Geogardening

After my first deep night’s sleep in a while I woke for breakfast and then the Gentleman Friend and I made our way into town to find out about an afternoon trip to Waimangu, the valley left after the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. It was about a half hour drive away from town, […]

Wardrobe woes

I am going back to Pakistan for a family wedding in January, and clothing remains a perpetual concern. At first, when it looked like I might make a fortnight’s trip home for work, i was relatively relaxed, as I have a suitcase full of clothing that I intended to dig through. I have the key […]

Story of a friend

“Are you from India?” “No, from Pakistan.” “Muslim country.” “Yes.” “Are you Hindu?” “No, Muslim.” “Ahhh. You don’t wear, what is it called?” “Hijab? Scarf?” “Like dupatta….” “Dupatta?” “Burqa.” “No I don’t.” “It doesn’t make a problem for you?” “No. Many people in Pakistan don’t wear it.” “I saw Pakistan on TV and all the […]

Shameful

What a dispiriting day for Pakistan. Another one, that is. Another full day of rioting and looting and rumours. The army saying they can’t interfere in every little issue in Pakistan (not that they don’t otherwise, maybe the rioters were careful to avoid the army’s extensive property portfolio). Then the assassination of Sami-ul-Haq striking abject […]

Riotous day

Rioting all day across Pakistan. One sibling trapped in Islamabad, one using all sorts of feints to get to the airport in Lahore for work in in Karachi (and then to leave the airport). A parent trapped in the ancestral village where he had planned to be overnight, but has been unable to leave because […]

Not happy

Today, Pakistan’s Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian peasant woman, of blasphemy. She had been accused by two of her Muslim neighbours after they quarrelled when she brought them a drink of water and they refused to drink from a cup that a Christian had drunk from unless she converted to Islam on the […]

Morning wo

In the morning, the Boddhisatva and I woke early so we went off to the alu wo (pakora) place for breakfast. Luckily breakfast places are open, though they seem to close very early and not even a cup of tea is available. The pakoras were fresh and delicious this morning and the light was clear. […]

Belt and Road

I listened to a very good podcast episode today, on Sinica. It was on China’s relations with Pakistan over the years, and particularly around CPEC and the election of Imran Khan. The person being interviewed was uncharacteristically informed about Pakistani politics and how it works (and even pronounced all the names correctly, which is rare […]