ActionAid G20 Rally

About 40,000 people gathered today in London to protest the G20. Their final destination was Hyde Park where they had a stage with several guest speakers, and a huge screen. I joined them moved by my curiosity. It was quite the peaceful rally. It always amazes when people of all different backgrounds come together united only by the same beliefs and dreams. There were people with several banners and signs protesting different current issues: global warming, Gaza, jobs, animal cruelty, climate, justice, poverty... any possible problem that humanity and the planet earth is experiencing.

I experienced a feeling of encouragement! All of these women, men, and children fighting to make a difference. The speakers were great and most of them had traveled from all over the world to be here today and throughout next week. April 2nd is the day of the G20, and all these campaigners and activists have one main goal: have all the world leaders open their ears and eyes to the disastrous situation that we are facing. However some were upset about the fact the not all counties are represented at the G20. This is after all the "party" of the most powerful nations' leaders... so in a way what do you expect?

I was just so impressed by how many smart people there are around the world. So why is that "evil, wrong, and dumb" always end up ruling everything? Is it that the "smart, fair, and honest" are just a minority? That solves my question! Although I also believe that in the end is all about the money. If the wrong leader has the financial resources to do any sort of idiotic decision he/she can make... they will. It creates ego-power and too often destruction.

On a positive note, I was pleased to see how all the speakers made a point to mention president Obama! They chanted "Yes We Can" and they added "Yes We Will and Yes We Do!". Observing that: one, just ONE person is making such a difference on a global level it's really revolutionary!

I only made a short visit to this event... as it started to hail and rain at the same time. I ran back home and the temperature had drastically dropped. My hands were freezing to the point they were burning... if you have ever been in this type of cold you understand the unpleasant experience.

That's all for now. I must go back to Facebook and post my pictures!!!

Seeking desperately strangers

I was surprised to find in all London’s papers those random add of people who want to connect with a stranger they briefly saw in some public place like the tube or a market. How absurd that in this day and age they still write those adds. What are the odds of somebody actually replying? Having the right person actually reading it? I want to meet somebody who actually met that way. I think I will test it. I will place an add and might as well describe my ideal match (you never know after all, it’s like playing the lottery!), I want to see if any freaks will reply to me! At this point you already know that they are liars though! Because you made up the add. Therefore, do you want to meet a desperate liar? Not really! I just picture this guy or girl, he gets on the tube, it’s packed. He/she sees an attractive person… their arm brushes against each other (which will happen no matter what because you are packed in there like sardines). The girl/dude runs in the office, goes online to contact either The London Paper or London Metro to post “Saw you on Victoria line, you had blue scarf and you smiled at me. Want to catch a drink?”…. is that for real? Who reads those adds? I did because I read everything or anything when I’m bored… but do other people actually “read” them? Hoping that someone , somewhere noticed them and would like to see them again? Wouldn’t be easier to meet strangers on the internet? I really want the statistics of what are chances of really have these strangers colliding into each other again through a silly add on a free tube trashy paper.

A struggle of a Threesome!

Lately I have had so much time on my mind to think about myself. It might sound egocentric to some of you. But I consider it my self-reflective stage.

My whole grown up life I have been so preoccupied taking care of others, working, being with people... around too many people at times. I even went through a stage where I had to have a never-ending number of friends and I would manage to invite them all to my very time consuming BBQs and parties.

Maybe I'm finally maturing, although that is a scary though (you know how I connect that to aging!!). All i can do lately is contemplate on what will happen in my future. This leads to a constant state of struggle in between who I represent at the moment, who I want to be and who I dream to be.

Who I am at the present:
I could be satisfied with my present situation. I live in London which is a great city. I work for an award winning agency, where there is a light of a committed growth. I have my own place. I go out anytime I want to. I'm very independent. I'm close to my family. I have traveled and lived abroad for the last 13 years of my life.

Yet I feel restless more than ever. I can't stop thinking of who I want to be:
I want to be very successful. Although I'm not ruled by a materialistic nature, I want to be wealthy and recognized. Partly for the selfish sense of not having to worry sick of my family. Is it because I care or because I need peace of mind? Both I think. I also need to feel accomplished on a professional level... and I still don't. I feel like I need to be determined to become an executive of something, somewhere. I need to be in charge, making big decisions, assigning projects and presentation to a whole stuff a people running around. I could start investing and grow stronger and bigger than ever. This my responsible side. Which also convinces me that I should be able to take night classes and get a degree like in International Business, or Marketing, or Law, or Political Science, or at least study a couple of languages that can be challenging (like Arabic or Russian, or Japanese).

The third is who I dream to be:
such is ruled by my adventurous and impulsive side. I fantasize about my future to the point that I believe it could happen. I imagine quitting my job without giving a notice to pursue acting full time, or to travel the world with a camera and just capture anything in my sight. I think how wonderful it would be to spend time volunteering in impoverished countries, helping children, and women who have been abused. I would only have a smelly back-pack. Wouldn't that be more fulfilling then riding the tube every day and sitting in front of a computer all day listening to people talking about the same crap every day!

What do I do? I wish that voice in my head would give me a final answer. Instead it just keeps on changing its mind between settling where I am, aiming for the stars or saving baby goats in Pakistan. I truly get in serious discussions with myself (or should I say with "myselves"!!??). Ce la vie! Maybe I just have to give up to the fact that I will never be happy. Happiness is an abstract painting that you can't get in. You can look happy. You can pretend to be happy. You can look back at a happy memory. But you never look at the future thinking "it will be a very happy tomorrow". Maybe this concept only makes sense to myself and the few voices whispering in my ears. Why can't I settle? What am I looking for? Success? Fame? Reward? Love? I feel like I'm the Alchemist, but a version that won't find peace in this lifetime.

My addictive second life on Facebook!

I really have a full time second life. No, I'm not referring to the "Second Life" game... which I must admit that out of boredom I once signed up to... however my incredibly slow laptop refused to let me fully upload the software. Which I'm sure it's for the best! Between my real life, my alter-egos who get confused with my real self and my now addiction to Facebook... I would really have to quit my job if I had Second Life as well.

I spend an average of ten hours a day at work. By the time I get home I have a million ideas I want to write about on my blog (a lot of them don't pass my over-critical eye once I actually see them in typing). I use my blog as an excuse to be creative and turn on my "time-black-whole" (my PC). I'm not sure how this happens punctually every night. I turn the TV to follow the news, I turn on the PC to write my blog, and cook a quick dinner. Before I know it I have already switched to Facebook. This is a full time activity! I have a whole new life there waiting for me. I am very methodical about it too, which really bothers me! First I have to snoop on everyone's by clicking HOME and checking everyone's activity. If I see anything interesting I must COMMENT on it or select the I LIKE IT! Next I must check my NOTIFICATIONS, that's where I easily see if anybody has commented on me, my status, my pictures, tagged pictures or videos to me, has sent me flowers, or shoes, or cupcakes, Superhugged me, Poked me, Superpoked me, Kidnapped me, had a Mafia War against me, had a vampire attack my vampire, zombie attacks, pirates attacks, received a lei, Mardi gras beads, and.... it's endless! I then must reply to any comment or action! Once I'm done I check my messages and must reply to all of them. I also always aim on trying to be funny and original. All right, I have poked everyone back, replied, commented, kidnapped, whatever needed to be done is now done. That's when I start torturing myself by having to compose a clever STATUS of WHAT'S ON MY MIND! The motive is to see how many will comment on my status and see how long they can continue their chain of comments. That makes me feel satisfied towards my choice of thoughts. You would think that by now I would be done and I could happily either go to sleep or move on to reading or writing. No!! I'm still distracted. Now I decide that I must send something to someone I have not talked to in a while, why not write on their WALL. What's next? Youtube!!! When you're out of things to do on Facebook, then you turn to Youtube to find something (anything) you like to post on your on Wall on Facebook! this is endless! You know this is to provoke more comments. It's a very viscous circle. And let's not start on ridiculously personality quizzes that then you are forced to send to at least 30 friends. I'm way more social at this point in my life on FB then in reality. In the end I managed to spend about 5 hours on this dumb social network. But instead of getting sick of it... I get more and more wrapped in it. Let's also mention that I DO NOT accept strangers as friends. That is not why I'm in this addictive game. I just like to keep in touch with my own friends.

Well... now I must run... somebody is trying to chat with me on FB!!!!

Only Two Things

I'm going through a phase where I urge to meet and discuss life matters with the widest variety of individuals. I'm sure that is because of the environment I'm presently immersed in. You honestly must run into every ethnicity and background you can possibly imagine in this city. It's like a constant foreign experience at your door... it's foreign culture 1 on 1 home delivered! I plan to start studying two new languages... just like when I'm picking up a books in a store I can never just pick one... the same I experience when I want to learn a new skill. I usually have to pick at the very least two. Why? Because otherwise I feel like I'm not using my time and resources in a productive way. So, I decided I want to learn Russian and Arabic. I suppose that if you go for the challenge, you might as well pick the hardest one to really test yourself. Maybe it's part of my mid-life crisis where I refuse to accept that I'm getting older... and I want to prove to myself that my brain can assimilate as much as it did when I studied other languages one too many years ago.

During my sporadic extroverted attacks, I told my new friend from Algeria my desire of learning Arabic. I now officially have a personal trainer!! She is determined to teach me! She calls me everyday after work and forces me to meet her for my Arabic lesson! She is amazing! In exchange I'm teaching her English. Think about it! She barely speaks English and I speak NO Arabic! It is quite the comedy scene. But believe it or not we are both learning. She loves introducing me to all of her friends. Our background is a million years apart! Yet, we have a great connection. I love the fact that she is so honest and she can't hide her emotions. Today I told her that I wouldn't be able to see her tomorrow because I have a business dinner to attend and she couldn't hide her disappointment! She said "But I bring my book for you! I wait for you! And you don't come?"... I felt like I was breaking up with a boyfriend! But it was really endearing.

After our "class" we met with a friend of hers. He must be one of the wisest, deep and worldly persons I have ever met. I wanted to remember every sentence he said. I wish I had a recorder! He works in fashion trading. He travels a lot. He had stories about Brazil, India, USA, anywhere. And he really enlightened me when he said something so simple but so true. Something we all know... but often forget. "Only two things happen for sure in life: your birth and your death" and he added "in between is up to you to make the best out of it". He was telling me how he lives with no regrets, he loves the job he has chosen, he loves to travel and whether is for business or pleasure he will manage to see the whole world before he dies. He said that he knows he die happy because he is doing accomplishing all of his goals in life. He went on how people get stuck on a single problem and avoid "to look through a clean glass instead they look through a dirty glass". He mentioned so many more great thoughts he learned on his travels. Oddly it wasn't anything really knew, it was more how he passionately worded everything, how he believed it, and how he made it work. It goes back to the law of attraction. If you really want something, you set your goals, you find solutions to problems, and you successfully live your dreams. I was very inspired. I always am when I meat one person after another as a chain and learn something from every single one of them.

This week's magic places.

I've dined out to a few new places this week. You can go out every night in this town and have amazing food from all over the world. The options are endless. Here is a list of places you must try if you visit London. As many of you know I'm not a vegetarian because I eat seafood, however my diet is 75% vegetarian. All the places I'm about to list have a great selection for both, any taste from vegan to carnivore.

KASLIK in Soho
It's a small and chic Lebanese restaurant. It has the typical "Arabic" style decor that is also found in Moroccan and Persian restaurants. Or as I like to refer to as the sexy Mediterranean basin style, that has many sort of variations starting from Northern Africa all the way to Middle East, and Southwest Asia. I love the bright colored cushions splattered with beads and gold. The walls of this restaurant are all painted in red. All the tables are formed by the large silver round trays. The ceiling is a tasteful constellation of gold and colored glass lanterns. It's an intense experience just walking in. It's like being sucked inside the genie's lamp!! The food was incredible. Everything was so fresh and full of flavor. I was pleased to know that one of people in the party is vegetarian and he ordered every possible dish I could also eat. The ambiance is warm and friendly, the service is impeccable. The Falafel are some of the best I have ever had. And I do consider myself a Falafel snob!

MAISON TOUAREGUE in Soho
After the Lebanese night... I had to follow up with a Moroccan night! What a treat! This restaurant has a ground floor and an under-ground level (as many here in London). We decided to go downstairs. It was the right choice! That is where the younger and hipper crowd was. The upstairs was more for older couples and tourists. We were in the right spot. The owner and the whole staff make you feel like you are at home. It was like being at a party. I had a fabulous Vegetable Couscous while my friend opted for a Royal Couscous (all sorts of dead animals cooked in great spices). The whole lounge was full of girls in all the booths and cabanas! By the time the Belly Dancer showed up, everyone was having a really good time. The dancer was so beautiful. I envy how sensuous their movements are and how effortless they make it look. The drunk guests were not as graceful... but from an entertainment point of view... priceless!!! I ate, drank mint tea, laughed, watched, ate, drank some more and by the time we left the staff hugged us and begged us to go back and visit! I love this place!

TWELFTH HOUSE in Notting Hill
I thought it would be a great idea to bring my friend who was visiting to Notting Hill and possibly Portobello Market on Saturday morning. I must have being smoking crack! It was a nightmare of slow walking tourists! I once again wished for an iHonk! Sometime though from the worst ideas the best things happen. We had given up on Portobello Market and were heading back towards my house. We see this small cafe. We enter and it looks so interesting! Surprisingly it was not busy. The girls from the staff are the typical funky NH bohemian creatures (similar to the Melrose Ave. crowd in LA). We sat by the window and spied on all the manic people rushing to Portobello. The food was really good, I had no idea I could still enjoy a vegetarian version of the classic English Breakfast. I know I'm weird, but I do really love the beans, the mushroom and the stewed tomatoes! The funniest part of the place is that it revolves around the Astrological Signs theme, hence the name Twelfth House. With you bill you also get your horoscope! How cute is that? Of course I have to post it....

***Virgo***
You're not really a virgin! You have been misunderstood. You're as lusty and naughty as any of the other signs. Your reputation comes from your need to retain a sense of yourself and your own integrity. You may marry many times but you will never completely belong to anyone else. You are a worker who likes to create order and make things as perfect as possible. If the job is to be done it must be done RIGHT and you're the who knows how to do it right enough! You are an earth sing ruled by Mercury, messenger of the gods, and you enjoy being useful to others and the community.

This is one of the best horoscope I have ever read about my sign!I don't believe in daily (nor monthly, yearly horoscopes). I do like reading about the traits in different signs. I must admit this one is pretty darn close to who I am. I liked this place; good brunch, fun staff, plenty of people watching, and free horoscope! I love it!!!

TUK-TUK NOODLE BAR in Bayswater
This is a fast, affordable and fun Thai Noodle Bar. I had a scrumptious Mixed Seafood Sizzled Noodle dish. The place is quite busy but the staff will manage to sit you very promptly. This is good when you're on the go and don't want to spend too much time or money on a quick bite. Surprisingly you need to ask for chopsticks! I refuse to eat Asian food with a fork!!!! It takes the fun out it and it doesn't taste the same! They only have the really nice chopsticks, they don't use the disposable ones. The server explained that they don't put them on the table anymore because people steal them!!!!

CAFE ROMA in Bayswater
This is the smallest cafe I have ever seen! It matches the size of my studio flat. It's cute and unique. The breakfast is good, the capuccino was amazing. I like it that is elevated for the street level, they have a fun view from the window. Great for grabbing a croissant and coffee on your way to Hyde Park.

Lovely, I'm drunk... here are some flowers!

There are pubs who have beautiful flower stands right outside their front door. I always thought it made them look so pretty! The old English pub look with a fresh touch of color added by the pretty flower. It looks amazing, it's very picturesque!

I pointed that out to a friend today. I was merely making a comment about how pretty it looked... Then my friend promptly replied "Yes, it's very convenient! They guys gets drunk at the pub after work, they end up being late for their dates, so they buy flowers on their way out to excuse themselves!". I think that is genius! It must be the reason why. Those blokes get totally pissed at pubs every night... then by the time they stumble outside for a few quids they buy some pretty flowers to buy the girl's trust back! How would it work?

Scenario from intoxicated chap's view:

Drunk bloke- "My lovely, here are some flowers for you! You all'right? You sure? Really? You all'right?" (at this point he is still convinced that he will get laid!)

The dumb girl forgets her angry feelings towards the drunk bastard who made her wait for hours before showing up for their dinner date.

Dumb girl- "That's so nice! The flowers are amazing, they are amazing! That's nice! I'm so lucky!!!! You all'right?"

Do men really think that flowers and other silly gifts can just fix everything? Are they taught so since they are children? Or is it also women's fault? The kind of women that will forget and forgive anything in exchange for "stuff"! How would men react to the same treatment? The girlfriend comes back home trashed and with a few stinky flowers and a not so focused smile painted on her face... would he say "Aw lovely! Thank you!! You shouldn't have? You all'right? Let me make you some tea...". NO, no fucking way! It would no be that way! Just the other day I was reading one of those free magazines you get before entering the tube. I read an article about the fact that 1 in 5 men think it's ok to hit a woman! That is what would happen!! That is outrageous!

Question... How is that I managed to get to this feeling of disgust from my initial impression of thinking "that pub looks so pretty with the flowers right out front".

Did this just happened in my head? Did I just get myself all wired up over a fiction story I just created? Wow.... maybe I should just go to that pub and buy myself a nice pint and on my way out by myself some pretty flowers to make feel good and tell myself "I'm sorry!".