And there he goes. 8 months came and went by. Friendships forged and now we have a friend from Tokyo! 

Safe trip to Phuket and back to Tokyo Tasuke Kato! 😊

Ana finally turned 23! 

The baby of the family isnt a baby anymore. I had envisioned the cake cutting ceremony to be slightly more enjoyable but I should have known better. Putting so much effort into something will always backfire. The chances of having something go according to plan is soooo slim that I'd be surprised if there wasn't a hiccup. 

Turning 23, going on a Europe trip in less than a week. Returning two weeks later, only to fly off again to Japan for another three months. You better miss me kid. Who's going to accompany me to sleep now? 

World peace

Two years ago, my friends and i decided to go for a trip to Istanbul. My mum who was fine with it initially became very protective and suddenly told me to change my plans. 

"I dont mind you going for a holiday in the EU. It's safer there. Just not Istanbul. It's not safe.." 

I went ahead with much convincing in December. A month or two later, there was a bombing that occured near where I stayed. I was deeply shakened by it. Alhamdulillah! Allah has decided that it wasn't my time to go. 

Fast forward to today, I've received news that there was another act of terror in Stockholm. Astarghfirullah hal 'azim. The EU/UK is no longer safe. I've faced discrimination in the UK and that was before all these act of terrors became predominant. 

Thanks to a small group of people who thought that Jihad is all about killing non-muslims, wars and terror. They forgot that Jihad comes in many forms too. 

Jihad literally means struggle or strive. Jihad is struggling or striving in the way or sake of Allah. The greatest jihad is jihad of the heart and soul. Jihad of the nafs. To be able to refrain oneself from the whispers of shaitan. 

May Allah protect those of us who are there to seek knowledge, rezeki and happiness from any harm and discrimination. 

As cliche as it may sound, my only wish and prayer is for world peace where different religions are able to live side by side in harmony.