Where the Chinese guy went – Part II

Jia Wei Published June 17, 2011
I saw what lay in front of me as I woke up on the train. Good morning, Lahore!
I saw what lay in front of me as I woke up on the train. Good morning, Lahore!
Walking on the streets of Lahore with a backpack on my back, I could not figure out where exactly my backpackers’ hostel was located. “You go straight from here and walk for about five minutes, and then you’ll see it…” A helpful man showed me the way.“Not this way, that guy was wrong. You have to walk back to where you were,” said another as everyone was giving me different directions – even when they were not sure about the whereabouts of the hostel. Sometimes, Pakistanis were too helpful.
Walking on the streets of Lahore with a backpack on my back, I could not figure out where exactly my backpackers’ hostel was located. “You go straight from here and walk for about five minutes, and then you’ll see it…” A helpful man showed me the way.“Not this way, that guy was wrong. You have to walk back to where you were,” said another as everyone was giving me different directions – even when they were not sure about the whereabouts of the hostel. Sometimes, Pakistanis were too helpful.
Did anyone ever notice that the skies in Lahore look very different from the rest visible in Pakistan?
Did anyone ever notice that the skies in Lahore look very different from the rest visible in Pakistan?
I met many travelers at the backpackers’ hostel. Dusan of the Czech Republic made his way from Iran to Lahore by crossing the border in Balochistan. There was a also Belgian girl who drove all the way from Belgium to Pakistan.“Pakistan is not that dangerous as long as you are smart enough,” an Italian said.
I met many travelers at the backpackers’ hostel. Dusan of the Czech Republic made his way from Iran to Lahore by crossing the border in Balochistan. There was a also Belgian girl who drove all the way from Belgium to Pakistan.“Pakistan is not that dangerous as long as you are smart enough,” an Italian said.
I traveled around the city on motorbikes with my Lahori friend, Naeem. This was not Malaysia and the traffic was horrifying. I thought I would die any second. “Generally, Pakistanis do not drive fast, but they do drive dangerously,” I recalled what I read from a travel guidebook.When we finally reached the entrance of the Lahore Fort…“10 rupees for locals, 200 for foreigners,” said the ticketing manager. Well, foreigners had to pay more to visit the Lahore Fort.
I traveled around the city on motorbikes with my Lahori friend, Naeem. This was not Malaysia and the traffic was horrifying. I thought I would die any second. “Generally, Pakistanis do not drive fast, but they do drive dangerously,” I recalled what I read from a travel guidebook.When we finally reached the entrance of the Lahore Fort…“10 rupees for locals, 200 for foreigners,” said the ticketing manager. Well, foreigners had to pay more to visit the Lahore Fort.
“Don’t worry, your wife will be very rich and you will have three kids with her,” a fortune teller revealed my future after having seen my palm.“But I am planning to have only two kids, where is the third one from?” I am not superstitious and I do not believe in religion.
“Don’t worry, your wife will be very rich and you will have three kids with her,” a fortune teller revealed my future after having seen my palm.“But I am planning to have only two kids, where is the third one from?” I am not superstitious and I do not believe in religion.
The Badshahi Mosque - a fine example of Mughal architecture built by Aurangzeb Alamgir - along with its crimson marble domes, tells visitors stories that date back to hundreds of years ago. The sunsets are the only thing which remain since 1674.
The Badshahi Mosque - a fine example of Mughal architecture built by Aurangzeb Alamgir - along with its crimson marble domes, tells visitors stories that date back to hundreds of years ago. The sunsets are the only thing which remain since 1674.
“See, the greatest mosque is located next to a Sikh Gurdawara (temple). It's a good sign that we Lahoris respect people from all kinds of backgrounds,” said Naeem - a Christian in Pakistan.
“See, the greatest mosque is located next to a Sikh Gurdawara (temple). It's a good sign that we Lahoris respect people from all kinds of backgrounds,” said Naeem - a Christian in Pakistan.
“The only bad thing is that the ‘red light area’ is also situated next to the Badshahi Mosque,” Naeem further said.
“The only bad thing is that the ‘red light area’ is also situated next to the Badshahi Mosque,” Naeem further said.
It is the mixture of the sky, heritage and the tranquil atmosphere in Lahore which makes the city so unique.
It is the mixture of the sky, heritage and the tranquil atmosphere in Lahore which makes the city so unique.
Even Christians in Lahore speak up for themselves – does anyone hear them?
Even Christians in Lahore speak up for themselves – does anyone hear them?
Taking the local bus alone marked another exciting adventure in my life. I was trying hard to make the bus conductor understand where I wanted to go. I reached the bus interchange five minutes before the bus to Islamabad departed.
Taking the local bus alone marked another exciting adventure in my life. I was trying hard to make the bus conductor understand where I wanted to go. I reached the bus interchange five minutes before the bus to Islamabad departed.
Islamabad…here I come!
Islamabad…here I come!

“Lahore, Lahore hay.” These Punjabi lyrics were painted at the corner of a wall at Lahore Fort – vandalism.

Finally I had reached the city of Lahore by train from Nawabshah.

“Lahore is Lahore. What you see in Lahore – the brilliance of making poetry, art, film and music – is Lahore,” the manager of the backpackers’ hostel explained the meaning of the phrase to me proudly. “The sun is warmer in Lahore than in other areas of Pakistan, so are the people.”

To me, the sky in Lahore is the most stunning in Pakistan. – Text and photos by Jia Wei / Dawn.com

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Comments (12) Closed
Syed
Jun 17, 2011 02:58pm
I think it would be better to talk about character of new Lahoris
Recommend 0
sarah
Jun 17, 2011 05:34pm
Enjoyed the album. Thanks for pointing out the beauty of Lahore's sky. One forgets to appreciate something when used to it.
Recommend 0
Sarmad
Jun 17, 2011 07:16pm
Nice Album, wana see more foreigners visiting Karachi , Lahore and ISL ... Pakistan has gotta be back one track asap ... Love Pakistan forever m/
Recommend 0
Forbidden Fruit
Jun 17, 2011 09:32pm
Such a heartening tribute! Every picture exudes beauty, tradition, culture and values.
Recommend 0
Rao Umer
Jun 18, 2011 02:59am
Very nice pics. Wish more foreigners visit Pakistan. Looking to see an album of karachi too.
Recommend 0
Naheed
Jun 18, 2011 03:18am
I am enjoying reading your blogposts. I hope you made the most of your stay in Lahore. A Malaysian friend of mine had a stay in Lahore a couple of months agi in between her visit to the city of Makkah. She liked the food, the places and also the people who were the hosts. She also took pictures there, and one of the pictures which was so fascinating, was the photo of a gigantic tree. I've never seen this kind of tree ever. I visited Lahore back in 2000 but didn't get much chance to see many places except for Anarkali Market and few more shopping places. Badshahi Masjid is still on my wish list and hope to see one day.
Recommend 0
Riaz
Jun 18, 2011 03:48am
a thing to remember abt asking directions in lahore next time.. never ask a pedestrian..this is what we, living in other parts of Pakistan ,have learnt over years. you will be standing right in front of your destination and they will tell you to go somewhere else.. i guess its part of lahoree humour.
Recommend 0
Bob-NY USA
Jun 19, 2011 06:43am
Jai, I'm totaly enjoying your photo tour of Pakistan. Also enjoyed your work with Anum Malik in "Reflections of Karachi". Thanks!
Recommend 0
Zahoor
Jun 22, 2011 12:38pm
"I am not superstitious and I do not believe in religion." the line in inverted comma is of your inscribed but let me softly rectify here that in Islam there is no place for of them i.e. palmistry,fortune telling or any parallel idea.
Recommend 0
Ansari
Jun 22, 2011 05:25pm
Hehehe
Recommend 0
Ansari
Jun 22, 2011 05:26pm
Is it
Recommend 0
Umi
Jun 26, 2011 12:41pm
Given that they are nationals of Pakistan, they deserve equal rights as everyone else. Impressed by your photgraphy, waiting for more!
Recommend 0

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