SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
A movie for every situation Go through the highs and lows of life with a little help from Hollywood
JUNE 13-19 2010
JUNE 13-19 2010
SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
Cover Story 20 A Movie for Every Situation Our film guide will get you through life
Feature 28 Let Them Eat Cupcakes The humble confectionary treat is reinvented
Profile 30 I Kid You Not Educationist Sophia Kasuri’s institute brings kids closer to their parents
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Portfolio 32 Ghosts of Toul Sleng Zeeshan Haider looks inside a Khmer Rogue prison
Comment 38 English Premier League...for Dummies A beginner’s guide to the most popular football league
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Review 40 What’s new in films and books
Regulars 6 People & Parties: Out and about with beautiful people 18 Tribune Questionnaire: Umar Sayeed on chateaus in France 44 Horoscope: Shelley von Strunckel on your week ahead 46 Ten Things I Hate About: Being a foreigner in Karachi
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Magazine Editor: Muna Khan, Features Editor: Faiza S Khan, Senior Sub-Editor: Nadir Hassan. Sub-Editors: Batool Zehra, Hamna Zubair Creative Team: Amna Iqbal, Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Anam Haleem, Tariq Alvi, S Asif Ali, Sukayna Sadik Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Executive Editor: Muhammad Ziauddin. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi. For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk Printed by: Yaqeen Art Press (Pvt.) Ltd., Karachi
JUNE 13-19 2010
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Artfully Yours
A calligraphy exhibition at Grandeur in Karachi featured a group of well-known artists
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PHOTO CREDIT: ZEESHAN
1. Neshmia and Aliya Faizi 2. Sadia and Talha 3. Jimmy Engineer and Musarat 4. Tariq Hussain 5. Mr and Mrs Akram S Paul 6. Jimmy and Frieha Altaf 7. Omer Farid and Neshmia 8. Alisha and Cyra 9. Fozia 10. Yasmeen
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PEOPLE & PARTIES
En Vogue
Designer Nida Azwer launched her limited edition collection in Karachi at a one-day exhibition called “The Silent Weave”
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PHOTO CREDIT: KASHIF
1. Munira Rafay and Marium K 2. Reema Jaffery and Nida Tapal 3. Honey and Shahnaz Ramzi 4. Sana Shahzad, Shehla Patel, Nida Azwer and Mehreen and Danish Azwer 5. Saman and Tehmina 6.Sunaina Patka and Annie Bashir 7. Sayeda Leghari and her daughter 8. Yasmeen and Fauzia 9. Durdana Soomro 10. Najma 11. Sana and Mikaeel Habib, Sameer Chinoy, Nida Azwer and Mehrbano Chinoy 12. Selina Taki, Minal and Mahvish Jatoi 13. Hina Abbassi and Ayesha Iqbal 14. Amal Shah and Sana Shahzad 15. Mrs Ahmed 16. Yusra Ahmad
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PEOPLE & PARTIES
Bollywood Bonanza Celebrities were out in full force in Bollywood
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PHOTO CREDIT: IANS
1. Sanjay Dutt at an Iftar party 2. Rohit Shetty 3. Raveena at an Annu Chadda exhibition 4. Juhi Chawla at a sapling distribution drive in Mumbai
JUNE 13-19 2010
“Shoes are my greatest extravagance” Pakistan’s leading bridal designer Umar Sayeed shares his disdain for nylon and bad taste.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
A world where there are no copycat designers.
I wish I could hide my disgust for all things done in bad taste.
What is your greatest fear?
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Nylon.
It has yet to come.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Where would you most like to live?
My tongue, reserved for near and dear ones.
A chateau in the South of France.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
What is your most treasured possession?
Bad taste.
My paintings that I hope to hang in my chateau.
What is your greatest extravagance?
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
My shoes, of the alligator, crocodile, snake skin variety.
Political correctness.
What is your current state of mind?
If you didn’t do your current job, what would you choose to do?
Perplexed.
I’d still want to be a designer, maybe of minds.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
What is your most marked characteristic?
Virginity.
My sarcasm.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Who is your hero of fiction?
My weight.
Talented fashion journalists of Pakistan.
Which living person do you most despise?
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Grandchildren who own chateaus in France.
Oscar Wilde.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Who are your heroes in real life?
Firmness.
Philanthropists.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
What is your greatest regret?
Perkiness.
Some of my creations make me cringe.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
What’s your favourite quote?
Ulti kee balti.
“Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn” from Gone with the Wind.
When and where were you happiest?
On what occassion do you lie?
In my mother’s womb.
I usually lie about coming to work.
Which talent do you most wish you had?
How many hours of loadshedding did you experience yesterday?
I wish I could lie to people and tell them how good they look.
Four at the studio, four at home. a
19 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
COVER STORY
a movie for every situation
On a first date Jerry Maguire (1996)
Directed by Cameron Crowe
Jerry Maguire is more than a romantic comedy or
a sports movie — it is proof that Tom Cruise was
once a genuinely likeable Hollywood star. Laugh out loud funny (“Show me the money!”), roman-
tic without being cheesy, the 1996 movie had stellar performances by Cuba Gooding Jr, and
Tom Cruise and was replete with memorable one-liners: “You complete me” and, of course, “You had me at hello”.
The Big Lebowski (1998) Directed by Joel Coen
Not your typical first date movie, sure, but this
movie isn’t meant for your typical boy/girl-
friend. Sure, this wacky Coen Brothers’ tale of mistaken identity, Vietnam, bowling and the greatest character in comedy history, The Dude, will lead to an early termination of most first dates. But it’s a great litmus test of whether that initial date will lead to a lasting relationship.
“You had me at hello.”
you’ve found someone with whom to share the
Before Sunrise (1995)
Once you find someone who loves The Big Lebowski, rest of your life
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) Directed by Wes Anderson
Want to convince your date that your crazy step-
father, stalker ex-boyfriend and mad uncle really
aren’t that bad? Just show them Bill Murray, Gene
Directed by Richard Linklater
How many times have you seen someone pass you by the on road and thought, “She could be one?” Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy show you
what could have happened had you stopped and tried to make a connection.
Hackman and the Wilson brothers. Your family
Knocked Up (2007)
again.
This is for all the ugly men out there who have
will never seem particularly dysfunctional ever
Directed by Judd Apatow
scored dates with women way out of their league.
Sure, she was intoxicated when she agreed to see you, but if Katherine Heigel can fall in love with
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Seth Rogen, then you have a shot too. SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
To entertainingly depict history Braveheart (1995)
Directed by Mel Gibson
Breathtaking Scottish scenery, beautiful
princesses, men in kilts — all are overshadowed by the cathartic violence of Braveheart. Grisly throat-slittings, beheadings and disembowelments abound in the movie which
won Mel Gibson a Best Director Oscar, and though its historical accuracy is suspect, the entertainment factor is high.
Amadeus (1984)
Directed by Milos Forman
Antonio Salieri has but one wish: to serve God by
dark drama about the court composer’s consuming
“They may take our lives but they’ll never take our freedom”
ethos of 18 Century Vienna, the city of musicians,
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
vour-currying. The soundtrack, based on Mozart’s
David Lean is a master of epic films and his telling
making beautiful music — but God has bestowed His divine gift on the vulgar but prolific Mozart. A jealousy of Mozart, Amadeus vividly captures the
the atmosphere of professional jealousies and fa-
original compositions, makes you revise your opinion of classical music.
Directed by David Lean
of TE Lawrence’s struggle in the deserts of Arabia,
which comes with subtle homosexual references, stunning desert landscapes, and Peter O’Toole as the tortured protagonist, proves that history does
The Last Emperor (1987)
Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
not have to be that dry after all.
For a sumptuous depiction of life in The Forbidden
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
arch at the age of three as China turned into the
In the 90s, when Daniel Day-Lewis was not seeing
City, watch this epic biopic. Pu Yi became the mon-
People’s Republic and the old order crumbled. The
first movie allowed by the Chinese authorities to be filmed in the Forbidden City, it showed the emperor’s tragic isolation from the change that was overtaking the rest of the country. While the imagery
is breathtaking, it is the emotional complexity of the characters which makes this film truly unforgettable.
Directed by Michael Mann
his father’s ghost while playing Hamlet on stage,
he was looking darned sexy in history movies.
Now, we don’t know much about American history, and the James Fennimore Cooper book always looked pretty boring. . . but Daniel Day-Lewis,
with long hair, a machete and his proverbial intensity. Need we say more?
21 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
COVER STORY
To make you appear more intellectual than you really are Breathless (1960)
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Everyone pretends they know what the New Wave of cinema is all about but few actually understand it. Consider this an idiot’s guide to the avant-
garde. To truly understand the genius Breathless, which people of limited intellect never will, just
check out its Wikipedia entry. Then, you too can expound on the use of the jump cut.
Waking Life (2001)
Directed by Richard Linklater
“It’s sad to fall asleep. It separates people. Even when you’re sleeping together, you’re all alone”
For those of you who didn’t take the Existential-
ism course in sophomore year because, while cool,
the Being and Nothingness reading in the Intro to Philo pack didn’t really seem to make much sense. This
partly animated movie has all the posturing and none of the rigour of true philosophical engagement and talking about it is a great way to drive people up the wall with your pretentiousness.
Blow-Up (1966)
Directed by Michaelangelo Antonioni
Annie Hall (1977)
tonioni will get you free brownie points with the
If you’ve ever been stuck for conversation, Annie
Just pronouncing the name Michaelangelo Ansmart set. Expounding on the sexiness of Veruschka and the importance of personal involvement in an impersonal worldwill give you an intellectual heft you don’t deserve.
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
The only thing anyone knows about The Seventh Seal is the scene where the protagonist plays chess with
the devil. Bring up anything else from the movie
and you will be met with a combination of blank stares and, more importantly, admiration.
22 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
Directed by Woody Allen
Hall will give you a simple solution. Just learn up
Woody Allen’s rapid-fire and start random conversations about love, tennis and right-wing magazines. You can pass off as an intellectual, as Woody Allen has done for nearly 40 years.
If you’ve just been dumped Kill Bill (Vol 1 &2) 2003, 2004 Directed by Quentin Tarantino
The ultimate revenge movie. Played to perfection by Uma Thurman, former assassin ‘the Bride’ gets
back at her scheming lover in the most satisfying
way possible — by poetically killing him after hav-
ing slaughtered and dismembered his world-wide
network of thugs and goons. The blood, the gore, the cornered, fearful ex-boyfriend... will leave you feeling immensely empowered. Just stay away from the kitchen knife for a while, in case you’re actually tempted to use it.
He’s Just Not That Into You (2009) Directed by Ken Kwapis
So you don’t hate your ex, even though he dumped
you. You think there may be a slight, minute pos-
sibility that you may get back together. After all,
“I’m not trying to hurt you Dan, I love you!”
you still love him. But five days later, he still hasn’t called. What’s going on? You should watch this
movie to find out. Hopefully, you’ll get what you
need — a realisation that sometimes... he’s just not that into you.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Directed by Robert Luketic
If you’re looking to reaffirm your strength as a
woman without wading through a sea of severed limbs ala Kill Bill, watch this movie. It is a moving
ode to empowered women packaged in shiny pink satin ribbon. Bubbly Barbie look-alike Elle is tragi-
Fatal Attraction (1987) Directed by Adrian Lyne
This is the one to watch before you decide to send threatening letters to your ex-boyfriend or ex-girl-
friend’s home. You see, revenge is good, but only in small doses. When you begin to experience the desire to drown your former flame’s pet rabbit in boiling water, like Glenn Close does in Fatal Attraction, you know its time to seek professional help.
cally dumped by her boyfriend, who leaves her for
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Does Elle acquiesce? No. She takes on Harvard with
Getting dumped is hard for a guy. You mope end-
a bookish law student and a Harvard law degree. Chihuahua in tow and proves that blondes know about a lot more than just fun.
Directed by Nicholas Stoller
lessly and indulge in self-destructive behaviour. This movie shows you there is light at the end of the tunnel; only, you have to go to Hawaii to see it. So pack those bags boys, and join Peter on his quest to forget the love of his life, Sarah Marshall.
23 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
COVER STORY With your family this Eid My Fair Lady (1964)
Directed by George Cukor
You can sing along to “The Rain in Spain”, laugh
yourself silly over “Did you tell ’im I come in a taxi?”
and “Them as pinched it, done her in” or swoon over Audrey Hepburn’s ball gown. GB Shaw was exposing some pretty serious class issues in Pygma-
lion but this is a beloved childhood movie which is a blast from start to finish.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
Before 3D and CGI, there was Disney animation and Beauty and the Beast which was its pinnacle.
The nerdy heroine, the creepy castle, and the very blonde prince which emerges from the beast made this one a true classic.
Wizard of Oz (1939)
Directed by Victor Fleming
A family movie so good Salman Rushdie even wrote
a critical essay on it that read like a fanboy’s love letter. Ignore the fact that Judy Garland is now a gay icon, and just revel in the songs, be moved to tears by the plot and have a great evening in with
“I’m dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest.”
mum and dad. In fact, invite your whole extended family.
Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) Directed by Gore Verbinski
Sometimes even an evening in with the fam-
ily should involve escapist violence. Johnny Depp’s best Keith Richards meets Captain Hook impression is good only in small doses. So watch the superior first Pirates movie and skip the turgid sequels.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) Directed by Ken Hughes
Just the “written by Roald Dahl” credit should be
enough to hook the entire family in and kick out all those unwanted guests who invariably turn up every Eid. Add Dick Van Dyke and the delicious song
“Truly Scrumptious” and you have an all-time family favourite.
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Dancer in the Dark (2000) Directed by Lars von Trier
Lars von Tiers is definetely a sadist and possibly a misogynist. He seeks only to extinguish the final spark
of hope that sustains humanity. Starring singer
Bjork as a kind, vulnerable woman met only with cruelty, Dancer in the Dark will gladden the heart of every serial pessimist.
Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
Directed by Kimberly Peirce
Films with explicit rape scenes rarely need to reach
To revel in your depression
But Boys Don’t Cry, by constantly comparing the quiet
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
by Hilary Swank, with the brutal bigotry of small-
Some movies are too painful to watch twice. Only a
further into their bag of tricks to depress viewers.
dignity of the transgendered lead character, played town America, forces you to avert your eyes, open your heart and wipe away those tears.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
true masochist would make it through Requiem for a Dream once. Many movies have been made about the
dangers of addiction but most tend to glamourise the vice in question. Aronofsky takes great pleasure in trawling the depths of human misery; you will too if you want to sink deeper into depression.
Irreversible (2002)
Directed by Gaspar Noe
“Time destroys everything,” says one of the characters in the movie. We beg to differ — this movie destroys time. And it doesn’t just wreck the time you’ve spent watching it. Long after the movie ends you will
experience flashbacks from the film’s more disturb-
ing scenes: a brutal rape, a graphic beating and other such instances that warm the heart. Enjoy.
Perfume: Story of a Murderer (2006) Directed by Tom Tykwer
That Perfume was roundly denounced upon its release shows that even cynical hacks have feelings. The
adaption of the German novel, which itself was so brutal it inspired a Nirvana dirge, is certainly pain-
“Ma. Ya on uppers?”
ful but its critical reputation needs to be overturned. The story of a man who takes to murder because he lacks the ability to smell may be over-the-top but it
leaves a potent impression that no amount of cologne will ever wash away.
25 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
COVER STORY The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) Directed by Judd Apatow
There are two kinds of middle-aged men who should
watch this Steve Carrel comic masterpiece: those who
were lucky enough to find a companion for life with
whom they produced cute and adorable offspring.
They will see this movie as a cautionary tale of how it
On your fortieth birthday
embody the middle-aged virgin character. These men
The Graduate (1967)
their lives but they are so geeky that they will still fall
The Graduate was made in an era when older wom-
could have all gone wrong. Then there are those who should see the movie as a depressing documentary of in love with this typical Apatow comedy.
Superbad (2007)
Directed by Greg Mottola
Remember when you were young? Not the lies you tell your drinking buddies about how easily you scored. No,
Directed by Mike Nichols
en with sex appeal didn’t have an official title, but Anne Bancroft was the original MILF. This is
a movie to give hope to women who have passed menopause that they too can relive their youth.
Hollywood usually caters to the escapist fantasies of men. Here is the exception.
we mean the reality. How awkward you were around
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Superbad will romantacise your past without letting you
If you haven’t hit you mid-life crisis yet this is a
girls and how you bonded with your geeky friends. forget what a loser you truly were.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
perfect way kick-start your angst. Shocked by his wife’s fantasies of infidelity, the protagonist Bill
embarks on a night-long quest for fulfilment. He
is exposed to criminals, underage prostitutes and
an extremely powerful secret society. This movie doesn’t offer much in the way of hope, but it may just convince you to deal with your mid-life crisis by buying a new car instead of hankering after pretty young things.
As Good as it Gets (1997) Directed by James L Brooks
Hollywood sells old men the dream that even in
their dotage they can still get with whoever they want. And they can do that without sacrificing their crabbiness and ADD. Sure, not all of us have
the raw appeal of Jack Nicholson. But then most of us don’t have the waistline or wrinkles either.
“Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me.” 26 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
Before you consider having children Home Alone (1990)
Directed by Chris Columbus
How much fun can an eight-year old forgotten at home by his family have? Macaulay Culkin lived ev-
ery child’s fantasy — gorging on plain cheese pizza, watching all kinds of movies, and enjoying the
absence of parental supervision. And he beat two robbers while doing it.
Thirteen (2003)
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
Every parent’s worst nightmare. Influenced by her
peers, 13-year-old Tracy gets sucked into a world of drugs, sex and petty crime. Some self-mutilation
is also involved. Watching this may cause you to rethink your desire for cuddly little babies — you’ll realise that after the age of 11, you have as much control over them as you do over the weather.
Havoc (2005)
Directed by Barbara Kopple
This movie reveals the danger of under-parenting
your kids. Moral of the story is, if you’re not there
for them in times of need, they’ll get involved with seedy gangs that destroy their lives. So before you consider having children, you should make sure you’re committed to be being a full-time parent.
“This is my house, I have to defend it.” Lorenzo’s Oil (1992)
Directed by George Miller
Think you want a baby? Think again. Lorenzo’s Oil gives
you an all-access guided tour to the pain and misery that can accompany parenthood. Nick Nolte’s son has a rare disease for which there is no cure. And that may be the most uplifting thing about this movie.
Raising Arizona (1987) Directed by Joel Coen
There are plenty of couples out there who can’t conceive but desperately want to start a family. Sure,
adopting a baby is an option but who wants to take the easy way out? Let Nicholas Cage teach you how to steal a baby.
27 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
PROFILE
i kid you not BY OMAR JAMIL
At her office at The Early Years, a child development centre Sophia Kasuri started in April 2006 — a glass wall overlooks the ‘play area’ filled with rambunctious children ranging from nine months to three years. Even
through
the
thick
plate-glass, the sounds of children talking, laughing and
playing are more than a little audible. When asked at what
point she realised she had this
love for children, she looked flabbergasted and responded,
“It’s not something you realise! You either have it or you don’t.”
And Sophia most definitely
claims to have it.
Born in Karachi in 1979,
she grew up at a time when
the concept of day-care was pretty much non-existent in
Pakistan. Even if it had been,
however, Kasuri’s mother was insistent on being a handson
parent.
Subsequently,
unlike many children of her
generation from similar back-
grounds, Sophia’s early years were spent in the care of her mother, not a nanny.
“My first few years took
place in a joint family system,” she says, “and there were alSEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
ways lots of children around. Even later, when we moved into
a separate house, my uncles and aunts all lived nearby. So at least a couple of times a week, I’d have my cousins over or I’d go over to theirs.”
Having completed her Bachelors in Political Science, Eco-
nomics and History in 1993, Sophia had enrolled in the College
of Business Management in Karachi for an MBA, a plan that
was placed on the indefinite back-burner when she was introduced to Kasim, scion of the Kasuri family.
Despite joining matrimonial forces with a born educational-
ist, the idea for a childcare centre did not come to Sophia im-
mediately. “To be honest, I’d always wanted to do something
fun with kids. I just didn’t know how, or what to do,” she says.
It was only after a chance visit to a music class for toddlers in New York City that the seeds for The Early Years were planted.
“This was before my children had been born. I was visiting
“To be honest, I’d always wanted to do something fun with kids. I just didn’t know how or what to do.” It was only after a chance visit to a music class for toddlers in New York City that the seeds for The Early Years were planted. to drop their children off, Gymboree’s philosophy is based on par-
my sister, who was having her second child. At the time, her
ent-child interaction,” says Sophia, leaning forward for empha-
sic classes. I tagged along and was simply amazed. The teacher
with Kyan. I was in the US getting Lina’s hair cut when I saw a
daughter — who was one and a half — was going to these muwould play instruments and sing songs about the instrumentshe was playing — or use toys and sing about those. It was all
about using fun and play to entertain — and educate — the children. I really loved that idea and wanted to do something similar when I had my own kids.”
It wasn’t, however, until after the birth of her son Kyan,
that Sophia put her plan into action. “It was in 2005 — my kids
sis. “I first became familiar with Gymboree when I was pregnant Gymboree Play & Music centre. I was curious, so I walked in and what I saw inspired me to try it.”
At the time, Sophia was unaware that one can get a Gymboree
franchise and so she went ahead and set up The Early Years, trying her best to implement the involvement of parents. “That philosophy was what I wanted to bring back,” she says.
A conversation with her husband a few years later led to a little
were quite young. Lina was two years old and Kyan was just a
research online revealing that Gymboree granted franchises. A
was too hot to go outdoors and while I could take them swim-
in August 2009, the ball was set rolling.
few months old. There was nowhere I could take the kids — it ming, I wanted them to interact with other children as well.”
few emails, a couple of phone calls, and one visit to the US later, In January this year, Sophia and Cybil Chowdhry — a fellow
Sophia turned to her mother-in-law, veteran educationalist
Gymboree enthusiast trained in childcare — spent two weeks
music and play sessions with Kyan and Lina, and perhaps the
was an incredible experience,” says Sophia. “Exhausting, but in-
Mona Kasuri, and suggested hiring a music teacher to conduct children of a few friends. Mrs Kasuri instead suggested that
Sophia utilise the empty office space adjacent to their house
with Gymboree in the US getting extensive teacher training. “It credible.”
Over the two week period, Sophia and Cybil spent 12 hours a
— 6A Main Boulevard — to do something more ambitious. Fol-
day, six days a week learning everything there is to know about
development centre opened its doors in April 2006.
erything from operations — how to run a Gymboree centre — to
lowing six months of preliminary work, The Early Years child The Early Years philosophy — which is based on learning
through play and teaching life skills — was based entirely on
Sophia’s observations of her children and their needs and de-
Gymboree and early childhood development. “They taught us evclassroom training,” says Sophia. “It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun.”
With the opening of the first Gymboree Play & Music centre in
sires. While it started off small with just a few friends’ kids,
Lahore looming large, Sophia’s current focus is on making sure
Today, it is a staple for many working parents in Lahore, hit-
set up one childcare centre, this one is a totally new concept to
within a month, Early Years had surpassed its initial targets.
ting a largely ignored and potentially very lucrative niche market.
everything goes off without a hitch. “Even though I’ve already Pakistan.”
If she’s nervous about whether Gymboree will enjoy the same
Sophia is now looking to introduce Gymboree, the world
success as The Early Years, she isn’t letting on. “I don’t need to
“Gymboree is a very different concept. Unlike The Early
the parents come and visit and see the fun their kids can have
leader in early childhood development, to Pakistani parents.
Years, where most of the programmes are designed for parents
‘sell’ the idea,” she says with a relaxed smile. “I think that once learning, they’ll love it as much as I do.” a
SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
29
FEATURE
let them eat
cupcakes Cupcakes are cute, managable and trendy. But will these decorated confections replace the cake as choice party fare? BY AMENA JAFRI
When college-going Abeeha threw a retirement party for her father, she covered the table with cupcakes, each depicting an aspect of his career as a naval officer. On one the butter-cream icing created a
have been given a phenomenal boost by Facebook, which has
Pakistan Navy vessel. Her father was tickled pink and the guests
photos online, booking orders and answering queries from po-
naval officer’s badge while the fondant on another depicted a fascinated.
Unlikely as it may sound, cupcakes are a new trend in Pakistan.
plosive popularity: Cupcake(s) by Cookie has 4,552 fans on Facebook, Mavmade has 1,136. These emerging cupcake-makers use
the social networking site to market their product by uploading tential buyers.
These young entrepreneurs are at the helm of the hottest trend
Honing in on a niche market with a disposable income and a fer-
in confectionary, a market more popular in this part of the world
home-based entrepreneurs are creating specialised flavourings,
will soon catch up. Many commercial bakeries, seeing the grow-
vent desire to entertain with as much gusto as possible, young, personalised decorative elements and thematic cupcake lines.
These are the in thing with which to celebrate anniversaries and farewells, announce births and engagements, and use as gifts
at baby showers and Eid. As the popular Facebook page of one cupcake-maker claims, ‘As long as you have a cupcake, it’s a celebration!’
The antecedence of this fad comes, naturally, from the home of
consumption, the United States, and has trickled its way down to
Pakistan. Whereas cakes can be shared by a large group of people
and are more economical, cupcakes emphasise individuality and allow people to pick just the very confectionary item that their heart desires. In the West, even wedding cakes are being substi-
than anywhere else, but chances are that established bakers
ing popularity of cupcakes, have already started to stock up on them with simple variations in frosting. HobNob’s Nilofer Saeed
claims that her bakery has been stocking cupcakes that have always been popular amongst a certain segment of society. Another well-established bakery, Pie in the Sky also stocks them.
However, the cupcakes at these bakeries are common and cannot compare in taste, attention to detail and artistic flair to the
gourmet cupcakes provided by specialists. Commercial bakeries will thus find it something of a challenge to provide competition
for customers wishing to take the customised approach when it comes to giving cupcakes as presents or gifts.
But these independent cupcake makers have yet to make a dent
tuted with ‘pull apart cakes’ which basically comprise cupcakes
in the confectionary business which is dominated by a handful
naturally easier since they are not required to be sliced.
chocolate cake. Shama Askari, who provides a variety of cakes
that are decorated to look like one complete cake. Serving them is In Pakistan, cupcake-makers tend to operate from home rath-
30
helped them reach their target market directly and generate ex-
er than from commercial outlets. For them, baking has been a hobby rather than a means of income. These small businesses SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
of giants. The emphasis is still very much on the traditional
to Espresso and various international franchises in Pakistan
says, “My business has seen no change, maybe because I mainly deal with franchises. But even my individual orders remain as
Almost too cute to eat : cupcakes can be decorated to celebrate any occasion
Photo credit: Cupcake(s) by Cookie
abundant as before.” Her assortment of baked goodies does not
cater to a market demanding individual helpings. With regards to the cupcake trend, she says, “Fads come and go. I’ve been in this business for 17 years and specialised in what I do best. That’s
what my clients know me for and I see no need to change my area of work.”
Nilofer Saeed foresees that the cupcake trend will soon be re-
placed by muffins. Zahra, a home-based cupcake maker, is of the opinion that while cupcakes are all the rage now, they will face a
steady decline as well. The current popularity of her wares can be
judged from the size of the orders that she gets on an almost daily basis which can range from about half a dozen to five dozen or so.
Cupcakes have not replaced cakes but have instead created
their own niche. Personalised cupcake maker, Umamah Z Hanafi, feels that cupcakes don’t compete with other confectionary items. She finds that most of her orders happen to be for occasions like engagements or baby births and are therefore replac-
ing the traditional mithai-giving culture. With Eid looming, she is flooded with orders from people who wish to give cupcakes to their acquaintances on Eid instead of mithai.
Whether one views them as yet another novel way to spend
money and keep up with the Joneses, or as a distinct trend that
will evolve over the years, for the moment, cupcakes have Paki-
a little bite of heaven most cupcake makers operate from their homes, a profitable and delicious side business if there ever was one
31
stanis in the thrall of their Marie Antoinette-esque charms. a
SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
PORTFOLIO
ghosts of toul sleng PHOTOGRAPHY: ZEESHAN HAIDER TEXT: ANSER SHOUKAT
Security prison 21 (S-21) The story of the Tuol Sleng genocide begins under an entirely dif-
known as Cambodia).
ondary school, once called Tuol Svay Prey.
vided to form individual cells on the ground and first floors, and
ferent name, as an archetype of a different nature; that of a secAfter April 17,1975, Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge clique christened it
another name, giving it a whole new purpose. Surrounded by a
32
double wall of corrugated iron with dense barbed wires, S.21 (security office 21) became the biggest prison in Kampuchea (now SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
What were once innocent classrooms were now pierced and di-
mass detention halls on the second.
The new residents of this school-turned-prison included peas-
ants, workers, technicians, engineers, doctors, teachers, students, Buddhist monks, ministers, Pol Pot’s cadres, soldiers of
all ranks, the Cambodian Diplomatic Corps, foreigners, the list goes on; all of whom were tortured during their imprisonment, which ended in extermination.
All that remains now is the evidence proving the atrocities of
Pol Pot’s regime: the dossiers and documents, lists of the prison-
ers’ names, instruments of torture, the mug shots and the empty cells. a
Prison cells
33 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
PORTFOLIO
Silence in the prison of despair
34 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
Death bed
35 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
PORTFOLIO
Torture room
Victims of Pol Pot’s terror
Visitors at toul sleng genocide museum
Katmandu, Nepal 2008
36 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
Magic tree
37 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
COMMENT
english premier There has been an increasing amount of interest in the game of football in these parts in recent years. Strangely, the method by which it gained popularity in the rest of the world, entrenching itself amidst the plebian masses and the working class, has been turned on its head in Pakistan. Here it is being adopted by the trend-setting elite who need to distance themselves from the common man’s game of cricket, with the middle class following suit in imitation. Or maybe I’ve been reading too much leftist literature. In
any case, a new season of the globally popular English Premier
League is underway, and it’s worth pointing out to newly inter-
ested people the five or six clubs that really matter, in my expert opinion.
Liverpool boasts a fantastic selection of famous players to ad-
mire from your living room, such as Stevie G. Well, actually,
there’s just Stevie G. Not only does he sound like an unsuccessful jazz musician, he plays like one as well. Often cited as the
best footballer in the Gerrard household, after the dog of course,
his impersonation of a headless chicken out on the pitch is much
more convincing than his impersonation of an intelligent human being off it.
Manchester is a city of industry. It hosts two of the richest clubs
in the world. Manchester United, who built their wealth through a number of years of monopolising the top flight of English foot-
ball, and Manchester City, who attracted the interest of rich Arab investors. Al-City, as it will soon be called, have spent something
38
approaching Nasa’s annual budget to assemble a squad good enough for a top four finish. This tried and tested strategy will no SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
ILLUSTRATION: S JAMAL K
league …for dummies BY HASEEB ASIF
doubt bear fruit, or vegetables, depending on their taste.
United meanwhile are in a bit of a bother with debt and there-
fore keep relying on players they signed during the 1960s such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. They also have the ‘white Pele’,
Wayne Rooney, who plays very much like Pele would, if he put his football boots back on at his current age of 69.
Arsenal are an interesting football club, in that they suck hor-
ribly and yet manage to retain an international fan base. The Tudors were still ruling England the last time they won a trophy, which was some centuries before the Industrial Revolution.
Since then, theirs has been a story of misery and woe. Led by a
Frenchman who couldn’t even get employment as a janitor back in
his homeland, they are a young team filled mostly with pre-pubescent boys, thus finding it difficult to maintain discipline and consistency. They do especially badly in European competitions, be-
cause the matches are held at night, way past the players’ bedtime. Finally, there’s Chelsea. Built on the oil money of Russian busi-
ness tycoon Roman Abramovich, this is a club that has carved its name into the annals of English football history, mainly by purchasing the annals themselves. Who says money can’t buy happiness? The East Londoners have never been more jubilant.
The current incarnation of the side is a little old but led by
the peerless and, judging by the way he throws himself to the
ground at every contact, soon to be toothless Didier Drogba, they are a force to be reckoned with. You throw enough money about
and success will come running towards you. Even their players’
names are all about money. Cashley Cole, Petr Cheque, Frank Bankdraft, and so on.
Oh and there’s also Tottenham, who play in white and think
they’re Real Madrid. But they aren’t, so they don’t matter. a
SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
39
REVIEW
featured review of the week
film gimme moore BY HAMNA ZUBAIR
David Duchovny has enjoyed something of a revival and gathered quite the fan following since his reincarnation as Hank Moody in Showtime’s popular series “Californication”. While he has successfully managed to reinvent himself from the iconic Fox Mulder, the role that shot him to fame, does this mean that he’s able to hold his own on the big screen opposite 80s sexpot Demi Moore? The answer is, very nearly. Duchovny and Moore co-star in The Joneses, a rather literal critique of American consumer-driven culture. The pair play Mr and Mrs Jones, two people who are thrown together to inspire retail envy in others by living the perfect life. The Joneses and their two ‘kids’ are employed by a marketing company that seeks to sell, sell, sell using something they call the Ripple Effect — if people like you, they’ll want to buy what you have. The fake family is paid to live in a big house with fancy toys and has to deal with all the trappings of leading secret lives. Halfway into the assignment, business starts looking like pleasure and Mr and Mrs Jones find they’ve developed feelings for each other. But will they ever progress beyond separate bedrooms? The plot is fairly straightforward and the dialogue is just engaging enough to keep you in your seat for 90 minutes. Ultimately, however, you’re viewing the drama to watch two intriguing actors interact. Duchovny and Moore have more in common then you think. They’ve both managed to resurrect their flagging careers in their 40s, no easy feat in Hollywood, and virtually unheard of for women. They’re familiar enough to give the movie some gravitas but don’t fall back on playing characters they inhabited 10 years ago, and in Moore’s case, 20 years ago. Surprisingly, and fortuitously, they do share that mysterious and elusive quality, on-screen chemistry, one of those things you can spot but can’t describe. Though it isn’t ground-breaking, Moore’s performance is convincing and it doesn’t hurt that she’s looking good these days (though 40 I suspect the plastic surgery that got her there may have been SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
picture perfect The Joneses family is put together by a marketing company to inspire retail envy
Duchovny and Moore have more in common then you think. They’ve both managed to resurrect their flagging careers in their 40s, no easy feat in Hollywood, and virtually unheard of for women.
>> Five terrible movies by great TV actors 1. Marley and Me starring Jennifer Aniston 2. Southland Tales starring Sarah Michelle Gellar 3. Bee Movie starring Jerry Seinfeld 4. Valentine’s Day starring Patrick Dempsey 5. Speed Racer starring Matthew Fox <<
somewhat painful). She’s grown into playing more mature characters well and thankfully doesn’t sport that horribly stretched, botoxed look that most actresses over 30 are wearing these days. Duchovny is rumpled and lovable but borrows too many of his character’s tics from his “Californication” gig. A man who’s now been in the industry for several years and not quite pulled off the big screen magic yet, he struggles somewhat playing the neighbourhood sex symbol, his potency appears restricted to a more intimate medium and he is thus outshined by Moore, who, oddly, was never known as much of an actress in her heyday. All in all, watching the film is a decent way to pass a slow weeknight. If you’re looking for a deep insight into your meaningless consumer-driven life though, this isn’t where you’ll find the answers. What you will discover is that having a talking toilet will inspire such envy in your neighbours that they’ll by bitchy when you invite them over for dinner. So take it easy on the bathroom accessories. SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
41
REVIEW
book best served raw BY MUNA KHAN
Anthony Bourdain is an incredible chef, a fine writer and an entertaining host of his TV show “No Reservations”. But he hates vegetarians; he spews venom against them. Here is one sampling from his earlier book, Kitchen Confidential, which exposed the underbelly of the New York restaurant: “Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans, are a persistent irritant to any chef worth a damn. [V]egetarians are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit, and an affront to all I stand for, the pure enjoyment of food. The body, these waterheads imagine, is a temple that should not be polluted by animal protein. It’s healthier, they insist, though every vegetarian waiter I’ve worked with is brought down by any rumour of a cold.” As a vegetarian who sometimes flirts with fish because there’s only so much pasta and tomato sauce one can eat at Karachi restaurants, I should be appalled by Bourdain’s hostility but he’s such a damn fine writer that I find myself not minding. Medium Raw is another fine sampling from a chef for whom the title “Rebel with a Cause” is richly deserved. He’s grown up — naturally, Kitchen Confidential was printed a decade ago — he’s wiser, less of a wise-crack, though bless, the sense of humour is alive and kicking, even when hitting vegetarians, Rachel Ray and his biggest enemy, himself. We find Bourdain at the height of his power in Medium Raw, complete with suit and tie, discussing his show with TV execs; we find him indulging in the self-deprecating introspection that one has come to expect of him, be it talking about failed relationships or successful addictions. It is his vulnerability that comes through strongest. Imagine this superstar chef and writer admitting to being ready to give Oprah Winfrey a bikini wax if it meant getting her endorsement for his first book. Medium Raw sometimes reads as Bourdain’s apologia opus to selling out. But it’s not at all self-pity of the self-help variety, thankfully. He sees himself as a: “a loud, 42 egotistical, one-note [obscenity] who’s been cruising on the repuSEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
well done Hostile, offensive and egotistical — but oh so brilliant tation of one obnoxious, over-testosteroned book for way too long and who should just shut the [obscenity] up.” Bourdain is now in his 50s, remarried with a daughter whose birth was a major turning point in his life, especially when thinking about her diet which explains his crusade against fast food giants. However, this does not mean his writing is dulled. If anything, Bourdain gets away with saying a lot more than he did earlier because he is in a position of power. Whether he’s sticking it to the TV execs, the food network, McDonalds (perhaps his best essay, certainly one of the funniest, where he explains to his daughter that McDonalds has cooties so as to deter her from demanding it) or telling us about his favourite cuisine from around the world, or profiling culinary legends in the US (and tearing apart one critic), he does so with panache. And for the foodies out there hoping to learn from this culinary sage, despair not, for Bourdain provides a list of basic cooking skills that everyone should know.
film pity the fool BY BATOOL ZEHRA
For all the explosions, the near-death experiences, and the vehicular collisions, The A-Team is a stupefyingly underwhelming movie. As buildings collapse, cars blow up, bullets are sprayed and people die, you, the viewer, remain stolidly unmoved. All you need to know to follow the convoluted, chaotic plotline is who the good guys are: Faceman Peck (Bradley Cooper), BA Baracus (Quinton Rampage Jackson), and HM Murdock (Sharlto Copley). Led by the inscrutable Colonel Hannibal Smith (Liam Neeson) these four American soldiers form an elite combat unit. Hannibal, the brains (if you will) behind the team, concocts precisely calculated plans which somehow never get botched — until the boys set off on a mission to recover stolen US treasury plates in Iraq. Hannibal’s team goes on a covert black ops mission for the CIA, acting in apparent defiance of commanding officer Morrison’s orders and when Morrison is found dead, the A-Team is charged with treason, dishonourably discharged from service and locked up. Being the boys they are though, they escape the high security army confinement facility and go on a rogue mission to recover the plates and clear their name. The original A-Team was accused of being sexist and the bluster of this one proves again that it is clearly for the boys. In the 80s TV series, the women were either eye candy a la Tawnia Baker (played by Marla Heasley), or wistful hangers-on like the reporter Amy Amanda Allen who couldn’t be part of the boys band but lingered on the peripheries. In this age of political correctness, The A-Team solves the sex problem by having an incredibly sexy Jessica Biel play Charissa Sosa, a DCIS captain and former flame of Peckman’s. Sosa gets relegated to lieutenant after the boys disregard her warning to stay away from the plates, and is now out to get the plates before they do. In essence though, her task seems to be to keep the boys in check as they scamper around, up to their dangerous ploys, and she often looks like a harangued babysitter or a disapproving schoolmarm.
a guy thing Like the TV series, the movie is made for boys by boys and the female star looks like a disapproving schoolmarm Still, the film is not entirely without its moments of pleasure, even for a female viewer. Like the time when the team’s plane explodes and they ‘fly’ a tank by shooting rounds off. I have yet to figure out how Hannibal escaped from the cremation machine unscorched, where the plates were through the duration of the film (or why they were so important) and who the bad guy really was. Still, none of that matters because, as the narration at the end testifies, the point of this movie is not logic, nor even entertainment, but just to evoke a transitory nostalgia for the eighties. a 43 SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
HOROSCOPE BY SHELLEY VON STRUNCKEL
Aries March 20 – April 19 Judging by the virtual daily changes in the heavens, it’s unlikely that even the simplest of plans here
on earth will remain as you organised them. And surprises are inevitable. Once you understand that, instead of battling to keep
arrangements as planned, you’ll explore the options even sudden
developments offer. With so much in transition, you can afford to take chances on what’s new or unfamiliar.
Taurus April 20 – May 20 For ages you’ve been encouraging part-
ners, at work or at home, to take more initiative. With both your ruler Venus and, as of Tuesday, the rather aggressive Mars actuShelley von Strunckel is an internationally acclaimed astrologer who created the first horoscope column for the London Sunday Times in 1992.
ally accenting this portion of your chart, you may worry you’ve
created a monster. Stand back and let them do what they think right. You can advise them if you want, but it’s highly unlikely they’ll listen.
A frequent lecturer, she writes daily, weekly and monthly horoscopes in publications around the world including South China Morning Post, The Gulf News, Tatler, French and Chinese Vogue and now The Express Tribune Magazine.
Gemini May 21 – June 20 Obviously, the fact that your ruler Mer-
cury ends its retrograde cycle today is a relief. However, the days around its change of direction could be even more confusing. Knowing that, focus on learning from everything, includ-
ing disruptive events. It may take time, but gradually the facts that emerge will add up — and many will contribute to the plans you’ll soon be making.
Cancer June 21 – July 21 When you look back on the past month
or so, during which the dynamic Mars has been accenting domestic matters, you’ll realise how much you accomplished. But
now you’re ready for a break. And since this Tuesday’s move by
Mars shifts the focus to love and life’s pleasures, those relaxing moments are coming. Knowing that, you’re urged to tackle any remaining domestic issues on the home front right away.
Leo July 22 – August 22 Few things infuriate you more than in-
decisiveness. But now it’s you who’s been unable to commit, mostly because even simple decisions have been complicated by
conflicting information. One advantage is that Mercury’s finally ending its retrograde cycle today. That, plus a powerful planetary focus on getting things done, should enable you to over-
come obstacles, whether they’re in the form of practical matters or others’ objections.
Virgo August 23 – September 22 If others are in a hurry to make
decisions, tell them they’ll just have to wait. Between the in-
sights triggered by the recent Virgo New Moon and the fact your ruler Mercury finally concludes its retrograde cycle today, both circumstances and your perspective are bound to change. And
radically. Explore every idea or offer. What’s least expected could
44
turn out to be ideal. SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
Libra September 23 – October 22 While it’s true that Mars’ pres-
ence in Libra has focused your mind and often made you far more forthright than you’d have been otherwise, you’ll still be relieved to know that on Tuesday it moves to accent your resources. This
involves your money, but also your time, ideas and even your af-
fections. If you’re being short-changed in any way, it’s time you expressed your displeasure.
Scorpio October 23 – November 21 After a period during which you’ve felt anxious about your words and actions, Tuesday’s
move by the forthright Mars into Scorpio changes everything. As your confidence improves, doors open. Explore everything that
comes your way, but make no commitments. During the seven weeks it’s in your sign, both your priorities and the circumstanc-
es you’re dealing with will have evolved, and beyond anything you’d imagined possible.
Sagittarius November 22 – December 20 You don’t mind unex-
pected developments. But others do. Still, complaints about the
surprising twists and turns that began with yesterday’s move by your ruler Jupiter to join inventive Uranus in triggering changes in your life mustn’t stop you. Disruptive as these may be, they’re
part of a much larger pattern of well-earned personal growth. Trust your instincts. And enjoy every minute of this amazing period.
Capricorn December 21 – January 19 After three weeks of Mercury’s retrograde cycle, you’ll be relieved to know it resumes for-
ward motion today. But the resulting confusion won’t vanish
right away. Actually, that’s in your best interests, because often minor errors call your attention to situations that need investigation, if not a serious going-over. Be alert to these now and you’ll be beginning the process at just the right moment.
Aquarius January 20 – February 17 Perplexing as the events of the
past months have been, your instincts are telling you things are headed in the right direction. Not only is that true, with the bountiful Jupiter having joined your ruler Uranus, suddenly it’s
all going brilliantly. And with both planets in the part of you chart that involves your resources, developments could be as lucrative as they are exciting.
Pisces February 18 – March 19 Now that both the fortunate Jupiter and Uranus have returned to Pisces, to remain there until early
in the new year, you’re in for a thrilling period. Certain promising arrangements from the past suddenly may spring to life
again, but don’t act too swiftly. New and completely unexpected
For more information, to order personal charts and to download & listen to detailed audiocasts, visit www.shelleyvonstrunckel.com
developments could be even better. Explore everything, show in-
45
terest in what suits you — but keep your options open.
SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
THE HATER
10 things I hate about
...being a foreigner in Karachi BY ZAHRA ULLAH
1 2 3 4 5 46
The staring. From the moment you get out of the airport, wherever you are, whether it is a McDonald’s restroom or browsing in the bazaars, the constant star-
ing makes you feel as if there is some deformity on
your body or a target on your face. Have you suddenly turned into the Bride of Wildenstein?
Loadshedding. The novelty of using the lavatory in the dark whilst the guard feebly attempts to get the generator working quickly wears off. And the sudden beaming of mobile phone lights at an aunty’s dinner party is not because you were about to rock out.
The language barrier. The blank faces as you mime and
act your way through the day makes one realise why drama school didn’t work out. It can be infuriating to get responses like, “Aap apna mun dhona chahein gi?” after trying to mime that you wanted a drink.
The humidity. No, I don’t want to get my hair blow dried. Trust me, as soon as I go outside you’ll wonder whether I have even heard of a hair salon.
6 7 8 9 10
Time management. The laid back attitude of Karachiites in making a plan. And if you dare to make plans the
incredibly ridiculous need to be available at the drop of a hat, since 2 pm could mean 3, 4, 5 or 6 pm.
Traffic. Only in Karachi could driving over pavements to get from point A to B in a non-emergency be par for the
course. And the resulting barrage of profanity directed at pedestrians is, of course, considered reasonable.
The belief that because you were born in a Western
country you are a complete coconut (brown on the out-
side but white on the inside). Yes, I know what a “s-h-al-w-a-r k-a-m-e-e-z” is thank you very much and I do not require cutlery to eat a roti.
Special prices. “Baji, for you I do discount...urrrmm 750.” The ridiculous attempts to rip you off as a foreign-
er. I’ll take a rain check on that ‘special treatment’. The cheesy smiles and broken English won’t get you anywhere!
“Buzzzzz....buzzzzzzz”. The non-stop swatting away of the aggravating creatures that are mosquitoes. New
research suggests extinction of mosquitoes would not
have major detrimental effects to any ecosystem so do away with them already. Forget malaria, I just don’t
like the whole “Hey, I’m rocking the bubonic plague” look.
SEPTEMBER 12-18 2010
Not good for the waistline. Life in Karachi revolves around food. Aunty jees forcing you to try anything and
everything even when you’ve said “no, thank you” ever
so sweetly. But after forcing everything edible down your throat, they are also the first to comment on your
bulging hips: “Hai, tum aaj kal kaafi healthy lag rahi ho!” a
JUNE 13-19 2010
JUNE 13-19 2010