Hand pump, Cholistan

Hand pump, Cholistan
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Using the old, iron hand pump on your trip break is not only a very useful activity but also a very healthy one. For most of the water is ground water and very refreshing, especially for those who've been travelling and require some water. Modern day water bottles - water packed in plastic - has eroded the necessity of this very important source of water. But its beauty - and class - remains unchanged. For one, we were impressed with this fresh water on a pit stop in 2008. This road eventually led us to Derawar Fort, Cholistan's most magnificent fortification walls.

Making jalebis, Lahore

Making jalebis, Lahore
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

There is something about eating from the stalls situated just outside the Tombs / Shrines of Saints in Pakistan. There is a certain aroma suffused with mysticism and religion a combination, which has been acceptable to majority of Muslims since its inception. Today, however, this form of Islam is under direct threat from Saud-Wahabi-Salafi funded terrorists - not Jihadis, mind you - in the form of suicide bombings and killings. First it was Rehman Baba in Peshawar, the Bari Imam near Islamabad, then Data Darbar, the most revered Saint in Pak-Hind region. Now, they have blown up the gates of Abdullah Shah Ghazi (RA) in Karachi and Baba Fareed Gunj Shakar (RA) in Pak Pattan, a place I so love.

The place photographed above is just outside the Tomb of Shah Hussain and Madho Lal in Lahore.

Photograph shot during a road trip from Karachi to Jhelum in 2008.

Electricity thieves, Karachi

Electricity thieves, Karachi
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

You've been thinking why, after paying all the electric bills and taxes on time, still you are left with shortfall of electricity. Well, you know why!

It is estimated that some 35-40% of our electricity is wasted - stolen, lost due to old, creaking, broken wires, etc - and yet government, instead of handling the thieves, allow for the increased surcharge on bills. They also bring in rental energy plants which costs us millions of dollars.

Punj Tan ka Bagh, Sehwan Sharif

Punj Tan ka Bagh, Sehwan Sharif
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

That night I slept like a king - or someone who almost passed away! This is a place to be, if you wish to see a Pakistan mired in all sorts of traditions, religions and iconography. It is a place which offers fresh water to drink, some miracles, an open air sleep free of cost, and education in Rural area Shia religious themes and myths. I love this place.

Pan walla, Karachi

Pan walla, Karachi
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Just got back home after shooting this shot of a pan walla, which is just next to Alamgir Welfare Trust, Karachi. I think this came nicely.

Fishing, Karachi

Turtle beach, Karachi
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

I really love this serene shot of mine I took two years ago. We were on a hunt for turtle (just to see them, not kill them) and after turtle watching we went to the other side of the beach where these men were preparing and hauling their catch. Some have been in the sea since last night; some were new comers. Under a dim light of the very early Sun, this photograph was taken. I recently uploaded it to my flickr account.

Monkey Business

Monkey Business
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

I was asked to shoot monkey for my assignment on the cultural aspect of Pakistan. Well, now-a-days, monkeys have gone out of business as more and more people become poor due to economic stagnation and lack of government will power. Monkeys, it appears, will go back to the wild while their handlers will do something else to earn their sort-of-a-cruel earning. But that's not true for this Punjabi handler, who has been at the Sea View since last 35 years.

I am not sure what others say about all this monkey show but this is cruel and positively banned in many Western countries. And you can see why. These handlers buy monkeys young (this one was 3 years old and not very co-operative) from Islamabad / Pindi, where they can be found in the jungles at Margalla hills for Rs.5000 (un-trained). Then these monkeys are hit with the stick day and night and kept partially hungry so that they may learn their trick. While I was photographing this monkey walla and his monkey the poor creature got a lot of spanking on his head and hands due to which I had to cut short this show. I paid him Rs.150 and I am not sure whether I did the right thing or not.

Snake charmer with mongoose

Snake charmer with mongoose
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

I found him at Sea View yesterday (16th October 2010) and asked him to get his bansri out and show me the snake show. He insisted on fighting his snake with this large mongoose, which I objected to. So he took out the snake and showed me the show and I handed over Rs.150 for his performance. Honestly, the snake was a bit slow and very small. It's price was Rs.200-300 and it has been caught from Thatta. No wonder our wildlife continues to dwindle at a very fast pace.

Shot on assignment.

Khobani seller, Balochistan

Khobani seller, Balochistan
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

I was in Baluchistan with my working partner and friend, Danial, during the first half of June, 2010. We were on a mission to photograph certain parts of Balochistan for pakgatweway.com. And despite contrary views by people who've never been to Balochistan, we had lots and lots of fun while doing our work. And one of the better parts of that fun was to eat fresh, delicious fruit right from the trees they grow from.

This is Khobani and we ate so much that our stomachs were upping. But not aching.

This expedition into the heart of Balochistan was funded by www.pakgateway.com.