Life in London – I
I have been thinking to write about Life in London (or lets say UK) for quite some time. Now that winters are almost here and you hardly want to get out from the comfy of your room’s coziness, I thought to give it a hit. It’s been over 7 months since I’m living in this land of cold. Cold hearts. Not the weather.
When in Pakistan, you will find lots of people around you going totally excited at the name of anywhere off-Pakistan. Not India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka obviously. Well sorry to disappoint you, its nothing fancy.
جو سکھ اپنے چوبارے …. او نہ بلخ نہ بخارے
(Jo sukh apnay chobaray – O na Balkh Na Bukharay)
How true. But its not bad either. Considering the situation back in Pakistan, everyone wants to run out for the safety of their families and themselves, i.e., if one can.
When I landed on Heathrow, happy sun of going winters greeted me with a smile. And also a delighted husband. The weather was almost the same that I left back in Islamabad. The part of London where we live looks very similar to F-7 & F-6 areas of Islamabad. So thankfully, I had no problems in adjusting. I was at home from the moment I stepped out of plane. The roads were wide here (not in London city at all). Trees of beautiful cherry blossoms were flower loaded.
After two three days, when I was done with all the dishes I knew to make i.e., Chicken Karahi, Dal Chawal & Yummylicious Pasta, I started panicking what to cook next. Aloo anday was my first dish - thats what hubby dear suggested, otherwise it was a dish of laughter more for me before. It went fine. And till now I think I can cook almost everything. Tried Haleem. Made mouth-watering Biryani just yesterday. Beef shashlik. Chicken Roast. Chicken Tikkas. Manchurian. Chikar Cholay. Kheer. Firni. Pineapple delight. And the usual stuff … daal, vegies et al.
Cooking is one of those popularly over-rated things, from back home, that you will find everyone wary about. From mothers to daughters. From in-laws to out-laws.Honestly, if you like doing what you do its not difficult at all. Becomes more of fun. An appreciator around would be a lovely addition of course. I say after doing a number of dawats 
Talking of people, I found all sorts here. Friendly. Too Friendly. And Snobs. I take time to befriend someone but its only after arriving here that I know, its the most difficult task for me. You can get acquainted but you can’t be friends all of a sudden. Aunties are nice and fine. Girls here of my age (or a few years plus minus) are not my type. There interests and talk is totally opposite to something of my interest.
Finally, I conjured up enough energy to write something. I dont want to bore you with a never-ending tale. The second episode about people and places: desis and goray will follow shortly.
Yesterday, I saw PIA’s plane in air going over me. The triggering point behind this post. I never thought sight of PIA’s plane would make me happy.It did. That’s what happen when you are in Pardes.
ps: now I always need a picture to start a tale. Without it, words won’t pour out. And apologies for not a regular visitor of your blogs … a bit slow on this side of life.
pps: now off for my haazri to each and every blog so that you start coming here too 
Awww!!
u know what!!
what ever is the situation… I would always prefer to live in the Paki Land!!
so true as you said…
(Jo sukh apnay chobaray – O na Balkh Na Bukharay)
Any how I hope you are enjoying this part of ur life with your partner!!
All the best!!
Separateness from something, a place or a person presents opportunity and a room to look at things, ideas, people, life in general with freshness. It also offers us a chance to redeem, rethink our ways and relationships and so on. I think it’s a great thing. When you’re resigned from something and away you can only then (in most cases) the vastness or emptiness of jungle, too close you’d only see the trees…
So, the thing is how do you use this separation to your advantage, to your benefit and for your growth. A new place and new people offer many challenges and opportunities and its only through these “new” things and being away from something you’ve long been associated, man stretches himself to new venues, new ideas and new approach may be. You may have to change your personality in order to adopt and adjust. you may hate the idea or can never believe it may be but sooner or later you’d have changed a lot.
ustad calvin nay aik defa intehayii philosophical andaz main (ghaliban inhi wintry dinon main) asmaan ki teraf dekhtey howey kuch aisay keha,
“hobbes, every day is same and every night is same, and before you realize everything is changed”
Your photography has improved a lot, I can see, to the point I actually saved two of your photos and wanted to send YOU that table wali… so, all good things come to believing hearts. You just have to look around, find an area (not physical necessarily) where you can do some panga, something new, let your heart be open for change and when you let it accept and embrace change, I am sure something unexpected but grt will happen…
ummmm you knew I’d write smething like this, right? i dont know how else or what else to write unless i am totally gone nuts or high or something…
I want to go out to a new country to earn but I will return to my homeland within some years. Nothing like Pakistan!
It’s depressing that you consider London to be Pardes. I suppose it is in some ways. It is the city which consumes it’s inhabitants and then blocks off all exit routes. But it is also the Holy mythological city of remembrances. If people are snobbish towards you it is probably because they have something to hide. Such are not people worth knowing. Stick to what you do best and like to do most and give a little importance to enjoyment of life.
lahore aa jao
what a nice photoimage. good site. i like. send me more sites and photoimages too. i like,
I am going to stalk you now Asma
Mwah hahaha! Just kidding.. but I will add ya to my google reader!
oh my nani is used to say this sher at each visit
Best of luck for your new life at London
and where is “people and places: desis and goray” post :B
I miss my home too!
You have inspired me to write about my adventures of traveling around Europe now. Although, the west is as beautiful, fascinating, mesmerizing and exciting as any place could be, still, home is home. In short, Lahore Lahore aye!!
Never thought I’ll be missing my country, city, people, the air, the dust, the heat so much…!
Meray yaar, meray dost
Meri kainaat madhosh
Sab kho gayey hain kahaan?
Meray loug…
Love Pakistan forever!!
To be honest, whenever I go to London I feel I am in Pakistan!!! lol
It’s hard for me to consider UK part of Europe and let me tell you UK is not at all pardes, if you think it is, you haven’t seen europe in it’s entirety.
And what you think of Pakistan and the feelings you associate with it, other Pakistanis who grew up abroad don’t have those with Pakistan, deep down it’s an alien country in a way or another.. you call home where you were brought up. Home of a pakistani can be pakistan or a european country or any other country, where they were brought up.. and being a pakistani still I can’t and don’t feel any affection towards Pakistan for more than one reason, and most of the time I fail to see all the greatness Pakistanis from Pakistan talk about, especially in August!
There’s nothing like home.
And that’s an awesome shot. :0
And also a delighted husband
Now THAT is what I like to hear from a happily married woman!
Very cool!
Very good photograph. I heard it from a friend of yours that you are an amazing photographer – I can see that info is true.
I was last in London in 1992 – 10 days after my engagement I think.
My fiance came to see me off, with a bag full of BOUNTY chocolates HE just loves to eat! 
All I remember from that trip to London on the plane is gazing at the newly aquired picture of my fiance – I was totally love-struck –
– tucked in my blue Ninja Turtle print wallet that I lost some place in Stockholm later!
Hmm – I can imagine how “delighted” YOU probably were to be able to finally be around him.
LOL! Some gup shup for you now…
I cant live without my hubby either. Takes one to know one you know. Maybe its the name – I have yet to see an ASMA (not AASMA – ASMA, with Alif) who is not TOTALLY SMITTEN by the man who marries her. I have never met a married AASMA so I cant generalise on that here.
We are “jinxed” by the name. Once, I was told to change it to AASMA – but I refused to give up my identity. I dont like it if someone calls me by the wrong name on my face as it changes its meaning altogether.
I have a nickname though. My husband calls me his AASMAAN – his sky – as he says I dominate him totally like the sky dominates the poor earth!
That nickname I dont mind since I like to keep my eye on him to keep him safe from harm as he is basically a very simple person.
Thankyou for dropping by my blog.
Love your page layout! Very very stylish theme!
Great to have you back writing more frequently Asma.
I couldn’t agree more with the post.
And sometimes if you don’t always see the posts, it doesn’t mean people have been to this place. Google reader just makes you lazy to post any comments, otherwise the posts get there just fine.
Looking forward to the part II
Yeah, I just wanted to add one more thing, not everyone can be a natural at cooking.
To some, it never comes naturally, they always have to push for it, and make another version of it, every time they try the same recipe, for better or for worse.
haha I only knew how to make three things too when I went to the US, chicken karahi, pasta and kabab (from the packet). I find cooking is easier abroad where food is not the focal point of people’s life unlike in Pakistan. I got hooked on to using pre-fried pyaaz and garlic and ginger powder and pastes in my cooking and my mom kept on arguing with me to use fresh pyaaz peeled and chopped from scratch and at my in-laws the ginger and garlic are specifically peeled and crushed for each dish which I think is very inefficient
Very nice post!
And I simply adored the photo of the (PIA) jet tail. I love this new design by them. It looks much better than the plain green tail.
I know it feels so strange and nice when you spot such things in Pardes.
How about taking photos of the falling snow or snow clad things. I heard this year in beginning (I think) London received record snowfall
Good luck!
it is a pleasure to read you
always hunz!
indeed a nice post!
Haha, Yes no matter what, we living overseas, are always excited about anything related to back home!
Hello hello, aglee post kidher hey bhaee?
@tauqeer…. not me
alhumdolilah i am happy where i am living…. nothing excites abt pakistan…
i second raania
Hi Friend ur doing an excellent work.. Can we exchange links…
Good that you feeling home. Keep writing about it though.
Loll: I never flew in PIA and I never seen it except in photos, but I saw the new tail of it which is awesome… I thought Pak don’t carry anymore PIA jet. They usually flew to Dubai
Its been almost 3 years since I came to Pardes. Still I find it urmost difficult to adjust and the memories of back home make me immensely nostalgic and miserable sometimes. I wish I could live in my hometown all my life.
I’ve just dropped in to say what you used to tell me pehley: “Updato!”
im missing home…and this post ust made me feel so lonely!
looking forward to the next post
Assalam o alaikum all,
I have made a new blog. Hope you will all join me there.
http://thequranicblog.wordpress.com/
You wrote about 10 weeks back. That shows what it should be.
It will be a good exercise if you compare your new discoveries with those of the place you left behind. In the end you will realise that even narrow lanes of G-9 were sweat and people who looked so ordinary were not really so.
Asma Update!!!