This first photo was taken at the Korea Pavilion in Expo City. I have to say I’m proud of this one, amongst the three photos. I often come across shots like this on Instagram and find it amazing at how professionally they’re taken. While mine isn’t quite on that level, I still feel it deserves some recognition. Plus, I waited in line for about two hours just to get a good shot of the pavilion’s exterior. Looking back, I wonder what got into me since patience isn’t exactly my strong suit, and waiting in long lines is something I avoid. Although, there’s something about waiting that makes the reward feel more satisfying like the effort put into it adds meaning to the moment, and this photo is one of those.

I do wish I had been able to capture it with the sun out. The lighting would’ve been much better, and the colors could have popped more. I still like how it turned out. Sometimes, things don’t really go exactly as planned, but they still hold their own kind of charm.

My first ever pet was a dwarf hamster, which I got at the age of 18. My family found it odd that I chose a hamster, and I would always answer with, “because they’re cute.” While most of my peers wished for something grand to mark their 18th birthday, all I wanted was a tiny, fluffy companion. Maybe you could call it healing my inner child or something along those lines, but this little creature brought me the purest happiness.

Before owning a hamster, I had no idea how fragile they were or how suddenly they could develop illnesses. I used to think that whenever a pet suffered, it was purely due to an owner’s neglect. I quickly realized I was wrong because hamsters truly have a way of creating their own kind of drama.

This photo was taken after Kourtney’s surgery. She suffered from an everted pouch and had to undergo an operation. Some people found it amusing that I spent hundreds of dirhams on such a tiny pet, but when you’re a pet owner, watching them suffer just isn’t an option. Despite the odds, Kourtney lived beyond the typical lifespan of a dwarf hamster. I’m grateful that I can still see her cuteness through my gallery. For this particular shot, I used the technique of turning my phone upside down to capture the perfect angle, and it worked like a charm. Indeed, pictures serve as a testament to a life once lived.

For the past 18 years, the glitz and glam of Dubai have been what I call home. As a local, I’ve honestly seen enough of the Burj Khalifa. However, it’s hard to resist taking a photo when it looks this stunning at night. My brother always jokes, “Haven’t you had enough of taking the same photo over and over?” and I just brush him off. He’s not wrong. I probably do have the same shot every year, yet each one still feels different, like a new memory captured in time.

Being surrounded by such sights, I consider it a privilege because not everyone has the chance to witness them the way I do. That’s why, for 2025, I have set a personal goal to take as many photos as I can. I used to think pictures were unnecessary, just something people took for the sake of posting on social media. Over time, I realized they hold something deeper. I have never been the type to take photos, let alone be in them, until it suddenly hit me. I am not getting any younger, and neither are the people around me. My entire life could look completely different a year or two from now.

Who knows? Maybe there will come a time when I won’t be able to take my yearly Burj Khalifa photos. If that day ever comes, I want to have something to look back on, a reminder of the moments I once took for granted. Last year’s version, my 2024 shot, is my favorite so far. I was lucky to capture it with the fountain playing as well, making the scene feel even more magical. I had to turn down the exposure and brightness to get the shot, and the subtle adjustments made all the difference, letting the night’s beauty truly shine.