My Last Memories of Pakistan, a photo from Punjab, East

Photographer's Note

Good morning Everyone,

These will be my last photographs from my trip to Pakistan.

They are a mixture of different aspects of my visit and I hope you will find some interest in them.

We flew from Lahore to Islamabad which is such an amazing city. It is planned out in a grid pattern, like the streets of New York, so different from other cities in Pakistan, and quite unlike Rawalpindi the earlier city with which it shares boundaries.

My main post shows the famous Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.
It is the fifth-largest mosque in the world and the largest within South Asia, located on the foothills of Margalla Hills.

The mosque features a contemporary design consisting of eight sides of concrete shell and is inspired by the design of a typical Bedouin tent.

Construction of the mosque began in 1976 after a $28 million grant from Saudi King Faisal, whose name the mosque bears.- Wikipedia

We sat on the outskirts of this mosque, where the people were extremely friendly, chatting with us about our visit. Some were eager to swap telephone numbers but ... always suspicious, after seeing the corruption that existed within the country but still wishing to be friendly, gave the school number. Nothing ever came of it!

I will add a couple of photographs as workshops that I hope you find interesting.
Thank you for your constant encouragement for me to post these memories. Have a lovely weekend, Bev :-)

Photos taken from pre-digital photos.

macjake, Fis2, ikeharel, holmertz, pierrefonds, ChrisJ, jhm, jean113, COSTANTINO, PaulVDV has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

macjake (98486) 2021-03-06 1:40

Hi Bev
interesting note about the corruption and worrying what would happen when you provide a phone #. and I'm sure Gert will make a comment or two about the WS photos :) What I like most abot this main shot is the bg landscape, it just really elevates the scene to another level. So often we're used to seeing these churches and mosques in the city life, not with rolling hills or cliffs or mountains in the bg, so this is quite nice. Thanks for posting these
cheers
Craig

Fis2 (170945) 2021-03-06 1:51

Witaj Bev!
A very curious pictures.
The modern mosque is impressive.
I like POV, composition and colors.
Nice work from Your archive.
Well done.
Have a nice new week.
Krzysztof

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-03-06 2:57

Hi Beverley
Impressive architectural design of the Grand Mosque and very well photographed. Well done
Best regards

Silvio1953 (221781) 2021-03-06 3:51

Ciao cara Bev, great view of fantastic architecture, fine details, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao

holmertz (102846) 2021-03-06 4:30

Hello Bev,
I have been to Islamabad several times between 1972 and 2001 and seen it grow from a dusty and extremely boring town to a busy and fairly smart, modern city. This is a remarkable mosque which of course didn't exist at my first visit. I have seen it later from about this distance but I've never been inside. Craig expected me to comment the WS, and there is no doubt that I prefer #1. It's a better photo and far more interesting and charming than the other one.
Kind regards,
Gert

pierrefonds (114608) 2021-03-06 5:01

Hi Bev,

The hills are framing well the Mosque. The point of view is showing the details of the Faisal Mosque. The light is bringing out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

ChrisJ (171888) 2021-03-06 5:21

Hi Bev

I like the wide angle panoramic crop and the wooded bg hills make a great backdrop. Reasonable sharpness and the fg carpark adds scale. The futuristic looking mosque is quite different in design to many other mosques I have seen. Tfs!

jhm (211736) 2021-03-06 6:18

Hello Bev,

In a new tabblad is your picture nicer and also many sharp
You show us wonderful the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.
Incredible, money has to religions no trouble, also in very poor countries.
This is not only by Islam but in all religions.
Your picture show us perfectly the modern architecture of the Mosque.
Excellent composition end good presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.

Lovely regards,
John

jmdias (115342) 2021-03-06 11:41

bev

it is rare to find a real modern architecture in mosques, most of them are only copies of the traditional architecture. lovely this one, very beautiful. it made me remember the modern churches of northern Paran�, in special londrina cathedral. I liked the other two images too. excellent that view. I would say (excellent flagrant) but I remember it is an error, but I can't find a nice word in english to say that, meaning a moment where personages are caught by a surprised camera.I guess candy camera isn't correct too..

take care

jorge

jean113 (27899) 2021-03-06 12:07

Hello Beverley, three interesting shots that must bring back happy memories. You were very fortunate in being able to take this trip.
It is a very modern looking mosque, take away the minarets and it could be a church of any denomination, I guess.
I especially like the street scene with the boys looking towards you.
Thanks for sharing, kind regards, Jean.

lousat (139362) 2021-03-06 14:18

Ciao Bev,last memories but truly great pics,this mosque so big and important is a bit rare on TE,a perfect postcard very well done. And the pics in the WS are nice too,with your friends in front of a wonderful background and with the smiling child too,well done! Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

ifege (48253) 2021-03-06 21:24

Hi Bev
3 more good and varied photos from this all too short Pakistan series.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (116674) 2021-03-06 23:05

Hello dear friend and have a nice sUNDAY
A different photo from the usuals
a simple photo with
interesting and useful notes
regards
costantino

jemaflor (147300) 2021-03-06 23:30

Hi Bev,
Interesting architecture, modern style, well framed, good rendering for your old photo, tfs.

PaulVDV (63024) 2021-03-07 3:38

Hello Beverley,
This is a very famous mosque in Islamabad.
A beautiful design. A remarkable roof and very special minarets with their point shape.
I've seen pictures of the mosque before but I didn't remember the beautiful background of green hills.
I also like the street view in the WS and the photo of the gardens. Actually I had hoped to see more photos of Lahore. I was often told it is one of the more interesting cities in Asia.
Best regards, Paul

mkamionka (74637) 2021-03-07 4:40

Hi Bev,
I have read reacently that after Boris Johnson announced a promise of travel from May 17th, bookings took off and one of the most popular destinations was Pakistan. I thought it was because there are so many Pakistani leaving in the UK but I see looking at your example that it is actually considered a holiday destination here indeed.
Very interesting design of the mosque, it feels quite modern so I would think it could have been built recently.
Great reportage,
M

foxy (3461) 2021-03-08 5:15

Hello Bev,
When you described about Pakistan ( very much like India ), truly a Culture Shock !!
But it was totally opposite....
All I see...beautiful children , having a great time and gleefully posing with 'westerners'. The daily scene of the villagers - to the very curious and to the very shy.
What I like most is the cute little girl with a oversize salwar chemise and a crew-cut hair. She definitely steals the show.
If it wouldn't be your 'disobedient-belly' , I'm sure you've shown us a lot more of your wonderful trip.
I also like this looking mosque, so sleek and modern. The minarets looking like four rockets about to take off.
Thanks for sharing this 'Cherished assignment trip'
Loong

everlasting (19680) 2021-03-08 7:22

well that what an interesting series to see, and finishing with this spectacular mosque set in the foothills of Islamabad.
I have been in Pakistan twice, 1975 and 1976 (I think I might have already said that so sorry to repeat myself), unfortunately no camera but a diary. Watching your photos has jerked my memory and has seen me flicking through the silverfish eaten pages a few times. Thanks for the memories and your splendid photos.

GyurMaster (24840) 2021-03-08 8:59

Dear Beverley,

Now, that is some modern mosque I have to say. Its another excellent shot from your archives. I'm sad to hear that you gave back the time-machine that Gert borrowed you.

Best Wishes,
Gy.