It's My LIFE

Happy New Year To All!

2011-12-31T18:56:00.001+05:00

New Year 2012 Cards Pictures Comments - Photobucket

Flowers @ Combined Military Hospital, Lahore

2011-12-19T09:44:00.000+05:00

Last week, I was hospitalized due to "Severe Iron Deficiency Anaemia".While waiting for my blood transfusion,I saw these flowers thru my room's window, Just perfect for Mellow Yellow Monday.

Eid-ul-Adha Greetings 2011

2011-11-07T12:13:00.002+05:00

Eid ul-adha Greetings

More Scraps for Orkut

Longans

2011-07-04T03:39:00.000+05:00

Jamil Fakhri Passed Away

2011-06-10T04:53:00.000+05:00

Famous Pakistani TV/Film/Stage/Radio Actor Jamil Fakhri

MAY ALLAH REST THE DEPARTED SOUL IN ETERNAL PEACE AND ENABLE HIS FAMILY TO BEAR THE LOSS WITH COURAGE AND FORTITUDE.

Gajrela

2011-02-22T17:02:00.001+05:00

INGREDIENTS 2 liters fresh milk 1/2 kg carrots (grated) 2 cups rice (washed and soaked) 2 packets cream 2 cups sugar 1/4 tablespoon cardamom (ground) 2 tablespoons raisins 4 tablespoons almonds (blanched and halved)
PREPARATION
.	Pour milk in a pan. Add carrots and rice. Bring to a boil.
	Keep cooking on medium heat. Stir occasionally until almost half of the milk remains and the carrots and rice are fully cooked.
	Now add the cream and let it cook on low to medium heat until the mixture thickens.
	Add sugar and ground cardamom. Stir and remove from the heat.
	Pour out into a serving dish and garnish with raisins, almonds and cream.

Eid Milad-un-Nabi

2011-02-16T22:56:00.000+05:00

Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is being celebrated today with religious reverence and enthusiasm across the country .

Day of Mourning

2011-01-05T17:34:00.000+05:00

Today is a national day of mourning for the late Punjab Governor Salman Taseer who was assasinated by his own bodyguard Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri yesterday in Islamabad.
Qadri reportedly said he killed Taseer due to the latter's vocal opposition of the blasphemy law in Pakistan. Notably, Taseer made headlines when he appealed for the pardon of a Christian Pakistani woman, Asia Bibi,who had been sentenced to death for blasphemy. It was suspected that this was the main reason for his assassination.

Welcome 2011!

2010-12-31T17:57:00.000+05:00

MyNiceProfile.com

Happy Birthday Liz!

2010-12-25T00:58:00.000+05:00

Birthday greetings to a fellow blogger from Brunei.
imikimi - sharing creativity

Merry Christmas To All!

2010-12-24T21:19:00.000+05:00

Though I stopped celebrating Christmas for the last 11 years, I always miss the spirit and celebration that comes with it.

Christmas Greetings

1st Muharram

2010-12-08T10:30:00.000+05:00

May You REST IN PEACE, ALI AYAZ FAKHRI

2010-12-07T23:36:00.001+05:00

Pakistan ambassador to the United States has confirmed that the son of the famous Pakistani television actor, Jamil Fakhri has been killed in the United States.Sources declared that Fakhri’s son's body was unrecognizable, but his identity was confirmed through DNA testing. The bereaved father said “I don’t know when they are going to hand over my son’s dead body. Ali Ayaz Fakhri went missing in the US around 22 months ago and his father said that the Pakistan Embassy did not cooperate with them to recover his son. Fakhri has named two suspects, Mujeeb Lodhi and Adeel Shah in his son’s case and wants them arrested.Speaking to Daily Times on Monday, December 6, 2010, Jamil Fakhri said that a New York office in charge, Saleem Siddiqui, released news on behalf of Adeel Shah and Mujeeb Lodhi. The news piece reported that a friend of Ali Ayaz Fakhri had claimed that the South Carolina Police had arrested Ali on drunken driving charges and sentenced him to four months. Jamil Fakhri in turn contacted Saleem Siddiqui about the sources.“Saleem told me that he received the information on a telephone call. He was reluctant to give the telephone number of the caller. Later, he got confused and mistakenly uttered the name of Mujeeb. I asked him about Mujeeb and he said that he has gone to Pakistan. I told him that Mujeeb could not come to Pakistan as he has some criminal record. At this he asked me to call him later as he did not have the phone number of Mujeeb, but neither person called me or attended my calls,” Fakhri said.In March 2009, Jamil Fakhri was informed via phone call that his son was arrested by the South Carolina police. Jamil Fakhri said, “I contacted New York police who contacted Carolina police who denied the arrest of a man named Ali Fakhri. They also tried to trace the telephone call which I received but informed me that it was a disposable phone and the call could not be traced.”.He believed that Mujeeb and Adeel were involved in the case and they should be arrested.

Updated December 16, 2010: The coffin carrying the dead body arrived at the airport last night through a PIA flight. The funeral prayers of Ali Ayaz was held at Ravi Ground today at 10:00 a.m..

Please Help Us Find Ali Ayaz Fakhri

2010-12-04T23:53:00.002+05:00

Missing: Ali Ayaz Fakhri

Legendary actor Jamil Fakhri pleads for any information about his missing son who disappeared in New York, USA in Feb. 2009.

To my regular blog readers, the photo above looks familiar to you, because I posted photos of him in my previous post about wedding traditions of Pakistan.He is the father-in-law of our niece who got married a month ago.The wedding was supposed to be in April but was postponed because his eldest son was missing in USA.Jamil Fakhri is one of the legend of Pakistan and recipient of various awards including pride of performance by the President of Pakistan. He spent 38 years of his life to serve the people of Pakistan and Pakistan Television. Legendary Actor Jamil Fakhri perform as ”Jafar Hussain” for PTV Super Hit TV Drama “Andera Ujala“. The video is in Pakistani language , here's the translation:
“I m very tired, I don’t know who to plead, I really don’t know who will tell me about my son” Jamil Fakhri said while talking in a famous TV program Hasb-e-Hall.
He said that his elder son Ali Ayaz Fakhri was reported missing since February 2009 from New York and It’s still a secret as to what happened to him also there are no official word by any USA agency so far.
The actor said that everyone seems to be heartless even the people who once loved him and his work now don’t even recognize his voice.
“I don’t want to die like pleading about my son” he said also added that is there any one who could ask those people who know about his son but are not telling any thing.
Jamil Fakhri also complained in the interview about the careless attitude of Pakistani foreign office who is saying from the very first day that “do what ever you can do , ask whoever you want to ask but at the end you have to beg us (Pakistani foreign office in US) about the whereabouts of your son.
Please help us by signing the petition and do visit also the Facebook page.Thanks.

Walima

2010-12-01T09:59:00.000+05:00

Walima is the final day of the wedding held by couple as they host their first dinner as husband and wife. The groom's family invites all of the bride's family and their guests to their home for a feast at their home or a marriage hall. The walima is typically the most festive event of the wedding ceremony and intends to publicize the marriage.The bride wears a heavily decorated dress with gold jewelry provided by the groom's family. Typical colour palettes are green or pastel shades. The groom normally wear a formal Western suit or tuxedo.

My first entry for:

Rukhsati

2010-11-28T01:44:00.003+05:00

Rukhsati takes place, when the groom and his family leave together with the bride. The Qur'an is normally held over the brides head as she walks from the stage to the exit in order to bless her. This is a somber occasion for the bride's parents as it marks the departure of their daughter from their home. The departure of the bride becomes a very emotional scene as she says farewell to the home of her parents and siblings to start a new married life.

Roses

2010-11-27T18:08:00.004+05:00

Doodh Pilai

2010-11-22T21:37:00.001+05:00

Doodh Pilai is a ceremony which is prevalent in many Pakistani weddings. On the actual wedding day, the sisters and cousins of the bride will bring milk for the groom. After he drinks the milk, he is supposed to present his new sisters- in -law with money and gifts.

Linking to Ruby Tuesday. Visit Mary Tomaselli's site for more photos with Red.

Barat

2010-11-21T23:37:00.003+05:00

The barat or grooms procession indicates the arrival of the groom's family and friends to the bride's house. The barat is often accompanied by the rhythms of a dhol (drum) as it arrives and is greeted with flowers and rose petals by the bride's family. The bride traditionally wears a red,pink or purple gharara, lehenga or shalwar kameez which is heavily emroidered.However, other bright colors may also be worn. The dress is always accompanied with heavy gold jewelery. The groom may wear a traditional dress such as sherwani with a sehra or turban .
A dinner is served which consists of one rice dish, one salan(viand) and one sweet dish as any more than this amount is banned in Pakistan nowadays.

Today is Eid-Ul-Adha!

2010-11-17T22:56:00.000+05:00

Eid-ul-Adha or Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated at the end of Hajj, which is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The ‘Festival of Sacrifice’ is followed by a ‘Feast of Sacrifice’, which pays homage to Prophet Abraham’s unselfish act of sacrificing his son, Ishmael, to God. In turn, God spared the boy’s life and instead substituted a sheep. In remembrance, people sacrifice a lamb, goat, or other animal and give the meat to family, friends, relatives, and most especially to the poor.

Tael-Mehndi

2010-11-09T23:37:00.002+05:00

Mehndi or the Rasm-e-henna ceremony, takes place one or two days prior to the main wedding day. The event is traditionally held separately for the bride and the groom.The henna is symbolically placed on the couple's hands. The groom's friends and family bring along sweets and henna for the bride, and the bride's family does the same for the groom. On the bride's ceremony, the groom normally does not participate and similarly, on the groom's event the bride stays at home.

Traditionally, since there were separate functions for the bride and the groom, the groom's function was called 'Tael' (oil) where female guests apply oil into the groom's hair.Ceremonies are now held simultaneously for both the groom and the bride, the use of the term 'tael' has diminished greatly. In some cases, the entire ceremony is instead referred to as "Tael Mehndi" (Oil and Henna) ceremony.The bride normally wears a green dress or yellow for the Henna celebration and uses only light, or mostly without make-up. The groom typically wear a casual Shalwar Qameez. The bride and/or the groom are brought forward in the ceremony under a decorative dupatta by their close relatives. In the bridal ceremony, a certain number of married women who are closely related to the bride apply henna to her hands, and feed her sweets. This ritual is supposed to bring good luck and longevity to the bride's married life. Similarly, on the groom's side, oil is applied to his head and sweets are fed to the groom.

Tray containing "tael"(oil), "mehndi"(henna) & "methai"(sweets)

The groom accompanied by his father, Pakistani TV actor Jamil Fakhari.

The bride brought forward by close relatives.

The groom and bride

Me, preparing to apply "mehndi" during the ceremony

My entry for this week's Ruby Tuesday.

Wedding in the Family

2010-11-05T00:24:00.002+05:00

For the next 4 days, a wedding will be celebrated in our family.It is a tradition here that the bride's family string hundreds of colored lights over and around their home, creating an ostentatious announcement of their daughter's forthcoming marriage.I'm sharing a photo of how our house looks like everynight for next 4 days .

Eid Greetings

2010-09-10T20:51:00.000+05:00

Peace be upon you all and may everyone have a happy and blessed Eid!

Remembering Princess Diana on her 13th Death Anniversary

2010-08-31T22:42:00.000+05:00

(photo credits

It's been thirteen years since Princess Diana passed away, but the princess continues to rein people's hearts and stir media's attention even today.On August 31, 1997, the Princess of Wales died in a car crash. The charming princess, who was a descendant of King Charles II of England, was believed to have died trying to elude the paparazzi, when the black Mercedes Benz crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the road tunnel.The princess who is survived by two sons, William and Harry, is remembered not only as a humanitarian but was also the most influential style icon of her time. Before Dodi Al Fayed, Diana have a Pakistani lover, Dr. Hasnat Khan.She even visited Pakistan few times.For more of the old news, read here, here & here.

A Horror Story Every Woman Must Read

2010-08-16T03:13:00.000+05:00

How could a human being - let alone a husband - disfigure a person in this way? It happened to Zahida Parveen, and it happens to thousands of other female victims of "honor violence" each year in Pakistan.Read here for more of the story.

"Palak Gosht" (Spinach + Meat)

2010-08-15T22:00:00.002+05:00

Ingredients

1/2 Kg. mutton
1 Kg. Spinach
1-1½ tsp. salt (according to taste)
¼ tsp. turmeric (Haldi) powder
1 tsp. chili (Lal Mirch) powder
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp. ginger (Adrak) paste
½ tsp. garlic (Lehsan) paste
2 tomatoes-finely chopped
8 whole black pepper (Kali Mirch)
3-4 cloves (Laung)
2 black cardamom (Bari Ilaichi)
¼ tsp. cumin seeds (Zeera)
3-4 green chilies
1 inch ginger (Adrak)–sliced
2 tbs. corn or wheat flour
1 tbs. dry fenugreek (Methi) leaves

Instructions

Steam/blanch the spinach and grind.
Fry the onion in the oil till brown. Mix all the ingredients together and add to the pot and stir till the tomato has become soft and the water has dried.
Add the meat and cook again to let the water dry. Add 3-4 glasses of water cover and leave to tenderize.
When meat is almost done add ground spinach,dry fenugreek leaves and flour. Cook till water dries.
Garnish with fresh chopped green chilies.
Serve with chapati or plain rice.

Pakistan Independence Day

2010-08-14T16:29:00.000+05:00

12 Things To Avoid During Ramadan by Dr. Zakir Naik

2010-08-13T01:42:00.012+05:00

1. Don't sleep during the day and pray all night. By doing this you areconverting the day into night and the night into day, which is not the
purpose of fasting.

2. Avoid being lazy and inactive during the day.

3. Don't waste time playing games during the day. Rather, please Allah by increasing in your worship of Him..

4. Avoid having Iftar parties. Ramadan wasn't meant to be a food extravaganza.

5. Don't ask your wife to spend Ramadan in the Kitchen. Eat something light and quick.

6. Spend the last 10 days worshipping Allah rather than trying to prepare for Eid! A day that is better than a thousand months is in these last 10 days. You can't afford to miss this.

7. Don't stay awake the full night. Your body has a right over you, and when it wants rest, then rest.

8. Avoid excessive socialising after Taraweeh

9. Avoid shopping a lot in Ramadan.

10. Don't eat the full night.

11. Don't loiter around at night rather than worshipping Allah.

12. Eid does not require loads of preparation. Don't fall into this trap! Keep it simple, and it will be blessed.

Ramadan (Ramadhan/Ramazan)

2010-08-12T01:49:00.000+05:00

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar year which is celebrated from beginning to end as holy. In fact, many regard it as the holiest time of the Muslim year. The principle outward characteristic of Ramadan is that Muslims are expected to fast all day, every day. Traditionally the times of fast are marked as whenever a white thread can be distinguished from a black thread. Once those threads can no longer told apart, eating is permitted.

Fasting during Ramadan is considered one of the Five Pillars, meaning it is one of the five most basic beliefs/acts which a Muslim has to do. However, it's not accurate to say that everyone simply goes without food or water - there are quite a few rules which apply to it. For one thing, a Muslim must consciously formulate the intention to fast as part of a rite. This is to prevent fasting from becoming an empty symbol which people don't give much thought to. The full formulation reads: "to fast tomorrow to acquit my duty towards God of fasting Ramadan this year."
EXEMPTIONS:There are all sorts of ways in which a person can be legitimately be exempted from fasting:

Young Children

People in poor health

Pregnant women

Nursing women

Menstruating women

Travelers, if the distance traveled is great

If one feeds thirty poor people each day

The status of children is actually mixed. The youngest are not expected to fast, but as they get older they gradually begin fasting for more and more of the day until they are able to go the entire day without food or water without endangering one's health.

Although travelers and menstruating women can be exempted from fasting, they are nevertheless expected to make up the same number of missed days some time later in the year after Ramadan. Thus, they fast the same number of days as everyone else, but not at the same time.

Feeding thirty poor people each day is a technical excuse for avoiding the fast which everyone must observe, but it is rare for a rich person to actually use this exemption. It would be looked up very, very badly by the rest of the community and the rich person would probably lose much too much respect for it to be worthwhile.

FORBIDDEN:
There are also a number of things which would not otherwise qualify as food, but which are also prohibited:

Putting drops in the eyes

Saliva leaving the mouth and then reentering

Listening to music

Harsh words/arguments

The theological reason for abstaining from food, water and other things is to better learn the nature of personal limitation. It is believed that knowledge cannot be acquired unless a person can first learn his or her limits - then, and only then, can the true nature of something become evident. Muslims also believe that fasting during Ramadan allows them to purify themselves through a kind of sacrifice.

Because the Muslim calendar is lunar rather than solar, the month of Ramadan moves through the year. Thus, sometimes if falls during the winter when the days are shorter and fasting is easier but other times it falls during the summer when the days are longer and fasting is more difficult.

After the sun sets, Muslims break their fast first with a small meal and then, often, a larger meal later on in the evening. It is also common for Muslims to take a meal early in the morning before dawn, a meal known as suhur. There are musicians and others who volunteer to walk through town to wake people for this early meal.

SPECIAL DAYS:
There are a number of special days during the month of Ramadan which are considered special. They are:

Battle of Badr: This was a key battle in the year 625 CE and which occurred on the 17th of Ramadan

Retaking of Mecca: On the 19th of Ramadan in the year 630 CE it is believed that Muhammad manage to return and retake the city of Mecca from his opponents.

Deaths: A number of important deaths occurred during the month of Ramadan: Muhammad's first wife, Khadija (10th) and both Ali and the eight Shiite Imam, Ali Reza (21st).

Births: A number of important births also occurred during the month of Ramadan: Hussein (6th), who was later martyred and Ali (22nd).

Laylat al-Qadr: This literally means "the night of power," and is celebrated on one of the last ten days during the month of Ramadan, but always on an odd numbered day. Tradition holds that on this night, the prayers of a sincere and devout Muslim are sure to be answered because it is believed to be the night when the Quran was first revealed to Muhammad. Many Muslims also believe that, on this night, the tree of Paradise is shaken and the names of all those who will die in the coming year can be found on the fallen leaves.

Eid al Fitr: On this day a large feast is celebrated on the breaking of the fast of Ramadan, and is held on the first day of Shawwal, right after the month of Ramadan. Also called "Eid," on this day many elaborate dishes are served at banquet-like gatherings. Additionally, houses are decorated and gifts are exchanged.

ORIGINS:
It is possible that the obligation to fast during Ramadan comes from early injunction to fast on Ashura, the 10th day of the month of Muharram, which may have once been identical with the Jewish observance of the Day of Atonement. This obligation, however, was ended by the command to fast during Ramadan instead in the Quran verse 2:184.

The derivation of the name Ramadan is in some dispute. Many believe that it comes from the Arabic ramad, which means scorching, and is thus a reference to the idea that the fast "scorches" away human sins. Others argue that is simply means "high summer" and has no reference to the act of fasting. During pre-Islamic times the month of Ramadan was already widely celebrated as a month when Arabic tribes observed a truce from all hostilities.

Fasting Starts Tomorrow

2010-08-11T17:29:00.000+05:00

Brutal Women Abuses in Pakistan

2010-08-06T02:31:00.008+05:00

If you are a follower of my blog, I've posted several videos before about violence against Pakistani women.Here's another video I found in YouTube.

3 Million Affected by Floods

2010-08-04T00:58:00.000+05:00

Monsoon this year is certainly not a blessing for Pakistan. While it has been considered an occasion for jubilation and joy and of the atypical summer rains, the recent spell that has procured a disastrous flood all across the nation is definitely not what Pakistanis were looking forward to.The worst floods in memory in Pakistan have affected more than 3 million people so far and the death toll has climbed over 1,400.

152 Perished

2010-07-28T18:34:00.000+05:00

Airbus A321

I spent my whole day watching TV, waiting...if there are any survivors of the plane crash this morning in Margalla Hills, Islamabad.90 charred bodies were recovered so far.152 are confirmed dead(146 passengers & 6 crewmembers).For more of the news, read here.

Shab-e-Barat

2010-07-27T21:22:00.002+05:00

"Shab-e-Barat" is considered the night of reverence and fervour and will be observed across the country with great religious zeal tonight. Muslims would offer special nightlong prayers to seek forgiveness for their sins and Allah Almighty’s blessing on this occasion to achieve success in the world and hereafter.On the occasion of ‘Shab-e-Barat’, Muslims believe, Allah Almighty showers infinite mercy and blessing upon human beings.According to Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa, “Allah Almighty opens the doors of Mercy and Grace for the mankind, the door remains open throughout the night till the ‘Fajr’ prayers in which He exonerates those seeking forgiveness.” Faithful would gather at mosques after ‘Isha’ and offer night- long special prayers, while different gatherings and ‘Mahafil-e-Naat’ would be arranged to mark this holy night. Houses, streets and especially mosques are decorated with colourful pennants and buntings whereas at night these were well illuminated by means of electric lights, candles or even oil lamps.

photo by Raja Islam

Working Donkeys

2010-07-24T18:38:00.002+05:00

carrying sacks of rice

carrying crates of mangoes

This is my third entry about Donkeys in Camera Critters.I admire these strong & small creatures which have been oppressed since ages.I see them everywhere, struggling terribly with carts that are way beyond their strength.

Pornistan?

2010-07-22T03:26:00.001+05:00

Pakistan has banned content on more than a dozen websites because of offensive and blasphemous material. This Muslim country, which has laws on dress codes, has banned Facebook and Youtube before.So here's the irony: Google ranks Pakistan #1 in the world in searches for pornographic terms, outranking every other country in the world in searches per person for certain sex related content.For more of the story, peep here.

Badshahi Mosque

2010-07-12T18:06:00.000+05:00

The Badshahi Mosque or The Emperor's Mosque was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore, Pakistan. It is one of the city's best known landmarks and a major tourist attraction epitomising the beauty and grandeur of the Mughal era.
Capable of accommodating over 55,000 worshippers, Badshahi is the second largest mosque in Pakistan, after the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. The design of the Badshahi Masjid is closely related to the Jama Masjid in Delhi, India, which was built in 1648 by Aurangzeb's father, Emperor Shah Jahan.
Though it is just a 5-minute walk from our house, I haven't visited the Mosque.

Shab-e-Mairaj

2010-07-09T15:46:00.000+05:00

The Shab-e-Mairaj-un-Nabi or the Night of Ascent would be observed tonight.Muslims every year on the 27th of Rajab (Lunar calendar) observe the Shab-e-Miraj in which the Holy Prophet (PBUH) went on a special journey to meet Allah Almighty, crossing seven skies on the heavenly animal named ‘al-Buraq’.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) continued his heavenly tour until he reached very close to the Throne of Allah Almighty and attained the utmost nearness to Him. After having drunk fully at the Divine fountain of spiritual knowledge, He came down to impart the knowledge to mankind.On that Night of Ascent, Allah Almighty also gave the order of the five daily Salat (Prayers) as being mandatory upon the Muslims.Faithful would gather at mosques after Isha to offer special prayers that would continue till Fajr prayers, while different gatherings and Mahafil-e-Naat are being arranged to mark the holy night.Ulema and religious scholars in their sermons would highlight the teachings and various aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).The houses, streets and specially mosques are decorated with colorful pennants and buntings whereas at night these are well illuminated by means of electric lights, candles or even oil lamps.People visit graves of their loved ones, seeking Allah Almighty’s blessings for the departed souls.

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Donkey Carts

2010-06-13T07:07:00.000+05:00

My entry for this weeks Camera Critters Meme.

Recognition Day

2010-06-08T15:55:00.000+05:00

Yesterday was the Annual Prize Distribution of my sons' school.I'm very happy since my three sons made it to the Top 10 in their respective classes.My youngest son is the top(1st) student in his class.The eldest got 3rd position, while the middle one, got an encouragement award for being the 4th placer.

Chicken Biryani

2010-06-03T10:41:00.000+05:00

A friend given me this small pot of Chicken Biryani yesterday.I love the taste so I asked for the recipe.She given me the recipe this morning...Here it is.Try it!
Ingredients:
2 cups basmati rice
1 1/2 lbs chicken pieces
1/2 cup milk
1 cup yogurt
3 thinly sliced onions
1 teaspoon ginger paste
1 teaspoon garlic paste
1 teaspoon green chili paste
1/2 cup tomato puree
2 teaspoons red chili powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 teaspoons roasted cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
1 pinch saffron
1 teaspoon coriander powder
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
salt
7 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:
Mix tomato puree, yogurt, ginger, garlic, green chili paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, roasted cumin powder, garam masala, coriander powder and salt. Stir well.
Marinate the chicken with this mixture and keep aside for this mixture and keep aside for 3 to 4 hours.
Heat oil in a pan. Fry the onions until golden brown. The golden brown onions are a very very important step in Pakistani cooking. Do not make it less than golden brown. This is why you need the extra oil.
Add the marinated chicken and cook for 10 minutes.
Add 4 cups of water to the rice. Mix Saffron in milk and add it. Add the chicken pieces. Pressure cook the rice.
Mix gently. Garnish with green coriander leaves and serve hot

Pakistanis Create MillatFacebook

2010-05-28T09:36:00.000+05:00

Pakistanis outraged with Facebook over "blasphemous" caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed have created a spin-off networking site that they dream can connect the world's 1.6 billion Muslims.A group of six young IT professionals from Lahore, the cultural and entertainment capital of Pakistan, launched www.millatfacebook.com on Tuesday for Muslims to interact online and protest against blasphemy.Millatfacebook is Pakistan's very own, first social networking site. A site for Muslims by Muslims where sweet people of other religions are also welcome," the website tells people interested in signing up. Dubbed MFB, after Facebook's moniker FB, its founder says professionals are working around the clock to offer features similar to those pioneered by the wildly popular California-based prototype.
Each member has a "wall" for friends to comment on. The site offers email, photo, video, chat and discussion board facilities.
The Urdu word "Millat" is used by Muslims to refer to their nation. The website claims to have attracted 4,300 members in the last three days - mostly English-speaking Pakistanis in their 20s.

The number of aficionados may be growing, but the community is a drop in the ocean of the 2.5 million Facebook fans in Pakistan and there have been some scathing early reviews of the start-up.

YOUTUBE Banned in Pakistan

2010-05-21T11:01:00.000+05:00

‘YouTube’ is banned after some sacrilegious caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were transferred from Facebook to YouTube. For more of the news, read here.
The ban, which also included certain pages on Flickr and Wikipedia sites, occurred a day after access to Facebook was suspended on orders from a Pakistani court. A group of Islamic lawyers won that injunction, arguing that a contest, started by users for drawings of the Prophet Muhammad and called “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day,” was offensive. Depiction of Muhammad is considered blasphemous by some Muslims.

Facebook Banned in Pakistan

2010-05-20T00:30:00.001+05:00

A Pakistani court today banned the use of Facebook in Pakistan until May 31. The ban came after Facebook posted a page "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" to be held on Thursday.

Sketches of Prophet Muhammad are considered an act of blasphemy by Muslims and this Facebook page has already incurred criticisms from several Muslims. Pakistan's Law Minister Babar Awan said that "this issue will be raised on all international forums."
The fallout has already begun in Pakistan, where in the port city of Karachi protestors have taken to streets protesting the Facebook announcement.For more of the news, peep here.

Image Credits: Aamir Qureshi & Mohsin Raza

Pakistan Street Food: Takatak/Kat-a-Kat

2010-05-06T23:41:00.000+05:00

It is originally called " tawa gurda kapoora" which means kidneys and testicles in a large frying pan. To avoid the embarrassment of associating such words with food, most of us now call it Takatak. It refers to the sound made by the skillful chef while frying these organs and hitting the pan with two sharp slicers in a captivating rythm. He keeps slicing and frying them until the testicles, kidneys, heart & brain become a mixture of meat and thick masala curry. You can make your pick and choose which parts to include in your serving.

Bullock Cart

2010-05-01T18:00:00.001+05:00

A bullock cart or ox cart is a two-wheeled vehicle pulled by oxen (draught cattle). It is a means of transportation used since ancient times in many parts of the world. They are still used today where modern vehicles are too expensive or the infrastructure does not favor them.

Sisterhood Award

2010-05-01T02:53:00.000+05:00

Thank You Vernz and Timami for making my blogging experience fun and exciting.

The rules are:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award

I'm passing this award to these wonderful bloggers:
Len, Fat Lady, Khim, Juliet, Marai, Jhownie, Lina, Anney, Risma and Loveleng.

Sohan Halwa or Sohan Halva

2010-04-25T18:28:00.000+05:00

Sohan Halwa or Sohan Halva is a traditional northern Indian and Pakistani sweet.

It is made by boiling a mixture of water, sugar, milk and cornflour until it becomes solid. Saffron is used for flavoring. Ghee is used to prevent it from sticking to the pan. Almonds, pistachios and cardamom seeds are added. Unlike most other halwa dishes in the subcontinent, it is solid.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups Corn Flour
Almonds
Pistachios
Cardamom Seeds
1 tsp. Saffron
3 cups Sugar
1 cup Whole Milk
2 cups Clarified Butter (Ghee)
Flat Tray (greased)
Method:

Heat 3 cups of water in a heavy based pot. Add in sugar and boil for 10 minutes. Add 1 cup of milk and boil for another 5 minutes and strain.
Dissolve the cornflour in 1 cup of water. Add this to the previous mixture. Dissolve saffron in a little bit of water, and add to the cornflour mixture. Cook over low heat. When the cornflour mixture starts becoming thick, start adding in the oil a little by little. Continue adding the oil slowly to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Continuously stir while it is cooking.
When the mixture starts separating and begins lump formation, add the almonds, pistachois and cardamom seeds and mix.
Have your pre-greased tray ready, and spread the sohan halwa mixture on it. Flatten mixture by pressing.
Garnish with almonds and pistacchios. Let it cool then cut into square pieces and serve.

Tonga, Horse-drawn Carriage

2010-04-24T16:37:00.000+05:00

Confined to the back streets of Lahore, the tongas are increasingly the vehicles of the poor for whom motor-powered transportation is a luxury.

Longan

2010-04-19T00:42:00.001+05:00

Closely allied to the lychee, the longan has been referred to as the 'little brother of the lychee'. Longan is slightly smaller than lychee, and with a dull brown skin which is smoother than that of the lychee. The fruit taste is similar, and the value of longan on the market is due to the fact that its season follows that of the lychee, extending the period when this type of fruit is available. According to the esteemed scholar, Prof. G. Weidman Groff, the longan is less important to the Chinese as an edible fruit, more widely used than the lychee in Oriental medicine.

The fruit grows in drooping clusters. Fruit is globose, 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter, with thin, brittle, yellow-brown to light reddish-brown rind. The flesh is whitish, translucent, somewhat musky, sweet, but not as sweet as that of the lychee and with less "bouquet". The seed is round, jet-black, shining, with a circular white spot at the base, giving it the aspect of an eye.

Health Benefits of Longan

- Longan is used as remedy for stomach ache, insomnia, amnesia, and dropsy.

- The fruit is said to invigorate the heart and spleen, nourish the blood and have a calming effect on the nervous system.

- A spoonful of longan tonic made of equal quantities of longan flesh and sugar simmered in water till it is reduced to a syrup consistency is recommended twice a day.

- A decoction of the dried flesh is taken as a tonic and treatment for insomnia and neurasthenic neurosis.

- In Vietnam, the "eye" of the longan seed is pressed against snakebite in the belief that it will absorb the venom.

- The seeds are administered to counteract heavy sweating, the pulverized kernel, which contains saponin, tannin and fat, serves as a styptic (substance that draws together or constricts body tissues and is effective in stopping the flow of blood or other secretions). (Source)

"Reyri" ( Donkey & Cart)

2010-04-17T18:02:00.000+05:00

Donkey is an animal which has been opressed by humans since ages. Today, in third world countries, donkey still has the same fate, busy in work at all times.The Donkey carts are a major part of bazaars and roads in Pakistan .

A flower & a Bee

2010-04-12T05:05:00.001+05:00

To join or to view more entries, go to Drowsey Monkey's site.

"Murder"

2010-04-10T18:56:00.000+05:00

A group of crows is called a "murder", though this term usually appears in poetry or similar literature rather than ordinary usage.Happy CC Day everyone!

Hot...Hot...Summer

2010-04-08T01:04:00.000+05:00

As temperatures continue to rise, the number of people coming to hospitals and clinics has increased due to the rapidly increasing temperatures. The situation is compounded by hours of power outage.The main victims of the hot weather and load shedding are mostly children and the elderly who are contracting various diseases due to the extreme weather and lack of sleep at night. On the other hand, students are not able to prepare for their exams and doctors are unable to carry out operations and surgeries due to constant power cuts. Domestic as well industrial and commercial life has been brought to a standstill, the whole situation is aggravated by the non-availability of water.This is unfair...we have 16 hours of loadshedding today, while in Army Housing Areas, they don't suffer at all.My mother-in-law has left for Rawalpindi because she can't stand the heat , at least there...no power outage in my brother-in-law's residence...Hmmmm.....This is just one of the situation where I can say..IF YOU ARE IN THE ARMY....you have too much benefits and privileges especially if you are an officer.

The Angels Montessori

2010-04-05T11:39:00.000+05:00

This is where my kids are enrolled.It is an English-medium school. Click to join or to see more entries this week.Happy Mellow Yellow Monday everyone.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T07:30:00.000+05:00

Easter Graphic Comments

The Camel

2010-04-03T15:49:00.001+05:00

Camels have lived in some of the most desolate corners of our planet, and not only do they live, they thrive. Most large animals are unable to survive in these kinds of desolate places. This is because of their large requirement for resources such as food and water. Camels are able to use this to their advantage as a survival strategy. By living in deserts, mountains, and other arid places Camels are able to avoid predators, and others who would compete for resources. Camels are only able to do this because of their amazing ability to efficiently use the resources their environments provide. A camel can travel long distances which allow them to take advantage of the maximum number of resources. They can withstand a massive amount of dehydration which allow them to survive not only between watering holes, but sometimes between seasons. When at a watering hole camels are able to gorge themselves and rehydrate quickly. For food, camels are omnivorous. They can eat almost anything be it vegetation, meat, or bone,-- salty or sweet, a camels stomach knows no limits. But it is their temperament that is truly endeared the camel to man. Docile and sweet under a caring hand, but stubborn and angry if ill treated, the camel both wins your heart and your
respect.(Copied from:http://fohn.net/ )

My entry for Camera Critters second anniversary and Ruby Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Timami!

2010-04-02T00:31:00.000+05:00

To all my blogger friends, help me make Timami's birthday memorable.Please visit her site and greet her.She's the youngest blogger, I've met, an Indonesian staying in Islamabad.

April Fools Day

2010-04-01T23:21:00.001+05:00

Today is April Fools Day so be on your toes and mentally alert for unforeseen pranks, practical jokes and
other forms of mischief. According to Wikipedia, April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is a day celebrated in various countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, such as the UK, Australia, and South Africa the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool". Elsewhere, such as in France, Ireland, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Russia, The Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, and the U.S., the jokes last all day. The earliest recorded association between April 1 and
foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392).

Just like other festivals that Pakistanis have adopted from the West like Valentines Day and New Year’s Night, the tradition of April Fool is also popular among the youngsters.

Crossborder Wedding-- Shoaib Malik & Sania Mirza

2010-03-31T02:22:00.001+05:00

Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik and India's tennis star Sania Mirza plan to wed in a unique union bridging the two nations' bitter sporting and political divide. The marriage, comes two months after Mirza broke off her engagement to a childhood friend. The tennis player became an instant nationwide celebrity as an 18-year-old when she became the first female Indian to win a WTA Tour title in 2005. Malik, who hails from Sialkot in Pakistan's Punjab province, has played 29 Tests, 190 one-day internationals and 30 Twenty20 matches since his debut in 2001.In a bizarre twist in 2002, he was accused by the family of another Hyderabad girl, Ayesha Siddiqui, of marrying her over the telephone. The cricketer denied it, but did admit to being engaged. In keeping with the tradition of big, fat Indian and Pakistani weddings, before the actual reception, members of both families will visit each other and both parties have already applied and perhaps even got the visas.Mirza and Malik will marry in April and live in Dubai

Strawberries

2010-03-29T23:35:00.000+05:00

Strawberries facts and trivia:

Berries on a straw? There is a legend that strawberries were named in the nineteenth-century by English children who picked the fruit, strung them on grass straws and sold them as "Straws of berries". Another theory is the name was derived from the nineteenth-century practice (ands still today, although most farms use raised beds, enclosed in plastic) of placing straw around the growing berry plants to protect the ripening fruit.

Fragrant - The strawberry belongs to the genus Fragraria in the rose family, along with apples and plums. The name of the scientific classification was derived from the Old Latin word for fragrant. The modern Italian word for strawberry is still "Fragola".

Very berry or not? The strawberry is not classified by botanists as a true berry. True berries, such as blueberries and cranberries have seeds inside. The strawberry, however has its dry, yellow "seeds" on the outside (each of which is actually considered a separate fruit).

Native American Indians called strawberries "heart-seed berries" and pounded them into their traditional corn-meal bread. Discovering the great taste of the Native Americans bread, colonists decided to create their own version, which became an American favorite that we all know and love .. Strawberry Shortcake.

Ornamental value - The English and French also found strawberries used the beautiful heart-shaped berries to landscape their gardens. In fourteenth-century France, Charles V ordered twelve hundred strawberry plants to be grown in the Royal Gardens of the Louvre.

Lovely berries - Strawberries have long been associated with love and flirtation. At wedding breakfasts in provincial France, newlyweds traditionally were served a soup of thinned sour cream, strawberries, borage and powdered sugar.

Seedy characters - On the average, there are 200 tiny seeds in every strawberry. If all the strawberries produced in California this year were laid berry to berry, they'd wrap around the world 15 times. That's enough strawberries to provide every U.S. household with 12 pint baskets.

Are you weird? Respondents to a recent national survey labeled strawberry lovers as "health conscious, fun loving, intelligent and happy." Non-strawberry lovers, on the other hand, were described as "weird, boring, stuffy--picky, fussy eaters who avoid healthy foods."
source: http://www.pickyourown.org/

My entry for : Ruby Tuesday

The Yellow Rose

2010-03-29T00:05:00.000+05:00

A yellow rose symbolizes friendship and caring. It's the perfect innocent gift to give to a friend or give to a loved one when you simply want to say "I care". When given to a friend it also means "I'm happy with our friendship." To see more yellows, click

Earth Hour in Lahore

2010-03-28T16:45:00.001+05:00

Yesterday's Earth Hour went largely unnoticed due to lack of awareness amongst the public.Earth Hour serves as a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights at 8:30pm (local time) and joined together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

However, the phenomenon of blackouts is something the people of Pakistan are only too accustomed with. The increasing load shedding has already made lives miserable before even the arrival of the summers. Consequently, the majority of people – those who had power supply at 8:30pm did not pay heed to the global call and kept their lights turned on. In our area, lights were off from 8:00pm to 12 midnight because of power outage.We only have 14 hours of electricity yesterday. Citizens of Pakistan in their remarks said that they were facing "more than 15 hours as earth hours daily" therefore it did not suit them to celebrate it.They urged the government to solve the issue of electricity shortage and only then the event should be celebrated.

Sharing to you a joke on Earth Hour:
When asked about the Earth Hour celebrations, a commuter at Kalma Chowk said, “Observing the Earth Hour is a pass time of the privileged and those who do not have any worries in their lives. I have barely had 6 hours of power supply during the last 24 hours and the concept of switching off lights is a joke in the country’s present circumstances.

Cows for Sale

2010-03-27T00:20:00.002+05:00

I took these photos while we were "hunting" for sacrificial animals last Eid-ul-Adha.This is my first entry for Camera Critters.

To view more critters or to join this photo meme, just click on the badge.

Mela Chiraghan

2010-03-27T00:10:00.001+05:00

It's a public holiday here in Lahore today because it's the start of the Festival of Lights. Mela Chiraghan or Mela Shalamar ("Festival of Lights") is a three day annual festival to mark the urs (death anniversary) of the Punjabi Sufi poet and saint Shah Hussain. It takes place at the shrine of Shah Hussain in Baghbanpura, on the outskirts of Lahore, adjacent to the Shalimar Gardens. The festival used to take place in the Shalimar Gardens also, until President Ayub Khan ordered against it in 1958.The festival used to be the largest festival in the Punjab, but now comes second to Basant. The festival, now not as popular as it once was, used to be called the Punjab Cultural Fair. It began with a celebration of Hussain's birth, and included the seasonal Baisakhi festival, which marks the beginning of the cutting of the wheat crop. The rest of the festival was celebrated at Shalimar Gardens. The third and final day was reserved for women only, as it still is. In 1958, President Ayub Khan ordered that the mela would no longer be celebrated at Shalimar Gardens. There used to be horses bought and sold at the mela, till the British Raj decided to separate this part of the festivities into the Horse and Cattle Show. The road leading to the tomb of Sufi poet Shah Hussain in Baghbanpura is being decorated, while the tomb itself is being cleaned and some areas are being whitewashed. Nowadays, the festival is marked with the burning of candles in memory of Shah Hussain. There will also be drum beating and several dhamaals and qawalis and the most favourite part of the festival is the scene when the whole tomb lit up by the hundreds of thousands of lit-candles carried by people.

Burned Christian Dies

2010-03-24T02:43:00.001+05:00

For refusing to convert to Islam, Arshed Masih was burned alive and his wife was raped. For more of the news, go here and here.

Pakistan Day

2010-03-22T18:39:00.010+05:00

Pakistan, meaning “the Land of the Pure” in Urdu, celebrates Pakistan Day (known as Yom-e-Pakistan) to commemorate the Pakistan Resolution on March 23, 1940, which demanded the creation of a Muslim state in India.

Pakistan Day is celebrated with various events in private and public offices. During the day, schools hold activities focused on spreading knowledge about the Pakistan Resolution.

To all Pakistanis, HAPPY PAKISTAN DAY!

(Image Credit)

Spring Flowers

2010-03-22T05:00:00.001+05:00

Quick Update

2010-03-21T08:39:00.000+05:00

How's everyone?I hope all of you are enjoying the weekend as much as I'm enjoying mine.I wasn't able to update my blog for more than a week because I was very busy spring cleaning, sorting out clothes, completing my sons' requirements for visa application for our planned trip to Philippines in June and our shifting to either Malaysia or Thailand, after our Philippine trip.Life here in Pakistan is too dangerous nowadays especially Lahore was attacked again by terrorists last week.Twin bombings that killed almost 50 and wounded a hundred innocent people.Such a waste of precious life.The kids are only staying at home, aside from going to school. I hired a tuition teacher who comes in the evening.Home tuition fees are doubled but what's most important is my kids safety.Load shedding or power outage is becoming worst each day.Sometimes, for 3 hours straight,we don't have electricity.We only have 14-16 hours of electricity daily and it's not even summer yet..And no electricity means no water, since we are using electric water pumps to suck water from the main pipes or else we don't have water at all.Though we have a large water tank, it's not enough considering the fact that we are staying in a joint family system with 16 family members.Luckily, our niece's wedding date was rescheduled on October because the groom's brother is reported missing in the USA.Shopping for the wedding should start now, as I have to prepare 4 sets of clothes with matching jewelries and shoes.Four sets of clothings and shoes for my sons too and for hubby, if he will attend the occasion.Just thinking of the expenses gives me headache.I'm afraid to go to bazaars and markets since bombers also attacked one market last December.A lot of women perished in that incident since Moon Market is a popular shopping place for shoes and jewelries especially during the wedding season. We are invited to a neighbour's wedding tonight but I decided not to attend due to my "phobia for suicide bombers", if there's a specific term for this kind of phobia, please let me know.....hahahaha. Anyhow, I want to extend my thanks to everyone who keeps visiting my site and dropped ECs during my absence.

Zarda - Pakistani Sweet Rice

2010-03-12T08:51:00.001+05:00

This plate of zarda was given by our neighbour.For recipe , peep here.

Mellow Yellow Monday

2010-03-08T23:08:00.000+05:00

Here's my Mellow Yellow entry for this week, multicolored flowers.For more yellows, just click on the badge.

Sunshine Award

2010-03-06T22:15:00.004+05:00

Thanks to Mommy Kero of The Pink Zest and Kero's Celebration.

The rules are :

1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post;

2. Pass the award onto 12 bloggers;

3. Link the nominees within your post;

4. Let the nominees know they have won the award by commenting on their blog;

5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

I'm passing this award to: Sterndal Susi,Jhari, Arlene, Tess, Shabi, Riza, MinnieRunner, Faye,Jane, Jenny and Vanessa

Helping Pakistan's Acid Attack Victims

2010-03-06T10:00:00.001+05:00

Scores of women in Pakistan are severely disfigured by acid attacks every year.Pakistan's Acid Survivors Foundation recorded 48 cases last year and countless others are likely to have gone unreported.Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher reports from Lahore on how one woman is helping the victims to rebuild their lives.

Latest Honor Killing:How A Deleted Cellphone Video Led To Murder

2010-03-05T18:31:00.002+05:00

WARNING: Videos that you shoot on cellphone and then delete - may remain in memory. It’s similar to data stored on computer's hard disk, if deleted – is recoverable through a software.

A teenage girl in 10th grade fell in love.Her boyfriend made a film of her (if you get my meaning of film) on his camera phone.He deleted it,but it was still in the phone camera's memory when he passed his phone to his friend, who posted that film in the internet. Now as expected the film spread like fire as in many small towns, so did the word.Now this incident would’ve gone ignored if it wasn’t for a so called "journalist", who saw this film and posted about it in his newspaper,while another local newspaper of that small town also did the same.
The girl was an orphan raised by her mother's elder brother.For 4 days he tolerated the mockery and shame but on the 5th, he murdered his niece.

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee

2010-03-05T08:59:00.001+05:00

I was cleaning my "Inbox" today and found this nice story.I thought of sharing this with you before finally deleting it.
A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

May we all be COFFEE!!!!!! !

Be Blessed and be a blessing to everyone!

Another Award

2010-03-02T03:11:00.001+05:00

I love awards.
It makes me happy.
Loveleng ,Jon JOn Rosaleen and Jenny,thanks a lot for this.

The rules are:
1. Thank & link the person that gave you the award.
2. Pass this award onto 15 bloggers you’ve recently discovered and think are fantastic.
3. Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won.
4. State 7 things about yourself.

7 things about me:

1. I am 41 years old.

2. I'm a shy person.

3. I love chocolates and flowers.

4. Aside from Tagalog and English, I can speak Bahasa Melayu and learning to speak Urdu at the moment.

5. I'm collecting cookbooks from different countries.(So if you have any country's cookbook, send me and I'll send you one too.)

6. I am not happy staying here in Pakistan.

7. I'm hoping I can visit Philippines this summer.

I'm passing this award to these beautiful bloggers
Jeni Aurora
Liz
Sreisaat
Vienna
Narti
Jhownie
Lina
Fe
juliet
Anna
Emie
Shaine
Vhing
Umi

Sunset

2010-03-01T11:59:00.001+05:00

It's Monday once again, time for my favourite meme hosted by Drowsey Monkey.For this week, i'm sharing photos taken yesterday, from our rooftop.

To join, click on the badge.

Eid Milad-un-Nabi

2010-02-28T02:12:00.002+05:00

Yesterday, 12 Rabiulawal, was Prophet Muhammad's birthday.As usual, Lahoris were in festive mood..Mosques,important buildings, houses and streets were decorated with lights, banners and buntings.Children built clay models of the Makkah mountains where the Holy Prophet (SAW) was bestowed with prophethood.It was a public holiday.

Travelling Fish Salesman

2010-02-27T15:21:00.000+05:00

One of the many things I love about Pakistanis is their ingenuity.Who would ever thought of selling live fishes on plastic bags on a bicycle?We use to see these fishes in aquariums in petshops.I'm going to post more photos about the things they manage to sell or transport using bicycles or donkey cart so stay tune... Have a great weekend everyone1

An "Extraordinary" Rape Victim

2010-02-16T13:56:00.005+05:00

Pakistani rape victims often commit suicide, but Ms. Mukhtaran Bibi, who is also known as Mukhtar Mai, instead successfully challenged her attackers in court, winning international fame for her bravery. She runs several schools, an ambulance service and a women’s aid group in her village and has written an autobiography.For more of her story, peep here and here.

What Makes Me Happy

2010-02-15T22:35:00.007+05:00

I'm honored that Vernz, of in this side of town, Anything Davao and Some Things Are Free,
gave me this Happy Badge.All I need to do is list down 10 things that make me happy, sounds easy, huh!
My Husband & My Sons
Sundays
Chocolates
Spring, I hate winter!
Internet
Friends
Travel
Shoes
Good Food
Your comments

And I’m passing this badge of happiness to:

JENNY of the way I use to be
IMELDA of My Daily Business
KHIM of Man & Food
LINA of Rurumahku
MARY ANN of Stairway

"One & Only"

2010-02-15T21:52:00.006+05:00

I'm happy to see that the roses in our garden start blooming, though it's still winter.
As you can see, a lot of pink and red roses ......and a single yellow rose.Just perfect for my entry for today's meme hosted by Drowsey Monkey.For more yellows, just click on the badge.

Valentine Tag

2010-02-14T03:10:00.005+05:00

I was tagged by Jenny , a Filipina who lives in Sweden.Thank you very much my friend for including me.

Here are some simple mechanics:
1. Post this tag in your blog (multiple blogs allowed) with these mechanics.
2. Don’t forget to use the widget above linking to the site.
3. Post a photo of anything that has the color red.
4. Include also a saying or quote related to LOVE or the LOVE MONTH.
5. Tag as many as you can and instruct them to get back to Arlene's site to leave their url if they have joined.

Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile.-Elizabeth Browning

I'm tagging Vernz, Josie, Marai, Jhari,
Jane,Emie, Juliet, Anna,Hannah and all of you who are interested, please feel free to grab this...after all it's Valentines Day today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T00:01:00.000+05:00

Sharing to you some FAMOUS LOVE QUOTES:

"The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost." -- G. K. Chesterton

"Love is shown in your deeds, not in your words." -- Fr. Jerome Cummings

"Where there is love there is life." -- Gandhi

"We look forward to the time when the power to love of will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace." -- William Gladstone

"The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved." -- Victor Hugo

"To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage." -- Lao Tzu

"Absence diminishes small loves and increases great ones, as the wind blows out the candle and blows up the bonfire." -- François de La Rouchefoucauld

"Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that." -- Michael Leunig

"The heart has reasons that reason cannot know." -- Pascal

"To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best." -- William M. Thackeray

"We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh." -- Agnes Repplier

"And when the future hinges on the next words that are said, don't let logic interfere, believe your heart instead." -- Philip Robison

" 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all." -- Alfred, Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam, 1850

"Love without reason lasts the longest." -- Unknown

"Better never to have met you in my dream than to wake and reach for hands that are not there." -- Otomo No Yakamochi

"Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies."
-John Donne

"He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals."
-Benjamin Franklin

"I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love."
-Henry Ward Beecher

"Woe to the man whose heart has not learned while young to hope, to love - and to put its trust in life."
-Joseph Conrad

"True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen."
-La Rochefoucauld

"Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?"
-Christopher Marlowe

"Tell me whom you love and I will tell you who you are."
-Houssaye

"We perceive when love begins and when it declines by our embarrassment when alone together."
-La Bruyere

"Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all."
-St. Augustine

"To love another person is to see the face of God."
-Les Miserables

"Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition."
-Alexander Smith

"When we are in love we often doubt that which we most believe."
-La Rochefoucauld

"Sympathy constitutes friendship; but in love there is a sort of antipathy, or opposing passion. Each strives to be the other, and both together make up one whole."
-Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship - never."
-Charles Caleb Colton

"The richest love is that which submits to the arbitration of time."
-Lawrence Durrell

"There is no disguise which can hide love for long where it exists, or simulate it where it does not."
-La Rochefoucauld

"A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love."
-Stendhal

"There is no remedy for love but to love more."
-Thoreau

"Love cures people - both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it."
-Dr. Karl Menninger

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."
-Mother Theresa

Happy LOVE Day everyone!

Feeding the Crows

2010-02-08T10:37:00.008+05:00

Our leftovers are usually fed to animals.We don't simply throw it in the garbage bin.

Rainy Monday

2010-02-08T10:03:00.003+05:00

I am happy that the dry cold spell come to an end.Have a great week ahead everyone!

(Photo source)

Kashmir Day

2010-02-05T00:01:00.000+05:00

Today is a national holiday here because it's Kashmir Day.“Kashmir Day” is celebrated every year on the 5th of February by Pakistanis and Kashmiris all over the world to show solidarity with the freedom fighters, demanding their legitimate right of self-determination from India.Cradled in the lap of majestic mountains of the Himalayas, Kashmir is the most beautiful place on earth. On visiting the Valley of Kashmir, Jehangir, one of the Mughal emperors, exclaimed: "If there is paradise anywhere on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here."

(Photos from the WEB)

Christian 12-year old Maid, Raped and Killed by Muslim Attorney

2010-02-04T21:38:00.006+05:00

For more of the news, read here.

Pakistan Origin Card (POC)

2010-02-03T21:44:00.003+05:00

I just renewed my POC for another seven years.Above is my new POC.
Eligibility:

All foreigners of Pakistan origin and their family members.

Fee for POC:

Bank Draft of US$ 100 (US Dollars One Hundred) in favour of NADRA - Islamabad for the issue of card to a person who has attained the age of eighteen years.
Bank Draft of US$ 50 (US Dollars Fifty) in favour of NADRA - Islamabad for the issuance of card to a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years.
Validity of POC

Validity of Pakistan Origin Card is seven year. A card may be renewed upon expiry of validity, subject to the applicant being still eligible.
Form of Card:

POC is printed in the English language with a Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) for its worldwide acceptability and functionality
Cards shall also bear the wording that "the holder of this card is entitled to visa-free entry into Pakistan but not to Pakistani citizenship"

Benefits to POC-holders:

Following benefits have been extended to the cardholders during the validity of their POCs, namely:

Visa-free entry into Pakistan
Indefinite stay
Exemption from police registration/reporting as a foreigner
Right to purchase and dispose of property within Pakistan
Right to open and operate in a bank account
Right to use POC for establishing and proving his\her identity anywhere in Pakistan wherever a National Identity Card (NIC) is required for such proof
NADRA has been empowered to arrange further benefits for the cardholders in association with the public and private sector
POC necessary for certain purposes

A card holder shall, at the time of entry into, or exit from, Pakistan present his\her POC before the Pakistani immigration authorities and at any counters established or maintained by NADRA for recording into, or exit from, Pakistan of such card holder.

Net Cafe Scandal

2010-01-22T02:24:00.005+05:00

When I came to Pakistan in 2002,this was the hottest news at that time. Someone set up an internet cafe in Rawalpindi.He built small cabins, placed computers , put a screen door with locks on the inside, installed lights in the ceiling and hidden in the lights, installed cameras. Young men and women started to patronize the establishment. They came alone or as couples, went into the cabins and viewed porn websites on the computers. The owners of the establishment recorded these activities and would later show the movies to the couples and blackmail them for dirty deeds. A CD was compiled and send to Dubai where it sold for $100,000. Copies were made and sold in UK, USA, Europe and finally, made their way back home. In the beginning, these CDs were sold for five thousand rupees in Lahore A gang got hold of the CD and tracked down 25 families of those involved They delivered the CDs to those houses. This caused an instant chaos. Three of the girls in the scandal committed suicide. One was killed by her father. Two were divorced . While the boys ran away from their houses. Some of the young men involved belonged to very prominent families of Rawalpindi. These families fell prey to blankmailing from the gang, millions in rupees were paid so that the distribution of the CDs would be stopped but who can stop it when it's aready widely distributed.A few days ago,a friend told me that somebody created a website and uploaded the videos.I just hope this will be blocked by the government to prevent more trouble for those involved.

Glass Bangles

2010-01-18T22:00:00.004+05:00

Bangles are a decorative ornament that women across Pakistan have been wearing for centuries. In fact, the bangles have a great socio-cultural-religious significance in Pakistan history and culture. This is because literature has glorified this ornament to make it the epitome of feminine grace.

To join this wonderful meme, visit Mary T. site.

Ticket Booth

2010-01-18T10:31:00.007+05:00

Seen this ticket booth at a fun fare in Iqbal Park.Since I'm a big fan of Disney cartoon characters, I've taken a pic of it and showed it to my kids.Waaaa....now, they kept asking me to go to the park and take a ferris wheel ride.I promised them, when the weather changes, then we will go.Who would enjoy a ride in this chilly weather???

For more yellows, visit Drowsey Monkey's site.

The Neem Tree

2010-01-17T16:27:00.003+05:00

This tree has been in front of our house since I came here.People keep coming and asking for its leaves, bark and fruits.I decided to find out about its medicinal properties and here it is....

· Skin condition – Neem is considered as one of the best herb that is extremely beneficial in treating skin related problems. It is a herb that works as a powerful anti-microbial and anti bacterial agent that is very effective in treating any kind of infection that invades in the body. It helps in purifying blood. It is also responsible for increasing the circulation of the blood thereby supplying oxygen and nutrients to each and every part of the body. It is also effective in beautifying the skin and makes it soft and glowing.

· Teeth and gums – Since prehistoric times neem has been used extensively as an agent that is very helpful in treating mouth related problems. It is a powerful agent that is really very effective in treating problems like gonorrhea, tooth yellowing, bleeding gums, and smell from mouth and taste less ness. It is also helpful in reducing the infection in oral cavities and also avoids formation of dental caries in the tooth. It is also helpful in avoiding tastelessness condition of the tongue and is also helpful in treating mouth ulcers.

· Diabetes – Diabetes is one of the most common of all diseases that occurs in the body. Neem has potential to treat diabetes. Due to its bitter taste neem works best in reducing the glucose level in the boy. It is also responsible for stimulating the pancreas for secretion of insulin that is very essential protein in glucose metabolism.

· Infections – Neem is the best herbal supplement that has the power to suppress most of the infections that might creep in our body because of some reasons. Neem is loaded with anti-microbial properties that make it to suppress any microbial attack. It is also very helpful in fading away the condition of protozoal invasion. Its powerful antidotes are secreted to nullify the effect of toxins secreted by the microbes. It is also very effective in treating the skin related problems and is also applied locally as an antiseptic nature. It has certain properties that help in early healing of wounds.

· Urinary tract problems – Neem is commonly used in problems related to urinary tract. It helps in neutralizing any infectious condition in the urinary tract and also tones up the tract for proper functioning. Neem is also seen effective in preventing the calculi formation in the body. It also acts as diuretic agent therefore helps in flushing out of the toxins that gets accumulated in the body.(Source)

My First Award for 2010

2010-01-13T18:08:00.004+05:00

Thanks to Vernz of in this side of town and Anything Davao.

Aside from posting this award, I am also required to list down 7 things that most people probably don't know about me.

1. My real name is Amy. Amina (pronounced as Am-na) is my Muslim name.
2. I love to eat yoghurt with sugar and crushed ice.By the way, I make my own yoghurt.
3. I love watching Hindi Films.I'm a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan.
4. I was cheated by an illegal recruiter and left stranded in a hotel for 45 days in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Our group was supposed to go to South Korea.Luckily, it was amnesty period for illegals that time so I was able to find a job in a recruitment agency and was issued a work permit.
5. I'm collecting stamps, a hobby which started when I was in Grade 2.
6. I am away from my parents and siblings from the last 13 years.
7. Lastly, I'm staying in a "joint family system"(that's the tradition here) with 2 other families and my parents-in-law. Since my husband is working in Dubai.It's not safe here to stay with children alone.
I'm passing this award to 7 bloggers whom I find Kreativ:Lina, Mary Ann, Khim,Shaine, Anna, Jenny and
Jettro.

Electricity Load Shedding

2010-01-06T22:40:00.004+05:00

Photo source
Rolling blackouts was supposed to end in 2009, as promised by the government.From 7:00 am till 5:00 pm today,we don't have electricity.The worst thing is it was a foggy day so it was dark. Luckily air conditioners and electric fans are not needed now because its winter.But power outage is back with a vengeance. What is life without power for six hours - now eight hours daily or more.What is most annoying is, there's no schedule for the outage.There is another very unjust aspect of electricity load shedding. There is no or less electricity load shedding in officer’s colonies or in posh areas.There must be equal time of electricity load shedding for every part of Lahore.I wish this will end, as we suffered too much last summer...can you imagine, every other hour, we don't have electricity.

Ruby Tuesday #1- 2010

2010-01-05T18:46:00.006+05:00

Hi everyone!It's Tuesday again,time for one of my favorite memes hosted by Mary T..Due to the bombings here which happened almost daily in different cities, security checks are everywhere.This photo was taken this morning while I was taking a walk around Minar-e Pakistan in Iqbal Park.A policeman was checking the passports of two Afghans.

My First Mellow Yellow for 2010

2010-01-04T00:15:00.008+05:00

Happy MellowYellow New Year!Here's my first post for 2010.For more yellows, go to Drowsey Monkey's site.

Gajar Ka Halwa

2010-01-03T23:16:00.004+05:00

I and my sisters-in-law are busy cooking this sweet dish today.Just imagine, we peel and grated 10 kilos of carrots.The reason:We are going to send to our niece Quratul-Ain's parents-in-law to be.She is engaged and will be married on April, to the youngest son of a famous stage and tv drama actor.It is one of the traditions here to send sweets to the boy's house, to whom your daughter will be married.Here's the recipe, if ever anybody is interested.

Ingredients:
1 kg carrots grated
1 cup sugar
5-6 green cardamom (Chhoti Ilaichi) seeds
½ cup ghee
khoya (Ricotta cheese)
1 tablespoon Kewra essence
dry fruits (pistachio, almond, raisins)
5-6 tablespoons powder milk

Procedure:
Grate the carrots and put them in a pot on low heat along with the ilaichi seeds.
When they become soft and water dries add sugar and again leave for the water to dry. Then add oil, khoya, dry fruit and milk and dry the water on high heat.

When done add kewra before removing from heat.Can be served hot or cold.

2009:Bloodiest Year For Pakistan

2010-01-03T03:24:00.004+05:00

(photo source)

Year 2009 has proved to be the bloodiest one for the people of Pakistan since this country joined hands with United States of America in the war on terror as the unending spate of lethal suicide bombings killed 1,217 innocent people and injured 2,305 others in 80 bloody attacks carried out by human bombs in the 12 months of 2009.

Thanks Mr. G!

2010-01-01T16:42:00.006+05:00

What an unexpected gift for the New Year!My page rank is back.Thanks to Mr. G and to all my friends here in blogosphere.Hoping for more surprises this 2010.