Faced with disasters

Going down the road
There seems to be a glimmer of hope
Is it already too late?
Or is this a test of our integrity?
Integrity..or lack therein
Has seen the rise and fall of nations
Why did our values sink?
Where did we go wrong?
Did we inherit it when we were born
Or did our leaders start it all?
Was it a conspiracy
Or did the vicious circle of poverty prove to be too strong?
Can natural and artificial disasters shake our faith?
Can the possibility of unity, faith and discipline be trashed?
Are we moving towards a point where we stand tall
Or are we falling from grace every second that goes on?
I pray, dear fellow citizens, that our country lives long!

If I had my life to live over again

"If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of a very few things I would take seriously. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers and watch more sunsets. I would do more walking and looking. I would eat more ice cream and fewer beans. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones. . . . Oh, I've had my moments; and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. . . ."

unknown

memories, sweet memories

In general, 2006 was one of the best and most fulfilling years of my life. I worked, I achieved, I discovered, I uncovered, I broke some rules, I stuck to some principles, I travelled. During the year I was loved, I was touched, I was disappointed, I was surprised and I was teased. All in all 2006 was a year that put my life into perspective, gave it a new meaning, and gave me a lot of inspiration.

Here I am folks, finally have a new entry in my blog. Hopefully this is the rebirth of my web-life. The idea of my first re-entry is not very original but I really like the idea of putting all the important events of the year in images. Going through these images, in particular, brings back strong memories (which was the criteria for choosing them).

Remembering the old times, when someone used to smile at me in class. I remember how bright and breezy it was. I even remember the looks on her face, her hands on her chin while she tilted her head and faced towards me to let me know that she’s glad that I’m there. She would get a smile back each time of course. Times have changed, so have I. I wonder where she is now, would she still remember smiling at me from the other end of the class? Too bad I didn’t get to know her too well, just remember teasing her on her name (mean, isn't it).

Stopping to think for a while, manufacturing silence in the mind. It’s an art, it’s magic. How can we not realize that hours have passed while sitting in the same place? It’s quite obvious that we don’t remain in the same place, but we travel, in time and in space. Does travelling imply physical displacement? Hardly.

Eyes become brighter, as they see things that are not in front of us, but in a different world. The mind goes deeper and deeper into the spiral of thoughts. There is colour, characters, faces, objects, emotions, words, voices and aspirations. I never realized how thoughts are so multi-dimensional. Holding on to thoughts and memories can be a daunting task. I must say I’m quite obsessed with the idea of preserving good memories in a small refrigerator where they would never expire. Unfortunately they do disappear.

The following posts are the pictures of the Pakistani Cultural Night that was organised on the 8th of August at the datcha, Geneva. We had guests from geneva and lausanne and it was absolutely great. Since I'm new to the bloggers' world, I didn't realize that I can put all the images in one post, oh well, and on top of that the posts had to in the reverse order so that *this* post goes on top.

I'll get there.

The organising committee! Pascale and Lena, and of course me..we managed to organise to a *great* PCN! I must say that i really appreciate your friendship. From the first day when I told you that the food in Pakistan is ALWAYS spicy, to the last time before you left, making videos of 'barbie' at molard while i tested your counting skills in urdu ;) you're absolutely wonderful! I'm still waiting for your first reactions after the arrival in Pakistan..and of course i can't wait to join you in karachi!

Sarah and Rima 'taking a bite'

If I didn't get a chance to say it yet..thanks all of you for coming!

the pakistani dance..i'm proud of you girls ;)

the beautiful OC

When everything seems to be going wrong, the tunnel just doesn’t seem to end. It goes on and on until you feel the darkness blinding you. Hope, dignity, faith, love, everything seems to fade away. Till the time the thought crosses your mind ‘am I going in the right direction?’ even if this road is heading where I desire, is this my destination?

All that I had hoped for. My dreams, as if someone is pulling them out of my soul. Leaving me even more lifeless. The door gives way to sunshine. A ray, then the light starts pouring in. I had seen it coming. I know I did. Ah, I wish I were still alive!