Tuesday, April 21, 2009

I am not sure how many people enjoy their daily routines but sometimes I can't hate anything more. Last weekend, I decided to escape this hell of concrete, heat, noise and insecure phonies whose lives are driven by other insecure phonies. 

So, on Friday evening, I came back from office, packed my stuff and was ready to leave. No planning, no bookings, nothing. And I thought of Murree. I had been to that place just once before and that was during night so all my memories were overcast with darkness. I left home at midnight without telling anybody where I was going. My housemate thought I was going back to home. My parents thought I was in Lahore.

There's this funny thing about going to Murree: you can't be alone. You shouldn't be alone. Either people go in groups, mostly young people and families, or couples. Here's a snippet of conversation I had with bus conductor while ticket checking process...

Conductor: 'Bau Jee tusssi kallay ho?' - Dude (?) are you alone?
Me: 'Haan yaar' - Yes..
Conductor: 'Kisay nou naal leh ana see ;)' - Should have brought someone along ;) (notice the wink)
Me: 'Shayad aglay saal' - Maybe next year.
Conductor: 'hahaha' - hahaha

It was a great trip, the best I ever had. Although I was duly noted, and a few times questioned, for being alone. Only this part was weird and unexpected. I explored different places and wilderness (got a sunburn to prove). Actually I have a time-log with me. Some of it was posted to my Twitter account but all of it was written on diary I had with me. I will post that later.
Got to catch a wink.

Update 1: Here's timeline from my Moleskine...

Friday, April 17

11:03pmLeaving home...

11:34pmLocal bus didn't show up. Taking Rickshaw

Saturday, April 18

12:01amAt bus terminal

12:09amJust bought a ticket to Murree

12:30amBus is ready to leave

2:19amJust stopped at Bhera for some rest and food

5:15amIn Islamabad, G-9 I guess

5:48amA newly-wed couple on seats ahead of me just started a public show of affection. I feel odd

6:32amJust reached Murree. It's colder in here. My ears are blocked

6:44amJust checked into a hotel near GPO. Room 302 (horror). The manager asks why I am alone. Going to sleep

NoonWoke up 10 mins ago. Having a greasy breakfast of Halwa Poori. My pencil is all smeared with grease oil

12:50pmWalking towards Pindi point. Beautiful views and it's chilly

1:14pmMy feet hurt badly. Never wear new shoes on trips

1:29pmWoohoo! On Chairlift for the first time ever. Exhilarating!!!!!

1:35pmTwo boys on a chair passing by ask me if I am enjoying alone. I say yes :)

1:55pmOn the other side and into the wild. If some beast kills me here, nobody would know about that

2:21pmWalking back to hotel. Would take a nap

2:36pmOh wow, school kids running all around

around 7pmJust got up. Want to eat something. And then mandatory wandering on The Mall

7:18pmIt's too early to eat something. I would rather get some coffee

8:55pmAt Usmania restaurant. Waiter asks me if I am waiting for someone or alone

9:20pmJust had a proper meal after 3 days

10:07pmBack at hotel and watching TV

10:51pmOut again for coffee

10:54pmAs cold as it would be in Lahore during January. Should've brought jacket

11:40pmBack

Sunday, April 19

10:20amJust woke up...

11:36amChecking out of hotel. Manager gives me a nice smile. I think he robbed me

11:43amWalking towards Kashmire point, without breakfast. Yeah, let's lose some weight

12:07amAt Kashmir point and looking at snowy mountains; one more 'first ever'

1:36amIn a some kind of rural area down the road. Watching people doing daily chores

1:51pmJust helped a shy couple with couple of photos

2:10pmAt KFC. This KFC is way better than many in Lahore

2:34pmFeeling a bit homesick. I am not going to leave this place until someone asks me to

2:36pmPhone battery is low. Forgot charger home. Argghh!

3:52pmSitting on a bench below The Mall

3:55pm - 5:10pmRead Moby Dick on bench with the greatest view I ever had for reading

5:15pm - 6:15pmWandered on The Mall, there was a lonely cow on road

6:36pmHaving tea at KFC

6:39pmAn offensively beautiful girl who was standing against the glass has gone back. Did you hear a heart crack?

6:48pmDamn, she is back. I am not the stalker type but what the heck? I'm going after her

6:51pmShe is blowing bubbles in the air

6:54pmOh my, she looked at me with unsuspecting eyes

6:59pmFinally got the bench with a great view. It was never vacant. She's moved on. I just preferred a nice view over her

7:09pmI will say goodbye to this place in about two hours

7:18pmAn SUV just passed by. It's reg. number was 111. And it was written with the help of three rifle bullets. To hell with peace

7:36pmGetting cold, just like winters

8:01pmAt bus terminal

8:33pmBus leaves at 9

10:11pmIsloo

Monday, April 20

Around midnightAt Bhera, all empty

3:58amLahoreeeee



Update 2: Some photos from my Crackberry...




 
  • Anonymous zenia said...
    April 21, 2009 at 12:53 AM
    yeh i wana go to muree and natia gali .... only for one last time....

    jst wana visit all those places jst one last time and all by ma self
    no i dont wana anyone to tag along wid me :S

    but i know only this one wish is never gona b fullfilled....
  • Anonymous Dinky Mind said...
    April 21, 2009 at 5:45 PM
    Lol @ this conversation. And lol @ the way you translated 'hahaha' :D
  • Anonymous YWB said...
    April 24, 2009 at 2:10 AM
    do u have a satisfaction now ????
  • Blogger Vaqas said...
    April 24, 2009 at 12:58 PM
    yeah absolutely!! I feel great!!
  • Anonymous Dinky Mind said...
    April 24, 2009 at 1:09 PM
    lol @ the public show of affection. :D Why didn't you put up the details? :P
  • Blogger Vaqas said...
    April 24, 2009 at 2:27 PM
    I already felt like a voyeur, wait, no it wasn't my "fault"
  • Anonymous Dinky Mind said...
    April 30, 2009 at 4:19 PM
    Where art thou?
    Got your phone washed again?

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