The Lahore Trip

Road trip. Or to be more accurate and air trip. Saad, Titu and I went to Lahore to catch up with Aasim, an old schoolboy friend from St. Mary's Academy in Lalazar. As it happened, not only did I get to see Aasim, but was also able to reconnect with some of my old friends from Aitchison, Khalid and Humayun, who seemed to be healthy prosperous and wise. In less than 24 hours we were back in Islamabad.

We got off the airplane at Lahore Illama Iqbal Airport where Aasim was there to meet us with his wife Amina. We all piled in and Amina tried to start the car with no response. Instantly we went back 30 years when I would be driving our old Skoda and Titu, Saad and Aasim would be pushing the car to get it started!! Titu yelled some quick instructions to Amina and within minutes we were started an on the road. It was just like old times, except we had added Amina to the group.
They took us to a very nice Italian restaurant where we had a fantastic dinner. As usual Saad is blowing kisses.
Outside the restaurant.
We got to Aasim's place at midnight and thensat around talking until 5 am while Titu and Saad tried to kill us all with their endless smoking.
Aasim's study. Some good books there. Munna looking very impressed.
A very posed picture. Titu figured out it was a horse. The rest of us were clueless. I really like their fireplace made with gray slate from Taxila.
The have an excellent garden with lots of space.
Waking up after three hours of sleep.
A classic Lahori breakfast. Amina picked up this stuff which is much like Haleem but without the wheat. It was excellent.
I am not quite sure what they were looking at but they sure made out as if I was really missing out on it.
Must really have been interesting!
Out in the lawn. We got the news that the car had died again. So now it was time to hitch a cab.
Well, there were no cabs we could see so we piled into a scooter rickshaw. It is a miracle we survived. In the first mile, the guy ran into another rickshaw and then proceeded to verbally rip him to shreds while we all thought it was his fault.
On the way to Shaukat Khanum Hospital where Aasim is the Medical Director. After seeing the place I was so proud that I have a friend who is making such a difference in Pakistan.
There really was not as much space as it seems in this picture. It sure was fun and entertaining.
The driver was determined to go by as close to the other vehicles as he could.
The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. http://www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk/ This has to be one of the most incredible things I saw in this trip.
The hospital. It was amazing. Very well run and efficient. Which goes to show that people in Pakistan can really do anything. There was no pushing or shoving or breaking of lines. People were polite, everyone was looked after regardless of your ability to pay. I know where I will be giving my money.
The eye of the storm. Titus old friend was there and of course wanted reassurance that they were being looked after. Aasim pretty much told them the system should work and they would all get the best of care. One did not need an inside person to get good care. It works!
Everything is computerized. The staff is very well trained and and knows what they are doing.
Aasim showing us how a doctor can access all the medical records from any terminal including scans and x-rays. Their medical software was extremely impressive.
They have some very impressive imaging systems.
The ICU. Better than a lot of western hospitals.
The nurses station at the ICU.
They have their own cyclotron to make isotopes.
The next few hours were spent with Khalid Ibrahim and Humayun Zafar, both friends from Aitchison. It was awesome to catch up. We called up some of our old friends like Rashed Jafry, Omar Masood Ghani and Usman Hameed. Moaz was out of town. It amazes me how we can slip back 30 years and be perfectly comfortable in seconds.