A warm evening, a gentle breeze brushes the face gently as we sit at the top of one very special, well known restaurant in Lahore. The sun has set leaving an amazing view over the oldest part of the city. The rooftop is right up against one of the most beautiful city sights in Pakistan; a lit up mosque, an amazing fortress and some other very beautiful, very ancient building. Surprisingly, we’re in the centre of the city’s red light district. Sitting at the top of the roof, the scenery is so different from the streets bellow; at the street level (I didn’t notice but was told) that there are apparently many women in each doorway selling their ‘services’ to the many men that come looking.
The group I went with are so sweet. Many, I’d met on the first night out with Farrukh. They ordered many different traditional dishes, the food was so delicious! Afterwards we went out for ice cream to probably the best ice cream shop in Pakistan, if not in Asia and maybe even the world! And that’s saying a lot coming from me, the worlds biggest ice cream snob!
I went out with ‘the girls’ and bought contact lenses (year long ones) and glasses for 2600 rupees so a bit less then £25! I trust the place because it’s where some of the girls go and I doubt they’re going to shit places for their eyes.
Work is going all right, I’ve been helping out a group of people organising a conference at the end of July. We’ve been going to some company meetings and what not. I’ve also been working on some planning for the AIESEC expansion into Islamabad. I’m planning on going there on Monday (a week from today) if everything stays calm though I’m not too worried, all the things we’ve heard about that have been going on are very much in a small part of Pakistan, nothing to worry about.
On Sunday we went out for an awesome breakfast. While we were there I was reading the newspaper and thought I’d quote a small piece of it, as I found it quite amusing. I should note this isn’t an opinion I’ve come up against very often amongst the people I know here…
“ What a great day for peace enthusiasts. A new envoy to the Middle East has been appointed for the Quartet, and it is no other than the former British PM, Tony Blair. Mr Blair, the man who gave the Israelis the green light to flatten Beirut. He is the man who started an illegal war in Iraq; a man who according to the Geneva Conventions, is to be held personally responsible for more than 700,000 dead in Iraq for failing to ‘protect civilian populations against certain consequences of war’; a man who is supposed to be charged with genocide at The Hague. A man who should spend his life behind bars is now becoming a peace envoy.” –S. Kazim Shah Kazmi
A wee bit harsh in my opinion but it did certainly catch my attention.
I started off my morning with a 4 kilometre run. I’m really enjoying my running/tanning session. I certainly haven’t been sun burnt so I am being careful…and yes dad I’m using sun cream.
Now I finally have internet again so I can post this update (this post has been built upon over a couple days now, just haven't had a chance to post it). I just got home from and absolutely wonderful time out with the girls. I realise I haven't actually explained who 'the girls' are so going into detail...
Anam, Jasmyn, Natasha and Reeha. They are absolutely the most amazing (and absolutely eye stunningly gorgeous) girls. They've shown me such a good time here in Lahore and have taken me to so many great places. We have one very very very important passion in common...food/dessert! They all live here in Lahore. Reeha studies here at LUMS. Jasmyn studies in Australia (so she's here on her winter break and is going back way too soon!) and Natasha is studying on the East Coast (USA) and Anam is in the UK. Such cool girls. They've all promissed to come visit me in Edinburgh where I will definitely be returning the favour of the amazing food and good times (of course I'll cook for them... so much better than going out)!
That's it for this time!!!
The group I went with are so sweet. Many, I’d met on the first night out with Farrukh. They ordered many different traditional dishes, the food was so delicious! Afterwards we went out for ice cream to probably the best ice cream shop in Pakistan, if not in Asia and maybe even the world! And that’s saying a lot coming from me, the worlds biggest ice cream snob!
I went out with ‘the girls’ and bought contact lenses (year long ones) and glasses for 2600 rupees so a bit less then £25! I trust the place because it’s where some of the girls go and I doubt they’re going to shit places for their eyes.
Work is going all right, I’ve been helping out a group of people organising a conference at the end of July. We’ve been going to some company meetings and what not. I’ve also been working on some planning for the AIESEC expansion into Islamabad. I’m planning on going there on Monday (a week from today) if everything stays calm though I’m not too worried, all the things we’ve heard about that have been going on are very much in a small part of Pakistan, nothing to worry about.
On Sunday we went out for an awesome breakfast. While we were there I was reading the newspaper and thought I’d quote a small piece of it, as I found it quite amusing. I should note this isn’t an opinion I’ve come up against very often amongst the people I know here…
“ What a great day for peace enthusiasts. A new envoy to the Middle East has been appointed for the Quartet, and it is no other than the former British PM, Tony Blair. Mr Blair, the man who gave the Israelis the green light to flatten Beirut. He is the man who started an illegal war in Iraq; a man who according to the Geneva Conventions, is to be held personally responsible for more than 700,000 dead in Iraq for failing to ‘protect civilian populations against certain consequences of war’; a man who is supposed to be charged with genocide at The Hague. A man who should spend his life behind bars is now becoming a peace envoy.” –S. Kazim Shah Kazmi
A wee bit harsh in my opinion but it did certainly catch my attention.
I started off my morning with a 4 kilometre run. I’m really enjoying my running/tanning session. I certainly haven’t been sun burnt so I am being careful…and yes dad I’m using sun cream.
Now I finally have internet again so I can post this update (this post has been built upon over a couple days now, just haven't had a chance to post it). I just got home from and absolutely wonderful time out with the girls. I realise I haven't actually explained who 'the girls' are so going into detail...
Anam, Jasmyn, Natasha and Reeha. They are absolutely the most amazing (and absolutely eye stunningly gorgeous) girls. They've shown me such a good time here in Lahore and have taken me to so many great places. We have one very very very important passion in common...food/dessert! They all live here in Lahore. Reeha studies here at LUMS. Jasmyn studies in Australia (so she's here on her winter break and is going back way too soon!) and Natasha is studying on the East Coast (USA) and Anam is in the UK. Such cool girls. They've all promissed to come visit me in Edinburgh where I will definitely be returning the favour of the amazing food and good times (of course I'll cook for them... so much better than going out)!
That's it for this time!!!
Hello sunshine, just wanted to say how much I'm enjoying your unpdates - sounds as if you're having an absolutely incredible time! Can't help feeling a little jealous, especially of my two favourite activities - the eating and shopping! It's all cool and exciting here in the office though, and we've definitely got an exciting year coming up! Anyhow, keep having fun, can't wait to see you at STEPS!
All my love, Jen xx
Posted by Jennifer | 10/7/07 18:03