On the Road Again

The protests continue, new topics are added to the list of urgent concerns, but the violence is mostly under control, a Hindu shrine and attacks on its Hindu neighbors the last victim of the rage so far. The vicinity of the Hotel Serena remains a hot spot and therefore the surrounding streets and entrances blocked by huge shipping containers. It will take a while until it will live up to its name again of being a serene place. But the doors of the residences open again and social life picks up its pace, one of the colleagues promoting the sale of fashionable handbags stitched by a group of Pakistani female artists, a big contemporary art show of the last thirty years, even the Serena continues to hold functions - through a side entrance.

The daily updates on the front page of the national and local newspapers on the issue of the "Swiss Letter" do not seem to stir the emotions or even raise interest of the Pakistani people. Inching their way to a solution, the Supreme Court and the government, finally willing to go on with that matter and the letter, expected to be mailed one day to the Swiss authorities, is being drafted, rejected, redrafted, re-rejected, and now in his final stage of materializing.

An invitation to spend two tranquil days in Murree on the foothills of the Himalayas is a welcome change and the drive up to the mountains an adventure by itself. Even more so for a group of students who cling to their means of transportation, driving with considerable speed, no mother in sight...

A Christian church dating back to British colonial times is kept alive by a single monk, who holds a two month long seminar every year for bible students and looks after the cows and the garden.

Not much means to keep the beauty of the structure maintained, but there is certainly visible charm and the good spirit is well alive!

A nearby cemetery with a spectacular view into Kashmir provides welcome food for the goats - they feed happily on the flowerbed, carefully avoiding the bling of the colorful artificial flower garlands.

Next to be visited is a local school, or more precisely the result of a major renovation, paid for by a Pakistani  businessman from Lahore who spends his vacation here since his childhood. All new roofs shine in bright blue, the buildings sturdily built as former military barracks for British soldiers that are still in excellent shape and were available for little money after the partition and the British leaving the subcontinent. The fireplaces still work, as does the ventilation system below the rooftop, the hooks and shelves in place, only the beds along the walls are gone.

A young mother with her four children tells about the challenges of their daily life. The modest vegetable garden is constantly eaten away by wild animals, the monkeys steel food from inside the house, a snow leopard roaming the area and the washing of clothes being done down in the valley, a four hours hike, every couple of weeks. Nevertheless, there is joyous laugh and a hoarse parrot a beloved pet.

And in the Enclave, there is slowly awakening new life, "Diplomatic Housewives" are up for adventure, which one of our younger Ambassadors and a bachelor will soon be able to provide! We spotted him with an "Indian" motorcycle - not Indian, but American and one of the finest! - with side car, model "Chief Dark Horse" and in shiny black splendor. The large avenues of Isloo are waiting for us...