Reflections
My cousin is in the tourism industry and has managed to drag me along to Antalya, on the southern coast of Turkey, due to some business he has here with some Kuwaitis. The flight took us about an hour and we landed yesterday evening, after many delays. Courtesy of the Turkish ministry of tourism I am now staying at a deluxe resort in one of the king size suites till tomorrow evening. Whilst my cousin went around his meetings today, I took the liberty of exploring the place and making use of the facilities. It is very difficult for somebody like me to feel at ease in a place like this, it is far too luxurious and extravagant for my taste, there is something about it which makes me uncomfortable. I think earlier today, I realised why that was the case.
I think Man is always striving to recreate his vision of paradise on earth. At lunch today, I had tender birds meat, all the fruit I could want, and beautiful water lapping gently underneath my feet as I sat in the shade to cool myself from the sun. At the same time, I am constantly reminded of how stunning Russian women can look, I am literally surrounded by leggy, slim and busty beauties. Unlike the boorish women in England and America, there are thankfully much less of those hideous tattoos that are so fashionable - and which make me feel so nauseous - to see. At the same time, the Qur'anic parallel's could not be more striking in my mind as I looked around myself in disbelief. Somehow, this is all not real, as if I was eating sand, and watching the walking dead. In this world there is nothing that is permanent and we should always remind ourselves of this fact, I think I understood today that what will make paradise so beautiful is not all that surrounds those fortunate enough to make it there, but the beauty of those who are there. Wonderful souls that deserve to be there because of all they endured or strived for. Around me I only saw ugly people stuffing their faces - I think that seems a bit extreme now that I re-read what I've written, but I suppose the temptations and enticements surrounding me are themselves extreme, so if I vent off a little here to keep things in perspective then maybe I can be forgiven. Whilst I say what I just have, I act as if it is the most natural thing in the world for me to be here and quickly strike a rapport with whichever beauty I happen to be sharing a jazuzzi or sauna with - truly what a strange situation I find myself in.
I have never felt as lonely and as far away from Allah as I do here, in this place...
4 comments:
I have not been at any luxury suite of any deluxe resort but around the city of Antalya for a few days - some years ago ... and can well understand your sentiments.
... that what will make paradise so beautiful is not all that surrounds those fortunate enough to make it there, but the beauty of those who are there."
I LIKE THAT.
A bit harsh when it comes to your generalisation about women in Britain and America, don't you think? Comparing them to the beautiful people sunning themselves in a luxury resort?!
This notwithstanding, some great stuff in this post. I have stayed in some gorgeous hotels when singing here and there, but luxury often speaks of emptiness, the aspirations of hopeless people.
It's my belief that we will all need a bit of a soul-makeover for paradise. Some will be fortunate enough to receive most of their makeover in this life, and I look to people whose lives seem harsh or mundane but who live it with an attitude of celebration - there I see people on heaven's threshold.
I don't see much of this in five star resorts.
Karın,
Thanks for the kind words!
Boxthejack,
I think you're right, it is harsh. Then again, I've seen British and American women in holiday resorts and it hasn't been pretty most of the time :)
As for heavens threshold, I hope that we are counted amongst them.
It looks like neither Michel Kilo, nor Adonis, not even Russian beauties can impress you. It's hard to make you happy
:D :D
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