Life in the land of the pure, 2024-25 season, episode 5 … a walk in the park

Life in the Land of the Pure, 2024-25 season, episode 1: Big Old Jet Airliner …. … don’t carry me too far away. A relatively uneventful flight of over 7,000 miles—13 hours in the first leg, 3 1/2 hour layover, 3 1/2 hour second flight—where the only blemish was that my four bags were the last to hit the baggage carousel. Landed at 2am, bags appeared around 3am, got to the embassy around 4. I will say that getting exit row seats for the DC-Doha and Doha-Islamabad flights made the 16 hours in the air sort of tolerable. I recall being in Delhi for President Bush’s 2005 visit where he remarked on the long flight, not sure if he was aware the rest of us didn’t get to do it on Air Force One. The food on Qatar, even in economy, was very good. I want to fly like an Eagle … For your visit Ruth … I met the author and he will still be here at Post and has offered a tour Moving on up …. To a deluxe apartment in the sky … You may recall that when I was here in 2019-20...

Life in the Land of the Pure, 2024-25 season, episode 2: my last night (?) at Monal

September 07, 2024

If you’ve asked me about my past trips to Pakistan or why I wanted to go back, I’m sure you’ve heard me mention the restaurant Monal. ( https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293960-d1049378-Reviews-Monal_Islamabad-Islamabad_Islamabad_Capital_Territory.html ). Maybe repeatedly. It opened in the early 2000s, and I’m pretty sure that I visited it during most of my short trips (2007, 09, 11, 16, 17, 18) and at least twice in 2019-20. It is massive, with over 1,000 staff and the spac e to seat several hundred at a time. It has a small parking lot, so some people park as far as a kilometer away. The food is quite good—Pakistani and Middle Eastern fare—but you go for the view. It sits in the Margalla Hills north of Islamabad, and overlooks the city at 3800 feet. I tell people it’s also the best lesson on political economy in Pakistan. On a warm summer night, you can see the lights of the city. Then, as air conditioners in town turn on (it’s much cooler in...

Life in the land of the pure, 2024-25, episode 7: the young couple

December 25, 2024

The young couple.* One of the great things about living — not just traveling — overseas is to have visitors. An excuse to try new things and see familiar places through new eyes, to recall the thrill of discovery and share places you love with people you love. I just had the pleasure of hosting harrison and Tasha for what you may be surprised to learn was their first visit to Pakistan. Lots of firsts for us — we explored a lot!—and for them— first conversation with an ambassador! (Heather and Ruth are here with me now so you know there will be a part two to this story). And, because my last post was light on photos, this post will seek to rebalance. Our bar, the SafeHaven, is the second best bar in Pakistan A tutorial on rugs Dinner at the New Kabul … a must for visitors Top secret Santa … stocking stuffers for our marine security detachment Yes most embassy holiday parties come with polar bears standard Lots of natur...

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Life in the Land of the Pure