Each time I read one of my entries, a sublime feeling gushes forth inside me. Knowing that other people gets something worthy out of my mind’s creative juices actually thrills my whole being. However, I also must admit that ideas don’t come from me alone. Other people’s thoughts have caused me to express whatever great thing is running through my head. In which case, I’d say that the other blogs about Morocco that I’ve read also deserve a round of applause for igniting my burning desire to write and share my stories.

Braveheart-does-the-Maghreb

One of my prized sources of ideas and inspiration is a blog called Braveheart-does-the-Maghreb. It is a treasure chest, which I regularly open just to look for some golden insights. This chest of precious words belongs to a well-traveled woman named Lady Macleod. The great ideas in her blog are enough proof that this person has gained much experience and knowledge through her travel adventures. She had been to different places like Paris, Scotland, Alabama, London, Kashmir, and India but now stays in Morocco, where her daughter is spending one whole year of research studies.

Despite the lack of impressive web design, I still find Lady Macleod’s blog fantastic. Its interesting and realistic manner of imparting views makes it something worth reading. I might sound like a paid PR writer or the president of Lady Macleod’s fans club right now, but believe me, I am NOT. It just happened that I discovered someone else’s ideas to be close to my own interests. A strong fondness for news in Morocco is something that hooked me into this diary.

If Looks Could Kill

So, you’re still not convinced that I am not a PR writer for Lady Macleod? Well, here’s something that a PR writer won’t do for a client.

I admit that I stand in awe of every interesting article I’ve read on my favorite Braveheart-does-the-Maghreb (B-D-T-M). But that doesn’t mean that I sacrifice a lot of hours in front of the PC just to stare at B-D-T-M’s page. Agree with me or not, staring at a black and red web page for a long time can be really excruciating. Needless to say, what hinders me from continuously reading Lady Macleod’s articles is the background color.

I know that my statement is merely an opinion. Others might even think that the mix of two dark colors is cute. However, I would only like to stress my point on the “friendliness” of this site. With much respect to a gifted writer, I still think that it’s better to choose lighter colors in designing a blog page. Besides, a blog is a journal, not an art sheet. The key is to choose a color that will make reading easy for everyone.

Though the blog colors are not that appealing to me, B-D-T-M still has a fairly decent overall design. What made it presentable is the proper arrangement of blog elements. The clear photos don’t just come anywhere. Pictures of great importance are centrally positioned, while supporting photos are placed on the side. The blog sites she visits are also well organized at the right side of the page. Aside from these, her previous posts can be accessed easily through her systematic blog archive.

It’s The Thought That Counts

I only have one principle in treating a human being and in evaluating a blog– what’s inside is more important than what meets the eye. My love for B-D-T-M is not solely based on its extraordinary web element but also on interesting pieces of information that I get from it. As a whole, B-D-T-M tackles the everyday life in Morocco with topics that are plain and simple. Most of them talk about the Moroccan news and some of her daily routines. However, what makes each entry truly enjoyable is the creative yet realistic way it is told. From it, one can get loads of information about Morocco without getting oh so bored! So, here are a few clips from Lady Macleod’s blog entries:

About Shopping in Morocco

“I have discovered more of the anomalies of shopping in Morocco. The trousers are all three or more inches longer than you will find in Europe, Britain, or the U.S. I am 5’10” tall, and I find really expensive trousers are just long enough, and more moderately priced trousers have to be let out, or worn with flats. Every pair of trousers I tried on today (with the new very orange sandals) pooled on the floor. It is because to a woman they all wear those stiletto heels with everything – djellaba to jeans.”

About Riding Public Vehicles…

“When we arrived at Marjane the driver cut the fare by almost ten dirhams because of the double fare, they don’t always do that (this after he had made the girls throw out their cigarettes when he noticed my nose wrinkling and my fan working overtime). I love that, so I over tipped him like mad.”

On A More Serious Note

Aside from these simple thoughts about the Moroccan lifestyle, Lady Macleod’s mind is also filled with deep ideas. From her writings, you can get a clear and profound view of a certain issue. Her words are so powerful that they can either support or break your current opinion.

On caring for the world…

“We must realize the truth of the world, or we will be lost. It is our world, all of it, and we are responsible for every individual on it and the state of the earth itself. Every grain of sand is the same as me, every Muslim is my child, every bird is my brother, the sea is my life’s blood, and I am responsible for the well being of us all.”

On the danger of terrorism…

“The terrorist believes he is serving a higher good, that he is called to this purpose; and that makes him so much more dangerous and bloody. The agenda is to change political control, and to have a certain interpretation of religion rule that political state. It is not enough to prove “I am right.” It must be proved “You are wrong.” And if that takes your death, that of all your family, and those in agreement with you – so it must be.”

Two Heads Are Better Than One

Indeed, my esteemed writer shares abounding insights to her readers, and I’m lucky enough to have come across her site. I have learned much from reading B-D-T-M. Like Lady Macleod’s entries, I also try to make mine as entertaining as possible. I read blogs, too, so I know that a dull write-up is a NO-NO! Aside from this, B-D-T-M also motivates me to write about different issues. Though my focus is on Morocco, my points for discussion are on different aspects of Moroccan living. From Morocco attractions to events in Fez, I have a lot of thing to share. I also introduced my readers to homegrown Moroccan recipes and even wrote about my personal experiences in staying at Moroccan hotels.

As an avid reader, I hope to contribute something that can enhance B-D-T-M. Aside from changing the colors of the site, I think it would be best to create an article index according to categories. I think readers would appreciate it more if there is an easier access to a specific issue.

If you still have any doubt on your mind, thinking that I’m only doing this for promotion, I would suggest that you check out Lady Macleod’s treasure chest. Reading just a few of her articles can probably make you want to outdo this review.

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