all squared away

all squared away
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

I just checked---according to blogger--this is my 200th post! :)

I shoot you!

"Love is not a feeling,Love is an ability"

-from the movie Dan in Real Life

Seeing how summers end up turning one's routine topsy-turvy--I have decided to initiate a change around here as well. Its the inclusion of--wait for it--Words! Lots and lots of them--most which I hope will compliment the snapshots I put up every few days.

Now that is done with--onwards! I just found a really interesting description of a vignette on Robin Minnick's blog while doing some school work. I especially appreciate her use of the word 'snapshot' in there:

A vignette is a short piece of prose writing that evokes a mood or emotion.
It is a snapshot in time of a scene, sometimes relying heavily on description,
that manages to convey something to the reader much in the same way a poem
does.

-Word Catchers, Tale Spinners and Dream Weavers blog

Lahore lives on

Lahore lives on
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

Following the attack on the Rescue 15 center near the Mall-the shattered windows, the lost lives, shaken confidences, genuine bravery and heartfeeling--past all that and more--

Lahore lives on.

This picture is special--due its ordinariness--a glimpse of the city from a moving car.
I will not lie to you, it is hard to articulate the mix of dread and confusion that gathers into a lump in my throat everytime there is news of a bomb blast. Prior to the increased frequency of such incidents in Pakistan, especially urban Pakistan, it was an event far-removed from our reality.

But now, it puts into play all sorts of questions--about survival, about the extent of 'hate', the lack of humanity, the definition of 'right' and 'wrong'--all this and more.

Where is this post going? Frankly, I do not know. As Pakistanis, this question raises another one--Where is Pakistan going?

There is a significant part of me that believes we can work things out, we can use the potentially awe-inspiring combination of our hearts and brains--and rise to the challenge.

(For all you cynics out there--which includes me at-times--this post was sponsored by HOPE)

searching for paradise

searching for paradise
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

Paradise Restaurant sits on the outer edge of the circle in Lahore's Liberty Market.

While it is pretty known for its shawermas..its the soft serve ice cream that draws Lahoris to the spot.

'i dream of a world at peace with itself'

'i dream of a world at peace with itself'
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

Said by Jahanara, the Mughal princess, as she conversed with her brother and Emperor, Aurangzeb. Jahanara is describing a vision, mingled with the poetry and sufism of her now-dead brother Dara and her father's dream of the complete Taj Mahal.

-from the play 'The Trial of Dara Shikoh'

Teapink swirls

Teapink swirls
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

these marshmallow-like roses were hand-picked for a friend--as she recovered from a minor surgical 'encounter'.

Follow the water

Follow the water
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

a glimpse from my short trip outside the metropolitan that is Lahore.

This is southern Punjab..

Can you tell that this too was taken while in a moving car?

I never had a stronger urge to just step out and explore the area, camera in tow, then while on the trip.

There is an abandon that comes from changing your space--geographically.

Yay for dahi bhallay!

Ahmed's scrumptious dahi bhallay!
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

absolutely delish!

honestly..I just had a bite.. because there was some mango ice cream to be had..

btw--If you are ever in Lahore, swing by Ahmed's (there are branches across the city)-- this is a definite 'two thumbs up'!

Prickly pumpkin cactus!

Was with my mom as she found vegetable seeds when I saw this super prickly plant. Interestingly the others were in other typically pepper or 'shimla mirch' colors,like a bright banana pepper yellow!

Flowershop Find

Flowershop Find
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

I came across these delightful daisies when my friend was picking out some flowers for a relative last week..

I think its no surprise that most of these warm tangerine-grapefruit colors are ending up in my summer wardrobe!

Blossoms in Mini Market, Lahore

Tranquility in a moving van

Tranquility in a moving van
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

I'm extremely partial..this one came out good..

This is on the way home from the impromptu flower shop trip

and believe it or not..
I was in a van...around 5 pm ...as it was weaving its way through Lahore ..and everyone was trying to get home..

when this macro was taken.

There be gold in the sky!

Palmtree glory
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

I had first labelled this picture 'Palm tree glory', but a Flickr friend commented with 'There be gold in the sky'--which I think is a really cool phrase!! :)

Multan, Punjab

March 2009

multi-color light at 'end of the tunnel'

Rosies Posies

Rosies Posies
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

Looks like a set don't it?

The tea cup and the note-book in the background.

Actually, the funny thing is that they were both purchased by me, years apart, for the same person!

We were having tea when it hit us that..lo and behold!-they belong together.

I had no idea I had such a penchant for roses...: )

Of all the foggy..

Of all the foggy..
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

days, here is a picture.

Imagine being inside a car on a foggy-pre-dawn morning in Lahore.

A New Beginning...2009

A New Beginning...2009
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

I took this 'quick-click' on a super frosty dawn this weekend...

It was an awesome change from the fog us Lahoris have been experiencing in-and-out for the past week..

Looking up

Another attempt to catch the soft Winter light.

flurry of flowers

The eternal tussle

seeing beauty in the details

a soft twist

a soft twist
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

its been a while...but now is better than never...

Macaroni Birthday Card :)

Mars on Earth's Wordle!

Second Home @ Wordpress.com

Hello People! :)

I have decided to make a second home for my photos over at 'creativeandthensome.wordpress.com'. I have oogling after those delicious one photo only themes fellow web-bloggers have, and now I am trying it out. So far so good!

Why don't you head on over and temme what you think about it?

p.s: I will continue to blog here primarily, blogspot was my first love!

'She had some odd notions,too.'

'She had some odd notions,too.'
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

Now this is a snap from earlier this semester when we were making our way through 'Madame Bovary' in uni... a definate recommend for those lazy summer days..

the evenly uneven

boulder chik
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

now this is rhythmic visually.

Oh I have a shopping slash curtain dressing question, click on the flickr link , and answer..that'd be cool!

Say Hello Yellow!

peeking in
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

So, it is not really spring, but looking at this sure takes me back to April.

Sunworshipper

sunworshipper
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

fresh blooms peek out on a March mornin'

i kinda like how the one in the middle stands out

no wallflower that one.

valentino would be jealous

valentino would be jealous
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

a night shot for a change.

a shot to mark , as my friend aptly called it, 'ishq day', (humor intended) :)

"I keep on falling, in and out..." by Alicia Keyes

So I love the winter morning light, its official. Do you?

pure glint

pure glint
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

this caught my eye as i flicked thru my archives..

what do you think?

i think this picture radiates warmth and purity.

Daybreak

Daybreak
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

Happy B-day Pakistan!

Happy B-day Pakistan!
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

Reel-ness

I am real excited about this, this being my photo landing up as the lead photo for Earthbeat Radio's topic of the day, Popular Documentaries or as they phrase it 'Pop Doc Power'.

Thanks to a fellow Flickrite, MFoxM!

p.s. Are you a part of Deviantart? If so, do visit and comment on this image here. :)

*link heavy post

Kheer @ Coo Coo's Den

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapaway/856803339/
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye

A picture after ages! I wanted to share this image with all of you. After four years, I finally made my way to Coo Coo's Den in Lahore with family for a night of scrumptious food, classic music, intriguing paintings, and gorgeous view of Badshahi Mosque.

right beneath the flowery tree

right beneath the flowery tree
Originally uploaded by Gemintheeye.

(the most grape like flowery bunches I have witnessed in Lahore...wait for the profile pic)