Jeremy’s Little Corner Of The Web…

Taming the North

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on June 22, 2009

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While my Australian friends have been too chicken, last month my parents embraced their "crazy" side and flew half-way across the world to spend a meagre two weeks with me. A gesture for which I am infinitely grateful!

Despite late planning on my behalf, we managed to cobble together a whirlwind trip to Lahore, Islamabad and the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA) of Pakistan, accompanied by our driver, Najam, and guide, Aslam. With the intense memories and smells of the trip starting to fade, I felt now was as good a time as any to jot down some thoughts on our experiences up north.

One part of Pakistani culture that I love is the sheer warmth and hospitality of the people. From the day my parents arrived in Lahore, we were welcomed like family by an AIESEC member, Rida, and her mother. An off-hand comment at breakfast about wanting to visit a village resulted in a day-long trip around the Sheikhupura district (outside of Lahore) by a local landlord (the husband of a family friend's daughter, if I'm not mistaken - it always works like this here), visiting farms, villages and local communities.

Eventually, we were greeted by such incredible sights as this, taken at the Gilgit Serena Hotel:

As we made our way up the Karokaram Highway, we approached the snow-capped mountains, until we were surrounded by them in the Hunza Valley, a place I like to call paradise:

Remarkably, there was full mobile reception in all the towns we visited, which shows you how deep mobile coverage is in Pakistan.

Wandering through the towns of the Hunza Valley, we visited Altit Fort, currently being restored:

… meandered through the lanes of the adjacent old settlement:

… climbed up to "Eagle's Nest" and beheld one of the most breathtaking views I've seen:

$Eagle\'s Nest$

… and met some of the locals:

What struck me was the slow pace of life, the fresh air and the serenity in the area - a world away from my life in Karachi and I'm certain from the image my parents had of Pakistan before coming.

Some of my other favourite photos:

Shangrila Resort, Skardu

Visiting a village in Skardu

From the Shigar Fort Residence, Shigar

Kids who couldn't help be curious about the gore (foreigners) walking around

I have few words to sum up the trip, but I hope that now, when my parents hear "Pakistan", they think of the warm people they met, the incredible views and natural beauty, that these memories balance what they see in the news, to show that there is another side to Pakistan.
I only wish more people had the chance to see this country!

Celebrating Eid ul-Azha in Pakistan

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Jeremy Higgs

on December 10, 2008

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Living in a foreign country, particularly one whose culture and society are heavily influenced by Islam, opens up a wealth of new experiences and opportunities like I've never had before. Today was one of those experiences.

Today (9th December, 2008), Eid ul-Azha is celebrated in Pakistan. This religious celebration has a reputation of being a "bloodbath", where animals are slaughtered en-masse. Through various talks I've had with people, the Roof Cafe held at our AIESEC MC/intern apartments and my experiences today, I've come to learn a lot more about the festival.

The act of sacrificing domestic animals (cow, goat, sheep, camel) is meant to replicate Abraham's (Ibrahim in the Quran) sacrifice of Ishmael to God. However, the festival is also about bringing families and communities together, and of charity (zakat - one of the five "pillars" of Islam). For example, the meat from the animals is divided into three parts: 1/3 for the immediate family, 1/3 for relatives and neighbours, 1/3 for the poor. As I was fortunate to witness today (due to the hospitality of an AIESEC member's family here in Karachi), people come and go throughout the day, spending time together and distributing the food.

While the streets do literally run with blood, there's also a strong sense of community, which I appreciate. The strength of my stomach has also been put to the test (and pulled through), and I have a new-found appreciation of the amount of effort it takes to put meat on the table.

There's also a nice feeling, knowing that the people in the shanty town/slum we passed in Gulistan-e-Jauhar probably had their first meal in a while involving meat. I only wish the charity seen on this day continued throughout the year.

I've spared putting the gory photos here, but for more photos (gore alert), have a look at the Facebook album.

Eid Mubarak!

Random happenings

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Jeremy Higgs

on August 11, 2008

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Things have been a bit insane in recent times for me to really put thought into a post (or email friends and family - I'm sorry!), but I thought I'd sum what's been happening with some pictures.

I got sick of not doing exercise, so I've started walking in the evenings in Zamzama Park. It's a lovely view, a little oasis in sprawling Karachi.

On our way to a meeting, I spotted what looks remarkably like a Eucalyptus tree. (Trees are a rare sight in Karachi, let alone a Eucalyptus!)

We're trying to cook more in the MC/intern houses, in an effort to stay away from take-away food. Above is Pandy (an intern from China) cooking one night.

Tabinda stuffing her face one morning at Dunkin' Donuts.

Anna, Joan, Tabinda, Katya and myself at the ZabFM studios on Saturday, after an interview. Lots of fun!

The MC team's new favourite lunchtime spot - New Cafe Subhani in Saddar. Delicious Iranian and Afghani food. Mmm!

Hope of a nation

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Jeremy Higgs

on July 3, 2008

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Newfound Inspiration

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Jeremy Higgs

on July 3, 2008

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I've had one of those weird nights, which could never have happened if not for certain things falling into place. A friend of Kurt's invited the AIESEC interns here in Karachi and myself to the cultural night of the 2008 Young Leaders Conference, and we had an absolute blast.

The energy and passion in these young people was incredible, and I've stepped out of it feeling reinvigorated and motivated even more to make the most of my term here as President of AIESEC Pakistan.

Farewell Australia!

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Jeremy Higgs

on June 18, 2008

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In 8 hours I'll be on a plane back to Karachi, to take up my role as national president of AIESEC in Pakistan for 2008/2009. I've been saying goodbyes to my friends and family for 4 weeks now, and after countless delays, I'm finally able to leave.

While I've been itching to leave for months, what has made it so hard is that I simply don't know when I'll be back. It could be as little as a few months, a year, or …?

I'm going to miss this beautiful city I have called home all my life:

More than that, I'm going to miss my family and friends. I will keep in touch, but nothing compares to sitting with someone and just being able to talk - not email, not IM, not Skype and not Facebook.

Know that I am grateful to those that have shaped my life, in both foundation-rocking and subtle ways, and every shade in between. All I can say is "I'll see you, some day", hoping, clinging to the faith that our paths will cross again.

Detached

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Jeremy Higgs

on May 12, 2008

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I had the pleasure of seeing the World Press Photo 2008 exhibition in Sydney this afternoon. Every year I find myself transfixed by these photos, appreciating them more as I learn about photography through my own activities.

I was astounded at how many people were at the exhibition, but even more surprised by people's reactions and behaviour to the photos. I can only describe it as being 'detached'.

There were photos that held me, enthralled, that moved me, that sent shivers up my spine.

Yet, when I sat down to look around, people would look at these photos, read the accompanying comments and then move on, with no sign of impact. Are the events these photos depict, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Ukraine, Kenya, Nigeria… are they all so far away from the reality here? Are people that detached that these photos aren't able to move them? It's a feeling I haven't quite been able to shake…

Little treasures

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Jeremy Higgs

on April 22, 2008

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The other night, after dinner with a friend in Newtown, I had the pleasure of being re-acquainted with the wonder that is Gould's books in Newtown.

There is something about this store, the old books, the musty smell. Or perhaps the row upon row upon wall upon wall upon stack upon stack of books that are littered everywhere. Whatever it is, it appeals to my inner bookworm.

After a good half hour of wandering around and browsing, I walked out armed with 4 books; books that I most likely won't read in the next month, and will have to cart back to Pakistan, but pleased with my purchases nevertheless!

There’s hope yet for this crazy world

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Jeremy Higgs

on January 31, 2008

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Something peculiar happened last night on my way back from the AIESEC office. Our rickshaw-wallah (driver) pulled over (in peak hour traffic in one of the busier areas of Karachi) to help push another's rickshaw… using his foot. And he proceeded to do so for another few kilometres.

It's something so small, but it really made my day.

Normalcy

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Jeremy Higgs

on January 13, 2008

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It's a sunny Sunday afternoon. I'm sitting on the MC Mansion rooftop, having had halwa puri for breakfast, read the newspaper and now enjoying a great book. Around me I can hear the sound incessant honking of cars and trucks, the azaan (call to prayer) for Asr and the sound of boys cheering in their game of street cricket.

It's hard to believe that two weeks ago, Karachi was ablaze - cars and buildings burning, people on the streets, danger in the air.