A walk to remember in Město Pražské...The town of Prague!

"Krásné staré město Praha,
zamiloval jsem se do chůze na každé ulici tvé, se sluncem odrážejícím se od řeky, Byla to nezapomenutelná procházka přes most, Inspirace z vánku přicházejícího až z hradu, Pro člověka , přírodu a strukturu, Tebe chválím mezi všemi městy, když Tě přícházím navštívit den po dni... "

"Oh beautiful old town of Prague, 

I fell in Love walking on every street of yours,

With the sun reflecting over the river,

It was a walk over a bridge to remember, 

An inspiration from the breeze coming all the way up from the castle, 

For all the walls of separation was dismantle,

You are a place of admiration,

For Man, Nature and Structure,

To you I praise among the Cities,

While I come to visit you day after day..."

Muzammil

(Photography by Muzammil)

The feeling of walking in that beautiful city gave me a feeling that the days went back to the 1700s, with the old cars that take the tourist for a tour around the old town. Every building is in the antique style, the road made up of stones and the beautiful statues all over the city.

"You allowed me to travel,
I'm going from Country to Country,

I'll go to another shore,

find another a better city,

Whatever I try to do is fated to turn wrong, 

And my heart lies buried as though it were something dead, 

Until I reach this place, 

And I understood that not everything deserve to be appreciate!"

Muzammil

(Photographed by Muzammil)

I made my way to Charles bridge that crossed the Vltava River...Such a mystical place, with a beautiful reflection of the sun over the water and the statues. 

(Photography by Muzammil)

Around the ninth hour, Jesus shouted in a Loud voice saying, 

"Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?"

"My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?"

(Photography by Muzammil)

There was so much to see, I tried to capture these moments in my pictures that I can share with you. It was  overall an experience of well being when I came across a dog on the street. Instead of capturing the world looking at the dog, I tried to capture the dog looking at the world.

(Photography by Muzammil)

And I took this picture from Charles Bridge, beautiful view of the colorful old buildings.

(Photography by Muzammil)

I made my way down to the Jewish Cemetery, Novy Zidovsky Hrbitov Vinhradska, this one another mesmerizing place. I went there during autumn season, I couldn't imagine the beautiful colors of the leaves. I'll let you dream with that beautiful picture I made there.

(photography by Muzammil)

And these were a few of the beautiful pictures I took in the Old Town of Prague. This place kept me dreaming for days, I got so attracted to the old structures and the purity of the city as I'm a big fan of oldies and Vintage. Prague is one of the places where we can still feel like living in the old style in the New Generation.

"It is a prayer I make for the dead, 

While it is a blessing for the living, 

We all got a chance to sing and dance in this lifetime, 

I want to sing a song not for anyone, 

But a song that my body will sing for my soul,

I want a memory to carry forever with me after I will pass away,

A memory that I once got an opportunity to experience Birth and Death, 

A memory that I once experienced Good and Bad times in this world, 

A memory that I once lived in a physical body,

Where the people of that place named it,

Muzammil...."

Teachings of Buddha in Vietnam...

"If the traveler cannot find a Master or a friend to go with him,

Let him travel alone,

Rather than with a fool for company...!'

(Buddha)

The local lady told us to sit in the middle of the boat and not to hold the side part, we will hit the other boats on the way - that was how our journey started, on a boat trip! She looked tiny but strong though, she did not stop oaring for almost thirty minutes. Such a peaceful place, the only thing I could hear around me were the wooden boats hitting each other along the small canals under the green trees, like she told us. Old and young, men and women, they were all around me in their tiny wooden boats that cannot carry more than six people, it should have a good balance. I thought I was standing in the middle of a Vietnamese movie, where I could see no polluting vehicles, so pure and calm area in between the islands.

(Photographed by Muzammil)

Talking about peace of mind, on our way to the canals we stopped by a Buddhist temple. It is one of the oldest temple in that area. I took some pictures worth sharing. Some moments when I was walking in this quiet place, I could feel my mind blew away in the silence, is that what they called 'lost in a trance?'

(Photographed by Muzammil)

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it,

Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many,

Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in your religious books,

Do not believe in anything merely on the authorities of your teachers and elders,

Do not believe in tradition because they have been handed down for many generations,

But after observation and analysis, after you find anything that agrees with reason and is conductive to the good and benefit of one and all,

Then accept it and live up to it..."

Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha)

(Photographed by Muzammil)

"Pain is inevitable, Suffering is optional..."

(The Buddha)

(Photographed by Muzammil)

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,

and life of that candle will not be shortened,

the same way Happiness never decreases when being shared..."

(Buddha)

These teachings brought me in a spiritual trance that is related to my daily life! This place was different, it was silent, peaceful, where I could detach myself from this materialistic world for a few minutes. A place where I could remember the teachings of Buddha. And I took you with me in the sayings of Buddha for a few minutes, let's get back to Vietnam.

(Photographed by Muzammil)

If poems form part of spirituality, the beautiful words from a song can take you far away in memories as well. And as long as a memory makes you smile, you are not far from God because a smile is part of Faith! These local ladies brought a joyful atmosphere with some traditional songs and music. They prepared some nice jasmine tea and brought us some fresh local fruits, with their beautiful long dresses and fine voices, we breathed the positive energy from this pure place. 

(Photographed by Muzammil)

We continued the way to the third Island. Actually the locals gave different names to the Islands, Turtle (represents Long Life), Dragon (Power) and Phoenix (Symbol of a new beginning). The third island is well recognized for the tasty coconut and we got a chance to see them preparing coconut candy. Let me show you one of the best pictures I took at this place.

(Photographed by Muzammil)

I sat down for a few minutes, observed this little girl. She was so focused in her job and her little fingers were arranging candies in the box. What could possibly be on her mind? A bright future? Could she be thinking of the outside world? A world of great opportunities? But definitely she was born in a land where people will always gather to get some moments of peace in their life.

(Photographed by Muzammil)

As we crossed the river, the largest river three kilometers wide but so long that it flows all the way to Thailand, we came across these floating houses that lie along the bank of the river. This was a completely different experience, these houses with bedrooms and kitchen floating on the river, something that I never saw before. Every part of the world is holding some unique experience, as long as the inhabitants are happy its a pleasure to share it to the rest of the world.

(Photographed by Muzammil)

And that was my journey in Vietnam, under the green trees in the wild brown colored river and the tiny canals. They say the river is not dirty, the fact that it comes from a long distance all the way from the mountains, they believe its carrying silk and make the place in Vietnam so rich in soil and water. That is why in this area all the trees and coconut are so green and healthy. Such a beautiful day in that place, really worth sharing. I hope you felt the energy I absorbed from this country through my pictures and the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha). 

"And through the canals under the huge green trees, we made our way back to reality..."

Muzammil

We call it Africa, They call it Home...

"If Life is a balance, then the more higher we climb, the lighter we get! And those who do not climb, are always the heavier ones...! Are we talking about weight or feelings, poverty or wealth?"

During my journey in Africa, I came across this lucky day where I got a chance to visit Uganda. I did not take many pictures, but the few ones I got, will surely give you the positive vibes I felt among the locals. After all it is Africa, all I expected when I reach there were everything I heard and watch on documentaries, Mosquitoes, Malaria and that I had to be careful about Hygiene - But it was completely the opposite, Uganda was one of the most hygienic State I had been in this continent so far.

(Photographed by Muzammil)

"Whether it is Big or Small,
Peace of Mind goes beyond your thought,

 when there is a place in a corner of this world that belongs to you..."

(Photographed by Muzammil)

I met these girls on my way to Victoria Lake, they reminded me of my childhood friends, always together so many things to share and lie about! They were wearing torn clothes and hugged until they reach the lake. This place looks different in the picture, but it was quite animated, lots of housewives selling vegetables, some of them were making grilled corns while others were peeling vegetables in their garden for dinner. 

(Photographed by Muzammil)

"We are all born with different skills,
But sometimes we get so busy admiring the talent of others,
And we forgot that we are also gifted..."

He was selling some freshly roasted peanuts,  if you could see that basket, well arranged and he would never touch it, walked for kilometers, until he had a customer. These people might look dangerous for some among you, but the moments I shared with them, they changed the weird dangerous concept I had about Africans - of course there are places to avoid like in every country!

(Photographed by Muzammil)

"Do you still remember these little games we used to play during our childhood?

At that time, everything that looks interesting would made our day,

 and it will be the greatest discovery among our friends!"

(Photographed by Muzammil)

I reached the beautiful and biggest lake in Africa, Victoria Lake. An amazing view of kids playing around, local women doing laundry on the big stones while local men were busy fishing, playing cards, washing cars and big gathering of teens. There was a big positive vibes around, with the huge birds I never saw before sitting by the trees. 

(Photographed by Muzammil)

There are some experiences that come across our way during our lifetime, that we cannot share with others! I'm sure you know what I am talking about. Some days that we saw and felt, even if we say it to people around us, they won't feel the energy we felt on the spot, while others might think we are just showing off! This was one of the day I spent with these people at this beautiful place, where I can never forget. 

(Photographed by Muzammil)

These kids were amazing, in the beginning they were shy but after I approached them and talk to them, they started posing for me. I can say they are very photogenic and really good models - After all, once people get to know Muzammil, nobody refuse to take a picture with me ! (Showing off) 

(Photographed by Muzammil)

And that was my journey in that beautiful and clean city. The experiences they shared with me, I tried to capture some moments and hopefully you enjoy them. On the way back, I was thinking about the games they make with woods, running around after the wheels, the natural foods they are eating from their garden they help their parents to crop and what do they really think about the kids living on the other side of the world! Those kids who are raised in a closed building, sitting down all day at school and eating chemical foods everyday! I wonder who should come in need for the world?  

We always work hard to reach our goal, to reach the highest peak but then we forgot our deep personality down there where we started. 

"Life is a balance of faith,

 the more trustworthy and deep our heart is,

 the less higher we climb!

 The world needs only one of  the rich hearted people to lift up the arrogant ones!"

Muzammil