One Thousand and One Nights

السلام عليكم
As-salam alaykum (Peace be upon you)

I just back in Maryland and still so impressed with my transit in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) during my round-trip flight from DC-Jakarta-DC. And what I've seen in Dubai reminded me of my childhood Arabic/Persian folk tales entitled ‘One Thousand and One Nights’.

Recall the story of caliph (Khalifah) Harun al-Rashid and his famed poet Abu Nawas; or Ali Baba and the forty thieves, Sinbad the sailor and his great adventures, or Aladdin and the magic lamp? Cool huh?! and look at this wonderful magic lamp!

Aladdin's magic lamp

Yeah, I was so tempted to wipe this lamp and wish to see the blue Genie (according to Disney) pops up from the lamp to grant my wishes. And my first wish will be "having a personal magic door": a door from the Japanese cartoon entitled ‘Doraemon’. A high tech door that can be used to go to the place you want (whenever and wherever it is), just by open the "magic" door and stepped through it (by the way, I will ask my Genie not to forget to color the door into Blue, instead of pink).

The Dokodemo Door

So with the door I can go back and forward from DC to Jakarta (vice versa) at any time without spending more than 24 hours in flight!! But hey, why don’t I wish to graduate instantly instead?

Ho ho ho, I love the challenge in life, so I need only tools to make the process simpler and faster, not to skip the entire process and come up to the result instantly. I don’t want to skip the challenging processes of reaching the goals. 'Cause that’s how the life should be valued for, right?!

Well, now back to the Arabian Nights. I felt like come back to the era of caliphate and saw the group of camel walked through the desert, entered the city of Baghdad witnesses the court of caliph Harun al-Rashid and encountered Abu Nawas.

Wow, too much imagination you think? Why not? life is a a colorful challenging dream, isn't it?! So, color your life with wonderful imaginations.

Well, since I'm in the 'Arabian Nights', I imagine to see flying carpet, turban, magic lamp, and of course camels. And, look at this, what do you think?! I've told you, the Arabian Nights is identical to the presence of camels.

The camels

Yes I spoke to my best friend in Jakarta, and we both agreed wanna do a safari on the desert by riding a camel while accompanying by the Arabian song (check out the music of this following video).

Just imagine you join the group of cameleers and dress up like an Arabian warriors (or princess), ride on a camel that walks slowly but rhythmic (as the rhythm of the song), crossing the empty desert, and the veil that you were wearing blown by the wind. Wow!! Hm I even can see prince Dastan and princes Tamina also ride a camel in a distance, hahahahaha.

But hey, wait a minute! I don't like to be exposed under the sun. I love trees and being under the tree shadows (remember I'm a forester), so do safari by riding a camel on the desert may not good for me. Whatever, I still love to see hundred of camels on shelf, especially when they look so cute and fabulous.

More camels on shelf

Honestly, I want to take picture of everything in that souvenir shop bit in detail, but you know; what did the sales clerk think about me who was only busy taking pictures of all their merchandise?

Sure, I bought some but not that much to make it equivalent to my desire and effort of taking the pictures. There are many good stuffs, so colorful and looks like treasure. Unique like the Bedouin stuffs and crafts.Yep, these are some of the shots I took unattended and complied into one.

Well, I just visualize that the following pic shows some of the treasure hidden by the forty thieves from Baghdad inside their treasure cave. So when I said ‘Open Sesame’, the heavy stone gate would open and show some of the treasure inside the treasure cave!

And what a surprise, on the first day back to my office, I found a camel (gift from my friend who just back from a field visit in Pakistan) and a treasure box (gift from my other friend who just back from Honduras) on my desk. Those two are 100% match to my mouse pad ‘flying carpet’ from United Arab Emirates. Look, there is a piece of 'One Thousand and One Nights' on my table!! Cute huh?

My flying 'mouse pad' carpet with the camel and treasure box on my office table

الحمد لله
Alhamdulillah (Praise to God)

Wow, it has been a very long time ago but seems like yesterday. I do recall the bed time stories with the 'One Thousand and One Nights' on my childhood, and now I have part of it on my table. Thanks guys.

Okay, now how if I wish to come back to Dubai someday?! Let see!!

والـسـلام

Wassalam (yours respectfully)