Bajram Serif Mubarak Olsun

Bajram serif mubarak olsun to all my Muslim friends around the world :)

Today is the first day of Bajram ... it is three days long and marks the end of the month of Ramadan.

I am very busy now and do not have much time to write anything - so expect something a bit more in-depth later.

Ciao!

The number of Aussies touring Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Sarajevo has recently become a popular tourist
destination for travelling Aussies.
(Source: Wikimedia.org)

Well, is it just me, or are more and more Australians including Bosnia-Herzegovina in their travel itineraries lately?

I write this following last month, in which, in the space of three weeks, I met up with six Australian friends who had come to visit Sarajevo.

One of these men enjoyed it here so much, that he has returned to Bosnia a further three times! In fact, he is in Zenica as I type this! (It feels strange to think that I am now not the only Aussie in this city.)

Regardless, these visits from my friends gave me a grand opportunity to gain a further insight into the Sarajevo tourist 'scene'. 

The guys often commented on how other Aussie tourists were sharing hostel dorms with them in the city. I was not surprised by this as I regularly heard Australian accents in restaurants and through the main streets of Sarajevo.

So, it begs the question, what is dragging Aussie tourists to the city; and to Bosnia-Herzegovina in general?

Traditionally, many foreigners have been wary of travelling to the area due to the always-possible threat of fighting (read: war) breaking out once again. It is true that Sarajevo still bears significant scars from the previous war, which only came to an end a measly seventeen years ago.

However, it seems as more time passes, and as the nation gradually rebuilds itself, people's fears are waning. It is not just Australians flocking to Sarajevo; Americans, New Zealanders and Brits are, also, very well represented.

From discussions with friends and other tourists, Sarajevo is dragging Aussies in because, compared to other European destinations, it is remarkably cheap. One can go out consecutively for a week here and still spend just as much as they would for one night out in Amsterdam, for example.

Another attraction is to avoid our own people; it's nothing new that Aussies hate meeting other Aussies whilst on holiday - especially when there's a whole heap of them. 

Mostar is also being further included in the travel plans
of Australians in Europe.
(Source: MarvaoGuide.com)

Australians flood the popular tourist cities such as Venice, Munich, London and Paris - so why not go to a place where there is likely to be few of them? (I must admit, I empathise with them on this point.)

Once tourists are here, they have a whole heap to enjoy: educating themselves about the significant history of the city; experiencing a vastly different culture compared to home; wining and dining in restaurants serving up ridiculously-delicious food.

Mostar has also featured prominently in the travel plans of Aussies in recent times; so it is not just Sarajevo reaping all the rewards!

However, one must ask the question: If one of the key reasons for Australians visiting Bosnia-Herzegovina is to avoid other Aussie tourists - what happens when Sarajevo or Mostar also become one of the 'mainstream' European destinations?

I think that is a fair way off, but, with regard to the fledgling local economy, it would be a nice problem to have.

Hopefully, sometime in the future, Zenica will also become a city in the minds of travelling tourists!

Bujrum :-)

10,000 views! Thank you!

Hello everyone / Zdravo svima!

It is with great pride that I inform you that yesterday - after just 53 days of this blog going public - I ticked over the 10,000 views mark. In fact, it didn't just 'tick' over, it jogged past it! Currently we sit on 10,500 views.
I could not imagine this response after one year, let alone after a month-and-a-half.

I can't thank you enough ... and I hope you will remain a reader of this blog in the future; and that you will help me knock down more milestones as time passes! :)

Vidimo se!

Photo of the Day: Sarajevo

Thousands of Muslim pack into a mosque in Sarajevo last night to mark the Islamic evening of Laylatul-Qadr. (Source: Klix.ba)

Ramadan: 'Laylatul-Qadr'

Laylatul-Qadr, or the Night of Power, marks the evening
in which the Quran is said to have been revealed.
(Source: OniIslam.net)

G'day everyone once again; or should that be 'Selam Alejkum' to some of you (for those who don't know, this is a popular greeting by Muslims around the world, meaning 'Peace be upon you').

Straight up, I won't waste your time here, and will just cut to the chase. I did not fast yesterday (Monday), and I am not fasting today.

Why not?

I could provide you with a number of reasons. Yes, reasons. They definitely could not be referred to as excuses, or anything.

Yesterday, myself and my partner wanted to visit some of her family members for coffee and a catch-up. This requires walking across to the other side of town and, realistically, do you think we can do that on a day which we are fasting? I am sure some have the ability to do so, but not myself, at least.

Heck, another reason, and a somewhat pathetic one at that, was I wanted to have a kick of the Sherrin footy outside yesterday for the first time in more than six months. Sweating it out with no food and water to rehydrate me? No, thanks.

A trip to the shopping centre today to buy some new clothes can also be added to that list.

So, why am I telling you all of this?

It is not to illustrate a sudden disrespect from my behalf towards Islam and Ramadan. It is, also, not to tell you that I have thrown the towel in the ring, and given up on this month of fasting.

I am telling you this because my reasoning for not fasting, finally, flicked a switch in my head to make me consider and further realise the relationship between the local Bosnian Muslim population and actually fasting.

As was the case with myself - in fact, it was probably the case right up until now - many people seem to assume that just about every single Muslim in the world is fasting during the month of Ramadan. If you know a Muslim who is not fasting, you probably have a preconceived thought that they are, therefore, considered a 'bad' Muslim, or that they are an odd one out-of-the-pack compared to the other Muslims who are fasting.

The truth is, at least here in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the majority of Muslims are not absolutely dedicated to their religion. True, there are a large number who attend the mosques during this holy month, and many people fast as much as they can, but there are just as many - if not more - people who I like to label as 'moderate' Muslims.

These people all identify themselves as Muslim, no question, although, many of them have their own reasons, perhaps similar to mine, for not fasting every day. Maybe some of them fast a few days here and there, or maybe some of them don't fast at all. Maybe some of them are not fasting, but they pray once-a-week. Not everyone is the same.

To be clear, I am not judging these people - I mean, how could I possibly judge anyone?

I am merely writing this as an observation, and to crush the myth held by some that Bosnia-Herzegovina is some sort of country which is filled with Muslims to its core.

In fact, an article released today by the 'Muslim Village' reveals that only 63% of Muslims worldwide actually pray five times a day; 93% are said to fast; while just 9% have completed the Hajj pilgrimage.

Recent figures from a study on the 'participation' levels
of Muslims around the world.
(Source: MuslimVillage.com)

True, there are a large number of people who are fasting and praying regularly - even when it is not Ramadan - but I do not believe that this number is anywhere near as high as some in Australia, for example, would assume.

Dosta o ovome.

Nonetheless, moving on!

Now that I have got that out of the way, I need to write a little bit about tonight - a night that is a very special one in the Islamic calendar.

Tonight is Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power), and is easily the most special night, not just during Ramadan, but throughout the entire Islamic year. Its significance bare downs to the fact - among other reasons - that it is the same night the Quran was revealed.

So, how do Muslims mark or celebrate this occasion?

It is said that the Muslim who prays on the Night of Power is extremely fortunate. In fact, prayer throughout this night is said to be 'better than a thousand months'. A thousand months! This is equivalent to 83 years and 4 months. Therefore, whoever prays tonight will deserve the same blessings and reward for the period as if he or she had been praying for 83 years and 4 months consecutively.

Yep, you're probably thinking what I am thinking: There is going to be quite a crowd at each of the local mosques tonight!

I think I will be heading into Zenica's city centre to check it all out myself.

Heck, why not?

Speak soon, people!

Six-year-old child dies in mine explosion.

Mourners gather for the funeral of Tarik Bijelic, a
six-year-old boy killed by a landmine in east Bosnia
last Friday.
(Source: MediaWorldBulletin.net)

A six-year-old has died after a mine exploded near the Bosnian town of Olova on Friday.

The explosion, which occurred in a marked minefield, killed Tarik Bijelic instantly and seriously injured his father.

Local media reports state that the pair were out "collecting firewood" when the incident happened, with the father regularly risking his life by entering the minefield because "he had no job" and struggled to "provide for his family."

Since the conclusion of the Bosnian war 17 years ago, Bosnia's Mine Action Centre estimates unexploded war ordnance have killed or injured around 1,700 people, including 230 children.

You can take the boy out of Melbourne ...