Going to Port Grand ---- Really ?

Port Grand located on the Napier Mole Bridge is one of the leading and modern food streets cum entertainment arena of Pakistan. Traditional Gawalmandi food street, Lhr has been overshadowed by the sea facing competitor from Karachi. Due to the multifaceted nature of it, being beautifully designed and well kept environs

The entrance tickets are of 300 per person out of which 200 is redeemable at the food joints after strict security one is allowed into the PG premises and soon can get the stench of the polluted water of fish smell. There is also the option of jet skiing into the water and some zealous people are seen swashing the motor boat left and right like James bond.

Then there comes the huge hall and one can see the big branded shops over there that’s a welcome addition and adds to the revenue of the PG authority in the premises precise after enjoying a meal people can empty the pockets in these shops

 On the left side is the port grand alley where all the eateries are located and there is a Palmist, a Parrot astrologer, Sketch maker and some traditional crafts stall and suddenly it seems that you are in Paris as the pathway is built of small pebbles and there is black board on which the menu is written by them the sittings are similar to that of European roadside. One thing that I fear the most in Pakistan when go out anywhere for roadside food is the fact that there are ample of stray and wild cats that particularly love to chase me and I do the public display of my  vocals  by shouting and fast track light speed jumps. Thank God these cats, dogs, and whatever are not present here in PG

There is a variety of café’s to choose from and there are stalls of the local road side food like BUN KEBAB, GOL GAPPAY, POP CORN, KACHORI, SAMOSAY,VARITIES OF TEA/Coffee available there that’s very great. Personally I feel the Gappa’s very saltish and the supposedly tamarind water due to the greenish color seems that they have taken it out from the same fish water of native jetty.  The self- proclaimed best Chinese restaurant of Karachi – Chairman Mao is there too and the sticky chicken is the best to try out. And yes being a foodie I’m craving for the bun kebab’s of PG very yummy and beats the likes of Mc Donald’s and KFC .Till now I couldn’t muster the courage to go to Oishi sushi ,a Japanese restaurant  to eat raw fish, yeah Sushi . I guess if egged then I have to keep a paper clip to clip my nose before having it just like in childhood, kids have milk. And yes how can I forget the desi, ghaffar kebab house, that has the succulent, juicy chicken tikka, reshmi kebabs with hot piping paratha’s and naan that were not heavy on the stomach though I hate the fact that the waiter was standing on our head eyeing with the corner, may be he wanted to enter into the Guinness book of world record for quick service. Plenty of drinks options were there on the street vendors to wash down the meal too.---- Care for a Narail Pani ( coconut water ) ?

One can see the huge ships in the water from that PG alley and there are lights there is a favorite photo spot for everybody that seems to go to PG. Everyone I see pose with smiling teeth, model pose, pout reminds me of the incident where one photographer placed the camera in the vicinity of the chimpanzees and they came up with great cameos. Mind blowing shots!  Whenever I see a picture on PG green benches my mind traces the ancestry well back to the ape mode of humans

However despite all these things I think that there needs to a variety of steps taken by PG authority and the Port and shipping ministry, Karachi. Like the biggest issue of the Port grand is the awful smell of the water as it is full of wrappers, dirt, and some plastic bags are floating in it that is just so disgusting and I don’t know why doesn’t the port authority clear the water and restrict people from the top of the bridge to stop things throwing in it. There is a Hindu temple near it and the Hindu community throws their dia’s in the water then people of the Shiaa community throw their TAZIA’s in it  and some people who out of superstition feed to the fishes and offer Nazr’s ( offering) that creates a lot of environmental pollution and there is nobody to restrict and stop them... The port and shipping should put heavy fines on the miscreants who do these things

As far as the water sport is concerned there needs to be adequate rescuers and the security gears to be provided by the PG management for the facilitation of the people to avoid any bad accident.

The thing that needs the most attention is the fact that although strict security checking is done on the entrance but from the bridge up above the full view of the PG is seen. At some places steel shuttering is done most of it is visible that pose dangerous threat to the security. Hence it’s important that there needs to be wire mesh planted with the walls of the flyover and security camera’s inserted on it to fulfill the purpose of the security. Or I guess if it’s affordable then the bullet proof glasses could be used instead of the steel shuttering though very expensive this would be very beautiful.

The PG has been much hyped and was labeled as the Asia’s biggest food street although I do admit that Port and shipping ministry has done a good job by turning the old flyover, resurrecting the historical bridge into a food street.  I think there is a lot to be done.

Relaxing and fun loving activities are vital to the physical and the mental build-up of the people and one can escape from the everyday tensions of the life via it. However it’s the responsibility of the management and the government to ensure that proper security steps are taken and the environmental life of the local fish in the water is to be protected via this grand project as PG is a landmark of Karachi, that generates a humongous revenue for the people and its their duty to ensure that value for money should be provided to the people

Ps : 

The monkey grabs a camera !!! 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2011051/Black-macaque-takes-self-portrait-Monkey-borrows-photographers-camera.html

Forgive my bad camera and here goes the link for the nice version pics for PG.. I tried to paste the URL in the image but couldn't

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13176776@N08/7516272874/in/photostream/

A Nightmare on Dammam Airport

Last month I went for a recreational trip to meet my brother in KSA although being a girl the idea of recreation in KSA is just being in black robes that makes the body and mind so dumb that after removing it life seems the most refereshed

The first experience of landing to Dammam in the King Fahd International airport has made for an experience to remember and for years if ever I have to meet my brother in KSA, like the pirates i will be making the entry to KSA through other routes.

We took off from Karachi airport much excited after having our stamps of exit done in a mere 5 minutes and merrily ate the food Emirates served oblivious to the fact that what was in our fate at the King Fahd Airport otherwise i atleast could have  had deposited some of the cake piece from the food tray to my bag just like squirrels do for winter. As soon as we entered the deserted premises I took my black robe ( Abaya ) from the bag and quickly wrapped my body in it like a garbage bag, yes I felt disgusted as I looked in the mirror as my beautiful self  turned in a beast-full self .  Everybody was carrying a paper to be signed and  we have to sign that one too, I looked in my bag for a pen but could find it and then my savior my mum came out with a pen from her bag, don't know why couldn't she took out before. And then came the horrible experience of staying at the King Fahd airport that was such a pot that made us rot.

All the passengers were made to form a queue at 4PM but after 15 minutes the queue was suddenly broken and then two queues were formed, The Airport security came and checked the random passengers rudely even shouting at them and then went backed and got themselves busy in texting some of their old school friends, girl friends, ex- wives and so and so. Some yawned and looked with amazement at the passengers as if they have just landed from KRYPTON. Two of them started discussing the Saudi Version of Jim Kerry and playing * YOUR MOM IS SO FAT * jokes to kill time. Some of the gastronomist wanted to experience the food coma again so they went for a king sized burger and some coke as a snack munching on to them slowly as it is a healthy way to do so and they cant risk their life for the mere passengers ..

While all this was going one we were standing along with the other passengers cursing our fate and bearing the pain in the stiff legs, nobody was saying anything to the airport security lest they put us in jail for instigating Arab spring at the airport by the non- Arabs,,, eh? Time was ticking and it was 9 PM I finally mustered up courage and acted on the plan devised by my sister and requested to the joking security personnel in a highly animated tone citing that I’m unwell and if they just could do it first for us ? And he seemingly interested in comic movies nodded in affirmative after my emotional performance confirming my doubt that he would appreciate the other form of performing arts as well and after that ordeal we finally got our passport stamped and drew many covetous looks after such an achievement at KING FAHD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, DAMMAM.


Finally at 10.30 pm we reached Al-khobar at my brother's residence drained of strength and energy and just buried in the bed ...  Thanking God that they at least let us go tonight otherwise I was not even expecting to leave the airport even after a week.

This experience is a lesson for everybody who wants to go to KSA via Dhahran and I would advise them some of the sleeping pills to take as the entry stamps are a rare thing there. And also parents can send their kids to learn patience and anger management. The attitude shows the psyche of the Saudi Government, 7th richest country of the Islamic world thats still engrossed in the devil- may -care attitude at providing good service to the people here and is indeed the worst airport of the world 

Stop for a while ...

It vanish so quickly in a blink of an eye for some i may have turned  into a cutie pie
It has changed me altogether, physical, mental to kindle the gentle
Given me gorgeous gifts and taken my priceless possession
The changing season, growing children , passing days, gadget craze
Petrol hike, life so quick like on a mountain bike
Harbinger on my door its mystery and magic
Sometimes so beautiful, sometimes so tragic
Making me desire to stop it in a lovely winter night
Lazy summer noon or rainy morning delight
It has taught me the  valuable lesson that it is indeed the God
That waits for none and intends no pun
 For those who takes the formidable task as a toddler's fun
I yearn for it to stop as i fear the unknown
Want it to freeze the moment and never let it go
But it wont listen to my pleads like it listens to none
Making powerful and strong into weak and torn
Each passing moment makes me wise
Teach me to listen to my heart as the moment wont come twice 

Environment friendly Cheap dustbins

These are the environment friendly cheap dustbins that i made with the help of my maid by using an old oil can and some shiny wrappers and glue and scissor.
I think they look pretty cute and creative .
I think anybody can make them at home as a room dustbin rather than buying the expensive one from the market. They are amazing and take care of the old Oil can in a very nice way :)

Pretty in white :)

 I'm barely a year old in this pic .Haaha you can see the light that's infront of me , its due to my magical presence :)

If you could be mine........

Ahh, I'm tired  of convincing and even forcing you to understand what i feel for you
And how beautiful our life could be together
Huh! all i can see in your and words is how rigid you are towards your principles and convictions
I wish you could melt with me in the heat of passion, relish with me in the cauldron of love
Renounce the dogma's and the doctrine's of this fake world
Run away in any mystic place from this mundane world
But you don't seem to understand , your gestures are clamouring to me the fakeness of your profile
Here i'm standing thinking about a feeling called LOVE
But i think it's over now for us ...................

I want JOAN BAEZ to sing my poem in her beautiful beautiful voice ,
Mwaaaaaaaah I love u ,  Joan  chandon baez

Cost awareness is needed to save the world.....

There has been a lot of wastage and mismanagement that has been done by humans in our planet earth  that has resulted in so many people being deprived of the basic necessities of life. Like people who acquire the resources don’t utilize it in a environment friendly way .Thus the gap between the poor and the rich just grows indefinitely

I think there comes the basic tool of cost efficiency and effective management of resources that should be known to all the people, applied by the corporate giants and also at the government level. There is a very thin line between cost saving and cost efficiency and as I said that we must practice cost efficiency means we must not compromise on the quality of the things we do by better planning.

The individual level steps that we can take can start from our very own kitchen, garden, attire etc. Like I always have been fascinated by the idea of kitchen garden and I think many people practice it. However, the ratio has been very low against the high tide in the food inflation, with kitchen garden I, myself have planted mint, coriander, spinach, spring onion, garlic shoots and for a starter they turned out to be good they smell awesome and the happiness I feel as I eat the home planted herbs is beyond words .It has also saved the extra cost of buying these herbs and im sure anybody can do it even in the small pots with a variety of vegetables and fruits.

I have also came across a recent article about home made manure that includes paper clippings ,fruit peels, torn tea bags and tea water to be used a manure instead of the chemical infested cow shit . This is an amazing thing that could tremendously take care of the everyday waste in an effective although I have not tried it but I’m aching to do so. Other ideas like putting the left over tea in rose plants are also tried and tested by me as they make the roses grow beautifully while doesn’t block the drain if I get rid of by the sink J .

Then there is a thing about left over food as many affluent people just throw away the left over in a trash and waste it without even thinking that there are human beings who can die to get what we are throwing. I find myself lucky in the fact that iam living in country where you can get domestic labour and feed them the food or if the food is very stale than there are stray  dogs, crows who can always eat them. There is also a very good tip to deal with  left over’s if the person is a bit creative and loves hard work ,not for me, they can always use the meat from the curry to make burger patties or meat pie and I love the potato paratha ( AAOLO KA PARATHA ) that my mother makes from mashed potatoes . I actually in order to do something for eid  did fill the samosa ( a   triangular snack filled with the filling  meat ,cheese . potato popularly )  with  left over spaghetti and the guest just loved it and me too finally got  rid of it hahahah  ..

Then always the old clothes and stuff can be sold at the internet sites like eBay at reduced prices to at least cover some of the original price .Its again all about anticipating the future fashion and popularity of the stuff  although for some it might look pathetic, desperate attempt to get cash so they can use any other name to make a face book page, change the voice when picking up the phone  from any other sim card ,after all humor is the spice of life , acting skills could also be improved with this exercise as well . Students can also sell their old books at half the price better not to sell their current semester books otherwise the parents could  practice anger control by beating them hard, my mother has invented  a unique way of torturing me as she cooks food that I hate or in summer morning switch off the fan and yes I succumb .

 On a bigger level again there are a lot of things that a government or the corporate giants are supposed to do like waste management, consuming less energy, alternative energy production than the current fuel production, utilizing food and water in a efficient way so that people of the developing countries could have access to it.

 As we all know that one of the biggest threat to the world is damage to the ozone layer that has already been started at a rapid pace due to carbon emissions and electricity production by fuel .Electricity production by fuel is a dangerous threat to environment ,recently it has been proved that the climate of the world will change to such a level that extreme situation will be experienced all over the world like floods, heat wave, mass level migration that will bring a lot of casualty in the world. Then there is problem like increasing world population that has already reached 7 billion that needs to be controlled immediately.

US is a menace to the world as it is less than 5 % of global population and uses upto quarter of the world's  fossil fuel , burning up to 25 % coal, 26 % of oil  and 27 % of natural gas . The solution to the fuel is that there has to  be solar paneled cars, the American people should stop using big, giant cars that takes a lot of fuel. There has to be alternative sources of the production of the electricity like bio fuel, wind mills, hydro power plants. I didn’t mention the thermal power plants as they are a threat to the environment, yes, due to recent Fukishima accident. Then I think Pakistan, India and US, should make heavy fines on couples who would go for a second baby and make it illegal  to control increasing population and food starvation although difficult it is but not impossible so that couples would think thousand of times before planning a baby .

For the corporate giants the government should make sure that they make their objective that is aimed at being environment friendly linked to saving cost rather than just aimed at profit maximization. Like they can promote the use of recycled paper bags, reusable shampoo other bottles and building up of healthcare and school facilities out of their profits for free to masses as compulsory.

However I think there has to be a limit to it and one should live life as they want to and sometimes its fine to follow your heart out by buying things that are expensive and which one desire to have and yes one cant be cost efficient by staying naked, using pigeons instead of mobile phone or eating nothing to help to the cause of starvation. It is good to fulfill your desires as you get life just for once.  As I think there is no point in curbing your desire if you have money in order to save money but  if you’re stingy then it’s something else. One of our relative is famous for their stinginess, my siblings has defamed them of using just one underwear to save cost J

Then, There is a classic joke about memons who are famous for their penurious and stingy ways, they use to get excited after watching porn in reverse as the girl returns the money the excitement used to go to the peak and the motive is achieved. If you know what I mean.