Islamabad, Pakistan

By Ansab Khan

Islamabad - The capital city of Pakistan, *City of peace* and *The Green city* is one of most beautiful and peaceful cities of the world which is located at the northern end of Pothowar Plateau. It has a healthy, pleasant climate and pollution free atmosphere. It is a well-planned and developed city with different sectors and zones. Each of these sectors has shopping malls called *Markaz* where people go and enjoy their shopping. Islamabad has attracted people from all over the Pakistan, making it one of the most cosmopolitan and urbanized cities of Pakistan.



The major places of interest in Islamabad for tourists are Faisal mosque, (one of the beautiful and largest mosque in the world), Daman-e-koh, Pakistan museum of natural history, lake view park, lok virsa museum, japanese park, Shakar pariyan, fatima jinnah park, national art gallery, bari Imaam shrine, golra Sharif, and many more. One thing more which tourists love about Islamabad is its smooth and tswited roads. There are ample opportunities for walking, jogging, hiking and trekking around Islamabad in the Margalla Hills. Supreme Court of Pakistan and parliament house is also in Islamabad with their great importance.

Pakistani food is famous all over the world due to its taste and mouthwatering recipes. Some famous places in Islamabad where people mostly like to go and eat are Savor foods, KFC, Blue area and aabpara food streets. Crispy parathas, spicy barbeques and other traditional food items besides fresh juices and ice cream are easily available at all major spots of the metropolis where shops remain open the whole night. Eating out in late hours has become a popular trend in Islamabad especially on weekend nights. In last couple of years a new trend of giving bouquets to your friends and relatives on special events has started in Islamabad. If you are in Islamabad and planning to meet any of your friends, relatives or loved ones, then presenting a fresh flower bouquet would leave a great impression of love and care.

The most iconic form of transport in Islamabad is of course the decorated buses with pure art on wheels clanging metal frills along the bodywork, Undecorated van style minibuses for short routes through the city and the taxis *back window decorated with stickers, reflective pieces and all manner of trinkets hanging from the rear view mirror* in Islamabad are easy to spot.
Islamabad is a lovely place to visit. The weather of Islamabad is very refreshing. I myself love the greenery. It’s the heart and soul of Pakistan, a city which symbolizes the aspirations of a young and dynamic nation that looks forward to a glorious future for its people, a city which welcomes modern ideas but at the same time recognizes and cherishes its traditional values and its past history.

London, England

London, England

By Nadia Farah Mokdad




‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford,’ said English writer Samuel Johnson, and it is just as true now as it was then. Inviting someone to London means inviting them to join a fast-spinning carousel of history, culture, nightlife and exciting people.

The capital of England is a city where everyone can find something to suit their tastes, from food to entertainment. It is easily accessible and has a well-developed public transport system, which, as a visitor, is preferable to going by car. Taking some of the many central bus routes (88, 29) is a wonderful way of experiencing not only the heart of London but also a ride on the famous double-decker bus. It is as fun as some movies show it be. However, if you prefer a more organised approach, there are companies like The Original London Sightseeing Tour which offer open-top bus tours stopping at most famous attractions.

To best way to know the city, though, is to walk it. A good place to start is at London Eye, the renowned Ferris wheel which offers a magnificent, almost plane-like view of London. The ride experience is especially beautiful the closer it gets to evening time because the London lights are being switched on. From there on, you can cross Westminster Bridge to encounter the equally well-known House of Parliament with its sharp towers that shine golden on sunny days. If you get there at a sharp time, you can listen to the haunting chime of Big Ben. Westminster Abbey is only a couple of minutes’ walk away. It is a gorgeous Gothic building and home of the Poets’ Corner where many famous English poets are buried, for example, Poet Laureate Lord Alfred Tennyson.

From now on the city is a playground whose exploration gets dictated by personal taste. There are many things to fill the days, starting with seeing the royal jewels or walking around the execution site of Anne Boleyn at The Tower of London to having a stroll through Hyde Park or Kew Gardens. The possibilities seem endless, from museums and art galleries, west-end theatres and having afternoon tea at one of London’s tea rooms to enjoying a local band at The Blues Kitchen or dancing the night away in a club.

What is guaranteed for everyone, though, are interweaving streets lined by gorgeous historical buildings with an architecture spanning a wide variety of styles and periods. Many of these buildings host, on the ground floor, cafés and traditional English pubs. You can take a relaxing break from sightseeing and sample some traditional English cooking, like fish and chips or a Sunday roast (it usually consists roast beef served with roast potatoes, assorted vegetables and Yorkshire pudding), accompanied by a pint of ale or cider. For those that don’t enjoy the local cuisine, international alternatives are easily available, with Chinatown, in the Soho area, offering a variety of oriental restaurants, bakeries, etc.

Shopping enthusiasts will find themselves at home in the Oxford Circus area, clashing bags with other shoppers on Oxford Street and Reagent Street. A wide selection of shops is available from high-street brands to luxury ones. For visitors with more alternative tastes, Camden Town is a great place to be, not only for shopping at The Stables Market, where many handmade things are sold, but also for the eclectic mixture of quirky places and people.
That can also be said of London in its entirety because, no matter what you end up doing, you will leave having had a plentiful experience and probably an eager wish to return.

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