Pakistan and Horses

Having been living for half a year in Islamabad, I am still wondering every day about the discoveries, perspectives and miracles of this kaleidoscope Pakistan. Its ever changing views and surprises are getting even  more difficult to understand the longer I am here! The country described in the newspapers is so very different from the way that I experience it every day.  How to bring together the noble and gentle Pakistanis with the deadly activities of so various terrorist groups? No overview possible on such a field for a newcomer like me.

The many shocking news these last weeks have amounted to a sense of despair among the Pakistanis. The only hope that remains after every single event is that this might finally be the wake-up call every one has been waiting for to make things move in another, more promising direction! The whole society is changing towards a more conservative and religious one with great consequences in every domain - be it schools, families, military or the social position of women.
The freedom of press in Pakistan allows a multitude of opinions being freely expressed - whatever the motivation or agenda behind it is! However, to guarantee the freedom of press the journalists are also in need of security. The recent killing of Syed Saleem Shahzad 10 days ago sadly proves that this is not the case yet.  To make things even worse, none of the police stations in the area where the murder occurred feels in charge of filing the murder report.
His widow with three young children is trying to survive on promises and no means to live on!

Still, there is enough fun to enjoy life here!
"Tent Pegging" Competition last Sunday in Islamabad - fierce riders on wonderfully saddled horses racing and trying to pierce a tiny tablet on the field with long spears. The team which succeeds in collecting most of the tiny tablets wins! Much fun to watch and to photograph - in fact they were so delighted about me taking pictures and I so lost in doing so, that I just missed being overrun by another team in full gallop.  And then they wanted me to mount several horses, the riders hoping this might bring some luck to their team... instead of tea "Energy Drinks" Pakistani style were served and I was about ready to compete as well after the second drink. Luckily the ballet slippers on my feet made me rethink and hold back!!

My "Wild Gang" (our Diplomatic group of trailing spouses!) is collecting the most amazing and interesting experiences in Asian SPA's - on my next blog...  but then again, next week I will be in Karachi!