Shifting the Sun

(in the memory of my father Sh. Zafar Ali Pakistani who died on 6th June 1999)

Shifting the Sun

When your father dies, say the Irish,
you lose your umbrella against bad weather.
May his sun be your light, say the Armenians

When your father dies, say the Welsh,
you sink a foot deeper into the earth.
May you inherit his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Canadians,
you run out of excuses.
May you inherit his sun, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the French,
you become your own father.
May you stand up in his light, say the Armenians.

When you father dies, say the Indians,
he comes back as the thunder.
May you inherit his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Russians,
he takes your childhood with him.
May you inherit his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the English,
you join his club you vowed you wouldn't.
May you inherit his sun, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Armenians,
your sun shifts forever.
And you walk in his light.

written by Diana Der-Hovanessian

Bike Tour to Lahore 2002

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do" - Mark Twain

Once I was (and still I am) very passionate about biking over long trips. As a school boy I was going alone (and sometime with friends) to cities nearby to Layyah. In 1995 I made my first real bike tour-- to Multan (160 km from Layyah in ~8 hours) and then in 1996 I was biking to Lahore (~400 km) finishing in less than 40 hours.
After that it was break for about 6 years.
In July 2002 I left my job as a lecturer in punjab college Multan. I had plenty of time at hands. I was free of everything and free to do everything. What else except a bike tour and I was heading to Lahore once again but this time starting from Multan. Total Distance to be covered ~380 km.
I left on 12th August 2002 at 6:00 in the morning. The idea was to reach Lahore before 14th Augest in order to celebreate Independence Day with former university friends living there. I hired the bike from one of my former students.


Just before my departure



On the road.




Breakfast. Paratha and as usual my favourite Daal.


It was hot and humid. I was heavily sweating even in the morning.


Sometimes I was wondering, "who am I and what I am doing on these endless roads".


Humidity. Hot roads. Heavy traffic. Cyling all the day along. It was setting to evening when I parked my bike alongside the road and sat along this water channel.
The overnight stay was in Sahiwal (about 180 km from Multan).


Day 2. Arrival to OKARA district.


With some truck drivers + conductors.


about 50 km away from Lahore.

I reached Lahore on the next day (13th august) at about 9pm (right in 39 hours).


At friend's place after reaching Lahore.