Amazing Artworks

These are not my photos. From an email I received years ago. 

Sleeping Positions

 

Received this in my email years ago. So long that I already forgot the name of the sender. But funny and cute so I'm sharing. Have a nice day people. Ciao!

Four Lions [2010 UK]

Four Lions. Another comedy movie. Don't I just love comedy films? Haha. My life alone is already one big drama that if I will blog about it, it might just make you cry. So I just choose to watch comedy films. This way, I can forget all about my worries in life.

Well back in the movie, it is about four Pakistani Muslim guys living in the UK. So this Pakistani guys in UK happened to be terrorists but they are quite stupid for a terrorist.

Barry is actually a white guy converted to Muslim. The most stupid of them. Very passionate about being a jihad. Yay, I am not really good with this blogging! Right now I wanted to tell you all the whole story!!!!!!!!! :)

Anyways, some body commented (I forgot the website's name) that if it is done by Hollywood the ending will be the lead characters realizing their mistake and they will live happily ever after. But since it is not from Hollywood the movie did not end that way. The ending actually made me sad. I did not see it coming. I was surprised that they will end up that way.

If you really are into comedy films, then include this in your list. If you want to share your thoughts with me after watching the movie, please feel free to do so I still have a long list of movies I have seen that I want to share to all of you.

Happy watching!!

The Women on the 6th Floor [2010 France]

Les Femmes du 6ème étage; also known as Service Entrance

Hi there, as you can see I love to watch films even though the language is not english. French films, Spanish Films, Korean etc.. etc.. etc.. as long as they can  make me smile/laugh. As long as the story is good and original.

I have seen this film last month if I am not  mistaken and I can say that this is a feel good movie. No guns or any violence. Just laughter and a good love story.

Setting was in 70's. Spanish women were in Paris working as cleaning ladies and they are living on the 6th floor of the building Joubert owns. It was shown in the movie, that even though those Spanish ladies were just cleaning houses they were happy and contented with what they have. And not all rich people are happy. Money cannot really buy happiness.

And yes lastly but most importantly LOVE doesn't know age or status in life. Movies like this inspires me as obviously sometimes I am so down. Makes me want to believe that somehow love exist. And yeah, we can be happy in whatever situation or place we are in. As an expat, even if you are not cleaning houses it would be so easy to relate with them. Having to go abroad just to find work.

Tell me if you enjoy this movie that way I did.

Tas-Toi [2003 France]



Tas-Toi!

Tas Toi! In English, Shut Up! Also other titles for this film is Ruby and Quentin. A 2003 French Film starring Gerard Depardieu and Jean Reno. At first I thought it was a love story (Ruby is a name known for women hehehe). Then since it stars Jean Reno I thought it was an all action film. But nope, I was wrong. It was a comedy film that made me laugh right from the start till the end.


Gerard Depardieu as Quentin; a stupid small time thief at the start of the film he tried to rob an exchange (he thought it was a bank) but unfortunately they do not have French Euro at that time from that alone I already started laughing.

When Quentin was thrown in jail, he would always say to his cell mate "Hello I'm Quentin from Montache" from there he won't stop talking. The police wanted to put him in the asylum but as the doctor said his place is for mad people not for stupid people.

This Quentin, struck a friendship with a super serious and quiet Ruby. The friendship was one sided as Quentin has mistaken Ruby's not talking back as a sign of agreeing... The movie about the friendship...  I have this seen movie just 3 nights ago and I won't mind watching it again. So if you are just like me, who loves to watch movies that will make you smile or will surprise you then you can check it out and hopefully come back to me and tell me your feedback about it.

Ciao!!

Taxi [1998 France]

Daniel and Emilien of the movie TAXI

Okay the first TAXI movie that I have seen was the remake in the Hollywood starring Queen Latifah, google told me that the original movie was from France so I searched for it and watch it. Guess what? The original was WAY BETTER than the remake (sorry Queen Latifah Daniel was more natural than you). Then the movie was written by Luc Besson, one of my favorite directors. So no wonder why the movie was so damn good.

Again, those people who love comedy films MUST see this movie and include it in their collections. It has 3 sequels too and I watched them all. This is the story of Emilien (he is on the right side of the photo) a policeman who can be quite stupid most of the time and keeps on flunking his driving test and Daniel who recently got his taxi and drives so fast beyond the speed limit on the roads.

Unexpectedly they became friends and teamed up to solve crimes from Taxi 1 to taxi 4! Aside from their friendship and adventures both of them do have lovely ladies in their lives. Daniel has his Lili while Emilien has his Petra.

Hope you can leave a comment here in case you have seen the film or you are just about to see it..

Ciao!!

West is West [2010 UK]

West is West, the sequel of the movie East is East. After a decade. In case you are wondering whatever happened to the family of George and Ella?


It was the holy month of Ramadan in 2010; we were in Dubai Mall on a friday afternoon (every fridays we are in the mall anyway, we do not have so many choices). My friend and I were looking for a good movie to watch. But I do not know why during ramadan they are not showing that much good movies. So we settled for this movie called "West is West" - what I did not know was it was actually a good comedy movie. This is the sequel to the movie East is East (that I haven't seen yet that time, I have seen it later after watching West is West).

In this sequel, Sajid now all grown up is having trouble at school in UK. Some kids at his school are making fun of him, well because of who he is. Being different from the rest of them. George his father has decided to take him to Pakistan; for him to know and understand where he came from. So most of the movie was not shot in UK. But I am not sure if the supposed to be Pakistan, were really shot in Pakistan. I hope it is as the location was very pretty. SO pretty that it made me decide one day I will visit Pakistan too.

I enjoyed the movie (if I did not, I would not be blogging about it and suggesting for you to see it too). Previously in the movie East is East, twice George tried to have an arrange marriage for his sons but both failed so in the end he just let them be. Nazir, the oldest turned out to be a gay and set up his own business. Tariq, his other son who's completely British also unmarried and managing his own business. None of George's sons are married yet. But one of them is currently in Pakistan, the only son who embraced being Muslim as well as the Pakistani way. George is hoping that someday he will find a wife as well.

One of the scenes in the movie that was quite heartbreaking for me was the look upon the face of George's daughters from this first marriage and also his first wife. By then, we already know that he has never been home since he left them until he married Ella the British girl. And one of the reasons why George's marriage to his first wife fell apart is because she cannot give him a son. Having a son is very important in their culture. Unlike his marriage with Ella, who bore him not one but 6 sons. The movie has shown, what it is like living in Pakistan.

One of the highlights of the movie for me was the closure between George and the first wife, the closure between the first wife and Ella. I forgot her name, that is why I am just addressing her as the first wife.

Honestly, until now I cannot fully understand what has been said in one scene in the movie. Sajid was in the car with his cousin and they were explaining to him how all of them were related to one another. As in their culture they do marry their cousins. If you will watch the movie and were able to understand that line please do tell me..

I will keep on watching different kind of movies and will share them all with you.

Happy watching!

East is East [1999 UK]

 

I am not confident with my writing skills but then I will try..

All my life I have always been watching movies and TV shows from Hollywood, but then the time came that I found myself searching for movies that are not from Hollywood. Movies that have something new to offer. Checking out the differences between movies from Hollywood and other countries. And here I am; hoping that I could write down properly my feedback about the movies I have seen and explain why other people must see it too.

East is East - one of the movies I have seen that is not from Hollywood. Actually, I have seen first the sequel West is West and since I enjoyed the movie I then decided to look for the first movie. And here it goes.


It is story of George (Muslim Pakistani) and Ella (Catholic British) living in UK. With their 6 sons and daughter. George wanted his off springs to embrace the Pakistani way but then how? if all of them were born and raised not in Pakistan? This movie surprised me as it managed to made me laugh right from the start. The movie starts with George watching the Catholic Procession, what he doesn't know was all his kids were included in the procession and even holding the statues of Christ and Mary - they had to take a different way to hide from their father. A nice way to start a movie, I must say.

The first born son Nazir, doesn't want an arrange marriage. And later on revealed to be a gay, well being gay is still being frowned upon on Muslims. Saleem, the engineering (?) student whose art works are about private parts of a woman. Tariq, the son who loves to go disco and in a relationship with the white girl next door. Meenah, the only girl but she is boyish. Sajid, the youngest son who always wear this jacket with hood. None of George's kids do speak URDU the national language of Pakistani.

In a way, the movie  managed for us to take a peek at the Pakistani Muslim traditional ways. Like the arrange marriage. In the movie, other Pakistani are criticizing George as his kids are more like of a British than Pakistani. But hello, where they are anyway? The movie showed the ups and downs of a marriage between 2 different nationalities/religion. What life is like when you are not in your own country.

Simple story and yet touching with lessons we can all learn.
This is worth watching. So if you are up to watching something new, why not give it a try?


Anyone who knows comedy films like this, feel free to suggest them to me.

Old Boy [2003 Korea]

I do not have any idea that this film existed, one boring night I was googling about good movies that did not came from Hollywood and a lot of people who are not from Asia suggested this movie which made me decide to see it anyway.

It is not exactly an action movie, but there is an action scene from the movie that was quite memorable. And according to Wiki, it has taken the director 3 days to perfect that scene. The movie is more of a drama. Shocking. I was even thinking what was the mind of the writer for him to be able to come up with this kind of story.

The movie started with Dae-Ho in the precint. Police picked him up for being drunk and when he is drunk he do a lof of stuff. That part was fun for me as he keeps on annoying other people who were in the precint with him. People come and go but the police is still holding him until his friend came and bail him out. Before going home, he made a phone call first to his daughter who happens to be celebrating her 3rd birthday. He woke up the next day in the room unknown to him where he stayed for 15 years. He doesn't know who his abductor was or WHY?

And his abductor set him free instead of figuring out why, he searched for him for revenge. Unknown to all him, all his actions were expected from him of his abductor. And he only has 5 days to figure things out. Sounds exciting isn't it?

Hollywood remake was done, but if I were you better watch the original first.

Ciao!

Tchibo Thermal Tights

Tchibo is a shop that looks like a European counterpart of Daiso. But they don't sell all the cute stuff like Daiso does. This is one of my favorite shops in UAE as they sell affordable items. One of the items I got from them was this Tchibo Thermal Tights that cost only 19.00 AED each. I purchased this so I can wear again those shorts and mini skirts from yesteryears. UAE is not really that strict when it comes to clothing but then it is better to be safe than sorry. And at the same time to show respect as this is still a conservative country. On  the next photo shows the materials of this thermal tights.

I do admit, I don't know what to look for when it comes to thermal tights since I didn't grew up in a cold country. And besides, I didn't purchase it for the sake of keeping me warm as the winter here isn't really feels like 'winter'. Just feels bearable unlike the summer. I have chosen this as I think that it will last longer since it has a thicker material than my usual stockings that I need to throw after 2 uses as they will  likely have runs all over them. And I am posting this to let people know that there are still affordable items/shops in the UAE. From the frugal people like me. Until next time. Ciao!

Bioderma Photoderm Max 50+

Bioderma Photoderm Max 50+
Price: 0.00 Samples only from Aster Pharmacy 5ML

Made in France

These are samples of Bioderma Photoderm Max 50+ which I got from Aster Pharmacy after being a regular customer for quite sometime now. And it has been a big help as I don't have to buy yet a sunscreen because of these samples. I am hoping/wishing the UAE Pharmacies will also give samples from other brands or have regular size as samples, but then that is what you can wishing thinking.

Now back to the product. I am totally new to sunscreens and I know it is a mistake not starting early in life in using them. As a result now I have dark spots. I don't really have complains about this one as this is not sticky and I think this is an oil free sunscreen. Blends well in the skin. Some other time I will a photo of swatches to explain it better. Until then, ciao!

Daiso Product #1: Blotting Paper

Daiso Blotting Paper
Price: 7.00 AED at Daiso
Made in Japan

Daiso is a Japanese store that sells almost everything under the sun that you can think of. But in UAE market it is limited. Not all skin care products they offer are available. Food and drinks are not available even if they don’t contain pork. Why is that so? Why is there a restriction on it? It is one of my favorite shops and I get to visit it whenever I am in Dubai. Products are affordable. Price starts at 7.00AED and with so many cute designs you’ll end up buying more than you intended to.

All these blotting papers are 7AED each only. Actually it is more practical to buy the boxes on the top photo as they contain 250 pieces per box but then I can't help myself getting these (on the 2nd photo) as they have cute packaging even though they contain only 100 pieces per packet. Japanese and Korean products have one thing in common, putting them in creative and cute packages that's pleasing to the eyes that makes you buy it! Nice marketing though.

Eau Thermale Avene Products Buy 3 for the price of 2!

Just a quick post. Me in spite of complaining about the prices in UAE still went to the nearest Aster Pharmacy as this week is the last week for their offer. Get 3 products for the price of 2. I don't want to buy stuff (unless I really need them immediately) unless they are on sale or on promo. And this promo at the pharmacy happens once a year only, I think. This is the best offer I have seen from them so far. Even though from time to time Vichy has buy 1 take 1, but only for limited items. You can't really choose. That's all for now.

Ciao!

The Bodyshop Lip and Cheek Doll

The Bodyshop Lip and Cheek Doll
Lip and Cheek Tint (1 color only)
Price: 72.00 AED at The Bodyshop
Made in Italy

I don’t actually need this product but I purchased it on impulse. Seems to me that lip and cheek tint is the ‘in’ thing right now. MAC Cremesheen Lipgloss is my favorite but I am trying to look for an alternative as this product: the price is very high for me and it doesn’t even last that long. The one I have right now lasted for barely 2 months only.

The applicator: (I don't like it, I prefer this kind of product in tube but as I said I made the purchase on impulse.  This could be my last purchase of lip and cheek tint with this kind of applicator)

When applied:

As lip product, not bad at all as the pigmentation is good but it didn’t last long on my lips maybe because I didn’t put enough of it. As a cheek product, I can’t complain too as seen in in the last photo that the color payoff is good. So if you don’t mind the price and the applicator that comes with it then this is worth trying.

When blended:

Till next time, Ciao!

Girl and Boy

Not my photos, got it through chain mail a long time ago. Too cute so it is worth sharing: