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.

Nostalgia - Sahiwal - Home

9th November 2012 00:00 hours : Sydney - Australia.

It is heavily raining outside and I can hear the sound of heavy downpour inside my living sitting at the kitchen bar stool listening to old indian music "Wo Kaghaz Ki Kashti". Totally nostalgic atmosphere and I am missing my birthplace, my city, my home in Pakistan. I stepped into the balcony and let my feelings and memories take me back home standing in my courtyard at night time when it is raining heavy as well in the summer season. I still remember when it used to rain this heavy (any time of the day) while enjoying the initial moments we used to get worried and pray to the ALMIGHTY to make it stop because too much rain was bad for us and our neighbourhood. Old houses below the street level and heavy rain with the help of poor drainage system used to create more tension for the people than to enjoy the change of weather as summer season is usually very hot and dry there.

I love rain, specially of summer season and at the start of winter season. I loved to take shower in rain and I still do. It is refreshing, joyous, mood changer for me. It always remind me of my hometown, my home street, my childhood time and friends. It brings happy memories of those times when I was not aware with the meaning of tension / responsibility and all I knew is to change into shorts and shower in the rain. Go out with friends on the streets in the rain, play and enjoy it. Years gone by, I would still do this (in fact have done it last season here in Sydney) because it makes me happy.

This post may give an impression of me of a person who likes to live in the past, but that is not true. The fact is that while I do like to recall and cherish the old times, but I do not live in the past. I do take time to recollect the good, happy memories of the past times but that is about it. Stop, recall, rejoice and resume.

I think you should never forget your past because it has made you what you are today.
Rather remember your past, learn from it and invest it into your future.

Pakistan 2012 - Part 2 Memories

Yay! going to visit family and friends in home country. Pakistan 2012 - Part 1

Aaah! that time of the life of an Expat has come and gone in a flash. It never feels enough time when you are on a holiday visiting your family and friends. Anyway this time the trip was special because little me came home for the first time and it was kind of a surprise visit as we reached one week earlier than what we told our families. So it was all very exciting for us and the surprise was very received as well. Everyone was very happy to see us  home earlier than expected.

Musa's grand parents were very ecstatic to meet him and his uncles and aunts were eager to pick him up. And he loved being the center of attention among all. His (late) phuppo gave him a nick name (which she never ever have given to any other kid), Mithoo.She left everyone of us grieving few days after we've arrived and that was the worst thing that happened during the visit. May her soul rest in higher places of Jannah.Ameen.

In the same time, Butt family was also visiting Pakistan from Sweden and that let Musa meet his cousin brother Ehan and cousin sister Zainab. It was such a pleasure watching grand parents, uncles and aunts loving their grand son that I so wanted them to live with him so that he gets to enjoy their love. However not every wish can be fulfilled, so I just had to agree with the reality that didn't match the wish. He also received  many gifts from them and that caused our luggage to easily cross the allowed luggage limit.

Another highlight of the trip was the delicious Pakistani food that I tried to eat as much as I could in that limited time I had. Although I could not eat all that I thought but still enjoyed whatever I can. For example I had the Hardees Super Star with curly fries at least 4 times during that trip. I just love it !!

The coming back of such trips is always toughest thing for me and it made me feel sad even before I landed there. Thinking about returning makes me home-sick and even though I have been on these trips now for at least 4 times but I think not over it yet. On our way to Allama Iqbal International airport Lahore, I was stuck in a traffic chaos on the Canal road near the Mall Road exit. It took me about 40-50 minutes to get through that chaos and it was then found out that the Police had blocked the under-pass of the Mall road (probably due to some VIP movement - bloody VIPs). It almost costed me to miss my flight. I was very annoyed and I feel bad for the locals that they had put up with that non-sense every day.

Another drama at the airport was at the check-in counter that took sometime before it reached it drop-scene. We were the last one to get the clearance at the check-in counters and through the passport control counters. Musa behaved well on-board and that made our air-travel better that what we thought it could be.

Now that we are back, I am already thinking to plan my next trip in an year's time rather than after 2 years and hoping that I can actually go back in an year's time. Let's see !!

Pakistan 2012

Despite a bit tragic end of 2011 (reference to blog "Goodbye 2011"), 2012 has started with lots of excitement for me as I (and family) will be travelling to Pakistan to visit families and friends. It will be first overseas trip of Musa when he will meet his grand parents, uncles, aunts and cousins.  Everyone there is anxiously waiting to meet little one as they all are counting days (just like we are). Yes this is very exciting !!!

The preparation for such a trip is multi-folded that includes, 1-shopping, 2-shopping, 3-shopping and packing of those shoppings :P and I'm glad that the major part of this preparation is completed (well almost). The packing cannot start until the last 48 hours before we get on-board. 

This time I'm going home after about two years and there are a lots of things to do when I get there. One of the most important (after meeting family of course) is to eat all sorts of local/desi food, hmmm yummy (even the thought of that). The top of the list is 'Halwa Poori', 'Hareesa', 'Muhammadi Nihari', 'Kali Mirch Walay Chanay', 'Bundu Khan ki Handi, Reshmi Kabab, Malai Kabab', 'SnP ka Stuffed Chicken Breast', 'Nadeem Tikka', 'Bhayye k Kabab', 'Liberty Burger', 'Dahi Bhallay' and rest of the list is very long :P 

Along with all the excitement, there is a bit of worry about health that I hope the trip goes without any health issues. The shortage of electricity and gas will also make this trip interesting, aah! There will be lots of travelling involved within Pakistan (I'm expecting although I'd prefer otherwise). 

The trip is going to begin in few days now and I can already see myself at the halwa poori shop, early in the morning "doing the justice" with my craving for it :D

Here is a "screenshot" of the image that I have in my mind, for you :P

With sincere apologies from those having a weak heart :P