Dukaan is Urdu/Punjabi for shop. If you live in the city, shops are everywhere. Sometimes you don't even know they exist- but they do! The entrance will be about 2 inches wide, but there you have it.

Also, what can be roughly translated as a candy shop/general store is ubiquitous. Even in rural areas, there will be at least one somewhere.

You can get all manner of tasty junk food from there, as well as various random household goods. o_o It's quite awesome.


In Category: Pakistan 2008

That's fading mehndi (henna) on my hands, by the way.


In Category: Pakistan 2008

Here's a vid of my aunt making paratha on an outdoor oven. Gas burners have been around for a while, but these are still commonly used, especially in rural areas.

Enjoy! =)


Video hosted on Vimeo.


In Category: Pakistan 2008

From my position on the roof of one of my aunts' house, here're four streets that I could see:




I love the little misty effect here. Those are donkey carts and ox carts fading off into the distance, by the way. This scene feels so peaceful.


That red and white brick structure in the lower left hand corner is the girls school where my aunt teaches. My mom used to teach there, too, back in the day.


I have no idea why that pile of bricks is there. It doesn't appear to be serving any immediate purpose. O.o


In Category: Pakistan 2008

This is very common practice in Pakistan, moreso in rural areas than urban. Virtually every female in Pakistan has her ears pierced. However, in some cases, parents can't afford gold, and so toothpicks are inserted instead.

Then, when the girl is older or the family saves up enough, they buy her gold earrings to replace the toothpicks.

Nose piercings can also be dealt with in this way, if necessary.

[Okay, I just had to point out how I loved the quality of this picture...it makes me feel so pro! XD]


In Category: Pakistan 2008