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When I came to Pakistan to visit friends, I only knew a few stories about this country – the stories that reach Belgium and other countries in the West. In our media databank you'll find stories about Malala, drone-attacks, Taliban and earthquakes. Nothing else.
My stay for a month was too short, but it helped shed light on the unknown beauty of this country.
I saw beautiful architecture, experienced amazing adventures, learnt more about the beauty, the truth and the generosity in the religions and met the most hospitable people. I got addicted to chai. Three weeks later, in Belgium, I still order chai latte, when I can.
There are also other experiences, which tell a different story. Crossing a street can be a nightmare and my planning was sometimes interrupted by power cuts (but sometimes it felt relaxing for an "always connected" girl from a information-overloaded world to spend some hours without phone and internet).
The more people I spoke to in Pakistan, the more I realised I don't know anything about the country. I only know it's more than what Malala, American soldiers and journalists tell us.
Here are a few pictures from my journey to Lahore and Hunza.
Wendy Wuyts is a filmmaker from Belgium
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May 22, 2014 05:05pm
Thank you so much for sharing such kind of words about my country! :)
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May 22, 2014 05:15pm
Thank you Wendy. You couldn't have said it better. No doubt Pakistan is more than Malala, drone-attacks,Taliban and earthquakes.
Thank you for taking a warmer picture of our country back home.
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May 22, 2014 06:27pm
Thankyou Wendy for telling the world about our Country, that others don't tell
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May 22, 2014 07:15pm
Short n Sweet*
Beautiful description..n amazing puctures!! :)
Thanks alot fr giving a positive feedback on our country..n taking back these memories to your side.
Cheers*
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May 22, 2014 07:39pm
Thankx a billion for ur kind words but plz do visit Pakistan again n this time see all the beauty of plains of Punjab, Divinely beautiful mountain ranges of KPK, the raw beauty of Sindhi Deserts n don't even get me started about Balochistan it's real the Gold of our country it's very beautiful.
I am sure no other country in the world have this kind of diverse yet extreme beauty to offer.
Besides as u yourself said the ppl r hospitable but u still got to see our hospitality
Plz do visit Pakistan u will surely be amazed :)
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May 22, 2014 07:45pm
Beautiful pictures. Thank you so much Wendy.
As an expatriate, I miss Pakistan so much and can't wait to go back home. I'm so glad that you went out on your own to experience Pakistan, its culture and the current situation, rather than just blindly believe what the news media feeds you, which is unfortunately true to most of the foreigners.
Nevertheless, the pictures brought tears to my eyes :)
I hope that you will visit Pakistan again and have an even more pleasant experience.
Pakistan Zindabad
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May 22, 2014 08:26pm
Good job Wendy.. But i wonder why you only captured those "moments" while your journey from Lahore to Hunza.. There is much more interesting and beautiful to capture and show.
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May 22, 2014 08:58pm
Thank you so much for sharing it & my house is next to Roshni School for special kids. they are doing a great job which alot of people are not aware off
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May 22, 2014 09:28pm
Great photos and kind words, Wendy! Hope to see more :)
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May 23, 2014 03:05am
I miss Pakistan
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May 23, 2014 06:20am
Lovely photos. You captured the joy that exists in each and every one of us. Please do come back to Pakistan. Pleased that you had a wonderful time. Even more happy that Pakistan has a new friend.
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May 23, 2014 08:16am
I was deeply moved by one particular picture of "The young girl from Lahore". The pain and suffering in her eyes can bring any mortal to tears.
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May 23, 2014 10:06am
Thank you wendy. you share such a great information about pakistan. this is only media which miss represent our land.. we all wants peace not only for our country but for entire world..
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May 23, 2014 10:35am
Job well done Wendy!
Your sentiments reflect what many visitors cherish when the come to Pakistan with an open mind and a warm heart.Thank you for your lovely pictures and generous emotions reflecting the inner beauty of a land we deeply love and wish everyone would see it as more than just a superficially negative place distorted by most global media outlets.
Please visit Pakistan again, and next time try checking out Makli's magnificent ancient tombs and Cape Mount seashore, where a camel ride on the beach along an azure blue sea would be quite a thrilling experience!
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May 23, 2014 11:34am
Pakistan is obviously a rich land with its pure contents. Unfortunately, every one is showing in media negative aspects rather than positive. Its like one person has 99 good things and 1 bad, the people will start gossiping against him/her only due to 1 bad things and forget 99. I request all of you, show richness of Pak always like Wendy Wuyts and Dawn.
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May 23, 2014 11:38am
thanks u r so positive about my country.
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May 23, 2014 12:20pm
No matter how much we thankyou , it will be never enough!
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May 23, 2014 03:25pm
thankyou very much
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May 23, 2014 03:27pm
thankyou very much for your nice words about pakistan
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May 23, 2014 03:57pm
Bundle of thanks for your kind words.
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May 23, 2014 06:17pm
Thanks so much for displaying a different picture of our beautiful land. You're always welcome to this beautiful country.
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May 23, 2014 11:55pm
Nice pictures
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May 24, 2014 08:36am
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you must be beautiful within.
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May 24, 2014 09:21am
priceless effort, thx
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May 24, 2014 01:21pm
Anyone who actually visits Pakistan loves it. Our country is paradise on earth. Western media and its propaganda against Pakistan has caused notion that its the most dangerous, failed country of the world. How wrong they are and how wrong they always will be. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
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May 24, 2014 01:56pm
thank you so much dear Wendy telling to us and to the world about my beautiful country i think you when was you there you got more knowledge about my heart country this is not a beautiful but it is also land of sweet people if you come (mohenjo daro in Sindh , thar in sindh, keenjar in sindh and badshahi mosque in lahore ) these places are like as attractive palace of my country .thanks
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May 24, 2014 02:03pm
@Rishma . thank you so much dear Wendy telling to us and also this world about my beautiful country i think when was you there you got more knowledge about my heart country . it is just not a beautiful country but it is also land of sweet people and if you come this side ( keenjar in sindh, thar in sindh, mohenjo daro in sindh and badshahi mosque in lahore) these places are palace of this country. again lot of thanks
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May 24, 2014 03:25pm
Thank you for good observations
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May 24, 2014 05:46pm
Thank you in deed, Wendy Wuyts - for your good words for my country and the people.
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May 24, 2014 08:25pm
Dear admin plz conveyball our msgs to wendy wuyts. No doubt he is a great film maker and the efforts he has put to convey positive image of Pakistan is totally commendable
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May 24, 2014 10:38pm
Feels so good to listen this from a foriegner , these roshni rituals even i didnt know abt that , !!
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May 25, 2014 11:48am
Looks like you only visited punjabis.
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May 25, 2014 01:38pm
Thank you for this article Wendy! I am hoping to go volunteer with Roshni and other NGOs in Pakistan, now when people project their preconceived ideas about the place and tell me I am wearing rose coloured glasses, I can show then this! :)
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May 25, 2014 04:56pm
I see no Indian commentators as it is about something nice in Pakistan that too by a foreigner.
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May 25, 2014 07:19pm
@Zak I am from India. These are nice pictures. At personal level, persons of Pakistan are good at heart. Their is no cause of any complaint from this angle.
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May 25, 2014 10:52pm
Wendy Wuyts thnx alot for sharing good things about my country at a time when we need it most
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May 26, 2014 04:30pm
Please come to Karachi as well . you will fall in love again with our doodh pattea .
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May 26, 2014 06:21pm
@Garg Vk obviously you have not been reading Indian comments on these forums and Indian newspapers. You are 1 out of 1.billion.
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May 26, 2014 09:26pm
My pretty country i havent lived in it for last 10 years. Wish i was there.
Power cuts are actually a way of family get together i know of several pakistanis who actually miss loadshedding living abroad. Everyone sits together in candle or lantern and bash the prime minister for not giving them electrictiy. Miss that soooooooooooooooooo much.
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May 27, 2014 12:01am
Wendy I am a doctor and a consultant Paediatrician, head of department in one UK hospital. In last 20 years I have made 3 attempts to settle in Pakistan and all in vain. I want to serve my people before I die. Your short and optimistic of my country have brought tears in my eyes and have motivated me once again to make the 4th attempt to settle in Pakistan. Bless you
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May 27, 2014 12:38am
Beautiful. Thanks Wendy. Sometimes I fee I know nothing about my country.
@Zak
I believe most of Indians start their day by typing 'bad news about Pakistan' in google. :)
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May 27, 2014 12:04pm
Thanks a lot for admiring our country our people and our hospitality .... although around the word we are not renowned but still we possess meritorious culture .on earth their is no land that's is clear of sins and misdeed so pakistan also has some disappointing things that make people hate this country but still i would love to state that everyone is not same... so the one who don't want to down his country will never give a chance to any foreigner or visitor to antagonize
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May 27, 2014 12:30pm
lovely pictures. This is a Pakistan we would love to know more about, and have peaceful relations with. Beautiful architecture - that picture of the inside of the domed roof is excellent ! Also, wish we could have simpler visas to travel for a beer to Murree....only heard of it, never had so far !!
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May 27, 2014 06:27pm
@Rashid spot on. And proof is their newspapers. I have never seen such concocted lies , twisted and turned to somehow bring Pakistan as the cause. The 2 funny stories that I still recall;
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May 27, 2014 07:24pm
@Zak I think, you are ignorant of People from India. I do not say, that their is no problem between India and Pakistan. There are plenty of them. But at personal levels, people of Pakistan are not bad generally. In foreign countries, we find persons of both countries friendlier to each other and helpful to each other. Politics and Religion is not everything.
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