The stunning South Beach Shoreline! 

"Try to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud." - Maya Angelou

The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C, featuring thousands of exquisite cherry trees, is a must-see at least once in your life!

Spectacular Sunrise from the cockpit at 40,000 ft!

“May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire 
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For, 
May your arms Never Tire.” 
― D. Simone

The most difficult, the most exhausting, but yet the most beautiful and peaceful journey of my life. Imagine having three million people in one city at one time doing the same exact thing. Welcome to Hajj 2013, Saudi Arabia. 

I have done many blog postings of my travels, but this one is the most difficult. As a writer, I am at a loss of words. No matter what I write, it won't do justice to this humbling experience. But, I'll give it a shot. 

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, required of all Muslims to complete once in their lifetime. 

From the moment we made the intention to perform our Hajj, we witnessed one miracle after another, opening the doors and enabling us to embark on this special journey. 

After much preparation and packing, we were on our way to Medina, the city of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It still hadn't quite hit me yet that all this was really happening. After more than 24 hours in transit, we arrive in Medina in the middle of the night. There's hustle and bustle and we make sure our luggage gets on our bus and we head to our hotel. We're tired. We're sleepy. We're not sure what we're supposed to do at this point. It's dark. There's buses after buses after taxis after taxis on the streets. Hundreds of people are arriving. 

All of a sudden, very loudly, we hear the Adhan, the call to prayer, echoing from Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet's mosque, for morning prayer. I stand there in awe as it sends chills down my spine. I'm really here. I look around and see hundreds and thousands of people flocking towards the mosque. As we walk to the mosque and stand united in prayer, I count my blessings and put my head on the floor in prostration and thank God for this exact moment in my life. 

In the four days that we spent in Medina, we witnessed countless miracles. I saw my first sunrise there! Yes, I am 30 years old and had never seen a sunrise in my life. But, as I sat in the outdoor courtyard of the masjid one morning after prayer, I turn to see the most incredible sunrise. As tears flowed down my face, I felt like the most special person in the world because God saved this moment for me. Medina is the most serene, the most peaceful, the most incredible city in the world. I may be back home now, but my heart is left in Medina. I'm still not over my jet lag, but my every inch is yearning to go back. 

 We left Medina and headed towards the sacred city of Mecca. Our nine hour bus ride to Mecca was very smooth, we arrived at our apartment buildings, unloaded our luggage, and headed to al Masjid al Haram and the Kaaba, the House of God and the holiest mosque in Islam. As our bus gets nearer, my heart starts racing, I get goosebumps and can't hold back my tears. We get down, it's late at night, but the traffic and hustle and bustle doesn't end. Hundreds of thousands of people are walking towards the mosque. We walk together, hand in hand, looking down. And look up only when we have full view of the Kaaba. This is the moment where words fail me. There is absolutely nothing that I can write that will describe this moment. It was an incredibly overwhelming feeling- mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and more. There I am standing in front of what more than a billion Muslims pray towards five times a day every single day. I make every prayer in my heart as I stand there in utter awe and humility.

The actual Hajj rituals started after this day. The days and nights spent in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah was a very rigorous and personal experience, one that must be experienced to understand. As more than three million people from all walks of life traveled to the most remote destinations, following the footsteps of our beloved Prophet, I couldn't help but be mesmerized every time I looked around me. Here are more than three million men and women from every corner of the world, every color, every race, every size, every economic standing, every class, every shape, every background, all united with one common purpose, one goal- purification of their soul. There was absolutely no difference between each individual. Everyone was dressed the same- in a white Ihram, a symbol of purity that indicates the equality of all people in the eyes of God. Everyone had to do the same thing. Equality at its purest form. It's no wonder Malcolm X was so moved by his pilgrimage. In his famous letter from Mecca he wrote, "Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors...There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual..."

The completion of the Hajj rites marks the beginning of the three day festival of Eid al-Adha. Muslims all over the world participate in this happy celebration. I made some incredible friends during this journey and have formed a very special hajj family. El Medina Travel was exceptional every step of the way. 

Completing Hajj isn't an ordinary task. Completing Hajj with an injured leg is even more challenging. Completing Hajj with an extraordinary man=priceless :) Thank you honey for being who you are. You are a true testament of good character.  

And most importantly, thank you God for allowing us to begin our life together with such an incredible experience. 

A couple of articles written about our Hajj journey...
National Public Radio
Los Angeles Times

Have you ever traveled to a place where every person from the moment you land in the airport looks you in the eyes and lies to you? Well, welcome to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! A place that thrives off of tourism and timeshares, and offers beautiful beachfront resort vacations for incredibly low prices. (And we all know I'm the number one fan of the ocean)

As soon as you pass customs at the airport, dozens of people approach you in trying to sign you up for a timeshare presentation. Here, they will offer all kinds of activities at no charge in an effort to sign you up. From this moment on, be aware that every person you talk to until your last day will be telling you a different story, to the point where you don't know who works for who or who to believe anymore, including your hotel staff. The vouchers for the activities will be given to you, but the timeshare presentations are ruthless. Just keep in mind that it will take at least 3-4 hours of your day. 

However, once you pass all that your vacation will be amazing. You can indulge in unlimited exhilarating water activities or just relax by the ocean and enjoy the magnificent views. From jet skis to parasailing to banana boats...this is the place for it! 

All in all, Cabo is a great place for a quick getaway. It has beautiful beaches and nice all-inclusive resorts for great prices.

But, be careful because unfortunately too much fun can lead to this... 

Until next time...Safe Travels! 

Mount Rainier- one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes- from 40,000 ft....spectacular! 

Everyone is in a hurry, cars honking, incredible skyscrapers all around, $13 toll roads, a beautiful river, delicious pizza, impeccable fashion…welcome to the city that never sleeps….New York City!

There truly is no city in the world quite like New York. It appears to be a whole world in itself. So alive and so busy at all times. Where in the world can you get freshly baked chocolate chip cookies delivered to your place at 3am? New York! You can walk around in bustling Times Square and not see a difference at 2pm or 2am.

But I have a question…what is the hurry? Everyone is rushing. You can’t stand in line in a coffee shop and take a few seconds to think about what you want without a line of people getting mad. It’s so funny because you can instantly differentiate between the locals and tourists. Especially those from Los Angeles, who are strolling behind everyone else. The honking was noticeably loud. Drivers are so impatient and will honk at you if you are one second late in turning or driving when the traffic light turns green. The taxi cab drivers are ruthless when it comes to driving and changing lanes. One thing is for sure, I could never drive in New York! And who charges $36 for daily parking? Thank goodness for public transportation.

Kudos to the fashion! Everyone is dressed so beautifully, so sharp and so poised. I was very impressed. I’m so disappointed when I see people dressed in their pajamas out in public in Los Angeles.

Central Park is my favorite part of New York. Every time I go there, I feel like I can spend all day there. It’s just so peaceful and beautiful. The cherry blossoms were absolutely breathtaking. Combine that with the lake as a backdrop and you have postcard worthy moments.

I love New York. I can visit anytime. However, I could never live there. I need the beach life, where it’s ok to walk slowly, take a deep breath and smell the roses. 

Thank you New York for the absolutely perfect weather!! You were a perfect host. 

Until next time…safe travels!

HAVE MORE THAN YOU SHOW, AND SPEAK LESS THAN YOU KNOW. (sorry don't know the source, but just love it!)

May the new year bring lots of love, peace and happiness to all. We all have so much to be grateful for. Time passes by so quickly that we should embrace every moment. So laugh often, give lots of love, breathe deep, practice peace, see the beauty in all situations, don't worry about the little things, and stop comparing. But if you must compare, compare your life to those who have less than you, rather than those who have more. Maya Angelou once said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." So, make your new years resolution to bring a smile to someone's face everyday. Wishing everyone a prosperous and healthy new year! 

In the wake of the horrific act that occurred in Connecticut two days ago, words are beyond any explanation or grievance. How someone can do that is beyond fathom. What the parents of those innocent children who were killed are going through right now is something that no one should ever feel. Condolences and words will never suffice. May God give them strength and patience to survive each and every passing second, minute, hour, day. 

"Talking with quiet confidence will always beat screaming with obvious insecurity." I don't know the source of this quote, but as soon as I read it, it touched my heart. It has so much meaning. I loved it and had to share it. Please reflect on it and share any thoughts...

I have been to many countries in Europe and really never imagined I'd be going to Norway. But, after traveling there, I'm really happy I did. Norway can be described in many words...lush, green, cold, quaint, beautiful, and above all else....Expensive! Of all the countries I've visited in the world, Norway was definitely the most expensive one. I guess not being part of the European Union has helped the country because it seems like they are doing just fine when all the other European countries are going downhill. Everything, from food to clothes to just about everything else, cost about three to four times more than there in the states. One ordinary carry-out veggie pizza was $46, need I say more? 

I was very surprised to see so many foreigners living in Oslo. I really didn't expect that. I can honestly say that I saw more immigrants, from all parts of the world, than I did Norwegians in Oslo. I saw a lot more women wearing the hijab than I have ever seen in Los Angeles. Which was a huge surprise for me. Apparently, the ban in France has motivated Muslim women in other European countries to adopt the hijab. 

Once again, traveling to Europe, I absolutely loved the public transportation system, something that is hugely lacking in Southern California. It is extremely convenient. No one ever has to own or drive a car to get around. Public transportation is practically at your doorstep and will get you anywhere you need to go. In Norway it was called the T-bane and we used it to get to the city center many times throughout our trip. Which brings me to my next point...People actually walking instead of becoming immobile. Before I went to Norway, I was at a very large convention called ISNA and one of the speakers there was talking about the obesity problem in America. He pointed out that people are becoming like balloons here and it looks like we are competing to become blimps. It made me laugh but I realized how true it was when I got to Norway. He said that people must walk at least 10,000 steps every day to stay healthy. While in Norway I realized how immobile we really are in America, especially Los Angeles. We drive our cars everywhere. Once in a while when I do decide to walk to the corner shopping center, I get people staring at me like I'm crazy. I know that other parts of the country are better at walking, but we need urgent help in Southern California. Maybe if public transportation improves, people will feel less inclined to drive their cars everywhere, which would force them to walk a little more. 

While in Norway, we traveled to Lillehammer, the host city for the 1994 Winter Olympics. It was absolutely gorgeous. The air was crispy clean and the views were astounding. Being a huge fan of water, I loved the rivers and lakes the city had to offer, in addition to more greenery than I have seen in all my life. I hear that the West part of Norway is where all the scenery actually lies, but we didn't get a chance to travel there this time. It's on the list for next time. Below is a picture from Lillehammer...

On our flight back, we flew over Greenland and let me just sum it up in one word...Remarkable! It was covered in beautiful plush white snow. Every inch of it. Wow! 

Oh and I have one urgent request to all airlines to please please please add a No-Perfumes Clause to your safety handbooks. When you announce smoking prohibited, please add smoking and perfumes prohibited! :)

Also, check out my photos in the photography section! 

Until next time....safe travels! 

I just came back from a trip to the east coast, visiting three different states. I was born on the east coast, but have lived on the west coast for most of my life. This past week may not be a fair week to compare the two because of the extreme heat wave sweeping through the east coast, but I'm still going to offer my two cents. 

The trip started out in Raleigh, North Carolina. I absolutely loved this place! It was so green. And for the first time in my life I said the words I never thought I'd say..."I would move here." I never thought I would want to live anywhere else in the world other than Los Angeles. In my opinion Southern California is the best place to live on earth! But, Raleigh grabbed my attention. Except for the fact that it was unbearably hot, it was such a beautiful city! I fell in love with the tall deep green trees along both sides of the roads and highways. I'm used to buildings all around me everywhere I go in Los Angeles. But, these trees were such a refreshing change. I know a lot of the country may have this, but I was in Missouri recently and it had a lot of trees as well, but it didn't have the same appeal. So, thank you Raleigh for welcoming me to your city with such a nice breath of fresh air! (Pun intended :) ) 

The second part of the trip was in Sterling, Virginia and Washington D.C. I love the variety that D.C. and Virginia for that matter has to offer. I went to the Natural History Museum for the first time and it took my breath away! Wow, what a fascinating museum! If anyone goes to D.C., you must stop by. And be sure to allow at least 3 hours for it. The live butterfly pavilion was so cool! I love butterflies and flowers, so for me it was just what I ordered. :) The coral reef IMAX movie was also beautiful. The temperature was scorching hot during the daytime, so our activities had to be limited. Don't worry, we took advantage at night. What I loved about D.C. that I wish we would implement in Los Angeles, is the many opportunities to rent bikes. In and around downtown there are dozens of bicycles available in the middle of the street to rent out for as long as you want. I loved this idea! What a way to cut back on traffic and get in the exercise that we all need. Love love loved it! Especially, at night! So beautiful! Virginia also stands out in the the variety of different ethnic foods it offers. Love the diversity. 

The last part of the trip was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. And as you all may know by now, I'm the ocean's biggest fan, but I'm sorry to say, that Atlantic vs. Pacific....Pacific wins hands down! Myrtle beach was a lot of fun, but nothing compared to the cities along the Pacific Ocean. I will share the one moment in Myrtle Beach that was most special to me. I felt like I was so far away from home and everything familiar for so long by this point of the trip. I really didn't like Myrtle Beach when we landed and were driving around. Again, it was unbelievably hot and Humid! Again, the west coast wins when it comes to weather. Yes, it may be hot here, but the humidity is a whole other story. You feel like you can't breathe! I will take the San Fernando Valley's 100 degree heat any day over any temperature with humidity. Going back to my story, so after driving around for a little while and eating lunch, we decided to find a place for prayer. It was Friday, the holy day for Muslims, and Friday prayer (jummah) is very important. So, we found a small office where the Muslims pray jummah. We went in, it was a small room, split in two for men and women. It was incredibly hot inside. But the moment i sat down and heard the word 'Rasulullah,' an inner sense of peace captured my heart. A feeling of belonging and happiness overtook me and I couldn't help but smile. All of a sudden, it didn't matter that I was on the other side of the country. I felt like I belonged. I looked around me and there were five other women, maybe locals, maybe travelers like myself. And I felt like they were my sisters. I was so happy to be there. Right at that moment the concept of self identity and community had a whole new meaning to me. I was so blessed to be a Muslim, where no matter what part of the world I'm in, I can relate to others and belong to a community. How special. 

Below is a picture of Myrtle Beach Pier from the Skywheel. Safe Travels!