waking up

Hala: so pretty.

So here's what happened: I was dead asleep in the middle of the night, a friend sends me an SMS message on my phone, then calls to make sure I read the message.
I'm tired, bitca, but okay. So I rouse myself from sleep, answer the call, and check the time.
Here's the sad part: upon realizing that I was awake in time for YWT, I immediately turn the TV on and tune in to CNN.

Lo and behold: Hala.

I can't remember much of it, I was going in and out of consciousness (yes, during my friend's phone call-- I am a horrible friend at 0300HKT), but I do remember passing judgment on her outfit (acceptable) and the last part, with Jim Bitterman's report on food being turned into musical instruments.
Hala's expression at the end of the report was priceless. I don't know what Jon Mann was saying, but Hala's expression was capped off by her statement:

"I don't think I'd like to eat something that someone has blown into."
- Hala (18jan2006)

i have a theory

Okay. Hajj stampede. I should be concerned, right, since Hala's been there and now Schams is delivering the update?

I have a theory. And it's that Hala's not in Mecca anymore. I'm probably wrong, but it's what I'm telling myself to not worry about someone I've never met (and probably never will).

Given how much promotion was done to publicize the Hajj coverage, I really expected more. At least more live updates. Her coverage a few years ago was much better. This time, I can't help the feeling of... I don't know. Like it's an extended Inside the Middle East report stretched out throughout the week.

But I have enjoyed seeing Hala throughout the week. The first report was... I don't want to say 'fun', but I will. It was fun. Then it became less about the Hajj experience and more about its implications, and now the pilgrims have made it about the pilgrimage again. Go pilgrims!

To answer Hala's thought:

I wonder as I look down on the crowds how ambulances would respond to emergencies during Hajj.

Well, not well enough, but what can you expect in a sea of pilgrims.

But, really: to be among thousands of people -- millions, even -- and walk? That takes a lot of religious fervor and faith, and you've got to give it to them for doing it.
Too bad the last part, the stoning of the devil, has not failed to produce stampedes and such tragedy.

Just to illustrate the number of people, and that Hala's not kidding with the "sea of pilgrims" description: (yes, all that white are people)

still photo borrowed from Starman.


"On the way out of the tent city of Arafat, we face crowd chaos of epic proportions."
- Hala (in the CNN diary)

italics are mine, but Hala: such a flair for the dramatic, you.

sand games

Finally. Hala sightings.

The main event of the Hajj starts soon, so hooray. Regular Hala check-ins.
I'm a bit in wonder regarding who are covering the Sharon illness. I know Guy Raz is there (poor guy must've been there for hours). But who else?

Haha. One of the reasons I love Hala:

As I squeeze my way past a group of singing Chinese Muslims, a woman in full black hijab, her face completely shrouded by a black face cloth, taps me harshly on the shoulder.

"It's un-Islamic. Un-Islamic!", she screams at me.

"What?" I ask, irritated at having been physically prodded.

The woman points accusingly at my forehead. "Un-Islamic" was what she was calling the strand of hair that had escaped from under my headscarf.

(CNN.com - Masks and Business at Hajj)

"Irritated at having been physically prodded". Sounds like Ms. Gorani, absolutely. And who else loves the "screams at me" part?

Can't Hala have a daily blog for the Hajj? Please, CNN?

Oh, and here's food for thought: each pilgrim at the Hajj has to have a goat slaughtered, and pay 500... um... dollars? Just, 500 bucks. Probably the local currency, I've forgotten my bits of information. Anyway: Each. One. Do the math.

Okay, now down to business. Inside the Middle East this week. I'm no big fan of Ben, but any report that gets the reporter drinking is fine by me. And any opportunity to see Alessio Vinci's surfing attempt is always fun, but to recycle Richard and Hala's Eye on the Middle East reports? That's just... okay, I have no idea who comes up with the show in its entirety, but shouldn't the recycling be done gradually?

Anyway.

Hala in that sand vehicle (whatever it's called) was... Inside the Middle East is a lifestyle program. So I will account Hala's glee of playing in the sand as part of the "lifestyle" programming.

And am I wrong to enjoy Hala's state of breathlessness after her ski run? :)

"We've run out of superlatives..."
- Hala