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On Yemen, Egypt & Jordan

From friend Mazen Chouaib, who recently wrote… “The challenge now in Egypt is to see how far these diverse groups can sustain the civil protest and present a counter offer…

Australian Sun & Oxygen: 137; Maha: -218

Canberra, where the streets are pristine and the lawns manicured; Canberra, where there’s nothing much to do. (At least not in terms of what I like to do while visiting…

Do you know Gene Sharp?

You should. His free booklet was used to instruct the Egyptian pro-democracy demonstrators. Please meet and read about him here. Comments closed.

Last photo taken in Hong Kong

Happy Chinese New Year (of the Rabbit)! Comments closed.

Twins on a ferris wheel at Luna Amusement Park, Sydney

Though to post later, I currently type this while seated on the ledge of the pier alongside Luna (amusement) Park. After breakfasting at Kings Cross organic market, lunching at the…

Hong Kong Wrap-Up Dispatch no 4

Having decided to completely nerd it out yesterday, I took The Big Bus Tour of Stanley Market and sat on the upper deck where I almost fell into a state…

Hong Kong Dispatch no 2

I had an hour and twenty minutes yesterday between the workday and then an evening work dinner. Juiced on perhaps 18 coffee and tea combinations, I decided to MTR myself…

Hong Kong Dispatch no1

I flew into Hong Kong on the back of a monsoon. Or perhaps a typhoon. Or just really hard rain. Air Canada lost my luggage; I am work traveling for…

Dearest Egypt

Alf alf alf alf mabrook!! BRAVO!! You are beyond a shadow of any doubt: Amazing. Thank you for being so righteous and brave – refusing to bring violence, but only…

#Jan25

The essence of political rap, courtesy of Freeway and featuring Amir Sulaiman, Ayah, The Narcicyst, and Omar Offendum. This is as badass as it gets. Comments closed.

Muslims & Christians in Egypt

I can count the number of times I have posted emails from readers, but this is one well worth it. “Hi Maha, I am Ri7am and I always read your…

The Fraudulent are Everywhere

.1. A well-known fact to the US Government: Omar Suleiman is not a man who will lead democracy. He is, however, pretty awesome at torture. Hurrah for America’s once again…

Comprehensive analysis on Egypt (and others)

For those of you asking after comprehensive information rather than mere reporting of current events, please take a poke through the Stratfor Global Intelligence website here. In order to read…

(Today) Paradise is at the feet of (Egyptian) mothers

Update 1: Ahmed will not in fact be making it in; at the police and army checkpoints, they are requesting to see Egyptian National ID cards. No one who is…

Lit Up is the Arabic Street

Update 2 Feb: Tahrir Square is turning into a bloodbath. Reports coming in that plain-clothed security forces have been let loose on the Square, and most exits blocked, so that…

The Treehouse has been put to sleep

After posters of Don Johnson, Kirk Cameron (pre fundamentalist Christianity) and Jason Bateman finally came down from my walls, it was Erté’s Girl on a Swing (a greeting card, believe…

Of Hunnam (a.k.a. What makes a man sexy?)

I recently purchased for the first time ever, Men’s Fitness magazine. Coincidentally, this was the cover: If you have been reading me long enough, you know I have two types:…

I inspired a character in a fiction short story (EEEE!!!!)

S (about whom I have here frequently written) said it in this way: “I thought…what would it have been like for me to meet Maha while we were children?” And…

NYC “Tourist”

Very strange how I used to travel last decade, and I am wondering if any of you have seen similar patterns in your behaviour? In my twenties I stubbornly refused…

NYC: Of Cupcakes and Kebabs

Ali and I just met. Technically, I stalked his exquisite photographic skills while still on the Face, when he tagged my girl Yasminah. Flipping through his photos gives the impression…

NBC should buy me dinner first

I am seated at Lexington enjoying a spicy pumpkin bisque soup and listening to Ben Harper. I am also listening to the couple next to me break up, because nothing…

Goose down is fun! (Also: NYC <3s $$)

It’s been a sopping wet rainy day in NYC. Foolishly, I came with parka and though light-as-a-feather when dry, it weighs approximately 27 kg when wet. Walking around this City,…

A Pint Sized NYC

Exceptional first night in NYC; evening started out with an in-depth literature and film discussion with Laurie. (Who is, quite possibly, one of the prettiest women on whom I have…

The Arab Dictator is here to stay

Please don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched. Notwithstanding the fact that this is a People’s revolution (rather than a military coup) in Tunisia, there is absolutely no strong indication…

Travel Until Spring

I won’t be in Canada for most of this coming winter, something that makes me both a little bit sad and a lot excited as it is much travel overseas…

Fertilizing 2011 with the transformative 2010

2010 has been an amazing, exciting and hope filled year for me, and from many of your emails, for most of you as well. Sadly, and no matter how much…

From Paris, with (much) Love

Dear Readers, I frequent too many a café while traveling. Once more, I write to you from a coffee shop, only this time I am in Paris on a street…

Day 39: The Wheel? I own it.

In addition to my obvious and possibly extreme competitive nature, please add to that a need to be the teacher’s pet. (Baby Jane, why do I automatically assume that you…

Day 37: What yoga teaches a non-cobbler…

Apart from the obvious “don’t step on someone else’s frikin’ mat”, “don’t talk in the frikin’ quiet room”, “keep the frikin’ door of the HOT room closed, so the heat…

2010, International Year of Biodiversity

Please take a moment to read, sign and then share this letter (to Prime Minister Stephen Harper) with every Canadian you know. Blog it. Tumbler it. Tweet it. Email it….

An Open Letter to BB

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Stupidity is missing your stop on an express bus with huge distances between stops.” On Blackberry Messenger two nights back I received…

Day 30: And the coloured girls ask Why The Face?(1)

I have received an unusual amount of messages from you, Readers, enquiring about the aforementioned “Maha’s Six Week Hot Yoga Challenge“. You are seeking both the how, and more sincerely…

Well done, University of Michigan

A protest against the IDF soliders visiting the campus to share their fibbing. Dig it. Comments closed.

Hot Yoga is Making Me Delirious

Dear Warrior Pose, F*#? YOU, you are a raging psychopath. Flipping you the bird and hoping you topple, M Dear Pigeon Pose, You are the worst named pose in the…

A Character Clown Named ‘Namaste’

Note: Thanks to you all for the emails. Sorry I have not written back – I haven’t had much energy. I have been in a funk of late and have…