Good-bye Pakistan!

Islamabad Day 17
I have no idea when I will be here again, but I hope it would get more stable than now... I really do, because I'd like to visit more places in this country! Mohenjodaro, Rohtas Fort, Peshawar... you name it!
In the morning, I left the Capitol city of Islamabad for Lahore... It's always a little bit sad to leave some place you stayed for a while even though there are suicide bombers everywhere!

taking the PIA for the first time... only to Lahore!


here I am again in Bangkok's international airport!
let's get some souvenirs!

My last full day in Islamabad...

Islamabad Day 16
A cloudy day... and in the morning, the lights went out again... Oh, see what Mr. Musharraf has accomplished in his reform! We have generators to bring back light to our office, but I hope he has many gadgets to bring light to many citizens with nightmares!

even the fish have lost their light! say something to the President guys!

It was another greatly peaceful day. And I stayed around my office to get ready to leave the city. Well I really didn't acheive anything this past week, but what the heck, it's better than going back to Japan to get back into the shift job.

my last dinner... Pakistani style!

My last night in Islamabad... sayin' good-bye to the stove I've been together for more than two weeks!

oh I'll miss this warmth...

First day of MUHARRAM!

Islamabad Day 15
They say today is Muharram 1, 1429 AH. Actually, it was supposed to be the first day of the new Islamic year yesterday, but since the moon was not seen from the ground on the day before, they announced it was today that will be the first day of Muharram.
There is no festive mood here, maybe because I'm just staying in my office doing nothing but watch television and read newspapers, but there are at least no news that people are celebrating out there.

Watching TV, I notice so many pretty ladies anchoring news programs and entertainment shows!

so many beautiful ladies on the screen!
oops! I forgot... there's one, not of the kind, in the middle!!

It was a nice sunny day and a very peaceful day. I was able to take a bath at night and freshen up! Two more days to go with my trip!

A wild day!

Islamabad Day 14
Though I heard thunder and rain overnight, it was a pleasantly sunny morning and I was predicting a great day coming up.
I was completely wrong...

BREAKING NEWS!

Just before noon, breaking news that a suicide blast killed more than 20 at a eastern city of Lahore came in and I had to jump around to pile up information to write the story.
Meanwhile, the weather was changing drastically in Islamabad and there were hail flying to the ground making it like nighttime outside at 1 o'clock! Rain continued afterwards...

the garden was filled with hail! a rarity they say in Islamabad...
people say there were snowfall in many parts of the city... a real rarity!

OK... maybe I think I had enough... but there's three more days to go! I here there might be snow in Tokyo this weekend... Oh, I'm not that happy that I have to return to a much colder environment after I finish my job here...

What? Explosions?

Islamabad Day 13
I woke up several times early in the morning as I heard a loud sound at least three times...
Explosions!? It can't be... it's six o'clock in the morning. My fellow had left earlier and should be at the airport by now... After 10 minutes, I heard loud noise of strong rain hitting the ground outside... Oh... it was the sound of thunder! Phew...
Maybe I'm getting a little nervous here...
Oh well... I went back to sleep and praying for peace...

It was raining on and off... quite strong sometimes with thunder once in a while. Today, luckily, it was peaceful and I had nothing to do, but watch the news and read the papers, checking news websites and drinking tons of coffee.

BBC and CNN were reporting about Mrs. Clinton's victory in NH all day. It doesn't bother me at all that it's so peaceful today. I really don't. Maybe that's not good for a reporter's way of thinking... but I truly know that I will encounter tons of happenings in the future even if nothing attacks me the coming several days...

the hot topic was Bilawal's appearance yesterday... the papers seem to rate his performance highly... oh, well let the dynasty start in London and in the United States...

Rain, rain, rain...

Islamabad Day 12
It's raining again! And this time, it was the strongest rain in these four days.
So today, our live coverage had do be done with rain pouring on the city of Islamabad.

it's getting stronger each day!

In London, the only son of BB and the Chairman of PPP came in front of the media for his first press conference since his appearance at his announcement of taking over his mother's party. He was attacked by wily reporters but he seemed to remain composed, and he even made some jokes.
I was not of course convinced with his answers: "It wasn’t handed on like some piece of family furniture. They asked me to do it and I did" when asked about the inheritance of the party. He reiterated that it was the will of his party as reporters attacked him hinting that taking leadership without some kind of election is not democratic at all. He emphasized the fact that it was the only way to get over the difficulty: "It was recognised at this moment in crisis the party needed a close association with my mother through the bloodline. Also it was important to give hope to the new generation of Pakistanis who are looking not just to these elections but beyond."

The people who experienced kingdoms love to see "dynasties" and as his grandfather and his mother facing death, there were questions about his safety. He countered: "How many Bhuttos can you kill? From every house a Bhutto will come!" and at the end, joking: "I fear more for my privacy". There's no privacy for politicians, but yes, he's still a student.

Islamabad at nighttime... raining...

The first time in a decade...

Islamabad Day 11
Another rainy day... three days in a row with precipitation, although they say here that there were none for two months till Saturday.

Today, for the first time since I was a second year reporter working in Awaji Island of Hyogo Prefecture, I recorded a report in English. Actually it was the first one ever on TV, as the ones I'd recorded a decade ago were on radio. I really feel silly speaking with English on Japanese media and honestly, I really would rather not get another chance to do one...

After going to Rawalpindi to get more footage, it was time to work on my report again. When things aren't working as smoothly as I hope, I always ask myself why am I doing this...

"Pindi" today...

In our organization, whoever has the power to choose the content and the length of the news and reports gets the maximum power. I'm not a free journalist with some kind of media of my own to report what I want to the people. I work where their are limits to broadcast time, and where quality counts like crazy. I know it's suicidal, but I sometimes think how great it will be just to say NO... I get paid for doing this job and I have to follow the rules... and that's where I start to interrogate myself... why am I doing this?

people were getting ready for elections... oh, they have no time to think!
QUIZ TIME: can you tell which party this candidate is with? hint: you can see the election symbol in the poster!

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!

Islamabad Day 10
Today, the rain did not stop before I woke up. It was drizzling all morning, but it stopped in the afternoon and the weather became quite refreshing when we were giving out a live coverage.

raining all morning!

After work, we relaxed a bit and took it easy in the afternoon, getting a hand on take-out food for the first time, and going out to have dinner. I also took a bath for the first time in eleven days! I advice you not to think of how dirty the bath tub was after I got out and washed three undershirts and two underwears...

guess what! KFC!


having a chicken burger meal to go...


and some Chinese food for dinner outdoors!
with... BEER!!


and my first bath in Pakistan... wow, you wouldn't want to see how dirty the bathtub was after I got out!!

Refreshed to go, I went back to work... The next one will be for the 8th... Still can't put down my pen!

Bicycles?

Islamabad Day 9
It seems to have been raining overnight or maybe in the morning as the ground was wet outside. For three days in a row, it's another cloudy day and now I'm missing the sun so much. I know I only can return to a freezing Japan, but I surely wish I can take a rest somewhere...

Today, I only went out to a close by office of PML(Q), the biggest of the ruling parties, and I found out that their symbol is a bicycle. Last night, when we were returning from Rawalpindi, I saw many posters and banners with bicycles, soccer balls, and beds.

symbols allocated to political parties for the eleciton!
arrow for PPP, bicycle for PML(Q), and tiger for PML(N)

It's not a tradition in our country to use symbols, but maybe it would be fresh and rejuvenating if we can use them in our elections!

Mourning continues...

Islamabad Day 8
The seventh day after Ms. Bhutto's assassination. In buddhist tradition, there's always a ceremony in this day, and through it's a different world here in an Islamic nation, there's still many people mourning for their lost leader in what they call martyrdom.

After going out to PPP's meeting in Rawalpindi, we headed to the central part of the city where she was killed. Many people were praying and there seemed to be no end with visitors arriving to give their prayers.

at the meeting... many people wrapped up in cloths and linen...
I surely hope they don't have anything dangerous under them...


PPP's strategy... "it's a battle to avenge her death!"


many followers coming to mourn at the sight of her death...

Time for throwaway matches?

Islamabad Day 7
It was a cloudy day... It might be the first day that I've seen the sun being surrounded by clouds.

sun behind clouds... getting cold...


at the market...

Going to a PPP press conference and taking interviews at markets was the menu for the day, but I'm realizing this is some kind of throwaway match.

at the PPP office... time to mourn for a while... even the reporters were holding up their hands to mourn!

For the foreign media (BBC put it as "selected media"), President Musharraf held a press conference, so all the Western media can attack him with all sorts of questions.
As a former army chief, though he seemed a little irritated, he sometimes joked and put off his attackers one by one, swearing that democracy is on the way... he put it as it was in his third stage of finishing up the implementation of the democratic way...
Oh well... I don't know how long this democratic third stage will continue on, but I surely do not see democracy. But one thing was right! He did let tons of media write whatever they want, as I've seen gobs of camera lenses at each press meeting I go to!

42 day delay...

Islamabad Day 6
They finally gave out the date!
The elections will be held on the 18th of February!
With this delay, it is now a certainty I won't be able to cover the elections which I had I had originally planned to do when I arrive here in Pakistan...
Well, I need a change in plans and what shall I do the rest of my days I can stay here!?

over 50 cameras waiting in front of the EC headquarters!


what a view! a throng of microphones!!


it was just chaos in a small room for the press conference!


can you count the numbers of microphones out there!?

At night, President Musharraf addressed the nation in Urdu for reconciliation.

Mr. President... looking good...

He also mentioned that the Army and ranger teams will be deployed until and even after the elections. Isn't that a "state of emergency" without saying that it is? He also said that the elections should be held on January 8th as planned, but agrees to EC's decision for a delay, stressing that it was not his decision to postpone the elections.

Well... we at least finally have the date to set the target...

so why not go for some beer! cheers!!

A happy new year?

Islamabad Day 5
As the party pooper who can't sense the situation wins the Emperor's Cup in Japan, we were waiting for the Election Commission's announcement of the poll date.

reporters swarming the EC headquarters...

But once again, the EC stated that the announcement will be delayed another day! Oh, we're getting really irritated on how things are decided here... but I'm fully aware this could be a normal situation here in Pakistan... so... it's my fault to be irritated!

What a start in New Year's Day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

the watch hitting 0:00 at Islamabad... four hours after Japan.

Here I entered the new year in a different country for the first time in 18 years. And I have no idea where I will be when I reach the same date next year... no idea...

PS

Mickey Mouse year!

It's the Year of the Mice, which is my zodiac sign as I was born 36 years ago three cycles ago.
I hope the Mighty Mouse in me can fire away to another great year!

let's kick ass!!

End of a very busy and unpredictable year!

Islamabad Day 4
The timing of the election was not announced today as we had anticipated. Though there are many saying it will be postponed, we must wait for the official announcement tomorrow in New Year's Day...

the top news was of course about the PPP's inheritance...

Here in Islamabad, the people seemed not to care about whether it was December 31st or not. After the three day mourning, people were out in the markets but it seemed to be an everyday picture here...

everybody doing their usual shopping... no year end bargains!

I was watching Japanese sattelite channel when Japan had entered the New Year, but it was still 8PM here in Islamabad. In my original plan, I was supposed to be in Bangkok to celebrate the New Year... Well a big change in my plans, but still I think it was one of the busiest and the most unpredictable year of my life. I have no idea what kind of year 2008 will be either...

Well... SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!