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Published: March 21st 2006
Tree in Balakot
Even after all the destruction, one can still find beauty in natureTWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
~Robert Frost (1874-1963)
While Galib is recovering from a little bit of (IBS), otherwise known as the Islamabad Belly Syndrome, I have some time to add further photos to the Blog. Halleluah iPOD! All of the photos would not be possible if it wasn't for the iPOD's 60 Gigs worth of storage.
Public transportation
Would this be possible in Canada>? I have taken over 450 photos in the last 2 weeks.
This adventure has been amazing for Galib & I. This is definitely not a regular vacation. We have driven around the streets of Karachi, rode the Super Highway to Hyderabad, driven up the Karakoram Highway (as our driver would say, "Siidha, Siidha China"...which translated means "Straight, Straight to China")...we have helped villagers at a relief camp, observed earthquake destruction of several cities and met some amazing people along the way.
What fascinates both of us, is that we sometimes forget we are so far away from home. So many Western luxuries exist here in Pakistan. Fancy hotels, nice restaurants, English advertising, cell phones (which by the way, are so cheap is unbelievable, even the poorest people own one, I think it costs 10 cents a minute for us to call Canada from here). One thing is for sure: if you are craving McDonald's, I will bet that you can find one in the most remote city in the world. It's a McDonaldopoly. That's ok with me though, I prefer a Happy Meal over anything at Burger King.
Anytime someone goes in a car, I am the
Mini-van to Balakot
Galib with Waleed and Usman, our drive is doing something to the bumper? first one to ask if I can come along. I'm like the puppy with his tongue hanging out, nose pressed to the window of a car zooming down the street. Trying to capture everything that is occurring on the road side, at the stoplight or even in the next car. We have seen obscene living conditions and we have seen the best that life has to offer. Staying at beautiful homes and 5 star hotels (they call this a 7 star hotel in Islamabad...is that possible???). We also experienced living in a tent for a week in minus 5 weather conditions.
Dad, as well as other friends, were so concerned about our safety in Pakistan. Well, you need not worry about the Taliban or Al-Qaeda, rather start thinking about the drivers here. I've stopped counting how many times we have come close to head on collisions. I'm not referring to Farzana's drivers, they are really good, but the ones that you hire on the street. But really, everyone in the country drives this way, so it is the norm for them, taking blind corners on mountain roads, the rule is to honk the horn and floor it with the
Bai & Cinnamon at the market
Bartering is very tricky, it is good to know the average prices and the local language 140 horse power engine around the bend. Galib & I have been so scared...my heart has fallen on the seat beside me a few times, but as soon as we turn our heads and give each other the "holy sh**" look, we burst into giggles in the back seat, thinking that no one will even realize how crazy our road trips have been. I wouldn't trade it for anything, it's priceless. And we are not taking any more mountain road trips, so don't worry.
Today is Sunday and we are going to visit the Faisal Mosque and maybe if Galib's IBS has subsided, we will try a Afghan restaurant at the Jinnah market. We return to Karachi tomorrow and leave for Dubai on Wednesday.
We urge you to take the road less travelled. You will do and see more. Isn't that what life is about?
~Til next time,
Cin & Galib
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Mom
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Wonderful pictures
Hope our future son in law is okay and now out and about. Hey Galib, take care. Cin - you have another future career --working for a travel magazine or a writer/photographer. You might even be able to send your comments to MacDonald that you noted about one being everywhere and enjoying happy meal (and be paid for it)... Such wonderful things ...in a way I wish I was there but am through your pictures. Love you.