According to Foreign Policy Magazine, 60 of the World’s Countries are “Hell”

June 26, 2010
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Pakistan, the “10th most failed state” of 2010 according to Foreign Policy. Doesn’t look like hell to me.
This week a photo essay based on the ‘Failed States Index’ really got me riled up. Basically, Foreign Policy took one terrible/chaotic/scary photo from each of the 60 countries to make a photo essay called “Postcards from [...]

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Personal Update: Baby on the Way!

June 22, 2010
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Alright, so I’m the oldest in my family and my parents are really itching to tell everyone they are going to be grandparents, so here’s the news!
Duarte and I are really excited; I’m currently 9 weeks pregnant and if all goes normally, the baby will be due at the end of January.
FAQs:

How are you [...]

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Perception of Race and Skin Color in Pakistan

June 18, 2010
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The most popular beauty product in Pakistan is Fair and Lovely cream. As you can see in the commercial above (in Hindi-Urdu), a dark-sinned girl and her father go to a “modern beauty company” and are turned away. The father dramatically gets some Fair and Lovely cream, and the girl’s skin changes to several shades [...]

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Authentic Pakistani Cuisine: Simple Vinegar Broast Chicken

June 17, 2010
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My landlady Nasreen’s Sindhi Biryani Recipe went over well, so here’s the next one in the series: a simple vinegar roast. In Pakistan and North India this dish may be called “roast” or “broast.” It is commonly found at local fast food restaurants. English speakers may be surprised, but the dish is actually fried on [...]

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Traveler’s Reading List: Pakistan

June 15, 2010
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The following are some of my favorite books about Pakistan.

1. The Dancing Girls of Lahore
by Louise Brown
An excellent first-hand account of life in Lahore’s red light district. British author and professor Louise Brown tells the story of Maha, the dancing girl, and her family. Since dancing girls are scorned by the rest of [...]

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Budget Travel in Bangkok: Two Days in $100 or Less

June 14, 2010
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Lodging

There are lots of places you can stay in Bangkok for 280 baht ($8) or less. Check out Asha Guesthouse ($8 for a private double, meaning just $4 per person per night) or Sukhumvit On Nut Guesthouse (205 baht for a bed in a 4-bed dorm). Use sites like Hostels.com to find the best option [...]

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