Car Free Day - Rmeil

-

I loved the area span of the event's location: A long street (Kataeb street as locals call it) filled with merchandise stands on the sides, two platforms, one at the end (for sporting activities) and one at the middle where bands were playing and various activities were held throughout the day.

Gymnasts performing in the center of the crowd
I first headed to the "Jesuites Park", first thing that catches your eye once you step foot in Rmeil, where I was supposed to meet with the rest of the free huggers to start our last flashmob for this year. Good thing we chose the car free day for our flashmob, the whole ambiance of joy and calamity, the positive vibes in the air and the whole serenity of the place gave us that push we needed to withstand the whole 6 hours with a smile on our face the whole time.
"Le Jardin des Jesuites" has turned into the children's playground
Clowns, Clowns Everywhere
Children and toddlers were filling the park, while two young guys and a teenager girl were spending the time with the infants singing, dancing, shouting out loud, skipping around, face-painting and many more activities on plan. The event also held a venue for a photography exhibition. Donner Sang Compter were also there with their usual stand and their lovely staff and volunteers (note on the side: this might be the third time I bump into DSC's stand and would really want to have a few minutes with the guys there, but then I'd be distracted the whole day with the activity I'm doing). Skate.LB skateboarding organization filled the afternoon with such an outstanding performance, along with Sastek the bicycle hero and his exceptional show.

Preparing the Free Hugs Signs
This amazing woman remembered us from the previous car free day and asked to hug us all, one by one
 

As usual, I was personally fully indulged in the Free Hugs flashmob, having no time to check the outskirted side shows. Fortunately for me though I managed to have a few minutes at the end of the day, right when the band was finishing their gig and the skateboard show was about to start. At the same time, jugglers were performing, gymnasts doing their part, kiosks all around selling everything from organic food to hats and wearables. It was the perfect time for me to start snapping some photos.

Sastek the Bicycle Hero
one of the SkateLB skaters performing
Eventually, what had crossed my mind at the end of that day, and the last sassine car free day as well, was the insurmountable contrast between the span and diversity of Achrafieh2020's car free events compared to the one held in Tripoli last year, where it took over the whole city in general, witnessed extremely large numbers of participating bands/shows/performers along with a huge pedestrian presence, leaving me with the only thought of hoping to bring back this country "golden era" it needs, where everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, lived there harmonically away from all conflicts and disruptions. The looks on the faces of the people we hugged showed me once more how much peace and serenity are needed in our lovely country. God bless everyone who made that day a success

you can check more relevant photos on both my Facebook Album, on the Free Huggers Album and the Achrafieh2020 FB Page
Reine among the bubbles
One of my personal favorites
And old woman, apparently looking lusciously at the young performer ahead.

Comments

  1. Anonymous6/11/12 2:59 PM

    You should add a like button there! I wish Tripoli could get some of those positive vibes! Well done Natheer...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Natheer H.7/11/12 10:08 AM

    oh hi :D I wish i knew how to add one! and btw the Tripoli car free was postponed till next spring. such a shame. These events are nothing compared to what happened in Tripoli. But meh, we had a lovely time at least, and this gives you a slight push in your faith in humanity.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Anonymous Confessions

-
Image
Let's play a game, shall we? Apparently there's been an exhibition, a public art project for the american artist  Candy Chang  who thought it would be interesting to open up a space where people can anonymously project their confessions, their deepest secrets, and enjoy the reaction of whoever reads it. Source: Original Article "By the end of the exhibition, over 1500 confessions were displayed on the walls. It’s about sex, love, or fears of dying alone. By collecting the confessions of the hotel’s visitors, this project seeks to create a cathartic sanctuary for this temporary community and help us see we are not alone in our quirks, experiences, and struggles as we try to lead fulfilling lives." Source: Original Article Source: Original Article This post is written for the benefit of the public. I invite you everyone to do the same, let's share our secrets. Hint : Post your confession in the comment field below while choosing the " ...
Read more

The Death of Laurent Schwebel

-
Image
An email found its way to my inbox, with a PowerPoint presentation attached, seemingly having photographs inside, in a way to remember the great photographer Schwebel who was stabbed lately in Buenos Aires, while taking snapshots of a local memorial. Such emails are easily thrown into the garbage bin usually, but the familiarity of the photographer's name was the reason I opened the presentation: And what a shock that was! Firstly, here's a translated extract of the Swiss Grandes Espaces  on the latest incident: Wednesday morning, February 8, 2012, Laurent Schwebel, 52, was stabbed to death by a thug who stole his camera in the center of Buenos Aires. The murderer, 24, was chased by witnesses of the drama, and apprehended by the police. Lawrence returned from Antarctic trip with Christian Genillard, and rejoiced to discover the Iguassu Falls before returning to his Alsace. More on the incident is found here . Laurent Schwebel You might be wonder...
Read more

Forward Forum - The Booklet

-
Image
I've been looking around for a digital copy of the Forward Forum booklet, the recruitment forum that took place last weekend in BIEL, Beirut. I attended for the sake of getting a copy of that booklet, a role I played ever since I was in college, and of course to meet my peers and exhibiting companies. I usually get the booklet and share it among friends, and whoever needs it and for some reason couldn't be there. Here's an extract of the organizers' webpage : "After last year's tremendous success and on behalf of CAREERS & E Square –Events & Exhibitions , it gives us great pleasure to invite you to the thirteenth edition of the International Forum for Orientation & Recruitment, FORWARD 2013 and to the third edition of, BUSINESS 2013 which will be both held at BIEL- Lebanon from Thursday, 18th till Sunday, 21st April 2013 and from 4:00 pm till 10:00 pm ." The forum takes place every year, mostly in BIEL, at the beginning of spring sea...
Read more

Roadmap to a National Cycling Day

-
Image
Here's why tomorrow, April 25th, is a big day in the history of Lebanon. For decades we had been accustomed to riding cars, whether for leisure or for work; that same car had been going hand in hand with social status: you have no car, you then belong to the poor. Owning a high end car, on the other hand, meant you're doing well, and thus earn society's respect in some way. Fast forward to last year where two girls, with the help of friends, had started what we know today as the BikeToWork day, years after being infatuated with the charm of the four-wheelers, as in to try and encourage an entire nation to go back to the days the majority had no cars. How did they get around? How were delivery boys getting by? How did my grandfather and yours go to work at their younger years? It's that mesmerizing slinky beast we all call the bicycle. I mean, it's often cheap, doesn't really cost any maintenance really, doesn't break down easily, doesn't take up ...
Read more

Anonymous Confessions, The Epilogue

-
Image
Source:  Original Article The Last Confession was the straw that broke the camel's back: What I started on my previous post  was phenomenal, it was pretty obvious that I had to document it. If you're still unfamiliar with what I'm talking about, check the Anonymous Confessions blog post; I had announced I want to play a game, based on the work of an american artist. Source:  Anonymous Confessions The thread of confessions started out with the following: "I still love her" "İt hurts not to see him" "I do care about what people think of me" Several anonymous persons decided to join later on, upon seeing the first feedback, and thought it might be a good idea to throw in their own confession, since, in the end, everything was totally anonymous. The majority spoke of relationships, parents, self esteem, aspirations, and unfinished love stories. Until the last guest posted their comment : "Confession 1: I wish I can help everyone who...
Read more

The Tourist That Shall Never Leave

-
Image
I never had thought I’d see the day when I mourn the library. I’m still literally traumatized, two hours later, convincing myself what I had heard about burning down the library was inaccurate, that some agencies are exaggerating and that it could be some ignorants were trying to cause damage to a shop nearby. It was all until I laid eyes upon that photo of the flames hurling out of the library’s door in that tiny alleyway, that I believed the news. The moment I heard of the news, and since I was at my place in Beirut, I packed my stuff instantly and tried to head back to Tripoli. To my bad luck, 40 minutes on the highway weren’t enough to get me a bus to my old city.. I felt so powerless I sat on the sidewalk and started shivering. A little while later, and just moments ago, the news was confirmed, the books are to ashes now, the old library is gone. I want you to understand it’s not about the books. Yes the books are worth a lot, a lot of money, a lot of effort, sweat, night shif...
Read more