Politics

Don't know if any of you have been reading the Pakistan news recently but yesterday was fun. The ex Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ousted by incumbent President in a coup came back yesterday from exile in UK only to be bumped on to a waiting plane to Saudi Arabia... All good fun and drama to follow through the day but with an underlying seriousness. BBC seem to be covering it well as are the local DAWN newspaper.

We have Ramadan starting on Friday/Saturday and I have no idea how that affects peoples temperaments here but we are in for an interesting few months ahead.

Will let you know how it effects life for expats, not much I suspect unless it gets violent then I will have something to write about!!

French Beach

Finished work early and decided to take a trip to French Beach which is just to the west of Karachi. About 20 kilometers but what a road. Broken cars, buses and trucks so it took us about an hour to get there. French Beach is a strange section of coastline which has been enclosed by a low level wall and contains lots of beach huts which are used by the more wealthy Karachians (is that correct?)

Seems they go there for weekends to relax and party. It is right off the beaten path and so understandably makes for a really good break. However during our visit there were only guards and the place was deserted. Have a very strange feel to it. You kept looking round hoping to find a group having a party or some activity. But only empty huts and some boats pulled up the beach.

Might go back one day with a bunch of Friends for a Bar B Q.

Art on wheels.

Went for a factory trip yesterday and as usual got caught up in the rush hour traffic. But the interesting thing as usual was the busses. If you just sit back and watch them. Its a never ending display of kelidoscope colours and designs to look at. After a short while you forget the traffic jam and relax. Zzzzzzz........................................!

Karachi bridge is falling down falling down....

Big event in town last week. One of the new bridges fell down. Yes just fell down. Bang. Fortunately I don't thing anyone was hurt. Which is a blessing. Added to which it collapsed due to engineering reasons not the interference of the Taliban or other opositions to the Government.

Sunday Fishing

Up and out by 6.00am and off to the ferry port to get on a boat and go off fishing. We finally left after first returning home to get my passport !! No identification then no way out of the port. Even in a Sunday morning. Anyway off we finally went. Weather as not to hot in the low 30's. Waves about half a meter so all in all very pleasant.

The team were all new to me expect Ahmad who introduced me to everyone. Right ready ?... Off we go. 4 large trolling rods were set up. Two quick strikes. Great start but on winding them in all we got were plastic bags...

Then one of the team was feeling deciding queasy to say the least. It was decided to head for home.

I had earlier been asked by Seehzad if I wanted to go sailing but after a morning without fish I decided I had had enough of the sea for one day.

Better luck next time.

Parata and eggs

There was me a few days ago in Bangkok and arriving back in Karachi wondering why was I back......

Well without thinking I came to the office as usual this morning and without thinking ordered a Parata and fried egg for my breakfast. The Parata is a flat bread that originated in the subcontinent. It is usually made with whole wheat flour, pan fried in ghee / cooking oil, and often stuffed with vegetables, especially boiled potatoes, radish or cauliflower. Me I have mine as oil free as possible and plain. Might move over to fillings in due course, and a fried egg cooked in minimal fat. Washed down with a strong cup of Liptons!! Good start to the day. I must be far more settled here than I realised.

Bangkok

Hi, Just got back from Bangkok. Left last Friday evening and got back on Monday evening. Spent most of the time with Wanna and together on the Monday went and sorted out her visa for Pakistan. So all in all successful. I needed it and when I got back to Karachi I felt so refreshed. Adopted a new approach to work. Well trying to slow down a bit and take things one at a time. Seems to have worked including coming home early at 5.30 instead of the usual 6.30.

We've got Ramadan next month so I expect to see some changes in the office hours. Might get a bit of fishing in. Yes I've been promised a trip on Sunday so photos to follow.

Sometimes it's not what you know but who....

Sure you have heard that expression before just as had I. But over the last few months I've been looking to get my boat over to Karachi.

Local Agent said it was to difficult so what to do?

What to do? Go to the top. Go to the man at the top. That's right. Went to the Chairman of the Port of Karachi.

The history to this is simple. Last week the Karachi Port suffered some structural damage to a couple of Wharfs and my company was called in, and calling of such a group was yours truly. During the visit I had cause to meet the Chairman of the Karachi Port Trust. It does not get much bigger than that in Karachi. Talk about who you know.....

Later after several days of soul searching wondering how to move this project forward I decided to go to the top. Ask the Chairman. So Lloyd go give him a call. I did and spoke to the Secretary. Got an appointment for lunchtime today.

Got there and had the meeting. Explained I had met him before 10 days ago. 'Yes I remember how can I help you?'

So...Big breath. (he's an ex Vice Admiral so knows a thing or two about boats). Sir I am working here in the Port and would like to bring my boat to Pakistan for the duration. I then explained the story starting from buying Prinos to the whole idea, my background research,the Agent I had spoken to and the visit to the Marina Club.

He listened the pronounced 'Happy to help'.....that was the response. And what a response it was too.

He picked up the phone to his deputy and said "I am sending Alan Lloyd to see you about bringing his boat in. Please help as I want it to happen". Wow!!!! Parting words were "if you later still have problems come back to me".

Off I went and met his deputy. Again so helpful. Almost unbelievable. Seems all the emphasis is now back on me to get the Seychelles side sorted. This Blog for the next few weeks is going to be busy to keep you all posted on progress.

Sailing into Karachi

Life seems to have flown by with little or real news for you all. Well today I am off to see the Chairman of the Karachi Port Trust to find out how I get my boat into Karachi for the remaining duration of my stay. Should be interesting because as far as I can make out there is no reason why not but this afternoon will tell.

Then tomorrow I am off to Bangkok for the weekend. Will keep you posted. Is that a pun?

60’s Classics

Its been 11 days since I wrote in my Blog. I am sure you all want to know how the typing lesions are going. As a matter of fact not to bad. Just wish I had done it ages ago.

I came home early tonight planning on finding something to write about. Had no idea what. Realized that 11 days have passed since my last Blog. I know it was way too long and had in the back of my mind been looking round for a story.

Had considered telling you all about the Pakistan Game Fishing site I’ve come across as not much else was happening.

Then on the way home I spotted or rather I was over taken by a lovely old car. Sort of glided by in full grace and seemed to miss all the bumps in the road. Made my evening and of course gave me something to write about.

It glided by and as you know Elvis has been in the news recently so it has turned out to be a good choice, by default I know. Fishing will have to wait till next time. With luck that may choose to be an interesting topic and will fill this weekends addition to the Blog.

Nothing to write this week Typo lessons only

I thought writing a blog was supposed to be easy. Well there seems to be little to report this week.

What I did do was buy a Teach yourself typing CD. Driving me nuts but I've promised myself I'll get through it some how.

Apart from work, and straining all my fingers on the lap top key board I've been busy with planning on getting Prinos up to Karachi. Its a long way. But I've decided to look on it in a positive way.

Set sail for 10 days between Seychelles and Karachi and I'll have plenty of time to learn my typing skills. But then once mastered and adrift on the high seas the question may still be what to write....?

That's about the sum of. Learnt to type now nothing to say!!! Hope next week is a bit more fun and I have something interesting to say to you.

Sunday Sailing

Went to work again on a Sunday as Wanna had left for Thailand yesterday evening. Phone went about 3.30pm. My friend Shahzad asking me out for a sail on his friends boat. Another MacGregor. Lovely vessel. We had a few hours around the creek and came in. Lovely way to close out the day. Shahzad's friend Zia did the steering and much to my enjoyment we relaxed and watched the world go by. We also passed a few fishermen out catching their evening meal.

A Bloody side to work on a site

I started this blog telling you all I would not write about work. Well here's an exception. On Saturday we were set to drive our first quayside pile. Great excitement. How to honour the occasion and bring good luck. Simply make a sacrifice. Three goats were brought to site and slaughtered. Not a pretty sight but clearly for all concerned the way to go. Seems for both Chinese and Pakistanies this is quite a tradition. First to go was the Chinese Project Manager followed by yours truly. When all the blood letting was over the pile driving commenced. Went very well so maybe the Gods were smiling on us. Time will tell. For those interested, the goats were eaten so nothing was wasted. My next posting will be on a happier note.

Saturday Night in...

Night life is not one of Karachi's strong points. Socializing tends to focus on restaurants or going round to peoples houses and even that not so often. But there are several compensations including having friends round for a few drinks and dinner.

Last night therefore was fun. Ian and Aldo come round and we ordered in. Local Bar B Q tonight does a free delivery and its really quite amazing just how much they can load onto one motor bike!!!

We are four, get this only four persons. We ordered accordingly or at least that was the idea. On arrival the delivery boy was fully laden down. We had 8 massive nan breads massive rack of lamb, giant prawns, rice, kebabs, salads, sauces and more Turkish salad and homos.

We got stuck in and for about 3 hours just sat around the table eating and telling stories and more eating. Had a few beers to wash it all down. However after 3 hours we had hardly made a dent in it all. The remains filled the fridge. All in all a very good night.

Daylight Bomb in Karachi

Just a quick one to let you know that yesterdys bombs around Karachi did not have any direct affect on me or on our job site. Bit of a concern through as the bombs were targeted at the Chinese and we have about 100 on site. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6905808.stm The really sad thing is that whilst it did not affect me directly someone lost a mother or father and the poor child will probably never understand why. Doubt if anyone really does. Sad thought for the day.