Last Pakistan Report

I will be going back to Malaysia for good on 8 Dec. 2006.

Last week I was actually in Malaysia for one week. I even managed to run again at KLCC park on Wednesday and Friday evening. I only ran 3 km each time but I was suprised I could still run after 2 months of rest. But my right knee is still not OK and is likely not to be cured anytime soon. I have to rule out running in races and doing long runs.

For the runners running in Singapore Marathon this Sunday "Good luck and hope you can meet your target finishing time".

Pakistan Report #6 - Visit to Taxila (Part 1 of 2)

Taxila is a town , 30 km from Islamabad. From 2500 to 1800 years ago, it was major Vedic and Buddhist learning centre. Me and several others went to Taxila on Saturday. We went to four places ; Museum, Bhir Mound (oldest site), Jhaulian (stupa and monastery) and Dharmajika (largest stupa and monastery). The photos taken during the visit are shown in two parts. The first part shows various types of vehicles travelling on the roads in Pakistan.

Visit to Taxila Photos and Report Coming Up

On Saturday, I went to Taxila a 3000 year old historical site which used to be a major buddhist centre. Photos and brief report to follow tomorrow.

Pakistan Repot #5 : The Good and the Bad

The good news : My right knee is no longer sore after not running for 2 weeks. I plan not to lay off running until January 2007.

The bad news: Yesterday I put on my Docker pants (black colour) which I bought in Paris way back in September 2003. I had brought along it to Pakistan to wear during the winter season. I found out with some suprise and horror that I could hardly fit into it. After I buttoned and zipped it up, it wasway too tight around my waist. Now I know I am definitely fatter than I was three years ago. Even after fasting one month, I could not reduce my waist size to what it was 3 years ago. Oh it is truly shocking on how far I have been redcued to what I was three years (In 2003 - I ran my personal best times in 10km in 47 minutes and 21 km in 1 hour 43 minutes).

I was planning to go to Taxila, a historical buddhist site located30km from Islamabad. But I have to cancel it today. I plan to go there next week on Thursday when it is a public holiday here. I will post some photos if I make it there.

I found out here are very few professional working women in Pakistan. To ny surprise, many of the female employees in the office hold degrees or even post graduates qualification but work as secretaries, clerks etc. Most of them or if not all stop working after they get married.

Newt week : security in Islamabad will very tight because due to an
economics forum organised by the Organisation of Islamic countries. Virtually all of the hotels in Islamabad are full and I have to stay in a guest house.