Hope, deceitful as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route. 
~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

Rawalpindi, 2012.

Anne Shirley: Don’t you ever imagine things differently from what they are? 
Marilla Cuthbert: No. 
Anne Shirley: Oh Marilla, how much you miss. 

The lady in this photo could be prettily dressed in a silk green long gown, straight out of an early 19th century period drama, quite Austen-esque. The gowns elaborately described in the novels of that era (and seen in the film adaptations by BBC Films) are puffy, large satin gowns with a somewhat large hood ornately embroidered. They look pretty and feminine, because that’s how society has constructed it to be.

As for the lady in the photo here, she wears an embroidered green silk burka. If you don’t consider the cultural context and the societal meaning attached to this enveloping fabric, it might, just might, look feminine and pretty. Hey, it’s a long pretty silk gown. 

But, it isn’t. 

I don’t want to judge. To each, his own. But I do hope the woman in the green burka above wasn’t forced to wear it. I don’t know.. I just hope she lives a peaceful happy life. We may look and judge her, observing from the outside-in. But for her sake, I hope her life is good. Whatever she may choose to wear and however she may choose to live. 

Here’s to living a happy life. Ameen.

I’m rambling today. It’s just that this photo really made me think for a while. I couldn’t just post it, without writing something. Even if it’s jibberish

Happy Sunday, folks!

Rawalpindi – January, 2012.

Off to Work: Skull cap, checkered scarf & a jacket.

Changla Gali, Pakistan. 

Men at Work: Opening Pea Pods

We were out for a walk one morning when we came across a house under construction. Sitting on the as yet unfinished terrace, we saw these men with vegetables. Upon a closer look (with a rather large zoom lens) it appeared that these two were busy opening pea pods! I thought it was endearing; men doing the household chores. D’aww. However, social fabric plays in here. Many men from the poorer social strata belonging to remote rural areas find employment in bigger cities as drivers, cooks, construction workers, etc. They leave their families (wife, children, parents) behind in the village as they relocate to the cities for work. Often, these men live together in small quarters in the cities. Hence, they either go out to have lunch/dinner (which proves rather expensive) or they pool in and make arrangements for food themselves. This is probably the case here. I might be wrong (perhaps their wives are empowered young women who insist on dividing their household chores? Ha. Who knows.) 

Ladies, I hope your men do help you with the household chores!
Have a lovely week you all.

- Pakistan, 2012

How I fool myself. Part I

A conversation in my head:

I’m too lazy to write tonight. Beautiful words escape me. I’m in my bed under comfy covers. It’s a chilly Saturday night and I plan to spend it around the dinner table with good food, surrounded by my dear family. 

I will come back and write more tomorrow, when it’s a bright sunny Sunday morning! Till then, I leave you with this photo of two construction workers. Gotta love the way the guy has wrapped the scarf on his head head! ^.^

Our lives up to now, have been a prelude to this moment.
- A Room with a View.

Do you ever wonder what that moment would be for you? Do you think it’s true, that life is a prelude to a certain moment? And what happens after that moment has passed? It sure got me thinking… wednesday morning doldrums.

‎Everything about yesterday has gone with yesterday. Today, it is needed to say new things.
~ Maulana Rumi

Pakistan, 2011

Travelling on Onion Sacks

- Rawalpindi, 2011

Bricks and Blue light - Lahore, 2011

This is my 100th Blog Post! I started this blog to share what I found and saw. I didn’t expect so much love and recognition in such a short time. So thank you to all my dear readers! Much love and have a lovely weekend

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen

Pindi, 2011

Girls have it better.

In my family it is often said that girls have it better. At functions and parties, the girls get to play dress up. At weddings, the girls hold elaborate traditional ceremonies and cute little customs to make the day special for the bride. We put on mehendi, wear bangles, go shopping with the bride, decorate the house with flowers, garlands and dias. We spend the whole night giggling and talking about everything from the importance of watching the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (the extended versions) to enacting funny stories that the other missed. Our moms often wonder what we’re up to, always laughing till we’re in tears. That’s what me and my cousins have. Alhamdulillah  This post goes out to all my crazy lovely girls! 

December, 2011

Now that the wedding is at an end, all I’m left with are the pictures. Here are a few from this weekend.

Wedding nights, grandparents’ prayers & roses.

Pindi, 2011

Gullian won the BEST PHOTOBLOG AWARD at Pakistan Blog Awards! I’m so humbled and couldn’t be more happy! Wueeee! 

Gullian began in July 2011 so it hasn’t been that long since I joined the blogging world. Receiving this award is a great motivator to set higher goals for myself and cross boundaries that I’ve set in my photography. It’s amazing to receive recognition for one’s work and I drive strength from this award to aim higher and achieve more. 

You may wonder what I mean by ‘aim higher’. My simple objective in blogging is to share and talk about my street photography. And the reason I do street photography is because I live in an absolutely amazing place called Pakistan. There is so much diversity and beauty here, it’s unimaginable. I travel around often and am always left speechless at the stunning places and people that I meet or simply see. That’s how Gullian was born. With my deep sown wish to share the beauty lying peacefully in quite little street corners. When I pause to reflect, I think how this must be shared with others. I’ll keep doing street photography and I’ll keep blogging about it.  

I am aware that I hesitate about sharing too much. I hesitate about going too close to strangers on the street when taking a photo. I stand in utter fear at being shooed away. I worry that I may be invading another person’s private space. BUT THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO DO. I want to invade their space to be able to observe how they live. I want to be present when people on the street are living their lives, simply passing their day. I want to be present everywhere and all the time. Ah and then I wish for the invisibility cloak that Harry Potter had.

With new years just around the corner, I’m going to make a resolution. I will lose my fears and inhibitions (or at least try harder than before). I will test my strength and perseverance. I will stand my ground. I will go closer. I will look deeper. I will take more meaningful shots. I will share more stories. I will do better. Insha’allah.

A big thanks to everyone who voted for me and who thought my blog deserved the award! Much love.

The Bride and her Velvet Dress.