Islamabad - Week Thirty

Back in Islamabad, and in my front yard at 6:30 a.m., ready to hop into the motor pool vehicle and head to work.

We do have one of the nicest yards in Islamabad. :)

Lahore - Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort

A special treat - I was granted permission to visit the Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort early this morning. It was completely unexpected and I was thrilled I could take a look around outside the Consulate compound.

Sheesh Mahal - the Palace of Mirrors.

At the Fort with the Badshahi Mosque on the left and a Sikh temple on the right.

An overcast day, but still really hot at 7:00 in the morning.

The Palace of Mirrors, with original inlaid tile pillars.

A side door in the Palace of Mirrors.

Whew! It was hot - I'm glowing.

A view from one of the windows. The tower on the left is a monument to Pakistani Independence.

With some of the tile work.

Close up of the tile.

See the bit that looks out of place? The Palace of Mirrors wasn't originally the Palace of Mirrors - it was painted with beautiful decorations, done in gold. The Mughal emperor had it completely covered with mirrors to honor his wife - this is the same emperor and wife of Taj Mahal fame. That guy really loved that girl, that's all I can say. The wife never got to see the Palace of Mirrors, unfortunately. She died in childbirth, delivering her 14th baby.

Another angle of the Palace of Mirrors.

Looking up! This was on the ceiling.

An outside shot - this was once a fountain where women danced.

A fresco. 

At the Badshahi Mosque.

An outside view of the Badshahi Mosque - built of red sandstone. The materials for the mosque were transported by elephants from a distance of more than 350 kilometers. It took 11 years to gather the materials, and three to build the mosque, in the 17th century.

Another view of the outside.

One of the corridors inside the right wall - the walls make up the perimeter of the Mosque compound.

A bucolic view.

Gorgeous, really. The chandeliers were pretty cool, too.

The front of the Badshahi Mosque.

Lahore - Week Twenty-Nine

Lahore has turned out to be a great experience. I love working with the super smart, dedicated, and fun people who are here, and I love the consular schedule. The pace is manageable, and I enjoy interacting with the applicants and helping them with what they need.

Often, though, Americans abroad don't understand what the Embassy (or Consulate in this case) can provide. Through the years, Hollywood has portrayed an Embassy as a force that can solve all problems - if you're in trouble, just run to the Embassy and they'll take you in and protect you.

That's just not how it works.

I've received several calls from Americans over the past two weeks asking for the U.S. government to intercede on their behalf, because they've run into trouble here. Unfortunately, we just are not able to do as they ask. If a person is in a foreign country, they must abide by the laws and rules in that country, even if those laws are different than those in the U.S. If a U.S. citizen is arrested in Pakistan for breaking a Pakistani law, they must hire a lawyer and work through the situation through the Pakistani legal system. The Consulate will not file a complaint with the Pakistani government and request that the arrested party be released. It's still surprising to me how many people want us to do that - they think because they're Americans, they're bullet-proof.

All that aside, I have successfully helped those that called for assistance and have been able to give advice and offer practical solutions.

Lahore - Week Twenty-Eight

I have been afforded a rare opportunity to work temporarily in Lahore as the sole consular officer. The work is entirely in American Citizen Services (ACS) - I've been adjudicating passport renewals and deciding Citizen Report of Birth Abroad applications, two things with which I am familiar, given my ACS work in the Dominican Republic. In addition, I've been helping U.S. citizens who have needed assistance in this part of Pakistan.

I came to Lahore on June 6; the drive took nearly five hours and I arrived around supper time on that day. I'll return to Islamabad on June 22. I've especially enjoyed working with the small cadre of people in this close-knit environment, something I haven't experienced since R and I worked at the Embassy in Bulgaria in the late 90s. I really like a team environment.. It's extreme lock-down, though, so I don't think I'll have the opportunity to go out and see much of the city, unfortunately.

Islamabad - Week Twenty-Seven

The Lok Virsa Cultural Museum

The Ninety-Nine Names of Allah

Hand carved door.

Quilting is a thing in Pakistan! I had no idea. This is a floor mat.

Another quilt - entirely pieced by hand, and hand-quilted.

A terracotta soldier from China.

Hand-carved and painted chairs.

Musical instruments.