Pakistan

Nilgun's humanitarian work has taken her to many exotic locales. One spot is Pakistan. In fact, it was during her "sabbatical" from work in Pakistan when I met Nilgun in Bangkok. Nilgun was in Pakistan during the aftermath of the tragic earthquake that hit about five years ago. So, on top of being in a tough country, one in which there's ongoing religious and political conflict, she was there during a major crisis. In two images, Nilgun is wearing a hijab. In another image, she's having dinner with her colleagues and friends.

I personally have never visited Pakistan. I did fly to India once, and before getting my ticket, I considered arranging a flight to Lahore, Pakistan, where I would stay a few days before traveling to Delhi. I even visited the Pakistani Embassy in Uzbekistan in order to inquire about a visa. Sadly, through my naivete and my ignorance of the world, I upset the consulate officer at the embassy by asking too many questions about the safety of Pakistan for a solo Western traveler like me. Even then, I was conditioned to think negatively about a "Muslim country." My questions irritated the officer so that he more or less shooed me away. I then opted to fly directly to Delhi. I wish I had visited Lahore.