AROUND Pakistan: Cholistan Desert near Bahawalpur

Hello lovelies, continuing with some photo stories of places from our recent trip to see our families and here is one from our time in Bahawalpur¹. We drove down to where we could see the Cholistan desert, with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, and absolutely enjoyed watching the sun go down as Anya had fun digging her gold shoes in the dirt ;). It was so serene and peaceful. We loved it. Here is a peek.











The Cholistan Desert, locally known as Rohi, lies near Bahawalpur in Pakistan and covers an area of 10,200 square miles. Its connects into the Thar desert which then extends into India. The desert has an average rainfall of 5 inches a year and there is very little cultivation. The area was once well watered by a river, now called the Hakra in Pakistan and which was known in Vedic times as the Sarasvati. All along the 500-km of dried up river are over 400 archaeological sites, which date back to the Indus civilization 4500 years ago and are clustered around Derawar Fort, one of the major landmarks of the Cholistan desert.



For more photo stories from around Pakistan go here.

Thanks for reading. Lots of love.

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FYI

¹ Bahawalpur, my husband’s hometown is a desert city in the south of Punjab in Pakistan.

Our Mothers Day.

 

After feeling guilty for spending most of my morning on the phone with my mom and my best friend, I told you I wanted to take you out for a little mothers day treat as I absolutely love being your mom. You immediately said theek hai (OK in Urdu) and told me you’d like your favorite McDonald’s strawberry milkshake as a treat. So we picked up the shake along with an ice team for myself and we found a hilly spot in a nearby park in the sun and sat there as we enjoyed our treats over random chatter and some silly selfies.

I remember what it was like to wait all those years for you, I remember what it was like to bear you, to experience the strength I never knew I had. I remember those sleepless nights, I remember the sleep struggles and the dramas of potty training. I struggle each day to be a better mom than I the one I was yesterday, to understand you more, to learn new ways to deal with the challenges of each stage. And I am so very grateful for the gift of motherhood, the frustrations/the love/the struggles, everything!

Today I celebrate myself and how far I have come. I celebrate my mom who I have come to appreciate only after becoming a mom myself and all that she has taught us and given us, I celebrate you the little girl that gives me this title, that looks up at me for understanding and guidance. 

To all the amazing moms around me that inspire me to be a better one. Happy Mothers Day!

And I got a bonus super amazing mothers-day dinner by my own personal chef husband, salmon topped with a yummy blueberry sauce.

Alhamdullilah.

Thanks for reading and much love.

With friends on my side, turning 32

I turned another year older last month and unlike my 30th where I wrote about my thoughts I don’t have many to share for this one, but I do have this photo story of celebrating with my friends instead! lol. I guess after 30 it doesn’t feel that monumental any more, at least for a couple years more! (eeeeee).

Thanks to the amazing Sumera Naveed for capturing the moments above.

I am so blessed to have friends that made my day so special, they took me out for lunch and then surprised me with this beautiful cake. You aren’t really a photographer till you get your own camera cake and I got one! I almost didn’t want to cut it, but once I did it was so good really! Yum. My little girl went with me for my birthday lunch with my friends and though she drove me a little crazy trying to get my attention every little while, when everyone was singing Happy Birthday, I turned to my side and there she was clapping her hands and singing along as loud as she could with a big smile on her face. It was so unlike last year when she refused to accept it was my birthday and wanted it to be hers instead! My love is getting big, and now I get to celebrate my occasions with her too! So thankful. Alhamdullilah¹! (She has had a gazillion birthday parties for me in her play kitchen and wrapped me so many cards and gifts using my gift wrap. It has been entertaining. hehe)

A-night-before-dinner from my man, birthday morning skype with my loves in Islamabad, followed by celebrating with my friends, and lots of gifts, turning 32 was not bad AT ALL ;)

Oh and my friends ordered the amazing camera cake from a friend that does cakes for events. If you’re in the Seattle area, check out her page for some beautiful and yummy treats for your next event.

Thanks so much for reading. Lots of love.

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FYI

¹A phrase that Muslims often use in conversation, especially when thanking God for blessings. It literally means "Praise be to Allah."