Mere Lahore Par Bhi Ik Nazar Kar

Mere Lahore Par Bhi Ik Nazar Kar.

(Have a glance On My Lahore also)

I have always loved traveling but past month Lahore came as a surprise. I received a whatsapp message on 2nd of June about a conference on Psychology being held in Lahore in collaboration with Punjab University, Riphah University (Lahore campus) and Bahria University (Karachi Campus). Considering it one of those random notifiers, i informed all the people whom i thought would likely attend, uploaded on WhatAapp status and slept. Waking up on 3rd June, i was being asked by my supervisor for not considering this opportunity for myself. With no excuses being accepted by supervisor, on 4th June i found myself struggling with my research paper with the abstract submission deadline literally around the corner. I with all the confirmation of my paper being rejected, submitted the abstract 2 minutes before the deadline (Considering it was Ramadan, i had work and bla).

Theme of The Conference was "Impact of Global Challenges of Mental Wellbeing" happened on 6th and 7th July

All the habits of under-estimating myself  were down the drain when i was notified that my abstract has been accepted (as it is-without single error. Sometimes conference demands to make likely changes depending on your content, clarity etc of your research topic) and my nervousness of packing and asking for leave from workplace (i was on probation period at new workplace) started. Then before leaving i had to check Truck load of assignments and Researches of students as well as make papers for semester's final in July. I wasn't afraid of traveling or accommodation at Lahore. PIA's service for traveling and PU executive hostel was booked for 4 nights. 5th July was for pre-conference workshop (CBT, NLP and Play Therapy were the topics)
Funfact: entire attraction for attending conference was Dr Zainab Zadeh from Bahria-Karachi and Dr Salma from NUST-Islamabad.

WITH HUGE ENCOURAGEMENT, SUPPORT AND MOTIVATION FROM MY SUPERVISOR DR. SAIMA, I was ready to fly on 4th July. It rained cats and dogs and apparently Niagara Fall was discovered day before i was due traveling in Lahore. However Rutaba's and Abeer's constant support from Lahore came about with an assure-ty that i'll reach my hostel even if it kept on raining. 4th came and of course Airport's entire attraction was Coffee Planet.

Never understood the fact that Coffee Planet is on Karachi Airport but not otherwise in entire city. 

Without a difficulty I reached Lahore and hostel with literally no hours of waiting. It's worth mentioning the fact that Punjab University's new campus was  just not big enough but well-facilitated and well-managed. Being a Karachite the huge attraction  was greenry in entire campus (entire city as well). However, with just being 10 minutes in the hostel room i realized my accommodation is not liveable. My room had swimming pool nearby, all kinds of sport and good eating facilities, conference venue on walking distance, entire New Lahore was just out the campus gate, Abeer nearby, Rutaba being in PU, my room had TV, AC, Fridge bla bla and still it wasn't liveable. I have Lizards Phobia and entire campus was full of Lizards with the ENOURMOUS GREEN COLOR SIZE i have never seen about in my life. Inside the Room lizards wandering about a speed of Cheetah. I almost had a panic attack, with screams so loud that accommodation manager came about to see the matter himself. He came with a good news that since it has just rained in entire city, campus being green isn't just full of lizards but also with Chameleons.  He encouraged me to be brave, and be like other conference members who somehow found the place liveable. However considering my physical condition of intense sweating, paleness on face and anger, he assured me to have a solution out.

Almost after 10 minutes i found myself leaving for a hotel nearby hostel. Being out of the room till sitting in car i was given a farewell by two chameleons, one of them crossed by, one on the tree and two lizards over the speed of cheetah went over my feet. I have no pictures of campus whatsoever even during conference because i had no courage to leave the auditorium except to dine in areas for lunch/tea. From Hostel, Hotel was a savior and perfect accommodation till the moment i left for Karachi.

Anyways, The first night in Lahore was a perfect drizzling-rainy night to roam about, and it took me long enough to be in senses. Went to Gloria Jeans nearby, and coffee helped.

5th June, i still had no courage to went back to campus and attend the workshops. Also it's important to see the workshop agenda closely, i am in field for past 2.5 years and the workshop being held were simply introductory/time-money waste for person like me but fruitful for students otherwise. Hence i with friend decided to roam about a city. We Started the day too soon with Capri famous Nashta. It was the Capri which gave me instant reminder about Lahore's crowd. They'll stare you to bones inside and would make you so uncomfortable with no sense of personal distance whatsoever. Initially, you'll find it pretty awkward but slowly you'll be immune to it (not about the physical distance though). I had a plan to go to Old Lahore this day however considering how the locals will treat us with that stare, most we could touch was Lahore museum in the Old City. While Traveling all the way from Mall Road, i was awe-struck over the fact that despite crazy rains day-two ago, Lahore was clean, clear, running and happening, where as Karachi in similar circumstances is mostly shut down for 24-48 hours.

Lahore Museum is worth to visit. However, over there on a weekday, early in the morning i felt i am in China. There were no local visitors at that time except Chinese who took our pictures and were roaming about comfortably. Lahore museum has a century old history, founded in 1865 during British Colonial Period and we were told that it is the largest Museum of Pakistan (Must-Visit if you are into hertitage/vintage stuff). The collections in the Museum dates back from the Indo-Greek, Buddha, Mughals and Hindu Shahi Period. From the Akbarnama to the original scripts of Persian Quran to coins, pottery, weaponry, fine arts, ethnology the place was worth a visit. The museum was also under construction/renovation for the periods of pre-independence and post independence era.

Picture Credits, Yours Truly. Phone wasn't allowed inside hence the scenes were huge miss to snap

The old age colonial buildings are a sight to die for. 

From there on, we decided to move to  Bahria Town. There's huge distance from Old city to Bahria town, but when you're in the city, there's absolute pleasure in sight-seeing with people carrying about lives and you observing them from a distance. Often we had a discussion with drivers on upcoming election and i could sense tabdeeli coming. I love to roam about on foot. Weather was cloudy enough to be on foot however Lahore's crowd couldn't convince them to be on foot. However we were on foot in Bahria from Eiffel Tower to Grand Jamia Masjid to nearby Cafes but let me tell you it was the most boring place to be on foot.

Went till top, weather was cloudy and apparently lift guys forgot to bring us down. Until of course they saw us on top. Also, you'll get a student discount to go on top. 

Grand Jamia Masjid. It was interesting to see a throwball court inside the mosque. Probably the idea of Holistic Education being Promoted In Madarsah?

The Bahria Town also had a sight of Egypt's Cleopatra. I have a habit of forgetting to snap when i am enjoying a little too much. Cafes inside were almost the same we have in Karachi with same burger pizza stakes serving. Hence we decided to go all the way to some local underrated place for tasty ribs and upon reaching we found out it was closed for renovation. We  then decided to stick with local lobia chawal with loads of salad and dahi for lunch at mall road. Followed by Tawa Tikka and other tasty BBQ from other local food ventures in Dinner. The best part are the naans. Karachi can't serve the type of kulchay and naans are in Lahore. However, i craved for good dhaba chai in Lahore and failed, alas.

The day of Conference Came. I was surprised to find out the potential of local researches in scientific sessions. There's a wave of developing and validating Pakistan-based tools for Psychological assessment, screening or research in Islamabad especially and Lahore. Academicians from entire Pakistan came, psychologists and intellectuals under one roof for two days was a sip of relief for the thirsty soul. The address from the speakers were thought provoking especially from Dr Anis Ahmed who's concentration was Deviance among masses from following majority-authority philosophy. In his own ways he focused on "Jaam khali nahee rehte kabhee soqraton (Socrates) k" to provoke us to think and work in ways beyond.  My contribution was on the second day of conference at Riphah International University.

Again the credit and immense support came from Dr Saima and my entire department.

Many  people asked me about my outfit. Hence courtesy: Limelight and Sulafah

The Old city roaming was a hit mainly to badshahi masjid and Heera Mandi foodstreet. From Colonial buildings to colored old age buildings to butt ki karahi, haveli and ribs, it was worth everything.  Found  Emporium mall a lot better in other malls, Packages mall was uselessly huge and boring to walk-a corridor walk honestly. Another Unfortunates for the rest of the two days were Cuckoo's Den being occupied for some model shoot *Cried a river*

 


Finally we decided to also give a try to local cafes and Arcadian Cafe came on top. From Ambiance to Quantity, Quality and Budgeting, it was 10/10. for beef lovers their drunken noodles are on top most, taste you could crave for and a must try menu. I had coffee planet almost everyday i was out. Had no shopping except a book from Liberty because coffee planet and liberty were always together (Also, Lahore has more book places and shops accompanied by SO many coffee places-rightly to conclude Lahore being the heart of Pakistan). O City of Lahore, May your Liveliness perpetuate forever.

I have had several meetups planned and i couldn't do anyone of them due to shortage of time. However, the break wasn't just traveling but a plus point for my MPhil in progress. I'd love to encourage academicians to interact with their community nationwide. The exposure of a city to its people and profession that too alone with friends you made and met there isn't just the break but an experience which never comes about in books. No one to accompany you in friends from your city, not a problem.. set your foot, leave and seek out more people in the same boat.

Read, Study, Participate and Travel are my advice for you all this Independence Day.