Fill in!

There are a few emails missing from here, so let me just fill you in on the antics of Susan Steve and I during the Christmas period in Islamabad!

First of all, our hotel!!!!!

Ahh, the Simara Hotel in Sitana Market!! What a gem. Even now, over a year later, I laugh out loud when I picture our darling Steve, the most placid and patient man, frothing at the mouth in a rage about this hotel! Ed, Steve and I arrived, I was given bag minding duties while Ed went and looked at the room. His decision was, its OK. So we lugged our packs up the steps with the threadbare carpet and into our room with thick velveteen blue curtains! The beds were filthy but we had sleeping bags and so long as you didn’t get too close to the walls you would be fine. However once we tried the hot water tap, and yes there was hot water, we couldn't get it to turn off! The room filled with steam, but it was OK as we couldn't get the door to shut. I blew the power when I plugged in the phone charger and Steve was loosing patients. I was hysterical!! In a rage, Steve flung his Pakistani shawl around himself to march down stairs to get the manager, only his shawl swept across the wall and took a hunk of plaster with it! More laughing from Ed and I. Steve came back with the manager, and I asked for some water glasses, but you have some he said. I had to show him that they were full of mouse poo! So we got moved to a better and bigger room

This room was the tops! It had four ceiling fans that just about touched each other, two queen size beds and a single bed, and again thick dusty velveteen curtains. The bathroom was much bigger and while it was possible to turn the taps off, you got an electric shock when you did so! We also had a balcony, which was a concrete block suspended three floors off the ground with no railing and a nice view of the dumpster and kids playing cricket! First we had to call the manager to come and kill a rat that was darting around the room, then explain with sound effects and actions and stilted English the electrocution issue in the bathroom and then we had to call again to get rid of an unknown but largish animal from inside the velveteen curtains!

Another earthquake on Christmas Day had Susan thinking she had caused the tremor when she put her foot on the air conditioner on the 'balcony' to tie her laces! the whole building shook!

We all zipped ourselves into our sleeping bags and shared the beds as no one was game to sleep by the curtain with its mysterious menagerie living in it! And for the m most part, Susan and I were getting around in mime inspired outfits of black long johns and massive knitted Afghani bed socks.

Our Christmas outfits were also a disaster. Susan looked gorgeous although she couldn't breath it was so tight and her arms were paralyzed. Yet mine, well, cat vomit is the best description! Even now looking at the photos I look like a giant Aretha Franklin who has been vomited on by a cat who had just ingested marshmallow. Just horrible!!