Here I sit, Waiting…

Here I sit, Waiting…, originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

Here I sit waiting for something to happen, anything. The days pass slowly filled with needless tasks and wasted time and the nights drag on while I wait for the dawn to finally end my search. The sun rises and then it all begins.

I watch, waiting for the flowers to grow and the trees as they slowly blossom as the season changes. The season of my life is changing, but I’m now sure where or how it will end.

Now it’s time to listen to my own inner voice. I sit alone and wonder. I know that life is filled with isolation and waiting, silence and uncertainty, new beginnings and adventure and opportunities and laughter but for now I wait, anticipate and yearn for something, anything.

Solitude is when I look forward to the quiet private moments. They are a time of reflection and growth. They, with time, will become my treasured moments, ones that I will never want to lose again no matter how busy or successful I become. In solitude I am still alone, love the quiet. In solitude I grow and become rather than feel sorry for myself and whine. In solitude I learn; about life, myself, my dreams and my desires.

Taken: Hitch Hiking in the meadows of Manna, Kaghan Valley, NWFP, Pakistan

Steps to Longevity

Steps to Longevity, originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

Everyone knows that the aging process is something that we cannot escape. We all will eventually see those first lines and wrinkles and we will feel our age taking its toll on our bodies. However, knowing that we cannot stop the aging process should not stop us from slowing down the process. We may not be able to escape the aging process but we can surely slow it down with the right lifestyle choices. Physical activity is one of the main steps towards longevity.

So my friends, there is no such secret potion or exiler of life… or any sacred spells to longevity of one’s life… Its simply the routine we follow in our life.

So what I did last summer is before your eyes… I was following these steps to Longevity around Melishkar, Central Hunza, on the hike back from Eagle’s Nest…

Polo & Chukker

Polo & Chukker, originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

Once a pastime enjoyed by a few enthusiasts, the game of polo is now an important and well respected event on international sporting and social calendars. Not to be played by the faint of heart, polo is a very enthralling spectator sport.

When equipped, each rider has a long-handled mallet that they use to try and score a goal by hitting a white wooden ball into the opposing teams’ goal. It is fast, furious and exciting to behold, especially as the horses seem to come within inches of your sideline.

A full Polo match is 8 chukker, but often in club matches only 4 or 6 chukker are played. Each chukker is timed to last 7 minutes, then a bell is rung, but the game goes on until the ball goes out of play, or for another 30 seconds when the bell is rung again. Ends are changed at every goal scored – this has been found to be fairest when there is a wind.

Thats what I learned in past couple of days while working out with Rawalpindi Polo Club over two of their matches. Murree Brewery Polo Cup with is 160 years old… and Brig. Gulmawaz Memorial Cup, played in the memory of famous polo player.

Taken: While the player struggling with theirs opponents and ponies to get hold of the white ball. Gulmawaz Memorial Exhibition Match, Rawalpindi Polo Club, Race Course Ground, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Polo in Pakistan

Polo in Pakistan, originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

Winston Churchill, once said that “A polo handicap is your passport to the world”.

His words could not ring with more shattering truth than in Pakistan where Polo is truly the kind of national sport in many areas, favored even over cricket. Specially me tent pegging and polo happens to be my new love, as I indulge myself into the beauty of beast and the capacity of its rider.

Polo is one of the oldest sports in the world. It combines the skills of the rider with the power of the horse as well as team tactics. It is played in 48 countries in 5 continents. The ancient grounds of polo stretched from Constantinople to Japan.

It was begun several thousand years ago as military training for the elite Sultan’s army – possibly from Persia, although Pakistanis and Indians believe it originates from the Northern Areas. The very name ‘polo’ is the Balti term for ball. The original teams would have been armies with dozens on each side, ready to do battle. During the world’s first tournament in 600BC the Turks thrashed the Persians and the battle has continued on to this day.

Taken: Murree Brewery Polo Cup, Rawalpindi Polo Club, Race Course, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

A Traveler’s Dream

A Traveler’s Dream, originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

Following a network of ancient trade routes, linking Silk Road oasis of Kashghar in western China with the Pakistan’s Capital Islamabad. Along the way it crosses the wonderful Khunjerab Pass. During the 20 years it digested lives of hundred of workers while constructing this 1300 Km highway through the wonderful peaks of more than 7000 meters. Welcome to the the Traveler’s Dream… Welcome to Karakorum Highway.

The souls that paved the way for the modern tarmac road named the Karakorum Highway still seem to flicker amongst the sharp moving shadows of the rocks and the almost countless but crumbly lucent glaciers that constantly embellish its existence.

The road enlighten oneself with the jaw dropping beauty around and the out of world landscapes. Here is the road passing through Gulmit Area toward Passu, Near Hussaini Village.

Something Important

Something Important, originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

Success is the accomplishment of something that is important to you. When we talk about Success, we are talking about identifying the behaviors that create success or failure in all our endeavors. When you can identify the traits that truly successful people have, and see the areas of your life that need work, you can move toward more success in your own life.

All it takes to succeed is persistence. All the things that you read or know about don’t worth a dime if you don’t make them happen. And to make them happen you have to Work and Persist in your work.

not so good truth about us humans, is that we live in the prison of our fears. It’s your fear that holds you from being brave. It’s your fear that holds you from taking decisions.

Tent Pegging is of a game which teaches you lot more than all these things which can not be learned from ordinary board games…. Concentration, Focus, preservation, attempts, failures and off course success. The intensity you will find over the field of Tent Pegging is just amazing.

Taken: Spring Festival, Mandi Bhawaldin, Punjab, Pakistan.

Nature Heals

Nature Heals, originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

Let me start with a notion here…

“Peace”. A word often over-used and seldom truly examined.

The world can be puzzling if it starts to unwind. Where did we go wrong, to end up in this mess. A single word we all want in our life, but only few find it. May be its giving up on performance or may be we settle for less. The answer is not much surprising when you open up the mind and put the ego aside and think… We made this ourself with the power of mind.

You are on this planet to grow and to love. It is very simple. Don’t make it so complicated. Nature heals. Nature can open the wounded heart to love and to life again. Be grateful for, and be a gentle steward of this precious beauty. Open your heart, even if it’s wounded, and you will receive more light and love. It is always a choice.

Putting a feet at the far edge of Toli peer with the stretches of green meadows at your back and a big drop in front of you leading your vision to the great Himalayan range, with the birds flying high over the landscape. What else is desired to be in peace with myself and nature. The thing is how many of us find it..

Let me introduce my latest creation a vertical and horizontal merge of 10 shots. For those of you who need a limitless view and vision before their eyes.

Taken: At the edge of Toli Peer, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu Kashmir, Pakistan

Himalayas (Big Panorama)

Himalayas (Big Panorama), originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

A wonderful panoramic scenery, surrounded by fascinating atmosphere, lush green meadows lying below the peaks with snow capped tops, and limitless stretch which defies vision’s limit… Welcome to Himalaya.

A view from Toli Peer is a delight for the nature lovers. with depths of thousand of meters and wide slopes of lush green meadow with wonderful flowers all around and the view which is limitless. Let me introduce my panorama at 150 mm. I hope one can imagine the width of the view.

Always wanted to get something like this panorama, its a lame attempt but with time I am learning. A horizontal stitch of 13 pictures… Must see it in large…

Taken: from the edge around Toli Peer, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu Kashmir, Pakistan

Banjosa

Banjosa, originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

Let me take you to deep into town of Banjosa, wrapped around the famous Banjosa Lake. As mentioned earlier, this is an atrificial lake and fed by spring waters.

This is one of the channel I took for my little hike around the trek in Banjosa. Its a vertical blend of two pictures. Just trying to present what I saw there….

Taken: Short Hike around Banjosa Lake, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan.

Banjosa Lake HDR

Banjosa Lake HDR, originally uploaded by !ShT!aQ aHmEd.

The story of this picture starts from another picture of Banjosa lake which fascinated me from my childhood. Old Presidency in Rawalpindi became Fatima Jinnah University, and a new wall build around it, on that wall I first saw a picture of Banjosa.

Somewhat same is the story of my photographic sense. I always wanted to share with people what beauty our country holds, and words are not enough, so I picked up my first 2 Mega Pixel Samsung Point and Shot. I have come through different transitions to get the right image for the viewer.

Banjosa is a nice place to experiment your photographic skills, as there is so many frames around the small lake. So I decided to do one, the complete feel of what I saw. So presenting you my second and best so far HDR creation. Merged four pictures for this one. And only photoshop CS2 was used. I hope someone will suggest me a better tool for it…

Taken: A fine evening at the bank of Banjosa Lake, Rawalakot, Ponch Sector, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan.