Saturday, March 15, 2008

Ride to the Jahlar Lake

On Sunday March 09, the three of us took this ride to the Jahlar lake in the Soun valley. We were riding my 125 and the friend was on his CD70. The journey began at about 8 o clock in the morning. Our route was Joharabad to Kathwai, Khoora, Nowshera, Surakki and then Jahlar.
Below are some pics with brief info on the journey..

On our way to Kathwai we stopped near the shrine on Dada Golra, thats what you can see in the background.



My friends:


Below is the pic of a historical well built by some king in the past. We couldn't be sure of its exact history:




Some people:-)


Another well we saw by the side of the road, even deeper:


The Mehria Hotel in Nowshera. We took tea here.


Some pics taken on our way from Suraki to Jahlar. I should mention that the trip from Suraki to Jahlar is steep so you have to be careful while doing the corners, while the trip from Jahlar to Suraki can be a tough time for novice riders and weak engines!!




A distant view of the Jahlar lake:




The Jahlar Lake:






A little fun is what such trips are all about..






In the middle of the pic you'll see some small mountains, it was soil mountain actually and gave a brilliant look, the pic does not do justice here:


We found a path to move closer..










We moved down from here and took some pics:






Back to Kathwai, we took lunch from a 'dhaba' here. Below is the pic of Kathwai Sarai, "Kathwai Inn" built in 1866 by the British government:




Parked our bikes under an old tree:


Some pics on our way back:










Thursday, March 13, 2008

The Amb Sharif History Revealed

I visited this historical place a few months back. No one is sure about the definite history of these buildings. You can view the pics and ride story HERE. Well, a person from Norway saw these pics somewhere and sent me an email, the text of which is below:

I saw your pics from the Amb ruins, amazing.
I`m from Gunjial or i would say, my parents are from Gunjial. You surely know that place if you are from Joharabad.

Last time i was in Pak i visited also those ruins and after coming back to Norway, i contacted the archeological institute in Oslo.
I brought some samples from the rock or stone used in those tombs and i also found some shells burried under the mud and ofcourse some pictures.
They concluded that these tombs were only a part of a big complex. And these must be between 2000-2500 years old. they are neither buddhist or hindu religious sites. But maybe could be from the time of zoroastrian influence in the region. This complex could be from the time of Achaemenian Empire. 522 B.C.486 B.C
One theory is that this city or complex were destroyed by Alexander the great when he was on march against Jehlum.
By the way i also noticed that people had digged holes in that area. Some people there told us that people regulary come there for digging and this crime is backed by a local politician or some kind of local wadera of the area named Mian Muneer. Some europeans have also been seen there. they digged beside the road.
If it`s true that these tombs are remainents from Achaemeninan Empire, then they would be one of very very few sites in the world and can put Pakistan on the top of archeological sensations.
I saw that you were advocate or something, then you have a kind of responsibility and you probably know how to handle a such case for protecting and highlighting such a place and it`s importance and further research.
Best regards,
Malik Zeeshan Abdullah.



Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Lahore Bleeds Again!!

We have left behind the year 2007. However, the lawyers’ struggle for restoration of the sacked judges and independent judiciary; the inflation, the suicide attacks and our man on top have made their way into the years 2008. Would I be wrong to say that if we could get rid of one of these evils i.e., the last one, we could possibly get rid of the other three problems?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 two more suicide attacks ruined the day for those who have a heart that feels. Once again our man on top stepped forward with the cliché that the miscreants would strictly be dealt with and once again we’ve been told that security is ‘yet again’ on high alert across the country. If you could see the footage of how the FIA building was attacked after crushing one of the security guards as the terrorist entered the premises after hitting the entrance gate, you would question if the government can take fool-proof security measures to stamp out the suicide bombers.
Late Mard-e-Momin Mard-e-Huq is remembered till day for the gifts he left for the generation to come in the form of drugs, heroin and Kalashnikov. If the history repeats, the future generations would hear the name of the champion of true democracy i.e., our well moderate and well enlightened president. The bloodbath that the nation has had would take some time to dry out. Waiting for the winter of despair to end, let’s see what this spring holds for us!

Also contributed at The Pakistani Spectator

Kashmir Wins Freedom

I wonder why many of us Pakistanis show so much love for the Indians, we’ve done that so many times, haven’t we? I remember the hilarious treatment that our girls gave to Daler Singh, the Indian singer back few years.
The release of Kashmir Singh is one example. On the day of his release our media was covering it like it was the occupied Kashmir that had finally won its freedom. Duh, it was only an Indain spy who won it. Surprisingly, it were only few of his relatives who welcomed him from the other side of the border.
We should also consider the fate that our own people meet in other countries if something goes wrong. An uncle of mine has served with the Navy aviation. Once on his return from Romania after a training visit he was told by the authorities that he had to take along the illegal Pakistani immigrants back to Pakistan. On his query, he was taken to a big container where they were ’stored’. On his assurance they were taken out of the container and let travel home as normal human beings. Back home and they were arrested by the Pakistani authorities. Time to think!