Plucked Snippets

So the anticipated  big day is here #Pakistangeneralelections2018. I'm not going to bore you by harping about why it's much more important this time, if you have a slighest inclination & interest in your nation's future collectively, & yours individually, I would say things are on the right track so far. Since Independence day is approaching in a few days too, I had a few things on my mind that I wanted to share.  Be the change you want to see in the world. Plant a 🌲. Conserve your local resources by  responsible usage of electricity & water. Vote responsibly, not just blindly voting the candidate of your caste which btw has done for a long time. Don't let yourselves be fooled over empty promises of the politicians, thinking that they deserve a second chance due to either their prison sentences that they claim were solely embraced for the purpose of nation's love, or because their mother/father/brother/sister were killed when their only crime wa...

So travel diaries II is here after much procrastination. In part 1 I talked about the initial prep so you didn't miss much, but if you want, you could still go back and give it a read. Now comes the fun part of when the actual travel starts. We opted for the train to get from Karachi to Rawalpindi/Islamabad, because we wanted a nice scenic view. It was almost a 26 hrs ride approximately. Greenline is a nice option if you prefer train over plane. So we started our journey from Karachi Cantt station at 10pm, had dinner around 11 and since we couldn't really see anything outside due to dark we slept around 12. Our inflatable pillows were a blessing right then, also a tip - you might want to get your own pillows (inflatable) and light blankets because otherwise you have a choice to rent them from the train but I mean, my OCD factor kicks in then and I prefer my own bedding. We woke up for Fajr, prayed in the train, a fun fact or not so fun fact is the washrooms where the noise le...

Hey you guys! I realize it has been a long time since my last post, but Im back with stuff which you will hopefully enjoy, fingers crossed! I have been planning a family trip to the colder areas of Pakistan ( I did'nt say northern because these areas are not actually strictly only in Pakistan) for quite a few years but unfortunately it was always something or the other & the plans always ended up cancelling. But finally, this Ramzan ,May 2018, after long planning, we decided on a 10 day trip to Kashmir & few other areas . Now 10 days don't sound a lot, but you will actually get to know  how much we actually experienced in that time period.I will break this travel diaries post in a few parts,starting from prep, which will be helpful for you to decide on what and how to pack, packing lightly somewhat, and tell you all the fun and useful tid-bits incase you plan these locations for your next trip. So starting from Clothes . The temperatures were obviously lower than Ka...

Wishing Ramzan mubarak now would be quite late , since we are more than halfway through it, but regardless, may you have a very blessed Ramzan In Sha Allah. Now we all once in a while, during ramzan  want a little something different & extra for Iftar ( the time when Muslims break their fast). If you are new to the blog or haven't yet figured it out, my favorite food groups are of vegetables,beans, lentils variety & hence alot of recipes shared here will be based upon them. I whipped up a super quick & healthy recipe which hopefully you would enjoy! CHICKPEAS SANDWICH Ingredients: Chicpeas- 1/2 cup boiled Salt Black pepper Greek Yoghurt/ curd-2 tbsp Mayonnaise- 1 1/2 tbsp Ginger paste- 1/2 tsp Lemon juice - 1/2 tsp Green olives (2) Cucumber- 1/2 of a medium Bread ( your choice of white/brown/multigrain) Toppings: You can choose from Lettuce,tomatoes,shredded carrots,cheese or a dip sauce for an extra spicy kick I only put crisps on the layer, whi...

When faced with a hurdle, test or a difficulty in life, you try to tackle it by giving your best shot. Coming out a winner on the other side is what everybody wants, but what if u can't get the anticipated results? The test that you crammed for day and night endlessly, but failed to score on? That opportunity that you thought of, as a step toward achieving your dream job, just vanished in thin air? That career promotion you worked for, ended up in some body's lap, who wasn't worthy of it by your perspective? Worldly competition diverts you, Until you visit the graves (Surah Takathur, Chapter 102) We all like to line our ducks in a row, but things don't & won't go our way. We might find ourselves reflecting upon, if its meant for you,you will get it, and then accepting that which is not. At different times in our life, the definition of success can vary. In your school days it was just scoring good grades, getting your favourite toys, your teens w...

Heyaaa there! So I don't know how many of you bibliophiles actually do this, but like a mandatory new year's resolution, a Tbr (to be read) pile/list is something very commonly made by book lovers all around the globe. I haven't been making one consciously and to be honest I already have a couple of books I haven't finished yet, but yet, here I'm with a 2018 tbr list. Now before I list them out, there is a teeny bit problem of books availability in Pakistan. A little side note to all the non-Pakistanis with  pre conceived notions of how Pakistan's if they even read ; aren't they all like scheming terrorism plots, and that's what keep them busy ( sorry I don't mean it in any offensive capacity, just hate it when people already have opinions without actually researching about it), yes we read & study, infact Pakistan has a 60% literacy rate according to 2016 survey. Anyhow, back to the topic. We have a huge number and variety of books and autho...

Hey you guys! I have so many post just sitting there in the draft box there and I cant decide what to post. I then had an idea about posting something Ramzan related. Its such a special, holy month for Muslims all around the world, its just amazing how everybody just comes together for each other & try to put their best efforts in putting good deeds forward. I personally think that every year, you can make a difference by planning a bit in advance for the coming days. We all know that food is an important part of of it too & not just because of how can you say no to all those samosa & pakoras, & chilled drinks especially after long parching days of summer, but primarily because of the importance of Iftar religiously as well. The kind of food that you eat for suhoor and iftar are important because they will be responsible for holding up & replenishing your energy levels during your fasting state & for after you break the fast. I was for a long time looking int...