Farewell 2010

The sky which was heavily overcast for the last two days and the clouds that were continuously raining, graciously gave way for the sun to shine and provide a glimpse of the much wanted last sunset of the year 2010. Like many photographers and sky-gazers, I also went out to preserve the red glowing star going down in the horizon, taking with along many laughter and tears forever.

Sandwiched between the two solar eclipses, the year 2010 finally bid farewell to us with its last sunset of the year. The first lunar eclipse right on the first day of the 2010 did not prove as a good omen as soon afterwards, a deadly and devastating calamity hit Haiti that claimed more than 100,000 lives and left 300,000 wounded. It was with this sad news that 2010 dawned. But as if this was not enough.

The Iceland’s volcanic eruptions that started somewhere in April, finally came to a halt in October, though not causing major casualties. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill threatened marine life and ecology and is considered as largest oil spills of all times.

The flash floods that hit Pakistan in third week of July, continued to wreak havouc throughout the length of Pakistan from Swat and Nowshera in the north, DG Khan and Multan in the central Punjab, Dadu, Larkana in Sind before dumping its muddy waters into the Arabian Sea somewhere in August. The onslaught continued its devastations for almost a month, displacing and affecting some 20 million people. Although the death toll was less than 2000, there was a large scale devastation of houses, infrastructure, electric poles, bridges and roads. Even after four months, many areas are still inundated and remain impassable for the displaced people to go back and rebuild from the start.

Wikileaks made headlines when it leaked some 250,000 confidential and secret documents which embarrassed not only the US government, but many other governments and important personalities which stood naked having been exposed of their crimes and misdeeds.

The government of Pakistan continues to ride on a very bumpy road, both economically and politically. The war on terror continues to be drain on Pakistan’s meager financial resources to sustain the war and the losses due to suicide bombers. The done attacks from across the border continue to inflict fatal casualties on innocent people as a collateral damage beside marginal success. The political scene is extremely pathetic as government seems to be unable to take along all other major political parties in confidence on matters of national interest and concerns. In the last few months, there have been breakaways and cracks in the collation formed by the government and the threat to quit by another major political party leaves the government in a pretty bad shape as the year 2010 departs.

A few good people on international and national scene sadly left for the heavenly abode, like Eric Segal (author of Love Story and co-writer of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine), Dennis Hopper (actor of Speed fame), Gloria Stuart (actress who appeared in Titanic and the Invisible Man), Leslie Nelson (everyone’s favourite actor) and Richard Holbrooke (American diplomat for Afghanistan and Pakistan). Pakistan also lost its ex President Farooq Leghari after prolonged illness.

On the positive note, amid the noisy and mind-blowing Vuvuzelas, Spain lifted its first ever World Cup Football trophy at South Africa. Paul, the legendary octopus, kept monitoring and predicting the outcome of the championship and was so happy to have predicted accurately Spain’s victory, that he soon died afterwards.

For Pakistan, Aisam ul Haq took Pakistan’s national flag to the US Open Tennis when he played the men’s double and mixed double final along with his Indian and Czech partners. This was the first time in the history of Pakistan that any tennis player has participated in the final of a Grand Slam event. His “Stop War-Start Tennis” slogan won over hearts of millions.

Naseem Hameed and Sara Nasir of Pakistan bagged gold medals in the SAARC games, making women earning this pride for the country. Naseem’s 100 meters dash made her the fastest women in South East Asia. In the Asian Games held in China, Pakistani women cricket team bagged gold in their very first appearance in the games. And the Indian tennis star Sania Mirza wedded Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik which made headlines especially in Pakistan and India.

The year 2010 ends a few hours from today and some ten days after the total lunar eclipse that took place on 21st December. All is set for the fireworks to erupt into the cold December night tonight to welcome 2011. Let us all pray that the New Year 2011 dawns with a happy sun tomorrow and let the recent lunar eclipse cast no shadows over us in next year and years after. Ameen.

Photo Sunset by Jala lHB

Fog comes to Islamabad

Tonight is not the last night of the year 2010, as it would be tomorrow that we would, God willing, witness the last sunset of the year 2010. But tonight is very cold and foggy. Yes it is seldom that one sees dense fog in Islamabad. But while coming home tonight, suddenly the road disappeared into mysterious fog and I really had to slow down to pass through this fog that seemed to have engulfed everything in it. I had encountered fog many a times in Lahore, but never in Islamabad – and today was my first encounter.

It was difficult to drive and even more difficult to see the road. Since I wasn’t prepared for the fog with yellow paper applied on the my car lights, there was severe rebounding of the car light back to me, making it even more difficult to see the read, but the white eerie fog.

At one point my wife suddenly told me that I was going the wrong way but then it was this fog that was playing its tricks as I was going the right way. After taking the last turn, the ascent with started with a distant street light acting as a beacon. It wasn’t till I was very close to my house that I started to see its silhouette – the white house standing like an elephant or may be as a ghost into the fog.

After disembarking, the first thing that I did was to ask my son Wahaab to take a few shots for this post. A selection of some of his shots is as above.

By the way, fog always scares me. I will tell you more about it some other day.

Skardu Valley – a land of rivers, snow clad mountains and sand

Amidst a landscape of stark naked mountains, deep and steep gorges, crashing waterfalls and quiet lakes, Skardu is situated on the banks of the mighty River Indus. Located at a height of 8,000 feet / 2438 meters, Skardu offers cool and bracing climate. To the east is Laddakh, in the south Indian-occupied Kashmir and to the north is the Chinese province of Sinkiang. Skardu is strategically situated at the foot of an enormous rock, which is crowned by a historic fort.

Skardu Valley is part of the Baltistan, and located right below the jagged and glaciated Karakoram. Once part of Laddakh, it was known as Tibet-i-Khurd - Little Tibet. Skardu is also believed to be that part of famous Silk Trade Route. Rock carvings have been discovered along the road between Gol and Khapulu, and Skardu and Satpara Lake. The trade routes here split in Skardu with one leading to Satpara over the Deosai and Burzil Pass (5000 meters high) into Kashmir and another leading to Gol. At Gol it forks again with one trail leading to Khapulu, the other to Kharmang into Leh. Many famous mountains, such as Masherbrum (shown above left), K-6, K-7, Sherpi Kangh, Sia Kangri, Saltoro Kangri etc are located in Khapulu Valley.

One hears of deserts in plains but never at the foothills of 18,000 feet high snow covered mountains. Skardu Valley is one such place which is carpeted in fine ash white sand through which greenish blue in winter; grey as tarnished silver in summer, the Indus snakes lazily between wind-ribbed sand dunes (above centre).

When I once went to Skardu, the then Fokker of the PIA flew close to Nanga Parbat and provided me a rare chance to shoot Nanga Parbat from “close quarters.” I was also invited by the captain into the cockpit and he pointed in far distance the cone of the K2. After negotiating the famous Zulu Turn, the aircraft landed at Skardu airport. I will never forget that landing and the K2 and of course the Zulu Turn.

There are three lakes, Satpara about 8 km, lower Kachoora about 35 kilometres and upper Kachoora about 40 kilometres. The Shangri-La lake resort (above right) is a picturesque place to rest and admire the beauty of Lake Kachura and Skardu Valley. To the southwest of the town is the sprawling Deosai Plateau which can be reached via the beautiful Sadpara / Satpara Lake just about 8 kilometres from Skardu. I will write more details on Deosai plans in one of my next posts.

Related Reading: Skardu Valley (Pakistanpaedia)

25th December – the birthday of the Prophet Eesa (Christ) and Jinnah (Quaid-e-Azam)

The last week of December is a week of celebrations – when the entire Christian World is engrossed in celebrating the birth of Prophet Eesa (May peace be upon him) or the Jesus Christ. Yes I am talking of Christmas – falling on 25th December, the birthday of a prophet. Unlike the Christian world, for whom there is no prophet to revere after the Christ, we the Muslims have same respect as we have for any prophet that came to this world before Prophet Muhammad (May peace be upon him). For us, the birthday of a prophet is as respectful as it is for his followers.

So Happy Christmas to all Christians around the globe. And I wish everyone peace, love, prosperity and all the happiness in life. When I went to market today, I saw lot of rush on shops selling Christmas trees. Although these were made of plastic as original trees are not available, these looked colourful and bright with small tiny bulbs glittering all around the trees. Beside the trees, people were also buying presents and gifts for friends and families. Likewise there was lot of rush on confectionery and sweet stores, and bakeries for purchasing exclusively ordered and baked cakes and sweets. So it is going to be fun and exciting night tonight, specially for the children who will await the Santa Claus for him to come and deliver them the gifts to celebrate the birth of the Christ tomorrow. We join them too on this happy day.

The churches and cathedrals all over Pakistan hold special services to celebrate the day with religious fervor. Parties and family reunions are held to share the joy of the birth of the Christ. I remember one Uncle Persey who was a dear friend of my father. On every Christmas we used to be invited for dinner at his house. His only daughter Shirley was of our age and we would play games and make merry. The turkey at dinner table used to be Mrs Persey’s favourite dish, beside a number sweet dishes and cakes. Later the family went to England and we lost any contact with them. Good days.

For us in Pakistan, the day also assumes special importance as on 25th December in 1876, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born: a man whose relentless efforts despite his illness were to win over Pakistan from the British. Pakistan became a separated homeland for the Muslims of the British India some seven decades later on 14th August 1947. He is therefore revered as the Quiad-e-Azam, the great leader, and the founder and father of Pakistan.

The day is celebrated with the mounting of a special guard of honour by the cadets of the Pakistan Military Academy on the mausoleum of the Quaid in Karachi. The ceremony is witnessed by a large number of people who come to pay homage to the great man who lies buried under the sand he had won over so that Muslims could live in an independent country.

Read more about: Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan (Pakistanpaedia)

Total Lunar Eclipse Video – 21 December 2010

Fianlly the eclipse appeared starting at 7:41 GMT. Despite being in shadow, the moon did not become invisible as there was still residual light deflected by atmosphere. Most of the refracted light was in the red spectrum and thus made the moon turn reddish, coppery or orange, sometimes even brownish. Since it was a full moon, the sight of it being changing colours was awesome, dazzling and a memorable event for the skygazers. The Icelanders were lucky to see the full glowing moon in its varying shades during the eclipse. Saevar Heigl, the chairamn of Iclelandic Amateur Astronomical Society was jubilant, "We could not be happier with weather here - a clear sky is ideal as you can see it. I am always in awe seeing that big red moon hanging over us."

The above video was shot with an Olympus SP-565 Ultra Zoom. Clips begin just prior to totality and conclude while the moon is in totality.

Video Courtesy: WindowsObserver (YouTube)

Related Reading: Total lunar eclipse just before Christmas (The Fire Within)

Total lunar eclipse just before Christmas

"The night 20-21 December 2010 is witnessing a total lunar eclipse in some parts of the world just before the Christmas. The moon will pass through the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, and for the first time in 372 years, the spectacle will take place during the winter solstice. It will be visible after midnight Eastern Standard Time on December 21 in North and South America. The beginning of the total eclipse can be seen from northern Europe just before sunrise. The moon will be located nearly overhead during the peak of the eclipse for North American observers.The end of the total eclipse will be visible rising at sunset for Japan and northeastern Asia. A partial eclipse will also be visible in the Philippines just after sunset. ..."

Read complete post at: The Fire Within: Total lunar eclipse just before Christmas

Moscow– once the city behind the iron veil

Whenever one mentions Moscow, the beautiful architectural structure of St. Basil’s cathedral comes to my mind. I think the structure is one of the most absorbing and aesthetically designed, which attracts anyone’s attention even when seen in films and photographs. I have never been to Moscow myself, but if I ever do, this would be the first place I would ask the taxi driver from the airport to take me to.

Moscow has been hidden behind the veil of iron curtain for many decades. Tourists shivered in fear of being trailed by KGBs and usually declined any offer to visit this strange yet aspiring city. After the dissolution of the USSR, things changed for good and it allowed tourists trickling in this once strange city. However, Moscow still wears its cloak of a rather gloomy city mainly owing to its severe winters, very high cost of living and not very efficient transportation. Well one cannot compare it with the luxuries offered by most European cities, but it is worth visiting for that strange aura and being different from the rest. This is how a friend described it to me.

Every tourist would love to visit the famous Red Square. But my friend told me that he was dismayed to find that the square was neither a square and certainly not red. Why it is called red, no one knows really

The Kremlin is Moscow’s geographical centre, surrounded by “city within a city” of van the Great. The place abounds in small eateries, vendors, hawkers and tea houses. These provide good sit-in places to enjoy hot tea or black coffee while watching people roaming about. The tourists get fleeced by hawkers selling small gifts, replicas of city monuments and trophies. As for the Kremlin itself, it is the biggest museums of the world. Herein stored and displayed are treasures of Russian Tsars beside other valuable icons. My friend while describing Kremlin had some wonderful memories of the place. He explained that the Spasskaya Tower of Kremlin was the most awe inspiring and beautiful. I wonder what he found in it that was so worth mentioning, except that this was the main entrance to the structure. Besides the tower, the huge Emperor Bell and the Emperor Cannon are the main attractions of the tourists.

St Basil’s cathedral, that I mentioned earlier, was a small cemetery in the 16th century, until Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered construction of seven wooden temples at the place where a stone temple named after the Feast of Protective Veil was erected. The church in the central tower was devoted to this holiday. The church towers located along the diagonals are in fact devoted to various events of Kazan campaign of 1552, when the Russian troops took over Kazan, the capital of Kazan Khanate. The cathedral has no particular or exclusive façade as it was designed for an all-round viewing. Today, the tourists are attracted to it more than a tourist attraction and throng it from all over the world to admire its architectural aesthetics rather than the religious bonding.

The Red Square also houses the Mausoleum. Well it is simply called so where the dead body of Lenin is preserved. This monumental structure tiled with dark-red granite, porphyry and black labradorite. However the red and black shades make the mausoleum look sad and dull. While the word “Lenin” is inscribed in red porphyry on the main entrance, names of thousands of people who constructed it are written at both sides of the building along the Kremlin wall.

As for leisure and pleasure, one should not miss the Gorky Park. Situated just across the Moskva River, the park was carved out by joining together the gardens of Golitsyn Hospital and the Neskuchny Palace. Spread over an area of some 120 hectares along the river, the park is haven for children. The park is divided into two parts: the first is primarily for children or those trying to entertain them, as it contains a range of funfair rides and roller coasters. One can also ride of horses, real horses, or take a ride in the boats of the river flowing to its side. The enormous Ferris wheel which was once the main attraction of the park, has been removed from the park lately. The other part is in fact the older park consisting of old buildings including two summerhouses by the famous Russian architect Mikhail Kazakov. The main attraction of the old area is the Green Theater, an outdoor amphitheater which attracts tourists in summers when operas and concerts are held here.

This is what I heard of Moscow from a friend. I wish one day I also walk down the Red Square or ring the giant Emperor Bell of the Kremlin. I won’t try to wake up Lenin his resting place inside the Mausoleum by firing the Emperor Cannon though.

But before I end my post, do you know there is a small place known as Moscow in USA? Well there is actually a place in Idaho located in between the Moscow Mountain and the Palouse hills. Initially it was known as the Paradise Valley, when settlers came this way in the 1870s. However, its name was changed to Moscow in 1877 on the request of one Samuel Neff.

Paris – the Tourists’ Lover

Take a poll to find one place that attracts the tourists most in the world and one would be amazed to find the unanimity of choice – Paris. Famous for its expensive clothes and perfumes, its dazzling and colorfully lit malls and market places and of course the rusty old pal – the Eiffel Tower, Paris is one place on earth that draws out maximum tourists than any other city does in the world.

I first heard of Paris when my father, then heading the Interpol in Pakistan, had gone to Paris to attend the annual Interpol conference. Paris happens to be the headquarters of the ICPO and the Interpol. He brought back sweet smelling perfumes for our mother and many small gifts and presents for us brothers. He would narrate us the beauty of Paris, its markets and hospitality of its people. There were lot so photographs of him posing in front of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.

Then years later I saw the famous movie “Hunchback of Notre Dame” that featured Anthony Queen in one his most unforgettable roles as the Hunchback and Gina Lolobrigida as Esmeralda, the beautiful Gypsy. This film introduced to me yet another landmark of Paris – the Notre Dame church. Although not the biggest church even in Paris, it is said to have risen to prominence after Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre Dame introduced it to the movie goers around the world.

I don’t have to say much about the Eiffel Tower as even children in remote areas of the world would recognize this steel structure. No visitor would leave Paris without seeing this tower that stands some 324 meters tall (1,063 ft), located on the Champ de Mars. Inaugurated March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower remained the tallest structure in the world until the completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930 in New York (the Empire State Building taller than the two was completed in 1931). The tower has three levels for visitors. The walk to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by elevator. Both the first and second levels have restaurants for visitors to take rest and have a far stretched view of Paris. Eiffel Tower is also nicknamed: La dame de fer, the iron lady.

Arc de Triomphe - the famous monument designed in 1806 to honour those who fought for France, stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle and located on the western end of the Champs-Elysees. The monument is the second largest triumphal arch in existence, and its design was originally inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus. The massively monument allowed Charles Godefroy to fly his biplane through it after the victory parade in 1919. The place is open for general public, except of course on national holidays when some ceremony is planned at the monument.

The Louvre, one of the largest and most visited museums in the world, was originally a palace. It is visited by almost anyone who is touring Paris to have a glimpse of the famous painting of Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the Dying Slave by Michelangelo and Venus of Milo. It is located in the 1st arrondissement at the heart of Paris. In 1989, a glass pyramid was added to the Louvre, which now acts as its entrance. The glass pyramid allows the sunlight to come in on the underground floor. Although the two structures, the original Louvre and the glass pyramid look a mismatch due to vast difference between their architecture, the place still continues to attract tourists who take the blend of old and new technologies as a symbol of changing times.

Oh before I forget, the mention of landmarks of Paris would be incomplete without The Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the prestigious avenue in Paris, The avenue houses cafes, luxury shops, cinemas and much more. The avenue perhaps is the most famous road in the world. One cannot describe the beauty of the avenue. It has to be seen to cherish its beauty and memories for a long time.

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Paris as they say is the shoppers’ paradise, despite it being very expensive, specially the its top brands. Most of the tourists and even the Parisians themselves would go to shopping centres spreads all over the residential areas, located far from the city centre. Why? Well for the simple reason to save money, otherwise the central Paris would be too costly and heavy on your wallet. Remember Paris is a lively cosmopolitan, but it remains a very French city. You know what I mean. However one can find everything in these hypermarket type market places where under one roof one can buy from a needle to an expensive car or an outfit.

Those who are frequent visitors of Paris would know that there are certain sections of Paris which are expensive, but a few minutes’ walk would take them to areas where one feels comfortable in buying things one needs. For designers clothing stores, sidewalk cafés, Saint Germain in the upper Saint Germain des Prés district is the exclusive choice. But in Rue de Buci, the clothing stores ease you in selecting less expensive attire.

Whether Paris is expensive or not, it continues to attract tourists from across the world around the year. And I am sure many of my readers would have already visited Paris. And those who haven’t would one day be attracted by Paris, for it’s a true tourists’ lover.

China-Pakistan Rail Link – Another wonder of the world in the making

Khunjrab Pass between Pakistan and China rose to prominence in the 60s when the work on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) was initiated. The 1300 kilometres (800 miles) long KKH, or the N-5, originates from Hassan Abdal, a place some 45 kilometres from Islamabad on the Islamabad - Peshawar Highway, goes through Havelian, Abbotabad, Manshera, crosses the River Indus at Thakot, on to Gilgit, Chilas, Hunza and Sost before crossing the Khunjrab Pass at the height of some 4,800 metres (15,750ft) - the Zero Point between Pakistan and China - making it one of the highest road platforms in the world. At that time, many attributed this gigantic project as the eighth wonder of the world as it passed some of the most difficult and rugged mountains of the world.

Now another ambitious proposal, floated by the Peoples’ Republic of China, to connect the two countries with the rail link through Khunjrab Pass aims at laying the foundation of yet another wonder of the world. While making road through mountain passes wasn’t easy at all, the laying a railway track calls for extraordinary skills both in architectural and civil engineering domains.

China on its part has already completed the feasibility study of the rail link from Khunjrab Pass to Havelian, a small town near Islamabad, and the last railway link of Pakistan in the area. This would allow the link up of Pakistan Railways with the Trans-Asian Railway Network. The link would allow trade with the Central Asian Republics, Russia, and China and beyond. It may be added here that the famous Silk Route once passed through the same mountains, allowing trade convoys to reach the warm waters of the Arabian Sea and Indian Oceans from as far as Turkistan, Xinxiaag, Ughuristan. This also allowed a link to the famous Indian Valley civilization, which once thrived in areas now included in Pakistan.

We hope to see the project seeing light in days to come to link China and Pakistan, the two great friends, and many others in the region. This would boost trade, travel, tourism between the warm waters of Pakistan from across the snow covered white cloaked mountains of Karakoram and beyond.

Related Link: Karakoram Highway (Pakistanpaedia)

Chitramas - the Kalash Winter Festival

Although Christmas has some resemblance with the word Chitramas, but the latter is celebrated in a very remote area of the world in the Chitral Valley of Pakistan. Chitramas or Chaumos is the winter festival of the Kafir Kalash people living in three valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur in the Chitral. The festival is presently being celebrated by these people of unknown origin, which will terminate on 22 December. Chitramas festival is considered the most important festivals of Kalash people from their spiritual point of view.

The Chitramas festivities are held to mark the end of the previous year’s harvest and fieldwork. Thereafter, the month of Chawmos Mastruk of the New Year dawns. The festival thus is a sort of saying goodbye to the previous year and welcoming the new year. The festivities include dancing, lively music and sacrificing goats. The Kalash slaughter their goats, mostly one goat per adult man or woman, on the concluding day of the festival. The festival also gains importance for the reason that the Kalash believe that god Balimain visits its subjects during the festival. Besides the many festivities, food sacrifices are offered at the clans' Jeshtak shrines, dedicated to the ancestors.

However, some men and women volunteer to seclude themselves from the others and remain confined in a cattle house for the duration of the week long festival. This tradition of seclusion is called Autik, which simply means “to get secluded.” These people eat the meat of the slaughtered goats, drink and pass time in merrymaking. While these people are celebrating in seclusion, care is taken that no outsiders sees them, lest they get polluted.

The Kalash children go up to the mountain, where they divide into boys and girls, and respectively make a big bonfire. After singing songs for some time the fire will be extinguished and then the two groups will compete with each other for the size of the smoke that rises up in the air. Then they all go down the mountain and return to the village singing " songs of Sarazari" carrying branches cut down from the mountain top. The elders will be waiting chanting songs in the village.

The festivities don’t get mar by the heavy snowfall at this time of the year in the Chitral valley. However, in case the sun shines, it adds colours and joy to the Kalash people. If you happen to be visiting Pakistan next year, do plan to visit Chitral and join the Kalash people in their festival of Chitramas – which at least by its name won’t let you feel missing the Christmas celebrations.

Related Reading: The Kalash Valley – where fairies dance and sing (Pakistanpaedia)
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Juniper Forests of Pakistan

The Juniper forests of Pakistan, located in the Balochistan province are an ecological and cultural trove for Pakistan. These rare centuries old forests are located in Ziarat and Zargoon areas of Balochistan. Junipers are one of the slowest growing trees in the world and are therefore often called “living fossils” Although they are also found in some other parts of Pakistan, Balochistan’s Junipers are one of the biggest blocks in the world.

Average age of the extremely slow growing juniper trees is 300 years. Juniper berries are used as flavor. Oil is also extracted from these trees which has a number of uses. Medical herbs like Epherda, Artimesia and mint etc are also produced. Fragrant lavender hushes cover almost the entire landscape from July to October. Besides these help provide fresh air in the environment and must see place for the tourists traveling to this part of the world.

Near Ziarat, are located the second largest Juniper forests in the world after the Junipers of California, some as old as 57000 years. The hills around Ziarat are covered with these trees, thickest on the north, south and east sides. The juniper tracts cover an area of approximately seven hundred thousand acres of which 2.30,000 acres are the State forest.

Studies also reveal that Zargoon is richer in plant diversity and in wildlife species than any area found anywhere in the Juniper ecosystem. WWF - Pakistan has already disseminated key information on Zargoon juniper forest and developed plans to continue its conservation efforts till these forests and other contiguous forest areas, such as Herboi of Kalat, are given adequate protection.

But all that is slowly changing. Where there was lush green density only a few decades ago, one can now see wasteland patches. Similarly one can also observe lesser number of smaller offshoots around the bigger trees.

A number of programmes have been initiated by the Pakistan Forest Institute, the Forest Department of Balochistan and the WWF to save Juniper Forests. The Forest Department is executing an extensive project under the Balochistan Natural Resource Management Project (BNRMP) while WWF Pakistan is working with the local communities to protect this natural heritage. The project is a part of WWF-Pakistan’s Environmental Education Programme. It focuses on conservation and environmental issues linked to poverty.

While we take pride in having these unique and one of the oldest surviving trees, we need to join hands in the efforts to save these from extinction.

Related Reading/Photographs: Juniper Forests (Pakistanpaedia)

Valleys of Pakistan

Pakistan is a tourists’ paradise. It has everything one would dream and wish to see. Rather I would say that Pakistan abounds in so many places one would wish to see before dying. In fact every inch of Pakistan is worth visiting as every stone and corner carries in itself history of thousands of years. From sea shore to snow capped mountains, there are deserts and lush green plains to travel.

For those seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of traffic and noisy city life, the northern areas of Pakistan are the ideal tourist havens. In fact the northern areas of Pakistan are replica of heaven on earth. The towering snow capped mountains surround some of the spectacular, scenic and breathtaking valleys of the world. One really wonders off when travelling and touring through these valleys and is momentarily lost amid serene and picturesque landscape.

The mountain ranges of Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayas have some of the awe inspiring valleys nested in between their majestic mountains. The valleys are also home to some of the wonders of the world. Lake Saiful Mulook, peacefully lying at the foothills of Malika Parbat (Queen of Mountains) at an altitude of 12,000 feet is a jewel in crown of the Kaghan Valley. The Gilgit Valley is home to the mighty Nanga Parbat and Raka Poshi mountains and allows access to the Hunza Valley – the lost Shangri-La.

It would be unjust to describe the beauty of the valleys of Pakistan in a few lines. In my coming posts, I will make and endeavour to describe these valleys separately, highlighting their uniqueness and serenity.

Related Reading: Valleys of Pakistan (Pakistanpaedia)

Winter brings along Hunter Beef

My wife cooked - I photographed

Winter is the best season of all seasons since in winter one can feel the heat of steamy and sizzling dishes almost lost in clouds of steam. The road side vendors find a new business to sell roasted peanuts, cashew nuts, dried fig (one of my most favourites), raisins and many other indigenously made sweets like til kay laddoo, reoris (I cannot spell it correctly) and the sort. One also finds vendors selling chicken soup at very cheap rates compared to the same served in bigger restaurants. Everyone, rich or poor, seem to be making him adept with the winters by buying eatables synonymous to winter and capacity of one’s pocket.

But there is one thing very special to winters and that is Hunter Beef. Wow I love that big loaf of boneless meat with its pink layers of varying shades. Although beef is rather cheap in Pakistan, hunter beef is very costly. And due to its unique taste, whatever quantity is brought home, it vanishes in no time. Owing to its excessive “homely demand”, my wife prefers to make it indigenously in our kitchen.

Like every year, we bought a loaf of beef and added simple ingredients (2 tsp crystallized salt, 3 tsp black pepper, 2” stick of cinnamon, 2 tsp brown sugar, 4 black cardamom and 3tbs of lemon juice) and make a paste. Now rub the paste thoroughly on a 2kg loaf of boneless beef. Then put it in glass container, apply a covering and put it in the refrigerator. Take out the loaf everyday for next 5-6 days, rub it with the paste which would have now become water for 5-10 minutes (some suggest even half an hour). On the sixth fateful day, take out the meat, put two cups of water in a pot (do not pour over the beef) and let it cook for 2-3 hours on a low heat. Then take it out and hunter beef is ready.

So my wife repeated this ritual this time too and finally today was the day when the loaf of beef duly marinated for six days turned into hunter beef as shown above. And as I said before, this is a magical thing, it vanishes very quickly. We made sandwiches in the evening when my sons came from the university and in doing so half of the loaf was gone. This was bound to happen.

So next week she intend going to market and buy another loaf of beef to make hunter beef for winters without hunter beef feel cold. Wouldn’t you agree?

Tattoo Show

Many won’t know what a Tattoo Show is, since the word tattoo has now been limited to tattooing on human bodies. The real Tattoo Shows are in fact a display of massive work of art performed with brightly lit torches, which were once the hallmark and a prime entertainment feature of the armed forces around the world. Over hundred performers exhibit dozens of combinations with the torches which presents a spectacular show at night. However, this should not be tried by individuals or untrained hands as handling burning torches can be very dangerous and can cause burn injuries.

This photograph was shot in Abbottabad, Pakistan on 12th April night 2008- to commemorate a 33 years long association of friendship, comradeship and dignity. The show lasting over an hour was their lives first for the many visitors present that day. Such events are very rare to witness and even rarer to forget.

I first saw a tattoo show at Fortress Stadium, Lahore during the Annual Horse and Cattle Show, when I was a small kid. The Horse and Cattle Show at Lahore was once a very lively, spectacular and interesting event to mark the arrival of spring in Lahore. However, over a period of time, the event has faded away in the history, leaving behind its beautiful memories.

Related Link: Watch the video of Tattoo Show (Jalalspages)

Best of Dahlia in my garden

Each year, beside other flowers, Dahlia ornaments my garden with its unique grace and beauty. Its large flowers attract instant attention of anyone entering my home garden. Today I am sharing some of the best photos of this beautiful flower that I have taken in last years. Even the last photo is of the sprouting dahlia at present in my house garden. I have also shared these at Flickr (Jalalspages).

Happy viewing of this wonderful flower and my photographic adventures.

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1st December - World AIDS Day

1st of December is dedicated to create awareness about the most deadly and incurable disease – AIDS. Over 90,000 people are living with HIV in UK alone, and this number is rising. Nearly half a million babies were born with HIV positive last year. This year the number could be more. Unless we harness the root cause of this disease, our future generations would continue to be threatened with this deadly disease for no fault of theirs.

The incidence of AIDS in Pakistan is not alarming as until September 2004, only some 300 cases of full-blown AIDS and another 2300 cases of HIV infection were reported to the National AIDS Control Program. But as per UN and other surveys, there may around 40,000-50,000 people suffering from this disease. The AIDS in Pakistan is generally attributed to usage of used drug syringes by the poor and unemployed, male sex workers and repatriated immigrants.

UNAIDS took the lead on World AIDS Day campaigning from its creation until 2004. From 2004 onwards the World AIDS Campaign's Global Steering Committee began selecting a theme for World AIDS Day in consultation with civil society, organisations and government agencies involved in the AIDS response.

But committees and conferences are not enough. It is WE who can make the difference. Let us live a life clean of all evils that lead to onset of AIDS. If we do so, we can realise the aim of 2015 as a world free of AIDS.

Related Reading: Preventing HIV/AIDS in Pakistan