20
Apr
It is not every day that I travel far to meet people I have never met before (except by email, that is) but, with some apprehension, that is exactly what I did when I went to Karachi on business last week. The most dangerous city in the world, a friend warned, another pronounced me mad even to contemplate the trip. I didn’t listen. And I am glad I didn’t. Karachi was definitely not frightening, nor is it beautiful though its people are and so are its buses and trucks. And the food is utterly delicious.
The driver was very amused by my compulsion to snap every single colourful bus and truck we passed. Some photographs, I took through the window because I wasn’t quick enough to lower it. Also it was very hot and dusty and I needed to stay cool inside with the air-conditioned car. I took too many to post here but here are a couple of my favourites. Apparently each bus belongs to its driver; and he alone decides on the decoration. I guess economics come into play as well. The richer the driver, the more elaborate the decorations. I should have really snapped buses with people sitting on top; also those with their lights twinkling at night. Perhaps when I return.
As for the food, I knew a little about it from eating at the Lahore Kebab House and Salloo’s, the first cheap, the second expensive but both excellent although the Lahore has gone down since they expanded. In any case, a Pakistani friend had told me to try Bbq Tonight <http://www.bbqtonight.com/>, saying it was the best restaurant in town. Luckily, it was where my hosts took me to dinner the first night. It was indeed very good, but even more interesting was the scene. The restaurant is over four huge floors, and it was heaving with people: groups of religious men, families with hundreds of children, even an engagement party with the most ravishing bride. She agreed to be photographed although she wouldn’t lift her eyes. Gorgeous either way.
Outside, the scene was just as frantic with long charcoal grills manned by dozens of chefs. I don’t think I have ever been to such a busy restaurant, neither in Lebanon nor in Syria where the 6014-seat restaurant in Damascus is certified as the largestรย in the world <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7435424.stm>. Mind you when I went to Damascus Gate, it was the middle of the afternoon so not exactly mealtime. Must return one weekend evening to check the scene there.
The next evening, I was taken to another great fun restaurant called Village, right by the sea and serving typical rural dishes buffet style. I had fried quails, a first for me; brains in a lovely spicy sauce; delicious biriani and fabulous steamed mutton with a sweet rice. But the discovery of the evening was betel leaf. There was a small cart inside the entrance called pan wala where one man spent the whole evening making little betel leaf parcels. He first smeared the leaf with a sweet tamarind sauce, then he piled up all kinds of funny looking sweet mixtures before adding two more sauces. He folded the leaf over the filling and gave it to whoever wanted one to pop in their mouth and chew on it. I was reluctant at first, having read about red stains and betel but that’s the nut. Then I thought I was silly to pass up the chance to taste it, so, I asked for a child portion — he made tiny parcels for the children. But he ignored my request and gave me a regular size. It was surprisingly good although I can’t say it would be the first thing I would rush to have when I go back there. The steamed mutton and sweet rice perhaps.
I needed to check on the price of raw ingredients before leaving, and lovely Nasir, who showed me around, said he would take me to a wholesale market, Well, it wasn’t only produce they had in profusion there, but also flies. I don’t think I have ever seen so many flies in my whole life. I was scared to speak, lest one or more slipped into my open mouth. Still, I found the whole experience more mesmerizing than horrifying. Can’t wait to go back there to take more pictures.
Oh, and I forgot about my exciting breakfast, paya, which is calves feet (although I am almost sure that what I was served was sheep’s feet; they seemed too small for calves feet) cooked in a spicy sauce and eaten with paratha, a fried flat bread. Totally yummy even first thing in the morning.
I hope I haven’t spoiled your appetite, what with calves feet for breakfast and flies galore to go with the weekly shopping!
Tagged : 
12
There is 12 comments on this post
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
April 23, 2009 at 7:25 pm
You didn’t spoil my appetite at all. Rather, you’ve whetted it for a trip just as you’ve had. ๐
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
April 24, 2009 at 3:53 am
Glad to hear this Karen.
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
August 23, 2009 at 11:34 pm
I found this post absolutely fascinating. Loved the picture of the young bride ( la pauvre, elle ne sait pas ce qui l’attend) Pakistan is an amazing country.
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
August 24, 2009 at 1:52 am
thanks joumana. it is a fascinating country and that bride, she was totally divine. so pretty. et oui tu as raison, la pauvre, a moins que son mari ne soit aussi beau et doux qu’elle. je ne l’ai pas vu, et pour le moment, je ne pense pas que j’ai des chance de retourner au pakistan.
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
October 1, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Thanks for sharing all this information with us Anissa. I grew up in Karachi, I moved to U.S in 2003, I miss all these colours. I remember I use to travel in those colorful buses all the time. The Village restaurant was allways my fav. Thanks again.
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
October 1, 2010 at 10:23 pm
you are welcome asher. loved the buses and would love to go back to pakistan. great food, lovely people and beautiful landscapes, not to mention the buses and trucks. made me want to be a truck driver just to have one of those trucks!!
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
October 30, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Anissa, great to hear that you liked those buses and trucks that much. I though i`d tell you something very interesting about them. Allmost all of these buses and trucks have funny poetry written either inside or outside for people to read. Mostly those are famous pakistani songs, they make funny changes and write them for people to read ๐
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
October 31, 2010 at 4:13 pm
thanks so much for letting me know. dying to go back, both for the food and the buses and trucks, and of course the people and landscapes ๐
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
December 5, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Hi, I am very glad that you liked your trip to Karachi. And I must say that your hosts took you to all the right places. By the way, they don’t put tamarind juice in a pan, or a betel leaf parcel. The red liquid they use is betel nut juice which is almost always accompanied by lime juice. They also put betel nuts — or crushed betel nuts — in pans. Tobacco leaves are also, though not necessarily, placed in pans. In the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent — Pakistan was part of India before 1947 — pans are used as a kind of mouth freshner, chewed mostly after meals that have lots of garlic, ginger, onion, etc.
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
December 6, 2011 at 1:02 am
thank you for this very useful information…
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
September 5, 2015 at 5:09 am
If you come again you should try Khanji As well. Its best for desi foods and bbq. Also the atmosphere is awesome plus the truck art is icing on the cake.
http://www.Khanji.pk
Warning: Undefined array key 36 in /data/40/0/131/109/783598/user/802494/htdocs/anissahelou/wp-content/themes/Anissa/functions.php on line 377
December 2, 2018 at 1:22 am
Hi, I am glad to hear about your good experience.You can explain your people,how generous, loving and kind, the people’s of Karachi are. try some other traditional food. I don’t know much about the Pakistani food now sinceI am in Chicago from the last 12 years and didn’t get chance to enjoy my country.
Take a look on traditional clothing as well.