Pakistan oh Pakistan! My Eid Holiday's Experience

I went to Gujrat Pakistan to spend my Eid holiday there, I am sharing a few of my stories here, hope you like them.

On the day that I flew to Pakistan, I was cleared easily through the Malaysian Immigration. Then rode the Aerotrain Express to the waiting lounge of Malindo Air till I was called to enter the flight. The flight journey was convenient and then the flight landed at Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore on time. My first impression of Pakistan was the old bus ride to the main terminal. I have the feeling that I am going back to the past from here on in terms of public facilities and I was correct.

Scary Road Experience

There were many things that I learned there, especially culturally. Adapting to this foreign culture is not that difficult if it will only be for temporary affairs, but honestly, I am not so sure whether I can adapt to it if it is for a longer period. I was especially concerned when on the road, the honks were non-stops, so noisy and there were these emergency breaks. They (drivers) practically did it on purpose not because they need to break, it's their normal driving style. They also swerved left and right. Due to the Eid holiday, the traffic was super jammed but that was okay with me as traffic jam was always bad in Kuala Lumpur as well. What did catch my attention was vehicles were driven in all ways! Means, vehicles were coming from all directions including from opposite directions?! I cannot understand how was it possible? The journey from Lahore to Gujrat took us more than 5-hours because of that. I was so annoyed throughout my journey when in the car and was very much concern about my safety. I was told it was the driving culture there, it was really a culture shock for me. In Malaysia, I rarely listen to honks, except when the situation arises, otherwise, it's a quiet driving experience. Driving into opposite direction means asking to be sent to jail.

Where were the helmets?

Another shock was seeing bikers without wearing helmets. I was really worried when seeing them, the helmets are meant for safety, not just to cover their heads while riding motorbikes. Another was seeing the numbers of passengers, it can go up to 5 passengers on one motorbike as I have seen them, and all without helmets. I did not see any traffic police on the road, I wonder about the lack of law enforcement on the road. In Malaysia, there are many roadblocks by the road authority (JPJ), normal police and police traffic to check on your driving license, road tax and whether drivers are under influence of alcohols/drugs, etc. which means that the law enforcers will always be seen on the road 24 hours a day. Helmets must be worn whenever riding motorbikes and maximum person allowed on a motorbike are 2 persons.

Non-Automated Toll Plaza

The toll plazas were not automated, there were some workers to pull the gate manually up and down for the vehicle to pass through after paying the toll fees. And there were sellers at those toll plazas, they brought their items to cars that were queuing to pay the toll fees. And also some beggars that knocked on car windows. In Malaysia, toll plazas are fully automated and they are restricted areas, sellers or beggars will definitely be caught by the police.

A Roadside Restaurant Security Guard with a machine gun

On the way home, we stopped to buy mango shake and it was so refreshing and tasty. Then I saw this guy holding a gun. He was practically guarding the restaurant that was located on a roadside and I can see that he also sometimes assisted as a parking attendant. We asked him to pose and he was happily posing for us, thanks Bro! In Malaysia, guns are rarely to be seen by the public. It was meant only for police, army, bank security guard and goldsmith security guard and never for any restaurant. It made me wonder why so that he needs to stand there with a machine gun? In Malaysia, it was very wrong to show a gun in a public. It will make the public lodge a complaint with the authority to object to such behavior.

Again No Electricity!!?? Sigh

The electricity supply is a big issue in Pakistan. It's very annoying to experience a constant no electricity supply daily several times in a day for a few hours. There was not a day that the electricity was not cut-off. I wonder why such things happened? The people of Pakistan have lots of patience in dealing with this problem. And especially during summer where the weather is too much hot, without electricity means living in a Sauna environment for hours. I salute them for tolerating with this issue and living in this type of lack of facilities infrastructures. In Malaysia, the electricity will either got cut off during a thunderstorm or due to the bills not paid, otherwise, there will always be electricity all year round.

Fresh Fruits and Good Food

My experience otherwise was very nice. The fruits were fresh and the food was tasty. I especially loved the Chaunsa mangoes, Honey Dews, Falsa Juice, Golgappas, Butter Paratha and Chicken Briyani, just to name a few of my favorites. And of course who can forget that Pakistani Chai (tea) made from fresh milk, my favorite drink throughout my stay.

Family is Everything

The Family bonding is super and they really have this strong love for each other, that's a fact that I have observed in this community. The restaurant staff were much alert and have a big respect when a family enters a restaurant. Few partitions that have some sort of rollers will be pulled immediately to cover the family that was seated in an area, a sign of respect for a family privacy when they have women around them.

Last Day in Pakistan

Going out to Malaysia at the Allama Iqbal Airport, I got a little bit of shock when I was checking into the airport, the Airport Narcotic Police asked me to open my luggage and took out everything from inside my luggage. In my heart, "There goes my properly arranged luggage." I was told that it was their routine procedure. And then the rest of the journey was quite smooth and enjoyable.

Let's have a look at my observations of the community and lifestyle in Pakistan.

1. Bikers can ride motorbikes with more than 1 pillion rider without helmets.

Oh look at him! he's posing for me vroom vroom lol :D

2. A woman must sit on a motorbike side way like this, otherwise, it will be considered as weird.

I tried to sit on the motorbike this way and felt so unsafe as if I was going to fall off the bike. I then decided to sit normally although being lectured by my hubby. In my mind, "My Safety First."

3. Auto Rickshaw is one of the most important public transportation.

I wanted to ride and experience this vehicle but was not allowed to do so due to safety and so I obliged.

4. Auto Rickshaws also serve as goods transporters.

5. Lorries and Buses were colorful and some have hanging decors.

6. A Colorful Lorry.

7. A loaded lorry with people sitting at the back on top of those goods.

It seems to me that they were really enjoying their ride.

8. A Food Seller at a toll plaza.

In Malaysia, toll plazas are restricted areas, sellers or beggars will definitely be caught by the police.

9. Customers buying Golgappas (A type of dish) from a hawker - Night view.

I was told that this seller is the most famous Golgappa seller in the Jallalpur Jattan town. I have to agree with this statement, the imli water was super tasty. Yummy!

10. A Security Guard standing outside a restaurant with a machine gun.

It made me wonder why so that he needs to stand there with a machine gun? In Malaysia, it was very wrong to show a gun in a public. It will make the public lodge a complaint with the authority.

11. A mosque.

12. A bird structure.

13. A plane structure.

14. A woman is to be properly covered for going out in public.

A picture of me getting ready to go out. There's too much dust outside, so this cover was fine with me.

15. Mehndi Art is normally drawn on hands and feet on Eid celebration.

Got my hand drawn by my niece Faiqa, loving it.

16. Houses are built with high walls, no windows to look over the roadside, front or back.

Street in front of houses is very narrow and can only allow 1 car at a time.

17. Houses normally have rooftops.

We played in the rain on the rooftop during a strong wind, that's an awesome experience that I have done there

18. Beautiful accessories that I bought in a choorian shop in Jallalpur Jattan town.

These are my favorites, I have given some of them away as souvenirs to my office colleagues.

19. A 5000 PKR Rupees

I have never even seen 500 Malaysian Ringgit in my whole life, the largest denomination is MYR100, but in Pakistan amazingly I was able to hold a 5000 Pakistan Rupees, this photo was taken before I parted with it in the choorian shop at Jalalpur Jattan town :D

---

That's all for now, hope you like my Pakistan story.

Wishing you a pleasant day!

---

Take care and Stay Blessed!

Yours truly,