lahoree's VirtualTourist Home Page

July/August: Office as usual

September: May be somewhere in ..........? TBD

October 1st to 4th Kuala Lumpur InshAllah. Seat reserved on Malaysia Airlines.

Unlike most fellow VT members, I had flavored the taste of travel quiet late. I do not count family travels as “real travel”, it was hard to spread wings. I was like an ordinary school going boy whose itinerary was home-school-home. My mom told me, I had never cried going to school. Honestly, I never liked school life. You have to wake up at 6am, you must follow regulations, and even if you want to go to the rest room “Teacher, I need to go to rest room,…….. pass please”. Now pass is in my hands, I am heading towards rest room; ahhh!!!!!! there is an encounter with the sports incharge in the basketball ground. “Why you are not in your class…. may I see your pass”? After school, there was another marathon to complete “home work” given by school teacher. Its 5pm, I can now play, I used to play Cricket and Hockey with my friends. I remember we disappear within seconds whenever our ball smashed window glass of our neighbours. We also escape after ringing the door bells of houses in the vicinity; dwellers thought there is a guest at the door, but ……always guest was an invisible ghost.

Kite flying at the roof of my house was also something I loved a lot. It’s summer time when temperature sores to 45C+, its vacation time in the schools. Every one at home is sleeping during long summer afternoon. Shhhhh!!! I am sneaking out of the bedroom bare footed and climbing the stairs like a snail with “gooddi” (kite), “dorre” (string) and shoes in my hands. All I need to ensure was that I have to crawl back unnoticed before 5pm. I can’t believe how I and my friends used to bear that scorching direct heat of sun during June and July and still enjoying “paychay” (kite flying competition where the winner with his kite’s string cuts the string of the rival’s kite making it lifeless in the sky)

I am enrolled with a college at Lahore. I am happy; well, environment at the college is pleasantly comfortable; no one is stopping you asking “Why you are not in your class…may I see your pass?” College student union with the collaboration of college administration has arranged for a three days tour of Islamabad, Murree and Taxila. When I was leaving home; my parents were giving all sort of kiddy advices “eat well”, be careful when riding the bus” etc etc….. So loving and caring………. They were not aware that one day “he” will be traveling around the world without holding their fingers.

That was my first independent travel followed by another eight days tour next year to Swat, Taxila and Peshawar. It was a delightful experience.

What next
I have now joined audit and accounting training firm where I will be a “trainee student” for the next four years. During that period, we were assigned to various offices and industries all over Pakistan. It was an excellent opportunity to explore our country. When ever we were posted “out of station”, we almost always tried to slip out somewhere on the weekends.

Steady state
I am now employed. Everything has changed suddenly. I am back to school days, I am hearing echoes “Why you are not in your class…..may I see your pass?” Now I am wearing my office ID, I have to get up at 7:30am to be at work at 9am. I have to be at my office until 6pm. Within three month, I have adapted myself to this new world. I have understood …. there is no free meal in the world.

My first long haul travel in Pakistan
I have no option but to complete an office assignment in three days, a next to impossible time frame. Fortunately mission is accomplished. Boss is happy and he granted ten days vacation leave without hesitation. I was accompanied on this travel by my “travelvirgin” colleague. We traveled more than 1,000 km in the mountains starting from Lahore enroute Gilgit/Hunza to Chinese border at Khunjerab pass.

I also visited “Fairy Meadows” twice with my friends. I wish to go there again and again. In my view, this is the best place, I have ever been to. To all my fellow VT members, if you ever get a chance to visit Pakistan, then you must go to “Fairy Meadows”. You will not regret for sure.

My first international travel was also during this time. I got an opportunity to visit company head office in Italy for one week work and two weeks vacations. Our head office was just an hour by train from Venice.

Grounded
I am married now, there was no more travel in real sense for like five years. I am trying to be more responsible towards my family and focused towards my career. Although I was having family outings every year but I was more interested in making them happy.

I am in Manila Philippines
My work has brought me to Manila; I am here for over two years now. I started my serious relationship with VT here. I visited Puerto Galera, Boracay, Subic, Baguio, Hundred Islands, Tagaytay, Bangkok and Singapore. Palawan, Kuala Lumpur and Nepal may be by next destinations. Thank you VT, thanks to all the VT members for their tips and advices that I seriously considered that made my recent trips unforgettable. In due course, I will start building my travel pages with the hope that I may also be of any help to the people who share my passion.

Baogee (Dad) – an administrator by profession, therefore he wants discipline where ever he is. I was always declared “disorganized person”. What ever I am, this is because of “Baogee’s” efforts in making me a “human being”.

Amigee (Mom) – While “Amigee” is a source of love, affection and blessings, but she had also ensured that her kids are disciplined. I am off the track and here she is “Aa laen daey tere pao nooon” (let your dad come home). Something strange has happened to Amigee, since she has assumed the role of “Daado” (Grandma). She is so much in love with her grandchildren that she supports their all sort of wrongdoing. Always she has this excuse for the kids “Toon apna waqat pul gaya haen” (Have you forgotten your childhood). I think Amigee has written me off. Hey all accountants out there, you know the meaning of “write off”?

My wife – I am so happy that she has accepted a “disorganized at home” person as her life partner. Once upon a time, I was the youngest kid in the family. Now she says that I am the eldest kid. She has to be watchful about what I eat, what I am going to wear and she is always criticizing me while I am driving.

My daughter Fatima – always trying to command her younger brother and sister. Sometimes we think that one day she will be a teacher. Whenever she thinks that situation is getting out of her control, she assumes the role of a spy. “Grandpa…. You know what he has done? Dad… she has broken her doll’s leg….. slap her”

My son Safiullah – He is following my footsteps. We think he is not healthy if he will not come back from school with a torn school bag, broken lunch box or leaked water bottle - at least five times a month. He has passion for “gudian” (cars). Don’t give him chocolates, he will be happy. All he needs is a lot of car toys around him.

My daughter Ayesha – I call her “Nikki” (small), she is enjoying all sort of incentives that are admissible to youngest family member. Therefore she is following the golden rule “Whatever is mine is mine; whatever is yours is also mine”. Most of the time she is trying to grab toys from Fatima and Safi.

Abbajee (My Grandpa) – You are still in my memory, how can I forget you bringing me back from the school with my school bag on your shoulders.

Bibijee (My Grandma) – I am in a bus with you on GT Road near “Wanh Radha Ram” where railway line bisects the road. Bus driver is waiting for the train to pass so that he gets his way and we proceed our journey to Okara. Bibijee, you remember as soon as railway “phatak” (gate) is closed, hawkers appear like mushrooms selling snacks for a short road block. I can still feel the taste of “Aaloo ki Tikki” (spicy mashed potatoes) that you buy for me. Hah!!! I recently went to Okara. There is a fly over now that I crossed at roaring speed. “Sorry I have forgotten you at that moment…...” Your grand grandson reminded me of our foot prints. “Baba, I am hungry”. I parked the car on a gas station. The moment I stepped out, I felt I am in the year 1978; my eyes are looking around searching for that railway phatak, hawkers and “Aaloo ki Tikki”. But it was just an illusion. Landscape has changed dramatically……

1988 – “Murree” (Queen of hills) mall road; there were shops only on one side, as authorities believe that allowing shops on the other side will kill the charm of walking on the mall road. 2005 – I traveled like 450km from my home and arrived at Murree, it was like I just stepped out of my home to buy grocery…… there were shops all around. Who over ruled the law that was in full force for decades?????

1989 – I am in Kalam valley, beautiful place beyond imagination. I am enjoying “chappal Kabab” while sitting on a “charpai” (wooden bed) that is tied to the rocks in the middle of Kalam river. 2005 – I am again in the same region; I am telling my wife how delicious were those “chappal Kabab”. Next day, we start our early morning journey to Kalam for lunch. After four hours of drive we are in the outskirts of Kalam. It was not like what it used to be 16 years ago. There were hotels, hotels and hotels. I headed towards Kalam river; I bought “chappal Kabab” but there was no place around river where we could sit down and eat; there was litter all around. I looked at the surrounding mountains; those were still beautiful, perhaps because those were beyond our reach. I felt they were cursing me “why you have messed up with our home……?” “I did this????? “

We are heading back from Kalam valley disappointed, on the way I noticed caravan of trucks loaded with timber. I was wondering “who has permitted timber merchants to cut trees ruthlessly?????”

1996 – I and my “travelvirgin” officemate while in Hunza, decided to hike towards “Rakaposhi” base camp from Gulmit. At that place, there was just a small hut serving tea, four or five chairs, two of us, hut owner and sleepy Karakoram highway. After taking a cup of tea, we started our hike. Halfway my companion said that he could not continue anymore and would rather wait for me. I continued climbing and after an hour or so, I can see glaciers clinging to the base of Rakaposhi. Stunned by its beauty, I stood there for a while and at the same gathering energy to climb further. No way…..!!!!! Suddenly I felt I am the only person in this universe, there is dead silence penetrating my ears, I thought glaciers will melt and will drag me to the Hunza river flowing further below Karakoram Highway. A person, who always considered himself fearless, started running down like a lamb that is being chased by a wolf. That lamb did not stop until he is with his companion sleeping on a rock. “Why you disturbed me??...... it was a sleep of a lifetime…….”

I just saw picture of that place (posted by a VT member) from where we started our hike from Karakoram highway. There are shops now. “If I will go there one day, I will still have the same feeling?????”

2003 – I read in the newspaper that there are just few bears left on the Deosai National Park. “What happened to the rest?????”

2005 – My friends are back from Fairy Meadows, telling me there is a plan to build road from Raikot bridge up to Fairy Meadows. I shuddered for a moment; if this will happen; there will be no more huts and tents but high end hotels with access to internet, cable TV and what not. People will go there wearing neckties. There will be fairies in the meadows wearing jeans. 1999 - I had hiked right from Karakoram highway; and in the middle of the trek, I was so exhausted that I felt the urge to die there; gathering my energy, I climbed further and here Nanga Parbat (Nude Mountain) revealed her summit to me. I was stunned with its beauty. Had there been a beauty queen with me along the trek, I would have kicked her butt and would have run like a mad to hug Nanga Parbat. “Don’t you think you should pay tribute to Nanga Parbat by hiking for three to four hours to get its first glimpse?????”

2007 – Sabang beach in Puerto Galera. “Why there is no beach between hotels and the sea?????”

2007 – Boracay Island, best beach I have ever been to. “Do you think it will be the same in the year 2017?????”

Late 70’s – A kid loved to run after dragonflies that appear from no where during monsoon. At that time, he does not know that the name of this insect is dragonfly; it was “helicopter” for him. In 2008, the kid asked me “where all the helicopters have gone.” I could not answer; “do you know where those helicopters are now?????”

What can we do to ensure that coming generations will still see and feel what we have seen and felt………?????