After Hani and Mehwish's 2 wedding receptions in Karachi I flew north to Lahore. Lahore, located close to the Indian border, has an ancient past and is Pakistan's main tourist centre. It is the capital of Punjab Province with Punjabi being the major spoken language. Lahore is also noted for its shopping and I bought some bargain souvenirs.
The next two videos were shot from a rickshaw on the way to the Data Sahib Shrine. In the second video, note the guy yelling from the van approximately 12 seconds in. He wasn't too complimentary!
Pigeons on the roof of the Data Sahib Shrine
From the Hospital District
The decorations on the right are of a florist in the old city
Some of the architecture in the fort buildings, like this elephant, was intricate and beautiful
I love reflections
Lahore Fort tilework
The Lahore Fort
I didn't see as much as I wanted to in Lahore as first thing on all mornings but one I had to rush to the toilet. For one or two hours each morning I didn't feel 100%. By the time I felt good half the day was gone. The only morning I did not need to go to the loo I ate KFC (for health reasons, of course) the night before. At KFC I was served by speech and hearing impaired employees. The restaurant used a special system of hand signals to communicate with.
Lahore's pollution was also challenging. I developed a sore throat and then a cold because of it. In Karachi I was protected from the pollution most of the time, travelling by air-conditioned car and staying at Hani's place. I can't imagine what it's like in the heat of summer. To get used to this part of the world and enjoy their trip properly, people should stay at least a month.
The air pollution is evident in this Old City photograph
Fish offal, foam boxes and untreated sewerage make for a delightful smell and a photo not found in official tourism promotions
The last few days of my trip to Pakistan coincided with the first half of Eid ul-Azha (also known as the Feast of Sacrifice in English, Eid ul-Adha in Pakistan or Kurban Bayrami in Turkish).
Just like in Turkey, the most obvious signs of the of the holiday were livestock (mainly goats, sheep and cattle) in unusual places. I even saw two goats in the centre of Lahore dressed in jackets with their legs sticking through the sleaves!
Livestock feed markets for animals prior to their sacrifice, on the side of a Karachi road
A soon-to-be sacrificed Brahman cow in Lahore's old city
Goats in Lahore
A large livestock market on the outskirts of Lahore. Because of this market and the cars surrounding it my already late bus to Islamabad was delayed further.
I arrived back to Karachi too late to witness Hani's family sacrifice a cow and a sheep, but, of course, there was still plenty of food left over from the barbecue.
I spent New Year's Eve at the Regale Internet Inn, Lahore, where I stayed. They had a BBQ and a live Bhangra band played to an audience largely consisting of backpackers along with the odd local and expat living in Pakistan. All in all, I guess people of more than 20 natiionalities were present.
Pakistan's culture and laws are very conservative and the sale of alcohol is highly restricted, only available at five star hotels to foreigners with a special license. Originally, I was happy to have an alcohol-free NYE, but on the day I changed my mind. On New Year's Eve day I walked with three other foreigners from the hostel to the closest five star hotel. Around the side of the hotel we entered a room. Boxes and boxes of beer and spirits were piled up. The liquor is produced and sold by the State - a nice earner. The prices were very expensive for Pakistan but comparable to Turkish costs. I only drank a few beers. The verdict - drinkable, nothing special but 100 times better than Syrian Barada beer.
The previous 3 NYE's I spent in the Mersin-Adana area of Turkey and this time I was very happy to be somewhere different. Pakistan is the 7th country I've seen the new year in. The other countries: Australia, USA, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Turkey.
A British teacher, Australian Amy and the cook looking after the barbecue
Swiss Rene in the far corner promoting peace (he had previously travelled through Afghanistan and this was his first drink in a long time)
More revellers
The Serbian and French folks crashed before midnight
Grooving to the music
Japanese Kae smoking a cigarette infused with another substance
