Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

April 16, 2013 by Yousuf Bawany

Takeoff

Having missed out on quite a few weekly challenges, I finally wanted to get back on track. Here’s my entry for this week’s theme, Change. I recently had the pleasure of visiting a village for the first time. The picture above is a symbolic representation of a life we all want but cannot adjust to; we are too unwilling to let go of the hustle and bustle of the city, and the so-called luxuries we have surrounded ourselves with.

If you’re interested, here are the rest of the pictures from this set. Enjoy!

Culture Vulture: The Simple Life

April 16, 2013 by Yousuf Bawany

Punjab (meaning ‘the land of five rivers’) is Pakistan’s largest and most fertile province. As you drive along the highways, you cannot help but appreciate the lush green plantation on either side of the road, the air thick with the smell of the seasonal harvest. As I rode the motorway to get to Gujranwala last week, I feasted my eyes on the golden brown fields of wheat fading away into the horizon. It would all soon be hulled, packed into sacks, and sent all across the world. The fields would then be seeded with rice to be harvested later on. According to my friend/guide, the harvest would be taking place within a few weeks; till then, the farmers would pray that it doesn’t rain, so that the dry crop is not ruined before reaping.

It’s been ages since I last ventured out on a photo adventure and this was one opportunity I couldn’t miss. As I noticed a small turn off the motorway leading to a small village, the Culture Vulture in me took over and I asked my friend if we could go there to take a few pictures. He graciously agreed and we ventured out to Qila Islam (meaning ‘the fort of Islam’).

As my friend turned his car onto the rocky road leading to the village, I noticed that people were staring at us. We decided to stay off the main village and instead headed out to the fields. On our way, my friend sweet-talked one of the villagers into showing us his land. After I had taken my fair share of photographs (and then some), we resumed our journey to Gujranwala.

Here are a few memories of the trip that I’d like to share with all of you.

I want a sip too

Cutting machine for animal feed

Doorway to the past

Burden of life

The Wheat Fields

The Wall – HDR

The Wall

Eee-haw

Shuttarmurg

Milk, anyone?

Swarm Intelligence

Take-off

Waiting

Where to go?

The Dwelling

Water, the old-fashioned way

For old time’s sake

HDR – Deserted

Wheat

Under the greenwood tree

Cow-dung patties; made by hand and used as fuel

Something old, something new

Perspectives

A stalk of wheat

Ready for harvest

The Fields II

Ladybird (too bad I don’t own a macro lens)

Out of Focus

Winding winding goes the way

Rickshaw – the most popular transportation

In Flight

In Flight 2

Pathways

Ruins

The delivery guy

The Delivery Guy 2

Come hither, my flock

HDR Cock

Through the fields

Takeoff

Greens and Browns

These pictures portray a life we all want but cannot adjust to; we are too unwilling to let go of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Blast From The Past – Dubai’s Heritage Village

March 8, 2012 by Yousuf Bawany

It’s not all architectural marvels and overflowing malls; there’s a lot more to Dubai than what meets the eye. Not too long ago, Dubai was a fisherman’s paradise, a village built near the Arabian sea. Remnants of the yesteryears are still scattered across the entire city, but one of the most interesting sites I have had the pleasure of visiting has to be the Heritage Village.

Like in other Arab cultures, the constructions in these villages were primarily focused on keeping the temperatures down. With no air conditioning back in the day, wind towers were essential for any building. The building materials include palm/date leaves, clay, bricks, hemp string, and wood.

Located at a mere 15-minute (unless you are stuck in traffic) drive from the airport, this village will take your breath away. The earthiness and the humility of the buildings and objects on display will instill in you, a sense of peace and serenity, and will transport you to simpler, happier times.