Going to Pakistan with American Wife: Ongoing Updates

[PakFactor]

We don't have any kids. Never wanted any.

Oh ok, I miss read.

After visiting your wife would ever think about permanent settlement there?

 

[Meengla]

Oh ok, I miss read.

After visiting your wife would ever think about permanent settlement there?

I think she's far more open to Pakistan then ever been before the last trip. But she has her family here. It's not easy for us to decide.

 

[Meengla]

We brought back about a dozen Pakistani dresses with the view to give as gifts to family and friends. Most of them are already spoken for but, alas, due to Covid, there are no social engagements for the ladies to try them out in social gatherings.
Only a few still remain--as shown here. Even from these the black and tan on the right is just spoken for.
Pakistani clothes look wonderful on any lady!

 

[Meengla]

December 2019 near Islamabad. Hired this gentleman Omar Khayyam (yes!) who was a friend of our hotel's management. He was hired for two days: First day to take to areas like Murree, Bhurban etc. He took us to his village first which was about 30-40 minutes from Islamabad. The altimeter on my phone measured about 3000+ feet elevation around his village. A very tranquil and beautiful place. There is a community based water management system where they harness spring water to store for home use and for agriculture.

Here is a local grocery store to get some fruit in his village. We got some fruits. The apples were truly delicious! We got pomegranate and apples. The shop owner was refusing to accept money from him--we too offered to pay but Omar or the shop owner wouldn't take from us. Amazing people.

 

[Meengla]

We had stayed a total of 2 nights at Karachi's Beach Luxury hotel. A wonderful and very safe place. Not cheap at about $85/night but that did have breakfast for two included in their wonderful buffet restaurant: I think it's "007". Yes, named after James Bond!
A short walk from the hotel is Karachi's wonderful Port Grand street food area. Here is a video of that:

 

[Black.Mamba]

Thank you to both of you for showing the true side of Pakistan and hats off to our Bhabhi for all the videos she posts. I am married to a Moroccan so just like everyone else the day my in-laws heard the word Pakistan, the only image came to their mind was bombs, people killing each other on streets and what not. Unfortunately, the International media deliberately only paints such a picture about us for their own vested interests. Even all the digital media platforms with their twisted algorithms show only the negative news however over time I have been feeding them with positive stuff, sharing them the better side of Pakistan, explaining the role of Afghanistan situation and India's dirty tricks. From the point, "I will never goto Pakistan" and "You will never push me to go along" now my wife practically talks about visiting every single day and hopefully we will shortly once we are done with this whole pandemic .

 

[Meengla]

Thank you to both of you for showing the true side of Pakistan and hats off to our Bhabhi for all the videos she posts. I am married to a Moroccan so just like everyone else the day my in-laws heard the word Pakistan, the only image came to their mind was bombs, people killing each other on streets and what not. Unfortunately, the International media deliberately only paints such a picture about us for their own vested interests. Even all the digital media platforms with their twisted algorithms show only the negative news however over time I have been feeding them with positive stuff, sharing them the better side of Pakistan, explaining the role of Afghanistan situation and India's dirty tricks. From the point, "I will never goto Pakistan" and "You will never push me to go along" now my wife practically talks about visiting every single day and hopefully we will shortly once we are done with this whole pandemic .

Best of luck! And when you do go to Pakistan with your wife, make videos or blogs. We have ALL got to do whatever little bit we can. Truth eventually comes out.

As for my wife--her channel is pretty dud. We don't have the time or the skills for videos. But it's okay. We do what we can and hope it will eventually contribute to making a difference.

BTW, some more videos to come. Including interview with shy school kids around Omar Khayyam's village where their school van had a flat tire. Also, bargaining in Karachi's shops to buy clothes. Then there is dancing along with hundreds of people in Karachi's Sindh Culture Day....

 

[SecularNationalist]

Some pics at the Pearl Continental Hotel, Bhurban. Near Murree. December 2019.

To get inside PC Bhurban, we had to pay Rs. 1000/person, but that money could be used for food or shopping inside the hotel. An excellent hotel, btw, with great views. Food not cheap, as can be expected: A couple of cups of Qehwa (Green Tea) and a small appetizer plus sales tax took us to Rs. 2300, plus tip.

The views were some of the best one could get in a five star setting in Pakistan. But what amazed me was hundreds of teen age girls in groups all over the hotel. They were extremely busy taking selfies and had stairways and walkways often blocked out to others, while they were busily taking selfies. And of course long lines to ladies room, as expected. Wife complained that none of them would even make eye contact with her, let alone try to answer any of her questions about the 'washroom' location etc. These were hip, urban ladies unlike you'd see at places like Minar e Pakistan in Lahore or Quaid's Mausoleum in Karachi where the ladies were down to Earth and friendly. Anyway, no hard feelings: I said the girls were just shy.

Here are the pics...View attachment 600769 View attachment 600770 View attachment 600771 View attachment 600772

Man what a small world we live in .
I had no idea that she was your wife.
I know her for quite some time. I am following her YouTube channel since 2019 and talked with her several times in the comments section. She actively raised her voice for Kashmiris when India revoked Kashmir status on august 5th. What a honest,good natured and beautiful person she is.

 

[Meengla]

Man what a small world we live in .
I had no idea that she was your wife.
I know her for quite some time. I am following her YouTube channel since 2019 and talked with her several times in the comments section. She actively raised her voice for Kashmiris when India revoked Kashmir status on august 5th. What a honest,good natured and beautiful person she is.

Thank you. Wife for 18 years!

 

[SecularNationalist]

Thank you. Wife for 18 years!

And may she will be for another 18

 

[Meengla]

The video below maybe a repost here but well worth highlighting what I have been trying to say in this forum and what many Western tourists already find in Pakistan: That Pakistan is essentially a Sufi-oriented even if deeply conservative Islamic society with much more tolerance for 'the other' then given credit for! The video below was made by Nazish 'Malang', a You Tube blogger lady from Karachi who became our host in Karachi during the short stay there. But I am recalling some memories:

Nazish, is what I would call, a 'good Pakistani woman'. A middle of the road Muslim woman, tolerant and a successful professional. She is a devout Muslim, as is her husband, who was also our escort in Karachi, and they would offer prayers when there was prayer time. I don't follow the some things rigidly anymore and wife remains a Christian. But never Nazish and her husband ever asked us about our faith and as to why I was not praying--they just left us for a few minutes and offered prayers and joined us. Nazish, as you can see, is not some hip 'burger' type Pakistani wearing revealing clothes: Her attire is what most Pakistani women still wear: Shalwar Kameez with a Dupatta to cover the bosom and occasionally the head. She is also educated and holds a professional job as a journalist. And also has a great sense of humor.

They joined us multiple times in Karachi and never expected us to pay for them or asked for any compensation for their time spent with us. The only irritants might have been that wife/I were pressed for time and so the 'Pakistan Standard Time' for the rendezvous were not always cool! But we all managed!

Anyway, here is perhaps a repeat of the video here where we went to the Mausoleum of the Founder of Pakistan the Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi. What a beautiful day it was in early December in Karachi. The sun would kiss you like some goddess!

 

[Titanium100]

I didn't read the entire thread will do later but did you and your wife move to Pakistan on perma-basis if so that is awesome something i have always wanted to try out

 

[Big Tank]

A brotherly tip: DO NOT VISIT MURREE!

The people of Murree are horrible and have ZERO respect towards tourists!!!

You can just google incidents in Murree.
Since you took birth in Karachi. Its okay to visit but just refrain from some areas. Rest is totally fine.

Visit Islamabad for urban tourism and if you wanna enjoy much. Go to Gilgit Baltistan. You're going to love the places and the place is very friendly to tourists. Locals are groomed well.

 

[khansaheeb]

The video below maybe a repost here but well worth highlighting what I have been trying to say in this forum and what many Western tourists already find in Pakistan: That Pakistan is essentially a Sufi-oriented even if deeply conservative Islamic society with much more tolerance for 'the other' then given credit for! The video below was made by Nazish 'Malang', a You Tube blogger lady from Karachi who became our host in Karachi during the short stay there. But I am recalling some memories:

Nazish, is what I would call, a 'good Pakistani woman'. A middle of the road Muslim woman, tolerant and a successful professional. She is a devout Muslim, as is her husband, who was also our escort in Karachi, and they would offer prayers when there was prayer time. I don't follow the some things rigidly anymore and wife remains a Christian. But never Nazish and her husband ever asked us about our faith and as to why I was not praying--they just left us for a few minutes and offered prayers and joined us. Nazish, as you can see, is not some hip 'burger' type Pakistani wearing revealing clothes: Her attire is what most Pakistani women still wear: Shalwar Kameez with a Dupatta to cover the bosom and occasionally the head. She is also educated and holds a professional job as a journalist. And also has a great sense of humor.

They joined us multiple times in Karachi and never expected us to pay for them or asked for any compensation for their time spent with us. The only irritants might have been that wife/I were pressed for time and so the 'Pakistan Standard Time' for the rendezvous were not always cool! But we all managed!

Anyway, here is perhaps a repeat of the video here where we went to the Mausoleum of the Founder of Pakistan the Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi. What a beautiful day it was in early December in Karachi. The sun would kiss you like some goddess!

A very diplomatic way of putting it:-"The only irritants might have been that wife/I were pressed for time and so the 'Pakistan Standard Time"

 

[Big_bud]

If you will come to Lahore, restrict yourself to Defence, Gulberg, Cavalry ground, Cantt, Model Town or Bahria Town. Rest of the Lahore is a crowded mess, no one goes there in right mind, specially for a vacation/fun. Unfortunately Minar e Pakistan, Shahi Qila, Badshahi mosque area is the old - congested Lahore. Only go there if you have immense interest and knowledge about architecture. If you want to go for hoteling, and stay in 5 star hotels for cheap(cheaper than abroad) then Lahore has many, including PC, Avari, Luxus, Royal Palm, Nishat etc.