I ♥ Islamabad
Note: It’s gonna be highly picturesque post… Beware.
This morning while coming to my office, a thought hit me. I’m crazy about Islamabad. I totally own the city ~ every nook of it. The thought to leave it is pretty saddening as well. There are memories attached to the roads, bazaars, even the walking paths and road turns.
This road makes me beam inside-out. It is one of my favorite roads in Islamabad. Leads to my mom’s last resting place …! And then reaching upon the graveyard … I feel like sitting their for hours. Its such a relaxing feel. The nearness of the beloved surrounds you. On top of it, y photography gets a kick there.
The pictures taken at Qabaristan … the other day I was showing these pics taken in Qabaristan labeled as “A trip to Graveyard” to my bhai. And he was like shabash hay ^_^
F-6 makes me go crunch crunch. Me and my dad lately became so fond of Bangali’s Samosas … while passing through it today, it hit me that probably few weeks from now I’d miss this thing like hell. Parents are such a delight Alhamdolillah that Allah blessed us with them. You can never have enough of them. The-chaskas-of-roaming-around chemistry I enjoyed with abu’s going to be on my list topper that I’m going to miss :’(
The 14th august rains … the roaming around on Islamabad roads to see “shahar ki batiyaan“. I still remember when we, the whole family, used to head towards F-9 park on 14th Aug eve for the fireworks. Those fireworks that were never so grand were La Objects de Grandeur in our lives then. I still remember me and my sis used to sneak out in summer afternoons to buy those Rs 1 & 2 Shahi Qulfi or it’d be that orange colored ice loly. Those were the days. The street roaming, late-night walk and chaand raat tawaaf with my folks … nostalgia.
And the sweet fragrance of motiyaa …that reminds me of Ami always.
یہ کون ستارہ ٹوٹا جس سے، سب تارے بے نور ہوئے
کس چندرماہ نے ڈوب کر، کتنے چاندوں کو گہنایا ہے
جس سے سپنے جاگ اٹھے ہیں، خوابوں نے نور کمایا ہے
یہ دل نے کس کو یاد کیا، سپنوں میں کون آیا ہے
Oh and I’ve some profound memories attached to Gelato Affairs as well. The sudden dates with A & U there. The quick cappuccinos and shared cheese cakes. And hours and hours of chit chat. I remember when few months back we sat for 3+ hours in Gol market until we realized its late now. Will miss these refresher rounds.
Oh and the long walks on absolute absurd theories of life with U. *I’m sure we will be awarded Philosophers of century if someone hears them U 
* Do you agree? And the way A gets panic attacks when our visit to old book shop lengthens…. now bookshops remind me of her, always. I will miss that tiny but treasureful old bookshop of Jinnah too 
The dholkis and mehndis, the songs and dances, the jee kardas and kaala jaura *sniff sniff*
The way I’d make stop abu coz I’ve to photograph something on the road. Islamabad hasn’t wiped my hesitation to take out the cam and snap away life.
And when I’ll be *sigh* cooking food ~ I’ll absolutely miss the yummy delights of abu. *Nay I ain’t insane but he’s such a superb cook Masha Allah*
Reminds me I’ve to buy this cook book and revamp my own cook bood too *shrugs at the thought*
Islamabad’s a feeling close to heart. My associations are dug deep in its soil from toddler days to now. The circle of life is indeed an interesting phenomena, isn’t it?
Memories…
nice post.
lolz @ geletto affair
dont worry, maybe the A-class couple might consider settling in this city somewhere down the lane
So, where and when are you going?
Awwww…. such nice pictures.
Keep updating from there too. *hugs*
I second SAWJ’s comment.
Very nice post.
Zabardast post!
and where are you leading now onwards???
You’ve been awarded the Lemonade Blog Award
Reminiscences leaves a saddening impression and lasts until we move forward. Then we seldom review chapters from past, only occasionally – And we save these impressions on silk and border those pages in gold, emboss remarks and enrich them with neat colors, bookmark some with chrysanthemum and others with a forget-me-not, or sometimes simply leave a folded dry leaf. Bind the pages together, adorn the cover with emerald and turquoise and preserve the treasure. Those colors never fade away, we always own them but sometimes lose the strength to recognize their characteristic flamboyance.
This post takes the credit for forcing me to leave this long comment here. All the best.
I third SAWJ’s comment :p …
waisey awesome post…. the best post from any blog in months…. me like it =) !!
(Reply to ur comment: i uploaded on fb.. may be u saw it there… or… i don’t know… i wrote it recently so …. pata nahi yaar… may be saw something similar ??
and hey who says i am miserable (-_^) ??)
Unlike the writer, I was not in Islamabad since my toddler days but I spent over a decade in the federal capital before leaving Pakistan. From out here, I remember Islamabad with the most fond memories. Its jungles, wildlife, saidpur, daman-e-koh, Super, Jinnah Super, United Bakery, melody market, the wonderful food and tea served by pathan hotels set up in cabin hotels under trees in the nooks and corners of Islamabad…I miss everything.
As I felt nostalgic I just typed ‘Islamabad’ on google today and stumbled onto this page – skipping all the bad news about the Sitara market blast.
But yes, I can assure you that it is difficult not to miss this city. I like to think of it as mine too even though I spent just 10-12 years. But I hope to come back to Pakistan and settle here insha-Allah.
یہاں تو پرانی یادیں تازہ ہو رہی ہیں
۔
اور نیوں کو تڑکے لگ رہے ہیں
اور جی اسلام آباد میرا بھی تو ہے
It’s a lovely post. Made me teary
You are writing as if God forbid you are leaving the world. Come on, where ever you go, you’d make new and wonderful memories over there and I hope won’t miss home much
I like Islamabad too (in a way)… don’t know but for a long time I found it very, very romantic
I like Islamabad too (in a way) and found it very, very romantic for a long time.
That was a lovely post, made me teary
PS: I don’t see my previous comment so posting again.
Beautiful post and spectacular pictures
ماؤں اور موتییے کے پھولوں میں بہت سی قدرِ مشترک ہیں جیسے خوبصورتی ،خوشبو
Its always an upheavel leaving the place which has ineffect been your home for as long as you can remember. But with new pastures brings new opportunities to make something out of nothing. Good luck
You got an award check out this pls : http://ubeee.blogspot.com/2009/03/wow-awards-d.html
memories…bittersweet memories…
ahhh memories!
You’ve been awarded the Honest scrap award
Nice pictures (:
I know how it feels to leave your home. I had to at 16!
*wipping ma tears*….. u gona miss islamabad
and i know this for sure….
i know one more thing asma ….. u gona hate london
a tip that might help u….. dont compare it with ma city
hehehehe u’ll b endlessly disappointed
gud luckk for the future
Great Shots….luvd it….keep updating my dear friend…
Bestwishes…
Great post Asma. You’re a very good photographer!
Even though I’ve seen very little of Islamabad, it is quite serene and beautiful compared a city as filthy as Karachi. Unfortunately, I don’t know anybody that well there so haven’t had the chance of visiting that place for an extended period of time.
I did not read the post but I like the ecstasy wali pic
).
sidhusaaheb
TM LOL lets see what Allah has planned for teh A-class couple
Allah be with them 
Inshah Allah
senilius reached and told ye =P
dinkum aaho jee :> *hugs back*
siras and thanks for award :>
aashely thanksum … malika kay dais
GH thanks .. *looks around for a dictionary* Are you reading poetry these days?
ubaid woohoooooo … a complement :>
thankssss
islamabadi too Inshah Allah some day
duffer heheh .. yeah islamabad tu sab ka hay :>
ayesha Aww … LOLz @ romantic .. well it is in a way
anaa bajaa kaha
sumera exactly … that is how life is planned to be.
ubaid yayy thanks
lizzie hay naa..
seher
siras thanks dear :>
komal Awwww … but if its for good why not?
zee Hate london? Oh no .. I’m liking it actually
Its not much diff from isloo in a way .. ur city .. Oooh I dont like canada 
Thanks dear wesay
) *hugs*
iftikhar thanks :>
raza Thanks
)
*jumps with joy at the complement*
adnee LOL .. i like that too
Beautiful pictures! Absolutely sweet memories, and now you made me miss Pakistan! Love the motiyaa phool too, I got a some strange relation to that flower along with anaars and amrood:)
Good luck with your married life, Allah miyan aap dono ko bohat sari khushiyan deen
Ameen!
thanks for wishes dear and such is my beautiful homeland
)
Some of those shots are really stunning! Beautiful! And it’s always good to find someone so passionate about their hometown
i love Islamabad too
i really miss it really much, those beautiful streets, beautiful weather 
it refreshed the memory all over again, i felt like being with u all over again……its bit late for my comment ,but u know na……i got no reservation to agree with u …..no doubt all those places reflects our laughter together, how ok itwas to b absurd and so claer to one another atsame time, really miss that frequency……u know wat we havnt still got enough courage to visit giletto again with out u ……no doubt the marks to memories are deep enough they bounce back how hard u try to let them go….missed u…..