Asalaamu alaikum sister.
Hey, I'm not finding this boring at all! This is great stuff and I am looking forward to the rest! Thanks for sharing.
BTW, I've never been to Europe, so your descriptions and thoughts are very interesting to me.
asalaam alaaykum
Yeah, part 2! Wow, you've traveled so much, masha'allah. And you are so right about Allah swt guiding those who seek it....
Salams
I had a question that's been bugging me since the first entry. I know the basics of Hinduism, and of course I was born while my parents were Buddhist, so I'm familiar with it as well. I've not heard the term "Hindu Buddhist" before, though, though the latter sprang from the former. Is it a specific hybridization, or a certain sect of Buddhism you're talking about?
Glad you guys aren't finding it boring. 
Leila...the temple i went to was a mixture of Hindus, Buddhists, and Hare Krishnas. All the teachings were taught - those of the Buddha as well as the Baghavad Gita and Hindu teachings. It was a hodge podge. These days it's mostly Hare Krishna from what i understand - it's right near Cheeseman Park in Denver. There was a Buddhist temple in Boulder and a Hindu temple in Denver that i also frequented. But i say Hindu Buddhist, because those two were taught at the temple and i followed both... Hope that makes sense. I'm not sure if there's a distinct sect so to say...
salam
nice posts so far, interesting macha Allah
once again very interesting. . .waiting for part 3
Great stuff - can't wait for part 3!
Oohh ho you'll be happy to hear this. You know, us Portuguese (and Portuguese Americans) have a big thing for Maria, and there is an even bigger cult of a certain "incarnation" of her that was supposedly seen several times in a village. This city is now famous world-wide as a pilgrimage place. It's a very common thing for Portuguese men wear a golden engraved medalion of the Virgin Maria and below it the name of the village engraved. My Avou (great grandfather) my grandfather, my father, and up until about a year ago, me as well. Do you know what that village is called?
Salam,
wafarer: great blog entry - Can't wait to read how you finally came to Islam.
Abdul-Rahim: Are you talking about Fatima, Portugal?? Where the three girls claim they saw Mary(as)??
The town of Fatima, Portugal is a major pilgrimage place for a lotta Catholics.
Again, Wafarer, can't wait for the finaly.
Masalama
Salaam! Well I felt I was reading my own story! You know I also went to the Vatican city, St PEter's etc. I spent a month living in Italy with a family, visiting churches, etc. And as it happened to you, after that I felt so discusted for what my own religion was based upon that I decided I wouldn't be catholic any more! THen some years passed and I met my dh...and then I became muslim!
Abdul Rahim...no. I haven't heard that...
Ayalguita...great minds think alike. 
Part 3 is coming.....
I'm keenly waiting for next post ... aka episode
Yup Fatimah! The Muslim legacy in PRT LIVES!!!!! WOOO WOOO! I love that my dad and grandfather and great grandather (that's it because the "incanation" of Hazrat Maria was only "seen" during WWI). all wear medalians with her name on it. It's haraam definatley in every aspect (gold, a necklace, engraven image of a person, deifying such a wonderful women) but it's still cool to think.
Khuda Hafiz
your story is inspiring !
Waiting for part 3
Excellent story, thanks for sharing
salaam,
i agree about the romanesque culture of americans...that pushed me towards islam as well.
one thing, u may have learned since coming to Islam that Muslims haven't had a fabulous history of tolerance and peace either. There are many examples, but for one, where I live in the Arabian Gulf there are many decendents of slaves...the whole east coast of africa was totally pillaged for slaves by Muslims...the common word for a person who looks to be of African origin in many Arabic dialects is 'abed/'abeda. That means "slave." there are countless example of injustices committed by Muslims, just as there are of injustices done in the name of Catholocism.
I'm not telling u this to smear my religion or disillusion you. Rather, I hope that while u remain a strong Muslim, u can recognize that the people of any religion are far from perfect and perhaps u can forgive the Catholic establishment a little.
Happy ramadan
It's true Fatima but i was talking more about the crusades and killing people if they didn't convert to a religion. The Christian crusades are notorious for this...
"when you look for something and really try to find answers, you will find them."
" I didn't want a middle man anymore. I wanted a one on one relationship with God."
How true !!!
salam
your jorney to islam is really interesting....massaallah..at islam you will hav answer to every question and meaning full....
mohsin memon
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