Pakistan in Pictures

Vegetable shop

Fruit shop

Cane juice is a popular drink! Yes, that contraption is actually a juice machine!!

Carts like these are seen at every corner....vegtables are often cut and and sprinkled with spice. Below is roasted corn and chickpeas - another popular snack!

The candy floss man.....

One of my favorite ones...imagine the load man and beast both draw.....almost symbolic...

This boy's expression..something about it really moved me

BAZAARS

And now to my favorite part: the bazaars of lahore! One is almost overwhelmed by the profusion of brilliant colors, smells and sounds. Little tiny streets overflowing with people, shop keepers frantically vying for attention, bargains being made, it's one warm colorful experience! These pictures are right from the heart of one such bazaar...

Inside one cloth shop...you buy material here and then get it stitched/tailor made to your size!

Glass bangels and jewelry shops....pure visual delight!

Women spend hours selecting braids and ribbons to match their clothes....

Yes, that's a gold jewelry shop!

Ethnic mirrors - all locally hand made

Clay pots and other utensils - once again, hand made!

Shoe shop...now that's a real wonder!

Lastly, I just want to include these three boys who especially posed for a picture. In them, hope and the will to live shines through.... their smiles warm my heart even today.