Anyway, we did say our goodbyes and I was suddenly there inside Lahore International Airport on my own. Apparently Qari Sahib and Mobashir were going to stay at QS's house after they dropped me off.
I noted in my journal how the route to the airport was superbly modern and right up to date. The journal mentions a 3 lane highway with parks and modern buildings at either side.
At 10.47 I recorded my delight in finding that the aircraft was to be a 747 PIA. I had not expected this on an internal flight but there you have it. I was to be in seat 32K, a window seat just nicely behind the wing. I could not have hoped for more especially since I thought it might be a 767. I noted that this aircraft had an unusual configuration with the entire rear end blocked off for club and first class travellers. We plebs had the front of the plane.
At first I thought the flight might be half empty but there was a surge of passengers until it filled up. They played a film of Quranic recitals before departure so that the journey would be made in the name of God. After that was a warning to drug traffickers, capital punishment for this offence just like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
12.50pm The diary says the flight was really smooth and good with stunning views but, just as we were approaching Karachi through cloud the aircraft dropped - i was scared out of my mind!
Upon landing my journal mentions getting a taxi to
Midway House. I've no idea what or where this was or why I was going there. Ah, Googled it and it's an airport hotel with poor reviews. I believe I only had one day and was to catch a very early flight back home in the early morning.
It seems I took a taxi to find a photo developers who could process my films in an hour. I found one and got them done since I was so eager to look at my photos. Remember, dear readers, we were in the age before digital cameras really took off!
Anyway I wanted to go to
Clifton West Wharf. My diary records an eventful drive with drivers fighting for every inch of road space. It must have been totally chaotic. I reached Clifton and took a walk along the black, muddy beach where some rather scruffy camels were offering tourists rides.
