I know I told you guys that I wasn’t going to have Internet access in Lahore… but voila here I am writing yet another blog post. Yesterday, my older sister and cousin were going to be coming to Pakistan.. they couldn’t come with us as they still had work. They both work in schools so im taking it everyone is officially on holiday now…Hope the hols are going well for you all… *except the people that are working*!

^^ That is all I wrote whilst in Lahore.. so I’m back in Sahiwal now and going to finish the blog post.. sorry about it being late. Its hard to get time to myself without cousins overshadowing me and reading what I’m writing.. it’s like grr you can read it when it’s up online!!

So here goes… again we had to leave very early in the morning at 5AM to pick sister and cousin from airport… the flight was supposed to land at 5:45AM Pakistan time..*Horrible time or what?* My sister phoned us when she was at Heathrow airport and said the flight had been delayed for 2 hours… we had booked a 7 seater wagon for the journey and off we went. I was so tired during the journey but couldnt get myself to sleep.. dad, mum and lil sis slept pretty much for the whole journey! But I’m glad I stayed awake… We left when it was still all dark… and you could see the sun rise and the sky change colour. I thought it was pretty cool anyway.. most of u might not :$ lol! The journey lasted two hours, and I counted that we almost crashed 4 times… the driver was wicked, he wasn’t the problem.. it was the other stupid drivers on the road! On the motorway you have like parts every like 10 mins where the left and right side of the motorway has a gap for people who want to do U-turns. Stupid idea or what.. I mean you have people going at 100kmph and people can do a U turn onto the fast lane starting at 0kmph.. ridiculous! But anyway this one time… a big lorry from the other side wanted to do a U Turn.. he had his indicator on *about the only right thing he did*.. everyone was going at 100Kmph, the lorry driver decides to do a 3 point turn and drives his lorry right accross both lanes, everyone had do slam there breaks, we were at the front and ended up stopping like half a metre before it. =| Luckily the wagon had ABS brakes otherwise it was a definate crash as we wouldnt of been able to brake in time. Surprisingly the driver didnt get too angry.. I would of flipped! You have to have a LOT of patience to drive here in Pakistan. It seems as if the safe drivers are more likely to have an accident than people who drive carelessly.

We got to the airport in 2 hours.. on the way I saw a couple of cool things I shall upload the piccys now..

Lahore Journey Pics

~ The first piccy is of a random Masjid I thought looked nice
~ The second piccy is of a really long road I wish I could drive on… in the pic it looks like an endless road
~ The third piccy is of…yes traffic lights.. except theres a countdown timer.. telling you how long left… even tho half of the people dont know red light means stop, Pakistan is more technologically advanced in some areas
~ The forth piccy is jus one example of many signs I saw like this… Rather than To Let signs everywhere had Tolet… even official ones… is it spelt ‘to let’ or have I gone mad during my hols?

After we picked my older sis and cousin up for the airport after standing there waiting for like 3 hours. We went back to the wagon and got him to take us to the different relatives houses for a few hours each. First we went to my grandfather’s sister’s place as we were staying there and unpacked n stuff.. I actually slept there for an hour or so too catch up on some lost sleep. Then the next house and then next one… u get the pattern lol! The first day was really just to catch up and meet the relatives in Lahore. The rest of the days were going to mainly be spent on shopping lol, no site seeing this time round. Older sister’s wedding in October and so stuff needed to be brought!

In the second day me and my dad went with my uncle to my cousins office.. he (my cousin) wasn’t there as he was ill. But I must say I was so impressed, I remember when I came last time his office was in his house… he had like 5-6 computers there and people worked for him there in his attic. But in the 4 years he’s got a professional slick office.. Website – www.e-solbiz.com If you read this Haroon, nice job (y) Whilst we were there just chillaxin… me just messing about on the net, dad and uncle talking. The girls went shopping, my older sister was trying to find her wedding lenga and found it + plus matching shoes and all that girly stuff! We didn’t want to go with them as it doesn’t appeal to us, as you can imagine.

On the third day we went to stay at my mums cousins place… and had a meal there for lunch. The family and cousin then went to this popular shopping centre place called Fortress. I didnt get anything but dvd’s.. Prison Break Series 1, 2, 3 & Heroes Series 1 and 2 =) Everyone else ended up getting dvd’s too and ended up becoming a total of 45 dvd’s in just the one shop. We were also looking for my suit but couldn’t find one in my size =( . Gutted.
Anyways, there was a McDonalds there.. so we invited relatives to come down and we all munched.. a HALAL McDonalds =P . It was nice and a change from the fish & fillet burgers.. gets boring.

On to the forth day… and still not suit or shirvani. *Still to be decided* My older sister wants me to wear a shirvani on wedding and suit on valima.. I was just thinking 2 different suits on both. Me, dad and uncle went shopping… I got some jeans, shirts and yes got a suit! Finally.. was still annoying, suits dont suit me lol! *I know you shouldn’t use the same word twice in a sentence* Well at least I dont think so. Had some adjustments to get done on the suit like trousers length.. they told us to pick it up tomorrow. *Note* Good place to shop for guys clothes in Lahore, Pakistan is Pace shopping centre! The girls went to a place called Liberty and shopped there and did their usual spending lol. We all went back to mum’s cousins and then hired a van to go back to g’fathers sisters place… and decided to take everyone out for a Pizza Hut.
It was SO packed even tho we got there after midnight, our journey to Pizza hut was horrible! Again we almost died lol.. the wagon almost toppled, I think there was something on the road and the driver *who just passed like a week ago =\* quickly yanked the steerin wheel to the right to avoid whatever it was.. so we were driving on the two right hand side wheels… and then it switched to the left two wheels… back to the right two and then finally settled..!! He was like a speed racer or something… probably jus the buzz of just passing and just showing off… no only did he do that he got lost and we ended up gettin there like an hour late! lol.. but other than that, everythin was good! lol Had a good munch.

The next day I cant actually remember… Im writing this blog so late ahh! But I do remember we went to a meal at my cousins place in the evening. I was talking to Ibz during the journey there and couldnt hear him at all, soz bro!

Finally the last day we packed all our stuffs up and then hired the same driver from Sahiwal to come to Lahore and drive us back… On the way back we stopped off at Pace to pick up my suit, got some more shirts and then off we went home. My cousin came who studies in Lahore came back with us to Sahiwal as his classes were finished for the rest of the week. The journey back went fine, Alhumdulliah.
Thats it, back in Sahiwal.. and glad in a way as I’d had enough of shopping.. plus the weather was really hot there!

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@ Ibrar – How did I know you’d be the one to ask that as well! lol haha I still cant be bothered to explain =$ I’ll explain in Manc. I know they use the horn more in one day than most people do anywhere else in the world since they’ve been driving. Ridiculous.. Im good thank bro, How are you?

@ Sonia – The game rocks eh?! We got it somewhere too.. not sure where tho lol. It depends how you hit it as to if it hurts you fingers =P I will be the driver =) it’d be class… Yeh thats a great idea, your mission is to think of secret agent gadgets I could have in my Rickshaw Everyone will think it’s an innocent lil rickshaw but secretly its a killing machine! Mwuaha.. Sorry for the late blog post.. Glad you enjoyed the read! =)

@ Star – The tash is coming along just fine thanks.. how about yours? lool Jokes =) Okay comments aren’t there for you to tell me your life story =P But its okay… sounds interesting! Driving lessons in Pakistan? Is there even such a thing? I went to Karachi last time, but don’t think we’re going this time round. You’ve never been a good driver tho to be fair =P So according to my theory of careless drivers being safer here.. you should of been just fine? Okay.. i’ll stop being mean now! Respect gone so quickly.. Typical lol! What freshie wife… there isn’t one! So tough luck you aint gona be reading about it. You take care too

@ Somia – Thanks lol When you going Pakistan next? When was the last time you went?

@ Shazia – I can’t believe it either.. it’s been on my msn name! Who told you to ignore me.. Mwuaha Jus kidding.. I am doing thanks for asking =)

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Wednesday 9th July – Day 1

Okay so now it was time to visit the family (Mum’s sisters family and dad’s uncles families) in Bahawalpur. We got to the coach station at 9:30AM to catch the legendary Daewoo coach at 10AM, the journey lasted a whole 4 and a half hours. I slept for about half of the journey as waking up for 8ish was way too early for my liking lol. So once we finally arrived, got out of the coach and had rush of heat thrown at your face…I thought Sahiwal was hot, Bahawalpur was something else. My uncle and dad’s uncles come to the coach station to pick us up, first we went to one of my dad’s uncles place and stayed there for a few hours in which the electricity went off for half of it lol. Had a nice cold drink and some really nice food. Then we went to another uncles house and chilled there for the rest of the evening until late. We then got dropped off to the hotel we were staying in, called The Luxery Hotel (Cheesy name or what for a hotel)! Once we got into the hotel, some of the steps carpets were ripped, so I thought it’s going to be crap and the most unluxurious hotel ever! But once we got to our room it ended up being really big, pretty stylish bathroom etc and the best thing about it was at least the fans stayed on when the electricity went off in the night as it had a generator, otherwise it’s so hard to sleep. Onto Day 2…

Thursday 10th July – Day 2

Moi and little sister got picked up from the hotel by mum’s sister, who took us to her place. Mum and dad went to dad’s uncles, *there wasn’t much to do there so we didn’t go this time*. Anyways, I chilled there for the day, it was a terrace house so you had a nice breeze coming through as it got later in the day. However, in the day when the electricity went off *they didn’t have UPS* it was SO HOT that within minutes your arms, hands, forehead would be full of sweat *Not very appealing, I know* lol We played the brilliant game called Carum Board (Image Below)

 I could play this game for ages, it’s just like pool in a way but rather than using a cue, you use you fingers to hit your shot. It was a chill out day.. because it was so hot, you don’t feel like doing anything other than lie down really. Just listening to my mp3 player… not toooo much tho, *I hope* don’t want to seem anti social. The kids were 4 girls all younger than my little sister so as you can imagine interests weren’t the same.

We all went back to the hotel in the evening, mum and dad had come back to the hotel as well… put on the cable and started to watch this program called ‘Crickets greatest upsets’ It was showing detailed highlights of a match between Australia and South Africa *Sorry to all the people that hate or dislike anything to do with cricket* But it was a deciding match of the series as they had both won 2 games each.. Australia batted first and made 434-4 which was a record of the highest score in ODI (One Day International) game ever! I thought thats it game over.. why did they call the program cricket greatest upsets.. South Africa come out basically have no choice but to smash everything.. and ended up beating the world record and get 438-9

(Link for more info on the best game EVER http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4797004.stm)

Friday 11th July – Day 3

I didn’t feel so good in the morning so I stayed at the hotel, slept and watched cable whilst mum, dad & lil sis went for a meal (dawat) at dad’s uncles place. Mum must of phoned her sister and told her I wasn’t feeling so good and hadn’t had breakfast either so mum’s sisters family come to the hotel and bought loads of food for me. I thought that was really nice of them.. they even bought a big cooler with loads of mangoes with blocks of ice in it to keep it cool. (Even tho I don’t eat mangoes…for a while now i’ve been put off mangoes… so I didn’t have any.. it’s all about Mango Milkshake, Mango Ice Cream and Mango Rubicon!) It’s funny how people are shocked that I don’t have mangoes… the faces are unreal.. it seems as if its against the law in Pakistan to not like mangoes! lol Anyway..My family come back to the hotel from the meal at 4pm… everyone just chatting & chilling.. played a game called parchia *I would explain it… but I don’t want to extend this post even more… will explain on request * After a couple of hours we then went to mum sis’s place for a while, come back to hotel… watched a bit of the England Vs South Africa Test Cricket Live *SO Boring* then lay in bed listened to mp3 player and made some ZzZzZz’s..!

Saturday 12th July – Day 4

Okay, so now the last day… we all woke up, showered.. got ready and left for mum’s sisters place.. we got a rickshaw! A rickshaw is a small cart transport… handling is better than any car and cheap to run… I might just get myself one and do a Rickshaw service up and down wilmslow road…Great idea or what?

*Note* I got this from google images…the person has smudged the shops and road to make it look at if it’s going so quick… for the people who don’t know about a rickshaw… it’s goes at like maximum 30mph maybe 40 at most.. It’s funny how I saw some on the motorway on the way to Bahawalpur.. I mean it’s not even legal.. anything goes in Pakistan! lol

The girls went to the bazaar (city centre) and spent a fortune.. and didn’t even get me anything =( haha! Later on in the evening at 11pm ‘casually’ *Pakistan is buzzing & busy at all times* we went to a fast food restaurant. Dad said that me and little sister aren’t eating enough so if we went to a fast food restaurant at least we’ll eat something we like ….I think secretly they just wanted a burger and fries too! It wasn’t as good as a DIRTYYYY Kansas *Just for some of the boys that – Private joke* But even still was good to have some junk food.. I was missing it

Next day we left at 2PM.. I noticed something unbelievable… the drivers drive on the road side of the road on the motorway for most of the way.. over taking everyone slower than them.. Its so dangerous! No wonder they’ve got curtains shut so you can’t see outside unless you open it yourself! I was amazed.. I should of taken a video.. but phone battery was low! Driving on the other side of the road is a standard thing to do in Pakistan…you gotta luv it! It wouldn’t be Pakistan if life threatening stuff like this didnt happen, lol!

Im sorry this post is so late… It’s the only real chance I’ve had an opportunity to write without having cousins overshadow me.. I can’t seem to write like that! So I’ve been back in Sahiwal now for 5 days or so.. just stayed at mum’s other sister’s for two days and am now staying at another mum’s sis’s place until friday.. Going to Lahore on Sunday will be meeting up with older sis *Faiza* and cousin *Alia*.. hopefully if I have time i’ll write another post before then..

Hope everyone is well..and having fun..Unlucky to the people in England as they’ve got rubbish weather I here…One extreme over here to the other..

Zahid

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P.S. – I’ve decided I’ll reply to comments from the previous post from now on

@ Ibrar – It really is.. the differences are unreal! I hope so too, insh’Allah I will… Hope your cool

@ Abid – Im afraid it wasn’t the first comment just short by 1 hour 5 Mins.. Ibz comment required moderation for some reason and be approved.. Aren’t you a genius eh? lol I would of still gone to Pakistan if i had re-sits just would of have to come back early.. but yeh it would of sucked! Don’t worry.. you best be studying hard! I will try too not to worry.. and i’ll come back nice n freshified! P.S. Dont swear dude, my relatives read this lol!

@ Somia – Yes, Im trying to enjoy it as much as I can.. who knows when I’ll get a chance to come again.. I will give salams to all.. do the same vice versa

@ Star *lol – I dont have a dirty tash *as of yet*… well duh! Obviously Im going to type like I talk.. state the obvious why don’t you.. just kidding! Hope ur well

@ Farhan – Hey hey.. I was surprised when I saw your comment… In a good way.. Didn’t think half as many people would read the blog.. Whats good ol’ Cali saying? I can see your still anti british then.. lol You see.. our countries that immense it gives people two options of what to call it.. England or Great Britain! I will pass on your salams.. do the same vice versa

@ Rizzy -  Aww.. Don’t worry I’m sure your doing just fine in the rain How’s it a standard Zahid comment :$ lol I’ll take your word for it as you’ve known me a long time now. Oo wicked, how long you in Spain for and where abouts you going? You can download the full version of that song on the Music tab..

@ Sonia – Was it really a good read tho, or is it a standard comment just to be nice! lol As long as it didn’t make a fellow agent fall asleep.. i’ll let you off if you yawned.. Get well soon! Chin up.. hope your family is well also

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First of all, Thank you to everyone who’s commented on the posts… I appreciate it, the comments actually make me want to continue with this blog, rather than just give up! lol So yeh, just a quick thank you *Acting as if i’ve won an award* Might as well say thanks to my mum as well =P Secondly, I apologise *Don’t worry I will stop saying sorry, lol* That this blog post is like 5 days late & i’ll try not to drag it on too much.

 At the end of the last post I told you guys I was going to be going to Sahiwal on Thursday (3rd July) at 10AM… Well that was the plan to start with anyway.. things never quite turn out how there planned, as they say. We had to end up getting up at 6AM to catch the 7AM coach as it was the only one, which had air conditioning in. For me the person who NEEDS plenty of sleep, it wasn’t easy to wake up so early. I was half asleep and it was so hot…I thought don’t worry I can sleep on the coach. So anyways, we got our luggage.. Dad took one of the mini suitcases n got a rikshaw *However you spell it* & Me, mum and lil sis got in car with relative who drove us there (there = the coach station). It was so busy there even with it being so early, I thought.. so this it what its like so early in the morning *Im never awake to see it* It’s weird when everyone looks at you and the fam because they seem to know your not from Pakistan. We should of put our luggage in broken boxes and maybe they might not of noticed, maybe even grow a ‘dirty’ tash lol! Sleeping on the coach was a NO NO as the driver ragged the coach so much, I swear I thought the coach was going to topple at least 10 times… crazy driver don’t even know if he had a license, probably not. On the journey, it finally hit me.. that we have so much and don’t appreciate it… I mean here I was in an air con coach *nice and cool* going past farms and agricultural areas looking at how hard people are working in such heat, sweating like no tomorrow. The amount they work is unimaginable, I really think it hit you properly when you see it in your own eyes.

We got to Sahiwal, it took 2 Hours and my mum’s older brother picked us up. As soon as I got out the coach I realised how hot it was going to be.. Faislabad was nothing compared to Sahiwal in terms of how hot it is. We went to mum’s little brothers house where we stay had ice cold drinks *7UP/Sprite all the way* after a while my cousins (8 and 12 *I think :$*) started playing Grand Theft Auto Vice City *A game for 18+* on the computer. It wasn’t a normal computer it’s a Pentium 4 comp *I didn’t even think they would exist here* and quicker than some of the computers we have at home =/ .. Pakistan has got more advanced since the last 4 years. My mum’s brother and sisters family came round and we were all just chit chatting, electricity went off in the evening, so we decided to go on the roof and relax there! It was pretty cool, we ended up eating dinner up there as well. In Sahiwal, so far just been having relatives come over and dawats and stuff. We stayed at my mum’s older brothers house for 2 days (Saturday & Sunday) the electricity went off SO much over there. Luckily, relatives houses have a thing called UPS system where it charges when there is electricity and when it switches off it gives electricity. So the fans and lights still worked, so it wasn’t TOO bad . Yesterday (7th July - Ibz Bday…Happy Birthday for the 3rd/4th time* I went to the city centre of Sahiwal and bought some Shalwakamiz’s aka Shalley Walleys lol! Girls did there shopping, standard! Taking about an hour in each shop lol.

I’d write more, but electricity might go off in 6 minutes lol… Im off to Bahwalpur tomorrow morning, going to take 4 and a half hours! Ah the joy… mum’s sister lives there *Yes, mum’s got a big family and relatives all over the world! =/ lol even Japan? =S* Going to be there for 4 days.. no net there so won’t be able to write another post until then. Hope you guys are having fun and a great summer! P.S. Theres probably a lot of mistakes but I don’t have time to read over it :$ so ‘apologies *haha*’ if I’ve not made any sense.

Take Care, Zahid