Salam, Tahir bhai..Thanks for sharing your most remarkable experience in Ghana and your thoughts on entirely different perspective of living. Telling us your emotions, memories & experiences in Ghana was really interesting to read. One can understand your obstacles such as your feeling homesick, culture shock, and just being in a place that is completely different from what you are used to live & enjoy. I believe those obstacles must have some benefits that will only make you a stronger individual. It has changed your life, experience and add much more new friends. Use this opportunity there to meet important officials, business mens and make great connections for your business and I believe you know it well that would help you make progress in your business growth. More importantly it should help to meet your business objectives there... Piece and Blessing with you...Zafar

Salaam to All, Very good and brief introduction by fayyaz Udin. I just saw the new posted pics from Surfraz & Zahir. Good collection. keep on sending more. Some of us just watching but scare to send some mesgs. Pls send anything. At least Salaam will help. Your contribution will make the discussion more ineresting. Waslaam, Tahir - Africa

Salam everybody, It's becoming interesting. The pieces on Ghana, Singapore and Wales respectively by Tahir, Zafar and Fiazuddin were very informative. Thanks for the effort. Regarding the 4x4 trip it would really be a dream come true to be able to make the journey. One of the most spectacular part of the trip could be on the Karakoram Highway from Abbotabad to Gilgit and onwards to the fabled Hunza valley over Khunjrab Pass (over 15000 feet) and on to Kashgar in Sinkiang province of China. Incidentally after passing out from Military Academy in 1982 I went straight to Gilgit in the Northern areas where my unit (Baluch regiment) was based. Since that was a formative stage in my life as a young officer I have very fond and nostalgic memories of that time. The area is simply heavenly and out of this world. I think I got carried away by emotion but the point is that even if I cannot make it on the trip I can provide good information on that portion of the route. Pakistan is blessed by Almighty to have the Northern Areas. Azhar Chaudhry's entries are always interesting. I hope his parents are fine. We should all spread the word and it was good to get Siraj on board by Jamil. Jamil Bhai do you know a person by the name of Azizul Hassan whom I met once by chance in Birmingham, UK? His father was also in Hong Kong Police. He is from Chakwal and he was a friend of Javed Qazi who works in Prisons Department. Can someone get Javed Qazi on board? He used to be two classes senior to us in Fanling Lutheran Middle School and I remember he was a very good at mathematics. Can someone give me his email? Kind regards and Godspeed! Tanveer Ahmed

Salam to All. About Wales: Wales is about the size of Massachusetts. Wales in North-West Europe is part of Great Britain, an island country and the United Kingdom. Wales is a mountainous country on the west side of Great Britain,and is bordered by England to the east,the Bristol Channel to the south,St George's Channel in the west,and the Irish sea to the north. Technically, Wales is a Principality.This means that it is ruled by a Prince.Traditionally the Prince of Wales is the eldest son of the English Monarch. Wales is one of the four parts of the United Kingdom (along with England,Scotland,and Northern Ireland). Wales has not been politically independent since 1282,when it was conquered by King Edward I Of England until 1999, Wales was ruled directly from London,that year saw the first elections to the National Assembly of Wales,which has limited domestic powers and cannot make law. Wales does not issue its own currency and is not in control of any armed forces. There are the powers of the national government of the UK. The national game of Wales is Rugby. Wales is known for its great actors:Richard Burton,and today sir Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones, its celtic traditions and the Red Dragon on its flag, Laura Ashley(famous fashion creator). David Lloyd George-past British Prime Minister. John Prescot-the present Deputy Prime Minister. Sir George Everest-famous traveler and explorer,The highest peak in the world is named after him. Three President of the United States-Thomas Jafferson,Abraham Lincoln and Richard Nixon were of Welsh origin. Writer and Poets:Dylan Thomas,Jackie Collins:Author of popular romances,Roald Dahl:children literature classic. Musicians:Tom Jones,Shirly Bassey. Musical Group:Catatonia,Super Furry Animals,The stereophonics,Manis street Preachers. Country Facts: Motto:Wales forever. Flag:Red Dragon on green and white field. National Day:1st March. Area:20779 sq km. Population-2,918,700 (2002). Capital City-Cardiff. Official Language:English & Welsh. Highest Point:Snowdon 1085 metres(3559 ft)Longest river:Towy 103km (64 miles) Longest Lake:Bala (4.4 sq.km). Economy:Coal,copper,iron,lead and gold have been mined in Wales,and slate has been quarried.Much of Wales,due to poor soil,is unsuitable for crop-growing,and so livestock farming has trationally beeb the focus of agriculture. The Welsh landscape protcted by three National Parks,and the unique Welsh culture bring in tourism,which is especially vital for rural areas. for more information please visit www.icwales.co.uk. Fayyaz Uddin Cardiff, Wales UK

Salam to All, My place is other way round as Zafar's. MULAIZAH FURMAIYE. I left to Ghana from HK in end 2003 via UK I am very grateful of Rahil Ahmed who have spared his precious time to receive me at the airport very early in the morning. And gave me the best hospitality. I think no one will do that if it was not one of the Fanling chai. I didn抰 have to go through any difficulties with his assistant. I should also appreciate one of my mother抯 friends who gave very good hospitality during my stay with them. I arrived in Ghana on 4th December 2004, The weather hear is other way round. The first thing I see was HEAT. The airport was burning like fire. One can feel the heat even in the plane after it has landed. I pass through the immigration and customs with some difficulties as we have in Pakistan as usual you know. I reach the town with a taxi charged me 5 times of normal fare as it happens every where. Book a room in a hotel just like Kashmir hotel in Karachi. Ghana is more like Pakistan 30 years back. Why I said 30 years because I was in Pakistan by then. So the situation was almost the same. Small houses, roads, some fare some broken not managed well etc. I use to stand in the balcony and laugh at myself. Tahir TUJAY BHI YAHEEN ANA THA!!! Same old cars and Vans for taxi and Vans for passenger transportation. Unlike Pakistan, here they use Benz Vans mostly, very rough, old and in badly maintained. At least I can not sit in them. But I gave myself a try which torn my new shirt from the seat corner. While I was trying to go around and visit markets, shops etc. to find out the business I can do. Actually one can do anything in Africa. But the point is, you have to pass through university of Ghana people to learn it. Haha!!! I mean to say that you have to face much different kind of people with different tribal back grounds before you will know how to deal with them. It was not easy at all. Every where are traps waiting for you. I hope you understand what I mean!!! Although Ghana is one of the most peaceful country in West Africa in sense of civil war, riots etc. But the internal peace like respect of people, business, family matters, education, security, medical, cleanliness, environment, pollutions, fighting against diseases like malaria needed a lot of attention and very long period to go to come over these issues. They are trying hard to achieve them. Concerning the land of Ghana is very fertile and full of natural resources, minerals like gold and diamonds, etc. but unfortunately they are either with foreigners or just wasted. It has very nice landscapes, waterfalls natural forests and a place where SEA and Lake waters are joined but they will never mix. I am just unfortunate to see this Wonder of Allah with my naked eyes yet. It is a wonder of Allah Ta抋la one must see. As told by one of my friend Mr. Adnan from Pakistan. I must visit one day. It has very good fruits like Pine apples, oranges and Mangos (just like species of Langra Aam(mango) in Pakistan) very sweet and same scent. Some time I wonder that someone must have brought the seeds from Pakistan. Most of it, they are damn cheap a little away from town. The people are friendly but quite lazy in term of hard work. They like holidays too much. Working days starts from Tuesday to Thursday, working hours 10-12noon 2-4(actual time 8-5 Lunch 1 hour) Work or no work, at the end of the month you get paid and some extra income (you know what I mean). And there is no worry. They have too much time to spend arround. No respect of time. It is full of problems, yet still people says "NO PROBLEM" whenever you talk to them. Most people think that Africa must be very cheap as it has everything of its own. No it is wrong. That has been taken away from Africa which is cheap and now most of the products are imported with heavy duties and levies on them. Let me give you an example 揳n imported orange can cost usd4.00 per pc. Only Labour is relatively cheap. There are few supermarkets like Parkin Shop and Welcome stores as we have in HK namely Koala and Max Mart which are only for foreigners and rich people. There are some products are being made in Ghana, but because of the high Taxes and levies that you can name them brings the prices as much as imported once. So you can imagine. As it is a free market. Even local foods and fruits are becoming expensive. Most of the people survive on their local foods like corn, millet, fish and few vegetables etc. Yes I will say that fresh meat and mutton is a bit cheaper for me but fresh chicken and fish are quite expensive. One good thing is that most of the meat and mutton business is handled by Muslim community. So it is Halal. So you can consume them in any restaurants and hotels. Pork is not common here. It is used by very few poor peoples. I should also mention that there is religious freedom, you find small mosques every second street and few nice mosques. What a coincident!!! I pray my jummah in Police Mosque within police married and single quarters in cantonment area which is just 10 minutes drive from my office. My conclusion is that it is not a place for one who has lived in a place like HK like me. The reason I am here is for business and to find Halal Rizq for my family. It is not easy to find Halal Rizq nowadays. One has to sacrifices a lot to obtain it. Thank Allah he is most sufficient. I pray for all who has left their homes and families for this purpose. Today we can realize how our parents had suffered for us. May Allah Ta抋la bless them. And May Allah Ta抋la keeps us in our Imaan and provides us his best to all of us. Ameen. Tahir - Africa