Day 5 in Amman Jordan

While waiting to get access into camps and special units, been helping local organisations and NGO's with sorting and packing all donations to be sent to the Syrian refugees in Irbid and Zaatari camp! Its very rewarding but makes you think how much we spend on items that end up having not much value... Think again before you buy something new!
#Jordan #NGO #charity #camps #donation #syrianrefugees #mercycorps

Project Loomi Pledge in Jordan

4 wedding dresses, 10 suits, all sorts of warm fuzzy children clothes, 4 suitcases, 72 kgs and heading to Amman for Project Loomi Pledge!
As a photographer and in my daily life we are always trying to capture those "happy moments" whenever we can if people can afford it and if they have time.
Most refugees after spending alot of time out of their homes, will attempt to eventually lead a "normal" life... Hence still getting married, having kids, spending Xmas with family, and having a happy new year celebration!
I aim to help capture that through my lens! wish me luck 

Twins and other new smiles

My first "twins" was challenging to get them in one picture, managed this one....
Sheena baby girl was such a pleasure to photograph. See them here

Today's star is sweet Rena - 3 months old

After 40 minutes of smiles and sweetness she decided to sleep.....But meanwhile she gave us all those lovely looks

Newborn and baby photography

Since my new adventure into baby photography and my deal with Groupon last week, Ive have had the opportunity to photograph lovely little Dubai babies....

See the results... more to follow

Hippos and others

Never in my life have I have seen or been so close to Hippo's and Elephants!

Yesterday while canoeing along the national park a male Hippo who was kicked out of his herd gave us a nice demonstration of how wide his mouth can open!

Then later at night at 1am the elephants came to walk around the lodge we were staying at for the night. I kept my tent flap open as I was expecting them. He walked straight to the tree and bush next to my tent, he was literally 2 meters away! My heart was racing as I could even smell the leaves he was chewing. It was an amazing experience. Elephants can sense humans up to 30 meters but these ones are not afraid as they remember the areas where they could be poached. They have a memory of up to 30 years. Some other pix taken from the boat ride last weekend

Malawian Babies

Malawian babies don't cry.
They are tied most of the time to their mothers back in a simple cotton wrap.
Their diapers are made of cloth and changed maybe once twice a day.
If they do start crying, whatever the mother is doing she will scoop the baby to the front and breast feed her child there and then.
Showing your breast is the most natural thing to do and no one looks!(Except me!)
I saw a mother today breast-feeding and getting water from the well....tough life....

The get used to everything around them from the "back view" and just look and stare.
I've been kids play with sharp objects like knives and broken mirrors but they don't hurt themselves or others....From an early age they learn to know about the risks and avoid any injuries.
Siblings as young as 4 to 5 years old start carrying the babies as a relief to their mothers who are doing other errands

Nsima and others

Nsima is the only consistent food Malawians can afford. They rarely eat any meat, sometimes fish.
Mostly pumpkin leaves with tomatoes, bananas, and mangoes off course even when green and unripe!
Nsima is made from Maize floor which is cooked with water until its get sticky in a form of a fun. I tasted it but didn't like it...I found it tasteless...So I eat rice instead

Everyday it takes us 45 minutes to reach the Villages. We take a taxi bicycle where 17 year old Youssef and Duncan pedal us there under the heat!

Check the greater Kudu which I am doing some research on!

Children from Chatama Village Malawi Liwonde

Malawian women welcoming us to Chitama Village

Day 7 in Malawi

Day 7 in Malawi Liwonde and each day grows on me!African kids have nothing no shoes and some torn clothes...they find scarps on the floor and make toys....kids take care of their siblings while parents are working and all this they play and smile and don't cry :) I am sitting in the garden overlooking the river and I can hear Hippo's submerged in the river making the weirdest noises!Going the village in a bit to work on the mangoes project with the VillagersYesterday we did 2 games drives in Liwonde national parkWe saw Kudu's, bush bucks, Buffalos, Hippo's, elephants, monkeys,etc... it was great to be so close to the animals which you only read about in children's books and movies or documentaries!Enjoy the pix :)

Travel update

My upcoming travels are as follows:
Chicago and Denver on business trip from 3 till 6 April
Then will head to NYC for a couple of days for leisure 7 till 12 April
Photography course in Istanbul from 10 till 15 May with creative escapes check them out on www.creative-espaces.co.uk
TBC Hopefully Kiliminjaro in August some time

Time for change

Time for change I guess with this new wave of democracy in the ME! Sorry been away for so long...will be posting more some new pictures very soon now that my website is up and running! Thx for your comments and praises... Always good to hear from you

My one month vacation Part 1 - Italy France

Upon popular demand I am updating my so far vacation route.
This is the trajectoire:
Dxb Milan by flight
Milan Florence by train
Slept a nite at J&J hotel then went to Villa Magiacane in Tuscany for Sanas amazing wedding
http://www.jandjhotel.net/
http://www.villamangiacane.com/
Slept 2 nites at the Villa then back to Firenze for one nite at J&J again
Drove to Grasse passing through San Remo
Slept 2 nites in Grasse Chez Salma
Took the ferry to St.Tropez slept at Hotel du Sube
And now am back in Grasse.....
Friday back to Dxb for 2 nites then hit the far east for another 2 weeks; Vietnam Cambodia
Will add some pix soon

Photo exhibition!

Finally its happening...! am soooo happy, excited and looking forward.....My new aspiration :)

Some dirt

So I am writing this with some semi medium levels of intoxication and it seems I heard in the grapevine well at party which was a BBQ at some friends house that in order for people to read my blog it needs to have some dirt....! like some cracking real life loomi singlehood dating scenarios.....

So while the 2 guys (both hot) one married one single went on about it and were trying to kind of explain to me that if we wanna read your blog blah blah and try to make me speak about my love life which I clearly explained was NOT EXISTANT but didn't wanna explain that my sex life hence was existant.....but I shut up.......listening.......

So is this what it falls down too? adding some dirt on my blog to get more followers and comments!?.....

I can off course bring it on.....

Loomi's Book list for the next few months

Currently reading 2 books

1. The What Everybody is saying: An ex-FBI Agent's guide to speed reading people

2. The Digital Photography Book

Next is

3. Committed - A Sceptic Makes peace with Marriage (Same author as Eat Pray Love)

Then

4. The Kingdom of Infinite Space: A Fantastical Journey around you head

Should keep me busy till mid March....

Don't u wish we could NOT work and just read books antake photos all day!?

Dubai Winter Sunsets

January and February are the best months for amazing photos....

Been strolling around Dubai beaches and snapped a few nice sunsets....

Check them out!