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