It’s approximately two years later, a few emails in between, many questions posed in mid-air within the quiet hum of solitude, revisiting past years of histories and imagining future encounters, and it’s ok. After a rising and falling of any possible emotion, it’s comforting to realize that one day, the cavity, chipped weak inside the chest, is now sealed afresh, regenerated.

A view of Doha at night from 44 floors up. A downtown core quickly developing; each day a different view awaits. An extra floor built, a new lot excavated. Photographing each stage is key in documenting the evolution of this emerging city in the Gulf.

I stumbled upon a folder which holds transcripts of numerous psychic readings that I had experienced in 2007. At the time, I was asked to do a photo essay on the topic of belief. This one word was the single parameter that scoped the project. I decided to conduct an experiment exploring the belief of the 6th sense.

I spent the next 30 days walking streets of Toronto, peering into 2nd floor windows of street businesses to find random psychic studios. For some reason in Toronto, 98% of street store pyschics had a dark, rickety, unkept staircase leading up to their quarters. Timing served in my favour as the annual psychic fair hit Toronto within this month. By the end of this 3-day stint, I was greeted with warm hellos upon entering the Exhibition grounds. They all knew me. I also made a stop at the monthly Psychic Brunch, an event I had frequented a few times previously. Mostly all visits were without any alarming moments except perhaps for the one visit to the past lives group. I did pause with I buzzed up to the 15th floor of a questionable apartment building. For the next two hours I sat with a group of people and as the new person, was questioned quite a bit about my past lives (to which I had no answers), I watched as the speaker slipped in and out of his present and past lives, and I had another participant requesting my cellphone number over and yes, over to which I politely declined.

For the readings, I basically requested a general reading on my present and near future happenings and I recorded the readings through audio and visual means. Variety was of interest to me so I experienced palmistry, tarot, numerology, aura photography, tea leaves readings, and even a crystal ball reading.

The results. Interestingly enough, many of the psychics honed in on similar themes with at times, a level of specificity that made me pause in incredulity. Other times, I knew I was being taken for a faux spiritual ride. Apparently the crystal ball indicated that I had bad energy circling my spirit, though in order to know more, I needed to come back another time (in other words, pay more money). Both palm readers deduced notably similar findings from peering deep into the lines of my left hand. The tea leaves reading was mirky. The tarot readings, aura reading and numerology had remarkably similar statements.

A lot was said. Four years later, here are a few quotes that resonated (the psychics were informed that I was doing a photo essay, as consent was asked prior to documenting. No other details were divulged until after the reading, however I imagine creativity could easily be deduced from my few statements if they so chose to seek clues about me.):

“See this line here? You have a foreign line. You are going to take off to a foreign country soon. Canada is not for you. So you can go to any country.” At the time, in 2007, I was in graduate school in Canada with no intention nor plans of leaving the country. 2009 found me applying for a position in Qatar. Early 2010 I arrived in Doha.

If you want to have a really bad time, date a Libra. Check.

You will work hard in your career until age 50. After age 50, you can quit your job.  Please? though …

So you have four 1s … This is very powerful when it comes to innovativeness. Writing. Being creative. All directed through your ability to be free and travel. You are and will be an excellent teacher, communicator, even a politician – with an end of result – you will have power. You will service humanity…And be a writer. I am a writer and a teacher. Though politics? Someone else agrees…

17 years from today, you will be involved in politics yourself. And you will have a huge constituency behind you – I see you as so much – doing many things – you will also have friends – very powerful friends – but it’s very important that there be no gossip and no negativity around you. I see you doing very well at this part of your career. Who are these powerful friends I wonder? A huge constituency?

See this health line – you are really strong. ‘Til age 90, you can function without any doctors. You have a really good hand physically so you can get involved in any activity requiring the use of your body. Then after 90 – you see this situation here? Everyone goes old. You will grow older. Lifespan is old almost 98-99 years. Long healthy life. Both palmists quoted similar numbers in the 90s.

You will not be happy until you are married to the soul mate of your being. You don’t want just anyone, any lover. It’s like ‘I would rather wait for the one true soulmate of my being.”  I can agree with this as I wait.

You are a rare woman. See these lines here? Very thin. You believe more in love of heart rather than a ring. Your marriage line has come late…will come late. In your heart, you are old fashioned but legally you don’t mind if you are not married.  Very true.

2010 is the end of the cycle. You are number 9. You’ll have to close the doors, trim any deadwood – do whatever you have to do to get rid of the old. And get ready for 2011. You start all over again. Yes.

I am taken aback to my short yet overflowing time in Japan. It was many years ago, however, this country continues to hold a unique space in my consciousness. I had the opportunity to live in Seihi-cho, a small farming town just north of the coastal city of Nagasaki in the prefecture of the same name. When I first arrived to this town, I knew very few words of Japanese. In order to communicate with my neighbours, I needed to learn their language as quickly as I could. So I did. I studied vigorously, though it took a little while.

Before I succeeded in my language acquisition, I remember walking through rice paddies on my way to the local grocery store. Unexpectedly, a man stopped me – perhaps in his late sixties. He approached me with an armful of fresh vegetables, presumably from his farm. He couldn’t speak any English, and at the time, my Japanese was basic. I graciously accepted the bundle, bowed and continued walking, touched by his hospitality.

Another random memory. In a town of 10,000, an honour system was still in place. A city-girl at heart, the fruit stands lining the winding roads were a pleasant surprise. Each rickety wooden stand had fruit, a box, and a sign indicating the price. I’d drop yen in the slot and grab a bag of fruit. The farmers would return each evening to collect and replenish.

A pivotal moment. I remember walking through the rambling alleyways that connected the main road to the high school in which I was newly assigned. It was one of my first days of work at an agricultural high school, which I would later realize was complete with farm animals, horses, rice paddies and fruit and veggie growing areas, and a school dog. I heard a loud and very clearly articulated ‘Hello.. hello…’. I turned around and saw a friendly-looking woman, possibly in her mid-fifties waving frantically in my direction. With more persuasion, I suddenly found myself in her living room sipping tea. I politely mentioned that it was ‘Sports Day’ and I needed to get back to school before they started up again. I mentioned in passing that I had been on my way to the corner store to buy a disposable camera as I wanted to capture the festivities of the day. She insisted I use her camera. It was impossible to depart from her dwelling without accepting her offer. This woman and her husband became a constant warm presence during my three years in Nagasaki.

This location is geographically far from the areas affected, however, I imagine the heart and genuine caring that I experienced prevails from one end of the country to the other, from one countryside town to another, from Seihi to Sendai. Japan, you are in my thoughts.

Japan Earthquake Before and After Aerial Images

Camels grazing, driving north, Qatar

Coastline, Northern tip of Qatar

Al Zubarah Fort..

(… again, thankful for cellphone cameras since I forgot my ‘real’ camera…)

(cellphone camera shots above)

I had a dream a few evenings ago. Within what was probably a few seconds, though which felt a lot lengthier, I dreamt of a past friend. I have not seen this individual for a few years, however, despite this absence, in the haze of my subconscious, I was still able to conjure up the acute sound of his voice, his image, body language, mannerisms and scent. If this dream was an indicator of anything, apparently, within me, continue to exist fragments of this individual and of a past relationship; a decade of words and exchanges have etched an imprint which has yet to fully fade, and instead, seems to sparkle softly in the background, like a skyline through fog.

Brave dune bashing. Walk the Corniche. Shop at Villagio. Wander through the criss-crossing alleyways of the Souq Waqif. Eat continuously at the countless restaurants serving tasty regional food, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Turkish – the food list is endless. Get inspired within the walls of the Museum of Islamic Art and the newer Museum of Modern Arab Art. Chat for hours. Try to find the camel races and be happy to stumble upon their training grounds instead. Even cheer Japan on to victory during the Asian Cup Final Game vs. Australia. Below are some pictures snapped at the always breathtaking sand dunes south of the city.

I didn’t take too many photos in Sri Lanka – I was too busy sitting in silence and then catching up with an old friend. Though I took a few of the sweet elephants all around … and I found out that ‘Aliya’ is elephant in Sinhala which reminded me of a special little person.