A Panning Shot -

I have just posted another photo on my facebook page

Panning Shot of a fast moving car, taking from my bedroom balcony. The camera's view was obstructed by the trees and light poles

Leaving Pakistan - Returning to Sydney

This day, 15th March 2013 has come so fast when we have to fly back to Sydney. It just feels that we arrived in Pakistan only few days back (9th Feb 2013) and now that we are leaving tonight. It is always a sad time for me when leaving away from family, home. 

I have to do still a lot of things but time is so so short but still manage to write this post quickly. I will have to go now as need to meet few loved ones and do last few things/shopping before tonight. 

See you soon Sydney !

Bye Bye Lahore - Sahiwal - Pakistan !!

Today - at Pacific Highway+Walker St Signal

 

8:30am standing at the lights, waiting for green light to cross the road and reach office while typing these lines.

 

Today is the last working day for me before I go on leave and fly to Pakistan tomorrow. So I will be at the airport tomorrow this time and in Pakistan at night with the family. Nothing beats that feeling for me.

 

This always is a pleasant and fascinating thought for me that in a matter of only few hours a person is able to fly from one side of the world to another. Amazes me still despite the decades old science and technology. GOD I love this.

 

Tomorrow, I & Pakisan will be together. Yeeeha !

Pakistan - 2013 (published)

 

Another new year, another February and another Pakistan-yatra (trip to Pakistan).

 

Last year in Feb I travelled to my homeland (with family) when it was first visit of Musa. This time around he is Mashallah running and all talkative and has developed a bit of personality as well such as he knows what he wants to do and how he has to do it. It is great to see your little one learn and grow.

 

This time we are going to attend a family wedding there and that is why the excitement levels are pumped up and preparations have been done to match that event too i.e. special shopping, wedding dresses, suits, gifts, and etc etc. Looking forward to a fantastic time. Also another exciting (for me) thing is the car that my brother has bought, our first family car (in Pakistan). Allah ka laakh shukar. So this time I will be driving our own car and that means one less thing to worry i.e. transporting the family and self (not that I have to worry last time even). However only thing to worry is the shortage of fuel but will see.

 

Alright this time as well, as the tradition goes, I have plans to eat the local continental food there and list is not shorter than the list of last time, if not longer. I only have one wish is that I can manage time to tick all or most the items off that list :P I may sound greedy but I don't mind because I am, haha. All my hard work into getting fit by running (6 km in 35mins 3 times a week) and gym sessions at two different gyms) will go down the hose but I care NOT (while on this visit). Though I will have to restart the effort after I return back to Sydney, and that I will as I have to get fit and ready for the City2Surf. Enough time.

 

Only two more nights to sleep before the third one will be in Pakistan inshallah. I am as excited as a squirrel who has just spot a nut on a busy road, hehe.

Xmas & New Year Holiday Season 2012

This time around the Xmas and New Year's holidays season, I got some time and opportunity to exercise my favorite thing i.e. taking photos.

A friend visited us from Victoria and that was the ideal for me to show off my new DSLR and skills :P We went to only a few places like Manly Beach, Darling Harbor & Watsons Bay but managed to take few photos worth sharing here.

I am going to add them below. Feel free to leave a comment/feedback (if you happen to crash on this blog).

I took this photo at Manly beach. This was some type of a cone on a tree and I liked how it looked. Quickly took this shot while there were people behind me coming down the narrow track.

 This was at Watsons Bay when it started to rain and we were waiting inside the cars for it to slow down so that we can setup our BBQ in the shed in the park. I took this shot of the rain drop on the car's window. You can see the reflection of the building across the street in it.













Taken at Manly Beach as well.

 This was at the Manly Beach as well. Kept it out of focus for the added affect of the lights. Love it.

These little fountains are like brand-ambassador for the Manly Beach. When you see these, you know it was the Manly beach :P



















Overall had good fun with friends during the Xmas & NY break. Good food, lots of driving (mainly around Sydney) and lots of fun. It was a good holiday (but never enough) :(

Anyway, happy new year to everyone !!

Another 5K Run @ Balmain Fun Run

Note: I started this post last month but only could finish and post it today

Within a month of the last run Run4Fun, I registered for another run and this time it was a longer run i.e. 5K compared to last 3K run. This was on 2nd December and event was called BalmainFunRun.

Once again my running buddy-cum-mentor-cum-running adviser-cum motivator AF encouraged me to register and run in this 5K event. In total 3 of us (I and my work-colleagues AF & AW) participated and we all did very well. It was a beautiful weather on Sunday morning as I call it 'nice running weather' with overcast sky, bit of cool breeze and water-side running track with other runners.

Run start time was 8:30 and I was aiming to keep my finish time under 30 minutes - owing to the fact that I have not been running regularly in last two weeks. The track was different to what I have been running on and I didn't know if it would include uphill / downhill run as well. When the run started and we took the first turn on the track and came towards the end of the ground where the run started from, suddenly track wen uphill and that put me in the first gear, exerting the sweet energy I wanted to reserve for the last 10 mins of the run. The heart beat jumped up to the tops and that's how the run begin. The next 5K went in forcing myself to push and keep running till around the corner and then switch to walking for a minute before resuming the run.

In the end I managed to force and push myself enough to complete the complete run without stopping and within 30 minutes. To be exact it took me a surprising 25 minutes and 36 seconds. That made me happier than I was for completing the 5K runing.

Here is the winning shot from the collection of the run.

At the finish line they arranged for some fresh fruit and drinks. Enjoyed the fruit, did some stretches and went for a coffee with the team.

Next run - City2Surf may be ?

Run a Little Run a Lot - Just Run !

So since my last post about running, I have continue running and have completed the 8th weeks and next week will be the 9th and last week of the C25K program that I have been following.

It feels great that now I can run for 30 minutes straight, compared to earlier when I started and could run for couple minutes only in one go. I found it to be a continuous argument between your mind and body such as that your body may take you beyond what your mind tells you can actually do. So when it comes to running I like to follow this quote that my work colleague, my running mentor, buddy and motivator (AF) recently have shared with me.

 

So while I was in week 8, I also participated (along with my running buddy) in this charity run Run4Fun that took place in the Sydney Olympic Park on 4th November. Since it was my first ever run, I registered for 3K run only and surprised myself by finishing in 15 mins and 40 secs. Felt great, accomplishing actually.

Got my first medal for participating and finishing the run.










In few weeks, another run is happening in Balmain for 5K which I'm not so sure about yet, only because it is bit far from my place but will see if I can register for that as well.

Next target is surely the 10K mark because after graduating from this #c25k program, I will already be running 5Ks in one go. So 10K is the next target (iff I keep on running that I'm hopeful about).

Until then, my motto is going to be 'Run Shak Run' (self motivation often is the key to achieve what you want).