Another fun article written five years ago!

A serenade to devotion

 By Shanaz Ramzi

Those living on or off Zamzama Boulevard or in Phase V, Defence Authority, Karachi, will tell you ‘It’s that time of the year again!’ and there won’t be one resident of these areas who will not know what the person is talking about.

Come end of August and one begins to wait with bated breath for it to happen – all wondering ‘will he or won’t he’? And then a sigh of relief – as one sees the now familiar banners all over the streets, unabashedly declaring undying love and devotion for his beloved.

First time we spotted the ‘Love is…’ banners some ten years ago, I remember most of us had laughed and had thought that it was a vulgar display of one’s affections. They were colourful square banners with the ‘love is…’ cartoon characters made on them, each banner saying something soppy – and at least five different varieties of them. They were restricted not just to the main boulevard and streets, but followed a set path, going all the way, down the lanes, presumably right up to the doorway of the recipient of these overpowering emotions.

The next year, when we saw the same banners displayed again, we were surprised and even tickled that there had been no letting up in the intensity of Casanova’s love – for most of us are sure that these could only be the work of a man. Soon we forgot about them – only to be reminded of the special day, the following year. We marveled at the perseverance of the man and began to wonder at the relationship between the two – was he her husband, father, boyfriend or were they just good friends?

After five years of this continued routine, we began to derive a certain sense of comfort from the familiar sight of these banners adorning the streets at the same time every year. If nothing else, it reflected a certain steadfastness in this person’s affection. The next few years reinforced this sense of security, particularly in the women of our area – love can be there to stay after all!

In fact, if anything, his love seems to be growing every year. Last year, for instance, our Casanova went a step further in his display of everlasting adoration. He had cute booklets called Book of Love especially printed and deposited in the mail boxes of some of the residents of the area – probably of those residing in the immediate vicinity of his beloved’s house.

And this year he has had special red envelopes printed, revealing the birth date – at least one mystery has been solved! – August 29, stating ‘On this special day…’ with a teddy bear printed on it in white. Inside are two stickers displaying the same teddy-bear on them with the saying ‘I’ll always be there for you’, and a booklet with cute bear pictures and comments – such as ‘Even when we don’t see eye to eye, we’re always heart to heart’ and ‘Always on my mind, forever in my heart’!  It also has a poem entitled Secrets of my heart – which seems to have been written by our mystery man, but the enigma of his identity is all the more magnified after reading the poem. The banners are different too – instead of the usual ‘love is…’ ones, they have a teddy bear made on them with same saying on all of them ‘Everything that is important to me I find in you’.

Many are of the opinion that the object of this devoted love is a child – that it is not possible for anyone, no matter how crazed, to shower one so openly with affection in a conservative society such as ours. Many cynics are of the opinion that he is a crackpot who has an extremely flamboyant way expressing his feelings, while some feel that he has too much money to squander and it is just a big joke. Maybe so, but one must grant the man credit for his perseverance and commitment.

Having toyed with the idea of writing about these banners for the past few years, the only reason for not getting down to doing it earlier was the conviction that it was a passing whim of a deeply infatuated soul. But time has proved otherwise. And these all too familiar banners seem to be having a pleasing effect on many of the residents of the area. One can’t help but feel that the joy of all those who have read these banners over the years deserves to be shared with others too – particularly in this tenth year of celebration.

I know one thing is for sure – the banners stay almost up till my birthday and come pretty close to the street where I live – so I get a kick out of them every year – probably as much as the actual recipient of these favours!

A mad hatters' Holiday

This article was published in Dawn five years ago. Thought I would share it with you'll as I had really enjoyed writing it.

A mad-hatters’ holiday

By Shanaz Ramzi

Winning a ticket to Dubai recently was a major incentive for me to organize a short fun trip with my friends, Ayesha and Zareen. With Ayesha already geared to spend a week with her family in Dubai en route to London, it took no time at all to motivate Zareen to accompany us on the expedition, if I may use the word.

Leaving Ayesha’s husband, Imran, to handle the more mundane details for us, such as booking a hotel apartment in a prime tourist area, Dera, near Al-Gurair, and stocking it up in time for our arrival, Zareen and I joined their family after a couple of days. With almost five days at our disposal, we had decided to pack as much action into them as possible – which started much earlier than we had bargained for. For, breezing through Dubai airport formalities, the two of us were whisked off, along with Ayesha, to Zareen’s sister-in-law’s (unknown as Bibi to all and sundry) abode for lunch, where Zareen discovered to her horror that she had walked off with someone else’s suitcase from the ramp! Zareen being Zareen – she is notorious in our group for committing bloopers – no one was really surprised. What was funny though was her reaction once she had got over her initial shock. She realized that she had actually succeeded in opening in before it had dawned on her that she had made a mistake – were far more impressive than her own and merrily suggested that she might just keep the bag, and forget about her own.

Jokes aside, we left in a panic for the airport, wondering if the owner of the bag had also been dim-witted enough to walk off with the wrong suitcase, an idea that Ayesha rejected outright. She proved to be right, for Zareen’s suitcase was lying at the airport, patiently waiting for us.

The mix-up sorted out, we were once again on our way. This time we went straight to the apartment that Ayesha’s family had already been occupying for a couple of days, and freshened up. Ready to paint the town red, we then set off for Wafi Centre, a shopping mall with a difference. Unlike the numerous malls dotting Dubai’s landscape, which tend to be like most other sophisticated concrete and steel structures found anywhere in the world, Wafi stands out for its exceptional décor and shops boasting a fascinating display. We happily whiled away a couple of hours in the mall, window-shopping for the most part, and appreciating the aesthetically decorated outlets, each a visual treat. Beginning with the quintessentially Arab tent in the centre of the mall, to the Egyptian pyramids and stone statues for the pharaohs at the hotel entrance in Wafi City, the area has plenty to attract and retain a tourist’s attention.

Ending the day with the last show of Spider Man, the latest Hollywood blockbuster, we came home, only to stay up a good part of the night, half of us chatting away, and the other trying to get some sleep in all the racket.

The next morning, we began the day by getting ourselves organised for the remaining four days of our holiday. After ensuring that we had at least one fun activity to do – other than shopping – every day, and making the necessary bookings, we left to locate Karama Centre, a shopping area that we had been told had unbeatable prices. Trust Pakistanis to dig out bargain centres, for sure enough, when we did finally find the place, it turned out to be worth the effort, what with children’s clothes and ladies’ shoes available at amazingly low prices. One word of caution though, never pay the asking price at this centre for bargaining is the order of the day here.

After spending a fruitful morning shopping, we went off to the Golden fork for lunch. Offering the most scrumptious grilled prawns imaginable, the food at the restaurant is as economical as it is enjoyable. Our energies restored, we made our way to the Engine Souk in Sharjah, an interesting shopping centre that seems to be generally overlooked by visitors, in the maze of the modern malls that overtaken Dubai. With shops selling gold jewellery, pure silver items and indigenous handicrafts from various countries, it has a lot of unusual items to offer, rarely seen in the fancier malls.

For the eveni9ng we had scheduled a visit to Burj-ul-Arab, the relatively new hotel on an island that has become not just the talk of the town, but of all tourists visiting Dubai. There was such a myth surrounding its entrance charges and we had been told by so many that it cost a phenomenal amount – something as ridiculous as $200 – just to enter the place that we were determined to find out for ourselves.

Mercifully, the cover charges, though high, are relatively affordable. One pays 100 dirhams to enter the hotel, and can spend the day there, exploring the beaches and partaking of snacks or meals. Since the cover charges are non-refundable it is advisable to eat to your heart’s content – or to the tune of a 100 dirhams, to be precise. As it was, we were five of us visiting the place, but even after gorging on a large variety of snacks, could not bring our bill anywhere close to 500 dirhams. Ultimately, our host, Bibi, landed up buying an exorbitant tie for her husband, for which she had to pay an additional amount, just to utilize the cover charges!

So much for the entrance fees, the hotel is definitely worth a visit. With architecture that is truly distinct and interior décor that is ornate to say the least – with bright blues, red and gold abounding – one can’t but find the hotel fascinating.

After a tour of the many restaurants harboured in the hotel, and plenty of photographs, we headed for home. But the night was still young, and we decided that we had not had enough of Golden Fork’s prawns. So back again we went, to eat the night away!

Day three was an exciting one for us as we had booked ourselves for a safari in the afternoon. So after spending the morning at City Centre, probably the largest and most popular of the shopping malls, and eating a light lunch of succulent hot-dogs at the Ikea outlet there, we came home to change for the evening. The only one in the group of nine that had any experience of what we were about to face, I thoroughly enjoyed the roller-coaster ride up and down the sand dunes at break-neck speed, since I was mentally prepared for it. The others, of course, went through what I had felt the first time – excitement and sheer terror!

We had to go in two vans as no more than six passengers can be accommodated in each, so the teenagers separated themselves from us. One must hand it over to the expertise of the wadi-bashers that they boldly ascend the crest of the dunes without a flicker of an eyelash and calmly control their four wheelers, while many of their passengers are shrieking at the top of their voices, and some are even feeling sick. Of course, there are those rare moments when a van does face problems surmounting a dune, but drivers invariably manage to overcome all odds and with most safaris comprising quite a few vans, help is always not too far.

A thoroughly memorable experience, the safari is highly recommended if you want a real taste of Dubai and don’t suffer from any back problems or motion sickness. Do your homework before you book yourself with any company because the rate vary and you could wind up paying as much as 100 dirhams extra per person, depending on who you have booked with. All offer the same facilities, more or less.

For instance, all vans stop every now and then at sites that present a picturesque view of the dunes and allow you photo opportunity. One of the stops is at a camel farm, where westerners get their kicks from watching these ‘strange’ animals from a close range. The ride culminates at an Arab tent in the middle of the dessert, where all passengers get off to be greeted by courteous Arabs, offering everyone dates and kawa. Unlike the Pakistani version of kawa, this one is not made out of tea leaves, but from coffee leaves. For those who wish to take camel rides, there are gaily decorated calems waiting to oblige, while the more adventurous go dune surfing.

Not interested in either, some of us decided to have henna applied on our palms – another attraction in Dubai – and then sat down to enjoy a quintessentially Arab barbeque buffet. The highlight of the evening for many is the last entertainment item – the belly dance. A truly scintillating performance, the dancer succeeded in pulling most of the participants on to the floor to join her gay abandon, finally calling it a night, at least for most participants. Not so for us, for, still full of energy, we went off to eat ice cream, and chatted into the wee hours of the morning.

With our vacation almost coming to an end – we were leaving the next day – everyone wanted to desperately finish their shopping, so after a magnificent brunch provided by Ayesha’s sister-in-law, we spent our fourth day hopping from one mall to another. We had kept an Indian movie as our entertainment for the day so we watched the late, late show of Meri yaar ki shaadi hai.

All good things have to come to an end and so did our holiday. We spent the morning of the fifth day packing, and on discovering that we still had place, shopped some more! Since going on a holiday is somehow synonymous with going on an eating binge, we went off to a thali restaurant for lunch, after which we bade Dubai au-revoir and set off for the airport.