SAND SURFING IN THE DESERT DUNES

http://www.lamadeserttours.com/

Contact: Manager - Bhai Ali Neemuchwala M - 00971504961127

This post is in gratitude to Bhai Ali Neemuchwala, who had arranged for us at short notice, a very memorable and exiting tour of the sand dunes, located on the Hatta - Oman Highway.

The SUV picked us up from Sharjah at around 3 in the afternoon, and within 2 hrs we reached the dunes, in anticipation and excitement.

A convoy of 10-12 SUV's assembled at the base of the dunes, and slowly with deflated tyres, we started to make the climb. The drivers know their job well, are fully trained, so in order to get us into the groove, the initial climb was at a slow pace.

Within minutes we reached some height, and then the real fun began. As the highway receded and we were sucked into the dunes, the car picked up speed, the sand like rising wave flustered the windscreen, and at the top bend of the dune, I found my driver at 45 degree angle below me, and within minutes as the car hurl ted downward, on a steep incline, I found myself down at somewhat same angle, looking up to my driver, in awe and excitement.

The flip flop continued from one dune to another at faster pace, and within half hour we were surfing the sand and enjoying the experience. As the sun mellowed, it was a heavenly experience, to see it coming down fast on the desert sands. The convoy slowed down and for about 30 minutes, we slowly moved on towards the setting sun, and finally arrived at the camp gate.

It is interesting to note, that the sand dunes are Sharjah territory and the Camp is situated in the Dubai territory.

As the dunes were completely enveloped in darkness, we arrived at the Camp site, it looked like a lighted up oasis. The camp site gives one a complete Arab Experience, with good food to be had in real desert atmosphere.

Bhai Ali was keen that we also experience the unique Dubai Creek outing, but unfortunately we had commitments. So Dubai Creek and Wild Wadi has to wait, till our next trip Insa Allah. November to March is the ideal time to visit the Gulf, as the climate good.

LEHMAN BROTHERS

In this very troubled and taxing times, I have managed to keep my promise, made in the earlier post, of making readers, aware of Lehman Brothers. My earlier post had tried to expose the underbelly of our community, although I had been very cautious, but still I seem to have offended many, hurt their feelings, for which I am real sorry. (one recognized mailing list, returned back by post, stating ‘in appropriate content’ and I got the hint)

But there are no regrets ,as far as that I have been able to convey the truth, and pray who would have heard me, if not for the economic meltdown.

Had it not been for Lehman Brothers, who in the community would have heard me, if I had suggested on obtaining very tangible barakat products, that would have benefited mumineen in both Deen and Duniya. The products obtained by investing in the general community good and in its people, who are in need of financial support to live a better life, to succeed in their trade callings.

The ‘Upliftment Product’ of investing surplus funds in the education of mumineen students, who would like to pursue higher education, who have obtained admission on merit in good colleges, but lack of funds, are forcing them to back out, and seek employment in firms offering meager pay. A case in point is the life of thousands of our mumineen eking out an existence in the Gulf.

I have interacted with many, know their talents and aspirations, but there are unable to realize their dreams, because of a particular mindset. I know of a very big Industrialist, saying to his mumin employee in the Gulf ‘ Saleh, tane je salary aapu chu, etla ma 2 mallu rakhi saku -samjo !!!

The tangible returns on the Upliftment Produtcs is ‘sawab’ and I need not stress the fact, that if your are true believing mumineen, you will disagree with me, on this point. The smile and joy you bring on the face of the child, whose education, you agree to sponsor, the emotions of ‘shukr’ readily seen on the haggard face, who you have just helped, by giving medical aid, the housing colony, you manage to construct and provide to those, who are living in squalor and dirty neighborhood, and manage to get back your investments, in not 1 year, as they will surely default, but in ten years period. Please do try out this long haul 10 year product, and you will never fail.

The tangible benefit will be, that you will have helped in changing the ‘life style’ of many, and Allah Willing and with doa mubarak of our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS) with the change in ‘life style 'and better living conditions, the subdued talents of those, whom you have helped, may flower and they may be able to pay off their KH much faster.

I am not talking ‘out of the hat’ I have real examples to prove my point.


Pray why have I coined this word – Upliftment Products, the reason is simple. Many have invested in dubious financial products, and are silently regretting. I really pity them. But now when I talk of an Upliftment Product, they will readily understand, and as for the returns accrued also, they will be willing to listen. The recent News Report from Singapore 29th Oct: is a case in point.

‘ About 10,000 retail investors in Singapore bought more than 500 million Singapore dollars (333 million US Dollars) of the products linked to Lehman, with about 1400 of them pumping 103 million Singapore dollars in the DBS HIGH NOTES FIVE.

The redemption value of the Notes due to mature on Nov: 08 is ZERO.

This is just one financial product, there are many like this biting the dust. Products that people were lured to buy. Had it not been for Lehman Brothers and its undoing, no one, I am sure would have even the time, to read my post and about our community centric ‘Upliftment Products’

It is precisely to thank my friend Richard Fuld CEO - Lehman Brothers,. that I sought an appointment with him, which he readily accepted, under the changed circumstances. Over cups of frappuccino at Starbucks New York outlet, I first regretted that he had been punched in the face by an angry American, who lost all his retirement benefits. He chuckled and confided in me, that was nothing compared to the estimated $ 450 million in compensation, that he was taking home !!!

The reasons behind this economic meltdown are many, if you are interested in the subject, reams and reams of print and electronic material is available. Srikumar Bondhyopadhya has written an insight providing article in The Telegraph – Calcutta 27 Oct: 2008., as to the reasons behind this meltdown.

I will not go into the details, as I have managed to make my point. GREED is the tectonic force, which had been building up, in the faults of the apparently sound appearing economic edifice.

As one mumimeen bhai rightly commented on my earlier post, it is a matter of time, before the Sensex shoots upward, the real estate market overcomes the jitters, and every one will be back to making money.

So thank you Lehman Brothers for giving me a window of opportunity to convey the tenets of my faith and Deen to my community members, in the language, which they readily understand.

If any good comes out of it, and I am confident it will, I offer it as a hadiyah to my beloved Aqa Moula (TUS) and if there is any error of judgment on my part, or I have hurt the feelings , or have failed to convey my thoughts correctly, the entire onus is on me.

If you are convinced by this post that the UPLIFTMENT PRODUCT that I have managed to bring into focus, has intrinsic and long term benefits, do start investing in it please.

THE PARTY BEGINS - I'M LOVIN' IT

THANK YOU Lehman Brothers for starting the PARTY. As this blog is community centric, I will be writing only from our perspective. We are a trading community, so every one is well aware of the implication of the recent economic meltdown.

But you will be wondering why I am going out of my way, thanking Lehman Brothers Be ready, I am in the best Party mood now, so you are bound to notice, a little change in my style of writing this post.

AQA MOULA (TUS) had been telling all along, particularly with great emphasis after Al-Multaqul- Fatemi-ul- Ilmi 1398H (1977-78). I will not go into the details. Every one is well aware of, and his keynote address is on record. Syedi Sadik Ali sahib had said it long back, in his most inimitable style, in nashihat after nashihat. But pray who was listening.

Foreclosure, insider trading, forward trading, leverage, mortgages, investments parked in different weird financial products, that few really understood, were ruling the minds of, sorry to say, many of our own community members, many, sorry to say who were regarded as Intellectuals, purely on the basis of the assets they possessed. They strutted around on community platforms and forums. The Fatemi attire was all in place, the platitudes, outward pretence, was all in place, but inside something real was missing.

It is Lehman Brothers who have proved Aqa Moula (TUS) right by going bust, and starting a tsunami all around the world, leading to carnage, blood bath, rising and falling like gigantic Mexican wave, that has rumbled through the global markets, ripping pockets and reputation.

Here in this post I am only concerned with the reputation and ripping of the pockets of our community members. If any one cares to read my blog profile, they will come to know that ‘social work’ is my passion. I do not myself know why, and although I get a lot of ‘stick’ at times, I continue to indulge in my passion.

Now when many of our own brethrens, termed paper wealth parvenus (as put in by The Telegraph Friday 24th) are at the risk of turning into paupers, how can I remain immune. All these years, it has been my lot to reach out to all those, who somehow came to me for medical aid, educational aid etc: and although I have failed many a times, I have tried to assuage a few, by seeking financial help from donors.

So my immediate concern when the economic meltdown story made the headlines, was towards our brethren. I am a real dud when it comes to understanding economy, and matters of finance. However, the plight is such, that I have skipped work today, just in order to find out, if I can be of any help to my fellow mumineen.

I am so very pained to see their sullen faces, and I want to reach out to them, in this time of their need. So in order to understand the reason I simply googled ‘the main reason for the economic meltdown,’ and thousands of links popped up on my browser. As I told you earlier, I am real dud, when it comes to matters of finance, I was simply overwhelmed by the statistic and data, but it was my passion to reach out to fellow mumineen, who are in ‘real soup’ mumineen, who are with each passing day seeing their investments dwindle, mumineen who cannot fathom what is happening, why it is happening, so I tried my level best to understand the root of the problem.

After spending nearly six long hours at the computer, skipping lunch, and being reprimanded by my wife, for being good for nothing, pursuing matters, which least concerns us, I finally found the answer. If you are diseased and once you come to know the cause of your illness, chances of your recovery will be fast. So first the prime cause, has to be ascertained. After much effort and pain I have found out the real cause of this economic meltdown. It is my dear friends



THE GREED OF MANKIND TO ACQUIRE WEALTH

Are you surprised at this simple answer, arrived after so much research. Believe me, this is the truth friends, and remember, truth is always simple, falsehood is more complex ( read the earlier paragraph starting ‘ foreclosure, insider trading etcJ

Hope I have made my point clear. What I have found out after so much painstaking effort, had already been around for so many years. Rasulallah (S.A.) Moulana Ali (SA) Imams (SA) Doat Mutlaqeen (RA) and our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS) has been saying it all along.

But it needed a Jewish family controlled firm LEHMAN BROTHERS to emphatically bring in the truth to our believing mumineen, by going bust.

Hope I have made my point clear. More about Lehhman Brothers in future post. I would like to get views and opinions on my post, and any one brave enough to write, how the meltdown has effected his holdings. They need not disclose their name, only an admission from them will suffice.

CLIMBING UP MOUNT ZIMARMAR - YEMEN

( At Khaif ul Nayeem - Hutaib Mubarak, making best of the barakat received by reading from the Ashara Vaaz Mubarak - 1429H)

(Climbing Zimarmar and getting the sharaf of azan at the masjid)

Years of longing and prayers culminated to fruition when Air Jazeera touched down at S'ana airport, late in the afternoon on 3rd Oct: 2008. After a comfortable night stay at rubaat, our group was told that early morning we will be taking the exiting and difficult trek to Mount Zimarmar.


Although I was armed with a walking stick, climbing mount Zimarmar was out of question for me, on account of my medical disability. I had been running fever the previous night, so although I had secretly wished that I would undertake the trek, I was also not sure how the day will unfold.


After some theatrical scenes , of arguments, hand gesticulations. holding up the Quran and pulling out the dagger, which only the local Yemini are at good at, as our group watched in awe and fear, of our having to return back from the foot of the mountain, where some local leader was telling us to return back, our driver -Hasan Al-gairi came running to our SUV exclaiming 'khalas ! Khalas!' For a moment we thought, that's the end, we will have to return back. But 'khalas' signified that the deal has been struck, and we proceeded.


After a few minutes ride, we came out of the SUV and the climb began. Before I proceed further, herein below is my medical report, which would be of interest to Medical Professionals. As for my MRI report, I distinctly recall the words of the physio therapist, who after examining had commented, that I should not bend forward, should not walk much, and utmost care should be taken, or else I will be completely bed ridden.


‘The findings are suggestive of sacralisation of L5 with degenerative changes in lumbar spine. Postero lateral disc herniation at L1, L2 to L4, L-5 are compressing the thecal sac, cauda equine nerve roots and both neural foramina with encroachment on both exiting L4 nerve roots. There is secondary central canal stenosis at these levels, particularly at L-2 L3 & L4 levels. Spinal canal at L5- S1 is narrowed due to sacralisation. ‘
Dr. S.K. Sharma MD

If that is not enough I am also afflicted with arthritic in both knees, and many have suggested the most currently ‘in thing’ knee joint replacement surgery.

I am thinking of forwarding my Zimarmar mountain climb video clip to Dr. S.K. Sharma, and await his comments. An orthopedic surgeon at Apollo had told me, a year back, that if I do not go for immediate open spine surgery, I will be in real trouble, as my condition is degenerative, and with passing time, I will not be able to walk, as the nerves will slowly die.
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As I slowly made my way up, the fresh mountain breeze may have steeled my resolve, not to give up, give it a try, for at the top I will be blessed with the ziyarat of three Doat Mutlaqeen, and be able to say my Zohar namaz in the Masjid. I surprised my own self, by climbing the mountain, being steady at the steep bends, and keeping with the group.



As I climbed higher, confidence grew, and at times I wondered, how is this possible ? I am blessed to have a son -in-law, who is a MD-FRCP and it bemused me to think, that I was not adhering to his medical advice. As I climbed up and up, the trek became more and more perilous, and my family were also amazed. All those who know me, are well aware, how difficult it is for me to walk, a pronounced limp is there, and much effort is needed on part. As my walk and the difficulty is apparent to any one who sees me, I receive countless advice from well wishers, and at times from unknown passerby also. It ranges from open spine surgery, yoga, Ayurveda, physiotherapy, homeopathy, you name it.


After the MRI was done, I had made arz in Hazrat Aliyah Imamiyah seeking advice to go for open spine surgery, and was blessed with a reply that I will get 'shifa' which implied that I should not go for surgery.



Finally after an exhilarating climb I finally managed to reach the Masjid and was greeted by the group on my feat, and received the honor of giving azan for zohar namaz.

What is the point in sharing about my experience and my exploits. Is it self promotion ? Am I seeking self praise or accolades ? At this age I need none of all these. What it is than ? Why am I writing this post ?

The reason for writing this post is based on the firm foundation of 'shukr'.

As I slowly made my way to the top of mount Zimarar, I became aware of my medical condition, and introspected on what has made this climb possible in spite of my disability and the frightening medical reports. With each step leading towards the summit, I remembered all the terminally ill mumineen cases, that I had come across, their fight to overcome the pain, the vortex of clinical trials and tests, repeated dialysis, chemos, aggressive medical treatments, days and months on end on life support systems, the medical vortex that completely drained the financial resources and the spirits of the family, whose member was unfortunately inflicted with the disease.


Families who were barely able to support their livelihood, being made to run from pillar to post, to arrange for rising financial bills, knowing fully well the end result. I had expressed my concerns in my previous post on the subject. The need for the community to come forward and help those, who need no more than the best of Nursing facilities, hospices that will provide comfort and relieve pain. Hospices established near the ziyarat centres like Burhanpur, Mandvi, Hasanfir etc: where those 'lailaz' patients get the best of 'ilaz' of clean enviorment, best medical attention (not aggressive medical therapies ) human love and understanding and care.

Youngsters can do volunteer khidmat, while staying at the roza mubarak. The possibilities are endless. There is a need for joint effort.

Hope my post will evoke a positive responce from, experts in the field of medical practice, who are interacting with a number of such cases.

Now that I have put into public domain my medical disability and my feat of climbing Mount Zimarmar, I seek answers from you, as to what made it possible. For I am sure, in the answers you will provide,. will be found the solution to the treatment of coping with permanent disability, and life threatening diseases

There are many things in life, which we cannot merely 'wish away' but at least we can learn how to cope with it, and Allah Willing, with the Doa Mubarak of Aqa Moula (TUS) with right guidance and advice, we can also succeed in overcoming it.

I hope my post will evoke a positive response, and on a personal note, if this idea and dream of mine, is carried to the next level, my climbing of Zimarmar will have served the purpose.

Hope and pray that something positive evolves from my climb of Mount Zimarmar.






Khaif ul Nayeem - all alone in contemplation, when the group had left. This is the real beauty of Yemen. You feel so small, surrounded by mountains. Solitutude and peace surrounds you. You get an opportunity to go back in time, and feel how it would have been when Syedna Hatim Moula (RA) would be imparting 'sabak' to the fortunate few assembled in the shade of the cool enviorns of the 'khaif', surrounded by mountains, on all sides.