At the singapore zoo. Its pouring - we ve taken a stop for shelter - keeping ourselves out of the rain and in view are the most magnificient female elephants playing in the stream and enjoying the downpour. Its fantastic! I can't quiet figure who's komali, jati, gamber , intan or aprila- in any case they sure are fine ladies ... Being close to nature , surrounded by elements of life one feels so soulful. And having your soulmate next to you, a leaf gracefully fluttering and landing in the stream , the raindrops on the blackberry and the ladies affectionately rubbing trunks and throwing sands on their backs... Its no short of being heavenly serene.

Posted by faisal's reema.

Sitting in the sehen of salman pasha mosque in istanbul. Read about this mosque last night as one not visited by foreigners since it's not a glamorous mosque. Was built by salman pasha who had conniver with roxalena to have her step sons killed. Her son, a womanizer and drunkard thus came to sit on the throne and started the end of the ottomans. In my heart I decided to visit the mosque to see it's tile work, but in my heart wished salman pasha poorly. Imagined him burning in hell, etc. Etc.

We went again to sulaimaniye mosque this morning for we woke up thinking we should revisit. Picked up a tourist map and walked through narrow scary streets for about 20 minutes to finally reach near the salman pasha mosque.

Ever since iwe have been in turkey, I have been pretty much missing all my namaz and almost getting used to it.

Just short of here we started hearing azans from mosques all around us. The devil had our hearts in his grip and we ignored the call.

As we walked into salman pasha mosque it was time for jamaat and finally the devil's grip came loose. I did my wudu, and joined the jamaat. Said some nafavil of thanks and forgiveness.

But throughout the namaz inb my heart I kept praying for salma pasha's forgiveness. May Allah forgive his sins and may he rest on peace.

May Allah forgive oir sins and may he save us from the devil, nad may He guide us.

Mosques should be built, but not as they are in Pakistan. A mosque should add life and laughter. A mosque should invite, almost compel, us to pray.

Shamed and sinned, in the sehen of Salman Pasha mosque, where children are playing, and men talking.

Faisal Qureshi

The food finally arrived. And YES. Finally some spice and pepper. Oh yeah. Excellent food. The Pink Pavillion at The Kariye Museum, Istanbul. Highly recommended.

Sitting at a small roadside cafe called The Pink Pavilion, outside the very gorgeous Kariye Museum, on the outskirts of Istanbul. It's partly cloudy, so the sun comes and goes. A soft cool afternoon breeze is blowing. It's a small neighborhood, almost like a little town. School must have just gotten off and children are returning to their homes.

We've made the mistake of ordering some Chicken Shish in a place where people stop oinly for tea or coffee. It's taking forever for they probably don't know what to do with our order. But do I care? Nope. The servers are polite and courteous. The whole scene is so calm and serene, we don't care. We don't mind waiting. Just sitting her is relaxing and rejuvenating.

Is it any wonder karachiites are the way they are? Noone stops to smell the roses (there are no roses, or flowers on the streets). No time to even breathe. I don't remember when I last even sat in the frontyard with my family and had some tea.

Where are we rushing to? It's not like we're doing anything. Might as well stop for a moment to take stock of life.

Hoping to see a calmer karachi.

>From Chora, Istanbul.

Faisal Qureshi.

P.S. Blacbkerry rocks. Oh yesssss.

On a boat. Going back to istanbul from buyukada. The sun has just set. Cool soft breeze. People happy, chatting, laughing.

Where have my own people gone wrong? Why have we stopped loving life and the self? Why have we lost respect for our self?

Can we, Pakistanis, make a come back? But where do we start? With the place? With the state? With the people?

Can we change mentalities and the mindset of our people? Can something make us regain our self respect? Can something stop os for spitting at the sun?

Somewhere in the middle of the Bosphorous Strait.

Faisal Qureshi

P.S. As much as I hate mobilink, I just love the blackberry. It's actually working here.

I'm travelling today and write this from a breakfast table of a hotel in istanbul.

I'm missing karachi.

We're too busy questioning what pakistan doesn't offer us, or where it fails. We never see what we can do with it.

An aggressive episode of http://www.looseends.tv aired last night, and a viewer's response made me realize our mistake.

Don't look at what OUR country has or is. Think what WE can make of it. We have a clean canvas to work with.

Godspeed

P.S. I luuuuuuv my blackberry :)

This is the moment when it all changes. Life begins again. Thankyou life.

Last night I understood what mid-life crisis is. What triggers it. Why it happens.

Let's now see if it makes or breaks me.

Time without you is like spilt water.