Minimalist Villager-why did I quit a city life

Sooner or later we all come to the point where personal peace and comfort become a goal! My turning point was 2 years ago when after being a perfect consumer of unnecessary and expensive things, I did not actually need or even really wanted,  I switched to minimalism and started decluttering my home, thus my mind.

It really helped me a lot in terms of sorting out what my goals are and which choices should I make to reach them, or try to do so. And I was trying...These two years - moving the cities and houses, changing schools for my daughter and jobs for myself, finding the apartment of my dreams and running from it after all, because of unbearable neighbors and constant noise were leading me to something absolutely unimaginable for a city-dwelling person...I decided to move to a village - far away place in a country that once adopted me, Morocco, to a place hidden in the mountains, a pure beauty of nature, calmness, and air, ahh this air ( I believe it is a gift for my daughter who has asthma).

Being so close to nature allows me to concentrate more on sustainability and minimalism. Who needs those fancy things in a village anyway?

I love it here because of the simplicity of life because everything seems to be clear and right because I have three sheep and some chickens because I can lay on the roof and see the stars because it seems like the most beautiful things are the simplest ones...

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Laura

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Halal food, veganism and animal rights

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I live in Morocco, where Islam is an official religion and the laws of Quran are implemented in different areas of life. And food consumption is one of them. Probably, everyone heard a word "Halal", which means: " Religiously allowed" - the foods Muslims can eat and the way they should slaught cows, sheep, hens and the other animals except pigs and monkeys. 

The Islamic way of slaughtering has many rules - and one of the most important - the animal should be treated with a great respect! It has to be clean and healthy, it should not be hungry or thirsty, it shouldn't see the other animals being slaughtered in front of it, it shouldn't be scared or stressed and the butcher shouldn't sharpen the knife in front of the animal. And only when the prayer:"Bismillah" ( "In the name of God")  is said, the animal must be slaughtered with a sharp knife.  

Theoretically, it is a very merciful way of killing animals for food, if I may use"merciful killing" expression. After watching Earthlings and American slaughterhouses from the inside, it is hard to be impressed, right? 

 Practically, I believe that all the rules might be followed only in private tiny farms or households, where once a year every family is obliged to slaughter a sheep due to the Quranic law in a day of Eid Al-Adha. Unfortunately, the mass food industry is not merciful at all - I was trying to find videos from Moroccan slaughterhouses but failed ( nevertheless it does not mean things are different there), instead I found some disturbing videos of slaughtering process from the Islamic countries or Halal slaughtering houses. Please, be aware, that these videos are really full of cruelty: this is about camel's slaughtering, this one is from Saudi Arabia and this one is from Turkish halal slaughterhouse.

I was a vegetarian for 8 years and due to my health issues ( I was pregnant and had a severe iron deficit), I started eating beef. Now I think, I should have tried to find an alternative. So not eating meat is easy for me. For some time I used to eat chicken because it was Halal even though it did not feel right for me somehow- like I am trying to trick myself. So I quit doing it as well. 

Dairy and eggs - I am in the process( still eat Gluten free cookies which contain them) and this understanding will help me to stop using those foods completely - this milk, which I am adding to my coffee in the morning is not meant for me - but for the baby cattle, that, was, probably removed from its mom, maybe even killed, for me to be able to use its food for my own consumption. 

I feel nothing but shame. That is why I consider myself unable to use animal products in my daily life for ethical reasons.
Animals are joy, not food!

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Laura

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Moroccan ghassoul (clay) in zero waste beauty routine

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When I decided to get rid of chemical and all kinds of advertised but-never-worked-for-me face, hair and body care products, I started my experiments with natural cosmetics! They were limited a lot by my dry and super sensitive skin. So before applying something on my face or hair, I had to learn about possible and expected effects after the procedure. But anyhow I had a great variety of natural products to deal with only because I live in Morocco - a country of argan oil and ghassoul - the best things ever for your self-care if you are a natural cosmetics lover or a minimalist ( or both like me) or going a zero waste!

            So here I will talk about Moroccan Ghassoul (or Rhassoul) and its great benefits for skin and hair. It is also known by names Moroccan Clay of Moroccan Red Clay and is sourced from Atlas Mountains range, formed by volcanic activity and geothermal changes combination. An absolutely natural organic product which nourishes your skin and scalp. It is known by Nothern Africa's women for centuries, it's widely used for spa procedures in Moroccan and Turkish hammams ( traditional bath/sauna) and as an extra beneficial component of different mass-market beauty products ( creams, soap bars, and shampoos). By the way, these kinds of products are advertised and not cheap at all even though pure ghassoul costs literally nothing.

WHAT IS MOROCCAN CLAY USED FOR:

   Face cleaning. Just mix a tea spoon of clay with some water to get a smooth paste, apply it gently on your face while massaging it! Wash with water! Dead cells and dirt are gone! Enjoy the softness! 

   Face mask. Everything is the same, but leave ghassoul on your face to dry usually it takes 20 minutes ( it works wonders if instead of water you will use a rose water). Wash it gently with water. As I mentioned before, my skin is dry, so every contact with water makes it very tight, so I need some hydration - my rose water is always with me! 

  Body scrub. If you use a bigger portion of Ghassoul, mix it with more water and apply it on your body, gently massaging it, you'll get rid of dead cells and help your blood circulation! 

  Shampoo. And this is my favorite ghassoul usage! Because it is the most effective and natural way to clean my nasty hair ( oily roots, dry ends). I mix clay and water, making it not as thick as for face mask, or regular shampoo, 2 soup spoons of it with 50 ml of water work great! So when my hair is wet, I use this paste, massage my skin, leave it for 2 minutes and wash away! If you have time ( I do not have it) leave the paste on your hair to dry and wash after! 

  Hair mask. If you like me have no time to leave the paste on your hair to dry on the regular basis, try to do it once a week! Great benefits are guaranteed!

This is my shampoo

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MOROCCAN CLAY:

Appropriate for sensitive skin (and highly recommended );

Reduces dryness;

Improves skin firmness;

Cleans pores;

Nourishes skin;

Treats acne;

Detoxifies skin;

Soothes scalp problems - psoriasis, dandruff. 

So it is likely one product could be used for face, hair, and body - natural, waste free way to take care of yourself and environment. 

WHERE TO BUY NATURAL MOROCCAN GHASSOUL:

   In Moroccan souk (market). This is the best way if you're going zero waste! Because you are able to find the huge bags full of it (the pieces not the powder) and buy as much as you want! Which is great, no plastic, no garbage, just pure dirt!!! You can keep it a cotton bag or a glass jar after.

  

Plus, there are a lot of already packed 100g, 250g. bags or boxes. A lot of companies propose their products so it shouldn't be a problem to find and purchase it! But I would recommend to find a local Moroccan community in your city and buy from them - the chances to get a natural and valuable product are much higher! 

  Use natural cosmetics and be happy with your results! 
  Salam alaykum!

   

  

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Laura

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Henna in Moroccan culture

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Henna in Moroccan culture has deep roots as this type of art is tightly connected to religious celebrations ( Eid, circumcision, wedding ) and might be used by local women and girls of all ages on a regular basis after hammam (traditional Moroccan bath/spa)as well. As for the tourists and foreigners, it's one of "must do" while you are here in Morocco!

So here is everything we need to know about henna:

                                                      

                                   WHAT IS HENNA?

Henna is a paste, a type of "ink" made of dried leaves, water and egg whites. It is poured in syringe using which a local lady will decorate your skin. It lasts about 2 weeks and has a brown or bright orange colour. You will be asked to sit while Hennaya - it is the name for a professional Henna Artist is working on you and to rest another 30 minutes after she finishes, in order the paste to dry on your hands. Depending on an insensitivity of a colour you want to reach it might be a bit more ( actually the more the better). After the paste is totally dry all you need to do is to scrub it without using water or any product that contains oil ( because they will affect the colour of your tattoo). 

                   WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF HENNA? 

Red henna - the one we're talking about. It is used for a temporary tattoo, it is safe and absolutely natural, the real and original form of henna made of the plant Lawsonia inermis . It has well known in Morocco health benefits for skin: it helps in wounds healing and has a great antibacterial effect! 

By the way, do not forget that even the pure natural products can cause an allergy so it's always better to check it before making a tattoo. HOW? Just apply a little paste on your palm and wait 24 hours. Nothing happens? Run and make your henna tattoo!

Black henna - as chemicals are added to the natural henna powder to intensify the colour and make it black,  which makes use of this type of henna very risky in terms of allergic reactions! It is not used for tattoos in Morocco on a regular basis and in the popular touristic places, even though you can buy the black henna powder on the market easily!

WHERE CAN I HAVE A HENNA TATTOO IN MOROCCO?

Every Medina of each Moroccan city has places where you can see the advertising of henna craft shops or you can even see the ladies with a syringe who are proposing their services. Once you as a tourist is noticed by them, you will be asked if you are willed to have a henna tattoo!  

      WHAT IS KHAMSA IN MOROCCAN CULTURE?

Hamsa or the Hand of Fatima is a talisman widely popular in the Middle East and  Islamic countries just like among Jewish community (it is called the Hamsa Nand or the Hand of Miriam) which is believed has the power to protect people from an evil eye and harm, bringing them luck and goodness instead. While you can find khamsa on the doors and clothes, the symbol is used a lot by henna artists as well!  And it is very beautiful! 

                     WHAT IS A BRIDAL HENNA PARTY?

 So we came to the most important and interesting part of this article - the Moroccan Wedding Henna Party! First of all, Moroccan Wedding is a religious celebration ( as according to Quran, Marriage is a sacred union) with a lot of customs and traditions. One of them takes place a day before a Marriage Ceremony and is called a  Bridal Henna Party - when after Hammam, where the bride comes with her girlfriends and a family, she wears a traditional dress and Hennaya decorates her hands and feet with beautiful designs, which symbolize joy and beauty! The bride's family and friends who are participating in the party might have henna tattoos as well. It is must be mentioned that only close friends or relatives are attending this beautiful ceremony! 

And the next day is a Wedding Day, which is full of interesting traditions and customs as well!

Want to know about Morocco? Follow me on the Pinterest and Instagram! Salam Alaykum!

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Laura

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Casablanca to go. 5 places to visit in 1 day

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You probably already know that Casablanca is the biggest city in Morocco and one of the biggest in  Maghreb region and all Africa. It is bordering the Atlantic Ocean and has a huge port and the population about  6 million people according to the official census (2016) but unofficially the population is almost twice bigger - about 10 million people. Quite impressive, right? That is why Casablanca is one of  "must to visit" places when you are travelling or living in Morocco.

   Before moving here, I visited the city once. And only for one day! So I propose you guys to check these 5 places if you're coming to Casa ( this is a local informal name for Casablanca)  only for 1 day or if you're limited in time. They are located not far from each other, easy to reach by private or public transport and they are well-known. Let's go.

   Located just 3 minutes away from Gare Casa Port train station and 1 minute away from Station Place des Nations Unies ( tram station) Medina of Casablanca will be the first to reach on my list. 

Unfortunately, it is not as beautiful as medinas of other Moroccan touristic cities. There are not so many things interesting in terms of architecture or style, even though you can walk around and check them but what makes it worth visiting is a great opportunity to buy natural organic cosmetics and leather goods much cheaper than in other places ( do not forget to bargain as well). Nice little shops with silver and gold jewelry, tiny kiosks with all kinds of argan oil products and pure argan oil itself (what can we use it for you can read "here", beldi soap and famous kesa glove for hammam, henna,  ghassoul and everything you need for your healthy and natural beauty routine.

If you are ready to walk on foot to our next destination throughout Medina, do not hesitate to ask the locals for guidance as the streets together form an intricate labyrinth which might soak you for hours of walking without reaching the target. If you are all right with a path it takes you about 30mins to reach The great mosque Hassan 2. Or you can simply catch a taxi which will depart you to the place in 5 minutes and 15 MAD ( 1,5 EUROS).

   So here you are - next to the biggest mosque in Morocco and the 13th largest in the world. Its minaret is the highest in the world as well!  Located at the Atlantic ocean coast and named after Moroccan King Hassan 2, the mosque is an enormous gigantic building with a huge square next to it and mesmerizing views! The walls, the windows, the doors are nothing less than a piece of art. Made in the best traditions of the Islamic architecture with Moroccan traditional elements this mosque became a visit card of Casablanca and Morocco in general. So take your time and have a tour around it, on the ground floor there is a possibility to have a professional guide who would share the story of how, why and when the mosque was made. Even though it is the only one mosque in Morocco which allows  Non-Muslims to go inside during no praying time, Please, be aware that Non-Muslims and women cannot enter some particular parts of the mosque ( the rugs for praying).

Some pictures I made 

And one more with me))

   Right in front of it, there is a nice park with a traditional Moroccan architecture which makes a good place for taking pictures as well. Here is mine :

   And again you have a choice - go on foot straight ahead about 25 minutes and enjoy the ocean view or take a taxi, pay 15MAD ( 1,5 EUROS) and in less than 5 minutes you are here.  

   It is time for lunch or coffee break. In Anfa Place Shopping Centre you can have one: there are plenties of fast food restaurants on the third floor of the centre and more expensive places closer to the beach.  If you like shopping you can check H&M, Marks &Spencer or Virgin stores. But I added this place because it has an absolutely gorgeous beach - it is public but secured, clean and neat. One of my favourite places in Casablanca - you can swim or just rest on the warm sand watching the ocean and listening to the waves. It is fantastic. Plus a great opportunity to take some pictures again, hhh. 

   Still not tired? Then take a look at the other side of the shopping centre, the one which is opposite to the beach there is a Saudi Arabian Mosque of an unspeakable beauty with a nice little square to rest in. After that, all you need is 1,5 EUROS or 15 MAD to get to Sindibad Park ( there is still an option to walk about 30-35 mins on foot ).

   It is time for fun. You can check their official site to know the prices and promotions. Here it is www. parcsindibad.ma.  A very nice place with a lot of attractions and a beautiful pretty park and a zoo.  What makes it special - you have an opportunity to see white tigers, lions, giraffes and many other species. An absolute must!

   And our last destination for 1 day is 

   Another shopping mall with a lot of places to eat, drink and buy. And in the centre of it is our target - aquarium where paying just a little money you can go inside. A kind of a glass room will allow you to step inside of the fish world and to enjoy their pure beauty. A great chance to rest and relax. 

   Be fond of your day in Casablanca and welcome! Marhaban!

  

  If you are interested in Morocco, its food, customs and travels, please subscribe and explore this amazing country with me!

   You can find more pictures from Casablanca and other Moroccan cities if you'll follow me on the Pinterest! Salam Alaykum!   

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Laura

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My Moroccan beauty routine

   As an owner of a super sensitive and dry skin, I used to be a classic consumer and an advertising victim. Plus since being 20 years old I became obsessed with an idea of fighting mine under eye wrinkles! I could not control myself, I was seeing them every time I looked in a mirror, I saw these fine lines and those crow's feet - a nightmare of every woman! Creams, serums, lotions, masks...everything you can find on the shelves of the beauty stores I tried. And guess what? I still have them ( probably because I am already 31). After some researches and consultations with generics and cosmetologists, I was assured - there is no way to get rid of wrinkles totally unless you'll have a surgery! We can take care of our skin and slow down the aging process, look much younger and have a shiny skin. But it is a complex process which includes sport, healthy diet, psychological comfort etc. We should not trick ourselves thinking that one cream will make us young and beautiful! There are no advertised wonders in cosmetology - there is an everyday work ( even though this work is pretty much interesting for me as I do it for myself)  in the taking care of your face and body. CONCLUSION: I spent these many years and this much money fighting my genetics and psychological complexes.

    As a natural cosmetics lover, firstly I started using aloe juice, then natural masks and then...I moved to Morocco with its argan oil! Probably it was the best decision I made because I stopped fighting my wrinkles and started a battle with my complexes- the main source of my cosmetic consuming problems( only face care cosmetics by the way). So instead of using zillions of things like I used to do ( my husband was laughing at me every time he saw my huge pink "beauty case"), I keep only 3 Essentials- Nigella soap (absolutely natural on the olive oil basis with coconut oil, which gently scrubs my skin), I use it every evening before 11 PM, a moisturizer BIO Rose water ( I still have some Avene thermal water left, that I have to finish and stick to my Rose water) which is the best if you are looking for something with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant which means anti-aging ( hooray!!!) effects. By the way, I can use it during a day when I want to refresh my skin a bit, especially I like to put it in the fridge and apply it while it's cold.
And last but not the least  BIO argan oil - the queen of all cosmetics. I used it in the mornings for the first couple of months (like I mentioned my skin is very dry, and I always had to have day and night creams)but now I apply it gently only in the evenings, including my under eye zone! I do not feel that my skin needs it in the morning because I do not feel any dryness anymore! No more eye cream, day cream and night cream! And NO MORE CHEMICAL PRODUCTS!

 I am absolutely happy with my argan and here are some details why:

Argan oil is a perfect moisturizer! Yes, it is. With the whole varieties of vitamins, it has, it nourishes your skin in the best way plus it dries very fast so no sticky oily spots on your pillows!

Argan oil is fighting wrinkles ( eye wrinkles as well)! I do not want to be a fairy taller and assure everyone that I do not have them anymore! Yes, I have, because I am alive and very emotional, so my mimic muscles work all the time,! and I am aging of course!  But I am absolutely satisfied with the results I see now and the way my skin feels after the argan oil usage!

Argan oil will make your hair shiny and healthy! And no more dry ends! If you will not become Rapunzel immediately, you have to use it for about two weeks to see the results! I apply it on my ends - no more dryness,  hooray!

Argan oil fights stretch marks! Are you pregnant? It is time for using argan oil on the places you are not satisfied with! Natural, cheap, safe!

Argan oil is great for nails! Apply it on your cuticula, gently massage and voila!

   What else do I need if I am absolutely satisfied with my pretty little bottle! I hope my experience will be useful for you and you'll find your oil or any other natural product which will make your skin happy!

 Be healthy and beautiful! And let me know if you're coming to Morocco, we will find you the purest argan oil together!

 Salam Alaykum!

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Laura

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I am an Orthodox Christian married to a Muslim. This is what it's like.

   In this age of globalization when we are moving freely from country to country and can settle and find home a long way from our homelands, cross-cultural relationships and interfaith marriages are something very common but still something that is worth talking about. I am sharing my personal experience what is it like to be an Orthodox Christian wife of a Muslim husband.

   Why am I Orthodox?

   I was raised in Ukraine where all Abrahamic religions have deep historical roots so there are no problems with racism or cross-religious relationships. It is easy to find a mosque right next to a cathedral, or a church behind a synagogue. People are minding their business, praying and worshipping God whenever they need to. When you are walking through central streets you will see all the varieties of religious people - Muslim men holding their kids and chatting with their wives, Jewish children wearing kippahs and running somewhere, Orthodox priests talking on the phone while drinking coffee, silent Buddist protest and so on. Peace and harmony.  

   I have never doubted Orthodoxy - it is very understandable, clear and truthful for me. When I was 20 I started going to church regularly, read and educate myself. I made some friends among nuns, it was a great joy for me to help them in cleaning the cathedral, listening to their quiet voices. One of the best moments of my Ukrainian life. I was wearing a scarf for some time ( I do not remember why I stopped doing this) and did not use any makeup for 4 or 5 years. And of course, I have never had any thought about marrying a man of a different religion. Like we say in Ukraine: "A man thinks, but God acts.".

                              Why Muslim? Why him?

   I do not believe in a love at the first sight. I am old enough to know about passion and hormones. I know the term "chemistry" between a man and a woman. I mean we all have been watching American love movies, right? So it is logical you have to be sober for such a decision like marriage, and for interfaith marriage, you have to be super-long-term sober and think not twice but 1000 times. And when I say sober, I'm not talking about alcohol.  

   I knew my husband for more than 2 years before we finally got married, even though as a good Muslim he proposed me to marry him at the beginning of our relationship, but as we've been living in different countries and were trying to fix our marriage papers for so long ( there is a whole two-parts story how it was) I had enough time to make sure I made a right choice. 

   If I ever am asked why I married a Muslim, I would never answer in one sentence. There are so many reasons and his religion is at the end of the list. It's just happened that the man I trust and respect and who deserves to be trusted and respected is a Muslim. Positive things: he does not smoke or drink or uses drugs; he understands that his family is his responsibility and a marriage is hard work, not a romantic fairy tale ( but you both can work hard to make it a romantic fairy tale). Negative thing: he is jealous. Not all these unbelievable things like checking my phone or Facebook account, or forbidding me going out on my own; but some usual for Islamic countries things ( which I do not do anyhow because of my religious beliefs) like wearing open clothes or swimming in the bikinis etc. 

Our family

   Is built on respect and respect and respect. Before getting married I explained him very much clear that I would never change my religion or convert to Islam so there is no need to preach me. He told me approximately the same. So our coexistence is pretty simple - he knows when I am fasting and I cook him fatour after the sundown when he is fasting; he reminds me about my evening prayers and I help him to wash before his prayers etc. We eat mutton during Eid time, we color and eat eggs on Easter etc. 

   Conclusion

   When I was at the university I used to study Religion. All the religions. A bit later I started being interested particularly in Islam and Christian cults. I am still very interested in them, but I have time only for the Bible and Quran from time to time ( I need to remind my husband about his duties for his wife according to Quran, haha ). I strongly believe that there are more things in common that connect us all and if we would bother ourselves a bit more to study each other's beliefs without a judgment but with all respect, we wouldn't have any religious problems to resolve and misunderstandings to fix. Plus:"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one is able to save and destroy. But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?"James: 4:12 and:"Is not Allah the Best of all judges?" The Quran 95:8.

  Like I said before, I could not imagine I would be a wife of a Muslim man living in the Islamic country so far away from my Homeland but at the end, I am happy to be here at this time with this man. I wish us all to make right choices! Salam Alaykum!

   

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Laura

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The winds of Essaouira

   As I still have some sand in my hair and my skin kept the smell of the ocean, I want to drop a few words about me exploring Essaouira.

The first thing I want to mention is a wind! Unpredictable, finding you everywhere, messing your hair and stealing your hat wind!

I was not really prepared for this type of a weather as I was coming to this town from Marrakesh where you do not need many clothes or anything, just cover yourself to be protected from the sun and make sure you're drinking enough water! In Essaouira, you need a jacket or a sweat shirt, as the wind becomes too strong sometimes. But it gives you a good reason to hide from it in the labyrinths of Ancient Medina.

  Medina of Essaouira is a nest for Moroccan artists, musicians, and painters.

The homeland of Gnaoua festival will welcome you with famous Moroccan tea and one of the most beautiful streets you've ever seen! Everything we're imagining or reading about Morocco is here- unbelievable architecture of an ancient city, which walls are painted in different colors ( mostly white and blue ), tiny cozy restaurants, where you are kindly welcomed, with a smell of tajine and couscous, music shops and silver boutiques, where each item is hand made and is much cheaper than in other Moroccan touristic places. The number of art galleries is unbelievable for Morocco! Almost if not every street has its own gallery where you can enjoy the works of local painters!

There is a famous bakery shop which might be called an art gallery itself as there are hundreds of paintings on the high walls, a famous place among tourists and locals, so nice and beautiful that you keep drinking your coffee/tea/juice and eating these wonderful cakes again and again just not to leave. The name of the place is ""Patisserie Chez Driss" and you can easy find it in Medina, just ask any one of locals how to get there and enjoy your time!

  Another thing to do in Essaouira is to go to the port, buy super fresh and cheap, five-minutes-ago-caught fish ( we paid 30 MAD which is 3 EUROS for a big I have no idea how it's called fish) and fry it right there for another 10 mad ( 1 EURO). It will be served with bread! Something so tasty and simple! And while eating you can enjoy watching seagulls. Essaouira is heaven for them- so much food, so much life!

 Kite surfing is another attraction of Essaouira! And if you have no idea what is that and how to do it, just choose one of the schools which are right on the beach and let them help you! The price for a one hour class is about 300 MAD (30 EUROS), equipment is included.

 Essaouira is a great weekend destination, if you are not a professional sportsman or a musician, you might be bored if you're staying longer. The wind is strong and the climate is a bit unstable- so if you like to stay at the beach, take a look at Agadir - a few hours by bus from Essaouira and you'll have the mildest sand under your feet and one of the best beaches in the world right next to you.

   Explore Morocco and love its varieties with me!
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Laura

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