Looking back at how much we prepared for the trip..
Seems like most of them was useless.
Badically,the most important thing is to decide what countries are the MUST GOs and saving money.
We had a very specific travel plan but it has changed so many times that now we have just a general outline on which direction of the earth we are going.
I was prepared to resign from my job as a clinic coordinator even though i loved it.
This was something i HAD to do now or literally never. I didnt expect the clinic to wait for me as that was practically impossible. But when i let known the plan,i had to try. And i got what was the best deal ever. An 11 month no pay leave from the managers.
Of course,i didnt like the fact that i had just put a deadline on my dream but i had to be practical and my heart wouldnt let me give up the family i had found at the clinic.
My team of neurosurgeons during Prof Yeo's Xmas dinner.
So the actual first step was done: settling e job.
Next was breaking the news to the family,mainly the mum. Slowly and bit by bit. She's still not too happy after i had left but she has accepted it somehow. Daily updates vis Whatsapp is still inisisted upon.
After that,we booked our flights. THIS was by far the most exciting yet scary step.
As we were lucky enough to have a very kind Pakistani Dr at e clinic,he had instilled e idea of visiting Pakistan. He agreed to bring us around and host us.
So tickets to Islamabad via Bangkok was booked (SGD700). The plan was to tour e city of Islamabad for a few days then drive down to Lahore for a conference before leaving Pakistan.
We also booked Lahore to Athens,Greece, transiting in Dubai for 5nights (SGD800)
So far the cost of these 3 countries were an estimated SGD1500 and we were pleased.
As the days passed,our hearts beat faster and our packing lists got longer.
Goodbye meals and meetups were almost a daily thing.
The hardest was the family, especially the eldest sister and the youngest. Tears were shed the night before.
Had the thought that i wouldnt be sent off but e mum,dad,aunt,tommy and zuraidah came! :)))
Of course a lil crying from e mum..who hardly ever cries.
She was visibly happier after Dr Asim introduced himself with much confidence and truth that we would be in his safe hands.
We took off w Dr asim towards Bangkok and then Islamabad and reached near 10pm where he had a military friend to pick us up.
The airport had NO women. All men whi stared at us like we were aliens (which i guess we were).
We were driven to a bed&breakfast of a military sort. It was guarded by soldiers and only military people had the access to book this place to sleep. The toilet..had a stench and the blanket was.. Questionable but it was safe and that was what mattered.
The next morning we woke to eggs and bread,donned our Punjabi suits and were ready for a journey to the top of the mountains w asim's family.
His mum,a total darling, his sister and her 2 sons. They were kind and so friendly throughout our whole journey in Pakistan.
Dr asim w me and Nessa at CharlesTan's opening.
Sons far left and right,Litang,momma shabbir,me and shamila.
The journey up was wonderful,there was this beautiful place where the chairs were placed between waterfalls and you could have fried potato and hot tea.
The adventure of Pakistan shall start soon!
With at least 10,000 ppl behind us,we didnt get squashed much cept when stupid 2pm started giving out roses -_-''
And SeulOng of coz
Did NOT get a single proper pic of DJ as he was in e weirdest mood and kept moving.
We drank soo much beer during this trip tt i can feel a BEER belly not just a fat belly coming up
We had fun,a lil tension on and off,but nothing new.
So i came back from e cruise to a ward that didnt plan to dress up. So being e new annoyed me,i sold my tkt.
and Udders dessert.
Chocomintyballs & Hazelnuts
