Pakistan, In Descriptive Sentences.

If the first post I was talking about my memories in Pakistan. In this post I would make you to see the country itself. I am gonna tell you mostly about Pakistan-- Lahore, the city I lived most of the time. I do hope it would change a bit your perspectives towards this country in which I love so much!

Lahore is the capital city of Punjab province. Second largest populous city, after Karachi (according to Wikipedia). In fact, when I first in Arsalan's car, when we were going to Badshahi Mosque for the first time, I really shocked because the road is very crowded. He yelled few times when driving, but not cursing. I hate crowd. First thing first, I would like to tell you about the foods in Pakistan. I will only explain one menu which is my favourite ones ._.

Halwa and Poori, source : personal gallery

This photo was taken when in Anarkali Food Street. If you google it, Anarkali is popularly known as the food street in Lahore. Thus, if you come to Lahore and don't know where to eat, you can try to go to Anarkali. The round circle food (sorry I'm not good at describing smth) is called Halwa, and the white foods in the little plate called as Poori. I first tastes this food on my first day near the Badshahi Mosque, with Arsalan and Hannan. I guess they bought me that because in the car I told them I could not eat spicy foods. Well, the Halwa is like Leker? Or martabak? Ah, not really to be honest. But it tastes nothing, its plain. And for the Poori, it tastes really sweet. I like it omg omg omg. So basically when eating this, you crop the Halwa and put it in the Poori so it'll taste sweet. Yum! I recommend you these foods if you like sweet foods. I tried other kind of typical Pakistani foods, but then it tastes weird in my tongue. There is one Pakistani "snack" in the supermarket near Asfand's which also recommended, unfortunately I forgot the name.

Second thing, I don't know why I want to explain about Pakistani fashion. The traditional clothes in Pakistan is known as Shalwar Kalmeez. It's almost like gown, ah no, I mean tunic with special embroidery. If its hand-made embroidery it'll make the price higher. For a suggestion, the famous store for buying shalwar kameez in Pakistan is called as Khaadi. For more models, you can check here.

Shalwar Kameez in Pakistani Wedding, its Amna's btw. source : personal gallery

I love hand-made things, thus I bought several shalwar kameez which were affordable :)) but the best one was not in Khaadi store, I found it when we visited Islamabad Museum. I cannot call it as "Kameez" but it's more like an outer. But its embroidery, very lovely in navy. (why am I making a rhyme?). I think you guys could buy it in Indonesia, name it in Tanah Abang.. but it probably wouldn't as beautiful as in Pakistan, and indeed more expensive.

Move to transportation. Frankly speaking, AIESECers told me to not go outside alone to explore Lahore. But they asked us to explore Lahore, still. I could not explain much about public transportation since I rarely used that except taxi. For explaining transportation, I would let you guys know about Pakistani truck which is so pretty.

Pakistani truck. source : images.google.com

Don't ask, I never tried that hahaha but I saw it in the roads. It has art on it. Does it beautiful? Secondly, there is also a Rickshaw. I'm thinking so hard to write it correctly. Rickshaw is probably the most affordable public transportation in Pakistan and we could find it anywhere. But sometimes the driver put higher price to the foreigners, thus bring at least a local to bargain. Rickshaw is literally a Bajaj in Indonesia. It doesn't have any specific differences with Bajaj basically, only the name different. I once went to Old Lahore with Rickshaw lho! If you want to rent taxi, I'm not sure since I never booked that by myself but it may costs you per hours. If you rent for a day, it'll be more cheaper. I couldn't explain much about Bus, since I was only used bus when I went to Multan. But frankly, I asked the AIESECers first to drive me to the place I want rather than I use public transportation. Public transportation in Pakistan was always my last option. Hehehe..

Speaking of the cultures in Pakistan, I'd love to explain about the wedding cultures in Pakistan. Well, like what is seems Pakistani wedding is really beautiful. The bride and groom are very pretty and handsome. They use a luxury gown to celebrate their wedding, and it's usually much more expensive rather than private party's gown. In the Pakistani wedding, they serve many kind of foods for the people who come to the celebration.Well, if we are talking about the cost they spend for a wedding celebration, its really expensive tbh. They made a very well celebration. And, what's special in Pakistani wedding is...tadaaa DANCE! Of course you guys know about Bollywood cultures to dance. I really love it when they dance in the wedding! <3 hum, and one favourite wedding song during my visit in Pakistan is.. Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna (instrumental ver.), there was also one song in the wedding also used as AIESEC Roll Dance, namely Tunak Tunak. Try listening to them! It should be pictures of Pakistani wedding, let me search.

Not exactly a Pakistani wedding, but EPs in the Pakistani wedding, source : I guess I took it from Asfand's

Frankly, I want to explain about Building in Pakistan but I couldn't !@#%$#^%&*& then I decide to explain about the Point of Interests (POIs) in Lahore. In the previous post I mentioned about Old Lahore and Badshahi Mosque. Well basically, Badshahi Mosque is in the Old Lahore area. Old Lahore is consisting of Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore Fort...and..what else guys? Lol I'm a bit forgot. There are few rooftop restaurants near the Badshahi Mosque, with cozy place (forgot the range price really), with Badshahi Mosque as the background. It really beautiful if you guys visit at night! Minar-e-Pakistan is the sign of the independence of Pakistan. Old Lahore I think is the best cultural places to visit in Lahore. They took me to Old Lahore for four times tho in my second week haha. You also could visit few mosques in Lahore like Wazir Khan Mosque, Tomb of Jahangir, or Lahore Museum. I really want to visit Hiran Minar tbh, the project manager promised me to take me there but yea. It's such a good place. I have attached the picture of Badshahi Mosque in my previous post, please check if you haven't read thank you xx
Do check my facebok album for the complete photos! That album is not open to everyone so please do add me on Facebook and send me a private message because I didn't accept people I don't know.

Lahore Fort, source : images.google.com

In the middle of explaining about Pakistan, I might also should tell you one main problem Pakistan has. Electricity problem :( huhuhuhu the electricity problem in Pakistan was bad, really bad. It got no electricity almost every day. This thus, I always charged my phone whenever the electricity is on no matter I still got almost 100% battery. No electricity leads to no wifi, no internet connection. Unless you already got your simcard, it's a bit okay. You could use your internet data to browsing. Do prepare a power bank or something if you visit Pakistan.

Next, let's talk about Education in Pakistan. I would say that I hosted by AIESEC in the best of the best university in the whole country, called it "AIESEC in Lahore" but mainly took place in Lahore University of Management and Science (LUMS). Most of the AIESECers studying in LUMS. Asfand, Bismah, etcetc are studying in LUMS, my project manager isn't. Although it is called as University of Management and Science, meanwhile there's still a law faculty tho. (I asked because I am a law student:P). This thus, the AIESECers mostly study about Management, Accounting, or else in management scope ugh. Same like in Indonesia, there were also public and private school. But, different with Indonesia which people say that public school is better than private school, conversely in Pakistan, private school is way better than public school. Those the only information I got regarding education in Pakistan... Sorry, still incomplete.

Last but not least, I want to share about the people in Pakistan. They are very lovely and humble! No words can describe how much I thank God to meet people like them. They love me.. hem, unconditionally. I love them anyway by any reason. I'm speaking this pointed to all Pakistanis, which are all lovely.

EPs and Asfand's Family, source : Asfand's again I bet

I recommend you to visit this country! I recommend you personally. This will bring such a new experience for you as a traveller. Well, I have tried to seek for host family in Couchsurfing (as a real traveller), but only some people I think could be your host. But if you want to be a backpacker to Pakistan I guess it'll be possible! You shall at least have a native with you just in case you need anything. I hope this would change a bit your perspectives towards the country. No regrets coming there.

Published on October 10, 2016
When Yogyakarta is raining.