Now in that time away, I did this “detox” program which I could cheekily make excuses and say, I detoxed from blogging or writing, as if I was some professional blogger. But in reality, I just didn’t.

But getting back to this detox, it was great. Let me give you the details first There’s this place called Body Beat Recreational Center, started by Hassan Rizvi which is a studio that offers dance classes. Now to be honest, I’ve never taken any of the Bollywood, hip-hop, or other dance classes offered until they started yoga.

Yoga’s something I’ve tried to aspire towards, but it has always been too north Cali for me. I feel I need to be a vegan and feel the love in order to understand what yoga truly is. Or at least wear an orange robe (no offense meant towards any Hari Krishna’s) to connect- but it’s all hogwash. I never gave yoga any credit, because I felt, you needed a high impact workout, truly sweat and jump around, to get a great workout.

So BBRC offered these yoga classes and my doctor had been after me to join yoga in order to de-stress. The first couple of months, I sweated like crazy, but still didn’t truly comprehend what I was doing. It just felt like I was stretching in different ways. But in the third month, I started to just “get it”. And then I began to understand the way your body flows. My back wouldn’t hump as much. I started snoring less, I began smiling more. My husband said I didn’t scream as much at him. Huh, this yoga stuff seemed to be working.

When the Ten Day Detox was offered, I jumped at the chance because I was enjoying myself so much. It was this comprised offer 2 ½ hours of yoga per day and the meal plan was structured by a dietician, to your specific needs. It was quite hard and while I became used to the diet part of the program, the yoga portion of it kicked my ass! I had never gotten such a workout after a ten km workout. No amount of aerobics has ever made me pain in such a manner. But oh the joy I received from it, such an endorphin high! Our yoga teacher, I’ve inputted in my phone as “Salina Taqi Yoga Guru Extraordinaire” simply because she’s amazing. She’s strict and inspiring and fun. She makes me want to come to class, and sends these little reminder messages before each class, that mentally makes me be like yeah, I’m excited or okay fine yeah, I should go – depending on the day.

Anyhow so detox was intense, the diary I kept is full of inspiration and self analysis. I did break down a couple of the days emotionally, when it all seemed too much to handle. On day nine, my body was in so much pain; my masseuse was in shock at the knots in my body. On day 11, as I rejoined the world, I salivated with a burger in my hand as I marveled at the inches I’d lost. And today, I’m craving the daily yoga routine and am eagerly awaiting the next program!

If you haven’t checked out the BBRC, please do so!

Email:bodybeatdancestudio@gmail.com

Phone:02135841243

Address:42C, 1st Floor, Badar Commercial, Phase V, DHA Karachi, Pakistan

Website:http://www.iwantcinemalive.com

Facebook: Body Beat Recreational Center

Years passed and I reconnected with Wajahat once again. He had an amazing interview show titled “Talk Back” and was brilliant on the flip side of the camera. Since there’s no TiVo here, we would rearrange our schedules on sunday evenings to catch his show where he would ruthlessly grill politicians and personalities.  While Wajahat  no longer is with the news channel he started out at, he is even more captivating, thought-provoking and articulate. He’s now under his own banner (yay!) with an ardent fan base and following. 

The article below, which is also published in the “Express Tribune” is a great read. Wajahat is so brilliant, it’s hard to not pick his brain socially. Every opportunity I get I always ask him some question about world affairs, which I”m sure he’s already been asked before. Recently, before I could even start in on him, he warmly said, “let’s follow the Italians here, ” as I quizzically looked at him. “Italians don’t talk about work when they’re out. They just want to have a good time and enjoy themselves. how about we follow that principle tonight?” he asked me. And while the wheelbarrow of questions in my head came to a screeching halt, I had to oblige him. Now, I feed my Wajahat need with his array of work that keeps him current and relevant for all of us thinking people here in Pakistan. Join his Facebook page, “Journalism with Wajahat S. Khan” and read his blog “My Name is Khan” at  http://bit.ly/98I6XJ

Below is the first of a three part series for the Express Tribune, a newspaper here in Pakistan. You can access the article here

Evolution of Our Media

Karachi: Among the diverse issues that face a post-colonial and post-millennial Pakistan, the enormous disparity in education and wealth among its nearly 175 million citizens manifests itself in severe barriers to accessible and objective journalism. Most Pakistanis are not literate enough to read their news, in any format. Meanwhile, those who are literate cannot afford regular access to print media. These facts make television the only truly affordable and accessible platform for information and discourse and as a result, a serious player in the Pakistani polity. Since it was de-regulated less than a decade ago, under the regime of the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, the media has gone on to play a critical role in many of Pakistan’s escalating and interconnected civil, military, social and political conflicts. It was the media that covered the tragedy of Mukhtaran Mai, the victim of a brutal gang rape in rural Punjab and propelled her to become the international voice of suppressed Pakistani women. It was the media that highlighted the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of an un-constitutionally dissolved Supreme Court bench. They aired live images from across the ‘divide’ during the Mumbai attacks, challenging the Pakistani ‘establishment’ to confront its ambiguous stance on supporting terrorism. But given the country’s reputed status of being the eye of the global security storm, what role is the Pakistani media playing in this region’s version of what was once called the ‘war on terror?’ Is it exercising its immense power responsibly? Is the media ‘selling’ the war to Pakistanis, or is it aligning itself with the anti-war – and thus essentially anti-American – movement? In question is the media’s use of language in targeting, developing and exploiting pre-ordained opinions among sectors of the polity. Like most media, the media in Pakistan take their lead from language and ‘mimic’ the print side. In Pakistan, most Urdu news publications are relatively more conservative and less secular as compared to the English press. Considering that the English-Urdu divide in Pakistan is actually a manifestation of the haves versus the have-nots, the media in Pakistan effectively tend to merge linguistics and politics by serving Urdu news to the ‘teeming masses’ compared to the English carriers that cater to the ‘ruling elite’. Thus, different information goes to different people, channelled through the interface of the language divide in the media. This is a critical trend. An entire generation of Pakistanis receiving news and analysis that is not in sync with another generation that co-exists with them, greatly outnumbers them and relies on them for their economic survival. What further complicates this argument is clear evidence that bilingual media groups shift their editorial stances from left to right based on the language of their products, thus providing a controlled experiment that premises language as the key driver of the growing schism in a disparately politicised Pakistani audience. Then there are the built-in structural efficiencies and/or deficiencies of the Pakistani media, including an inherent arrangement that motivates self-interest over objectivity. All local media groups are family-owned — only one entertainment-centric group is publicly listed. That ends up giving substantial control to a very small group of individuals and, with it, the ability to advance ‘personal’ agendas into the information mainstream. This ‘genetically driven’ structure – also called the seth culture – is the proverbial elephant in the room (or news studio) as far as Pakistan’s media powerhouses are concerned. The first automated affect of this arrangement is the breach of the church and state divide, which in journalism stands for the separation between ‘management and editorial.’ Thus, inherent in the industrial configuration of the Pakistani media is a natural dilution of the most basic principle of unbiased journalism. Watch this space to track the bizarre, modern evolution of Pakistan’s fourth estate, which many slam as its fifth column.

Since I’ve been living here, I’ve discovered there are actually “seasons” that weddings take place in. Pakistan’s a Muslim country so although business follows the Gregorian calendar, more important is the Lunar calendar. Post Muharram and Ramadhan are the busiest times for tailors, wedding planners, and us – all the attendees. We all moan and groan that “oh we have three, four five functions tonight” or “uh, I’m so tired and wish i didn’t have to go”. We’ll bitch and moan and complain why couldn’t the bride and groom just have two-three functions. We’ll wax poetic about having a home cooked meal at home – but it’s all lies. Wedding season is a drug that I feel slowly takes over every person living here.

We love looking at the bride – her clothes, the jewelry. Some people are catty, some people aren’t. The decor, the food all commented on. And we love a wedding that has a great party. Especially a function called “Rung”.

Most people don’t have one, but those who do, are definite crowd pleasers. Recently, my friend Samra, had a Rung for her brother, Hassan and sister-in-law Nadia. Think of the Indian version of Holi, without the religious ceremonies. Rung in Urdu, literally means color.

They’re normally held at someone’s hut at the beach and take place from afternoon until the late night. Colored water, which stains the clothes  are filled in cups, buckets, water guns, water balloons and distributed and color is thrown at everyone there. Especially the late comers.

No one was spared and the weather’s a warm breeze that lets you dry off easily. But then the DJ started and the party continued on till way past midnight!

Coming from L.A., these functions are just mind-blowing. Elaborate decorations, elaborate menus, its surreal on so many levels. But also,highly enjoyable. When the movie Monsoon Wedding came out, the joyousness it captured was true to how weddings are celebrated in our subcontinent. And while this particular function was the first of the two-week wedding that followed, it definitely set the precedent for the rest of the wedding fun.

My mother is the queen of fast cooking. On any given day, on short notice, she can whip up a few dishes, and make any drab thing, look wonderful. One of the tricks she taught me was to always have a few staple items in the pantry. It make take some time to get adjusted to this, but, trust me, it works. I’ll always buy two of something, and the moment, my stock goes down, I make sure I buy it to store it.

Canned tomatoes are a necessity no matter what. Everyone makes fun of me because I use canned tomatoes instead of fresh ones, especially here, but now, it’s a lifesaver, but I’ll refrain from the “I told you so”.  I decide I want to make Pakistani food, since we’ve been eating out a lot.

Karahi (wok) chicken is a simple quick dish that takes twenty minutes if using boneless chicken breast. Traditionally, it’s made of small cut bone pieces of thigh and leg, but I need something quick and easy. Plus, I don’t eat anything other than boneless chicken breast. This recipe is so easy, that I make it all the time on short notice.

Karahi Chicken:

1 lb. boneless chicken breast, cut into 1” pieces

1 tbsp. minced ginger

1 tbsp. minced garlic

½ tsp. semi-crushed cumin seeds

½ tsp semi-crushed coriander seeds

½ tsp. semi crushed red chilies – use less for less heat

½ tsp. salt – maybe more

1 can whole peeled tomatoes or 3 whole Roma tomatoes, sliced

For the tomatoes, in a frying pan, with 1 tbsp. oil, fry the tomatoes on medium heat, until the water dries up. Not sundried tomato dry, but not the juicy watery tomatoes either. Like shriveled up kind

2 Serrano chilies, sliced

2 tbsp. cilantro, chopped

Sprinkle of lemon juice

In a wok, take 2 tbsp. vegetable oil and heat on med high heat. Add the ginger and garlic as its frying, add the chicken. Seal the chicken (stir fry chicken till its white on the outside) and add the dry spices. Give it a few stirs and then add the tomatoes. Sir fry a bit more and let the chicken cook until the oil separates from the food and chicken is cooked through, about fifteen minutes. Garnish with chilies and cilantro. Right before serving take about 1 tsp. of lemon juice and sprinkle it on top. (Don’t put lemon juice and leave the chicken. For some reason, it ends up making the chicken a tad bitter)

This can be eaten with any sort of flat bread, like pita , naan, chapatti, lavash.

Note: Pakistani/Indian spices stay really well. Semi crushed simply means I took the whole seed variety and ran them through the spice grinder for a few seconds. This recipe works just as well with the ground spices too, just be careful with the red chilies.

My husband prefers the bone version, because the meat’s more tender and flavorful. I told him he should cook it then. I’m from L.A., we don’t do butchery.

So now, I have one dish made and when I lived in L.A., one dish was pretty much all that was needed for dinner. But my in-laws are another whole story.

Dinner at their place consists of at least 3 dishes, rice, roti’s, salads, and always dessert. So my husband naturally, can’t deal with my one dish meals with only rice or bread. So I decide since we’re having roti, I’ll make another vegetable dish.

Getting my Pakistani man to eat vegetables is like expecting tape to stick in humidity. Its been damn near impossible, but I’ve noticed over time, I’m wearing him down. Okay, he’s not at spinach and okra and zucchini, but he does love his potatoes. This recipe is pretty much unique to every family it comes across. there’s no special name for them, other than “simple aaloo’s”(potatoes in Urdu) .

The key to these potatoes is to slice them thin so they cook easily on  skillet. It’s a really quick side dish, that takes minutes to makes.

Simple Cumin Potatoes

Slice 2-3 potatoes in thin layers and then quarter them

In large skillet, heat 2 tbsp. oil

Add:    1 large tbsp. whole cumin

½ tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp salt, more if needed

5-6 curry leaves (optional)

Cook until tender.

Add:    5-6 whole red chilies.

When near done add sliced green chilies and fresh cilantro.

The only thing with this recipe, is to make sure not to overdo the turmeric.

So after all this cooking and making the salad and obliging to be wifey, Aun comes home and is like oh yum, blah, blah, blah. Until he eats my potatoes. he eats them and explains “oh wow, these are good, yum…but they’re not like how my mom makes them”. And he continues to eat the potatoes and says “yeah, nothing as good as my mom’s” which at that point, I lost it.

After being in the kitchen for an hour cooking,  I took the potato dish away from him, informed him he was banned from eating my dinner and he should go to his mother’s house if my food isn’t good enough for him. After many choice words, mostly spoken by me – no one ate the dinner cooked. I ate cereal and he ultimately, did go to his mother’s house for dinner. Sigh. I’ll be asking for my mother-in-law’s recipe very soon. In the meantime, lunch the next day was excellent and we loved my mother’s recipes. =)

p.s. I’m new at the photos, bear with me!

When we lived in Seattle, Khan taught at Universtiy of Washington, and my parents used to frequent his late night impromptu performances. But in L.A., as I became curious about my culture, Khan’s brilliance evoked something in me, that i hadn’t experienced before. I became obsessed with understanding what was being said and hounded my father to translate for me.

My favorite qawwal is called “Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai”. I have this performance in many forms, from a twenty-six minute version, to the more popular six minute version. I had memorized the words before I knew what they meant. Fifteen years later, I still have to re-read the translated lyrics, searching to understand.

Jeff Buckley’s version speaks to me on so many levels, I’m in awe of him. He’s the American side of me, trying to figure out the qawwal. He’s my inner rock star, capturing the sweetness of sound and simplicity of great music. And he reminds me that music is still a medium that transcends words any time, any where.

Here’s a rough translation of the song courtesy of:

http://nusrat.info/ye-jo-halka-halka-suroor/

Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai

saaqii kii har nigaah pe bal khaa ke pii gayaa
lehroN se kheltaa hu’aa lehraa ke pii gayaa

In awe of every glance of the cup-bearer, I drank
I drank playing with the waves of joy.

ai rahmat-e-tamaam merii har Khataa mu’aaf
maiN intihaa-e-shauq meN ghabraa ke pii gayaa

O all-merciful! Please forgive all my wrongs
I drank confounded by the extreme desire.

piitaa baGhair izn ye kab thii meri majaal
dar-pardaa chashm-e-yaar kii shah paa ke pii gayaa

I do not dare to drink without permission
but the patronage of veiled eyes of my beloved beckoned.

zaahid ye merii shoKhii-e-rindaanaa dekhnaa
rahmat ko baatoN baatoN meN bahlaa ke pii gayaa

O abstinent! Look at the mischievousness of my drinking
I drank by befriending the forgiveness [of God].

uudii uudii ghaataa’eN aatii haiN
mutriboN kii navaa’eN aatii haiN

Purple clouds are over-cast
and the sound of music is all around.

kis ke gesuu khule haiN saavan meN
mahkii mahkii havaa’eN aatii haiN

Whose tresses are open in the rains?
The winds are perfumed.

aao sah’n-e-chaman meN raqs kareN
saaz lekar ghaataa’eN aatii haiN

Let us dance in the garden courtyard
the clouds brought music [with them].

dekh kar unkii ankhRiyoN ko “Adam”
maikadoN ko havaa’eN aatii haiN

After seeing her eyes O Adam!
I can feel the ambience of tavern.

paas rahtaa hai duur rahtaa hai
ko’ii dil meN zaruur rahtaa hai

Near and far, somebody lives
somebody do lives in my heart.

jab se dekhaa hai unkii aaNkhoN ko
halkaa halkaa suruur rahtaa hai

From the time I have seen her eyes
I remain mildly intoxicated.

aise rehte haiN vo mere dil meN
jaise zulmat meN nuur rahtaa hai

My beloved lives in my heart, like
light lives in darkness.

ab “Adam” kaa vo haal hai har qadam
mast rahtaa hai chuur rahtaa hai

“Adam” is of such a disposition that at every step
he remains intoxicated and ecstatic.

ye jo halkaa halkaa suruur hai
ye terii nazar kaa qusuur hai
ke sharaab piina sikha diyaa

This mild intoxication
is because of your eyes,
that taught me drinking.

tere pyaar ne terii chaah ne
teri bahkii bahkii nigaah ne
mujhe ek sharaabii bana diyaa

Your love and your longing,
your intoxicating glances
made me a drunkard.

sharaab kaisii, Khumaar kaisaa
ye sab tumharii navaazisheN haiN
pilaayii hai kis nazar se tuune
ke mujhko apnii Khabar nahiiN hai

What wine, what intoxication
all this is [due to] your kindness.
You served me [wine] with your eyes such
that I have forgotten myself.

saaraa jahaaN mast, jahaaN kaa nizaam mast
din mast, raat mast, saher mast, shaam mast
mast shiisha, mast subuu, mast jaam mast
hai terii chashm-e-mast se har Khaas-o-aam mast

The whole world is ecstatic, the order of the world is ecstatic.
The day is ecstatic, so is dawn and so is evening.
The glass, cup and wine are all ecstatic.
Because of your intoxicating eyes, everyone and everything is ecstatic.

ye jo saaqii har tarah kii tere maiKhaane meN hai
vo bhii thoRii sii jo in aaNkhon ke paimaane meN hai

Of all the wines you have in your tavern
serve me a little from your eyes.

sab samajhtaa huuN terii ish (??) nazar ai saaqii
kaam kartii hai nazar, naam hai paimaane kaa

I understand your alluring glances
that cause intoxication, instead of wine.

teraa pyaar hai bas merii zindagii

Only your love is my life.

na namaaz aatii hai mujhko na vuzuu aataa hai
sajdaa kar letaa huuN jab saamne tuu aataa hai

Neither I know prayers nor ablutions,
I prostate whenever you come in front of me.

maiN azal se bandaa-e-ishq huuN
mujhe zuhd-o-kufr kaa Gham nahiiN
mere sar ko dar teraa mil gayaa
mujhe ab talaash-e-haram nahiiN

I am a follower of love since the beginning of life
[and] I do not care for piousness or irreligiousness.
My head has found your house,
now I do not search for the mosque.

merii bandagii hai vo bandagii
jo ba-qaid-e-dair-o-haram nahiiN
mera ek nazar tumheN dekhnaa
baa-Khudaa namaaz se kam nahiiN

My devotion is such devotion
that is not bound by the mosque and the temple.
When I see you once
by God, it is no less than a prayer.

teraa pyaar hai bas merii zindagii

Only your love is my life.

qayaamat meN teraa daaGh-e-muhabbat lekar uThuungaa
terii tasviir us dam bhii kaleje se lagii hogii

On the day of judgment, I would rise with the scars of your love
your image would be clinging to my heart on that day.

kyunkii

because

teraa pyaar hai bas merii zindagii

Only your love is my life.

terii yaad hai merii bandagii
jo terii Khushii, vo merii Khushii
ye mere junuuN kaa hai mo’jizaa
jahaaN apne sar ko jhukaa diyaa
vahaaN maine Kaaba banaa diyaa

Your remembrance is my prayer
[and] your wish is my wish.
This is the miracle of my frenzy
that where ever I prostrated
a mosque was made there.

mere baad kisko sataaoge?

On whom would you inflict pain after me?

Dil-jaloN se dil-lagii acchii nahiiN
rone vaaloN se haNsii acchii nahiiN
dillagii hii dillagii meN dil gayaa

It is not nice to play with the emotions of sufferers,
it is not good to laugh at the mourners.
I lost my heart in [just in] play.

O! meraa dil gayaa, dil gayaa, dil gayaa

O my heart is gone!

Khudaa ke liye apnii nazroN ko roko varnaa
meraa dil gayaa, dil gayaa, dil gayaa

For God’s sake change your glances, else
my heart is gone.

merii tarah Khudaa kare teraa kisii pe aaye dil
tuu bhii kalejaa thaam ke kahtaa phire ke haaye dil

I pray to God that you also fall in love with someone
and suffer in separation with hands on your heart.

meraa dil gayaa, dil gayaa, dil gayaa

My heart is gone.

dillagii hii dillagii meN dil gayaa
dil lagaane ka natiijaa mil gayaa
maiN to rotaa huuN ke meraa dil gayaa
tum kyuuN hanste ho tumheN kyaa mil gayaa?

I lost my heart just in fun
and got the measure of falling in love.
I cry because my heart is lost
[but] why do you laugh, what did you get?

acchaa phir…..

Okay then…..

mere baad kisko sataaoge?
mujhe kis tarah se miTaaoge?
kahaaN jaa kar tiir chalaaoge?
merii dostii kii balaayeN lo
mujhe haath uThaa kar du’aaeN do
tumheN ek qaatil banaa diyaa

To whom would you inflict pain after me?
How would you take me out of your life?
Where would you cast those arrow-like glances?
Value my friendship
[that] helped you to gain murderous charm.

mujhe dekho Khvaaish-e-jaan-e-jaaN
maiN vohii huuN “Anwar”-e-niim jaaN
tumheN itnaa hosh thaa jab kahaaN
na chalaao is tarah tum zubaaN
karo meraa shukriyaa meh’rbaaN
tumheN baat karnaa sikhaa diyaa

Watch me, O my desire of life!
I am the same suffering “Anwar”
You were not even in your senses at that time
[so] don’t argue with me in such a manner
[but] offer thanks to me
that I helped you articulate yourself.

Note: Anwar is the name of the poet.

ye jo halkaa halkaa suruur hai
ye terii nazar kaa qusuur hai
ke sharaab piina sikha diyaa

This mild intoxication
is because of your eyes,
that taught me drinking.

Lyrics: Jigar Moradabadi, Abdul Hameed Adam, Anwar Jogi