Cristina Istrati's Blog, page 4

Create your own heaven.

One of the many gifts God has blessed us with is free will. In my opinion, having the freedom to choose what you want for your life equals the ultimate bliss. There`s nothing greater than that, and it`s undoubtedly the expression of His unconditional love for us.

Since we`re talking about God`s unconditional love, it`s only normal to ask:

How can it be about something called heaven and hell if the subject is unconditional love?

If this love comes with these two choices – heaven and hell – then where is the unconditional part?

I have to say that I fail to see it, and I fail to see it because it`s not there, it doesn’t exist.

So, from my point of view, there is no marvelous place or a horrible one that is waiting for us, a place where we`ll be sent to according to our deeds. This is the idea that the church led us to believe but thank God!, this trick isn’t quite working anymore (to the church`s own disadvantage – yaay!:)) because people are coming to realize the truth. Good news so far : no heaven or hell – from a religious perspective. 

I`ll tell you what I do believe in: the power of a man`s mind. Yes, this is how he creates his heaven or hell and he does that through the way he thinks. No need to wait and die in order for a person to enjoy heaven, and this goes for the second option, too: no need to wait and die so that the punishment can be received. Absolutely not.

You can have either heaven or hell depending on the thoughts you think. And yes, this naturally means that you`re responsible for it as nobody is there to punish you.

Therefore, if we have the power to create our heaven and hell, isn’t it logical to make it worthwhile and choose the first option?:)) I believe so and it`s not only something that God wants you to do but He`ll be very proud of you for you will have made a very good and wise choice:))

How do I create my heaven?, you may ask as being a normal human being, you wouldn’t ask how you can create your hell, right?:D

Create your own heaven by choosing positive, harmonious thoughts. This is the first step. It`s not always easy but trust me, soo rewarding!:)

Choosing positive thoughts for you is not only a sign of self-love, care and appreciation but it`s also the path that leads you to the next step: feeling good, and this is where you want to be because when you feel good you are inside your heaven, you`re practically living it!

Going back to what I was saying earlier about the church: why is it that everybody was (and still is) so hurried to reach the kingdom of heaven?

It`s because heaven is associated with pure joy and love and happiness, right?:)) People believe that their souls will have been saved and live happy in the heaven, this is true but the only thing they missed out on is that heaven is happening right here and now, in this very second, minute, day, lifetime. You have positive thoughts – you live a good life – you live (in) your own heaven. You have negative thoughts – you live a miserable life – you live (in) your own hell. It`s a creative power that all of us possess. Nobody is forcing you to think positive and nobody is forcing you to think negative. Nobody in the world has that kind of power over you and nobody will ever have it. Everything is created by you, my dear friend:))

And God? He only wants what`s best for you and He`s happy and more than willing to give it to you but for that you need to come in alignment with good feelings, like harmony, joy, gratitude, love for it is feelings like these that make the kingdom He refers to in the Bible. It`s your kingdom and you`re creating. Do you realize how powerful and unlimited you are?:))

The power has always been in man`s hands, he is the one who`s manifesting either a kingdom or hell for his life.

My question is: Since you have this enormous power at the tip of your finger, why not make something beautiful? Why not create your own kingdom?

Because you can do it, I promise you:)) It`s an exciting thing to do, and so much fun, too:))

As soon as everybody else around will see you doing that, they`ll want to do the same and they`ll come to remember and see how amazing and wonderful life is:))

I hope you liked this blog post:)) Share it with everyone you think they might benefit from it:))

Much love,

Cristina

 

What it means to be a human being.

Being human is one of the most beautiful experiences that a soul can have. In my long walks, I see the birds and the animals and at times, I think to myself, “They are happily living their lives in the form they have but still, I think they`d be happier if they`d have a human form”

Why?

Because a soul can experience and be and do so much more if it comes here in the form of a human. This is one of the reasons why I strongly believe that being a human being is a blessing, God`s gift to all of us. Sometimes things get complicated and we feel lost and we complain and so on, and we tend to overlook the blessing that stands right in front of us: the blessing of having arrived here on planet Earth in the form that allows us to think, to speak, to create, to build, to leave a legacy behind. We are God`s beloved creation and as such, we are blessed, so blessed!

All God`s riches are within us and man only needs to discover these riches and use them for the collective good of the planet. I am amazed to see just how unique every person is, and how wonderful are the gifts that we possess. I am so happy, so happy to meet people from any part of the world, and may God be praised!, I`ve had this joy and pleasure in many occasions. When I meet a new person, I think to myself, “How wonderful! I`m meeting another spiritual brother/sister of mine!”

I am so excited and I can`t wait to find out as much as possible about that person; when I meet a new person, I love to go beyond the physical appearance, social status, nationality, religion and all other insignificant and boring social details like these. Instead, I can`t wait to find out what ideas that person has, how does he/she think, what life experiences they have. If you really listen to what the person next to you is saying, you`ll find that there is something that bonds you two, even if that particular person is someone you see for the first time in your life, I am serious! I`ve experienced this for many times and I must tell you, it`s soo freaking awesome!!

That bond, my dear fellow human being, is a reminder for you, a reminder that whispers, “From where you come, this person comes, too”

It`s a truth that has been known for ages. Our elders, even though they didn’t know how to describe it, they felt it.  But then, this awareness began to be diminished – our modern society saw to it – and promote, instead, the idea that we are separated. The very same society allowed its social labels to speak louder than the spiritual bond that unites people. Nowadays, thank God!, that long forgotten awareness has started to come up to the surface again, and personally, I couldn’t be happier.

Why does it reveal itself again?

It does so because it is a powerful, absolute and universal truth that can`t be hidden (anymore). They tried to and they even succeeded to some extent but as it happens with all truths – it always comes out.

I see humans as the peak of God`s creation and it`s wonderful to see all these souls in human bodies, living in the same place: planet Earth. This planet is our home. God granted us the joy to come here, and because He is our loving Father, He doesn’t ask anything from us but in my point of view, being human is not only about that – being human – but it`s about a lot more than that. 

First and foremost, it`s about loving and honoring the God within you; it means to respect yourself enough as to live a life of purpose, a life where you feel you`re fulfilling your destiny, which, in my opinion, is also the most beautiful way to say Thank you! to God for giving you a human body and for placing you on this planet. Being human means sharing your gifts – all of them – with other people, with the whole world; it means to help those in need in any way you can; it means to look after each other just like you do with your biological family. Being human means to live a life of dignity, honor, respect, beauty – for you and for all the other people – to set the example and lift and inspire them; it means creating harmony, love, joy, peace, well-being all around you, to spread positive thoughts and smiles everywhere and to everybody.

Being human means to follow your passions and share all you`ve got; to love and respect each individual and treat them as your equal; it means to love, respect and cherish nature. As humans, we need always keep in mind that nothing in this world belongs to us. We can borrow it, yes, but we will have to give it back sooner or later. Therefore, we need to make sure we give it back in the same way/condition we received it; being human means to accept that each individual is unique, with a unique perception about life and everything in/about it, so don’t judge what the person next to you thinks, says or does.

Finally, being human means to accept and embrace the idea that we all are one and that whatever harms me, it harms you, too; that whatever makes me happy, it makes you happy, too. This is our world, our global family. Separation is merely an idea inside our minds and to mankind`s disadvantage, this idea didn’t bring or do any good to us. On the contrary, it only caused wars, discrimination, suffering, injustice, hatred, illusion and confusion. We can put an end to this and it starts with us, my dear brother/sister. Drop the veil and see the truth as it is : we are one and have but only one Father, no matter if you call it God, Krishna, Ram, Allah, Buddha, Jesus. Drop the veil and see that nobody is alone; that you, me, everybody!, is part of something bigger and greater. Please make this world a better place for you, for me, for us, for all the future generations to come.

This is what being humans means.

With much, much love:))

Cristina

I fell in love with Istanbul.

I wasn’t planning to, but it happened. I fell in love with Istanbul and I must say, it feels awesome, too!:))

Istanbul is a charm in itself, a place that makes you wonder, a place that makes you want to discover it… You just want to, you can`t resist it.

What I first noticed when I got there was the relaxed attitude that people had. I was stunned to see this! Even though a very big city (around 17 million) somehow people here aren`t affected by this immensity and modern lifestyle that Istanbul has. It`s very interesting!

There are millions of cars in Istanbul, millions of people, buses, trams, and even more noise from all this traffic. In spite of all this, people are very relaxed, are very laid back and they find ways to enjoy life, regardless of the circumstances around them.  Incredible!

I could make here an analogy, about a desert and the peace that an oasis has. Istanbul is the desert where it`s all windy, and sand storms happen too. Now imagine the oasis in the middle of the desert: serenity, harmony, peace. This is what Turkish people transmitted me when I first saw them: they are like the oasis in the desert. Even though modernity and busyness (the wind and the sand storms I used earlier) push them to keep up with life, they are calm, they smile a lot, they sing and dance, they are at peace. And God!, they are so friendly! They are so very friendly!

Turkish people make you remind yourself about the simplicity of life, about how good it feels to appreciate what you have; they remind you that life is a gift, that life is joy, and that life must be celebrated and cherished, no matter what you have or don’t have, no matter what you do or don’t do. Turkish people teach you about how happy you can be if you keep your life simple. I was amazed to see all this in the eyes of the Turkish people I met and talked to. Turkish people don’t need much to be happy, to smile or be joyful – that much is clear.

There is this ancient wisdom that surrounds Turkey and it draws me to it like a magnet. It is a deep wisdom that energizes the spirit of this country and the spirit of all those who live in it. I guess this is why they don’t pay much attention to material things because they know that their wealth comes from someplace else: their wealth comes from the legacy that their forefathers left them. It is a legacy that`s being passed on from generation to generation and most importantly, it`s a legacy that resides in their hearts. Every Turkish person has this legacy in his/her heart, and it`s what makes them proud, it`s what makes them stand tall and defend what belongs to them. Hats off to you, Turkey!

Another thing that I noticed about this country is that it`s not in any rush to embrace globalization. Unlike other countries (Romania included), Turkey didn’t embrace the modern trends that shower our world. Turkish people are true to their culture, they are true to their national identity and they are not willing to give up on it. They are against the current and this is so inspiring, so empowering and I must say, it`s one of the things I love most about Turkey. Turkish people didn’t rush in exchanging their mother tongue – the Turkish language – with English. It takes courage and boldness – and most of all, a deep and true love for one`s country and nationality – to do this.

Everybody nowadays hurries in learning English, giving up on their native language. Well, I need to tell you, folks, that speaking English doesn’t grant one immortality. I can go further and say that one of the disadvantages of using this language is that it pushes you away from your roots, forcing you to adopt things(words, expressions, ways of thinking and feeling) that aren’t yours, and it`s something I am personally experiencing, too.

Now I`m not saying that learning English is something wrong, of course it`s not wrong. What I am saying is that Turkey, somehow, was able to find this balance between new and old, between modern and ancient, between national and international. This is very admirable for a country that has faced so many fights, battles and changes along the course of the centuries.

Seeing all this in the Turkish heritage makes me proud that my ancestors shared a past with the Turkish people:)) In the old days, there were many fights, wars and attempts of conquest coming from the Ottoman Empire and even though these two nations fought against each other, beautiful things happened too, such as marriages between Turkish men and Romanian women. I guess love doesn’t know any boundaries, does it?:P

Next thing I want to talk about is culture. I noticed that Turkey doesn’t say no to anything when it comes to it, when it comes to preserving the old buildings and artifacts that it has. And on good reason, too, because Turkish people are smart enough to know that if they don’t respect and take care of their historical legacy, they will lose the spiritual bond with their ancestors; they`ll lose the connection with the true essence of who they are as people, as a nation.

For instance, Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) is a pure ancient gem. If you see it, in spite of the age of 400 years that it has, you understand that culture is a priority for the government and that it invests ceaseless efforts to preserve these national symbols. Of course that, by doing so, other interests are being served, too, such as political, economic and touristic interests but who cares about this as long as these historical treasures are protected and well looked after?:))

Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Süleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazar, Sakıp Sabancı Museum – you better visit these places, you`ll like them for sure!:))

Another thing that I noticed about Turkish people is that they respect women. A lot. And I do mean – a lot. This is clearly a sign of a healthy society that knows and understands the importance that women have in our world. They also pay a lot of attention to the way they raise their children. This goes back to the ancient wisdom I was referring to earlier, wisdom that dictates them to make family a top priority for if the woman/wife and children are mistreated or neglected, this can have only negative outcomes. Well done, Turkey. You`re setting the example!

If we talk about Turkey, then we have to talk about food, too. My God!, these people know how to eat!!:)) I`ve spent there 6 days and to my own astonishment, I put on weight. Yes, 2 pounds. But no harm done, or as Turkish people say: “Problem yok!”, as with the daily walks that I have, I will be able to lose these pounds in a very short while:)) I really did my best to stay away from gaining weight but somehow forgot about it when I saw just how tasty and delicious the Turkish food is:)) Trust me, you`ll want to eat Turkish food, it`s simply too good!

Make sure you check out these three places that won me as their lifetime client: Backhaus, Simit Saray and Olympiat 2 Minas. Food and drinks go very well with live Turkish music, this is why I recommend Meşale Cafè:)) Also, check out on the malls that Istanbul has Mall of Istanbul and Uistynie Mall.  You won’t be disappointed if you love shopping:))

The seaside overlooking the Bosphorus strait is breathing taking. Have your meal there, you`ll thank me later, I assure you:)) And since we`re at the seaside subject, you may want to visit the Kiz Kulesi, or the Maiden`s Tower. There`s a beautiful legend that goes around this tower and after you see it, you can go up to the top floor and have a nice tea or coffee. Seeing how the sea surrounds you makes your drink taste better, for real:))

As I`m getting close to end this article, I can only say that I loved my time in Turkey, and am so happy that I went there. It`s a beautiful country to visit and live in, too, as there`s this invisible veil of harmony that covers it. It is something everybody can feel if they look closely.

Turkish people know how to live life, they know how to make the most of it in spite of the obstacles and struggles. They know how to enjoy themselves because singing and dancing flow through their veins. Good for you, beautiful Turkish nation! If more people would visit you – people from all over the world – they would have the chance to see what true living is about and how one can always choose to see the full side of the glass, just like you do. You have my respect, my love and appreciation. Make sure you never change.

Cristina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why look at the fake diamond when you`re holding a real one in your hand?

When I was little, I used to admire a lot people who seemed confident in themselves. There was something about them. The way they did things, the way they carried themselves, the way they dealt with life and other people…All this was fascinating for me and I said to myself that when I will become an adult I will be like these people. It seemed that even as a little girl, I had enough confidence in myself when it came about doing new things or whenever I was curious/intrigued about something. I would follow that thread blindly until my curiosity was satisfied. And yet, somehow I would lose this confidence if in some way, I was in the spotlight, whenever people would look at me and whenever had to talk to them or speak my mind. The fact that I couldn’t speak clearly and confidently in front of them was driving me mad every time. I knew I had something good to say; I knew I had something interesting to say, I knew it! And yet, once in front of them, I would get so emotional and it was like words ran away from me. This determined me to want to go in depth and find out more about it as it was bugging me. I had to research. I wanted to. And I started. At first, because I was still in my comfort zone, I would still avoid being in the center of attention, and I would also avoid sharing my thoughts and ideas but little did I know that soon all of it will change.

Of course, I was still small when all this happened but if it`s one thing I am amazed of and grateful for at the same time, it`s the fact that even being small, I somehow had the awareness to observe all this about myself, observe what was going on around me. For this, I am truly grateful as it was the first step I took toward the journey of discovering who I really am. And boy!, what a journey! And the best part is that this journey has no end. It`s a continuous process that happens over lifetimes and one needs many, many lives to get to know themselves; they also need to go through as many experiences as possible.

I remember the first time I felt really confident in myself. I was in the third grade and back then (even as today) one of my favorite topics was Literature. Our teacher would give us a title and we, the pupils, had to create a story around that title. I don’t know what I enjoyed most when writing that story: the feeling that I am creating a story of my own or the joy when seeing how creativity flew through me.

But one thing was sure: I loved to sit at the writing table and pour my imagination onto that sheet of paper. While writing, something else was happening, too: I was discovering another part of me, a part that I would only have access to through writing.

Good Lord!, how I loved that part! How I loved to discover more and more of it just as when someone comes across a mystery and they don’t rest or find peace until they don’t solve that mystery! I loved it how through this bridge called writing I could go to the other side and see the image of who I really am. This made me bold. This made me confident as what I was seeing about myself gave me confidence because the curtain had fallen: what I knew (mentally) about myself wasn’t true. What I thought I knew  was a mere image that my mind had projected about myself. It wasn’t true, it wasn’t real. Everything was just an illusion created by the mind. Now I was discovering something else, something that would make me feel confident and trust myself for the old image wasn’t present anymore. I said to myself that if this is who I really am, why not bring this into my day to day life as well? I mean, if a person holds in one hand a fake diamond and a real one in their other hand, why look at the fake (the mental image, in our case) and not at the real diamond (the soul)?

Isn’t this what`s worthwhile? It is if you ask me.

Then, the next step followed. Our teacher asked us who wants to read their stories. Not so many children raised their hand as they were clearly terrified of the idea that the stories they wrote are silly and everybody else will laugh and make fun of them. But some did raise the hand, myself included. Two of my colleagues read their works before me, and then my turn came. God, I was so excited, I can still remember even today how my heart raced while having all those eyes on me. I stood up and walked in front of the classroom, holding in my hands the sheet that contained my very first wordily creation. I was only 9 years old but I will remember that moment for the rest of my life. I started reading the story and the more I did so, I could feel how the restlessness and nervousness faded away; the more I was reading, the more I gathered courage to look my colleagues in the eye and stand tall in front of them; the more I was reading, the more I experienced a feeling of “returning home”, of returning to a familiar place where my roots are and that nothing can bring me down, not even the piercing glares of my colleagues. I felt alive while reading; I felt free, I felt bold and courageous, and most importantly, I felt confident. I felt like a captain who is in charge of his own ship and he gives the commands. I experienced all this for the few minutes I stood in front of the classroom. The story came to an end and I had to go back to my seat and I remember the teacher saying, Now that was quite a story!

I smiled. I was happy that my teacher and colleagues liked it. After all, it was for them I wrote it for. My own satisfaction came in another form: I wasn’t the same anymore. Before writing and reading the story afterward, in front of the classroom, I was locked in an image that told me that I am small and I can`t do certain things; that it`s better to keep it safe and don’t stand out. Well, to my own happiness, after getting to my seat I fully felt it in both my mind and soul that that image had been changed by a new one, and not only it was new but true, too: an image that told me that I am a confident person and that there is unlimited potential within me (and within all people on this planet, for that matter), and that indeed there is nothing I can`t achieve if I set my mind to it. The old image still makes its appearance. Of course it does. But it`s not a problem anymore as I can recognize it and send  it away whenever it shows up.

Let man have confidence in himself and he will move mountains. I know this for a fact now.

Be explosive & bold & wild!:)

Cristina

 

 

 

Dubai. A pearl on the shore.

For this year`s winter holiday, I wanted something different. I didn’t know exactly what but I knew it had to be different. Some days later, I have a conversation with one of dearest girlfriends and to some point she says:” Why don’t you spend your holiday in Dubai? It`s such an amazing place!”

That was the impulse I needed, and was aware of it, too. I had received my answer.

Dubai? Well then, let`s get this show on the road!, I said to myself. This is how it all started.

I went there with another dear friend of mine and so, the team was complete: three girls about to experience the oriental magic. We arrived there on December 24th, and even though tired after the flight, my soul bubbled with energy and excitement for the new place I was in. I couldn’t have enough of it as every little detail demanded my attention: the streets, the buildings, the people, the sea, the palm trees, the energy of the place…everything! It was like a mirage and even though dazzling, I wanted to see it all. 

God! So many places, so many people, so many things to do… I must say, Dubai has it all, I am not kidding you. The city in itself is a jewel, so beautiful and modern! Then I would mention the amazing food and places to hang out.

And then, of course, comes the nightlife;-) It can`t be any other way, can it?

Good Lord! If you`re the type of person who doesn’t get along with the losing sleep part, then you clearly shouldn’t go to Dubai as sleepless nights are as common as sitting on the beach. Of course, you can stay at your hotel room and sleep, but with all that frenetic energy and fantastic vibes coming from outside? When you know that everybody is having fun, can you really sit still in your bed? Nope, right?:P

It`s just part of the city, and part of its charm, too, and it`s only normal for you to want to taste it, to feel it, to discover it. Otherwise, why come to Dubai in the first place?:D

I wanted to experience as much as possible, knowing that by doing so I will grow personally but as a writer, too. And boy!, this writer within me has a huge thirst for life and for living, that much is clear! I can`t have enough from everything and I am always happy to discover new things and observe them as closely as I can! I love to do what I haven’t done before, love to go where I haven’t been before, love to eat what I haven’t eaten before…and most of all, I love to be amazed by life`s beauty and magic. It`s something that nourishes every cell of my being…:)

One of the first things that hit me when arriving in Dubai was the buildings. Oh my God! I was so impressed by them! Imagine huge, modern robots just emerging from the ground! If you guys watched the movie Pacific Rim, then you know what I am talking about:) These skyscrapers are very tall and so modernly built that one can only praise the genius that the human mind has, I am serious. The buildings are literally wonders of modern architecture and engineering, where colors and shapes compete for first place attention. As a tourist, you can`t decide too easily where to look or what to photograph first. You just want it all at once!

These skyscrapers are very tall and so modernly built that one can only praise the genius that the human mind has, I am serious. The buildings are literally wonders of modern architecture and engineering, where colors and shapes compete for first place attention. As a tourist, you can`t decide too easily where to look or what to photograph first. You just want it all at once!

Talking about majestic buildings, first that comes to mind is Burj Khalifa. If you go to Dubai and see it, get ready to be charmed as you won’t be able to take your eyes off it so easily, and trust me, I know what I am talking about here;-) 

I saw it both day and night time, and the latter is definitely much more spectacular. It is the tallest building in the world and as if that wasn’t’ enough, at night it has all these intermittent lights shining on it that it made me associate it with an elegant woman, wearing a black & glittering gown. Everything about Burj Khalifa is linked to greatness, power and elegance. You just want to stare at it, with no reason. Its height and beauty steal your attention without you even realizing it. But it`s worth it, for sure. At the bottom of the Burj is Dubai Fountain. Picture yourself small water nozzles obeying a music that it`s played in the background.

This is the show that this fountain offers to its viewers, and just like Burj Khalifa, the fountain too demands your attention as it`s spectacular. When the music starts, the water nozzles start to move and they shoot water up according to the rhythm of the music. It`s fantastic! For several times while watching the fountain my eyes filled with tears as I couldn’t but think just how beautiful it all is and how blessed we are, as humans, to be able to create such wonders. While watching it, my mind associated the fountain with a singing mermaid. Maybe whoever created the fountain had the image of a mermaid in their mind, who knows?:)

Oh, since we`re so close to Burj Khalifa and the fountain, make sure you have a meal or drink at Sammach Seafood restaurant:) It has the fountain just in front of it and the food is very good! Also, check out Dubai Marina Mall, The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates:) These are great for shopping, having a nice meal or drink, or just to kill some time:) Mall of the Emirates is the place where they have the artificial ski slope, so if you`re into skiing, you can definitely pay it a visit:)

Next in line comes Burj al Arab:) This gorgeous hotel is located in Jumeirah Beach Road:)  Not so tall as its “cousin”, Burj Khalifa, but still definitely worth seeing as it`s one of Dubai`s icons:) It`s also famous because several scenes have been shot here for the movie called Happy New Year (featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan). Haven’t watched it yet? Please do so soon, the movie is awesome!:)

Then, you most definitely and absolutely must see the Palm Jumeirah:)  It`s a small heaven, for real! When seeing it, I had the feeling that I`m in Beverly Hills because of the palm trees on either side of the road and the beautiful hotels and houses:)  If you go to Dubai, you`re not allowed to miss out on this one! You`ve got to see it!

At the edge of the island, you`ll find Atlantis The Palm Hotel & Resort. Trust me, you want to see this and if you go there, make sure you have at least 2-3 hours at your disposal. Otherwise, you won`t get to see much. Inside this hotel, on the rooftop, is one of the best clubs Dubai has to offer:) It`s called N`Dulge and have to tell you, it is the real deal! You won`t be able to sit still because the music is so damn good (r&b, rap, houseJ), the décor looks terrific, and the lights can easily make you believe you`re attending a carnival in Rio:) 

Also, among my favorite are: 360° Club (has a breathtaking view of the sea), Atelier M (on the rooftop of PIER 7), Cuba (this one has live music and is located in Madinat Jumeirah), and Level 43 Sky Lounge (only if you are ok with the height :D) All these places made a very good impression on me:)

If it`s about having breakfast/lunch/dinner, my top places are Smokey Beach, Awani Levant Cuisine, Fratelli la Bufalla, Bahria – Seafood, and one of the best Moroccan restaurants I went to called Almaz by Momo. Check it out!  It`s a must to-go-to place!:)

All these (and so many more) are on the beach, in JBR – THE Walk.  While you`re at it, please stop by at Cavalli Café, Gold Cafe Dubai and La Boehme, too:) You won`t be disappointed:) In Dubai Marina you can always delight your senses by going to La Gaufrette or stop by at Bazerkan Lebanese Restaurant. The food here will take you to heaven, I assure you!:)

Oh, nearly forgot! Another good place to eat is Bait Al Bahar:) The food is mouthwatering and you can chill while smoking shisha and watching the sea:) And of course, I couldn’t forget about The Hamptons, could I?:) As always, this place meets the expectations: delicious food and terrific service! It`s located on Jumeirah Road. If you`re anywhere close to it, do stop by:)

If you`re anything like me, you`ll love to have a ride at night in the desert:) So, book your safari adventure with Arabian Nights and enjoy the show! The ride starts with dune bashing and it`s so freaking awesome!!, and you`ll the love food, the belly dance show, sand boarding, henna painting and everything else you`ll get to experience once you arrive at the camp:) Yes, it`s in the middle of the desert:) Good opportunity to see the sky at night if you`ve been dreaming about it:)

Dubai is an amazing city and will always recommend everybody to go there:) I`ve had lots of fun and filled my pockets with amazing memories:)  I`ve had the opportunity to feel the entire world in one place as I`ve seen people from Russia, France, Germany, Italy, England, America, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka… It was so wonderful to see so many people, each of them bringing a little piece of their culture, history and nationality. Quite an experience to have, for real:)

Did I enjoy Dubai? Most definitely!! Will I go back? Hell yes!! Will I make (again) the most of it? Hell yes!!, for Dubai, even though not a big place, it has all you need or want to make your holiday unforgettable! They`re building now something similar to London Eye, and they`ll call it Dubai Eye:)  See what I mean? This city is restless! It just has to keep re-inventing itself and entertain its people and tourists!:)

I`m happy that I went there, and am grateful for the enriching experience:) I can`t wait to do it all over again!:) and I think I will stay longer, something close to a month to learn the language, too:)  For my next trip to this shining paradise, I have parachuting and scuba diving on my list:) I know, I know, it sounds crazy but hey, life is meant to be fun, right?:) If there`s something I learned along all these years is that if it ain`t fun then it ain`t worth it. Life is beautiful when you live it, but life is undoubtedly fantastic when you`re making the most of it!:) Therefore, go for it and create memories to last forever!:)))) You`ll thank yourself when you`ll be old, trust me.

Here`s to an AMAZING & JOYFUL & FABULOUS Life!!:)))

Much love,

Cristina

 

 

 

 

Screw society. Live how you want to live!

Oh, society… One of my favorite topics to talk about

The pearl is inside. But to see it, you need to open the oyster.

I imagine my reader must be somewhat confused. What do I mean to say with the pearl and oyster? Well, I need to tell him that it`s all right if he is confused. I will add further details to this statement that will help him see what I mean. For start, let`s embark on a journey, shall we?:) Let us use our imagination to go someplace else, a place that is different from where you are right now, my friend:)

Let`s imagine you`re on a beach. Oh God, a real paradise! The weather is warm, the sun is caressing your skin, you look around and you see the palm trees, and as you`re walking on the beach, you can feel how the sand is tickling your feet and the sea… the sea – this splendid blue queen – sends you its salty smell and enchants your sight with its blue, turquoise color… Everything is just beautiful..!

You then close your eyes, take a deep breath in and you feel how in that moment there`s just you and the sea, nothing else! You and the sea, together as one… This idea makes your lips curve into a smile and you open your eyes, and continue your walk on the sea`s shore. You enjoy watching how the sea is sending its waves to the shore, watering the sand. You keep walking and keep walking, and, to some point, you see an oyster half covered in the wet sand. You`re happy that you have found this natural jewel and you pick it up and you`re holding it in your palm. Gorgeous thing… having a mix of white and cream colors. You`re intrigued by it and you want to know what`s inside. You want to see the pearl that the oyster is carrying within.

But for that to happen, you’ll have to open the oyster – first. 

Now imagine you are the oyster, and you`re carrying a pearl within.

This pearl, my friend, is a drop from a bigger ocean; it is a divine piece given to you by the creator of this world, and He wanted you to have it.

This pearl is your essence as a human being, and this pearl, my friend, is your soul.

There are many, many pearls in this world, billions of them and they shine in different ways, in their own and unique way.

But this counts so little and you know why? Because the very value of a pearl lies in the fact that it is a pearl and not in how strong or dim it shines. Of course, the brighter it shines the better, but the fact that it already is a pearl – this alone is enough.

But you see, now you know that you have a pearl inside you got curious by it, you want to see it, you want to find out what it`s all about. You can do this, my friend; actually, there`s nothing easier and it`s the very purpose why God gave you this pearl. He wants you to become aware of what you carry inside, He wants you to explore and expressed it into the world. He wants for every pearl to shine its light.

Therefore, how are you able to see this pearl? How are you going to feel it, express it, share it with the world?

You can do this by following your bliss, my friend. You can see the pearl if you open up the oyster, just as you can see who you truly are by doing what you love most. This is when the oyster ( your mind and your human construction) opens and allow the pearl to shine ( your soul with your God given and unique talents). Can anyone see a pearl through a closed oyster? They can`t, right? So is with our soul.

If we don’t open ourselves, our souls with all its beautiful colors can`t shine through. I was saying earlier that there are billions of oysters and pearls in this world. It`s all very true. But it`s also true that some of these oysters are open while some are not and the differences lies in the way how most of these oysters (people) live their lives. One can quickly tell if an oyster (a person) is open by the way their eyes shine.

Such people are vivid, passionate, excited ever ready for the next level! They see life as a celebration, and on good reason too because their pearl (soul) is shining through like a burning mid-day sun!! Nothing can stop them!!:)

If, on the contrary, the oyster is closed, then the person we`re talking about has no light at all on their face, nothing excites them, nothing moves them, and the look in their eyes is so lost that you have the feeling they look through you not at you. It`s all because they are not open, and since they are not open, how can their soul shine? How can they be an inspiration for anybody?

A pearl can`t shine while in darkness but put the same pearl under the sun and it will astonish you with its light. It`s all there in these pearls, my friend. We just need to open ourselves to let them shine. The more shining pearls in the world, the better this world will be.

So, open yourself, my friend:) Let your unique pearl shine:)

Much love,

Cristina

 

 

 

God wants you to be happy.

Is this statement a surprise for you? Does it turn upside down everything you`ve heard so far about God and your happiness?:) If yes, very well my friend, as this is the intention:)

It`s the only truth there is, and what you`ve been told up to this day is of little importance because they – whoever told this to you – didn’t know better; either that or they`ve simply passed on to you what they`ve been told by their parents and grandparents, and so on. God wants you to be happy, and if you stick with me until the end of this article, you`ll find out why, too. 

If I`d be sitting next to you right now, I would ask you what is your position when it comes to the connection between God and your happiness.

Do you believe God (or Source, Universe, Jesus, Krishna- call it how you want) is this revengeful creator ever ready to punish us when we`re doing “bad” things or do you believe that He wants us to be happy, in any way this happiness may look like?

I am curious to hear your thoughts on this and if you want to know what my stand is about it all, then I am most joyful to let you know that my option is the latter – that God wants us to be happy, no matter how this happiness looks like.

How come?

Because, when we are happy, He is happy, too. He wants but what`s best for us, and therefore, it doesn’t matter the form or way as long as it brings you your happiness.

Since the beginning of mankind, man has given so many faces and names to God and not only that, man has also created so many interpretations as to what does God like/doesn’t like, how and what He is, what he wants/accepts or doesn’t accept.

This isn’t exactly fair, given that God is a mystery yet to be discovered (entirely) and so how can we possibly know, right?

How can we know what He accepts or doesn’t accept? Isn’t it inappropriate to say that God allows (only) this and that when we don’t know who He really is? I am tempted to say yes, as from what I`m observing in my day to day life, people are by far much more interested and busy in coming up with interpretations of their own than to understand who this creator of ours really is.

There is another reason why He wants you to be happy: He loves you unconditionally, and He is glad to know that you`re having a great time here on Earth. If you`re doing what you love and are happy, then God is pleased as well, for it`s what He want for you.

Let`s imagine for a moment a mother having a nice talk with her 5 year old. The child asks its mom to play together but the mother says she can`t as she is busy making lunch. Even so, she wants for her child to play and have a good time. So, she tells the child to go to its room and play there as it has all the toys one can ask for. And the child goes upstairs.

While doing her work, the mother is at peace and pleased as she knows that her child is enjoying her/his time. It`s of little importance to her whether the child is playing with a doll, car, Lego games, painting, singing and so on, because at the end of the day, what matters to her is that the child is happy:)

It`s goes the same with us and God. He wants us to be happy and make the most of our time here on this planet, and what “toys” we choose to play with is not so important. He is our loving father and as long as we are well, doing the very thing that makes our souls smile and sing, it`s enough, it really is:-)

Please trust me on this one:) If it makes you happy – do it. Period. No further questions or details needed.

When you are happy, the whole world rejoice with you as nothing and no one remain untouched by the pure positive energy you`re transmitting:)

Therefore…be happy:) God wants you to:)

Much love,

Cristina

 

 

 

This is why I love India.

For many years India has been among my favorite countries, and it still is. I don’t know why exactly I am so drawn to this country; all I know is that it is like a magnet for me and have no power to resist this attraction. Maybe I have lived there in one of my previous lives. Otherwise, I can`t explain why this country feels so familiar to me, and why I have this insatiable thirst of knowing and reading about it as much as I can.

I love India. I respect India. I cherish India and yes, I am eagerly waiting for the day to see it with/through my own eyes. It will happen soon, I have no doubt and once it will happen, my fascination for it will have become even deeper and broader. I am looking forward to that.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of India is spirituality; a spirituality as old as mountain Kailash and as deep as the Pacific Ocean. It`s one of the things I love most about India: its spirituality and wisdom.  

At times, I am surprised that mankind doesn’t seek India and its ancient knowledge when in struggle and hardship. It`s so easy, and would solve so many problems that our modern world is facing today. It`s all there, in the Vedic scriptures. Lord Krishna has clearly given all the answers man could search for and all of these answers are written in these scriptures.

India is a land of the contrasts, a land that vibrates with color and energy; a land of multiple cultures within one, big culture. With its wealth of knowledge and spirituality, India has the power to heal the world, and I have said this for many times.

Every now and then, people would tell me that I don’t know how real life is happening there, in India; that what I know is merely from books and not from my own experience and that I may be disappointed when I will see that I may be wrong affirming such things.

Well, these people say this because their eyes are playing tricks on them; because they lose themselves in the appearances and first-sight details that could easily make anybody think that I am the one who`s wrong. Surely, at first glance anybody could say that India has huge problems, problems of all sorts and the last thing it can do is to heal the world. But it`s these very people that are forgetting something very important: to look within. They forget to look beyond the surface.

Don’t we always say that it`s on the inside that matters the most?

It`s exactly the same thing with India, too. On the outside, this country has all the problems we all know it has but on the inside?

What about the inside?

On the inside, it has sacred reservoirs of spiritually that can give an answer to every issue we may have as global population; on the inside, it contains all the knowledge one can ask for; on the inside, this country is like a loving and caring mother who loves her children, and most of all, on the inside this country works like the spiritual nucleus of/for the entire planet. This is where mankind should look at, not at the issues that India has. We should never judge by the appearances because what lies beneath may surprise us – always.

India has given so much to our world that I can only admire and respect this country. I know that not everything in this life is milk and honey, and so I know that India has problems and downsides too (doesn’t this go for every country in this world?), and that I may be surprised to see the real India once I get there, but I choose to love it anyway; I choose to think positively of it anyway; I choose to respect it anyway for this is what this country deserves. One should never forget that the India is one of the oldest nations on this planet and for this fact alone, it deserves the utmost respect just like the oldest people in a village are respected by those who are younger. It`s just the most natural thing to do.

I, for one, can`t wait to see in the years that will come what other amazing and beautiful things this country will give to our world; can`t wait to see how more and more people will wake up from their worldly sleep due to India`s spirituality and teachings, and I am most eager to see how more and more people will wake up to Krishna consciousness and embrace it. I am so much looking forward to the day when all people of this planet will come to realize that there`s a single creator and he is Father to all of us and that no matter the boat one`s in, we`re floating on the same ocean: Krishna.

I can`t wait for this day to come, and I can`t wait to discover more of India`s mysteries and traditions. Till that day, I will keep listening to the Indian music and mantras, will keep listening to the mystic teachers and masters that India has, will keep reading about India`s beautiful, beautiful Hindu Trinity: Shiva, Vishnu and Brahman, because I feel that all the truth we need comes from India; I feel that all the knowledge we need in order to live a harmonious and balanced life comes from India; I feel that India has the God-given mission to be a torch of light for our world.

For all this and so much more, I love India.

 

Why it is important to educate our children about nature.

Nature has always been a source of inspiration for me, and I have no doubt that it will continue to be this way for as long as I live. There`s just something about nature that makes me search for it, makes me want to spend time in it; makes me want for everybody to come and discover it and its magic. I can`t have enough of it, and I know that every wound can be healed by nature. Yes, it has that power. Nature means love; nature means inspiration, creativity, infinity, generosity, nourishment, care. Nature means life, and all these divine feelings and emotions ought to be taught to our children.

If we look around, nature is everywhere and its force of renewal and regeneration is unlimited. Nature is like a loving mother who provides for her children with everything they may need, and she does so with joy and generosity simply because she loves them unconditionally. This is how I see nature.

Since the beginning of all time, men have looked for ways to be in harmony with nature, to understand its laws and live by them, but unfortunately this didn’t always happen because between men and nature lies something that demands an authority of its own: the human ego. And so, men started to attack nature, to use it, to take advantage of it and exploit its resources in order to gain benefits of all kind, especially material ones. Soon enough, men began cutting down large portions of forests, hunt the wild animals; they started building enormous factories and machines that pollute the air and so, men created an imbalance between themselves and nature, and the painful part is that they aren’t even aware of it; the painful part is that somebody else gets to suffer the effects: our children and future generations. 

This world is a living spirit, and it is not indifferent to what men are doing to/with it. This spirit knows that people need it, and that, without it, mankind would disappear in a heartbeat.

Because this spirit is ever loving and intelligent, it adjust itself in order to meet mankind`s needs and evolution.

Isn’t this the purest act of unlimited love?

In my view, all the previous generations that lived on this planet had a better sense of what it means to be in harmony with nature. They were closer to it, and they respected it more and also, respected the animals. Thank God, there are people nowadays who still have this notion but for the majority of the planet`s population the word nature doesn’t mean much anymore. Of course they see it, smell it, have contact with it and so on but they lost something very, very important: the spiritual bond with nature. Luckily, this bond can be re-built, and we can do/start this with our children.

Why children?

Because children are “unstained” by today`s society, its demands, stereotypes, and prejudices. They are free of all these and they have a pure image of God within. If we are to be in harmony with nature again, we need to start teaching our children what nature means and what its importance is, so that our world can be healed and be a better place for every embodied (divine) soul.

Children are the “the bridge” that can close the gap between today`s mankind and nature. Because they are pure at heart, they will absorb effortlessly everything we tell them. We can teach them that nature is the mightiest spirit on this planet, and thus, they will learn to respect it and follow its laws in a very natural manner.

First, it`s essential for children to be in nature. Let them see its wonders and power; let them be in awe of just how amazing and beautiful nature is! Let them see the forests and their greenery! Let them see the height of the mountains, the vastness of the oceans, the golden surface of the desert, the icy view of the North Pole, let them see it all! Let them see the animals and the wildlife! Let them explore nature and its magic; let them taste its infinite creativity! Let them know, thus, that nature is their friend and not their enemy.  Let them spend time in it, as much as possible, for it will bring them to the meeting point with God, the creator of this whole world. As they discover the miracle that nature is, they will also come to see the marvelous world they live in, and they`ll feel happy, humble and grateful at the thought that they are part of it. They will be excited and forever in love with life.

Having learned and experienced all these things, our children will grow up beautifully, turning into kind, generous, respectful and responsible adults with a strong sense of humanity and spirituality, and they`ll pass on their gained knowledge to their children when the time will come, and those will pass on their knowledge to their children, and so on, until the entire mankind will have healed of all prejudices and ignorant thoughts and activities toward the natural environment. They will also come to realize that there`s no separation between them and that racial behavior and discrimination is so of little use for everybody.

How will they come to realize this?

Well, say they are in nature and they see it in all its beauty and diversity. They see the tall tree, and the short tree; they see the fat animal, and the thin animal; they see the multiple colored flowers, and the one colored flower; they see the wild and the domestic side of nature. All of these build nature`s integrity. One component can`t be without the others. So too, our children will know that everything in this world, with all the individualized features, shapes and characteristics, make up the wholeness of what we know to be as Planet Earth – our home. They`ll know that just like nature has its diversity of plants, trees, waters and animals, so too mankind has multiple nationalities but all of them – all of them – are as equally as important and each of them contributes to the completeness of mankind as we know it.

Talk to you next time:))

Much love,

Cristina