The first review I read on Atif Aslam's album Jalpari was enough to keep me away from it. The emphasis in the review was on the Punjabi tracks which were portrayed to be the worst on the album.
But I am a person who does not believe on first impressions, so I thought that I will give it a try. Downloaded a few tracks, which I had not heard before during the Gohar-Atif fights, and listened to those. I did not like them and so believed the review to be absolutely true.
And then I came to Pakistan. I was just watching IM when a song started. I was not paying much attention to it, but as it progressed I was forced to concentrate. That was one of the Punjabi tracks of ATif Aslam's album called 'Mahi Ve'. When the track finished I wished it would play once again. It was really good.
Here in the markets every other guy is humming this song. Just stand anywhere for 5 minutes in the market and you are bound to hear a guy or two trying to attract your attraction with thing.
To tell you the truth, I have also fallen in love of this song. Even though I don't understand it fully. due to my lack of understanding of the Punjabi language, I really like the music. It sounds really sweet.
[Don't take me wrong when I say the song is sweet, because I AM referring to the song and NOT Atif Aslam. ;) heheheee]
So if any of you can get your hands on the album, whether you listen to the most famous and hyped about Aadat or not, listening to 'Mahi Ve' is a must.
(I would also recommend Jal Pari and Bheegi Yadain.)
Monday 18 October 2004
Saturday 16 October 2004
Never Knew Coffee Could Be So Bitter!
When me and my friend Mani went to Scotland, we sort of just hurried. We never actually had time to plan out important things like 'food'. Thanks to Mani she made some rice for us which would stay preserved outside the fridge for a day or two. But we still had to have breakfast.
The day we reached Edinburgh, we tried to explore as much as we could on foot. And so we did. On our way back, we took a bread from a shop for breakfast. Thinking we have taken care of the breakfast, we returned to our hostel room.
The next day Mani tried out the bread first. And to our dismay, it was stale. Hard luck I guess. So around 9 in the morning we set out, like birds after worms, looking for breakfast.
Just outside our hostel, there was a small restaurant. We went in for coffee.
Mani ordered 'Espresso'. Not knowing what I was getting into, I said I will take the same. When the waitress was bringing our cups on a tray, after seeing them, I said to myself, "What small cups they have?". But I beared with it.
And then came the moment when I took a sip from the cup. I immediately wanted to throw it out, but I didn't, in fear that I might shower Mani with all my coffee, and also the others in the restaurant might think of me as an uncivilized brat. And then I thought that even that tiny cup was like a big barrel for me.
Oh the coffee was so bitter, I couldn't stand it. I couldn't even gulp down a sip let alone finish the whole cup. Mani told me that espresso is always like that. She said that if I didn't like it, why did I order it in the first place. I told her what I am saying here, and that is I confused the name of the coffee. I was ordering espresso but I had cuppaccino in mind. Oh my precious 1.50 pounds. :'( lol
Now I have made up my mind never to order anything unless I am absolutely truly madly deeply sure that what it is. ;)
A Chat with a Taxi Driver
A few days ago when I was in the market, and not in the mood to walk, I went to a nearby standing taxi and asked the driver if it was available. He said yes after which I asked what will he charge me. To that he instantly replied that the there was a meter in the taxi so he would charge whatever the reading on it. I agreed and sat in it.
Not being used to seeing a taxi with a meter I curiously asked about it. That driver explained to me the whole scheme and all. He added that the people who are educated appreciate the metered taxis but the others do not. And he complimented me as well by saying that I looked educated too. Then he asked me about my education. I told him the details, also adding the tiny detail of me studying in UK.
After hearing that he said something which amazed me. He asked me to apply my knowledge for the betterment of the country. He added that many girls in Pakistan study a lot and then just after completing their studies they become 'house wives' and waste all the knowledge. He requested me not to waste my knowledge just like that.
When the taxi driver was saying such revolutionized things I was amazed with astonishment. I used to think that only a very fraction of people and that too the educated people think this way. They are the ones who think that girls should also play a part in the progress of the country. But when that taxi driver said such stuff I was moved to think that maybe the thoughts of the whole nation are changing and a revolution is on the way. :)
[ Getting married is never a hurdle in the way of contribution towards the progress. It is just the general practice and beliefs that make it look so bad, which is a long discussion, and might touch it some time later ;) ]
Not being used to seeing a taxi with a meter I curiously asked about it. That driver explained to me the whole scheme and all. He added that the people who are educated appreciate the metered taxis but the others do not. And he complimented me as well by saying that I looked educated too. Then he asked me about my education. I told him the details, also adding the tiny detail of me studying in UK.
After hearing that he said something which amazed me. He asked me to apply my knowledge for the betterment of the country. He added that many girls in Pakistan study a lot and then just after completing their studies they become 'house wives' and waste all the knowledge. He requested me not to waste my knowledge just like that.
When the taxi driver was saying such revolutionized things I was amazed with astonishment. I used to think that only a very fraction of people and that too the educated people think this way. They are the ones who think that girls should also play a part in the progress of the country. But when that taxi driver said such stuff I was moved to think that maybe the thoughts of the whole nation are changing and a revolution is on the way. :)
[ Getting married is never a hurdle in the way of contribution towards the progress. It is just the general practice and beliefs that make it look so bad, which is a long discussion, and might touch it some time later ;) ]
Friday 15 October 2004
UK Traffic Vs. Pakistani Traffic
My last blog was from Hull, UK and this one is from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. So lots has changed since the last time. One thing is that I have started comparisons. Comparisons between things in Pakistan and things that I saw in UK.
One of the most interesting things to compare is the traffic.
The traffic in UK is like a row of small kids walking quietly with a finger on their lips. It is a quite & shhhhh sort of traffic, very well behaved. But in Pakistan the traffic is like hell has been let loose. Everybody wants to get ahead of the car in front, whether there is space to overtake or not. Even when the traffic signal is red, the cars keeps honking to the cars in front to 'give way'.
In UK if a car flashes its lights, it means that I am giving way to you. That way could be given to another car coming from the front or a pedestrian trying to cross the road. But here in Pakistan if you see a car flashing its lights, never dare to stay in its way. Because here the flashing lights mean 'get the hell out of the way, as I am coming'. It means 'give way to ME'.
So my advice to people traveling to different countries is to always learn the native traffic language as well as it could prove to be a life saver on the roads. ;)
One of the most interesting things to compare is the traffic.
The traffic in UK is like a row of small kids walking quietly with a finger on their lips. It is a quite & shhhhh sort of traffic, very well behaved. But in Pakistan the traffic is like hell has been let loose. Everybody wants to get ahead of the car in front, whether there is space to overtake or not. Even when the traffic signal is red, the cars keeps honking to the cars in front to 'give way'.
In UK if a car flashes its lights, it means that I am giving way to you. That way could be given to another car coming from the front or a pedestrian trying to cross the road. But here in Pakistan if you see a car flashing its lights, never dare to stay in its way. Because here the flashing lights mean 'get the hell out of the way, as I am coming'. It means 'give way to ME'.
So my advice to people traveling to different countries is to always learn the native traffic language as well as it could prove to be a life saver on the roads. ;)
Return to The Blog
Again it has been a really long time since i put anything on my blog. But it does not mean that i was not thinking of stuff to put here. So here goes 'something'. ;)
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