Adil Najam
Massachusetts - where I currently live - takes its Fall (Autumn) season very seriously. The main attraction is ‘Fall Foliage’; the changing of leaf colors as autumn sets in. The official Massachusetts website proudly proclaims that, “Fall is a glorious time to visit Massachusetts. The trees wear magical coats of crimson, gold, and scarlet leaves; hillsides glisten under a pale pink glaze; dry leaves crunch underfoot; and every farm stand boasts piles of fat orange pumpkins.”
Indeed, the spectacular colors that the leaves and forests assume as the cold suddenly creeps in are breathtaking. This is the peak of the tourist season here and people from all over the country and the world converge here to ‘look at the leaves.’ Fall Foliage happens in many places around the world, but in this area (called ‘New England’) it is especially special.
In the beginning, I used to think this rather quaint, even funny. But now I have come to appreciate the glory of the season. Over the last many weeks as I have sat on my desk writing this blog, all too often I have looked up to enjoy the wonderful hues of yellows and oranges and reds and browns that the leaves in my yard have assumed. By now the leaves are all on the ground, the snows are around the corner, but it is still quite beautiful.Over the years, I have taken many photographs of Fall Foliage in Massachusetts. The photograph featured here is not one of them. Indeed, what makes this photograph special is that it is not of Massachusetts at all; even though the foliage connoisseurs of New England would have been quite proud of it. It is, in fact, from Hunza. The snow packed Himalayas in the background make the picture all the more spectacular.
I found this picture on the web (here) the other day and wondered why people seem to enjoy and appreciate Fall colors so much more here than they do in Pakistan. Indeed, as so many of Shirazi’s posts highlight, we tend to enjoy and appreciate the natural wealth of our country so much less than we should. Of course, the daily struggles for survival have much to do with our lack of ability to do so. But even those who can seem to be far more interested in catching a weekend in glitzy Dubai than catching their breath in beholding the natural beauty that is all around us.
Salam .is web ko aam karo k har koy deken . Thank,s
Adil Jan Achakzai From Pishin Manzari Mekhanzai.
[…] Like Adil’s earlier post on Fall Foliage in Pakistan, I think this could have been easily confused with a picture of an old lighthouse flanked by the church as being from Europe or North America; but much like the foliage, it is very much in Pakistan. But where? […]
[…] Like Adil’s earlier post on Fall Foliage in Pakistan, I think this could have been easily confused with a picture from Europe or North America; but much like the foliage, it is very much Pakistan. […]
I really enjoyed the style of writing of this as well as teh subject matter. Must say that I coudl not have guessed that this is Pakistan and am ashamed to say that I have travelled hundreds of miles to watch the fall colors in USA but never in Pakistan.
Zahid Bashir,
You are right, we have so much to see within Pakistan but still people with money would prefer a Duabai cruise or a trip anywhere outside Pakistan. Of course, there is this “snob value” to these foreign trips and also the opportunity for shopping. But one important reason, even though not talked about, the tourism does not take off in Pakistan (I have already mentioned 3 or 4 in an earlier comment) is that Pakistan is a dry country. Dry as in drinking or, more appropriately, not being able to drink. Whether one admits it or not many tourists, after a day of sightseeing, would like to relax in the evening over a drink or two. One reason the Dubai cruise is causing so much excitement is the freedom to drink on board.
Pakistan government will have to think long and hard about the issue of prohibition. Prohibition hasn’t stopped people from drinking. So, does the government want to live with the underground business of bootlegging and the consequent loss of revenues or would they like to open up like several Muslim countries have?
This is such a great post. So surprising. I started reading and wondering why we were talking about Massachustees. The mountains did look a little familiar but I really did not make teh Hunza connection till teh end. It was such a wonderful surprise at end.
We do have great and unexplored places. But there is also the snob factor. If you want to be important in Paksitan you have to talk about things outside Pakistan. Even if it is this Dubai cruise you have a writeup about.
MQ, thanks for providing correct latitudes. wazan hai aap ki baat mein