Multiculturalism vs. Globalization

So, now Multiculturalism? "Multiculturalism -- generally understood as meaning no single culture or set of values should be promoted above any other -- was encouraging different cultures to live separate lives, said Cameron."
I guess many ..ismS and ..ationS are going to be created! 

Gibran on Love

THEN said Almitra, Speak to us of Love. And he raised
his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a
stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said: When
love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard
and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the
sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when
he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter
your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

***

When you love you should not say, ‘God is in my heart,’ but
rather, ‘I am in the heart of God.’

The Sufi Tannoura Dance (Al Darawish)

A friend of mine was here in Cairo, so I decided to take her to this amazing performance.

This Sufi- type of the Tannoura dance has a very special characteristic as it relies heavily on the dancer’s unlimited moves in circles. This rounded move is a reflection of a special philosophical concept in the Islam Sufi rituals known as the Mulawia sect. Believers of this concept see the universe stems from the same point of rotation. As the universe starts and ends from the same point, the senior dancer (Lafife) who represents the sun, will always start and end his movement from that point. Meantime, the junior dancers (Hanatia), representing the stars,will be moving around him.

Children of City of the Dead in Cairo

Three children playing in front of the Cemetery

a child inside the Cemetery

 

More infro about the City of the Dead here and here.

The Tomb of the last Iranian (Persian) Shah

There are several amazing mosques in Cairo not only for their architectural style and beauty, but for their historical role. And one of those mosques is Masgid (Mosque) El-Rifai'i. I loved this place after my first visit in 2008. But that time I didn't know there are the resting places of several members of the Egyptian royal family.
So, one day I paid a visit to Masgid El-Rifai'i again, it was on 26th of October, 2009.
The mosque was filled with an incredible aroma of flowers. The fragrance was coming from left side of the mosque, where I noticed a big wooden gateway. I couldn't suppress my interest and went to discover what there was. The doorman said it's a big hall for kings' tombs (burial chamber). In order to see that chamber, I paid him some baksheesh (tips) and received the permission to enter. There were the tombs of Isma'il Pasha; King Farouk (the Last king of Egypt), and some other very famous and important individuals. But still, I couldn't find any flower near these tombs. Then I realized that on the left side there is another chamber. Entered and found myself in a "flower paradise". It was wonderful and incredible. The magnificently decorated room with marble holds the tomb of the last Shah of Iran Mohamed Reza Shah Pahlavi, who died here after spending his last time in exile in Cairo in 1980.  The mosque served briefly as the resting place of Reza Shah Pahlavi of Iran, who died in exile in South Africa in 1944, and was returned to Iran after World War II. I didn't stay there very long that day, as it was Shah's birthday and that's why the tomb was decorated with flowers. The guy told me that a delegation shall come and I had to leave. Here are some photos taken during my following visits.

Sultan Hassan(L) and El Rifai'i R) mosques, view from the Citadel of Salah el-Din

El Rifai'i mosque

Entrance

  

the tomb of Mohamed Reza Shah

the map of Iran

the blazon on the gravestone

Interior of the tomb

the gravestone