A Travel in Time
July 31, 2009
Looking over the deep valley before me took me back to ancient times how civilizations dominate the piece of blue planet and then are lost forever. With vista of more then 60 KM in front of me of place which was once and still called as Throne of Hazar (Takht-e-Hazara), I travel in the time and cultures which are long lost.
This history of this place goes back to Stone Age. Than ancient name of this place was Aroosa from which the word Vrash is driven. In Mahabharata it is named as Uraga that means lake. The known history tells us about the Persian Empire, which was amalgamated into Tavila until Alexander the Great got the control and handed over it to Raja Ambhi. After that it was called as Abhisara. who was followed by Asoka and Sirkap. Who was then defeated by Raja Rasalu capturing the are fom Swat to Attock.
Then come chinese pilgrim when it was part of Kashmir and ruled by Darlbha Vardana. The history continues as Mahmood of Ghazni defeated Turk Shahi & Hindu Shahi dynasty. Followed by Pathans and then Tughlaq dynasty leading to region came under the Afghan.
This is why this place has always been a shine in so many civilizations. The blend of cultures created many tribes along its way, who are still practicing their life of ancient times, which include Gujjars, Swati, Awan, Kashmiri, Mughal and Quarish. The most important among these is still the Gujars tribe, who are famous for their unique culture and lifestyle.
The word Gujjar is driven from a Sanskrit word Gorjar that means brave. There are various theories about the origin of the Gujjars. According to Mahabharatha the Gujjars came with the Aryans from outside. Gujars, Gujjar, gurjar or gorjara are the members of the many groups, or casts of the subcontinent, many inhabiting Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Gujrat, with some groups in Rajastan and Haryana. Gujjars belong to the Kshatriya and Brahmin casts.
The Gujars were designated by the British as a Martial Race. Martial race was a designation created by the British Raj to describe races that were thought to be naturally warlike and aggressive in battle, and possessing qualities like courage, loyalty, self-sufficiency, physical strength, discipline and tenacity.
Legend of Ghazi Baba, Khanian
July 30, 2009
Let me take you to the journey which will leave you enchanted by the spectacular beauty. As the start of our journey we found ourself over the famous Karakorum Highway, untill we reach Mansehra apart from being major stop on the highway, it also links to the road to Kaghan Valley, Naran, Shogran, Lake Saiful Mulook and Babusar Top.
The Kaghan valley has long been one of the most popular destinations for all type of tourists. Famous for its beautiful lakes, including legendary Said ul Muluk, verdant meadows of Paya, and hill stations like Shogran & Naran. As you move further the mountain range beside you get more elevation, making you feel deeper in the valley untill you are encircled by snow clad peaks of the Naran.
On the way to Naran, Khanian offers the best trout one can taste in the north. The dazzling greens of Dana Meadows and the slippery glaciers at tarmac, on the way to Naran, are quite an experience. in the slopes of Khanian Top. Standing firm between the mountain range of Kaghan Valley at Khanian, there is a legend associated with Ghazi Baba, a great Muslim warrior, who fought against Dewan Sing, the Sikh General. The hoofs impressions of his horse are still visible on a huge rock on the right side of the road whereas, his sword impression was removed during the construction of the road.
The picture above is of Khanian Top on sunset, and below a small glimpse of Dana Meadows at the base of the mountain. Center of Kaghan Valley, Pakistan.
Road that Leads
July 29, 2009
There is a road that leads from where you are this very moment all the way to the best life you can possibly imagine. There is a road that leads from this very place where you find yourself today, all the way to your most treasured dreams.
Though it will sometimes be rocky and it will often be a steep climb, it’s a road that you’re free to take whenever you decide you’re ready. As you travel the road you will learn, you will grow, you will achieve, you will bring about the very best of your possibilities.
Though it might seem nice to just skip the road and to arrive instantly at your dreams, doing so would drain all the value from those dreams. Because what makes those dreams meaningful to you in the first place is the person you’ll become in reaching them.
The road ahead is difficult and it is wonderful. What a grand opportunity you have to travel it! Enjoy and get the most from every step, for that is where you’ll find the richness of your life. Lets experience the mighty Karakorum Highway….
Taken: KKH, upper Hunza, After Ahmadabad, Northern Areas of Pakistan.
Senseless Worries
July 29, 2009
Each day you fill your mind with thousands of thoughts. Those thoughts have much power because they influence every little thing you do, and those little things quickly add up.
So rather than filling your mind with worrisome thoughts, fill it with positive, enthusiastic, loving and life-affirming ones. Then, rather than letting the power of your thoughts push you down, those thoughts will be lifting you up.
The next time you find yourself with a worry or anxiety, think of it as a pebble in your hand. Simply let go of it, let it drop naturally, effortlessly to the ground, and continue on your way.
Then pick a positive, enriching thought to take its place.
Let me take you to an enjoyable hiking path connects the zoo park located at the base of Margalla Hills to Daman-e-Koh (Center of Mountains). One can travel up the hill to the center of the mountain and see the forest below, as well as offers fantastic views of Islamabad.
If you are in Islamabad be sure to visit this area where nature abounds, the view is marvelous and the atmosphere is so peaceful and tranquil. With so many places to venture, and with wildlife that will entertain you for hours. A perfect way to forget your worries and be social and with nature.
Taken: Pathway of Daman-e-Koh, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Fabric of Life II
July 28, 2009
Life is always inspiring, the scenery around us, the situations we find ourselves in and the people we meet can all contribute to some great moments of inspiration.
Our entire environment is interconnected with its life forms, which are interconnected and inter-reliant on each other. The complexity is enormous, perhaps beyond the scope of the limited human intellect. Within this fabric of life there is a perfect consistency and response to influences, until man steps in and begins breaking apart the individual elements thread by thread without understanding the fabric which is the whole.
If you look at a piece of fabric or knitting, there is always one side that looks beautiful. Then, when you turn it over, there is the messy side. The side that contains all of the loose yarns and threads. You can’t have one side without the other. Both are necessary for creating the finished piece. And, the same can be said about life. It’s not about perfection but opening to the life that you are living and working with what life presents you.
Problems are the texture in the fabric of life, nothing more. Without them, our lives would be flat, lacking excitement and fulfillment.
Our basic emotions like Joy, Acceptance, Fear, Surprise, Sadness, Disgust, Anger & Anticiaption forms a base of the fabric with the interwoven complex emotions like Love, Disappointment, Contempt, Aggressiveness, Optimism and Submission creating the design pattern of life.
So at the end it again boils down to the singular most important thing, Our Attitude is creating the fabric of our life… We are all provided with the same base of fibers, what fabric we create is always different.
Have a nice Fabric…
Taken: Tana Bana (Weaving) Festival at Lok Virsa Museum, Islamabad, Pakistan
Above & Beyond
July 27, 2009
A little extra effort can bring your life to a much higher level. Once you’ve done what must be done, do a little more. The distance you must travel to get from ordinary to outstanding is not really that far. Yet the benefits of going that extra distance are enormous.
You have something very special and original to give to life. Let the best that you are flow out from you with every effort, in every situation. There is an abundance to which you’re already connected. Do the work and put forth the commitment to fully express that abundance through the outcomes you achieve.
The opportunity to make a difference is one of life’s greatest blessings. Seize that opportunity and live it with every breath you take. Know the magnificent joy that effort can bring, and you’ll always be eager for more. Go above and beyond, and you’ll find it to be a truly wonderful place.
Taken: Jeep Ride from Sharda (Kashmir) to Jalkhad (Kaghan Valley), Pakistan.
Mesmerize yourself with one of my fav and the wonderful Above and Beyond Mix of Oceanlab’s Miracle.
Silence
July 24, 2009
An ordinary man thinks either that silence cannot be achieved or that it is of no avail. But a seeker knows that silence can be achieved on the strength of his inner cry. He also knows that silence is of tremendous importance, for without silence we cannot see the face of Truth or grow into the very image of Truth and Light. Silence is within but we have to discover it. Unless and until we discover our inner silence, we cannot feel that we are of God and for God. Inner silence is not just the absence of thoughts. No! Silence is the blossoming of our indomitable inner will. Silence is our inner wisdom-light. This wisdom-light is our conscious and constant surrender to the Will of our Inner Pilot, who inspires us, encourages us and guides us to the Shores of the Golden Beyond.
Taken: Evening with a silence before the storm at Paya meadows, Kaghan Valley, Pakistan.
Far Ahead on Our Journey
July 24, 2009
The conscious mind is busy generalizing, deleting and distorting reality to suit our beliefs, our selective awareness. It is only when we become aware that we are a whole being, not separate mind, body and feelings, that we become aware that reality just is, without our mind defining it.
We hide ourselves in mindless TV programs. We bury ourselves in going to work and doing our routine. We put off important decisions, like healthy eating, like good mental and physical health by going to mountains and walk in the clouds.
We can not see very far ahead on our journey. So we choose to lock ourselves up in a store full of limiting ideas. The thinking mind is too busy giving meaning to reality with labels and word definitions rather that appreciating in wonder about life.
Take the time to realize that life is not just inside your head. Take the time to see the colors, to appreciate them, to love and adore yourself, to stare at an misty path and the green beauty that is a tree.
Choose to be and do; being is not the same as thinking. What you say to yourself and how you choose to define yourself is the limit you are prepared to go to.
Taken: Trekking to Makra Mountain, from Paya Meadows, Kaghan Valley, Pakistan
You Attract Who You Are
July 23, 2009
There are a lot of great people out there. You just have to feel good enough about yourself to go for the people you think are great. Easier said than done, I know. But if we feel poorly about ourselves we only go for and approach people that we think would take us – people with lots of baggage, problems, insecurities, abusive, possessive, jealous, etc
Some believe that your destiny will bring you to your soul mate like a magnet pulls metal. Your life will create a series of experiences that will lead you almost innocently to that vital part that will make your life complete. Unfortunately, there is no formula for finding your soul mate. We can only prepare ourselves to recognize that special person when we meet him or her. The preparation is really the key to how soon you can find that person.
Finding your soul mate is a search for wholeness or completion. It is much beyond mere physical desire. You can feel attracted to many others, but there could only be one person who will fit in perfectly to complete the puzzle of your life.
Ask yourself: what kind of a person are you? Have you been honest with your self and your life until now? When you are clear with all these questions, you can be sure that you will be able to attract and find your soul mate in life. Truth is, you attract who you are!
Taken: A Trek to Ultar Meadows that ends up Eagle’s Nest with one person I feel complete with… Karimabad, Central Hunza, Northern Areas of Pakistan
Dreams and Reality
July 22, 2009
Been talking to myself forever, and wish I knew me better. Still sitting on a camp floor, never seen the sunshine brighter than this, I keep on thinking about myself, A little bit isolated and little bit of hopeful, over a very fine line between Dreams and Reality.
We do this everyday. We believe our dreams are not real. There are pies in the sky, that can only land on earth by divine intervention totally out of our control, like winning the lottery. Since we believe that making our dreams come true is totally out of out control and completely unrealistic, we tell our minds to forget it.
We tell our minds that our destiny has been sealed at birth, based on sex, skin color, parentage, social class, geographical location, religion, nationality, ancestry etc. We tell our minds that nobody in our lineage have ever achieved what we are dreaming about, hence we may as well forget it. We tell our mind that we do not have what it takes to make our dreams come true. We tell our minds to forget about dreams and get on with the hassles of everyday living, paying of bills and waiting for the next pay day…
We are so convincing in our arguments that our minds close and focuses on how to make a monthly life, and where to shop to make the biggest savings. Our minds does such a good job of it, that we equally run from "dreamers" and make friend with folks like us, without dreams…
As I said, there is a very fine line between dreams and reality. In the mind and imagination, that line hardly exists. If you have the picture of your future in your mind, and keep it there, after a while, it becomes more real than your physical reality. If you surround yourself with images of your future, your subconscious goes to work in working out how to make it come true, while you are going about your everyday business. With planning, believe, faith, focus and follow through, your dream easily becomes physical reality.
You can choose to carry the dream to term or abort. It is up to you. If you are ready to go through the process, your dream will become reality in time. You would have crossed the fine line.
Thanks for reading up to this level…
Taken: Laying down in the Camp, waiting for the meal to be finely cooked with the dream like view across the meadow of Paya; Makra (Spider) Mountain, Kaghan Valley, NWFP, Pakistan.
