I was having a night time text conversation with Shamir. Learned something about myself, found a new label to describe my existence. This is how it went.
Me: It doesn’t matter where we meet tomorrow. I am going through my YouTubes for and writing. So I can do that anywhere.
He: Yes, you can do that anywhere.
Me: Have Wifi Will travel.
He then sent me a screen shot of a Google page Digital Nomad (interestingly an AI Overview)
A digital nomad is someone who combines remote work with travel, leveraging technology to work from various locations, often crossing borders and experiencing different cultures. They typically have minimal material possessions and work from places like cafes, co-working spaces, or temporary housing, relying on the Internet for communication and work. Digital nomadism is a lifestyle choice that allows for location independence and a nomadic way of life.
He: Food for thought.
Me: WOW! That is totally me. Crossing borders, experiencing cultures, temporary housing. Wow and you found it on your own with no help from me!
He: Indépendant Dépendant Hahaha
Me: Innovator of the day, you won that prize. Maybe even weak. Spelled it wrong on purpose. Hahaha
He: A true innovator
A digital nomad is definitely what I have become after fleeing California as my new found Islamic Faith called forth an Islamaphobic reaction. (Such as polite way of saying it)
My nomadic existence is being brought home to me (how is that for a play on words). It is because I am organizing my YouTube channel. It is not reorganization because it is such a mess. Nesh magically appeared in my life. His appearance was aided and abetted by Shamir and his father Mohan. Nesh was doing work for them, promoting and publicizing their Kashmir Restaurant. We were introduced and it is SO inspiring!!! But now in its embryonic stages it is involving a lot of shall we say legwork on my part.
Legwork is “an uncountable noun. You use legwork to refer to work that involves physical activity such as interviewing people or gathering information, especially when this work forms the basis of other, more intellectual work.” Another definition brought home the boring part: work that involves much traveling about to collect information, especially when such work is difficult but boring. I do not have to travel per se, but travel back in time, looking at videos of my past life. It is both boring and painful.
But, (to get ahead of myself) I am giving up my digital nomad existence. I have (sort of) settled down. I am going to make Malaysia my second (actually first) home. The procedure is terribly complicated and expensive, and time consuming. I will have to make another visa run but other than that I have no travel plans. My lease on this stay apartment ends in December – that marks utter and complete stability for a nomad. Haha
I feel safe in Malaysia. Israel, the war monger, habitually and continually fires off pre emotive strikes aimed at countries who has something Israel wants. There is no evidence whatsoever that Israel is interested in street food, serene beaches and countryside and the nicest people in the world. Hahaha The antonym of war monger is a pacifist (by the way)
Pacifism, the adjective, holds the belief that war and violence are unjustifiable.
The stability, this sense of home, is being reflected in many ways. The screen saver on my computer is a photo taken of the Penang Floating Mosque. Took the photo from my patio, posted it on Instagram, titling it HOME. This was the caption: “Returned from a trip to KL to view this from my Penang apartment. It is so wondrously peaceful on this grey day. The Penang Floating Mosque pictured at dawn.” Music plays in the background: Joumule Peacefully Beautiful. First the good news, then the bad news. Good news: 167 views Bad News: only 7 Likes.
Decided to Google it, and ended up with an AI answer. That began a tangent, that I am not sure I want to get into at this present time. (A tangent is a completely different line of thought or action) I will copy and paste the research and work done on the topic but then save it for a rainy day. Hahaha I live in Malaysia, not Saudi Arabia, so look for a AI Rant soon.
If you say that you are saving something, especially money, for a rainy day, you mean that you are saving it until a time in the future when you might need it.
Returning from KL had an unintended result: I fell in love. Not with a guy (thankfully) but with my Paradise view ( all over again). . It is not unrequited love. I was sure that Allah (SWT) was welcoming me back. Sent a photograph to my WhatsApp folks with the caption Sunset this July 2025 evening. Shamir immediately responded.
He: Amazing is an understatement
Me: Not taking any credit, she said modestly. It is my Pro Max and Allah painting the sky as a brilliant man once said.
He: Yes
Me: He modestly said
He: Allah makes Leonardo da Vinci look like a toddler with crayon
Me: That is PROFOUND It’s going on the blog.
He: Maybe a handless toddler.
Me: You have gone from a Paper Muslim to a Cardboard Muslim to, what is now a Bauxite Muslim.
He: I need to Google what that means.
Me: I am not exactly sure. But I think it’s one up from cardboard. Hey go ask AI .
He did it, sent the Google screen shot.
“ Bauxite is the most common ore of aluminum. Extraction of aluminum metal takes place in three main stages: mining of bauxite ore, refining the ore to recover alumina, and smelting alumina to produce aluminum. Other raw materials are mined as aluminum ore but their use is minor compared to bauxite.’
Me: See it is definitely one hundred percent up from cardboard.
He: Definitely 100 per cent
Me: You are a Metallic Muslim. Went from paper to cardboard to metallic in three days. Now that is progress. And Allah does not expect perfection. Just progress.
He: What a progress!
Me: You are a metallic Muslim and we have not even started on the bedtime stories I will read to you from the book I purchased in KL
This might be considered word play, and, to some pious Muslims, almost blasphemous. However, there is a widespread crisis in the faith . It was a Instagram conversation with a woman who will remain anonymous,unless and until, I get her permission to acknowledge her on the blog. She had posted a Story, which is now unavailable so I cannot quote it.
The following conversation took place.
Me: That was a fascinating read as I am a revert. ❤️ (by her)
She: I think a lot of us born Muslim take Islam for granted. Not all, of course, but a lot.
Me: Yes, I totally agree with you. As a revert I began to study the faith with knowledge of other religions, science, history etc et which enabled me to appreciate the complexity of the faith, realizing its truth. A child born in the faith could not have this knowledge. I think Muslims should be required to take a refresher course. Hahahaha
She: Or just a course really. With no cultural bias. In Malaysia growing up people seem to get confused between race and religion. And place importance on outward worship and not focus inward.
Me: I totally agree with you!! Looking like a Muslim, not acting like a Muslim.
She: Yes, sadly. During the Prophet (PBUH) twenty three year mission, the first 13 years was practicing building on a solid belief inward.
Me: Yes, with much solitude preparing him for his very public role and responsibilities. One realizes this, and lives with him throughout his lifetime by reading Martin Lings book Biography of the Prophet (PBUH): From the Earliest Sources.
She: Yes such a good book of Sirah. .
(Al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya, commonly shortened to Sīrah and translated as prophetic biography, are the traditional biographies of the Islamic prophet Muhammad written by Muslim historians, from which, in addition to the Qurʾān and ḥadīth literature, most historical information about his life and the early history of Islam is derived.
Returning to the conversation with Shamir we went on discuss other matters, transportation from Paradise to Lyf. I have now checked back into Lyf for a day or so – being so warmly welcomed back and meeting tourists from other countries – some from South Korea and others from China. Of course, I pass out my blog cards with great enthusiasm, laugh with them and answer that age old question: Where are your from??? It will haunt me until the day I die; when I (Inshallah) reach Jannah:
They: Where are you from?
Me: Same place as you. Earth, the dunya. Fortunately it was a short stay. The Quran tells us that it will seem such a short stay when on the Day of Judgment the blessed believers enter Jannah.
