unlike what the media tells you..

pakistan was not a country that we planned to visit on this trip. it was merely a path we decided to take en-route to india. all in all, this trip was to take in the spectacular karakoram highway. however, the very postive introduction we had from Naz, our pakistani saviour, we decided to stay abit longer and check out the sights of pakistan. soon enough, we realised that most pakistanis had a heart of gold. no, they are not qaeda-related millitants, or extremist suicide bombers, they are just like you and me - humans.

Naz, is a law-trained businessman who resides in Lahore. there are many famous quotes that i will remember from him but here are a few.

"me and my family, we are happy. we are businessman, but we do not need too much money."
"look! this is my country, everybody is happy. we are a free country."
"if you have no money, anybody will offer you a free meal. if you have no money, you can take the bus for free"

and these are no empty words. i have seen poor people getting on a bus (5-hr) ride and got off for free. no bargaining no arguments no bitterness. i have seen people on the street, all smiling all greeting strangers like us on the streets. so unlike what the media tells you, pakistan is a great country. in fact, i have never met such hospitable people in my life. just a 50-metre walk from my guesthouse to a place we get dinner will be filled with people greeting us will warm handshakes, and invitation for tea! they will thank you for coming to their country, and it is their honour to meet us. their great hospitability was not only shown by words, but they insist on paying for our meals. and these are strangers we meet on the street. coming from a city, this not only surprised me, but SCARED me! are they up to something? are they con-artists? it turns out not, it is just genuine people with great hearts.

a professor once told me that the smartest person is not one that can learn everything, but is one that can relearn everything that he has been taught.

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