Thank You For The “Likes” :-)

I’d like to start this post by saying Thank You. Thank You to the best and most wonderful family, relatives, friends, and even acquaintances in supporting me in my campaign to get the most “Likes” on the below photo:

Official Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=641407498342&set=o.296675003692929&type=1&ref=nf

As of this moment, I have 455 “Likes”, which is way over 300 “Likes” away from me winning… But, due to some Facebook error (I’d like to believe it’s a Facebook error and not an intentional bump in the road), my photo, along with several other competing photos, lost their “Like” feature. And many people, even after “Liking” the “Tripoli Carfree City” Page, were still unable to “Like” those misfortunate photos…

I (along with my support group) tried to do everything in our power to fix it, to find a loophole, to get more votes, but it was all to no avail. After a steady increase in votes for my picture over the past few days, several other contestants have been able to surpass me by quite a fair amount. And since I've gotten most of my friends to “Like”, and exhausted my resources, as of this moment, I have no other choice but to leave my picture there, with little chance of it picking up more “Likes” than it already has, and smile … :-)

I want to smile because of you, sincerely, I want to thank each and every person who voted, shared, and supported me. Your support has been overwhelming, you wanted to move mountains for me, and you did, and I am forever grateful! THANK YOU! EACH "LIKE" WAS APPRECIATED! :-)

Tripoli's Car-Free Day Photo Competition!

Dear Friends & Readers,

I need your help! About my last post, “Tripoli’s Car-Free Day”, there’s this photography competition, and there’s this photo that I submitted for the competition:

I really need your help! Please, Please, Please, go to this link:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=641407498342&set=o.296675003692929&type=1&ref=notif&notif_t=like&theater

and click “like” on the photo. I need to get the most amount of likes among the other contestants (from now till the end of the month) in order to win, the prize being a spanking brand new Canon 500D (more advanced than my current camera!) PLEASE, "LIKE" IT! :-)

THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE...

So, The New Seven Wonders of Nature are out, and no, Jeita is not one of them. But, have you taken a look at the 7? In alphabetical order, they are:

1- AMAZON (BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR, FRENCH GUIANA, GUYANA, PERU, SURINAME, VENEZUELA)

The Amazon Rainforest, also known as Amazonia, the Amazon jungle or the Amazon Basin, encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres), though the forest itself occupies some 5.5 million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres), located within nine nations. The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world. The Amazon River is the largest river in the world by volume, with a total flow greater than the top ten rivers worldwide combined. It accounts for approximately one-fifth of the total world river flow and has the biggest drainage basin on the planet. Not a single bridge crosses the Amazon.

2- HALONG BAY (VIETNAM)

Halong Bay is located in Quáng Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. The bay has a 120 kilometre long coastline and is approximately 1,553 square kilometres in size with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks. Another specific feature of Halong Bay is the abundance of lakes inside the limestone islands, for example, Dau Be island has six enclosed lakes. All these island lakes occupy drowned dolines within fengcong karst.

3- IGUAZU FALLS (ARGENTINA, BRAZIL)

Iguazu Falls, in Iguazu River, are one of the world's largest waterfalls. They extend over 2,700 m (nearly 2 miles) in a semi-circular shape. Of the 275 falls that collectively make up Iguassu Falls, "Devil's Throat" is the tallest at 80 m in height. Iguazu Falls are on the border between the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones, and are surrounded by two National Parks (BR/ARG). Both are subtropical rainforests that are host to hundreds of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

4- JEJU ISLAND (SOUTH KOREA)

Jejudo is a volcanic island, 130 km from the southern coast of Korea. The largest island and smallest province in Korea, the island has a surface area of 1,846 sqkm. A central feature of Jeju is Hallasan, the tallest mountain in South Korea and a dormant volcano, which rises 1,950 m above sea level. 360 satellite volcanoes are around the main volcano.

5- KOMODO (INDONESIA)

Indonesia’s Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers (603 square kilometers of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. Later, it was also dedicated to protecting other species, including marine animals. The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin.

6- PUERTI PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER (PHILIPPINES)

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

7- TABLE MOUNTAIN (SOUTH AFRICA)

Table Mountain is a South African icon and the only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it - Mensa, meaning “the table.” The flat-topped mountain has withstood six million years of erosion and hosts the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth with over 1,470 floral species. Table Mountain boasts numerous rare and endangered species. It is the most recognized site in Cape Town, the gateway to Africa, owing to its unique flat-topped peaks which reach 1,086 m above sea level.

TRIPOLI & MINA'S CAR-FREE DAY!

Description Of The Project:

The Mina-Tripoli Carfree Day is an initiative of the Tripoli Youth Network, and supported by BankMed, and Maurice Fadel Prize. It aims at promoting an environmentally friendly culture in Tripoli and Lebanon by banning cars in 2 major axes of Tripoli and Mina and organizing, within this track, sports, cultural and entertaining events, to which all inhabitants of Tripoli and beyond would be invited to participate.

The Tripoli Youth Network is a coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations operating in Tripoli and run by young active citizens driven by a common mission to positively contribute to the city of Tripoli as well as the nation of Lebanon as a whole. The Network and its constituencies have thus joined forces for organizing their first initiative: “A Carfree Day in Tripoli Mega-Event” promoting a better environment and responsible citizenship.

During this Mega Green Event we aim at: raising awareness about the environment and the environmental challenges confronting Lebanon in general and the North in particular, educating people on how they can become eco-friendly, and demonstrating in particular ways in which they can enjoy their city without necessarily being dependent on their cars, which is a major cause of air, noise, and visual pollution, giving local citizens the opportunity to enjoy the space freed from cars and rediscover their city and the treasures within it, while remaining a politically neutral event!

Program Of The Day:

Carfree Day in Tripoli and Mina Cities is on Sunday the 13th of November 2011. Super shiny sun or shy sun hidden under tiny water drops, BOOK your calendar and plan for a FULLY BOOKED day from 12 PM till 6 PM!

Our program is simple! 6 hours of nonstop environmental, sports, artistic, urban arts, musical, cultural, entertainment activities for everyone!

At 12:00 p.m. – The Inauguration Ceremony Under the High Patronage of His Excellency The President of the Republic of Lebanon General Michel SLEIMAN. From 1:00 pm till 6:00 pm – The Launching of all the Activities…

Competition And Activities:

Have you ever thought that a huge stage will be placed in the middle of the cross roads near Dar el Chimal with famous bands and singers playing and performing for 6-8 hours nonstop and another humungous stage standing in Cornish El Mina sparkling with Lebanese star bands and rocking the place with the sea breeze playing with your hair and your heart pounding from joy? Did you ever think that BENETTON’s side walk will be altered to become a kid’s zone? Did it ever come across your mind that you can bring your couch and use the asphalt roads as your rug? Have you ever dreamed of exploring your city, walking, jogging, skateboarding, “scootering”, cycling without worrying about the horns howling and damaging your serenity and peace of mind or a crazy car or truck careless about your escapade hunting your path? Don’t you just simply wish to take a nice long walk with your friends and family, shopping, exploring, learning, enjoying and that’s in two major road axes in Tripoli and Mina when seeing them “Carfree” was only a far, far, far impossible day dream?

Unlimited activities, nonstop artistic performances, 6 basketball playgrounds, urban arts, graffiti, awareness stands, food, beverages, 10 km race, solar car race, bike promenades, air blown games, paint ball, and so much more; Tripoli and Mina Cities will be as never seen before!

Saturday Night - 12 November 2011: Performance by the Superstar Ragheb Alama, Ambassador of the United Nations campaign for the Environment Program. (Tickets sold at Virgin Megastores for $10, $30, $50, $200)

Sunday All Day Long - 13 November 2011: Drawings exhibitions, kids’ zone, photo competition, 6 basketball playgrounds, 4 football playgrounds, Grafitti, urban arts by Gilbert Extreme, more than 100 stands distributed among reputable green NGOs, your favorite foods and drinks and entertaining activities, scouts parades, 4 bus stations to pick interested participants from one location to another, 10 Km Race (in association with Ma’an Loubnan),

On Mina Stage Performances: Mr. Vergo (Arabic rap, Tripoli Band), Killer Muffin(Grunge and Garage, Tripoli Band), Toxic Trash(Punk, Tripoli Band), Venemy (Metal, Beirut Band), Kristen Hope (Folk, US Band), Hezb L Taleta (Electro, Beirut Band), Adonis (Arabic pop fusion, Beirut Band), The Incompetents (Indie, Beirut Band), Lazzy Lung (Indie, Rock, Canada, Beirut Band), Belime

On Tripoli Stage Performances: Demons (Rock, Tripoli Band), Mohamad Cha’ar, 7 Ta2aT (Rap, Tripoli Band), Capoera Howl (English Pop, Tripoli Band), Tirashrash, and many, many more…

Capture the Spirit of Ramadan

I know I’m a little late in posting this, but it was a little less than a week ago when I first heard about the “International Ramadan Photography Competition 2011” From their website:

“The International Ramadan Photography Competition will showcase the skills and imagination of professional photographers around the world as they share their techniques and personal anecdotes about cultural and religious traditions during Ramadan.

Ramadan is not only considered to be the most spiritual month in the Islamic calendar but is also a time for families and friends to reunite in peace, prayer and piety. Fasting from sunrise to sunset as a form of spiritual cleansing, self-discipline and empathy for the less fortunate, Muslims during Ramadan practice tolerance, forgiveness and perform good deeds. It is in this spirit that all talented photographers are invited to share their best photography in a unique and unprecedented 30-day visual celebration that will educate and enlighten thousands of viewers around the world.

The competition is open to talented photographers around the world over the age of 18. Cash prizes will be awarded and winners will have their photos published online and in print. Subject categories include: Spiritual, Social & Everything Else. Participants are encouraged to photograph people in prayer, holy places, mosques, iftar and suhoor foods, family gatherings, or even an inspiring shot of natural beauty and landscape taken during the month of Ramadan.

To enter the competition please send your photos to ramadanphotos2011@gmail.com along with a caption and the technical information as defined in the FAQs found on our official website."

Some of the pictures are just breathtaking, and if I were on the panel of judges, I’d have these as finalists:

But I’d give the photographer of this little cutie the grand prize... BEAUTIFUL!

AUB Outdoors 2011 Samsung Photo Competition

Hello Readers! Can you do me a favor? There’s this competition on Facebook, “AUB Outdoors 2011 Samsung Photo Competition” and I decided to participate, with this picture! If you'd like to support me:

All you have to do it “Like” this page. Then “Like” this photo:

And, if you’re interested in participating, here are the rules:

1- Take photos of old-looking monuments, buildings, and icons in Black and White or Sepia.

2- Submit one or more photo with your full name under it by uploading it on this page (i.e. multiple submissions are allowed)

3- Get the highest number of Likes.

You need to LIKE the page before Liking the photos, so remind your friends to do so in order to win!

------

Submission starts: April 18th, 2011

Submission deadline: April 25th, 2011

Voting starts on April 18th, it ends on May 2nd... GO! :-)

UN Day 2010 Celebration

Yesterday evening was the “UN Day 2010 Celebration” at the UNESCO Palace. Tony Baroud was hosting the event, and there were live performances by a south-based Youth Group, The Lebanese-Palestinian Choir, and Violinist Jihad Akl, all of whom put on spectacular performances, especially the latter!

But the number one reason I was going was to find out if the photo I had submitted for the UN Photo Competition had made it to the exhibition. Unfortunately, it hadn’t. But among the pictures that had reached the finals, there were indeed some exceptional photos…

There were 10 winners, 8 for each category of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) including: Reduce Poverty and Hunger, Achieve Universal Primary Education, Promote Gender Equality & Empower Women, Reduce Child Mortality, Improve Maternal Health, Combat HIV/AIDs, Malaria, and other diseases, A global partnership for development. Each of the 8 won a Nikon Coolpix P100 and a photography workshop with professor Bassam Lahoud. Then there was The People’s Choice Award, who won through online voting with over 2,000 out of over 6,000 votes. He won a round trip plane ticket to Istanbul with Kurban Travel. And finally there was The Big Winner, who won a Nikon Digital SLR D300S. And that prize went to a girl named Abir Ghattas, for this photo:

What’s interesting about that photo is that it had reminded several of the judges of a picture that once appeared on the cover of National Geographic. Later that night, on the ride home, my friend remarked that the picture in National Geographic was taken years ago (in 1985) and several years since then, they went out to look for the girl all grown up, and they were able to recognize her because of her distinctive eyes:

In conclusion, yes, I was a little disappointed at the fact that my photo hadn’t made it to the top 50, but I’m glad I got to go look at the bigger picture(s). The pictures are of “1 WORLD, 1 FUTURE, 8 GOALS”. At the end of the evening they gave out the following brochure (click photo to enlarge):

Do you know that...

Around 300,000 persons in Lebanon are considered poor and have limited access to basic nutrition and safe drinking... Out of 100 pupils, 9 are not registered at schools ... Out of 100 (aged above 15), 10 are illiterate ... Out of 128 parliamentary seats, only 4 are held by women ... Out of 1,000 infants in Lebanon, 16 die yearly ... Children in Lebanon are still dying from diseases such as Diarrhea, Pneumonia, and others ... Out of 100,000 pregnant women, 23 die while giving birth ... 2/3 lands in Lebanon are prone to desertification...

"A Snapshot For Development”

About a month ago, I heard about the UN photo competition, “A Snapshot For Development”, opened from September 1st till October 15th, 2010. I’ve been meaning to participate; searching for the perfect pictures I’ve taken or can take. Last night, I finally picked and uploaded three, under the MDG of “Reduce Poverty & Hunger”:

Please, vote for my picture via the following link:

http://www.un.org.lb/photocompetition/Vote.aspx?Id=201

I would deeply appreciate each click for me. Thank You!

P.S. Here are the other two pictures I submitted:

http://www.un.org.lb/photocompetition/Vote.aspx?Id=202

http://www.un.org.lb/photocompetition/Vote.aspx?Id=203

SuSu In The Souk

“In April 2010, a writing competition was held for the youth in North Lebanon as part of Beirut World Book Capital. Around 40 persons have participated in this project and the best stories were picked, collected, edited and constituted this book…”

That’s right; I finally got a hardcopy of “قصتي”. It’s a brilliant book, and it’s even more brilliant how fast it’s been put together and published! Here are the front and back covers:

But I have to admit, I was a little disappointed to see that instead of my illustrations, there were someone else’s. I asked why. And apparently, the printing press had asked for the book a little earlier than had been scheduled, so that by the time I had sent in my illustrations, the book was already in print :-|.

Here were supposed to be my illustrations (+ cover page):

Oh well, I guess it’s a sign I’m a better writer than I am an illustrator. Here’s the full text version of “Susu in the Souk” (Comments Welcome!):

SuSu in the Souk

Once upon a time, in a city by the sea,

That many know as Tripoli,

There lived an orange in an orange tree…

…

One day the orange was picked by a girl named Susu

Who bent down to tie her shoe

When all of a sudden, a gust of wind blew…

It rolled the orange down the street,

So Susu chased after it, under the summer heat

Till it rolled between an old man’s feet…

…

All around her, Susu saw shoes

But where had the orange gone? She needed clues

So she asked the old man, had he any news?

He said, “This is ‘Souk Al Kindarjieh’ my dear,

Shoes are all we’ve ever had here.

But keep on looking, your orange must be near”

…

So Susu walked on, till she saw a young man

“Can you help me?” she asked him, he said “Yes, I sure can”

“I’m looking for my orange; it’s of a yellowish tan”

He said, “Well it can’t be here in ‘Souk Al Siyaghin’

We only have gold, fit for a queen

Look, isn’t it the finest you’ve ever seen?”

…

Susu walked on, till she saw soaps of every shape and size,

Towering up towards the skies

She almost couldn’t believe her eyes…

She turned around to look at a sign

It read ‘Khan Al Saboun’ in a nice design

But Susu had to go make sure that her orange was still fine…

---

So Susu walked on, to the next path she chose

Where a scent began to fill her nose

And the smell of herbs and spices rose…

“Welcome to ‘Souk Al Atareen’” said a young boy,

Who stopped playing with his car toy

And he asked Susu, “Want some herbs? I’m sure you’ll enjoy!”

---

Susu walked on, till she reached a pool filled with water

She needed a drink, as the weather was getting hotter

When she heard a lady say “come sit with me, my daughter”

“Where am I?” asked Susu, the lady said, “‘Al Mallaha Pool’”

And she turned to join the old lady sitting on a stool

She was eating a plate of hummus and fool…

---

Susu asked “where oh where could my orange be?”

“Its right there,” said the lady, “can’t you see?”

And she pointed towards an orange tree

“Where we end is where we begin” she said,

Then she patted Susu’s head,

But there’s much more of Tripoli left for you to discover, so go ahead!