Having Andrew here was great, we got on really well even though we have very different views on housekeeping!! I allow things to stay where the
y land, whereas his OCD(!) means that he is for ever tidying and sorting. I have benefited from this as we have moved some of the furniture around and made the place a lot more 'mine'. I have even been able to put a cloth on my dining table(a gift from the Guthrie's and finally get to use my table runner, bought in Kenya in 2004).We had a great couple of days in Lahore, if somewhat marred by watching the events unfolding back in Karachi. As my mum said when I phone her to let her know I was ok, 'why can't they just moan about it, like we do'!
Lahore was amazing and very different to Karachi. The journey didn't get off to the best start however, as the driver scheduled to collect us at 6.30am didn't arrive, and his stand in, didn't get to us until 7.15am. Our flight was due to depart at 8.00am and despite Zubair's best efforts and speeds in excess of 100kph, the flight had closed by the time we arrived which left us with the only option of transfering onto the 3pm flight and returning back to the apartment for a few hours.
When we finally arrived in Lahore we had a wonderful time looking round all the different sights there. Many of them date back to the 1630's and 40's and whilst the English were busy executing their King, the Mughals were building some of the most amazing buildings you have ever seen.
We also went out to Wagha, which is the only land border between Pakistan and India, and is were they have an elaborate flag lower ceremony every evening. There are stands on both sides of the border which fill up with more than a thousand people all there to watch the ceremony. It is very theatrical, with lots of stamping and stomping and generally posturing at the other side of the gates. We were lead in chants of 'Pakistan is the Best' on our side and I can only imagine that the shouting coming from the other side was claiming that honour for India. It was all very good natured and the guards do also shake hands at one point in the 'dance'. I have to say that the Pakistani Army is the only one that I have ever seen to stand with their hands on their hips, duing a milatary display!
I thoroughly enjoyed it and Andrew said afterwards that I had been smiling like a little school boy all the way through!!
He had done his grinning back at the hotel when he realised that we were sharing breakfast with the South African and Pakistani Cricket teams, who were in Lahore for a One Day International, I thought he was going to 'pop', when we ended up sharing a lift up to our room with Shaun Pollock, who is apparantly some big name in cricket, a fact that went straight over my head!
Andrew's sleep was somewhat disturbed on the first night by the herd of Rhino's in the room, or at least that was the simile he used to describe my snoring! I was awared that I snored but apparantly it is quite bad!!! The cotton wool from the make up kit came to his rescue the following evening!! Now those involved with SU will realise why I have a room to myself at camp, if you ask Andrew I am sure he will give you the low down.
The flight back was uneventful and we returned to a very quiet city as three days of mourning had been declared for those who died on Thursday night. The weekend has also been days of mourning and yesterday some of Benazir's party were out making sure that shops and businesses stayed shut. This following on from Eid last week means that many shops will have taken very little in the last 14 days which is an added burden for them. I am hoping that things will now calm down, but with an election coming up early next year I suspect that there is more trouble to follow. Your prayers will be much appreciated.
3 comments:
Your trip to Lahore sounds great, can't get over what a fantastic opportunity this is for you, so glad you have been able to do it. and the fact that we all have access to internet like this somehow makes the distance between us seem almost invisible. I sometimes feel like you are just down the road and may pop in at any moment.
But then I read the news and realise you are a world away, take care my friend and look after yourself, we want you back on one lovely piece xx
Shaabaash. I love the comment "Why can't they just moan about it like we do!" ... as someone with a very low moaning tolerance threshold, I will be able to see moaning in a whole new light .... "just think, this whingeing person might otherwise be detonating several kilos of explosive!"
Btw, wow! The RSA and Pak cricket teams in the same hotel ..... that really is *very* cool, and evidently much cooler than you were in a position fully to realise at the time!
Where were you staying - the Pearl Cont? Or that one off the Mall by WAPDA house? (Or is that the Pearl Cont?) ....
Jamie
Post a Comment