The View from Victoria Island

Islamabad Wiki

2011-03-05T21:56:00.007+05:00

islamabad.wetpaint.com

This is a site I set up in 2007 as a class project for high school Business and Accounting students. It was also in response to the lack of information about the city we lived in, the few that were available were aimed at tourists. This wiki was designed for the expats and newly arrived residents. But it is open to the public so you can recommend your favorite restaurant and shop owners can add their photo and address.

It seriously needs updating since we left Pakistan in 2009. I am calling on the good people of Islamabad to make this site relevant and current. Please sign up as a member and start posting!

Same Difference

2010-04-27T18:53:00.004+05:00

My initial impressions of Lagos is that it is a lot like Philippines and many developing countries in terms of infrastructure like roads. Unfortunately this usually means cracks and potholes, especially after heavy rains.

Another common characteristic it seems of developing economies is the ubiquity (or ubiquitousness?) of street vendors and sidewalk stalls. Except for the men here this photo could have been taken in Asia, for example. Notice the electrical connections, too.

But this port city does have some scenic features, such as the waterways and bridges between the mainland and the islands of Lagos, Victoria, and Ikoyi. So while I miss seeing the Margalla Hills of Islamabad, I am once again enjoying seeing the water when we drive out.

We're Not in Islamabad Anymore Toto

2010-04-27T14:06:00.002+05:00

Since August 2009 we have been calling flat in Lagos' Victoria Island as home. Yes, after four memorable years in Islamabad, Pakistan we have moved on and now live and work in Nigeria.

Six on Two

2009-05-26T15:11:00.003+06:00

This is a familiar sight not only in Thailand, but also here in Pakistan: a family somehow managing to fit on one motorcycle. This is a new record for me nonetheless: father, mother, and four kids! And only Dad is wearing a helmet.

McDonalds Islamabad

2009-03-07T12:56:00.001+05:00

McDonalds Islamabad
Originally uploaded by go2net.

Signs of times. Anti-car bomb barriers stand like mute sentinels as schoolgirls on a field trip march to McDonalds.

New Children's Park

2009-02-23T15:33:00.003+05:00

We finally got a chance to visit the new children's playground that a friend highly recommended, not once but twice this past weekend. Needless to say our one-year old loved it. And this made me wish we could go there every day, perhaps in the morning when it's still cool and not so busy.

The playground is the biggest I've ever seen. It is located inside Jinnah Park in F-11. It has a wonderful variety of playground equipment for children of all ages, even mini slides and swings for our little toddler. But the best ones are those for older kids: climbing walls and ropes, twisters, and zip lines. And it's open to the public for only Rps. 10 per person! This has its disadvantages though, some equipment are already broken such as the cheap plastic swings at the toddler section. Maybe because it could not handle the weight of heavier and older kids. We wondered if they have the staff, parts, and tools to maintain them. While the bigger equipments are obviously of imported quality, designed to handle rough handling from over-enthusiastic and the harsh elements, others look like they already need to be fixed.

Let's hope the park will last long so the residents of Islamabad can truly enjoy this great facility.

How to Make Chicken Paratha Roll

2009-02-05T13:26:00.003+05:00

I think I'm going to start a mini-series about street food in Islamabad. It will be short because we don't get out much. But we do love to try street food in most places we live or visit.

So here's our first one. A photo and video featuring the chicken paratha roll at Munchees.

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

2008-11-08T23:28:00.003+05:00

Driving around the city is never boring. The main streets of Islamabad may look modern with its wide lanes, lighted signs, and landscaped medians -- but one will still see an occasional donkey cart, tractor, over-decorated truck and bus, or this payloader.

The Donkey

2008-10-07T09:56:00.003+06:00

We're used to seeing donkeys in Islamabad. They're usually carrying a load or rider on their backs. This beast of burden has been hanging out at this street corner for a couple of weeks now, and we suspect he escaped or got separated from his master. He seems resourceful enough. He'd graze on the grassy area nearby, then stand by this shed when it's hot, perhaps to seek shade.

Islamabad Visual & Light Park

2008-09-21T16:22:00.001+06:00

Islamabad Visual & Light Park
Originally uploaded by go2net --is--okay--in--islamabad.

To think we were just at the park beside Serena Hotel (another 5-star hotel frequented by government officials and foreigners) with our baby. It was sunset -- Iftar time -- so the park was deserted except for us and a group of security guards having their Iftar picnic on the lawn. Everything was peaceful and calm, although traffic at the Serena parking lot was also busy because of all the people going to the hotel for dinner.

Our prayers go to all the families of those killed and injured.

Car Wash

2008-09-18T09:49:00.004+06:00

We're used to being approached by car-wash boys or teenagers whenever we park in commercial areas, but this was different: five instead of one all cleaning together, even wiping the roof of this Toyota Prado at the Islamabad Diagnostic Center. Even more unbelievable is they only asked for Rps. 50, not even a dollar.

Labor for Hire

2008-08-29T10:40:00.002+06:00

One of the things I learned about Islamabad on our first day here three years ago is that one can go to a place like Rana Market and hire one or more of these days if you need manual labor. Their tools of trade are right in front of them, a sledgehammer, pick or shovel. This picture, however, was taken on the way to Itwar bazaar.

Market Bearers Modernize & Upgrade with Grocery Carts

2008-08-18T19:53:00.003+06:00

After being away all summer I was surprised by how much I missed the Itwar Bazaar. So after finding a good excuse I went last Sunday, and was delighted to see one significant change. Some bearers now have grocery carts to help you carry your purchases. This particular guy probably finds it easier to push a cart than balance a basket tray over his head, especially at his age.

Happy Birthday Pakistan

2008-08-14T18:45:00.003+06:00

We've been traveling all summer, and have been busy re-settling and getting back to the daily grind since our return to Islamabad last week. But we're back, and in observance of Pakistan Day I'm happy to share this photo taken just a couple of hours ago. We passed this guy in Nazimudin Ave. and had to do a u-turn to catch up so I can take his photo. It's now one of my favorite pics of Pakistan!

Monal Restaurant

2008-06-09T21:15:00.001+06:00

monal_060508-065
Originally uploaded by go2net.

People looking for a good place to entertain guests might want to try Monal Restaurant. It's located high up the Margala hills, with a terrific view of Islamabad especially at night. The food is not bad either. We enjoyed their chicken handi, barbecued drumstick, palak paneer, chicken karahi, plain or garlic naan.

Bull Races

2008-05-28T21:38:00.004+05:00

Well, I finally got a chance to watch the bull races in a village outside Islamabad. It's an exciting event that needs to be experienced ... okay, watched ... at least once. A colleague -- who goes to these and tent-pegging and horse dancing competitions every chance she gets -- finally convinced me because the venue was just 30 minutes away. Bull races are popular in Pakistan but are usually held in open fields in villages. You won't find any women in these events, and the one we went to had about 5,000 locals while there were seven women in our 15-person group of foreigners. We became part of the attraction and many kept staring at us instead of watching the races. But we were safe and had a great view standing on top of a pickup truck. I didn't have a lot of good pictures however because we were standing against the sunset and the track was very dusty. I probably won't go again, although the chances of another opportunity coming up will be even more limited when my friend leaves. I'm just happy to finally witness one.

One, two, three crows

2008-05-28T21:32:00.003+05:00

Birds like crows and the common myna are a familiar sight in Islamabad, thanks to the number of trees. And I never get tired of looking at them or taking their pictures.

Seafood Shop

2008-05-02T22:52:00.004+05:00

There's a saying that one should only eat seafood in Islamabad -- a landlocked city -- during the "R" months, which officially ended two days ago. This is because there are hardly any modern refrigerated trucks to transport these from the port city of Karachi. I'm not surprised, the fishes and prawns didn't look that fresh during our last visit a couple of weeks ago, when the temperature was rose.

On the other hand, things might have improved this year. We just checked out the seafood section at the newly opened megastore, the Metro warehouse supermarket (ala Sam's Club and Costco). They have fresh fishes, eels, shrimps, and lobsters on display. But since I'll be going to my coastal hometown in a few weeks, I prefer to wait. Nonetheless we still picked up a pack of frozen, ready-to-cook crab claws and prawns.

I Say Jacarinda, You Say Jacaranda

2008-04-26T22:00:00.008+05:00

In spite of the continuing construction Islamabad still looks lovely this spring, and that's thanks to flowering trees like the jacarindas and their lavender blooms. I particularly love going down any street lined with these trees. They're also found in South Africa and Australia. Pretoria is sometimes called the Jacaranda City, while in Brisbane they are called "exam tree" because they are associated with university exams. This Australia city has a lot of jacarandas because in the past new mothers are given saplings to plant when they check out of the hospital. Perhaps Islamabad should start the same tradition as this city will look much better with more jacarandas to replace the paper mulberry trees (which I hate because I'm allergic to its pollen).

City of Parks

2008-04-24T20:25:00.008+05:00

While Islamabad has been losing a lot of trees to the construction, we can take comfort in the mini parks and playground that one will find in almost every neighborhood. This one is right by Nazimudin Rd. and can be a peaceful place for relaxation.

Strawberry Season

2008-04-13T21:17:00.006+05:00

I thought February was strawberry season until we saw all the red succulent fruits on display by street vendors. We bought half a kilo at Rana market and enjoyed them with light syrup for breakfast the other day. Yummy, gotta get more ... they usually don't last very long.

Soccer Balls Made in Pakistan

2008-04-04T10:09:00.007+05:00

It's interesting to find out that, depending on which website you visit, 50 to 80 percent of the world's soccer balls are made in Pakistan. If you do a search on Goggle, you will also find that Pakistan-made soccer balls are also equated with child labor. This is because traditional soccer balls are hand-stitched, although Thailand has also been producing the machine-pressed balls made by Adidas for the FIFA World Cup in 2006. When activists in Europe and the US protested against child labor in 1996, measures were taken to ensure that tournament balls are "child labor free" according to Wikipedia.

Another source stated:

Around 80 percent of the world's soccer balls are produced in Sialkot in northeastern Pakistan -- by hand. It takes about an hour-and-a-half to sew together the 32 honeycomb-shaped pieces of synthetic leather with 650 stitches.

The region has developed into a worldwide center for producing sporting goods. But up to a decade ago, making balls was mainly a cottage industry in peoples' homes. Human rights organizations then drew extensive attention to the often dire working conditions and the use of child labor. Today, the production facilities in Sialkot are monitored.

"The problem, though, is that fake balls are produced outside of this zone and one can't rule out that children are sewing them," said adidas corporate PR manager Anne Putz.

Deutsche Well

Also interesting is the fact that a firm in Sialkot also made the world's biggest soccer ball in September last year. Created by 50 stitchers in two months the ball measured 34.7 feet in diameter and weighed 800 kg. It was made for South Africa, host of the World Cup.

Pakistan Times

The Golden Arches

2008-03-27T12:45:00.004+05:00

Until February we've only gone to McDonald's once, and that was out of curiosity. Then last month we learned about the drive-thru, and so on weekends we started enjoying cheeseburgers and strawberry pies again. But this was short-lived, and our cholesterol-filled arteries can relax a bit. The recent bombing of Luna Caprese is making us wary of "Western targets." I wonder if the Saturday crowd that spills over to outdoor tables has since thinned out for the same reason.

Then again, one can always order.

2008-03-27T12:45:00.001+05:00

Boys & Kites

2008-03-09T20:08:00.002+05:00

Boys & Kites
Originally uploaded by go2net.

It's that time of the year again, when boys fly their kites in spite of the ban. The spring festival of kite flying has proven to be deadly not only because people fall of roofs or get electrocuted, but also because of the use of strings made of wire or ground glass to disable an opponent's kite during duels. The use of these deadly strings is the main reason for the ban.

Horse Dance Competition

2008-02-28T16:49:00.002+05:00

As promised, here's the video of the horse dance competition, also held during the tent-pegging championship at Rawalpindi Polo Ground on Feb. 22-25.

Tent-Pegging Video in YouTube

2008-02-27T17:18:00.002+05:00

It's interesting to note that CNN posted the news about YouTube being banned in Pakistan at the same time that I was uploading this video montage of the national tent-pegging championship held in Rawalpindi this past weekend. Of course, we could not access YouTube and therefore upload this video last Saturday, but YouTube was back online Sunday evening. The story came out in CNN on Monday evening.

Personally, I'm just glad we have YouTube again. Now I can also upload the videos of the horse dancing competition. It's our favorite site, and I find its database a rich source of videos that are entertaining as well as educational. Just today I showed the Business class three interesting videos about the dangers of credit card.

National Tent-pegging & Horse Dancing Competition

2008-02-23T19:18:00.004+05:00

Tent-pegging is an amazing equestrian sport, and Pakistan is one of the few countries that observes this ancient tradition. The horse dancing competition is another event worth watching. Watch the horses and their riders compete at the Rawalpindi Polo Grounds from 10 am - 4 pm until Monday, Feb. 25.

View more pictures

Birds of Islamabad

2008-02-23T15:21:00.002+05:00

One of the things I enjoy about living in Islamabad is the number of birds that we see everywhere. Most are crows and the common mynas. But lately we've also seen raptors like kites and hawks. Let's not forget the cute little parrots. It's enough to make me wish I was a birdwatcher who could identify the others that live in our neighborhood. Some of them make waking up in the morning more pleasant with their lovely chirping noises. I can only wish that the cutting down of trees won't drive them away.

Where Are the Trees?

2008-02-14T20:05:00.005+05:00

The picture on the topmost left was taken in February 2006, while the one on the right was shot last month. I am partly glad these trees were cut down, as most were paper mulberry trees and I'm seriously allergic to its pollen. On the other hand, I feel sad that our green scenery has turned brown. When we first came here there was only one lane along Nazimudin road, and the trees were so thick we couldn't see the Blue Area on the other side, even when there are hardly any leaves during winter. See left photo above, which was taken during pollen season in March 2006, and compare with the shot taken yesterday.

When the Lights Go Out

2008-01-20T17:41:00.002+05:00

Four Candles
Originally uploaded by go2net.

I've only heard of "load shedding" recently. It simply means that because power supply in Islamabad is not adequate to meet demands, we've been experiencing scheduled power outages. It's interesting that our neighborhood lost electricity 2-3 times daily in the last three days, when the electric company's website announced load shedding will be decreased due to improved situation on Jan. 9. I suppose this is an improvement because according to their announcement:

"He said now load shedding would be consisted upon 5 to 6 durations of 30 minutes (half hour) during 24 hours ..."

This statement, on the other hand, puzzled me:

"... it is observed that negligence is being shown in excess using of electricity in some Commercial & Govt buildings which is against national interest."

Since last year construction in Islamabad has been booming, and three highrises are going up along our street, Nazimudin Road. This makes me wonder if this city will be able to handle power demand when these buildings are completed and in operation. IESCO also promised the situation will return to normal with the rain.

Pakistani Tractor

2008-01-19T13:12:00.001+05:00

Even as they are building high rises, flyovers, and underpasses in Islamabad to make the nation's capital look modern and cosmopolitan, one thing has remained traditional -- the ubiquitous, multi-purpose, often colorfully decorated tractor used in construction to haul supplies and equipment.

Only in Pakistan have we seen tractors outside farms and agriculture places. Around Islamabad we've seen them haul wood, water tanks, sand and gravel, etc. There are about 500,000 tractors in Pakistan and half are Massey Ferguson (MF) tractors by Millat Tractor Ltd., which established the first engine assembly plant in the country and made tractors indigenous in Pakistan.

Pick up trucks and construction vehicles are not as common in this country due to import taxes on vehicles.

Gray Skies

2008-01-16T09:56:00.003+05:00

Cyclist in Islamabad
Originally uploaded by go2net.

It rained everyday last week (with one incident of hail storm), then we briefly enjoyed sunny weather again during the weekend. See this cyclist? I took this photo last Saturday. He looks Asian. The few cyclists and joggers we see around here are usually foreigners. We may not see them for a while now that the skies are gloomy gray again and weather forecast says three days of rain.

Islamabad Mini-Sports Complex

2008-01-13T22:15:00.002+05:00

Islamabad Mini-Sports Complex
Originally uploaded by go2net.

Kids and teenagers used to play cricket in this vacant lot. Now that a multi-purpose sports complex (track, basketball, tennis, etc.) has been constructed here I wonder when it will be actually used. It really looks impressive, I hope this facility will be maintained well so Islamabad residents can benefit from it for a long time.

Hail in Islamabad

2008-01-10T20:55:00.002+05:00

Hail in Islamabad
Originally uploaded by go2net.

Wow, I forgot how intense a hailstorm can be. The skies just went dark as if the sun totally disappeared at 2 pm, and in 30 minutes the grounds were covered in white "ice drops".

The first time I experienced one was during our first year in Islamabad in 2005. The one we had today was longer, even if the hail stones were smaller (still did some damage to some of our big leafy plants).

Islamabad on New Year's Day

2008-01-06T15:20:00.002+05:00

These election posters in the recently completed underpass towards the Blue Area may not make it to the postponed date of elections on Feb. 18.

Things appear normal although traffic was minimal in some parts of the capital.

Holiday Season in Islamabad

2007-12-22T12:08:00.002+05:00

Christmas in Islamabad
Originally uploaded by go2net.

Islamabad is observing two holidays back to back: Eid on Dec. 21 and Christmas on Dec. 25. For many it's fun to attend both celebrations.

Many would no doubt be surprised that Santa also visits Pakistan, on a camel rather than his usual sleigh and reindeer. And that you can get Christmas trees (real or artificial) here. In fact, Christmas ornaments made in Pakistan are among my favorite gifts to family and friends when we visited the US last summer.

Thank You, MEDICSi

2007-11-13T14:34:00.002+05:00

It has been a while again since I posted here, and the reason has nothing to do with the world headline news about Pakistan's state of emergency. The day after my last post I was admitted to MEDICSi for pregnancy-induced hypertension (a.k.a. preeclampsia or toxemia). I was 33 weeks pregnant at that time. A week later an emergency C-section was performed and I gave birth to a small (1.7 kg/3.7 lbs) but otherwise "healthy" boy. As a pre-term baby he had to be treated for jaundice and low blood sugar, and remained in the NICU until yesterday.

We first heard of this great clinic through a nurse who knew about our attempts to conceive. I just turned 41 and had a miscarriage two years ago. MEDICSi's services include "assistive reproductive techniques" to help couples through methods like in vitro fertilization and intra uterine insemination. After a few tests and consultations we tried the fertility pills first, and it worked. Dr. Naseem Asraf referred me to Dr. Yasmeen Mehmooda, who took care of me and my high-risk pregnancy issues such as my age, history of miscarriage, the bleeding during the first trimester, the presence of three fibroids (non malignant tumors) in my uterus, and last but not least, the preeclampsia that threatened my life and the baby's.

We highly recommend the facilities and services of MEDICSi. During the 12 nights I spent there I got to appreciate the professionalism and warmth of the staff. Dr. Yasmeen was supported by a good team of specialists -- such as the NICU head, Dr. Rehan , anesthesiologist Dr. Ayaz, hypertension specialist Dr. Ali, Dr. Sughra, and Dr. Asma; as well as residents, nurses, and lab technicians. I should know what I'm talking about, growing up in a family of doctors (father, 3 brothers, and 4 cousins). And yet a lot of people, including Pakistanis, appear surprised when we told them that we're having the baby in Islamabad. Most foreigners and rich Pakistanis leave the country to have their babies in North America, Europe, or even Thailand.

Considering that the baby came six weeks before his due date (yep, that's him in the picture) we're glad we were in the competent hands of MEDICSi staff.

Cheers and more power!

Baked Goodies from Rahat

2007-10-28T16:43:00.001+05:00

One of my favorite places in Islamabad is Rahat. I'm not sure if you can call it a bakery since in addition to cakes and pastries it also has a salad bar and sells pizza, roasted chicken, and fried stuff. During our last visit two days ago the place was packed with grownups and children who probably had the same craving for sweets like I did. My personal favorite in this collection are the chocolate-cheesecake squares in the upper left and the chocolate mousse in the bottom left.

Rawal Lake

2007-10-16T11:06:00.002+05:00

We don't go there often enough but one of my favorite places in Islamabad is Rawal Lake, because I miss the water every once in a while. After all, growing up in a coastal town back in the Philippines meant I can always see the sea.

Rawal Lake, like the rest of Islamabad, was almost deserted when we visited it this weekend. But there were a few guys who were fishing. On the bright side, parking was not a problem this time.

And they also had a camel ride at the playground. I thought it was a horse at first, never saw a cream-colored camel before. In spite of his colorful decoration this young fella must have a temper as he is muzzled. He was definitely in a grumpy mood, and kept making snorting and farting noises with his mouth. Hence, I maintained a safe distance and used my camera's zoom lens to take this picture.

Sunday Market

2007-10-13T17:50:00.001+05:00

This is one of my favorite places in Islamabad, although I don't visit it often enough. When I finally went there last week with Ilias we quickly realized we should have picked another time, it was more crowded than usual being the weekend before Eid. I mean we were packed so tight as sardines that the only way to move forward is to go way with the flow.

This photo was taken at the baby and children's clothing section. And it was worth going there, the baby clothes cost 70 percent less here than the shops in Blue Area or Jinnah.

7th Avenue

2007-10-07T13:17:00.002+05:00

All the ongoing construction around the city is at least showing some results. This is the 7th Avenue, and right after it was done people already found some extra uses for it - such as playing cricket or drag racing late at night.

Pakoras & Somozas

2007-10-07T12:54:00.002+05:00

This picture was taken Saturday, Oct. 6 - the day of the presidential election - at Jinnah Markaz. As foreigners we thought the day would be chaotic, but once again Islamabad proved how unpredictable it can be. It was business as usual, Ramadan business, that is. Some shops were closed, others were doing brisk business. I particularly like how vendors set up and start cooking pakoras and somozas late in the afternoon, when many people want to buy them fresh for Iftar.

Back in Islamabad Part 2

2007-09-02T13:07:00.001+05:00

Got a call from a friend in Thailand, who rarely calls me. He wanted to know if we're okay due to reports of bombing.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, "it has been another slow and boring day, we just got back after a half-day of shopping."

It turns out he's simply referring to all the negative news and stories about Pakistan, especially with the coming elections and return of political leaders.

It's interesting that when we were out of the country this past summer we tried not to let questions like this or stories in the international and foreign news media worry us too much. Now that we're back in Islamabad we feel different as we go about our normal routine, going to work, attending parties, playing sports, and shopping.

This picture was taken yesterday in Super Markaz, these souvenir and carpet shop salesmen are enjoying a board game during another typical day in Islamabad.

Back in Islamabad

2007-09-02T13:00:00.001+05:00

We've been back for almost a month, but I never got a chance to update this blog for lack of good pictures until now. So what did I do as soon we got back into our regular routine? Resume my daily ration of corn of course! I don't care much for sweet corn because there's hardly any meat, just water or juice on them. Local Pakistani corn, like the native corn in the Philippines, are nice cause they're chewy especially when they're grilled or broiled like this.

Urdu Language Course in Portland State University

2007-08-26T15:26:00.001+05:00

Found this interesting flyer in the Student Union of Portland State University. I hope a lot of students -- not just those of Pakistani heritage -- will sign up for this.

Shawarma and more in Portland

2007-08-03T06:02:00.002+05:00

This food stand is located within the Portland State University campus, and there's always a line here during lunch. The prices may seem intimidating by Pakistani standards, but this is actually comparable to other fastfood meals like McDees and what most students can afford in a land where meals cost $10 or more.

Shawarma/Doner Kebab Part 2

2007-08-03T05:50:00.002+05:00

This doner kebab was bought at the Munich central train station. It's a great meal-to-go!
This foot-long kebab was bought in a Turkish restaurant in one of the ancient towns in Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany.

Shawarma & Doner Kebab

2007-08-01T22:42:00.002+05:00

Everyone knows Europe is an expensive place to visit. To our delight we discovered that affordable, tasty snacks like bread, pastries, and sandwiches are available in bakeries and food stands especially around bus and train stations. My husband particularly enjoyed shawarma/doner kebab almost everyday. Thanks to the many Muslim immigrants who run these food stands and restaurants we are never in a place without one. I do miss the shawarma with lamb filling from Munchees :)

This photo was taken in Vienna, Austria. (more in my Fotopages: July 11)

Is she or is she not?

2007-08-01T03:51:00.002+05:00

We're not in Pakistan at this moment, left last June for our summer holiday. We've been to Germany and are currently in Portland, where my husband is attending a workshop.

It is interesting to know that we're never that far from Pakistan even in our travels. This snapshot was taken in Koblenz, a charming old town in Upper Middle Rhine. The way this lady is wearing her shalwar kameez with the dupatta makes me wonder if she is Pakistani. Last weekend we visited a waterfall in the Gorge, and also saw what looks like a Pakistani family. One of the women was wearing a pink shalwar with the matching dupatta draped over her bosom.

Sand Roasted Corn

2007-06-12T22:15:00.001+05:00

I have a new addiction, it's the sand roasted corn prepared by this guy in Jinnah Markaz. He drops a handful of kernels into this coal-fired pan, full of sand and salt. They're tasty, especially when hot.

Coconut Man

2007-06-11T22:24:00.001+05:00

Coconuts in Islamabad, why not? They're small and cheap, not as sweet as the ones I'm used to in the Philippines, but still better than nothing. I wasn't so lucky with my coconut, it didn't have much of a meat, either. I wonder where this guy is now, I only saw him a couple of time, outside Shaheen pharmacy in Super.

Golden Shower Tree

2007-06-10T20:39:00.002+05:00

I was wrong. The jacarinda trees are not the only flower trees that bloom in the summer time in Islamabad. The golden shower tree, which is also abundant in the nation's capital, blooms in full force throughout May and early June. It's really refreshing to see them everywhere, especially these days when it's so hot and dusty. And it's interesting to find out from Wikipedia that it's the national flower of Thailand and represents Thai royalty. All along I thought it's the jasmine flower, which are also in season in Islamabad. I didn't have the presence of mind to take pictures, but there are street vendors that sell jasmine garlands to motorists at intersections. We always buy Rps. 10-worth (2 garlands) whenever we can because they make the car smell fragrant.

Pakistani Cherries

2007-05-29T17:06:00.002+05:00

Pakistani Cherries
Originally uploaded by go2net.

Cherries are now in season, and they're cheap. A box containing about a kilo costs between Rps. 150-180 at Jinnah Markaz. They're sweet and tart, too.

I love cherries and my favorite kind will always be the ones from Washington state cause they're crunchy. The first time we drove to Washington with my soon-to-be husband we passed so many cherry orchards he finally decided to satisfy my curiosity and bought three pounds. I ate them all in an hour. His parents thought I would get a tummy ache but I didn't.

Desert Coolers

2007-05-26T16:23:00.002+05:00

Never saw these contraptions until we moved to Pakistan: desert coolers are boxes of iron or steel sheets that encase a pump, fan, and hay (khass). They're not only a lot cheaper than airconditioners ($50-$100) each, but also consume three times less electricity. Many offices use these, even the Canadian High Commission had these boxes at the garden party we attended last night. We used to have a similar but smaller cheap AC alternative called "dehumidifier" in the Philippines. These were boxed fans in plastic cases. We add water into the tray and when the fan blows we also get a fine mist.

Read related story

Harry Potter Vol. 7

2007-05-19T14:47:00.001+05:00

Here's something I'm looking forward to reading during my summer holiday, Harry Potter's latest adventures. Unfortunately it won't come out until after we leave Pakistan. Can you believe the price? A hundred rupees is about $1.50, if you reserve and pay for your copy now. Otherwise it will cost more, like $5! This is the little book shop next to Kim Muns Chinese restaurant across the much bigger Saeed bookstore in Jinnah. Saeed also posted an ad about Harry Potter but we were too far to check the price.

My husband suspects a book this cheap might be a "photocopy." But growing up in the Philippines I know international publishers and distributors have a different price range according to the region, and developing countries get a cheaper prices, especially when the material used is cheaper newsprint.

One of the things that surprised us when we arrived in Islamabad is the number of book shops in the city selling bestsellers, brand new or used, in hardcover and paperbacks, as well as US and British magazines and newspapers. Even more surprising are the number of textbooks and manuals available from India. Many are produced by international publishers, and intended for distribution in India. But there are also several computer manuals written by Indians. Browsing in a bookstore has always been one of my favorite pastimes, and there are a couple near Pizza Hut when we're waiting for our take-home pizza.

Islamabad Wiki: Fun Things To Do in Islamabad

2007-05-10T23:27:00.001+05:00

Wiki is a Hawaiian word that means "quick." In Internet terms it refers to a database (usually a website) of information where anyone can add and edit the content. Wikipedia is the most popular example of a wiki.

Just four days ago I started my own wiki about Islamabad lifestyle. Check it out and be a contributing member at http://islamabad.wetpaint.com It features directories and reviews of shops, restaurants, and recreation facilities. There are also sections on arts and culture, sports and games, day trips and travel, etc. Hopefully more contributors will expand this non-commercial/non-profit site into all other aspects of city life. The goal is to have expats and locals alike sharing opinion and recommending their favorite restaurants, hairdresser, tailor, caterer, bakery, park, and so on. To start with I promised my Business students extra credit if they submit a restaurant or shop review. We've also started two lists, one is called "Fun Things To Do in Islamabad."

Here's what I came up with ... I had to stop because my high school students started teasing me about "activities only 50-year olds will enjoy."

Fun Things To Do in Islamabad

Watch the sunset from Daman-e-Koh or Pir Sohawa
Go hiking, cycling, or paragliding in the Margalla Hills
Go boating in Rawal Lake
Go up in a hot air balloon
Watch artisans, musicians and dancers perform during Lok Virsa Festival
Go to an art exhibit
Watch a play, show, or concert
Ride a horse or camel
Visit the zoo or any of the garden/parks
Play cricket or watch the game
Play laser tag at the Megazone
Go to any carpet and handicraft shop (and have fun bargaining)

Beautiful Pakistan

2007-05-06T11:51:00.001+05:00

Found a new website called slide.com, that lets you create Flash slideshows and guestbooks, then share it on Blogger, MySpace, Facebook, Tagged, Friendster, 360 Yahoo, and more. This one is a compilation of my favorite photos of Pakistan taken in the last two years.

What is it made of?

2007-05-03T17:19:00.001+05:00

I call this the Pakistani burger -- although it has more eggs on it than meat. Will somebody please tell me what it's called and made of? This tasty, greasy snack is sold in public parks in Islamabad like Rawal Lake and Shakarparian, although this particular photo was taken at Rohtas Fort. The curious thing about it is they use hotdog buns when the "omelette patties" are rounded in shape. I actually noticed the bread first, which reminds me of po-boy sandwiches in Mississippi where I lived for two years. At Rawal Lake we had trouble buying just the buns from the vendors, but we got lucky with the third one who sold us a bag. We brought these home and made our own shrimp po-boy sandwich. The Pakistani burger is not bad either, we just prefer the other tasty greasy snacks like somozas and pakoras.

Cricket World Cup Final

2007-04-26T19:19:00.001+05:00

So it's down to Australia vs. Sri Lanka. Being the one to root for the underdog, I'm rooting for Sri Lanka, which defeated three-time world cup champion Australia in the 1996 final.

My class is holding a fundraising event this Saturday, so imagine my consternation when some students -- avid cricket fans and members of our school cricket team -- begged off from the event to watch the world cup. After consulting my fellow advisors we all agreed we can't compete with this important event, and I made arrangements for a screen and projector to be set up. Had I known it would come to this we could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble holding auditions and rehearsals for student performers. Live coverage of the cricket final is more than enough to entertain guests in this country where "cricket is religion" according to some of my students.

And People Wonder Why I Take So Many Pictures of Flowers

2007-04-22T01:10:00.001+05:00

In the Philippines police found the murdered body of an American Peace Corps volunteer in a shallow grave in Banaue, northern Philippines. Julia Campbell, 40, was also a freelance journalist who reported for New York Times and other media publications. She had been teaching English at a private college in Albay province since October 2006. Associated Press

In southern Philippines members of the terrorist group Abbu Sayyaf decapitated seven Christian hostages, six of whom are construction workers and one factory worker, and sent their heads to the military in Jolo. BBCnews

In the US, family and friends grieve over the 32 victims of the Virginia Tech university massacre, the worst mass shooting in US history. CNN

While here in Balochistan, Pakistan, a boy who looks 12, beheads a blindfolded man suspected of being an American spy. The gruesome act was recorded on video and circulated around the country. Associated Press

There is so much anger, pain, violence and hatred in the news these past few days that it becomes more important to look at the beauty around us. A kind word, a friendly smile, a pat in the back -- we need these things to get through the day. Yet we experience these joys in fleeting moments, like the flowers that come with the seasons. If I had a more sophisticated camera for macro, I prefer photographing wildflowers. To me they represent hope, beauty, and strength in adversity.

Skyscraper City

2007-04-18T20:32:00.000+05:00

Found an interesting site called Skyscraper City, where hundreds of forum about various topics mainly dealing with urban development, infrastructure projects, and buildings. I bookmarked the one on "Mehfil Pakistan." Within it are relevant subtopics and threads such as the onoing projects in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Gwaldar, and Sialkot.

It's worth monitoring the discussions and some photos here because Islamabad would look different 3-5 years from now. There are so many ongoing construction projects, too numerous to count in our neighborhood, but the ones I can remember off the top of my head are the Centaurus Complex, which includes a 7-star hotel; stock exchange; internatinal airport; overpass and underpass.

Islamabad in Springtime

2007-04-16T20:24:00.001+05:00

I have a love-hate relationship with Islamabad during spring. First of all my pollen allergy to paper mulberry tree makes me violently sick, as in sleepless nights due to non-stop coughing and throwing up. Fortunately, there are many specialists as there are many people with asthma and allergies due to this. But even when I'm miserable, my itchy eyes are still awed by the profusion of colors when so many flowers bloom this time of year. I have taken and posted hundreds of pictures of roses, poppies, pansies, peonies, lilies, irises, bottlebrushes, bougainvillas, etc. in the last two months. With all the digging and construction going on, the flowers brighten up the brown and dusty atmosphere we've been having.

Pictures like these make me proud to be a resident of Islamabad. Can you identify which part of the city these photos were taken?

I'll feel sad and glad when the jacaranda trees display their purple and lavender flowers in May because that would mean summer is here.

Art on Wheels: Those Magnificent Pakistani Trucks

2007-04-15T16:12:00.001+05:00

Growing up in the Philippines I'm used to seeing the colorful jeepneys and tricycles that are usually the only means of public transportation in most cities and towns. Still, they're nothing when compared to the real "king of the road" -- the Pakistan trucks. Many of them even come with "crowns" (taj). Most people here are so used to them that they hardly notice or appreciate the variety of artwork. I am one of those silly foreigners who gets all excited and grabs the camera whenever these trucks come rolling down the road at an intersection or along the Grand Trunk Road.
It is very interesting to note that Pakistani men -- many of whom live in plain-looking dwellings like mud huts or brick houses and wear plain-looking clothes (khaki and grey shalwar kameez) -- would lavish so much attention (and color) on their vehicles. This includes putting artificial flowers (usually pink, purple, and yellow) on bicycles, stickers on taxis, weaving on mules and camels, and colorful paintings and flags on carts, tricycles, and mini-vans. The truck, nonetheless, remains the icon of Pakistan folk art. Not only is it covered with paintings of tigers, movie stars and mosques, but also with accessories like carved doors, metalworks, glass, mirrors, plastic, stickers, old coins and brass bells (hence the nickname "jingle trucks"). Even more fascinating is that it's not only the old Bedford trucks that look this way, even the modern Japanese Hino trucks are taken off the road for days even weeks so they can also be transformed into rolling art.
The best stories about Pakistan trucks give a lot of information including why men lavish more money and attention on their trucks than their own houses:

Pakistani Truck Stop

2007-04-12T17:27:00.001+05:00

Truck stops are famous for having cheap good food, and this place in the outskirts of Rawalpindi is no exception. After our tour of the Khewra Salt Mines and Katas Raj temple ruins our driver took us to this place because I was craving for fresh hot chappati. I expressed this craving five hours earlier so I thought he completely forgot about it. So it was a double treat for me when he pulled up this truck stop -- one of his three favorites -- where several colorful trucks were parked. Golly, another great photo op! The drivers all stared at me with amusement not only because they're not used to seeing Southeast Asian women, but probably because I was taking photos of their trucks, bumpers, doors, side mirrors, tires. Some approached me to have their picture taken, and this got me even more excited. My husband laughed, he thought I was making a scene but in a cute way. (The Pakistanis were at least polite, they kept a straight face and only burst out laughing when our car pulled out of the parking lot.)

We finally also understood why truck stops in Pakistan have charpois beds instead of chairs. If you've been driving for hours, you would also appreciate stretching and lying down in a comfortable charpois.

The manager asked us if we wanted anything else besides chapatti, like dahl (chick peas). As there is no menu we asked for the only dish we're familiar with: chicken curry. Something got lost in the translation and we were served this hot and spicy chicken karahi, instead. Another treat! We had chicken karahi at Lahore foodstreet and it was awesome. We were disappointed when we ordered it elsewhere because they didn't taste as good. But the one we got at the truck stop is the best. Although we said we were not hungry earlier, we ended up consuming a dozen chapatti because the sauce was so gooood. We also had milk tea. Total cost of this great, savory meal for three people? Two hundred rupees ($3.50)!

LAGALAG: The Traveling Journal of Filipinos Project

2007-04-09T21:37:00.002+05:00

LAGALAG: The Traveling Journal of Filipinos Project
Originally uploaded by wilfredo pascual.

Twenty ways of seeing the world.
Twenty photos. Twenty stories.
One destination. Your doorstep.

Lagalag is a Tagalog term that means "wandering." I am proud and honored to be chosen among the few chosen ones in this worthy project. Two moleskin notebooks (and possibly a third one) are currently going around the world to twenty Filipinos who will document their photos and stories. The rules are fair and simple: each participant is allowed a maximum of two spreads (four pages) and a week in which to share how they see themselves, their homeland, and the world.

This is the brainchild of Wilfredo Pascual a resident of Napa Valley, California, whose spread is shown here depicting photos taken in Thailand where he lived years ago. The other participants include Filipinos currently living in Qatar, Japan, Thailand, China, Canada, UK, and Cambodia.

Our ambassador to Pakistan said there are 400 documented Filipinos here. We've always known Filipinos can be found anywhere in the world, as doctors, nurses, seamen, entertainers, domestic helpers, construction workers, IT professionals, or teachers like me. It reminds me of a joke from a Filipina who lived in Bosnia-Herzogovina and was asked, "are there any more Filipinos left in the Philippines?"

I don't know yet what pictures to put or words to write when I receive the notebook. I've been thinking about it a lot, and I'm certain there will be a paragraph or two about how delightful it is when Pakistanis smile when they find out I'm from the Philippines. Not only have they heard of it (a constant source of surprise for me) but have either gone there to study or know somebody who has. I shouldn't have been surprised because where I lived in the university belt in Cebu City there are many Pakistani medical students.

Seen at the Islamabad International Airport

2007-04-06T13:35:00.001+05:00

You can tell I was bored waiting for our Skardu flight to be confirmed -- we went there two days in a row and waited for hours each time, and still didn't get to go -- but who could resist taking a picture of this ingenious wheelchair?

Some two years back passengers complained that PIA were charging extra (Rps. 4,500 about $8) for people who requested a wheelchair. It was a big deal because it affects disabled and senior citizens who go on pilgrimages to Mecca. One even saw a passenger wheeling an old lady on a baggage trolley from the PIA check-in to departure area in Jeddah, the "gateway to Makkah and Madinah." I can only assume that this is no longer true -- who would pay that much for this wheelchair? PIA must have come up with this practical solution to buying more costly wheelchairs.

What is interesting is that the Europen budget airline Ryanair has been reported to charge a "universal wheelchair levy" for the cost of transporting disabled passengers. This came after the airline was sued by a passenger who was charged £18.

Sources: The Dawn: Letters to the Editor, BBC News

New Islamabad Airport

2007-04-04T21:53:00.001+05:00

I can't believe we just missed the opportunity to visit Skardu this week, even after going to the airport and waiting for hours Monday and Tuesday. The sad thing about this lovely place (and the unbelievable aerial view of K2 and other mighty peaks and glaciers in Baltistan) is flights are subject to weather conditions and so many cancelations even at the hint of a cloud. We were scheduled for Monday, which was canceled; and didn't make it on the Tuesday flight due to the backlog of canceled flights from the previous four days.

Having said that, we learned during the ride to the airport that the much talked about new international airport will soon become a reality. The groundbreaking ceremonies has been scheduled for Apr. 7. According to AP Pakistan this new airport will be built over 3,700-acre land 30 km from Islamabad at the cost of Rps. 35 billion. The first phase, which involves group preparation, will take about a year. No word on how long the second phase, which is the construction of the buildings, will take. I'm looking forward to seeing it, as there are also plans to build highrises.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

Red Poppies in Our Garden

2007-04-02T21:24:00.001+05:00

I was pleasantly suprised to find poppies here in Islamabad, many of them at our school. They're the "short" variety with yellow, orange, and pink blossoms. Last year I took many pictures and spring this year i sno different. Imagine my delight when in turns out that our gardener planted some in our backyard. They're red poppies, growing up as high as 3 feet and they looked so beautiful when they blossomed when we had a barbecue party. Some people already asked us for seeds. Others teased us about making heroin, although heroin poppies are actually a different variety of this beautiful flower.

In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row by row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard among the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If yea break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

http://www.worldwar1.com/heritage/rpoppy.htm

Red poppies have become symbols of World War 1, inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields by WWI physician John McCrae, who dedicated it to his patients, the soldiers. Red poppies were the first living plants to grow in the battlefields of France and Belgium, and legend has it that they owe their vivid red color to the blood of fallen soldiers. The red poppy is also the symbol in Australia and New Zealand to commemorate ANZAC or Armistice Remembrance Day. But the earliest record of red poppies as symbol of blood and human sacrifice began with Genghis Khan, and it is also believed that red poppies grew where his Mogul army annihilated its enemies in India and Russia.

Unexpected Entry to ASG Photo Contest

2007-04-01T19:23:00.002+05:00

Ultar Peaks & Lady Finger
Originally uploaded by go2net.

Had a pleasant surprise this weekend. I was multi-tasking more than usual and without giving much thought to it, uploaded on Flickr a bunch of photos from our October trip to Hunza. I thought I was done posting photos of that trip but realized I was wrong when I couldn't find one in particular, that I was going to post to another website.
This photo of the Lady Finger and Ultar Peaks in Karimabad caught the eye of other members, two of whom nominated it to their "by invitation only" photo group.
So now I'm thinking about including this as entry to the Asian Study Group photo contest. Last year one of our entries got included in the ASG calendar for 2007. It was not even my first choice, but as this photo proves it ... most people will disagree with what I think is my better photo.
Some of the winning entries in the ASG calendar puzzle me, but I understand that the judges not only look at the technical or artistic merits of a photo, but also wish to show different aspects of Pakistan. This is why photos of bearded old men, particularly those with henna or white hair and wearing a turban, may run into a lot of competition. I won't be surprised if there will also be a lot of entries of Pakistan's snow capped mountains, as many ASG members are fond of hiking and outdoor adventures. I bet my friend Monica's entries of the tent pegging (see below) and bull racing have a better chance because those events are special.
Which is why I was disappointed that we were bumped off from tomorrow's flight to Skardu, where we are spending our spring break. There was a thunderstorm today and the flight was canceled, so the passengers were booked on our flight tomorrow. My husband and I were looking forward to taking more photos to enter in the photo contest. I'll keep my fingers crossed as I am not that keen to travel to Skardu by car for 16 or more hours.

Know Thine Enemy (Paper Mulberry Tree)

2007-04-01T00:03:00.002+05:00

Insane as it may sound, but we finally decided to get close and take some photos of the cause of my month-long misery: the male paper mulberry tree, a major allergen the rest of the world has never seen ... but making a lot of residents of Islamabad miserable since March.

While a pollen count of 90 to 1,500 pollen particles per cubic meter may be considered "dangerous" currently in Southern US and elsewhere, pollen count from the paper mulberry tree from March to April has always been at the unbelievable 30,000 - 40,000 ppcm year after year. In fact, it was 48,000 ppcm in Spring 2005, a few months before we fortunately moved to Pakistan. Even "normal" people suffer from it. I was only mildly allergic to dust and detergent (like sneezing), but when my husband and I moved here we both suffer from itchy eyes, sore throat, and in my case, hay fever and back drip -- which has resulted in many sleepless nights of coughing and vomiting for the last three weeks. I just lost 10 lbs and maybe should be grateful, but my stomach muscles still hurt, even when I laugh. And it's not nice to wake up in the middle of the night choking and gasping for breath because post-nasal drip is depositing phlegm in my trachea. (wow, my father and brothers who are all doctors will be proud of me for spelling these right).

Some people in my school, those with asthma, basically just skipped town during allergy season last year. This year we have new cases, or rather, teachers, staff or their relatives and students who developed severe allergic reaction. This includes Pakistani students who only moved to Islamabad this school year, as well as a teacher who normally goes hiking in North Pakistan and the 70-plus mother of a teacher assistant who was rushed to the hospital because she could not breathe. I know that it can be fatal, especially for older people and children with asthma ... so God help me if I hear another ill-informed citizen complaining why the government is cutting down these trees (not indigenous to Islamabad), just because they look pretty.

I will not even wish this on my worst enemy (okay, I'm a hypocrite, so I will) but if they insist then God help them if they or their loved ones develop allergy to these trees. Personally, Islamabad or any other place, is so much prettier when there is a greater variety of trees and not just this aggresive foreign variety that overpowers native trees.

Better Than Cricket

2007-03-30T15:30:00.002+05:00

Tent Pegging in Attock, Pakistan
Originally uploaded by photosbymonicamichele.

My friend Monica witnessed the ancient equestrian sport of tent pegging yesterday in Attock. It's currently happening for two more days this weekend. An avid horsewoman herself, she declared it's the country's best sport, even better than cricket. Started in 4 BC, it is currently practiced elsewhere in India, Australia, South Africa, and Israel.

Here's a feature from The Saturday Post, including more amazing photos.

Pakistan Day

2007-03-25T13:55:00.002+05:00

What a roller-coaster ride these last two weeks have been for Pakistan. Two major issues have been ruling the headlines: the judicial crisis that started when Musharraf suspended the chief justice, and the Cricket World Cup when after a humiliating defeat to Ireland the Pakistan team coach was found murdered in his hotel room.

It almost went unnoticed that March 23 was a national holiday. I once asked my high school students what the difference is between Pakistan Day and Independence Day on August 14. The confused and confusing answer I got was that Pakistan Day is the day when the military celebrate with gun-salutes and parades. (There was also an airshow which I completely missed.) Luckily for me, the grown-ups from school clarified the difference between the two. Pakistan Day commemorates the Lahore Declaration by the India All-Muslim league for a separate Muslim state during a three-day conference in 1940.

Here's an interesting blog about Pakistan Day from 3quarks daily. I'd like to share it with you because it appears that the significance of this date and Pakistan's independence remains a hotly debated topic.

Meanwhile, the political tempest that Musharraf started continues to rage. He appointed Judge Bagwana Randas, a Hindu, as acting chief justice -- a move that will surely incur the ire the Islamist extremists. Luckily for him they represent a minority. Even the lawyers protesting Chaudry's suspension express respect for Bagwana's integrity and fairness. (Source: Los Angeles times)

Meanwhile, more protests are scheduled on Monday, although police have already started detaining activists and oppositionists these past four days. April 3, the date of Chaudry's next hearing, is also likely going to be interesting. (Source: International Herald Tribune)

In cricket, Woolmer's murder and the coincidental death by heart attack of former Ireland Cricket union president three days later brings to light the scandals that tainted this sport of gentlemen. This simply means that cricket has not been spared from the same issues of doping, match fixing, and other irregularities that also affect soccer, baseball, basketball, or the Olympics. The Pakistan cricket team will at least have six months of break to recover from its losses. (Source: SanDiego.com)

Cricket and the Judicial Crisis

2007-03-23T01:18:00.002+05:00

It's interesting to note that the loss of the Pakistan cricket team to Ireland in the World Cup and the unexpected demise of its coach a few hours later have caught the interest of my students, more than the ongoing judicial crisis where lawyers are protesting Musharraf's sacking of the chief justice. There was another protest yesterday but it seemed to be more peaceful compared to the one last Friday when cops raided an independent TV station to stop its live coverage of the demonstration.

Here's an interesting article, although I treat it with a grain of salt simply because it is the Christian Science Monitor. It's well-written, but I've always been skeptical because of how they treated news during the Marcos dictatorship.

Sleepy, Hazy Saturday

2007-03-18T00:31:00.001+05:00

Taken this afternoon, these shots capture the deceptive serenity of Islamabad and unpredictability of Pakistan. Yesterday the beautiful facade of the Supreme Court building was marred by the violence between lawyers and policemen. Let's hope cooler heads will prevail to allow peaceful demonstrations while the hearing of Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry goes on.

ABCNews photos

Musharraf Fires Supreme Court Justice

2007-03-12T20:59:00.001+05:00

I almost missed this story, as you can see FoxNews did not have a lot of details, and references to riots in its title can be misleading:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has fired the Islamic nation's chief justice for "misuse of authority," the information minister said.

The firing touched off a protest by a union representing the nation's lawyers. Pakistani security forces wielding sticks and batons attacked the protesters, beating several, witnesses said.

Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani gave no further details about why Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, chief judge of the Supreme Court, was sacked. He had served in the post since 2005.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

I first read about it in Metroblogging Islamabad, but did not understand the significance of CJP (Chief Justice of Pakistan) until additional posts were added with accompanying photo. More interesting is not the news, but the reactions of overseas Pakistanis in the US and UK to the news report of PakTribune. While those who remain in Pakistan appear cautious with their words. Reports from The News and Dawn featured statements from government officials who maintained that work in courts continued as usual, except for Lahore; and denied that the CJP is under house arrest.

This is a developing story worth monitoring.

Local Tourism & Finding a Decent Hotel in Pakistan

2007-03-09T00:57:00.001+05:00

Among the things that are unexpectedly exorbitant in Pakistan it seems that decent mid-price hotels are rare if they exist at all. That is if you talk about value for money. We know we were spoiled living in a tourist-magnet metropolis like Bangkok, when the first culture shock we experienced upon moving to Pakistan was the room rates at a "boutique hotel" in Lahore. It was $100 per night, and I just know that for that same price we can have a deluxe room in the Shangri-la resort in Cebu or Dusit in Phuket with free breakfast buffet during off season. In Lahore our breakfast consisted of tea, two pieces of toast, and omelet every day. The location is in some suburban looking area, far from downtown or shopping/dining places, so it's a good thing we came in our own car.

Then we found out how much a five-star hotel like the Mariott ($200++) or Serena ($500++) really costs, and felt bad for this country. It's hard enough to get people to come and visit, and the last thing you want is to turn them off with unaffordable hotels or ones with ill-maintained and poorly managed inns. Read the poor reviews about Holiday Inn Islamabad and the published rates of $160/night or $216/night and up, and you'll see what I mean. (Yahoo Travel)

In Beijing we stayed in a Holiday Inn that was just a block away from a subway station, and within walking distance to restaurants, fruit shops, and a department store with a grocery in the basement. Their breakfast buffet was worth getting up early for, and we saved money not having to eat anything but fruits for lunch. Their internet rates are between $70-120 (with breakfast), depending on the season.

We met with a Sri Lankan friend visiting from Thailand who was staying in Holiday Inn Islamabad. He expressed similar sentiments discussed in the reviews, adding that his bathroom has a Western toilet bowl right in front a squat down toilet, which means he has to be extra careful his foot does not end up in the wrong place. This goes to show that not all Holiday Inns are equal. I guess we'll just have to do our own research and sites like travelocity, epinion, or yahoo travel are helpful.

Hunza Embassy Hotel, Karimabad

It doesn't have to be that way. We are fortunate that our travel agents and friends are able to get discounted rates for us, like free extra night at the beautiful Pearl Continental Hotel in Bhurban, Murree ($160). Value-wise the best hotel we ever stayed at in Pakistan is Rockcity Resort in Mingora, Swat -- the clean rooms with balcony cost between $48 (single) to $56 (double) and the hotel has a gret view of the Swat River, which is within walking distance. The food and service were great, we even ate out in the patio occasionally to admire the view. Next on our list is the Hunza Embassy Hotel in Karimabad, $68 (double), with its unbeatable view of snow-capped peaks and especially because our guide treated us to a sumptuous authentic Hunza banquet with musicians.

Most of the time we favor modest, mid-price hotels, even guesthouses when we travel. We're not always cheap, but we love getting value for money. This means clean rooms, comfortable beds, some peace and quiet at night, accessible location and/or nice view.

In Makati we like a "business inn" where aircon rooms cost $50 and the shopping park (of 5 or more malls) are just a block away and the airport less than a 30-minute ride for $2. We later moved to a "condotel" that charges $40 on the other side of this shopping area because the first hotel is right across a major construction that kept me up at night. There are 5-star hotels everywhere, but why pay $150 when you can be across the street for a third of the price, and only need a comfortable room to sleep in? In Kanchanaburi, Thailand we spent $100 total for bus, two night stay in an aircon raftel (floating bungalow over River Kwai) with heated shower, all meals, plus tickets to museums and parks. During another weekend holiday in Thailand's Damnoensaduak floating market we also only spent $100 total for bus, two nights in nice cottage, meals, and the services of a tour guide who took us around in his tuk-tuk and longtail boat.

PTDC Hotel in Besham

The Year of Tourism in Pakistan

The Pakistan Tourism Development Center (PTDC) established about 40 motels in major tourist sites all over the country. It's a laudable program but I think they were built 20 or 30 years ago, and are in desperate need of some renovation. The buildings are sound, but it could benefit from a new paint job, fresh upholstery and sheets for starters. The landscaping are also nice, if they could maintain the plants. Our hotels in Chilas and Besham cost more and yet showed signs of neglect: dark atmosphere, peeling paint, musty smelling bed and sheets, hardly any amenities (soap, shampoo, etc.). We've stayed in many places with similar conditions but only paid $10 or less. It is likely that the lack of competition is a disincentive for improving the hotels, especially when they hardly have guests. We could tell because they don't always have all the items in the menu when we ordered our lunch at Sost.

We hope accommodations in particular, and tourism infrastructure in general, will improve soon for this beautiful country. The government has declared 2007 as the "Destination Pakistan: Year of Tourism." Perhaps they should promote local tourism first. Chinese engineers are already working on improving the Karakoram Highway, and this should make bus or car trips to the north faster and more comfortable.

The Philippines has difficulty attracting foreign visitors due to its bad rep, but local tourism is alive and well because of affordable transportation and accommodations in major islands. My favorite tourism campaign carried the slogan "don't be a stranger in your homeland," and shipping companies, airlines, and hotels that advertised special packages used the same slogan. Thailand did something similar a couple years back, with the "Unseen Thailand" campaign. TV ads, posters, and even booklets showed parts of the country that have yet to be discovered (developed), such as waterfalls, caves, and national parks. These destinations did not have fancy resorts or airports, so it was wise of the government to promote it to the Thais, like college students, who travel in groups, bringing their own supplies. Every year Malaysia has special packages for domestic travel exclusive to its residents. The rates are unbelievably cheap: for example, an island-beach package that costs $80/person includes 3 days/2 night accommodation on twin sharing basis, breakfast, barbecued lunch, dinner, as well as land and sea transport. The cost of living in Malaysia and Thailand are higher than Pakistan, but it's cheaper for the residents to be "local tourists" there than here. It doesn't have to be that way.

Cricket

2007-03-08T01:39:00.000+05:00

One of my Business students said today that Cricket is like religion, and in Pakistan it has many followers. Which is why I was not surprised to receive a friendly advice on schoolmail that students may be less attentive during class when the Cricket World Cup is going on, which is this month. We also received specific dates when Pakistan might be playing at ungodly hours, such as on Mar. 9 against South Africa and the 13th against West Indies.

So far nobody mentioned Pakistan's recent victory over Canada in school today, but maybe because it's too early to celebrate. I just know it will be darn hard for me to ignore it when I've got the school's cricket team, save for one or two students, in my Accounting class. I'll soon find out tomoroow, er, a few hours from now.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) - Pakistan recovered from an early wobble to beat Canada by 77 runs in a World Cup warmup match Tuesday, with the match reduced by four overs because of delays to fix a collapsed sightscreen.

Sent into bat at the Sir Frank Worrell ground, Pakistan slumped to 66 for four before Inzaman-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal rescued the innings and lifted the total to 273 for eight.

Read full story

Cricket World Cup

UK, Germany ban most PIA planes

2007-03-06T21:50:00.000+05:00

UK, Germany ban most PIA planes
(Reuters)

3 March 2007

KARACHI - British and German authorities have banned around three-quarters of Pakistan International Airlines’ ageing fleet from flying to their countries because of safety concerns, a PIA spokesman said on Saturday.
“We have received directives from England and Germany on our planes and after that we have decided to only operate Boeing 777 planes in both the countries,” PIA spokesman Nasir Jamal said.
“The ban on all other planes will be effective from Sunday 2:00 a.m. (2100 GMT Saturday),” he added.
The ban followed a European Union decision to bar all but seven Boeing 777s planes out of the airline’s 42-plane fleet from flying to the 27-country bloc.

Complete story

It's too bad this is happening, but on the positive side maybe the Pakistan government will make serious effort either to upgrade older planes, or privatize Pakistan Airways. We've flown on this airline a few times, and while it's not our favorite it's not on our worst list either. I remember how helpful the PIA staff have been when we flew to Pakistan the first time with all our worldly belongings and four cats. We didn't have problems.

More memorable for me was when the flight attendant asked my choice of beverage. Eager to show off how I'm looking forward to experiencing Pakistani culture, I asked for chai or tea. She smiled and disappeared, and after a few minutes I thought she forgot about me. Imagine my surprise when she came back, proudly bearing milk tea. (Chai, I learned later, is usually prepared by boiling tea leaves in milk, occasionally sweetened, and sometimes added with spices). She was still smiling expectantly when I took the cup, so I realized that she wanted me to take a sip right away. Not one to drink boiling hot beverages, I grabbed my water cup to cool the tea, at which point she raised both hands with a look of horror in her face, exclaiming "Nooo ..."

Embarrassed that she thought I was diluting her concoction ... it felt more like I was desecrating something sacred ... I took a deep breath and sipped the chai. She then rewarded me with a "good girl" smile.

I won't remember what she looks like or recognize her if our paths cross again, but I will never forget that experience and will always think of PIA fondly because of a caring employee like her.

Jerry-built or Jury-Rig?

2007-03-06T00:23:00.000+05:00

Well, I learned something new today while looking up for the correct spelling for "jerry-rigged." As it turns out, there are two different terms that get confused for the other. According to answerbag.com, the phrase "jerry-built" is believed to be the name of a builder of poor construction in 1869 Britain. "Jury-rig," on the other hand, is an old (1788) nautical term that means a temporary, sometimes ingenious, solution. Here lies the big difference, the former connotes permanence and inferior work. So which term will you use for this photo?

Anyone who has visited or lived in Asia knows that wild tangles of cables in lamp posts are obvious signs of a developing economy. My sister-in-law could not resist taking pictures of these intricate wiring systems while visiting Bangkok on her first trip outside the US. She later showed put these in a powerpoint presentation to her elementary students along with pictures of elephants, crocodiles, beaches, and shopping malls.

When we came to Islamabad the first thing we noticed was its neat and wide avenues. There were no unsightly electric posts such as those seen in Pindi. Then months later the Capital Development Authority (CDA) decided to dig our sidewalk and voila, we got a sprinkling of reality.

Don't get me wrong, we were amazed that our electricity and phone systems work 97 percent of the time, even while laborers dug this trench with nothing more than picks and shovels. The minor annoyance I have to deal with is losing Internet connection, but this is only for a few minutes if not seconds. There's also Murphy's Law factor where I only seem to have problems with the Internet when I'm editing the Yearbook online, I kid you not. I surfed the Net uninterrupted for hours to read about the Oscars, grade Accounting papers, and give this blog a makeover.

Businesswomen Mela

2007-03-04T14:36:00.000+05:00

We went to Fatima Jinnah Park this morning to check out the business fair for women. This event has been promoted for weeks to showcase products of, by, and for women. Organized by the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I was looking forward to checking it out. It was scheduled to take place for just one day, today, from 10 am to 8 pm.

So it was disappointing to arrive there at noon and feel a few drops of rain as soon as we got out of the car. It has been raining since yesterday and we had some thunder last night, too. We had to walk a block from the parking lot as only security vehicles were allowed to park by the fair grounds. While we were glad that women were given this opportunity to have their own exhibit it was a bit disheartening that the fair is located inconveniently on dirt. How are they going to attract buyers when it's so far from the parking lot on a rainy day, and muddy ground?

The exhibits were interesting. A lot of stalls were selling fabrics for shalwar kameez. Many seem to be intended for weddings and other special occasions, as these were covered with beads and elaborate embroidery. There were also stalls selling quilted bedcovers, gift items, artificial plants, jewelry, and children's clothes. And several stalls selling food. One will find these types of businesses in any fair or bazaar.

What caught our attention were the ones that we normally don't come across in Jinna or Super Markaz: such as a new catering business, the stall selling barbecue grills, and camping/outdoor gear -- which I thought was amusingly out of place.

There was a VIP while we were there, a cabinet minister, surrounded by 20 members of the press and security. We stepped while he stopped at every stall. He happened to be right next to the one stall that piqued my interest: it was selling microwavable pots and plates. We just made our selection when a strong wind knocked the tents down. We were impressed that the dishes that were hit by the poles did not even develop a crack; but could only watch in consternation as the vendors scampered to cover their wares with plastic. There was little to do except head back to our car after paying for our purchase. The raindrops were getting bigger. We can only hope that these will stop so more people will come to the fair. There was not much anybody could do about the mud, however.

Pollen Count

2007-02-28T22:42:00.001+05:00

Green and lovely Islamabad

The parks and abundance of trees may be considered the jewel in Islamabad's crown. However, over the years residents and other concerned citizens have been alarmed by the rate of tree-cutting to make way for development. This is happening again, as my husband likes to say -- the entire city is under construction -- while hotels, high-rises, underpasses, overpasses, and other projects are going on. The Asian Study Group, of which I am a lazy member, went on a tree-planting acitivity along Jinnah Ave. this past weekend. We may just donate some seedlings.

While I agree with the concern that we are "losing Islamabad," I beg to differ on the cutting of paper mulberry trees, which are abundant in the nation's capital. When Islamabad was built in the 60s the government planted a lot paper mulberry trees not realizing the pollen from the male tree is the sole leading cause of air-borne allergy.

Pollen count in Islamabad for Feb. 28

Enter the keywords "paper mulberry allergen" in Google and the first five sites all have to do with Islamabad. It seems we set the world record for pollen count at nearly 40,000 pcm when 90 is enough to make allergy sufferers miserable. This I know from experience. I didn't even know I was allergic until we moved here and experienced our first spring April last year. I was miserable, unable to breathe and unable to sleep for many nights. Some people in school -- staff and students with asthma -- have to remain in Lahore or Karachi for the duration. It's not spring yet but I occasionally experience dry cough and backdrips at night whenever it rains.

What's ironic is paper mulberry trees are not even endemic in Islamabad, but were chosen for their ornamental foaliage and fast-growing attributes. It was too late when people found out they are invasive and choke the local flora. They are not even related to the popular mulberry trees that produce edible berries. And it is sad that some people object to the government efforts to cut these down. I wonder if they feel the same way about these foreign trees if they have a member of the family, especially a child with asthma or other upper respiratory problems.

On the bright side, I also read that cutting them down is not necessary. The solution is a sex-change operation where the male tree is converted into a female one. Meanwhile, the government, if news are accurate, has also been planting trees to replace the paper mulberry trees that were cut down. Of course, there is no easy answer to the trees that have to be cut to widen streets or build highrises. We already lost the little forest in front of the house to accommodate two more lanes. During winter we can practically see the buildings in Blue Area through the bare branches.

Our street under construction

Pindi

2007-02-27T20:29:00.000+05:00

The sister city of Rawalpindi is only 30 minutes away, and you hit the drag as soon as you make the turn off the highway. But it's like being transported into another country -- the real Pakistan as some would say, referring to the suburbian atmosphere of Islamabad and its tree-lined avenues. Pindi does look, sound, smell, and feel like an Asian city. One that bears vestiges of colonial rule as it holds the distinction of being the largest British military garrison in British India. The former cantonment's history goes 3000 years back all the way to Hindu/Vedic and Buddhist civilizations followed by Gakhar and Sikh rulers.

I've visited the city a couple of times and always wished there was more time to explore its bazaars and colonial architecture.
Ask anybody and they will tell you everything is cheaper in Pindi than Islamabad, the bedroom community of diplomats and many well-heeled Pakistanis. Most people who work in Islamabad live in Pindi, and some of them are my colleagues. I asked them if they ever bother to come to Islamabad besides work and social functions. They said they do if they want to eat in a nice restaurant. Islamabad has two five-star hotels and more restaurants that offer fine dining and variety, such as Italian, Thai, Lebanese and Chinese. But that's another story.

So What Do People Do for Fun in Islamabad

2007-02-26T20:35:00.000+05:00

It would seem they throw parties. Maybe because there is no nightlife to speak of as one would expect from cities with bars and dance clubs. Expats and locals alike love to entertain here. Some nights when we drive through residential areas we'd pass houses brightly lit with chili lights (the bulbs are shaped like chilis) and covered with shamayanas. One can even hire a group of musicians in the nearby city of Rawalpindi. Many of them wear their colorful costumes and sit by Murree Road with their instruments, ready to go to the next party at a moment's notice. Of course, wedding parties are still the ultimate parties -- usually lasting for days -- in spite of laws banning such ostentatios display of wealth. I love going to Pakistani parties, the food is often rich and tasty, and not as greasy as they tend to get in restaurants.

The teenagers, at least some of the ones I know, also throw their own parties at home -- with or without their parents' knowledge. Invitations are often distributed and passed around in school. During holidays and weekends some simply hang out or have sleepovers at a friend's home. Last year we wanted to do a Yearbook spread about their favorite hangouts. They mentioned a couple of places but nobody seemed to be willing to take pictures.

"Nobody wants to be seen, let alone photographed in those places," my student editors chuckled.

As it turns out, those hangouts are shisha bars. Everybody seems to know somebody from school who goes there, even though they also insist that they don't do it. Right.

During the day I would say most people with families take their children to the playgrounds and parks. There seems to be a playground in every block or sector so it's safe to assume that Islamabad has more to offer to younger kids than say, teenagers. There is also a zoo, but even better than this are the different animal rides available in some parks. My students put me to shame because they have already ridden ponies, horses, and camels. I almost fell off the donkey the very first time I ever rode an animal during our October hiking trip to Fairy Meadows, near Nanga Parbat.

Blog Makeover

2007-02-25T22:48:00.000+05:00

Hope you like this new look, I'm done tweaking the codes after trying different colors and layout. If I can leave it alone for a month without changing anything, then I'll know that this new format will keep for at least a year, knock on wood.

Maybe I will also change the theme of my topics. That's the problem with having so many blogs and websites to maintain, not having enough sensible to talk about. I was and still am more interested in learning more on the visual aspects and about format than content. My lack of exposure and interactions beyond school is not contributing anything substantial for me talk about anyway.

Not much seems to be happening this weekend either after the excitement of heightened security earlier this month. I went to a reception hosted by the Kuwaiti embassy and a Pakistani dinner party thrown byt a colleague, and I had a nice time even though my husband was out of town. He just returned this morning from Muscat, Oman where he and a few students participated in a choral festival.

Kung Hei Fat Choi

2007-02-18T23:44:00.001+05:00

New Year, new look for this old blog.
Because I am Filipino-Chinese I enjoy celebrating the Chinese New Year, and am glad to have that opportunity here in Islamabad. A colleague who lived in Shanghai for six years threw a party last night, with Chinese food and firecrackers. There are more Chinese in Pakistan than I imagined, and there's even a "Chinese bar" a few steps from our house. As I am writing this they also set off a few fireworks of their own.
So welcome to the Year of the Pig! May this year bring good fortune and prosperity to all.

Hey, I found this paper first

2007-02-08T00:53:00.000+05:00

I forgot to add the link to the news story about the attack at Islambad airport. It was reported by a journalist who is based here.

Or check out Metroblogging Islamabad. What I like about this site is it's maintained by individuals who live, work, and play in the nation's capital. I don't think they're professional reporters which is why there perspective and insight about our host nation is refreshing.

Reading the news?

2007-02-08T00:42:00.000+05:00

Reading the news?, originally uploaded by go2net.

First of all we want to reassure all our friends out there that we're fine here.
I may be blogging in limbo so am not exactly sure how this will turn out -- as I repeatedly tried to merge my Blogger with Google Mail account without much success. Now it seems I can't log in to Blogger either, at least not tonight when I tried -- hence this blog via Flickr.

Notice Mocha reading the newspaper? That's actually the Sunday paper because we only get newspaper once a week. There's just no time to read a newspaper during work days. Plus I always check Metroblogging Islamabad or type "Pakistan news" in Google to get the latest stories. Not last night though, I decided to take a break from the computer after grading over 50 short essays.

So imagine my surprise when our superintendent announced the airport attack. I couldn't help nodding when she said how "seductive" Islamabad can be. Its tree-lined boulevards and suburbian atmosphere can give one a false sense of security -- especially sheltered foreigners like us who can't understand news in Urdu. It's a bit similar to Thailand where news in English were "more censored" so as not to scare investors and tourists, and our favorite site was a blog maintained by a farang who translates the news about politics and corruption.

I guess just like during the height of the cartoon demonstrations last year, we need to be extra alert again. Maybe I have been desensitized, but my primary concern is access to news or information from as many other sources, then not overreacting to incomplete or unverified reports.

We're alright

2007-01-26T18:13:00.000+05:00

My student was shocked to hear the other day that I have never been inside the Marriott here. Well, I just don't trust an establishment that the US Embassy warns its own employees to steer clear of. It looks like there is a basis for these precautions.

Here's a good blog about what's happening Pakistan's capital: Metroblogging Islamabad although the news about the incident at Marriott 2 hours ago has so far only appeared in the Houston Chronicle an hour ago. More details will probably surface later or the next day.

We're now just getting ready to step out and meet friends for dinner and karaoke at the club. We have a four-day weekend because of the Moharaam, a Shia religious holiday.

Peace be unto everyone.

Angelina Jolie & Pakistan

2007-01-21T16:19:00.000+05:00

The month is almost over but I still don't have anything relevant to post. No news is good news as the cliche goes. Since November VIPs like Prince Charles, Tony Blair, and the Chinese premier have been coming to Pakistan to meet with Musharraf. This month it was Hillary Clinton's turn, but it didn't seem like a big deal anymore, even though she also visited Afghanistan.

It's different when Angelina Jolie comes to visit. She is just as popular here and probably more appreciated for her visits to the earthquake victims and Afghan refugee centers. I found it very entertaining to read all the discussion that came about because she was photographed wearing a shalwar kameez. Everyone who posted said they were pleased to see her in a Pakistani outfit, but argument ensued when some wondered about her dupatta. In cities like Islamabad many women don't cover their heads with dupatta anymore, and often wear it around their necks instead like a shawl. I do think some women look more sexy and mysterious when they wear the dupatta, and Angelina is one of them.

Angelina in Shalwar Kameez

Yes, Jolie has many fans in Pakistan, too, and many were disappointed but not surprised when shooting of her movie was moved from Pakistan to India for security reasons. The first hint of it came when the Pakistani government found out they were shooting some footages in Karachi and Islamabad without permission. "A Mighty Heart" is based on the novel of the same title by the widow of journalist Daniel Pearl who was kidnapped and murdered in Karachi in 2002. I read the first half of the book and was unable to proceed because I found it too heart-wrenching. Anyway, the Pakistanis in this forum also have no problem about the movie. I agree with them that it can't do worse for the negative image that Pakistan already has .

Angelina & Brad doing a movie on Daniel Pearl

Happy New Year

2007-01-07T15:31:00.000+05:00

Just got back in Islamabad. We had a wonderful Christmas holiday -- way much better than the last three years -- celebrated with my family and friends as well as my parents-in-law who traveled with us around the Philippines. We met in Manila then flew together to Surigao where they experienced their first Philippine Christmas: the endless parties with lechon (roasted pig), evening mass, out-of-tune street carolers, and fireworks -- lots of em -- in the backyard.
While we were still in Manila Brian warned his parents about our favorite pastime with family and friends.
"All they do here is eat," he said.
They soon found out he was not kidding. My mother-in-law exclaimed later, "goodness, we've only been here for three days and we already had four lechon!"
They also learned a thing or two about Filipino culture after attending a couple of parties. We love to sing, yes, and we love to dance, too. At least once a year a song or dance craze will take the country by storm (like the Macarena) and everywhere you go you'll hear the music played loud and little girls doing the moves in the sidewalk. This year the dance craze is "Boom-Tarat-Tarat," a Filipino Christmas jingle which is performed with matching arm movements and pelvis bump. When we opened our first present at the stroke of midnight every one has to do the dance first, and my parents-in-law gamely participated.
I also felt a bit nostalgic over the things that I have taken for granted. This includes the distinct Filipino style decorations such as Christmas lanterns and nativity scenes made of recycled and indigenous. For years I've been wanting to own one or more colorful star lanterns made of capiz shells, but the ones fashioned out of water bottles, coconut tree bark, or dried leaves arguably represent the Filipino spirit best, that is celebrating Christmas when one has little money for glitter and shiny decorations.
We escaped from the noisy merrymaking by taking my in-laws, brother, and nieces to a resort in General Luna, Siargao. We went island hopping and did not let the rains ruin our mood.
From Surigao we flew to Cebu with my father to celebrate New Year with more relatives. We booked rooms in the top floor of Midtown Hotel so we can see the fireworks. It was amazing, just kept getting better year after year since the ban on fireworks relaxed. Rich and poor people celebrated with as much firecrackers and rockets they can afford. Business establishments such as hotels and malls competed against each other so naturally they had the most impressive displays.
Again after a couple of days at the mall and crowded streets of Cebu we sought the comfort of a more natural environment by going on a daytrip to the neighboring island of Bohol. We visited the Chocolate Hills, the museum of a 500-year old Catholic church, and said hello to some tarsiers (world's smallest primate) and flying lemurs. For lunch we cruised the Loboc River on a floating bamboo restaurant pushed by a motorized banca (canoe with outriggers), while serenaded by a guitar-toting singer.
Then it was time to go back to Manila where we took another daytrip to Corregidor Island, a historical fortress island that represent the battle between US and Japanese forces to capture Manila during World War 2.
It was understandably with much reluctance that we boarded the plane to fly back to Pakistan. Brian's parents still have five days left and they are currently in the yacht club in Subic as guests of my cousin. Meanwhile, here I am in school trying to prepare for the resumption of classes tomorrow. I'm back to wearing my leggings and sweater while looking at pictures of our wonderful time in the white-sandy beaches of my home country. Those pictures will be uploaded as soon as we get our Internet connection back at home.

Happy Holidays

2006-12-19T03:31:00.000+05:00

I don't know why I'm still up at 3:30 in the morning, for the second night in a row. But the Yearbook deadline is breathing down my neck, not to mention the students who want to know what their grade is for the end of this semester. Don't even understand why majority suddenly care about their test scores this late, when 80 percent of their grade is already a done deal. But then, the same people who only started to care about their transcripts and college applications on the second quarter of their senior year will probably give me a lot of answers that I already know.

Check out this blog: http://www.pkblogs.com/pakistanpaindabad. Just got an e-mail in my Flickr account that he/she used one of my photos for a website to enlightedn Westerners and the rest of the world that Pakistan is more than a country of terrorists blah blah blah. Don't care for the name of the blog, but you gotta give credit for him/her making an effort to put together photos and info from different sources in one place.

I really have to get a life ... am spending way too much time on people and things where my efforts are not even going to matter. Can't wait to get out of this blue funk I'm in. I'm tired of my work, and I'm sick and tired of myself not being able to say "no" or spending too much time on "high maintenance - poor return of investment" students at the expense of the ones who are quietly making a decent effort to get by on their own (and not bug me during my prep time, lunch time, or every other time). Tired of this cold and damp weather. Tired of being tired all the time.

Just finished making another slide show for the jobfair. It's a great feeling to go through so many photos, and in the end still feel that we've made the right decision to live in Pakistan and teach our students. That's what I love about pictures -- most of the time you capture the smiles and the bright moments. Doing this slideshow is what's keeping me up until 4 am two nights in a row, but I'm doing it for my own sanity and therapy. Just need to be reminded of this country's beauty and charm.

In less than 24 hours we'd be in the airport to fly to the Philippines for our Winter holiday. No, haven't packed yet and my husband is already begging me not to freak out again like I did the last two holidays when I'm still trying to get a lot of last-minute-work done. He's paranoid, that's what I think. I only had one nervous breakdownm before a trip, not two.

What's Ailing Our Poor Sick Cat?

2006-12-10T23:30:00.000+05:00

One of our cats has been sick for two months and his condition is getting alarmingly worse because our vet has not been able to treat him successfully and he’s as bewildered as us. I’m writing this narrative with the fervent hope that someone out there can help us. Cream’s muscles have atrophied and his joints appear locked so his front legs are stiff straight most of the time. He has been reduced to skin and bones, unable to stand and walk because his legs can't support his weight. These past two days he can’t eat solid food anymore, and we’ve given him some sugared water, vitamins, and electrolytes with a medicine dropper but swallowing is also difficult (he makes gulping noise each time).

Cream is turning two years old next week and we hope he’ll be around to celebrate his birthday. In mid October he exhibited glassy eyes, high fever and loss of appetite. We thought at first that he was poisoned. Whenever he is taken to the vet and given a shot, in this case to lower his temperature, his eyes look sharp, and he regains a bit of his appetite and energy for a couple of days. Then we saw fleas in his fur and he started to itch so bad that bits of fur would come out as he tried to “bite” his itch. The vet gave him a shot for mange mites. We also put on a flea collar. His itching continued and we kept finding bits of his fur all over the house. He was still walking around and eating at this time but was losing weight at a steady rate.

Two weeks ago we noticed sesame seed-looking things on the floor where he was sitting, and realized he had tapeworm. The vet gave him a pill for tapeworm, as well as our other cats who are all healthy, fat, and had fleas as well . At this point Cream spent most of his time sitting around. If he got up to walk his butt kept twitching and he’d stagger like a drunk person. He is probably malnourished because he hardly eats anything. We saw him lick dirt from the ground a couple of times, however. The vet gave him vitamin shots and an immune system booster. Last week he also got steroid shots, when his muscles started to stiffen and his joints seem to lock. None of these helped except for a day.

My husband wants us to start considering if we need to put him to sleep but I want to wait. We have four cats, all from the same litter, born in our small apartment in Thailand. Until we moved to Pakistan last year they’re not used to being outdoors. Cream must be the eldest because he showed many characteristics of an alpha male: he’s the first to walk, first to climb out of their box, first to eat and get weaned. He was the most active cat and was always getting in trouble for chasing and wrestling with his siblings. While he’s not necessarily the biggest he was the tallest, longest, and heaviest because he was all muscles (see photo above). They’re all intelligent but Cream seems to be extra aware that he’s the leader as the eldest. He’s the only one who He’s also accident prone, broke his hind leg once and had to wear a cast for six weeks. It drove him crazy and you could hear him mew in frustration. He chewed through the cast until there was barely anything left when it was time to take it off. I call him Sonny or Junior sometimes because he is also attached to my husband. He is always sitting on Brian’s lap and would get possessive when another cat gets close. He won’t let me pick him up, but when Brian does it Cream will dig his claws on Brian’s shoulders and won’t let go when Brian wants to set him down.

Brian is nursing him, feeding him twice a day, massaging his legs at night, and keeping him warm in his arms. Even if he appears to be dying he can still move and curl his legs to scratch himself, change position, or crawl. Brian also takes him to the kitty litter every night so Cream can pee and poop. We know there’s still hope because Cream is able to discharge his waste within seconds after he’s put on the litter. He can still purr, too. If you just look at his beautiful face you won’t think he has an emaciated body, even though his head tend to lean on one side as if his neck can’t keep it up. His fur is even growing back and appears healthy. We’ll appreciate any words of advice that will lead us to his cure. Please help.

Pakistan VIPs

2006-11-27T19:47:00.000+05:00

Since I posted a story regarding Prince Charles' visit to Pakistan Islamabad have had two more important guests: British prime minister Tony Blair and just this weekend, Chinese premier Hu Jintao. Had it not been for the Internet, which I check occasionally for news about our current home country, we wouldn't have known. Okay, so we did wonder why traffic was re-routed on our way home and noticed the hundred chili lights that adorn the government buildings (which they usually only take out during the celebration of indepedence day). This simply underscores the fact that Islamabad is arguably the safest place in this country. The capital police helps make it so, and they get some support from the military whevenever an important leader comes visiting.

Pakistan Hiring Foreign Professors

2006-11-18T12:13:00.000+05:00

From the Commission on Higher Education

Overview

The Government of Pakistan, under its national Higher Education Policy, has initiated a unique program to recruit highly qualified faculty from abroad for rendering services in graduate research programs in different public sector universities/institutions in Pakistan. Applicants are invited for positions of Foreign Professor-I, Foreign Professor-II and Foreign Professor-III in all fields, and particularly in academic disciplines related to science, technology and engineering. The duration of the contract will be at least 1-year, and may be extended.

Goal

The goal of this program is to hire 300 foreign faculty members each year for the next 5 years to fill the vast gap of qualified research academics and Ph.D. supervisors in the higher education sector in Pakistan. Foreign faculty members, who will bring tremendous wealth of knowledge and research experience, will be expected to impart a modern and progressive outlook to research-based academic programmes in Pakistani universities, and would set norms of international academic standards to be emulated by their local colleagues.

Foreign Professor-I: Rs 183,750 - 257250 per month (app. 3100 - 4300 US $ per month; min. 12 years PhD/Research experience)

Foreign Professor-II: Rs 120750 - 181125 per month (app. 2000 -3000 US $ per month; min. 8 years PhD/Research experience)

Foreign Professor-III: Rs 78750-136500 per month (app. 1300 -2275 US $ per month; min. 5 years PhD/Research experience)

Prince Charles Visit to Pakistan

2006-11-04T11:06:00.000+05:00

Scowls, shoves and security concerns mar a royal passage to Pakistan

Rapid rescheduling after madrasa raid made journey by Charles and Camilla largely irrelevant
Stephen Bates in Lahore
Saturday November 4, 2006
The Guardian

To be Prince Charles in Pakistan this week must have been an exercise in family nostalgia. It has been almost as grand a visit as that by his great-uncle, the last Prince of Wales, in the 1920s when the undivided subcontinent was the jewel in his great-grandfather George V's crown.
Charles may not be able to compete with real local royalty such as the country's cricket stars for adulation, but everywhere he has gone smallish crowds have greeted him politely and enthusiastically and raised banners in honour of him and his wife Camilla. (Read more)

Karakoram Air Safari

2006-10-30T23:08:00.000+05:00

Baltoro & Siachen Glaciers., originally uploaded by Heartkins.

We were too tired when we got back from our Karakoram Highway roadtrip, after sitting in a van for 8 hours in two consecutive days. Which is why we totally missed Pakistan Airways' Karakoram Safari last Sunday, which some of our colleagues did. If I'm not mistaken a window seat costs $100 for this two-hour flight and you get to see not only the Karakoram mountain ranges but also those of Himalayas and Hindu-Kush in northern Pakistan. To think it was my birthday and I usually like to do something special or extraordinary. But then again, the week-long trip and the wonderful time we spent in Hunza is that one special thing we did to celebrate in advance. I was practically drooling while looking at the photos taken by Monica.

This particular photo, however, was taken on a similar air safari during a clearer day by my favorite Flickr photographer Heartkins. He patiently identified some of the mountains. Looking at this photo now after seeing the mountain ranges from the road makes me appreciate this even more. My husband has a thing for glaciers and he's been trying to educate me with mixed results. Click to enlarge this picture and check out all his other superb shots of Pakistan's amazing sceneries.

Scariest Ride to Fairy Meadows

2006-10-29T15:54:00.000+05:00

Scariest Ride to Fairy Meadows, originally uploaded by go2net.

They say the Karakoram Highway is dangerous due to landslides and rockfalls. Well, we soon learned what dangerous really meant when we got off the KKH on one of those "jeepney roads."
This is the 10-km single lane dirt road from Raikot Bridge (Indus River) to Tato village (Jail) before hiking another 4 km to Fairy Meadows, the base camp of Nanga Parbat, 9th highest mountain in the world. Halfway down our engine died and the driver used nothing but brakes to control our descent.

Besham, Karakoram Highway

2006-10-29T00:58:00.000+05:00

Besham, Karakoram Highway, originally uploaded by go2net.

This is the best adventure/holiday we ever took since the summer of 2004 when we traveled to Germany-Austria and went hiking on the Entiat glacier trail in Washington state. For one week we traversed the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad all the way to the Chinese border in Khunjerab Pass, with breath-taking views of the Indus, Gilgit, and Hunza rivers as well as the might mountain ranges of the Himalayas, Indu-Kush, and Karakoram. We hiked to Fairy Meadows, the base camp of Nanga Parbat, marveled at the beauty of Rakaposhi and Ultar peaks, as well as experienced the charm and hospitality of the Hunza villages of Karimabad, Altit, Gulmit, and Passu. Check out our photos in Flickr and Fotopages as words often fail us in describing the breath-taking beauty and grandeur of all the sights we've seen and the unique experiences we went through.

Interesting opinion article in Sunday edition of The News

2006-10-15T20:10:00.000+05:00

Knowledge

By Dr Farrukh Saleem

When we were producing knowledge we were powerful. We overpowered Spain. We overpowered Constantinople, Nimes (in France), North Africa, Cypress, Sardinia, Sicily (Italy), Egypt, Jerusalem, Syria, Walachia (Romania), Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Persia, Venice and Hungary (in that order). We occupied Sicily for 264 years. Our occupation of Spain lasted for 700 years.

Alas, we stopped producing knowledge a thousand years ago. Then, the Ummah's directors directed the Ummah to stop consuming knowledge produced by non-Muslims ...

Imagine, of the top-100 universities on the face of the planet, 51 are based in the United States; less than five per cent of the world population with 51 per cent of the top-100 universities. Imagine, of the top 400 universities not a single -- not even one -- is in a Muslim-majority country. Amazingly, of the top 500 universities on the face of the planet six are based in Israel and two in India (Source: Academic Ranking of World Universities 2006; conducted by an institute run by the Ministry of Education and Shanghai Government; http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ranking2006.htm).

Why are we powerless? When was the last time we invented something? When and what was our last contribution to human civilisation? (Read the full text)