To travel or not to travel?
Tuesday 29th May 2007 12:00:32 AM
The other day I was checking my credit card statement when dad walks in the room and takes a seat. He asks if I ever did clear the £800 he transferred over to my card just before he went to hajj (because you can't be owing anyone when you go). I tell him I've paid his but not yet paid mine to which he says I'll give you the money some time this week, I tell him it's alright and not worry about it.
He presses on, and I refuse his offer so he sweetens the deal ...
"Since you're not taking the money, I'll buy you a ticket. Where d'you wanna go?"
I look at him blankly thinking no way did dad offer me a holiday, at the same time I'm thinking by 'holiday' he means Pakistan (as most apnay elders do) and I am so not up for going there again (went twice in 04 for my sister's wedding). He continues ...
"There's Australia, America, and as always Pakistan - your mum's going in a few months so you can go with her if you want. Wherever you've got cousins you can go. Oh and if you want to go Saudi ... do umrah or something, you can go there too."
He had me at Australia and America.
"Any place else I will consider that too, just let me know."
Bloody hell fire, no way in a million years did I see that coming. I'm way over my head to come to a decision immediately so I let him know that I'll get back to him on that offer.
"Take your time" he says and then starts talking to mum.
I thought about it a bit more later on. PK seems like a no go area, Aus looks cool plus the boys where hoping I'd come too when my parents recently visited so that's a good sign (downside is there's only one family there). America seems OK, though I hear the guys are always working and don't/can't chill beacuse they're working 14 hours a day and all that crap.
On the other side of the coin I'm not too keen on travelling alone, might be boring not to mention tiring. I could try and get Abz to go with me (he's heard good stuff about Turkey and wants to go there) though I think he's a bit shaky at the moment.
Mum was talking to dad today about her going to PK in a few months (she goes every two years - dad says it's to keep herself sane) and she was saying how she doesn't want to go alone and discussing who she can take with her.
"I want to take Toseef" is the next thing I hear.
I thought to myself best defend myself now rather than later cos later there's no way out (they'll be like but we have already decided and you didn't say anything, plus the tickets are already booked) ...
First words out of my mouth were
"Nah ammi meh na ja nah" (translation: No mum I'm not going)
To which she says
"Why not, nobody else can go and I need you there"
The 'nobody else can go' is open to debate as is 'I need you there'
"I went twice in 04, I'm not going there again. I'm gonna go somewhere new"
She's not happy, and dad knows this isn't going to get anywhere so he starts talking about other elements of her trip.
I'm still undecided on whether I should go, if I should go alone, and if so which country I should hit.
Posted by Piniyini
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You should definitely go! So many people would kill for the chance to travel, plus later on in life you might not have the time to visit the places you want to go.
As for going alone, it might not be that bad, you might learn a few things along the way :p
Where to go? do your research, once you've picked your destination, decide on certain things you wanna do/see when you get there, then you'll get the most out of ur trip.
I would say go somewhere new! Istanbul is AWESOME i totally recommend it, same goes for Rome...though rome is probably more fun if you are alone.
I am having palpitations already thinking about going to pakistan over the summer. I just don't want to have to be around any of my brothers in laws, they all drive me nuts., :(
hows about sean's wedding - meant to be good
If you don't take up this opportunity then you will only live to regret it. Maybe the times not right and you will do someone or anothers head in by your visit, but then again this time will not come round again and some life experiences under your belt can never be a bad thing. I recommend Spain, but then again I'm a Spain junkie. Not the resorts or the north but Andalucia, lovely place, lots to see and plenty of halaal eateries.
hmm...looks like we all have a comment on this one!
I would recommend you take a trip round Europe over the entire summer - see everything!
Euro Rail would do me fine if i were given the offer.
If i put my self in your place, Look. Being given this chance is something that's a once-a-lifetime chance. Pakistan is out for obvious reasons. Autralia, you've seen. Do something you'll never be able to do again. Something which is great eyt...time consuming. Like touring Istanbul or Rome on a busget...there's so much to do/ see that you won't be able to do it if you're grey and balding...when you go there with your wife, kids, for an M&A...who knows?
Think up something on that lines. Don't go somewhere where there are only touristy spots to see. Go someplace ancient so you can witness LIFE. Go to Spain. Go to Rome. Go to an old place in Germany. Go to Turkey. Go to anyone of these places. But i would not recommend Barbados or Hawaii. If you're on a budget, they are no great fun.
Sorry. Got carried away.
Right now I'm thinking why not do it all? Go to Aus, Amreeka, and then PK with mum - yes over the top but what have I got to lose ... (apart from money ofcourse) though Aaps and Mum are not too keen on me doing the whole works!
yeah you might burn yourself out before you're done with your vacation..!! anyway, come to amreeka.. there's so many different states you can see in one trip! where do your cousins live?
You can come see us here in Ameerika!
New Zealand would be cool.
I've always wanted to go to Spain, but I don't know if you'd have the greatest time there.
And you know what? My dad just left for Turkey yesterday. I'll let you know what he thinks about it.
Australia would be a lot of fun I think and I've heard it's beautiful there!
Go for All of it. I know I would. Be sure to take as many pics as you can.
Good Luck!