Moving to Brighton

Appreciation post

Moving to Brighton is one of the best decisions I have ever made. It’s a small city, with its own identity, and (simply put) it has a lot to offer. Brighton is the place for people who want an urban lifestyle but still want to feel like they live in the countryside by the sea.

Located in South East England, Brighton is a seaside resort known for its bohemian culture, arts, and music. It’s a relatively small city with a population of 290,885 people, making it one of the most densely populated cities in the UK, but with its many parks and gardens, you can get away from the hustle and bustle if you need to.

Brighton is easily accessible by train from London. The ride takes about an hour and trains leave every half-hour from Victoria Station and King’s Cross Station. If you’re driving, it’s a simple drive down M23 or A23, depending on where you’re coming from.

Royal Pavilion -Samin Ghiasi - Photography

Things to do in Brighton

When you arrive, there are plenty of things to see and do. Brighton’s very own Royal Pavilion—originally built as a seaside retreat for George IV—is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sussex County. It was designed by architect John Nash in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture that was popular at the time – Built in 1787, and served as a hospital during World War I. You’ll also want to take some time to walk along Brighton Beach—it was named one of the best beach in Britain by TripAdvisor. And tons of great restaurants and bars right next to the beach. So if you just want to grab some fish and chips while watching the sunset over the pier, you can totally do that!

The British Airways i360 is an observation tower on Brighton’s seafront that offers stunning views of the city and its surroundings, or if you like shopping, then you will be happy to know that there are plenty of stores in this area as well. You can find anything from books to clothing stores.

If you’re into nature (like me!), you can hike along the famous Seven Sisters cliffs. If you love art, you’ll be stunned by the Faberge egg collection on display at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. And if you’ve got kids, they’ll love visiting Brighton Pier—or seeing a show at the world-famous Theatre Royal!

Samin_Ghiasi_Brighton
Bonus: You might see the Seagulls eat a pigeon and not be able to tell if they’re fighting or if they’re making out. Any question?

Brighton has a reputation as a party town, and with good reason—there are tons of festivals, live music shows, and beach parties any night of the week. Whenever I tell people that I live in Brighton, they respond with “Ohhhh, you’re so lucky!” And yes, it is pretty great.

Brighton is a wonderful place – and like any place, it also has its downsides too. The weather can be quite bad during the winter months. It rains a lot and is often cold and windy. It can be difficult to get around the town if you don’t have a car or bike. The public transportation system is limited, so you will likely need to walk to a lot of destinations in town or rely on taxis or ride-sharing services. The housing market in Brighton is extremely competitive. Finding affordable accommodation can be difficult, especially if you’re looking for something with multiple bedrooms or located in the city center. And the cost of living in Brighton is quite high compared to other cities in the UK, including London (which isn’t exactly cheap).

To live anywhere, you have to learn to be creative in problem-solving. Nothing is perfect. People are nice here, and we have the beach from a walking distance. No complaint ♡

Did you recently move to Brighton? Leave a comment below.

How to be happy

How to be happy

We all want to be happy, but we can’t build happiness without a community. Happiness is something that comes from within—it’s not something you can buy or download onto your phone. But it’s also something that can come from other people. 

How to make friends - Samin Ghiasi

So what do you do if you don’t have the kind of community you need in order to be happy?

You make one! YES! There are plenty of people out there just like you, people who want to share their lives and experiences with others and meet new people with similar interests. So get out there and start making friends!

1. Just do it – Nike said it best: JUST DO IT. If you want to make friends, start by just being friendly. Smile and say hi. Make eye contact and give a little wave. Be the person who starts the conversation—because even if it doesn’t lead you to a new friendship, at least it makes life a little less lonely for someone else.

2. Ask questions – People like to feel like they know things that other people don’t, so ask them questions about their favorite places, bands, books, etc, and let them tell you all about it! You’ll be having fun while learning something new and making friends along the way.

3. Get out there – It’s hard to make friends if no one is around! Find your local adult dodgeball league or sign up for an improv class—but whatever you decide to do, get out there and do it!

Are you a loner, shy or just introverted? Would you like to make more friends? Here are some extra tips :

First of all, be yourself!  We know that sounds cheesy and corny, but it’s true. If you’re not your true self, people are going to see right through that and they’re not going to want to be your friend. So be yourself, no matter how weird you may think that makes you! Your quirks are what make you unique and awesome!

Find things to talk about. Being a loner doesn’t mean being clueless about the world—it means… well we’re not really sure what it means, but we do know that learning about the world is a great way to meet people. Try learning about your town or city, or something that’s happening in the news. You can always find something interesting in the news if you look hard enough. Just remember—don’t talk about politics or religion until you know someone better. Politics and religion are both topics that tend to get people riled up and excited, so maybe stick with sports for now if you want to make friends… unless your new friend is someone who loves talking about politics or religion, in which case go for it! ✌ 

What do you think? Leave a comment below.

Nowruz 2022

Nowruz 2022

Nowruz is one of the largest cultural and religious celebrations of the world, held annually. In Persian: Nowruz means “New Day”. This ancient festival dates back to over 3,000 years ago and is celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, and several other regions across Central Asia. It also marks the first day of spring (vernal equinox). Nowruz has its roots in Zoroastrianism, a religion that has been followed in these areas for thousands of years. The day is celebrated worldwide by various ethnolinguistic groups and falls on or around the date of 21 March on the Gregorian calendar.

Nowruz – Persian: نوروز, pronounced [nowˈɾuːz]; is a Persian festival that celebrates the beginning of spring by bringing family and friends together over a special meal called “Haft-seen” (Persian: هفت‌سین). It is an arrangement of seven symbolic items whose names start with the letter “س” (pronounced as “seen”), the 15th letter in the Persian alphabet; “haft” (هفت) is Persian for “seven”.

These items include: apples, vinegar, garlic, sumac berries, wheat sprouts, and more. Each item has a distinct meaning and purpose—for example, wheat sprouts represent rebirth and growth.

Mealtime is an important part of Nowruz celebrations. In fact, it’s believed that the traditions of Haft Seen have their roots in Zoroastrianism, where meals were an essential part of religious life.

Many people also choose to clean their homes before Nowruz begins to symbolize starting off the year fresh. The spring equinox (the day of Nowruz) is also a time to visit family and friends to wish them a happy new year!

FUN FACTS ABOUT NOWRUZ

We’re so excited to celebrate #Nowruz this weekend! It’s a holiday packed with history and traditions, but there are some lesser-known facts about it that are worth sharing.

Here are 3 fun facts about Nowruz that we bet will surprise you!

  • The first day of Nowruz is calculated by the solar calendar. This is why the date of the holiday fluctuates from year to year.
  • Nowruz is a two-week celebration that marks the beginning of the New Year in Iran’s official Solar Hijri calendar. The celebration includes four public holidays from the first to the fourth day of Farvardin, the first month of the Iranian calendar, usually beginning on March 21. The Solar Hijri calendar has been Iran’s official calendar since 1925.
  • You can celebrate Nowruz no matter where you are in the world—the exact moment spring begins is at precisely the same time all around the globe!
Nowruz

(images from wikipedia.org)

What do you think? Leave a comment below.