Largest chandelier in the world, at the main dome of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE. This mosque is no. 2 on TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice World’s Most Beloved Landmarks in 2015. You may check the blog entry I wrote in early 2012.
I am quite amazed at how my perception changed about observing Ramadan from close to hating it to willingly embracing it at the moment as an expat and Non-Muslim who is on her 8th Ramadan in an Islamic country (UAE). I remember my first Ramadan when I had to eat inside a washroom (toilet) and other unbelievable and crazy things I did and thought of to survive and not offend those who were fasting. I realized that my untowardness at the early years mainly emanated from lack of preparation, limited empathy and focusing on my own interest and excuses of being a newbie in UAE. Fast forward to 2016, I am glad that I was able to walk away from that immaturity by trying to understand how meaningful Ramadan is and the beauty of it. Why do I look forward to observing the holy month of Ramadan? Continue reading