Tip: Get the quantity of “Everyday” in your tea increased to make up for the missing sugar. *giggles*

Title of this post inspired by the lyrics of “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies.

We did miss the “total” eclipse by ‘a country’ but whatever we got was worth having. The sun shadowed by the moon looked absolutely magnificent. It resembled a large cookie out of which somebody had neatly taken a large bite. For those of you who missed out on this event, here is a snap so that they may share in the experience as well. :-)

Solar Eclipse/Sooraj Grehan

I hope all among us who witnessed this cosmic phenomenon protected their eyes as well and saw the eclipse through thick protective screens. I am not sure if it was protection enough but i used an x-ray to view the glorious sun. It was a sight worth seeing. :-)

Pot of Zenia

These might be placed at other places as well but this is where i spotted them. The Zenia clad pots are looking really lovely. Wish to get a bit closer to them to get mug shots of the flowers. :-)

Chaghi Hill Monument

Nope it’s not anyone’s bad eyesight. Nope it’s not the rain either. It is because it was scrubbed clean on May 28, 2009 on Yaum e Takbeer. I forgot to report it but i saw a full water tanker showering water on the monument and few people rubbing & scrubbing it to make it look all pretty. I am glad that they did so. Who knows when will the monument get a chance to take a bath next. :-D

May the women of Pakistan play their role to the fullest in the progress and prosperity of the motherland. Ameen.

For more details on the budget presentation and the budget text itself, please see the following links:

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/business/12-hina-khar-first-woman-to-present-pakistan-budget–bi-11

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Business/14-Jun-2009/Text-of-budget-speech

PS: What actually “was” in the budget is a story for several new posts. ;-)

• Setting foot into the territory of the capital city, Islamabad, is getting more and more tiresome, difficult, annoying, hectic, frustrating, exasperating and much more, with each bomb blast (including attempts) that is caused in the country or the city itself.
• Reaching Islamabad with ease is inversely proportional to the number of blasts taking place in the city.
• To come to the city of serenity, Islamabad, painlessly is now not more than a sweet & serene dream.
• Ways to reach Islamabad easily and quickly and are only fragments of imagination.
• Anyone who boasts of getting inside Islamabad from somewhere out of the city can only be deemed a “Sheikhi Khora”.

Note: I know time of travel is a significant variable but I had to take out my frustration somehow and somewhere. ;-)

That time there was a lot of praise in my mind for the then government and the armed forces who were standing tall in front of the tyrant as a strong protective wall. I knew there were pressures from the bigger intimidating bully (the USA) as well which required dealing with and that filled my heart with even more gratitude for the government and the forces.

I was thinking like a little kid that why can’t we “fight” back and “punch” the bullies. I kept asking this question from myself and always came up with the answer that maybe it is not the appropriate time to retaliate. I did not dare to think even for a second that God forbid we were incapable of replying back. That thought would have been a serious nightmare.

And then in the corridors a little noise was raised. It seemed to be coming from the TV lounge. Everybody in sight or in earshot moved towards the sound. I did too with my lazy steps, thinking that maybe it was some “girly” girl who saw a lizard and was frightened [no offense to the girly girls :-) ]. But when I reached there the scene was quite different.

I heard the news that Pakistan has finally done atomic blasts. And doing so had brought the motherland to the pedestal where 6 other nuclear power nations already stood. I didn’t think of anything else any more after that. I just glided back to my room, feeling extremely light in heart and mind. I could feel the warmth of that feeling all over me. I actually felt proud at a national achievement.

I usually never show much zeal and fervor when the anniversary of this day, known as Yaum e Takbeer, is celebrated. I never go out to any events or chant out patriotic slogans. All I do is remember the day and recall that warm feeling. It lights a little light and makes my heart glow.

That was a day that made us all proud, really proud indeed. May Allah bestow more of such achievements on us, the Pakistani nation.

Pakistan Zindabad! :-)

Food
Wheat, Flour, rice, cooking oil, sugar, lentils, porridge, milk (in powdered form or in sealed tetra/brick packs), potatoes, onions

Water
Cans/bottles of clean drinking water (preferably mineral water)

Clothing
Clothes for Summer and Winter, Socks, Shawls, Shoes

Utensils
Cooking pans, containers, crockery

Bedding
Sheets, Bedding, Blankets

Toiletries and Personal Hygiene Items
Soaps, Tooth pastes, Tooth brushes, Washing powders

Medicines and Medical Items
Bandages, Painkillers, Malaria/Cholera/Diarrhea/Flu medicine (Note: You can contact your local medical centers to get more guidelines on these.)

Apart from this, money can be donated to the aid organisations to enable them to get the basic necessities for our displaced brethren.

Following are some useful links for people of Pakistan who would like to help with their generous donations:

Edhi Foundation: http://www.edhifoundation.com/contact.asp
Al-Khidmat Foundation: http://al-khidmatfoundation.org/donate-here.php
Sarhad Rural Support Programme: http://www.srsp.org.pk/IDP/internally-displaced-people.html
Pakistan Red Crescent Society: http://www.prcs.org.pk/donation.asp

PS: Every little counts, so please help even if you have just one rupee to donate. :-)

Islamabad Stock Exchange Tower

PS: Maybe i will change the course of the “affection” and “adopt” them both. Yuppiee!

You Are Here

Now i am confused that WHERE my location was. “Here”, “there” where? Probably “somewhere”. But does anyone “care”? Yes or no would anybody like to “share”? I must be “beware”, not to make anyone “flare” (up). Thanks you all for your stamina to “bear”. *giggles*