970, according to the recent “Future We Don’t Want” study by the C40 alliance of the world’s biggest metropolises. In the same period, it predicts the number of urban dwellers exposed to this level of extreme heat will increase eightfold, to 1.6 billion.

As baselines shift across the globe, 50C is also uncomfortably near for tens of millions more people. This year, Chino, 50km (30 miles) from Los Angeles, hit a record of 48.9C, Sydney saw 47C, and Madrid and Lisbon also experienced temperatures in the mid-40s. New studies suggest France “could easily exceed” 50C by the end of the century while Australian cities are forecast to reach this point even earlier. Kuwait, meanwhile, could sizzle towards an uninhabitable 60C.

How to cool dense populations is now high on the political and academic agenda, says Niyogi, who last week co-chaired an urban climate symposium in New York. Cities can be modified to deplete heat through measures to conserve water, create shade and deflect heat. In many places around the world, these steps are already under way.                        

The city at 50C could be more tolerable with lush green spaces on and around buildings; towers with smart shades that follow the movement of the sun; roofs and pavements painted with high-albedo surfaces; fog capture and renewable energy fields to provide cooling power without adding to the greenhouse effect.

But with extremes creeping up faster than baselines, Niyogi says this adapting will require changes not just to the design of cities, but how they are organised and how we live in them. First, though, we have to see what is coming – which might not hit with the fury of a flood or typhoon but can be even more destructive.

“Heat is different,” says Niyogi. “You don’t see the temperature creep up to 50C. It can take people unawares.”

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/aug/13/halfway-boiling-city-50c

[objects-of-desire-astrolabe]

#5 Interview with Gillian Ramsay

In the interview we touched the surface on some of the major areas regarded the Astrolabe which was incredibly useful as a base to know which areas to explore into further. I have outlined here what we discussed and will be expanding on them in later blog posts. 

Purposes in the Durham Oriental Museum

Gillian informed me that they bought two of these replica Astrolabes from Hemisferium, one for their Islamic collection and the other for their learning team programme. The astrolabe is used to help teach children about early Islam as part of their school curriculum. She told me that it is one of the few places that can teach this topic in this manner as few people have the collection available.

The astrolabe piece is also used to teach about science and technology from Baghdad in the Medieval period – which was a centre for science, theology, philosophy amongst other things.

The pieces were bought for £69 each.

Gillian noted that authentic Astrolabes are a big gap in Oriental Museum collection as the original pieces are extremely expensive to buy and can go for up to £175,000 at auction. Gillian state this surge in attraction is partly due to collectors and curators previously opting for more conventionally beautiful pieces, like ceramics, but are now also considering objects of science or technology.  

Diya 'al din Mohammad and his family

Gillian also illustrated the background of the original piece with me briefly. That it comes from a long line of scientific instrument manufacturers, spanning across four or so generations, who specialised in astrolabes & astronomical globes. They were specialists in their field, and even made objects for the Mughal court in India & Pakistan.

She noted that Mughal culture was a hybrid, sometimes referred to as ‘Indo-Persian’ as it was influenced from the traditional India valley but also had Mongal and Persian (early Iranian) influences.

She explained that Persia, which is now modern Iran and Iraq, was a centre for scientific development and scholarly academia, and the Mughal court was highly influenced by this – fostering the science and art the Persians initiated. They fostered miniature paintings, artists and carvers, and  encourage scientists to come and set up in Major cities like Lahour.

Here like-minded people could mingle, discuss philosophy and science, and create things.   

Astrolabe’s History

We further explored how Astrolabes began in Ancient Greece but that the technology essentially disappeared from mainland Europe with the coming of the Christians as they believed the technology was heathen and thus, set fire to the library in Alexandria and the main centres of study were essentially shut down.

She noted that the material then made its way into the Muslim world and Islamic scholars took up the knowledge that early philosophers & scientists had developed. Thus, Islam became the keepers of classical medical and astronomical texts, geometrical materials, and algorithms.

Islamic culture eventually spread to Southern Europe, in places like Sicily & areas like Moorish Spain, and the scientific texts and knowledge slowly returned to Europe and  disseminated through the continent which influenced the Renaissance.  Thus, Gillian pointed out that if we didn't have people in cities in Baghdad & Mughal Empire, we would not have had the Renaissance.

Development of the Astrolabe

Focusing back to the Astrolabe, Gillian indicated that it was one of the things that really developed during this height of the Islamic period. It started off as a basic item to measure specific astronomical constellations or the sun, as well as work out the altitude / height of the constellation from the horizon in order to work out the time of day and location.  

In relation to the Muslim world, she noted that they were used to find the direction of Mecca, the qibla. It was further developed by adding detail which would tell you the fives times to pray each day.

Also that in the middle east most Mosques would have their own astrolabes - to help them find the right time to pray. Moreover, there would usually have been a Muwaqqit, somebody whose job it was to operate the Astrolabe in the mosque to identity the times of prayer who would then inform someone to give the prayer from the minaret.   

When Astrolabes became popular in Europe again, they were used for navigation mainly but remained popular all the way through the medieval & renaissance period.

The Astrolabes were then developed into little portable versions for merchants travelling on the silk road, but also huge ones which have been turned into prestige pieces for important religious sites or in palaces. 

When astrolabes made their way into Europe, after being in Southern Italy - European manufacturers start creating European astrolabes, often keeping the lines of prayer because it allowed them to work out when sunrise & sunset is - because that's two of the times that you have to pray in Islam, those are important for Christian prayer, so they just keep them. So there's little things that Muslims developed that then passed into European examples.  

Other Collections

Gillian also noted other prominent collections in the UK including the Oxford museum who have other pieces from this family, and the British museum have a massive one in their Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic world. She noted that they would be good places to research into. 

Image Credit: Oriental Museum

17/11/19

[sheet-music-for-teachers-school]

Coos County neighbors: Recently published obituaries | Local News | theworldlink.com - Coos Bay World - #neighbors: #theworldlink.com #County #aePiot

Coos County neighbors: Recently published obituaries | Local News | theworldlink.com - Coos Bay World

Coos County neighbors: Recently published obituaries | Local News | theworldlink.com - Coos Bay World

The date of publishing: Wed, 29 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT

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[blacklister214]

Second Son Chapter 7: Lucky

I checked and apparently it has been almost a year since I’ve updated this one...so sorry about that and thanks for sticking with the story! Here’s the url for the whole story on Fanfiction.net. Enjoy!

Jacob glanced at the dashboard clock and found to his dismay He’d only been on the interstate for eleven minutes. It felt much longer. His gaze traveled to the grim-faced occupant of his passenger seat. Jacob’s stomach clenched in an unfamiliar way.

This should have been a good moment for him. It had been less than an hour since Jacob and Elizabeth Scott had left the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and begun the drive to the girl’s home. She hadn’t argued with him, or tried to renege on their deal. In a few hours all of his efforts will have paid off and he’d be returning to Reddington’s side with his mission accomplished. This should have made him happy. He was going back to where he belonged.

Over the past few weeks Jacob had found that he missed the older man’s company. He missed Reddington’s quirky anecdotes. He missed being prodded to try some seemingly inedible dish. He missed sharing a quiet drink after a successful business negotiation. Despite wishing to return to his long-time companion however, Jacob’s feelings about leaving Nebraska were muddled.

Elizabeth Scott shifted slightly in her seat and Jacob forced himself keep his eyes on the road. He knew exactly what was wrong with him, of course. It was the girl. He was unhappy because the girl was unhappy. Why was anyone’s guess.

According to the file he’d once stolen from his social worker, Jacob had an ‘attachment disorder.’ He ‘lacked empathy’ and ‘struggled to form emotional bonds’. For the most part Jacob couldn’t argue with that assessment. Even with Dembe, the caring had come gradually. With Liz it was different. He only spent a few hours in her company and yet somehow it had been enough for him to connect with her. It was probably for the best he’d be cutting with the farm girl sooner rather than latter. If she had this effect on him now, he couldn’t imagine what would happen if he stayed.

Jacob shook himself. He couldn’t believe he’d even allowed himself to entertain the thought. Jacob Phelps, settling in Nebraska, just to be close to some girl? It was beyond ridiculous. He had to do something, distract himself from his errant thoughts.

“You okay?” Brilliant opening line. Reddington would have been so impressed with his conversational skills. Liz didn’t even bother to turn her head away from the window.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Jacob’s mind flashed to Elizabeth as she’d been inside Reeves’ office. The caseworker had been jumpy when he’d passed the file into Liz’s eager hands. Jacob had forced himself to respect her privacy and not read over her shoulder. Instead he’d kept his eyes on Reeves, who he’d been concerned might pass out from the terror over breaking department policy. He’d been sweating like he’d just turned over nuclear missile codes to the Russians. They’d all sat in silence for ten minutes as Elizabeth read and re-read the documents. At last she’d stood, put the envelope on Reeves’ desk and told Jacob she was ready to go home. That was the last thing said to him in the past forty minutes.

“You seem quiet.”

“Unlike some people, I don’t  talk unless I have something to say.” Jacob was silent a moment as he weighed his options. Clearly Elizabeth wasn’t eager to share her thoughts with him. On the other hand she was obviously having some kind on internal struggle. If he kept prodding she might change her mind and choose to vent to him.

“Do you regret reading the file?”

“None of your damn business.” Jacob smirked at Elizabeth’s increasingly spiky tone. If he kept going, she was definitely going to explode.

“I’m just saying if you wanted to talk about it-” Elizabeth suddenly turned to Jacob eyes flashing dangerously.

“I don’t, so stop bugging me!” Jacob glanced at his passenger’s face and registered that the expression was very similar to the one she’d wore before she’d flipped a table over and attacked him. Under ordinary circumstances he wouldn’t have minded sparring with Elizabeth Scott, but given that he was currently driving at over 60 miles per hours, now probably wasn’t the best time for a physical altercation.

“Copy that.” It was time to change tactics. Fortunately he had a plan B already in place and Liz’s comment had inspired him.

Jacob kept his left hand on the wheel of the car while his right groped for the top of the storage compartment between his and Liz’s seats. He flipped the lid open and withdrew a plastic case.

“What are you doing?”

“Putting in a CD. You clearly don’t want to talk. We have two more hours on the interstate, and radio reception tends to be unreliable.” He slide the metallic disk into the player and advanced to the fifth track. He grinned as the rapid beats blasted out the car’s speakers.

“Are you serious?” Jacob turned to her, his face a picture of innocence.

“What? I like this song.” It wasn’t a lie, technically. Admitted he’d had hadn’t been an immediately convert to Destiny’s Child, but there was something catchy about the rhythm of this track at least.  

“Bullshit.” Jacob’s smile widened. If she didn’t believe that he was indeed a fan, he’d be more than happy to demonstrate for her. He started bopping his head to the music.

“I wanna put your number on the call block. Have AOL make my emails stop, cause you a bug a boo. You buggin what? You buggin who? You buggin me, and don’t you see it ain’t cool.”

As Jacob sang, he watched Liz out of the corner of his eye. He could see the corners of her mouth twitching as she fought to suppress a smile at his antics. This spurred him on to an even more impassioned performance, until finally he had her laughing.

“You’re an asshole.” There was no venom in her insult, in fact it was almost affectionate. A warm feeling washed over him, as he looked at her chuckling over his clownish behavior. He’d made her happy, if only for this brief moment. He took a strange amount of pride in that.

“Come on, you know you want to...” He nodded at the speakers.

She rolled her eyes, then began half-heartedly, “When you show up at my door you're buggin me.”

Jacob joined her, “When you open up your mouth, you're buggin me. Everytime I see your face you're buggin me, you're buggin me, you’re buggin me.”

By the time the song finished they were both in stitches. Jacob was perfectly willing to continue their car karaoke, but Liz reached out and hit the stop button on the player.

“Why’d you kill my jam?” He was genuinely confused. He had thought they were both having a good time.

“Destiny’s Child is not your jam. You got that CD because of me.” Jacob considered lying, but found he didn’t really want to. Instead he decided on the route of verbal ambiguity. It was a technique he’d learned from Reddington, who was a great fan of obscure truth.

“I noticed their poster in your bedroom, but that doesn’t mean I can’t like them.” Jacob answered Liz’s sceptical look with a shrug. “It’s true. I travelled a lot growing up and the man who raised me believed in embracing a broad range of cultural experience. Have you ever heard of Tuvan throat singing?”

“No.”

“It’s impressive. These guys can sing two to four notes at a time. Of course it isn’t always melodic. At certaining points the singer can sound like they are burping for a really long time.” Jacob’s mind flitted back to the festival Reddington that dragged him and Dembe when they were 15 and 16. At one point they’d looked at each other and burst out laughing. Reddington had scolded them, but the glint in his eye had told Jacob that he hadn’t really been angry.

“You’re making this up. I bet Tuva isn’t even a real place.” He wasn’t surprised Liz hadn’t heard of it. American public education didn’t really bother with world geography, at least beyond the “big name” countries.

“It is...though now it’s called Tyva. It’s on the northern border of Mongolia.”  Jacob’s seven years with Reddington had been much informative than a high school and college education would have been, at least were global knowledge was considered.

“And you’ve been there? To Tyva?”

“Yes.” They’d spent two weeks hiking, rafting, and trekking through the Sayan mountains. Jacob had appreciated the aesthetics of the landscape, but he was thrilled when they had finally returned to civilization. He could only take so much tranquillity, not to mention time away from hot showers.  

“Where else have you been?”

Jacob shrugged. “A lot of places. Greece, France, South Africa, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, England, Argentina, Poland, Columbia-”

“You bullshitting me right now?” He could understand why it would sound far-fetched. Elizabeth was seventeen and she hadn’t yet left her home state, let alone the US. Jacob was only four years older than she was and had already visited six of the seven continents.

“I was raised by an international businessman. We travelled a lot.” Of course most of the places he’d visited hadn’t been for vacations. There’d been quite a few times they’d been crossing borders to evade police authorities and then departing immediately for a destination across the globe.

“You’re telling me, you’ve been around the world and yet you choose to set up shop, here, in Nebraska?” Jacob paused a moment, wanting to be careful with his answer. Elizabeth believed he was a local private eye hired by her father. Reddington had made it clear that no one know should know anything about his investment in the girl, including the girl herself.

“You don’t think much of your home state do you?” Liz snorted, apparently accepting his deflection for the moment.

“We both know Ohama isn’t exactly Paris.” Jacob smiled. Why was it girls were always so obsessed with Paris, like it was some romantic Mecca. The reality wasn’t quite what they imagined.

“Which frankly is a good thing. Paris smells like pee.” The horrific odor was the number one thing that tourist brochures did not advertized about the ‘City of Lights’.

“What?”

“If you’re a man it’s totally legal to urinate on the street, so the city smells like pee.” Jacob was pretty sure people peed in the streets in every city in the world, but at least in most of them it was frowned on, if not illegal.

“But it’s not legal for women?”

“I know. Sexism, am I right?” Liz laughed, then her express sobered.

“I still rather be there than here. Nebraska feels so small sometimes I can barely breath.” Despite the miles of nothing currently surrounding them, he understood what she meant. Nebraska was in many respects a nice place to live. It was scenic. It was safe. For many people it would be idyllic. Unfortunately for her, Liz clearly wasn’t ‘many people’. It was too static, too dull for someone like her. She needed a challenge, an adventure.

“Do you mind if I give you some advice, as someone who has travelled pretty much anywhere you can imagine?” Liz made a face as though she’d swallowed something sour.

“Let me guess: ‘There’s no place like home?’” Jacob smirked at the Wizard of Oz reference. Having never had a home, he was in no position to assess the veracity of that statement.

“No. Traveling is great, but where you go doesn’t matter nearly so much as who you go with.” Jacob thought of Reddington, Dembe, and Mr. Kaplan. Any memory of wonder, discovery, or joy that he’d possessed had been with one or all them beside him.

“You really love them, don’t you?” Jacob glanced over at Liz sharply, “Your brother and foster Dad.” Love? Liz threw out that word like it was so simple. It wasn’t, at least not for him.

“I’d have nothing without them. I’d be nothing without them.” If Jacob had never met Reddington he would have probably spent his life on the streets, until the police eventually caught him. Then it would have been off to Juvie for him. He wouldn’t have met Dembe. He would have grown up alone, with no one caring if he lived or died.

“I get that. Sam is...my whole world.” Jacob felt a wave of mutual understanding pass between them. As different as their childhoods had been, they both knew what it was to be saved.

“You’re lucky. We both are.”

“You never finished the story about your brother. What happened after he threw you into the dresser and cracked your skull?”  Jacob was surprised she remembered what he’d said to her in the waiting room, let alone was interested in hearing more. Even more astonishing was that he wanted to tell her. He let his mind drift back to the day that had changed the course of his life.

The address on Dembe’s card didn’t belong to a doctor’s office or a clinic. Instead he found himself sitting in basement of a Brooklyn brownstone. There was medical equipment, and what appeared to be a patient table, but somehow Jacob doubted that this practice was listed in the phone book. That probably wasn’t a bad thing. Reddington clearly had money, and he wouldn’t have instructed Dembe to use this physician if the man didn’t know what he was doing. A competent doctor willing to overlook legal restrictions was a good acquaintance to have.

“You’ve been to this guy before?” Dembe nodded once. Jacob waited a moment before determining his babysittee wasn’t planning to elaborate.

“Why?”

“I was unwell.” Before Jacob had a chance to deliver a sarcastic retort, the door opened and a large bearded man strode in. Dembe stood immediately and extended his hand in greeting.

“Dr. Koslov.” The bearded giant laughed, crossed the room in two bounds, and seized the offered limb.

“Dembe, my fine lad. It is good to see you looking so robust. Mr. Reddington was right when he claimed you had a strength many growth men would envy. Your recovery is nothing short of miraculous. I am confused to see you here alone, without him. He is well I trust?” The man’s English was perfect, but his ascent was definitely foreign. Definitely eastern European.

“Yes, he is well, but Jacob is not.” The doctor turned his attention toward Jacob, who pulled off his cap.

“Come here, boy.” Jacob complied and the man began removing the bandages Dembe had wound around his head. Jacob winced as Koslov inspected his head wound.

“You are fortunate. I think we can get away with two staples. I assume this will go on Mr. Reddington’s account?” Dembe opened his mouth to speak, but Jacob cut him off.

“Actually no, I’d like to cover this myself...assuming we keep this visit between us.” Dembe’s face darkened with disapproval.

“You should not ask Dr. Koslov to lie to Raymond.” Jacob shoot a return glare toward Dembe.

“I’m not asking him to lie, just to not to volunteer the information. That’s covered in patient confidentiality, isn’t it?” Jacob twisted his head to check the doctor’s expression.

“For ordinary doctors, yes, however I am not an ordinary doctor, nor is Mr. Reddington an ordinary patient.” Jacob’s stomach sunk. Of course this guy was in Reddington’s pocket. He should never had come here.

“So you won’t do it?” The doctor studied Jacob’s face for a moment before sighing.

“Given that the injury isn’t too serious and that you are not Mr. Reddington’s ward, I’m willing to hold my tongue on two conditions: 1) You can pay me the $500 fee and 2) You can convince Dembe to likewise maintain his silence. I’ll give you a few minutes alone to discuss it.”

Jacob waited until Koslov had left the room before turning to Dembe. Everybody had a price, Jacob just needed to find his. “How much is going to take to keep you quiet? $100? $200?” Dembe’s glower became even more pronounced.

“My honor is not for sale. I am prepared to face the consequences of my actions.” The ward of the shady Mr. Reddington was a damn choir boy. Fan-fucking-tastic.

“Easy for you say. What’s the worst Reddington’s going to do to you? Ground you? That will a real hardship for the guy who didn’t even want to leave the hotel room. Versus me, who will be out of the best paying job I’ve ever had. The job that was going to keep me fed for months. Have you ever been starving, Dembe? Not hungry… but starving?” Self-righteous was easy for people who had nothing at stake.

“Yes.” Jacob blinked. That wasn’t the answer he’d expected. It was hard to imagine the huge boy having ever missed a meal. Then again the doctor had mentioned Dembe’s ‘miraculous’ recovery. Maybe the kid’s life had been harder than Jacob had assumed.

“Then do you get why I might not be real eager to feel that again?”

Dembe was silent a moment before nodding. That was a promising start. What else could Jacob say to convince the guy not to rat him out? Would an apology work? Dembe had cracked his skull, but Jacob had deliberately provoked him. They both shared the blame for what happened.  

“Look...I was a dick. I know that. And I get that you don’t want me around. That’s fine, that’s nothing new for me. If you want me to not say another word to you for that rest of the week, I’ll do it, but I need this job. Please.” Jacob couldn’t remember the last time he’d used that final word with anyone. He only hoped it would pay off here.

Dembe was quiet for nearly thirty seconds before reaching a decision. “I won’t lie to Raymond...but I won’t expose any falsehood you tell. You can even tell him we left the hotel, if you’d like. Get your $200 bonus.”

“You know about that?” Had Raymond told Dembe before Jacob’s had arrived about the details of their deal?

“I was listening at the door.” Yet again Jacob’s massive charge surprised him.

“Kind of sneaky for someone as honest as you.” The kid clearly had layers, Jacob would give him that.

“Raymond is honorable is his own way, but I have found him less than forthright, on occasion.” For a non-native English speaker. Dembe sure knew some fancy words.

“Forthright? Seriously? Do you read the dictionary for fun, or something?” For a moment the older boy looked almost embarrassed.

“I enjoy books. Raymond reads to me, when he has time.” Jacob pushed down the unexpected feeling of jealousy. It was stupid to envy Dembe his relationship with Reddington. He wasn’t a little kid anymore. He certainly didn’t need anyone to read him bedtime stories.

“There’s a library near the hotel. I can bring you some books tomorrow, if you want.” Jacob had ‘borrowed’ one or two in the past and had yet to be caught. He could probably sneak out a few more if Dembe was interested.

“I would appreciate that. Thank you.” The older boy smiled at him, and Jacob unexpectedly found himself smiling back. Maybe the week wouldn’t be a nightmare after all.

“So then what happened?” Liz’s voiced pulled Jacob back into the present.

“The doctor fixed me up, good as new.”

“And your brother kept your secret?” Jacob nodded. When Reddington had returned that night, Jacob had told him that they’d hung out in the room all day. Dembe had seemed surprised, given that he’d agree not to contradict any story Jacob came up with. He’d assumed Jacob would want to take advantage of the opportunity to get the extra $200.

Jacob had considered it, but in the end he’d decided not to. He told himself it was for practical reasons, that such a lie would be more easily exposed, but in reality it hadn’t felt right, particular after Dembe had reimbursed Jacob for the money he’d spent at the doctor.

“Yeah. First time anyone ever did anything like that for me.” Dembe had shown him mercy that Jacob had done nothing to deserve.

“He sounds like a good brother.”

“The best.” Jacob felt an unwelcome pang of loneliness. It had been over a month since he’d spoken to Dembe. He hoped his brother was keeping himself safe. Jacob didn’t know what he’d do without him.  

“You’re lucky. I always wanted a sibling. A part of me was hoping that maybe I already had one.” It took a moment for Jacob to realise Liz was talking about the file. It was funny that she wanted to discuss it now, when less than thirty minutes go she’d nearly bitten his head off for asking.

“You were an only child?” Liz nodded.

“As far as the State of Nebraska knows I am. Although apparently my biological father was a con man who ditched me to go the lam, so who knows.” Jacob could hear the undercurrent of anger beneath the flippant tone.

“And your mother?”

“Died in a fire, that she may have started herself. The report was ‘inconclusive.’” No wonder Liz hadn’t felt like sharing what she’d found in the file. She was probably expecting him to respond with an ‘I told you so.’

“Could have been worse. She could have been a negligent crackhead like my birth mother.” Liz turned sharply to look at him. Jacob shrugged, feigning a nonchalance that after all these years he wished he could actually feel. “Family isn’t blood, and blood isn’t family. I think we both made out alright.”

“Yeah, I think we did too.” They fell into a companionable silence, very different from the one they begun the trip with. Jacob found that he no longer dreading the length of the ride, but rather it’s conclusion. He didn’t want to drive away from Liz, knowing he’d never see her again. Stupid and sentimental of him, but it was what it was. Jacob looked over at Liz and found her looking out the window, smiling at the seemingly endless fields stretching to the horizon. She was happy. They were both going home. It was enough.

[travelonlinetips-blog]

New Post has been published on https://travelonlinetips.com/hotels-to-stay-near-icc-world-cup-2019-cricket-stadiums-in-england/

Hotels To Stay Near ICC World Cup 2019 Cricket Stadiums in England

If you are planning to travel to England to witness the ICC World Cup 2019 live then you are reading the right thing. In this blog post, you will find details on top hotels to stay near the world cup 2019 cricket grounds in different parts of England where the tournament will be played.

As soon as you plan your Europe travel trip, you start getting excited to experience the blockbuster matches on your itinerary. After four years, we are seeing the mega cricket match participated by 10 teams worldwide.

This year, the quadrennial cricket event has already started from May 30th and will be held till 14th July 2019. The match period will last for one month and a half, so if you have still not prepped your trip to England then you can do now and spend the best summer holidays with your family.

You could make your trip even more exciting if you plan to stay at the top-rated hotels in England near the match venues. Keeping this in mind, we have handpicked top hotels recommendations and what things to do and see near the venue. Scroll down to begin your World Cup stay a breeze.

Schedule of matches to be held in England

England Vs South Africa: The Oval, London : May 30 : 10:30 (local)

South Africa Vs Bangladesh: The Oval, London : June 02 : 10:30 (local)

Bangladesh Vs New Zealand: The Oval, London : June 05 : 13:30 (local)

South Africa v India: 05 June: Southampton 10:30 (local)

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: 7 June: Bristol County Ground, Bristo  10:30 (local)

India Vs Australia: The Oval, London : June 09 : 10:30 (local)

England v West Indies: 14 June: Southampton: 10:30 (local)

Sri Lanka Vs Australia: The Oval, London : June 15 : 10:30 (local)

Pakistan Vs South Africa: Lord’s, London : June 23 : 10:30 (local)

England Vs Australia: Lord’s, London : June 25 : 10:30 (local)

New Zealand Vs Australia: Lord’s, London : June 29 : 13:30 (local),

Pakistan Vs Bangladesh: Lord’s, London : July 05 : 10:30 (local)

Final, TBC Vs TBC : Lord’s, London : July 14 : 10:30 (local)

Note the above cricket world cup 2019 venue and schedule of the match and ready to stay at the most comforting hotels near ICC World Cup 2019 stadiums.

1. Hotel Near The Rose Bowl, Southampton

Botleigh Grange Hotel

Southampton is located at 130 km away from London in the Southern region. It is just 4 minutes (2.8 km) away from the cricket ground and 3.3 km from Manor Farm Country Park. You can have a great time in the hotel and after seeing the match, you can come here and relax along with enjoying some excellent service. You can book hotel rooms in advance by using Hotels.com Voucher Code on your booking.

Below are the best amenities offers by the hotel:

The hotel features smoke-free rooms along with a restaurant, a bar/lounge and 24-hour room service available.

Free WiFi connection available n rooms and even at public areas and free self parking are also provided.

Other essential amenities available to customers on room such as coffee/tea makers, hair dryers and desks.

2. Hotel Near Kennington Oval, London

Chelsea Guest House

Fly to London to witness mega Icc world Cup 2019 by booking cheap flight tickets to London using Expedia Flight Voucher and reach the most comfortable hotel Chelsea Guest House which you can also book in advance.

Located in Lambeth, this guesthouse is just a 3-minute walk distance from both Wandsworth Road train station and 1.2 miles from Battersea Park and the River Thames. You can get easy access to the top places near the hotel located at a very nearby location.

Below are the best amenities offers by the hotel:

The rooms are straightforward featuring free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, plus tea and coffee maker.

Enhanced rooms add contemporary decor with breakfast facility available at any room you book.

Foreign exchange facility is also available at the Reception and left luggage facilities.

3. Hotel near County Ground, Bristol

The Wellington

Bristol city is one of the popular city located 190 km away from London. On your visit to the city to witness the live match, you could book your stay at The Wellington hotel. Near the hotel, you will find attractive and popular spots which can be reached within some minutes. Horfield Common located just a 3-minute walk distance from Memorial Stadium and 2.1 miles from Filton Abbey Wood train station. 

Below are the best amenities offers by the hotel:

The hotel features bright, airy rooms having beautiful decorations like high ceilings, fireplace, and wainscoting with modern technology.

The guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, private bathrooms, and tea and coffee maker.

The pub in the hotel offers real brews for lunch and evening meals, as well as a weekend breakfast.

4. Hotels near Lords, London

Lords Hotel

A budget hotel located at the Lords cricket stadium is Lords Hotel if you book it using Tui.com discount code. Lords is considered as the ‘Mecca’ of cricket, and Lords is one of the popular and nearby hotels located between Bayswater and Notting Hill in central London. So, whether you are travelling in a group or solo or with family, this hotel is a great option to stay.

You can easily reach the Bayswater tube station and Kensington Garden within 6 minutes on foot, and Paddington station with its Heathrow airport connections within 15 minutes’ walk away.

Below are the best amenities offers by the hotel:

The hotel features shower rooms, flat screen TV, Wifi and en suite shower rooms.

Continental breakfast is also included for all the guests.

Children can enjoy best time in the hotel by making the most of the play area.

Book your hotel rooms in England now and spend your summer holiday watching live world cup cricket match.

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[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.11

532 – Nika riots in Constantinople: A quarrel between supporters of different chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens—in the Hippodrome escalates into violence. 630 – Conquest of Mecca: The prophet Muhammad and his followers conquer the city, Quraysh surrender. 947 – Emperor Tai Zong of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty invades the Later Jin, resulting in the destruction of the Later Jin. 1055 – Theodora is crowned empress of the Byzantine Empire. 1158 – Vladislaus II, Duke of Bohemia becomes King of Bohemia. 1569 – First recorded lottery in England. 1654 – Arauco War: A Spanish army is defeated by local Mapuche-Huilliches as it tries to cross Bueno River in Southern Chile. 1693 – A powerful earthquake destroys parts of Sicily and Malta. 1759 – The first American life insurance company, the Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of the Presbyterian Ministers (now part of Unum Group), is incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1779 – Ching-Thang Khomba is crowned King of Manipur. 1787 – William Herschel discovers Titania and Oberon, two moons of Uranus. 1805 – The Michigan Territory is created. 1861 – American Civil War: Alabama secedes from the United States. 1863 – American Civil War: Battle of Arkansas Post: General John McClernand and Admiral David Dixon Porter capture the Arkansas River for the Union. 1863 – American Civil War: CSS Alabama encounters and sinks the USS Hatteras off Galveston Lighthouse in Texas. 1879 – The Anglo-Zulu War begins. 1908 – Grand Canyon National Monument is created. 1912 – Immigrant textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, go on strike when wages are reduced in response to a mandated shortening of the work week. 1917 – The Kingsland munitions factory explosion occurs as a result of sabotage. 1922 – Leonard Thompson becomes the first person to be injected with insulin. 1923 – Occupation of the Ruhr: Troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area to force Germany to make its World War I reparation payments. 1927 – Louis B. Mayer, head of film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), announces the creation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, at a banquet in Los Angeles, California. 1935 – Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. 1942 – World War II: Japanese forces capture Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federated Malay States. 1942 – World War II: Japanese forces attack Tarakan in Borneo, Netherlands Indies (Battle of Tarakan) 1943 – The Republic of China agrees to the Sino-British New Equal Treaty and the Sino-American New Equal Treaty. 1943 – Italian-American anarchist Carlo Tresca is assassinated in New York City. 1946 – Enver Hoxha, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Albania, declares the People's Republic of Albania with himself as head of state. 1949 – The first "networked" television broadcasts took place as KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania goes on the air connecting the east coast and mid-west programming. 1957 – The African Convention is founded in Dakar, Senegal. 1961 – Throgs Neck Bridge over the East River, linking New York City's boroughs of The Bronx and Queens, opens to road traffic. 1962 – Cold War: While tied to its pier in Polyarny, the Soviet submarine B-37 is destroyed when fire breaks out in its torpedo compartment. 1962 – An avalanche on Huascarán in Peru causes around 4,000 deaths. 1964 – Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Luther Terry, M.D., publishes the landmark report Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States saying that smoking may be hazardous to health, sparking national and worldwide anti-smoking efforts. 1972 – East Pakistan renames itself Bangladesh. 1973 – Major League Baseball owners vote in approval of the American League adopting the designated hitter position. 1986 – The Gateway Bridge, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia is officially opened. 1994 – The Irish Government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the IRA and its political arm Sinn Féin. 1998 – Over 100 people are killed in the Sidi-Hamed massacre in Algeria. 2003 – Illinois Governor George Ryan commutes the death sentences of 167 prisoners on Illinois's death row based on the Jon Burge scandal. 2013 – One French soldier and 17 militants are killed in a failed attempt to free a French hostage in Bulo Marer, Somalia. 2020 – COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei: Municipal health officials in Wuhan announce the first recorded death from COVID-19.

[tripstations]

Hotels To Stay Near ICC World Cup 2019 Cricket Stadiums in England

If you are planning to travel to England to witness the ICC World Cup 2019 live then you are reading the right thing. In this blog post, you will find details on top hotels to stay near the world cup 2019 cricket grounds in different parts of England where the tournament will be played.

As soon as you plan your Europe travel trip, you start getting excited to experience the blockbuster matches on your itinerary. After four years, we are seeing the mega cricket match participated by 10 teams worldwide.

This year, the quadrennial cricket event has already started from May 30th and will be held till 14th July 2019. The match period will last for one month and a half, so if you have still not prepped your trip to England then you can do now and spend the best summer holidays with your family.

You could make your trip even more exciting if you plan to stay at the top-rated hotels in England near the match venues. Keeping this in mind, we have handpicked top hotels recommendations and what things to do and see near the venue. Scroll down to begin your World Cup stay a breeze.

Schedule of matches to be held in England

England Vs South Africa: The Oval, London : May 30 : 10:30 (local)South Africa Vs Bangladesh: The Oval, London : June 02 : 10:30 (local)Bangladesh Vs New Zealand: The Oval, London : June 05 : 13:30 (local) South Africa v India: 05 June: Southampton 10:30 (local) Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: 7 June: Bristol County Ground, Bristo  10:30 (local)India Vs Australia: The Oval, London : June 09 : 10:30 (local) England v West Indies: 14 June: Southampton: 10:30 (local) Sri Lanka Vs Australia: The Oval, London : June 15 : 10:30 (local)Pakistan Vs South Africa: Lord’s, London : June 23 : 10:30 (local)England Vs Australia: Lord’s, London : June 25 : 10:30 (local)New Zealand Vs Australia: Lord’s, London : June 29 : 13:30 (local), Pakistan Vs Bangladesh: Lord’s, London : July 05 : 10:30 (local)Final, TBC Vs TBC : Lord’s, London : July 14 : 10:30 (local)

Note the above cricket world cup 2019 venue and schedule of the match and ready to stay at the most comforting hotels near ICC World Cup 2019 stadiums.

1. Hotel Near The Rose Bowl, Southampton

Botleigh Grange Hotel

Southampton is located at 130 km away from London in the Southern region. It is just 4 minutes (2.8 km) away from the cricket ground and 3.3 km from Manor Farm Country Park. You can have a great time in the hotel and after seeing the match, you can come here and relax along with enjoying some excellent service. You can book hotel rooms in advance by using Hotels.com Voucher Code on your booking.

Below are the best amenities offers by the hotel:

The hotel features smoke-free rooms along with a restaurant, a bar/lounge and 24-hour room service available. Free WiFi connection available n rooms and even at public areas and free self parking are also provided. Other essential amenities available to customers on room such as coffee/tea makers, hair dryers and desks.

2. Hotel Near Kennington Oval, London

Chelsea Guest House

Fly to London to witness mega Icc world Cup 2019 by booking cheap flight tickets to London using Expedia Flight Voucher and reach the most comfortable hotel Chelsea Guest House which you can also book in advance.

Located in Lambeth, this guesthouse is just a 3-minute walk distance from both Wandsworth Road train station and 1.2 miles from Battersea Park and the River Thames. You can get easy access to the top places near the hotel located at a very nearby location.

Below are the best amenities offers by the hotel:

The rooms are straightforward featuring free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, plus tea and coffee maker.Enhanced rooms add contemporary decor with breakfast facility available at any room you book. Foreign exchange facility is also available at the Reception and left luggage facilities.

3. Hotel near County Ground, Bristol

The Wellington

Bristol city is one of the popular city located 190 km away from London. On your visit to the city to witness the live match, you could book your stay at The Wellington hotel. Near the hotel, you will find attractive and popular spots which can be reached within some minutes. Horfield Common located just a 3-minute walk distance from Memorial Stadium and 2.1 miles from Filton Abbey Wood train station. 

Below are the best amenities offers by the hotel:

The hotel features bright, airy rooms having beautiful decorations like high ceilings, fireplace, and wainscoting with modern technology.The guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, private bathrooms, and tea and coffee maker.The pub in the hotel offers real brews for lunch and evening meals, as well as a weekend breakfast.

4. Hotels near Lords, London

Lords Hotel

A budget hotel located at the Lords cricket stadium is Lords Hotel if you book it using Tui.com discount code. Lords is considered as the ‘Mecca’ of cricket, and Lords is one of the popular and nearby hotels located between Bayswater and Notting Hill in central London. So, whether you are travelling in a group or solo or with family, this hotel is a great option to stay.

You can easily reach the Bayswater tube station and Kensington Garden within 6 minutes on foot, and Paddington station with its Heathrow airport connections within 15 minutes’ walk away.

Below are the best amenities offers by the hotel:

The hotel features shower rooms, flat screen TV, Wifi and en suite shower rooms. Continental breakfast is also included for all the guests.Children can enjoy best time in the hotel by making the most of the play area.

Book your hotel rooms in England now and spend your summer holiday watching live world cup cricket match.

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A wave of Islamic countries started to stand up to China over its persecution of its Muslim minority. But then they all got spooked., Defence Online

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A boy in a mask depicting the flag of East Turkestan — an alternate name for Xinjiang — with a Chinese flag clamped over its mouth in Istanbul, Turkey, in November 2018.

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Murad Sezer/Reuters

China is spying on millions of Uighurs, a Muslim-majority ethnic minority, and detaining at least a million of them.

Beijing has gone above and beyond to prevent Muslim countries from standing up for the Uighurs – and the strategy is working.

Over the past few months many countries in the Islamic world have criticized China, then abruptly rowed back their comments.

Experts say this is a result of Chinese threats against the countries if they do speak up.

Visit Defence Online’s homepage for more stories.

China is waging a global campaign against the Uighurs, a majority-Muslim ethnic minority concentrated in its western frontier of Xinjiang.

In the last two years the country has ordered tech companies to spy on their phones, outlawed Muslim practices like wearing a beard or going to prayers, and detained at least one million of them in prison-like detention centers.

Activists and politicians in places like the US and UN regularly slam China over the crackdown. Beijing continually tells its Western critics to back off, but goes above and beyond to prevent Muslim countries from standing up for Uighurs.

The strategy is working. Some Muslim-majority nations appear to be increasingly silent over China’s Xinjiang policy, suggesting a fear of incurring Beijing’s wrath.

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China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing in December 2017. He has waged an unprecedented crackdown on Uighurs in Xinjiang, in the country’s west.

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REUTERS/Fred Dufour/Pool

A pattern of speaking up, then rowing back

In December, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – a 57-country consortium that calls itself “the collective voice of the Muslim world” – acknowledged “disturbing reports” of China’s Muslim crackdown in a series of tweets.

Though the phrase was coined by the group’s independent human rights commission, rather than the OIC itself, activists welcomed the declaration as an important Muslim voice against China’s Xinjiang policy.

@OIC_IPHRC expressed concern on these disturbing reports on the treatment of #Uighur #Muslims and expressed hope that #China which has excellent bilateral relations with most #OIC countries as well as the #OIC, would address the legitimate concerns of Muslims around the world. 4/ pic.twitter.com/F2jDfjgD99

— OIC (@OIC_OCI) December 11, 2018

Many Muslim-majority countries, which are in the OIC, are located near infrastructure projects subsumed under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, a massive trade project that aims to connect China with dozens of countries around the world.

The fact that the OIC acknowledged the Uighurs’ plight “certainly seemed to indicate a level of shared institutional concern,” Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, told Defence Online.

Read more: This map shows a trillion-dollar reason why China is oppressing more than a million Muslims

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A map showing some Belt and Road Initiative land routes that run through Xinjiang.

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BI Graphics

That all seemed to change last month, when the OIC issued a report saying that it “commends the efforts of the People’s Republic of China in providing care to its Muslim citizens; and looks forward to further cooperation between the OIC and the People’s Republic of China.”

People who celebrated the OIC independent commission’s comments on Xinjiang were shocked by the new statement, and question whether the consortium’s allegiance lies to Muslims around the world or to China.

“It is a shocking betrayal of many of the values that the OIC claims to uphold,” Richardson said.

Noting that the OIC regularly slams Myanmar for its persecution of the Rohingya ethnic minority, she added: “[The fact that] it seems not just unconcerned by, but enthusiastic about the arbitrary detention of a million Muslims by a highly abusive regime, really raises questions about what their standards are.”

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A composite image of Xi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan has appeared ignorant of China’s crackdown on the Uighur Muslims.

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Getty Images; Reuters

Pakistan is another example of a Chinese ally taking back its criticism of the Xinjiang policy. After the country’s religious affairs minister censured Beijing over its so-called counter-extremism measures against Uighurs last September, the foreign minister rowed back the comments by accusing the media of “trying to sensationalize” the Xinjiang issue.

Imran Khan, the country’s prime minister, even claimed not to know anything about China’s Muslims in at least two interviews, with the latest being last week.

Read more: Pakistan abruptly stopped calling out China’s mass oppression of Muslims. Critics say Beijing bought its silence.

Imran Khan hasn’t heard about #Uyghur Muslims in China pic.twitter.com/lERKxKTkdI

— Ismail Royer (@IsmailRoyer) March 28, 2019

Adrian Zenz, a researcher on China’s ethnic policies, told Defence Online: “It is more than likely that both the OIC and Pakistan were under significant amounts of pressure [from China]. It is unlikely that they simply changed their mind over a situation that has been worsening, and where more and more information is becoming available.”

“We are not certain what China threatened and promised, but it apparently was significant enough to get the OIC to issue a favorable statement from the Chinese perspective,” he said.

“The fact that they even congratulated China on caring for its Muslims citizens means that they went out of their way to praise the country despite of the situation in Xinjiang, which is truly remarkable.”

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In the background: Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, at a consortium meeting in Istanbul in March 2019.

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Murad Sezer/Reuters

Chinese scaremongering, Saudi encouragement blamed for U-turn

Experts believe the OIC and Pakistan’s abrupt about-face was a result of Chinese financial and diplomatic pressure. Many OIC countries have strong trade relations with Beijing, which has appeared willing to suspend investment over unsavory comments.

Experts previously suggested that China had bought the silence of Pakistan, one of the largest recipients of Chinese loans and infrastructure projects. As Khan refused to acknowledge Muslims’ plight in China this January, he said: “The Chinese have been a breath of fresh air for us.”

Peter Irwin, program manager at the World Uyghur Congress, told Defence Online: “It’s very likely that China recognized some of the statements of concern that came out of a meeting of the OIC’s human rights advisory body in December and understood that they had to nip this conversation in the bud before it attracted too much attention.”

“Not only has China bought the silence of a number of key OIC members, some are now actively praising China’s treatment of Muslims, which is a wildly irresponsible step in the exact wrong direction,” he added.

Richardson also said the OIC’s tacit approval of the Xinjiang camps “shows how much energy and resources China is willing to throw at minimizing criticism and orchestrating support.”

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The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland in March 2019.

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Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Reports of Beijing pressuring diplomats not to speak out about Xinjiang are not new.

In a letter sent early last month, and published by Human Rights Watch this Monday, Chinese officials warned unspecified UN delegates not to “co-sponsor, participate in or be present at” a fringe meeting on the Uighur crisis in Geneva, citing – or threatening – “our bilateral relations and continued multilateral cooperation.”

A diplomat who identified himself as Chinese at the meeting also called the testimony of Omer Bekali, a former detainee at China’s camps, at the panel “a complete lie,” The New York Times reported.

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the Great Wall of China in February 2019. He has issued a statement effectively supporting Beijing’s Muslim crackdown.

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Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via Reuters

Another reason for the Muslim world’s capitulation could be Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s support for the Xinjiang crackdown during a trade trip in February.

“We respect and support China’s rights to take counter-terrorism and de-extremism measures to safeguard national security,” he said, without mentioning Xinjiang or Uighurs by name, according to Chinese state media.

Read more: Saudi crown prince defended China’s imprisonment of a million Muslims in internment camps, giving Xi Jinping a reason to continue his ‘precursors to genocide’

Crown Prince Mohammed’s support was significant considering the Saudi royal family’s role in the Islamic world as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – a deferential title used to acknowledge his responsibility for the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Irwin said: “This gave the green light to the rest of the OIC to pay no attention to the issue and actually double down on their support for China.”

Read more: Why the Muslim world isn’t saying anything about China’s repression and ‘cultural cleansing’ of its downtrodden Muslim minority

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Xi (far left) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed (far right) at a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in February 2019.

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Kyodo News via Getty

Turkey the defiant

Turkey is the largest Islamic country to speak up for the Uighurs – and Beijing is clearly feeling the heat.

In 2009, then-Prime Minister (now President) Recep Tayyip Erdogan described ethnic violence in Xinjiang as “a kind of genocide,” and in 2015 his government offered shelter to Uighur refugees. China responded by repeatedly threatening to tank the two countries’ economic relations.

Ankara then broke its four-year-long silence in February, calling the Xinjiang crackdown a “great shame for humanity” – marking a significant shift in other Muslim countries’ deafening silence over the matter. Irwin said the World Uyghur Congress was “encouraged” by those comments.

Read more: The mystery of a Muslim poet who may or may not be dead in a Chinese detention camp is at the center of a diplomatic crisis between China and Turkey

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His government issued a scathing statement against China’s Uighur crackdown earlier this year.

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Reuters

Turkey has been trying to integrate into the Belt and Road Initiative. That dream is now being threatened.

Shortly after the foreign ministry’s comments, China temporarily closed its consulate in Izmir – a sign of strained relations. Deng Li, ambassador to Turkey told Reuters that “criticizing your friend publicly … will be reflected in commercial and economic relations.”

Several Turkish nationals were also mysteriously detained in China, the Nikkei Asian Review said, and at least six Uighur Turkish citizens have been missing in Xinjiang since at least 2017, BuzzFeed News reported.

Defence Online has contacted the Turkey’s foreign ministry in Ankara and embassy in London for comment on the OIC’s statement and disappeared Uighur Turkish nationals.

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Uighur women hold East Turkestan flags in protest against China in Istanbul in November 2018.

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Murad Sezer/Reuters

But the battle isn’t lost

The OIC’s implicit approval of the Xinjiang camps doesn’t mean the Muslim world has totally capitulated to China, Richardson said.

Not all OIC member states approved or were aware of the consortium’s implicit approval of the Xinjiang camps, she said, adding: “We certainly have information to indicate that [at least two] OIC members were a little bit surprised by the language in the OIC document.” She declined to name the countries.

When asked whether the statement can be considered a victory for China’s narrative about Uighurs, she said: “In the near term, yes.”

But if the OIC’s controversial statement “has the effect of really galvanizing some of the member states that are genuinely quite concerned about Xinjiang, then it’s a bit of a Pyrrhic victory,” she added.

“We just have to see how these other governments respond.”

The post A wave of Islamic countries started to stand up to China over its persecution of its Muslim minority. But then they all got spooked., Defence Online appeared first on Defence Online.

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The Sovereign’s Hospitality- Hajj

I sat down to write about my memorable experience of hajj, thinking of a suitable title. My first few thoughts were ‘hajj memories’ or something along the lines of ‘hajj experience”. Just then it struck me instead of going with the cliched, if I were to describe the whole hajj experience in as little as few words.. what would it be? It would in fact be Almighty’s splendid hospitality upon His servants. In entirety; The Supreme-Most, Magnificent Host, greets us with His infinite generosity every step of the way. And what a blessing it is to be amongst those favored ones. It is a call from our Lord. To be in that Holy place for A-purpose is the greatest feeling I have ever had to experience. It is an amazing journey of a lifetime. While we hear this a lot from those who have performed hajj, it only makes sense after we have experienced it ourselves. It has been just over a month and I’m feeling nostalgic, yearning for that one more look at Kaaba and to have that whole experience all over again.

I’ll take you through my journey. It was a 14-day trip. Just about the perfect number of days for us. We live in UAE and have two young boys whom we had to leave behind in Pakistan with family.

a- We had never left our kids with anyone before.

b- They’re not used to living in Pakistan without us.

Yes, they’re very fond of their short visits back home during summer and winter holidays and love the attention from the family too. For them, going for holidays is one thing and being away from their parents is quite another. Imagine our anxiety at that! 

I’d mention here that planning hajj had been on our mind for the last 2 years. We knew this was something we had to plan, but when and how; that we were not quite sure of. We had planned our holidays to Europe for august 2018, pretty much the same dates that hajj was. We bought the tickets much earlier and booked the hotels too. All arrangements for the summer holiday trip were in order. For us, hajj wasn’t remotely on the cards that year either. Somehow, we had a complete change of heart and we decided to cancel the trip and apply for hajj. Albeit the penalties we had to pay on cancellations at that point were hard on pocket. God had planned something bigger and better. And so, it happened for us. It was one thing after another. We were led by God all through out and it worked one by one. Indeed, Allah is the best of planners. And we couldn’t be happier that it happened in such a delightful way. All it took was intention and sincerity and complete faith in Allah to work it out for us. Believe you me, He works it in ways we can’t even imagine. Oh, the infinite gratitude for His guidance! Our biggest farz obligation was taken care of with utmost ease.

Our arrival was at medina first, which seemed like a good choice for us as it didn’t oblige us to be in our ihram. I found it easier Not being under ihram at the start of journey. Two quick days in medina were almost cut to one and half for us due to some flight issues. That was all we had to make the best of. We arrived in medina middle of the night. Dreading crazy immigration upon our arrival but much to our surprise, immigration was a breeze. It was quick and speedy. As a group, we headed for the hotel in the bus. All tired and exhausted from a long late-night flight, thinking how we would function that day with time so little and so much to do. Reached hotel at the break of dawn. Much to our surprise, our check-in was already taken care of at the hotel. When we arrived, we were handed our keys, which was a relief knowing we could finally get some rest.

The agenda for the day was to maximize our ibadat time in madina, as we were already pressed for time. We had quick breakfast, refreshed ourselves and left straight for the mosque. Fortunately, our hotel was close to the mosque gate, about a minute walk. We offered our nawafil at the mosque and paid our respects at Rouda. Entering Raoda Rasool was a long wait and struggle. Amongst packed roomful of women pushing and throwing others off, together with mini episodes of stampede, I slowly managed to make my way on to the green carpet- Which is a part of Riyaz ul Jannah. On a personal level, it was so emotional and rewarding to offer nafil there. However physically, it was challenging being almost squashed due to massive crowd. Despite all the chaos, there was a divine tranquility to it.

I spent a few good hours at the mosque after rauda. By 10 am we were exhausted and needed to get some power nap to gear ourselves for the rest of the day. A few hours of well rested sleep was need of the hour!

A ziarat tour around the city was planned for the afternoon, with our group members. It was an interesting and an informative tour. So much of history about our prophet and his followers is in Medina. We could feel their presence in the city. To experience it firsthand was sentimental, knowing prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his companions were once there. Visiting Masjid Quba was one of the exciting features. Offering nafil and prayers over there is equivalent to performing one umrah. How rewarding is that!

After city tour, we carried on with rest of the day, spending as much time at Masjid-Nabwi, offering each prayer at the mosque. The mosque is so peaceful. Just being there was powerfully meditating.

The following day, we left madina feeling content and now looked forward to reaching mecca. Around noon, we were ready to leave for mecca. We had our ihrams on, all set to start our journey, calling out our labbaik all the way through. It generally takes a couple of hours to reach mecca from medina. But this was a very long day for us. It took 10 hours to reach on a bus trip. Although, it was a private group bus, but that was about the time it typically took during hajj days. Tiring to say the least, it seemed like a never-ending road trip with our anxieties building higher. The stop overs on the way for prayers and snacks were a breather. What I don’t forget from this bus trip is the cup of tea we had at one of the small tuc shops on the way. The best thing about mecca and medina is, anything you think of, comes right there for you. No kidding! We were all craving a cup of tea, hoping we would find our kind of desi chai somewhere around the deserted highway. And There it was! A small shop that prepared fresh tea for all of us! I suppose we were in the moment, but hands down it was the best chai we ever had! I can’t ever forget that moment and that chai! Wallah, that cup of tea was god send. 😊

Long long day as it was, we reached mecca close to midnight. Our lodging was at azizia, where we headed straight after. First thought was to rest it out and stall the obligatory umrah for the next morning when we felt a little more relaxed. But that place has magical energy to it. A bit of fresh air was enough to gather ourselves for the next best thing. Without further ado, we left for haram to perform our first umrah of the trip. The feeling of walking into masjid- Haram and that first look at Kaaba is a moment that can only be felt. No matter how well I narrate the experience in words, I can never do complete justice. It is an indescribable feeling. Still as fresh in my mind as it was that day. Trembling steps, heartbeat faster, teary eyed, completely mesmerized! Despite thousands of people around, the instant was standstill. It was surreal; living a dream standing in front of Kaaba, tears trickling down only to sink in that feeling forever. Being grateful to our creator for bringing us there in good health, standing humbled in front of His home. That esteemed place of worship, only to submit to Allah.  

Alhumdullilah, a smooth first umrah it was!

Getting closer to 8th zilhajj. We set out for Mina camps in our ihram, with our small backpack keeping it as light as possible. Mina was not very far from our accommodation in Azizia. The walk up to Mina through the tunnel, from our hotel-apartment was about 45 minutes. It was slightly uphill, that demanded physical agility. On a lighter note, engaging conversations with a fellow mate  certainly made the walks less mundane.

I had imagined a completely different picture of mina camps, something shabby like Bedouin camps :D Thankfully, that was only my imagination. These camps were fairly decent with individual mattresses given to each pilgrim.                    Shared Camp-stay in Mina had its own thrill.  It feels like an enormous, lively village community coming together. The likelihood of running into friends and relatives from other places is also high, that adds on to a fun stay. Although we were free to move around during the day, nights we had to stay in at the mina. Night-ins were a good bonding with girls from the group. The range of talks were from heart to heart to practicalities of life in general, Sharing personal experiences or simply going crazy laughing over meaningless things. That was the norm each night before we went to sleep. 5 mina days were a pleasant stay and a lovely experience altogether. We developed a good understanding with each other. It was important to enjoy the company of those traveling with us and feel comfortable, as we spent most of the time moving together. Not only we made new friends who were likeminded but also enjoyed a memorable journey with them.

Every day was a new day for us, with new energy and more love for the holy place. 9th zilhajj early morning after fajar, we headed to our designated bus. The vibes and the feel were downright spiritual. Chanting our talbiyah (labaik) together, we huddled for Arafat. I imagined Arafat to be an isolated mountain place, perhaps because of stories heard from elderly who performed hajj many years ago. :D Pleasantly, it was a colossal camped area. These camps were shared by other group hajis as well.

We were told to rest out until before noontime to get ourselves in form. Around noon, time for Arafat dua started ticking. This was the time we had to maximize. It was a time to be seized and ask Allah for forgiveness, His mercy and whatever duas we needed to make. As this is the day when every dua comes true. We prayed and prayed and submitted ourselves to Allah like no tomorrow. I had a list of duas prepared for myself and also had the one that my friends/relatives asked for themselves. Having dua’s at hand made it easier for ready recall. Regardless, so many heartfelt dua’s kept coming to my mind,  and I revered in that moment and place in Arafat. The time was very precious, not a minute was to be wasted. From dhur until maghrib is the time for duas. Prayed with all my heart and prayed that Allah accepts our hajj in the highest degree.

I do want to add here; the obligation of hajj itself is reaching Arafat. Upon entering Arafat, we are supposed to stay there until sunset. The dua and ibadat time is a bonus that Allah gifts us with it. The gratuity of the whole hajj experience is rich eeman and a cleansed soul. We are clean slate and as pure as a newborn child. Subhanallah!

Having maximized our arafat time to the fullest until maghrib. We then set out for a stay over at muzdalfa. There’s great significance of duas made in muzdalfa too. It is another bonus time from Allah. Such is the generosity of our lord. Indeed He’s the most Raheem of all.

Followed on to a night in muzdalfa, which is a massive sandy open area. We collected small stone pellets for rami from here for all 3 days. There’s a limitation to the size so these must be picked carefully. We practically spent the night by the road side with noise, pollution and broad beaming flood lights over us. The idea was to sleep a few hours, and all those circumstances certainly made it difficult to sleep. One way or another most people do manage to catch a few winks. I remember sleeping like a baby (very grateful to Allah for that :)). Despite the hot humid sticky air and dusty whiffs of engine smoke around us, we slept on a flimsy sheet on a bare sandy ground. It is a true reminder that we are all equal in the eyes of Allah. There is no rich or poor on that day. Everyone is at the same level as a meager supplicant in front of Allah. All in the same appearance, all equally vulnerable seeking Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. In reality - we were created from clay, sent on earth, and ultimately be resting deep into the very same earth!!

After offering fajar at muzdalfa; the next set of obligatory rituals for 10th zilhaj were Rami, qurbani, and Tawaf ziarat. Rami was supposed to be done for 3 consecutive days at jamarat. There’s much significance of doing 4th day additional rami. It’s not a requisite but favored. Hence, we decided to stay back in Mina for one more night. Afterall earning more and more hasanat is what we are there for. Considerable number of people leave Mina after the 3rd day of rami. The place looks widely empty and the jamarat is accessed easily too.

Last few days of our journey were fast approaching. By that time, our fatigue was escalating by the minute. Friday is always overly packed at haram. For us, it was a very long, hot and draining last jumma at haram. After that, my husband and I both came down with fever and bad flu that we were resisting for these many days. It is very normal for pilgrims to fall sick at some point during their journey. They say, it’s a takeaway of hajj. Nonetheless, that fever got to us badly. It was accumulated fatigue and tiredness and multitude of viruses that our body was resisting up until. It took us two days to recover and pick up on our energy for the last 1.5 day that we were left with. Thankfully, we gathered enough strength to make a trip to haram and do our final tawaf wida. It was a very emotional time. We spent several hours as this would be the last day before we bade farewell. The longing was very strong to stay there and not leave at all. Regrettably, we had to! But praying continually to visit again and again! Filled with whirlwind of emotions, happy tears, blessed feelings and contentment of heart; we made duas in front of Kaaba for one last time.

In my personal view, hajj is about establishing a firm bond with Allah. The supplications made between Allah and oneself, bring us in closest contact with Him. Tolerance and humility are tokens that we take forward, to evolve into better individuals.

Hajj is a time where so much is happening with scores of people at the same time. Each tries the best to their abilities. But there are occasions that put limitations; such as time constraint or logistic confines, even having fallen sick  or something unavoidable. The thought occasionally did lurk on me; perhaps I went easy on my efforts or that I could have possibly spent extra time at haram. Let that not dishearten us!  It is a struggle to even make way into the mosque. Pilgrims stepping over each other and doing tawaf packed in between so many. Unknowingly, we even make mistakes along the way.  In hindsight, what really matters is submission to Allah, no matter where we are. God is present everywhere and he knows the good intent that we hold. We are there for one purpose, that he is aware of and clearly He sees the sincerity of our efforts. The fact that we are in Allah’s house should give us solace that He is happy to host us there . I had to remind myself too, what I did was best in my capacity. Much to my heart’s content, Allah is our best judge. That said, I repeatedly pray to Allah with all my heart that He accepts our hajj in the highest possible grade. The perks of hajj are absolute forgiveness and being given a chance by Allah, of a fresh new start. To express our gratefulness in response, we must also adopt a forgiving stance and a kinder approach towards people. As individuals, our greatest responsibility after huqooq Allah, is huqooq ul ebad (duties towards mankind). The holy experience by far changed my outlook to life at so many levels, in a much-improved way.  

Ending on a happy note, the whole experience was fulfilling and rewarding from the word go. Back home, the kids were well taken care of, by the family in our absence. Happy kids, happy parents. ( I feel blessed). It was heartwarming to come home to our loving family, cheerful faces of my children, tons of mubarakbads (read “gifts/ envelopes” 😉) and family & friends eagerly hosting us, to honor our new haji status. 😊

-Najia Al

[claycookphoto]

Iraq

Fear is described as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil or pain. Whether the threat is real or imagined, it is the condition of being afraid. I know we all have come to moment in our lives where we feel a wave of anxiety, panic and dread. Often, it strikes like a bullet to the chest or a ten-ton brick to the head. The only true remedy is yourself.

I guess you could say I’ve always been the “black sheep” of the family. One to lean towards risk and adventure over security and comfort. I’ve always been fascinated by stories; non-fiction stories of mountains, heroes and war. Stories that are unbelievable, yet completely true. Stories that inspire and stories that impact. I once read into Operation Neptune Spear, the operation that raided the compound of Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Also, Operation Red Wings which recounted the heroic battle of four Navy Seals in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan against an anti-coalition militia led by Ahmad Shah, an Islamic fundamentalist. But, despite the stories, I had little understanding of the Middle East; a tunnel vision shrouded with war, terrorism and a culture I did not understand. Despite the stories, the adventure had always called to see the center of conflict.

Throughout my entire life the Middle East had been a focus of war. I grew up watching Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, where the United States forces conquered Iraq Socialist, Saddam Hussein. Then on September 11, 2001, a series of four coordinated attacks killed 2,996 people and injured over 6,000 Americans. The Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda conceded to the horrific attack, which kickstarted the “War On Terror” in Afghanistan, turning the Middle East into a region of blur. Obscured by dozens of terrorist organizations, multiple misunderstood religions, a baseless government and civil war.

In 2014, when the “Islamic State Of Iraq and Syria” otherwise known as ISIS, birthed from al-Qaeda, started making headlines, I was overwhelmed and numb to the war. I chose mostly to ignore the headlines and ignore the propaganda. But, in just two years the terrorist organization carried out multiple attacks on the United States, which included the widely publicized beheading of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. These attacks impossible to ignore and left many people in fear. The United States responded with multiple air strikes and planted their feet firmly in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State terrorist organization.

When I first learned about the project in Iraq, I felt confused. My initial reaction was clear and defined without knowing a single detail, but I had dozens of questions. Normally, upon learning about an international assignment with Nadus Films, I’m hit with tsunami of excitement, but this was different… I was scared.

Every meeting, phone conversation, text and email was held with the utmost discretion, we couldn’t tell our friends or families without severe delicacy. Over the course of one week, I learned about the project in detail and the people behind it.

*Due to the sensitivity of this project some names, dates and locations have been changed in order to protect the lives of those involved.

Unseen is a non-profit 501(c)3 which provides support for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to grow. They offer marketing and fundraising to expand the NGO donor base. Nadus Films is a non-profit 501(c)3 which offers storytelling through film and photography. In partnership Unseen and Nadus Films, our job was to support Shai Fund, an NGO led by Charmaine Hedding who provides humanitarian assistance in disaster relief and development situations such as Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Jordan. She has been called the modern day Indiana Jones and Mother Theresa.

In August of 2014, ISIS militants swept through small cities near Mosul, Iraq forcing thousands of innocent people to flee overnight. Among those cities was Qaraqosh, Iraq’s largest Christian city with over 70,000 people. Over the course of two years, ISIS burned churches, destroyed icons and attempted to erase Christianity from Qaraqosh. Young women were put into sex slavery and young men were forced to carry suicide bombs. If they fought, they were tortured and killed.

In October of 2016, the Iraq Army, Peshmerga and the Nineveh Plains Forces pushed ISIS out of Qaraqosh, but all that remained was ruins; a city of ghosts. The homes were pillaged and burned and the people that were forced to flee overnight had been left with nothing. Today, Shai Fund is gifting these persecuted people and providing them a chance to repair after ISIS. Our focus was to shed light on one of the thousands of families, who were finally returning to their war-torn home in Qaraqosh.

With the overview of the project in hand, logistics and security were our largest concern. After our own extensive research, there were so many questions, so many burdens, so many worries. 

What is the true situation in Mosul?

Who would provide security on the ground?

Who are our sources on the ground?

What does our travel in Iraq look like? 

Where are we staying and for how long?

Where are we most vulnerable in our travels?

Are there IED’s present?

What does our relationship look like with foreign military support while there?

What would an evacuation plan look like?

As American “press” in the Middle East, we have a giant target attached to our back. But, as the answers flooding in, some of our concerns were eased while more concerns were raised. Naturally, the US Department of State stated extreme caution and advised that no American risk travel into Iraq. Kidnapping, sleeper cell suicide bombing and IED’s were all real threats.  ISIS had been pushed back to the Syrian border in West Mosul and we would be working some 15 kilometers outside of East Mosul, but it felt to close for comfort.

We would fly from the United States into Erbil, Iraq situated an hour from Mosul and embed ourselves in Ankawa, the Christian community which sat just short drive from the US Controlled airport in Erbil. Unfortunately, the more security we had, the more suspicion would be raised and the more likely we would be considered a target. We had to fly under the radar and blend in. Which was a hard pill to swallow. 

We would have a total of three days on the ground, two of which would be spent in Qaraqosh. In order for the mission to be a success, it had to be very short and very hard, with long hours— a timeline Nadus Films and I were very familiar with. We wanted to get in and get the hell out.

While the project was a go, I was personally on the fence and only had three days to make a decision before the flight was booked. During the course of those 72 hours, I tossed and turned at night, had vivid nightmares and battled an inner struggle of unease. I had a lot of emotional support from my close friends, but that didn’t calm my mind from moving a thousand miles per hour and dozens of random thoughts crossing my vision per second. One moment, I would convince myself that I couldn’t risk it. Then, I would sway to other side by persuading myself it would be a decision I would regret. Back and forth, back and forth. 

One side was led by fear and the other side was led by determination. Questions were answered, but that didn’t stop my mind from wandering.

Would this open new doors I don’t want?

How will people react?

How will I tell my family?

Am I willing to risk my life for photography?

Coury Deeb, founder and director of Nadus Films, is one of the strongest men I know. Coury has led our team through the swamps and up mountains in dozens of war-torn, poverty-stricken countries all over the world. He has changed the world and he has certainly changed my world. 

According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Iraq is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Therefore, this project was the mecca, an opportunity for Nadus Films to reach an entirely new level of donor base and that is something I couldn’t ignore. Coury’s confidence and calm demeanor throughout the pre-production is what kept me grounded and eventually helped me come to a decision.

Leading up to our decision deadline we had a series of meetings and conference calls. I was taking calls on other productions and on the road. It was discrete chaos, but needed. Our meetings included Nadus Films, Shai Fund, Unseen and two military security advisors; Troy Wilson and Adam Brown. After every call, I either felt calm or anxiety. We walked through all of our questions, including what to wear, how to act, what to expect and where we would be.

At the end of the day, the biggest risk would not be kidnapping, snipers or terrorist action, it would be ourselves. It was important to stay calm in a hectic situation that was completely normal for the Iraqi people. I was confident we had traveled to enough third world countries to respect the process and remain calm in a tensioned zone. With every trip into Qaraqosh, we would face several Peshmerga checkpoints and being American, we would always have eyes on us.

All of our questions were heard and answered, we were going to Iraq.

With the guidance of Troy Wilson, our military security advisor, we were instructed to start growing out our facial hair and start seeking clothing that would blend in. We couldn’t have anything the remotely looked “military” or “special forces” on our person. That included hiking boots, cargo pants, Oakley sunglasses or camouflage wardrobe. We were instructed to wear a tough tennis shoe, button up long-sleeved shirt, cheap sunglasses, blue jeans, with all bold colors and nothing flashy or tight-fitting. No white, no black and definitely no camouflage. We would be recognized as a group of white Americans, but at least we wouldn’t be recognized as a threat.

The next objective was equipment. Due to the nature of airport security and checkpoint security we had to remain completely low-profile. No grip, no tripods, no stabilization, no battery packs and no cases. This meant shedding as much weight as possible and taking only the essentials, the bare bones, the smallest, most efficient camera system possible for both film and photography. We needed a workhorse that would have an extensive battery-life, the ability to withstand extreme weather and most importantly look “less-than-professional.”

After a series of meetings with Nadus Films, our Director of Photography, Drew Layman, decided it be best to use the most reliable camera we know, the Canon 5D Mark IV. But, with video we needed something to stabilize the body and add additional points of contact. Drew suggested the Zacuto Enforcer, a highly portable shoulder mount with a foldable design that makes it ideal for our run-and-gun documentary style. Also, knowing we’d be out in the broad desert daylight we would need the Zacuto Z-Finder Pro Optical Viewfinder. Then, finally we would use the Rode VideoMic Pro to record any sound beyond our wireless lavalier microphone systems. 

As far as lenses, we wanted just about every focal length possible. I would solely use the Canon EF ‑ 24mm‑70mm ‑ F/2.8L, while the motion side would rely on the Canon EF ‑ 24mm‑105mm ‑ F/4L, the Canon EF ‑ 16-35mm ‑ F/2.8L and the Canon EF ‑ 70mm‑200mm ‑ F/2.8L. We would also carry a Singh-Ray Variable Neutral Density Filter and Hoya Polarization Filter for each lens.

Once our equipment list was in place, I called upon my friends at Canon and BorrowLenses, who were gracious enough to support the project and provide all the tools we needed.

The largest hurdle for Nadus Films was the drone, we needed arial footage, but Iraq is a no-fly zone. ISIS and other militia use drones to scout and create strategies. DJI claims its impossible to fly, but we researched otherwise. We had to be extremely careful. So, we purchased the new DJI Mavic Pro; a light-weight, pocket-sized drone with a Gimbal-Stabilized 12MP/4K Camera. It was small, powerful and ideal for quick aerial photography. It would be a giant risk, one we were willing to take. Drones being extremely sensitive in the Middle East, there was a specific strategy on the ground, which due to safety I cannot reveal.

The largest hurdle for still photography was lighting. Despite it's small footprint in the photo world, the Profoto B2 system was out. The battery pack and head just attract too much attention, instead I opted for a simple Canon 600EX II-RT speedlight.I needed a very small, soft modifier and a very small monopod. My friends at MeFoto had just introduced the “Walkabout Air” 6-section monopod, which measures only 13 inches when closed; exactly the portability I needed. With only two days before our flight, I still needed a modifier that was small enough to fit in a backpack. So, I called upon Profoto for the smallest umbrella they create; the 33” Shallow White Umbrella with diffusion. Once it arrived, I sawed off the center shaft, gaffed the umbrella tips and clipped the diffusion to the umbrella. It was perfect.

Despite the equipment locked in, we still had to figure our the best method to pack it all, in several low-profile backpacks that we could carry-on through the airport and on the plane. I normally will pack everything into a Think Tank Photo Airport Security V2, but now I had to fit everything into a logo-less Swiss Army backpack. I lined the backpack with velcro and placed inserts to guarantee all the camera equipment would remain secure. Then, filled the other pockets with a laptop, accessories, clothes, toiletries, supplements and green tea. Once it was packed, I could barley fit a quarter.

Our last conference call was stressful. We went over travel details, timelines, security issues and updated ISIS press. Nerves were at an all time high, but I had to trust the team and trust the process. We had to file documents with the US Department Of State, complete medical evacuation insurance documents and provide emergency details, including blood type. I printed and laminated copies of my Passport and placed them in several locations, including the bottom of my right shoe. No detail was overlooked, we had to be prepared for action.

The night before the flight was surprisingly calm. I did sleep, but it was restless. Luckily, I have a wonderful partner who remained strong herself, kept me cool and reminded me to breathe. Emotions were high, but I felt as prepared and ready as I could ever be. At 10:00 a.m. the next morning, I arrived at the Nadus Films office to go over any last minute strategies and equipment. All of our spirits were high and we were prepared for the long trip into the Middle East. We said an intense prayer and headed to the airport. There was no turning back.

We met our personal security advisor, Troy Wilson and Unseen producer, Melanie Iverson in Chicago before we jumped on a plane into Vienna. Although, I felt safe with an additional set of eyes on our back, the anticipation of the unknown was what terrified me the most.

The flight into Vienna was long, but standard. Fortunately, I had downloaded the entire Netflix series “Narcos” and binged watched the first season, which made the flight a breeze. Upon landing in Vienna, we were met by Shai Fund founder, Charmaine Hedding. A blonde, middle-aged woman born in South Africa, currently residing in Germany. Charmaine was strong, determined and had all the attributes of a natural born leader. She spoke in a serene South African accent, which could calm the nerves of anyone in conversation. She was our guiding light and had all the resources we needed on the ground for a successful project.

Although, this was in our package of initial questions, I didn’t know what to expect on the flight from Vienna to Erbil, Iraq. But, come to find out, it was perfectly normal. Mostly empty, the flight consisted of a few Iraqi and a few brave travelers doing business or humanitarian aid. I also noticed a one additional American on the flight; likely military. The camouflage backpack with a “Make Mosul Great Again” patch, gave it away.

I had prepared myself mentally for this trip for over three weeks and had run every scenario through my head upon landing in Iraq. What to say, how to act and how to handle customs. We stepped out of the plane into the dry-hot air and walked into the airport to customs. At first glance, the airport was nice, but relatively empty. There wasn’t many people who traveled in and out of Iraq, obviously. We passed through customs without a single question and picked up our baggage. We then passed through a security checkpoint with prevail. Everything made it through, including the drone.

Once through the airport we were met by two Iraqi men, Rauf and Jamir. Jamir had military fatigues and was apart of the Nineveh Plains Forces, who would act as our eyes on the ground. While Rauf wore plain clothes and represented the local television station, Suroyo TV. Rauf would also be our ears on the ground and our Arabic translator. He spoke good English and we immediately knew he was the man. Rauf had insane combat experience, blended with an incredibly kind soul who cared about his people. We jumped into two trucks and headed to our home base in Ankawa, the Christian quarter of Erbil, Iraq

I felt safe and I felt guarded. Our team on the ground was heavily connected and knew how important this project was to the Christian people of Iraq. Within minutes of arrival, we settled into our dorm-like rooms and began to break out equipment and prepare for the first evening of production. The people in our residence were extremely kind and prepared our first meal in the Middle East. It was incredible; lamb and chicken kabobs with fresh pickled vegetables and hummus.

Our mission of the evening would be to capture the people forced into IDP Camps. Camps that were setup by Unicef, World Health Organization or NGOs to provide shelter for those families displaced by ISIS takeover or military action. As of 2017, over three million Iraqi people have been displaced, a vast majority living in temporary camps. Due to ISIS liberation, they are slowly returning home.

I didn’t know what to expect, but upon arrival we were greeted with open arms and welcomed into the community. Children were everywhere, small stores were established and it seemed like people were thriving despite the horrific situation. I went into work-mode and began firing on all cylinders. I wanted to be as candid as possible, so I set the Canon 5D Mark IV to Silent Mode and hugged the walls to stay out of sight, while the film crew carried out their shots. The children were enthralled with the camera lens, but they actually knew what it was compared to other third world countries we’ve visited. They smiled, laughed and played while we documented. Smartphone selfies seemed to be a popular thing, especially among the teenagers. So, we just went with it.

We followed the lead of Rauf, while Troy and Jamir were at our sides watching the environment for the smallest disturbance. Within two hours we had captured a worship service, the people and plenty of the camp to go along with it. It felt warm and content, despite the dark overtone of it all. We returned to our home base thrilled with the photography of the first day, but on edge for the day to come. We ended the day meeting the family who was to be our focus for the documentary. We walked into a triple story apartment, in which three families were currently living after being pushed out of Qaraqosh. They were all related. The family consisted of several brothers who owned and operated a mechanic shop in Qaraqosh, they would be a vital element to the story. Shai Fund had gifted them a grant to rebuild their business, with new equipment and tools. We would get started early and document their return to Qaraqosh.

I was exhausted. I had barley slept in over 24 hours and I did my best to stay alert for the de-briefing and dinner, but was ready to get rest.

I awoke early to a chilled air-conditioned room, the bright sun peaking through the transparent shades, fully-rested and ready to take on the day. Nerves were high, as our first day into Qaraqosh happened to be on the Islam holiday Ramadan, a day which Islamic terrorist attacks are called to action. But, we all swallowed the tension and prepared for trek through Kurdistan. Our day started at a mechanic equipment retailer outside of Erbil, where the brothers had to pick up their brand new tools to transport into Qaraqosh. In any country where English isn’t the native language it’s tough to know what is really going on. You have to read body language. But in Iraq, loud confusion seemed to be the normal.

Once the brothers had double checked their order and loaded the truck, we were on our way to Qaraqosh. Within a few minutes, we were met by Jamir and a truckload of Nineveh Plains Forces. Most of the soldiers appeared to be young, perhaps warriors-in-training, who were just along for the ride. I’m sure security for an American film crew isn’t on the Nineveh Plains Forces priority list. Moreover, I’m sure they thought it was all overkill, but better to be safe than sorry. We pulled into our first checkpoint and passed through without a single issue. Due to Ramadan, there weren’t many people on the roads. As we inched closer and closer to Mosul, the dismal brown landscape became more and more war-torn. Shattered structures, black grass, covered fox holes and old concrete barriers. You could feel it in the air, something horrid had taken place. We passed through two more checkpoints without an issue. Apparently, Rauf and Jamir has alerted the Peshmerga that we would be traveling through. I often would hear “Amrikiyyan” and “Trump” from Rauf’s mouth, which would usually allow us a pass. Apparently, for decades the United States has supported Peshmerga with training, artillery and weaponry. Therefore they are friendly to American people traveling in Iraq. As a matter of fact, we’d occasionally see a Peshmerga soldier in United States military uniform.

Our second to last checkpoint was the most difficult. We were asked to get out of the vehicle and show our passports. Although, completely routine, it was nerve-racking to not know what was going on or what the soldiers were discussing behind the vehicle, but we trusted Rauf and Jamir. Nevertheless, after a quick passport check, we were on our way. I silently took a deep breath.

We arrived into Qaraqosh after about an hour and half. As we entered, we hit a roundabout where a giant cross had been planted and never uprooted. I expected a small desert town and what I saw was semi-large city, completely void of life. It looked abandoned, but forcefully destroyed. The ground was crusted with ash and overgrown from weeds. The homes were tarnished in black from fire and ransacked of all valuable belongings. Businesses were laced with artillery and painted with ISIS propaganda. Churches were even worse. On occasion we would see a person sweeping up their sidewalk or a car circling the block but, it was a ghost city. We arrived to our destination on the outskirts of the city, where the brothers operated their business.

During our initial security briefing we were told to not venture into random spaces, open fields or touch anything out of place due to landmines and traps. My plan was to stick close to everyone and do my best to get what I needed, but I wasn’t used to this process. Normally, I take the liberty to explore the location and find the composition I need. Once we had our feet on the ground, I felt confident to walk around carefully away from the crew, but within an ear shot. 

While the brothers began to setup their shop and unpackaged all their new equipment, we got to work. While most of the shots were organic documentation, others had to be planned and setup for success. It was all moving slow, but details were important.

While the team worked, I made sure to capture a few photographs of the Nineveh Plains Forces soldiers that were our acting security. In full battle uniform and hands-on their AK-47 semi-automatic machine guns, they just loved the camera. They had no problem posing for the perfect shot, which also included a few selfies. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to bring in the artificial lighting, but suspected they would be back again the following day.

Once we felt confident in the content we were capturing, Coury decided to take the drone on a quick test run and without a hitch the drone lifted off with full GPS control, a giant relief. While Coury piloted the drone over the city, I began to setup for the portrait session of the brothers.

My setup consisted of a MeFoto Walkabout Air Monopod which attached to a Tether Tools RapidMount Cold Shoe Elbow Mount which supported a Canon 600EX II-RT speedlight modified by a 33” Shallow White Umbrella with an outer diffusion baffle. After some confusion with one of the brothers, we jumped right into it. Portrait after portrait I was nailing dramatic and engaging portraits that told a story. I didn’t need to talk, I just let each of the men consume the moment and be photographed, with the occasional slight direction. But, like many of our other projects, I didn’t have much time. After 20 minutes, which seemed like 2 minutes, the brothers were done a ready to head home. 

Many Iraqi people have suffered tremendous trauma and suffer from PTSD. This was a sensitive topic, so we had to tread lightly and not push the emotion. We packed up before sunset and headed back towards the center of the city. We stopped off at a church that had been completely destroyed. Statues of Jesus Christ had all been beheaded and paintings had been shred of the faces. It was a somber and compelling moment that left us all speechless. After the church tour, we jumped into the van and headed back into Erbil through the numerous checkpoints without an issue.

That evening was interesting. While I won’t go into detail, I will say that we had an interview with a high-profile general and a high-profile politician, which ended on a sour note. Everything was off; the lighting, the composition, the sound and the content. After the interview, we headed to dinner at a fairly lavish establishment. As I predicted, the food was incredible, but the conversation was stale, we were all toast from the long day in the Iraqi badland. I was happy to get back into Ankawa and away from the awkward cultural differences of the party.

But, if there was one take away from that evening, it was where I started to see all the real complexities of the Middle East.

It's not black and white, which is what the people of the United States are spoon-fed everyday. Iraq, otherwise known as the "Axis Of Evil," consists of over 35 million everyday, warm people which are usually left in the cold in the eyes of the western world. I had no idea how many religious communities, organizations, militias and regions there are. It’s an anti-melting pot of confusion, that only few people can truly understand.

There are four main religious communities; Shia Islam, Sunni Islam, Yazdanism and Christianity.

There are two main ethnic groups; Kurdish and Arabic.

There is Jihadism. Jihadists are often Sunni extremists perceived as a military movement, such as al-Qaeda and Islamic State(ISIS). They see the violent struggle as necessary to eradicate all other religion and defend the Muslim community.

There are Kurdish Shia and there are Arab Shia. They don’t like each other. There are Kurdish Sunni and there are Kurdish Yazidi. They don’t like each other. There are Arab Yazidi and there are Arab Christian. They are the minority.

Among each of these ethnic groups and religious communities are dozens of paramilitaries and militias fighting against Jihadism for peace, land and power. While most of these communities strive for peace, some cannot accept a person of different religion or ethnicity, which often will result in violence.

So, just imagine your neighbor disliking you for only your religion, while you share the same ethnicity. On the flip-side, perhaps they dislike you for just your ethnicity, yet you share the same religion. But, your neighbor's son, dislikes both your religion and your ethnicity, so much so, he would be willing to hurt you if you don’t convert to his religion. Then, your neighbor’s cousin down the street likes your neighbor’s son, but dislikes his father for the way he prays. You and the son are just collateral damage.

It all sounds like the Wild Wild West, right? Well, It's complicated.

I woke up the next day with a headache. I felt tired and beaten down. I haven’t shaved in over a month and I haven’t showered since leaving Louisville. The United States Military uses a term for pressing through hardship, which I stand by on every tough project on foreign ground; “Embrace The Suck.” I had to constantly pinch and remind myself that we were in Iraq, the most dangerous country in the world. The gesture brought my head to level ground and forced me to tie my shoes tighter than normal. We all had to put aside normal comforts for safety and time.

Our second day in Qaraqosh began early. The air was thick with emotion that weighed heavy on our hearts. It was a day that we truly had to be candid and treat the situation with the utmost respect. The family of women and children had not seen their home since that frightful night where they all evacuated their homes in the middle of the night to evade ISIS. We expected the home to be ravaged and destroyed, so it all had to be captured in sensitivity. We were used to warmth and sympathy in foreign countries, but never to this level of intensity.

The family traveled through all the checkpoints in one large van, while we followed in a SUV not far behind. Occasionally, we would pass the van to capture the children peering through the windows or the women silently praying. Fortunately, Rauf and Jamir talked their way through all the Kurdish checkpoints and we finally made it into Qaraqosh.

As the family entered their home for the first time, we all began to feel the emotional burden. The only thing that could be heard was the children quietly playing throughout the house. The house had been trashed and only a few family remnants remained. All their pictures had been destroyed and all of their Christian relics had been beheaded or torn. The men didn’t hesitate to start the clean-up, while the women slowly paced around each room gathering tarnished heirlooms and dusting off the ash.

It was a moment that will always remain with me and close to my heart. The pain was silent but could be felt in the room. When the women paused, I paused and respected their silence by refraining from the shutter. Even with a silent shutter, the sound of my camera felt like a gun shot that reverberated throughout the room. So, I creeped around corners, remained low to the ground and hugged the cracked walls to do my best to remain out of sight and out of mind.

After a short time, I headed back out of the house with our private security Troy and scouted the exterior of the house as well as the entire block. The house next door had been completely demolished with a missile air strike and the business next door to that had been destroyed by a suicide bomber, who had used an armored truck as the delivery device. Adjacent to that business was a ground level operation ISIS had created to manufacturer improvised explosive devices otherwise known as IEDs. It was an aftermath of war and this family was situated directly in the middle of it all. Fortunately, there was no sign of life, anywhere.

It truly felt like a city of ghosts. Troy and I wandered back around the home to find a church courtyard connected to the back gate. The exterior had been charred black with fire and it smelled of death. A dried dog carcass sat parallel to a fire pit surrounded by artillery shells and trash from what looked like a sobering celebration. As we entered the church, we were hit with a distinct air that felt thick of charcoal and synthetics. ISIS had attempted to destroy the entire sanctuary with C-4 and burn the rest. We had to tread lightly, but I knew this would be an incredible location for a series of portraits. I loved the juxtaposition of this incredibly strong family, placed in a torn environment on the very day of their return to the city. The message symbolized a reckoning and a stand. It was powerful.

After an amazing lunch prepared by the family, we headed to the roof of the church where the brothers would repair and re-construct the cross that had fallen on the dome of the church while the rest of the family watched from the roof of their home. We would circle the dome with the DJI Mavic Pro Drone back and forth, until we secured a beautiuful shot. Within moments, the brothers had lifted and re-positioned the steel-beam cross upright and anchored the base with large cinder blocks. The family chanted and prayed while I frantically sprayed the shutter in every direction for the best shot.

I took a deep breath and prepared the for final stage of portraits. I was given a bright sun and had to do my best without any diffusion whatsoever. We couldn’t shoot inside the church, because the family didn’t want the children to be anywhere near the airborne C-4 by-product. So, I instinctively headed for the open shade at the front of the church where there was plenty of burnt chairs, tables and props to be used as foundational elements for staging and posing.

The families all gathered for a quick group portrait. I knew that they had lost everything, including all of their family pictures, so it was important for me to capture these images in a light-tone, simple, natural light and nothing too dramatic. Although, there was a dark undertone, due to the blackened church background, the mood was happy. They were finally making the first step to rebuild. Once the family portraits were complete, we knocked out a few individuals including the mother, Jamir and of course a group portrait of the documentary crew. It’s always a relief to finish the most difficult part of my job, especially under such extreme pressure and circumstances but I’m usually left wanting more or better. I guess you could say I’m my own worst critic.

While the family packed and headed out of Qaraqosh, we opted to stay later for a candid interview with Charmaine, the founder of Shai Fund. I took the time to explore the surrounding area as safely as possible and capture more rooftop imagery. Alone, I remember it being a moment of solace and reflection. Roughly an hour later, we jumped in the van to exit Qaraqosh for the final time. Our last stop was the large community church, where we closed the project with a quick portrait of Charmaine, the last piece of the puzzle.

That evening we headed out for celebratory food and drinks. It wouldn’t be a solid trip if weren’t able to visit some of the local scene. While we remained in Ankawa, the Christian quarter of Erbil, Iraq, we walked into a large courtyard packed with dozens of long plastic patio furniture and a live band. As many people arm themselves in Iraq, all firearms had to be checked at the door. The environment was happy, people were cheering, dancing and laughing. We were in Iraq, but we all felt safe. As tradition in foreign countries, we ordered several hookahs, a lot of random appetizers and a lot of beer. It put a large smile on my face to see these people who are under so must strain just relax and have fun. After dozens of drinks and tons of amazing Middle Eastern food, we left the courtyard at closing time. It was the relief we needed before we wrapped the project.

Sunrise hit hard. We all felt rough as we headed into our last full day in Iraq. Our last day focused on the Dominican Sisters and their impact on Iraqi people that have been displaced from the military movement of ISIS. With the help of Shai Fund, the Dominican Sisters have rebuilt schools, businesses and churches. They are slowly making progress in Erbil and surrounding Christian cities. They are also providing on the ground support to IDP camps around Mosul where Unicef and World Health Organizations has failed.

After we documented the Dominican Sisters and the their effort to help innocent families with Shai Fund, we opted to head out to the Dayro d-Mor Mattaia monastery, which dates back to roughly 363 A.D. The historic monastery is located atop Mount Alfaf in northern Iraq and is less than 12 miles from Mosul. It is recognized as one of the oldest Christian monasteries in existence. Shadows from the sun created beautiful parallel lines and strong contrast which only added to the overwhelming power of the warm stone facade. We explored every corner and opened every unlocked door, but after an hour we had to get moving and beat the sunset back to Erbil.

The day ended with an incredible dinner at the home of our focus family. As we wrapped our meal in prayer and goodbyes, I handed them prints of the family portraits I snapped the previous day in Qaraqosh. It was a beautiful moment that I owe to Charmaine who devised the gift from the start and worked to have the prints made locally. Although the evening was bittersweet, we were all ready to leave Iraq and get to United States sovereign ground. We spent several hours making sure our backpacks were underweight and the footage was backed up and stored with several different people. 

Our exit from Erbil, Iraq to Frankfurt, Germany was interesting. The six security checkpoints, including customs was nerve-wracking. Unfortunately, much of our “souvenirs” didn’t make it through security and the “broken” drone created a small headache. But, despite the odds we made it through the tight security and on the plane with all of our equipment and hard drives. As the wheels lifting off the ground, I took a deep breath and a wave of anxiety lifted from my shoulders, we did it. I nearly kissed the ground as we walked down the tarmac in Frankfurt. The weather was hot and slightly humid, but that didn’t stop us from immediately heading to the nearest beer hall to celebrate the successful trip into one of the most dangerous places on earth.

Similar to most of our international projects, there was an intense adjustment period of settling back into the comfort of my home. The shower and fresh shave pushed the process, but the sheer exhaustion caught up with my body and I came down with an stomach sickness, which required two weeks to recover.

The complexities of Iraq was eye-opening, like a dark red curtain pulled-back. I can only hope our project makes an impact and pierces through the black cloud of faulty perception we may have of these 35 million innocent people, who are struggling to restore their lives after so much war and terror.

Fear has a direct control over many aspects of our every day life and I’ve always preached the larger the risk the larger the reward. I believe that conquering fear only makes us stronger. In the end, the only regret will be the risk you didn't take.

[brassmanticore]

Tang Dynasty and the Early Islamic State

Tang emperor T'ai-tsung.

"Born in the year 600, T'ai Tsung came to the throne in 626 - four years after Muhammad and his followers left Makkah (Mecca) for Medina in far-off Arabia. About the same time the Turkic tribes of nomads in Central Asia were gathering outside the Great Wall of China for a massive incursion into the "Celestial Empire." T'ai Tsung, however, drove them back beyond the Great Wall and in so doing initiated a series of westward migrations - as one Turkic tribe displaced another. These were the tribes whose descendants make up the Turkic-speaking Muslim communities of China, as opposed to the Chinese-speaking Hui of the south and center.

While T'ai Tsung was defending and unifying China, Muhammad was laying the foundations for the Islamic state that would come into being after his death in 632. T'ai Tsung in his capital of Ch'ang-an (Xian) could never have dreamed that he and the dynasty he was consolidating would be affected by events in a small commercial town half a world away. Yet it was not long before the results of the Muslim conquests made themselves felt in Ch'ang-an: about 638 Shah Yazdegerd, of the Sassanids - who then ruled much of what is today's Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan - appealed for help against the new, but rapidly spreading force: the Muslims.

T'ai Tsung refused to help the Sassanids, but 13 years later his successor, Kao Tsung, received an identical plea for help from Shah Peroz, son of Yazdegerd, and this time China, having come to realize that the Muslim threat was serious, encouraged and helped Peroz.

"To the Chinese at that time, the Sassanids and the Byzantines were the great powers to the west. Indeed, long before the rise of Islam, embassies from Byzantium and Sassanid Persia had made their way to the Chinese court via what came to be called the Silk Road, the great trade route that reached from China to Constantinople and on to Rome. When ambassadors from Byzantium arrived at Ch'ang-an just five years after those of Shah Yazdegerd they almost certainly brought news of the astounding expansion of the new Muslim state - an expansion in which the Sassanids would be eradicated.

To modern readers it may seem extraordinary that such far-flung lands could have been in communication at such an early date; we tend to think that global politics are a recent phenomenon. In fact, seventh-century political leaders in both China and the Islamic world tried just as hard as their modem counterparts to keep abreast of events that might threaten their national security or their economy. Thus the appearance of the Arabs on the borders of Central Asia was a matter of grave concern in Ch'ang-an, for during the T'ang Dynasty, Chinese satellites in Central Asia were considered part of the empire. One reason for this concern was that China had developed a taste for Western goods and was anxious lest the overland trade route - the famous Silk Road - be closed by the new and growing Islamic empire. The Chinese also feared that the collapse of Sassanid Persia would permit the Turkic tribes - recently driven beyond the Great Wall - to resume their attacks on China.

In 651, the same year Shah Peroz appealed to Kao Tsung for support against the Arabs, Kao Tsung received a mission from 'Uthman, the Muslims' third caliph (or "successor" to Muhammad). As the T'ang annals put it: "In the year 651, the king of Arabia sent for the first time an envoy with presents to the Chinese court and at the same time announced that the Arabs had already reigned 34 years and had had three kings."

Arabic sources do not record such an embassy, and it is possible that the account in the T'ang records is a later interpolation. But it is still very interesting. For one thing, the "three kings" are the first three caliphs: Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthman. For another, 651 is regarded by the Hui as the date of the introduction of Islam to China."

(from Muslims in China, Saudi Aramco World, July/August 1985)