Lahore, Pakistan June 9, 2019 From samosas to pakoras, golgappay to biryani, kebabs to kulfi and dahibaras to naan, and all sorts of curries in between. All to be washed down with delicious fruit juices and shakes. I am in hog heaven.
Lahore, Pakistan June 8, 2019 Lahore may have a glittering new face full of glitzy shops, malls and restaurants but it is the old walled city that draws me. Once bounded by walls and guarded by twelve imposing gates, this was all of Lahore. Now, only six of the twelve gates survive but within the … More Hidden Face of Lahore
Lahore, Pakistan June 6, 2019 “Whoever hasn’t seen Lahore has not lived” – so goes an old saying. And it seems to be true. The vibrancy of modern life is interwoven with shades from the past in a seamless tapestry that is Lahore. A city that was supposedly founded by Lava, the son of Rama, … More Shades of Past Glories
Sukkur, Pakistan June 4, 2019 The police escort continued to dog me even as I was leaving Larkana. Perched on the back of a police motorbike, I was taken to the van. The policeman dutifully took photos of the driver, the license plate and the license. The van may have seen better days but like … More Under the Radar
Larkana, Pakistan June 2, 2019 As a schoolgirl, I remember studying about the Indus Valley Civilization and of Mohenjo Daro in particular, which is Sindhi for Mound of the Dead. I remember seeing photographs of the bearded priest-king, of the many seals that were found at the site, the terracotta toys of bullock carts. Utterly … More Mound of the Dead
Larkana, Pakistan Jun 1, 2019 It is 48 C in the shade but the bazar is teeming with people. Rush hour comprises mostly of trucks, donkey carts and two-wheelers, a handful of cars and a river of people. A lone camel is led through the streets with two children perched on the trailer. The hotel … More Eclectic Bazar of Larkana
Karachi, Pakistan May 30, 2019 Arriving at the airport, I found neither of the two ATMs worked and the currency exchange was closed. But this apparently was no problem; I was driven to the hotel, where the driver insisted on seeing me safely inside and then drove me to an ATM and brought me back … More Not Quite a Full Mehman
Karachi, Pakistan May 29, 2019 The noise of traffic and shrill blasts of horns form a continuous soundtrack to a river of traffic that seems to flow at random with no discernable rules. Cars, buses, three-wheelers, donkey carts, motorbikes, mopeds and pedestrians all weave in and out with dexterity. It takes little time to get … More The Delights of Chaotic Karachi
New York April 22, 2019 I have had a long-standing dream that entails traveling from Pakistan to Afghanistan to Turkmenistan and then across the Caspian Sea into Azerbaijan. Not the easiest places to travel in, and therein lies part of the attraction. But also not the easiest to get visas. But mulish stubbornness is a … More Shivers of Excitement
Gozo, Malta Jan 21, Malta Flying in from Tunis, I had barely a day in Malta before returning home and I knew just what I wanted to do. The Gigantija temple called and so a here I was on sparkling blue waters, heading to the island of Gozo on the ferry. Tall church spires, narrow … More Fat Ladies Again
ITCHY FEET TRAVELS 