Monday is the first day of fasting in most of Pakistan. I wrote 'most' because in one part of this country, the Northwest Free Frontier Area, Ramadan started on Sunday. This area is something of a wild and lawless area governed by various tribes like the the Pashtun instead of the Pakistan goverment.
I did my first fasting month run on Tuesday. I ran 5 km on a treadmill. I had more than enough energy to run 5 km and could certainly run another 3 km if thirst and dehydration were not limiting factors.
I didn't run on Wednsday and Thursday. Right knee problem again.
Although Pakistan is officially an Islamic county and regarded as staunch Muslim society, most of the women here do not wear a hijab or "tudung" or even cover their hair. Most women wear a loose fitting blouse and tunic called Salwar Kameez. Last night I even saw some Causasian women in a shop wearing Salwar Kameez. However I have not seen any women in Islamabad wearing western clothes much less a skirt.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Pakistan : Report # 1 The first 3 days
I hope I won't into trouble by blogging this from Pakistan. Pakistan has imposed a blanket bsan on several blog sites including blogspot. Read this article for more information.
I arrived in Islamabad on Saturday morning on Pakistan Airlines from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). I was in the UAE for 3 days. One thing I can say about the U.A.E is it's not for the budget traveller (read : backpacker). You won't see young people carrying back-packs roaming anywhere in the UAE. The reason ? Cost - UAE is one of the most expensive places to travel. A five star hotel here starts at USD 250 or more. Luckily my hotel (USD 160 per night under corporate rate) is paid by the company.
In the UAE, the majority of the population are foreigners. Indians and Pakistanis as labourers, technicians and engineers in the construction sector and filipinas in the service industry as waitresses, cashiers , receptionist , secretaries. Last year,the UAE passed a law to get the companies to employ UAE nationals to be employed in the public relations and secretarial services. The finance sector already has the same law for a number of years. The trouble with this law is the expectations. A national UAE secretary is asking USD 3000 per month while the foreigner (almost always from the Philippines or perhaps Egypt) , USD 1000. Sounds a bit like the situation in Malaysia. doesn't it?
Back to my first 3 days in Pakistan. I am staying in Islamabad , the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The office is just next door to where I am staying: the Marriott hotel.
The Mariott hotel chain is of course owned by a US based company in a nation led by the El-Diablo "The Devil" himself as Mr Hugo Chavez (Venezuelan President) called George Bush junior (USA president) last week.
Let me describe the security set-up st the Marriott hotel here.
I arrived in Islamabad on Saturday morning on Pakistan Airlines from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). I was in the UAE for 3 days. One thing I can say about the U.A.E is it's not for the budget traveller (read : backpacker). You won't see young people carrying back-packs roaming anywhere in the UAE. The reason ? Cost - UAE is one of the most expensive places to travel. A five star hotel here starts at USD 250 or more. Luckily my hotel (USD 160 per night under corporate rate) is paid by the company.
In the UAE, the majority of the population are foreigners. Indians and Pakistanis as labourers, technicians and engineers in the construction sector and filipinas in the service industry as waitresses, cashiers , receptionist , secretaries. Last year,the UAE passed a law to get the companies to employ UAE nationals to be employed in the public relations and secretarial services. The finance sector already has the same law for a number of years. The trouble with this law is the expectations. A national UAE secretary is asking USD 3000 per month while the foreigner (almost always from the Philippines or perhaps Egypt) , USD 1000. Sounds a bit like the situation in Malaysia. doesn't it?
Back to my first 3 days in Pakistan. I am staying in Islamabad , the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The office is just next door to where I am staying: the Marriott hotel.
The Mariott hotel chain is of course owned by a US based company in a nation led by the El-Diablo "The Devil" himself as Mr Hugo Chavez (Venezuelan President) called George Bush junior (USA president) last week.
Let me describe the security set-up st the Marriott hotel here.
- Outside the 3 foot high concrete gate, there are 3 security guards holding rifles. I took s peek yesterday on what kind of rifles they were holding. The rifles seemed to be the old bolt action firing pins ala the famous Enfield rifle used in World War I. I am not an expert on this matter but that is the impression.
- There is a steel barrier (3 inch diameter steel pole) slung across the main entrance. Upon stopping here, the guards will check the car; opening the engine compartment and car boot. There is also some sort of device to check for bombs underneath a vehicle. At this point, there are about 4 security guards with few more inside a guardhouse.
- After passing through the above gate, there are 2 more security guards at the hotel entrance doors. Just beyond these doors, there is
- An X-ray machine to scan baggage and there is also a metal detector to pass through. The set-up is identical to an airport.
- Lastly, there is also a steel pole before getting into a separate car parking area.
- I also checked the glsss windows at the hotel. The windows have been laminated with tough plastic film to prevent shrapnels from say flying everywhere from umh ... an exploding device (bomb).
Don't get me wrong when I am writing sbout the security measures (I am not complaining but just describing them). The measures are quite unobstrusive and necessary in the ever present risk of a terrorist attack. The Marriott is indeed an amazing hotel. My room (USD 150 per night) has a 42 inch LCD TV mounted on a wall and 60 channels. Plus a fruit basket and free refill of the minibar everyday. The hotel services are very good perhaps near perfect.
I ran yesterday on the treadmill at the Mariott fitness centre. Did 5.0 km.
As for the price of petrol here - it is RM 3.40 per litre. Compared to RM 1.90 in Malaysia we have it good back home.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Airports
I say that you can judge a country such as how well or how badly it's run by the International airports. After having been through the chaos at Khartoum airport (Sudan) this year, I am to
Pakistan this Saturday via Abu Dhabi. I will be flying on Pakistan Air lines landing at Islamabad airport.
Read about what other people wrote about Islamabad airport here and here.
If you read the report, they are not exactly the sort of experience I want to go through but I have to go through it to get into the country.
I ran yesterday evening at 6.00 pm in the old park again. It was quite cold as I was just wearing a T-shirt and shorts. I did 3 km before deciding to go back before it gets any colder.
Pakistan this Saturday via Abu Dhabi. I will be flying on Pakistan Air lines landing at Islamabad airport.
Read about what other people wrote about Islamabad airport here and here.
If you read the report, they are not exactly the sort of experience I want to go through but I have to go through it to get into the country.
I ran yesterday evening at 6.00 pm in the old park again. It was quite cold as I was just wearing a T-shirt and shorts. I did 3 km before deciding to go back before it gets any colder.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Sunday Morning Run in Asghabat
I managed to drag myself out of bed yesterday for an early morning run. It was quite chilly but it was not cold enough to stop me from wearing shorts.
The park where I was going running was 5 minutes away. It is old park untouched by the beautifification craze by the authorities. I did some strecthing near a tree. In the park, there was a guy with a huge dog , maybe a bull mastiff or some equally giant dog breed. I decided to run a route away from the dog just in case.
I was suprised to see someone else running in the park besides me. A short woman with flaming red colour hair and wearing black T-shirt and tights was running at a brisk pace (9 km/hr estimated). Too bad she looked a bit haggard and drawn out.
After finishing my stretching, I started to run. I love running in the cooler temperature (low 20's degrees C) . It 's just too bad that after 2 km, I was hit by the urge to go to the toilet. I ran another 1 km before doing my cool down stretching. I ran just 3 km.
I wil be going to Dubai this Wednesday morning . I will be in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for 3days for a meeting on Thursday. I will be leaving Abu Dhabi at 2.15 am to Islamabad, Pakistan for a 3 months assignment.
I though of taking a break from running during the fasting month but I have changed my mind. I plan to run on a treadmill which hopefully is available in the hotel.
I love this photo taken during the Mizuno Wave run yesterday.
The park where I was going running was 5 minutes away. It is old park untouched by the beautifification craze by the authorities. I did some strecthing near a tree. In the park, there was a guy with a huge dog , maybe a bull mastiff or some equally giant dog breed. I decided to run a route away from the dog just in case.
I was suprised to see someone else running in the park besides me. A short woman with flaming red colour hair and wearing black T-shirt and tights was running at a brisk pace (9 km/hr estimated). Too bad she looked a bit haggard and drawn out.
After finishing my stretching, I started to run. I love running in the cooler temperature (low 20's degrees C) . It 's just too bad that after 2 km, I was hit by the urge to go to the toilet. I ran another 1 km before doing my cool down stretching. I ran just 3 km.
I wil be going to Dubai this Wednesday morning . I will be in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for 3days for a meeting on Thursday. I will be leaving Abu Dhabi at 2.15 am to Islamabad, Pakistan for a 3 months assignment.
I though of taking a break from running during the fasting month but I have changed my mind. I plan to run on a treadmill which hopefully is available in the hotel.
I love this photo taken during the Mizuno Wave run yesterday.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Turkmenistan Update
I have been here for 5 days now. When I reached Asghabat airport on Sunday, everyone had to had to have their baggage scanned at an X-ray machine before going through customs.
I had 3 things with me; 2 bags and 1 box filled with food , spices, ikan bilis (anchovies) etc. When I was about to collect the box, the airport guy manning asked me to open the box. Then he said something else "Ten dollar, go". He said it twice. He was asking me to bribe him. There is no way I was going to give him any money so I said I will open the box. I did and showed him what was inside He didn't seemed particularly interested in the contents. The point of the "inspection" was an opportunity for him to extract money.
It is now a noticeably cooler in Ashghabat. The temperature in the morning is the mid 20's deg. C. I plan to run a few km in morning in the park this weekend.
I had 3 things with me; 2 bags and 1 box filled with food , spices, ikan bilis (anchovies) etc. When I was about to collect the box, the airport guy manning asked me to open the box. Then he said something else "Ten dollar, go". He said it twice. He was asking me to bribe him. There is no way I was going to give him any money so I said I will open the box. I did and showed him what was inside He didn't seemed particularly interested in the contents. The point of the "inspection" was an opportunity for him to extract money.
It is now a noticeably cooler in Ashghabat. The temperature in the morning is the mid 20's deg. C. I plan to run a few km in morning in the park this weekend.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Going Overseas Again
I haven't got much to write on running. On Monday I ran 5 km on a treadmill. It was very boring.
On Tuesday the Rat Race was held in KL. Some of my friends were running but I wasn;t able to see it. On Wednesday, I wanted to run outddoor but it rained again.
I am going overseas again. Two weeks in Turkmenistan and then three months in Pakistan (until end Dec.).
This year if including the forthcoming Pakistan trip, I would ve spent about half of the year overseas.
To those running the Putrajaya race this Sunday and the Mizuno Wave Run next Sunday, good luck and enjoy the races.
On Tuesday the Rat Race was held in KL. Some of my friends were running but I wasn;t able to see it. On Wednesday, I wanted to run outddoor but it rained again.
I am going overseas again. Two weeks in Turkmenistan and then three months in Pakistan (until end Dec.).
This year if including the forthcoming Pakistan trip, I would ve spent about half of the year overseas.
To those running the Putrajaya race this Sunday and the Mizuno Wave Run next Sunday, good luck and enjoy the races.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Klang Merdeka Run (31 August) Report -
The event was a Merdeka Run on 31 August at Sekolah Rendah Cina Pandamaran B in Pandamaran, Klang. The race start time was 7.00 am.
Before I started driving, I checked out a map on how to get to the school. It was still dark when I left the house at 6.00 am intending to reach there at 6.30 am. I should have known better as I got lost. Although I reached the area at 6.30am, I promptly became hopelessly lost. I spent the next 30 minutes driving around, stopping 3 times to look at the map and pissed one time into a drain. It was only at 7.00 am that I was able figure out where the school was but it was too late as the race would started already.
As it turns out, when I reached the school there were still many people milling in front of the school hall. Ahh thanks goodness, it is a "political" race. You can always count on such races to start late. I met up with many Klang Pacers runners whom I didn't meet often due to absence from running scene and weekend training. I was especially glad to have met Kong who I have not seen for 3 months.
An announcement was made before the start that the race distance had been shortened from 5.5 km to 4.5km. The race finally flagged off with a Malaysian flag (Merdeka!) at 7.34 am. In no time everyone else was ahead with me "leading" the back-end of runners. 5 minutes later the Klang Pacers have all dissappeared far ahead. For a while I was running with Mrs Kong. I think this was the first time I've run with Mrs Kong. I think if she was younger she would be more than able to give the current female runners a run for the their medal.
After a while , my right knee was still OK so I decided to run faster in the hope of making up for lost time and perhaps a chance to get the 100 medals. Alas, my desire and attempt to run faster was not matched by my stamina. I had to take short walks (100 to 200m) about three times. I had never run at the back-end of a race before and it was quite discouraging to be at the bottpm 10 percent of the pack. But still I reminded myselt to let it go as I was in not in the best of shape. I still felt the tinges of excitement to be in a "race" and ruefull recalled the races I had missed this year; Ipoh, Seremban , Penang and so many others.
27 minutes later I passed through the school gates and ran in between a row of chairs to finish the race emptyhanded - the 100 medals were all gone.
I hung around for a while to watch the prize giving ceremony and witnessed two Pacemaker members (PM 37 and PM39) getting their hampers. I left the scene after all the prizes had been given out.
Before I started driving, I checked out a map on how to get to the school. It was still dark when I left the house at 6.00 am intending to reach there at 6.30 am. I should have known better as I got lost. Although I reached the area at 6.30am, I promptly became hopelessly lost. I spent the next 30 minutes driving around, stopping 3 times to look at the map and pissed one time into a drain. It was only at 7.00 am that I was able figure out where the school was but it was too late as the race would started already.
As it turns out, when I reached the school there were still many people milling in front of the school hall. Ahh thanks goodness, it is a "political" race. You can always count on such races to start late. I met up with many Klang Pacers runners whom I didn't meet often due to absence from running scene and weekend training. I was especially glad to have met Kong who I have not seen for 3 months.
An announcement was made before the start that the race distance had been shortened from 5.5 km to 4.5km. The race finally flagged off with a Malaysian flag (Merdeka!) at 7.34 am. In no time everyone else was ahead with me "leading" the back-end of runners. 5 minutes later the Klang Pacers have all dissappeared far ahead. For a while I was running with Mrs Kong. I think this was the first time I've run with Mrs Kong. I think if she was younger she would be more than able to give the current female runners a run for the their medal.
After a while , my right knee was still OK so I decided to run faster in the hope of making up for lost time and perhaps a chance to get the 100 medals. Alas, my desire and attempt to run faster was not matched by my stamina. I had to take short walks (100 to 200m) about three times. I had never run at the back-end of a race before and it was quite discouraging to be at the bottpm 10 percent of the pack. But still I reminded myselt to let it go as I was in not in the best of shape. I still felt the tinges of excitement to be in a "race" and ruefull recalled the races I had missed this year; Ipoh, Seremban , Penang and so many others.
27 minutes later I passed through the school gates and ran in between a row of chairs to finish the race emptyhanded - the 100 medals were all gone.
I hung around for a while to watch the prize giving ceremony and witnessed two Pacemaker members (PM 37 and PM39) getting their hampers. I left the scene after all the prizes had been given out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)