|
Forums
:
:: Pakistan, henna and more
 Reply
riffat
Member
Posts: 521
From: Near London / U.K
|
Pakistan, henna and more
Posted on: 11/06/2009 06:06 AM
Hello everyone back safe and sound from my eye-opening trip to Pakistan after 12 years.
I went for my nieces wedding but sadly the grooms mother died just 1 week before the wedding so the big celebration was called off and in its place was a much sober, quite affair.
Pakistan is a beautiful country full of rich culture but also a country in turmoil and at times a very dangerous place to be in but generally I found everyone just trying to get on with their everyday life as best as they could. It was the first time back for me after 12 years and so much has changed, not always for the better.
I tried to catch snapshots of everyday elements of pakistani life without making it too much of a henna journey which was hard as every time we went out, I would see at least 10 man/women with bright orange henna hair.
A new discovery that I made was the use of syringes filled with an extract of henna liquid, made by distilling henna leaves in a double burner. I've seen henna paste in syringes in Morocco and also this same liquid used for wooden stamps in India but never like this. It was amazing watching the skill at which it was applied, no pressure was used at all. The liquid just dripped out, while the artist moved the syringe across the skin. Once dry, I was told to leave it on the skin for as long as possible, the stain lasted about 7/10 days, the liquid smelt of burnt wood, sorry, I do know the word for it but don't know how to spell it!
Henna through syringe
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4068275541/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4068274371/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4069030728/in/set-72157622593274097/
The artist was using this wooden block to rest the hand on which I thought was a great idea. he gave me this asa aprting gift, it still has his name on the side and the name of the beauty parlour he works in.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4069031408/in/set-72157622593274097/
Mehndi Oil, came across a small stall making their own oils in the old part of Rawalpindi. Smells beautiful and is supposed to be good for hair
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4068279769/in/set-72157622593274097/
Henna Beards & hair
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4069086489/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4069845168/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4069845952/in/set-72157622593274097/
Quite a new thing in Pakistan is to have a wedding cake, this was always seen as a Western custom. So lucky me got asked to ice my neice's cake while I was there
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4068803108/in/set-72157622593274097/
I just LOVE Pakistan truck art, apart from the henna beards, these were the highlights for me to photograph. Its amazing to see how much love and attention these truck drivers spend on their trucks (and money)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4078348482/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4078348838/in/set-72157622593274097/
Landscapes & mosques
http:/www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4078347774/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4078347170/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4074323003/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4078349156/in/set-72157622593274097/
People
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4075058626/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4075077294/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4074303415/in/set-72157622593274097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/4078444752/in/set-72157622593274097/
I came back with over 1000 pictures, it was hard to whittle it down to just these few. I hope you all enjoy my collection as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Slideshow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76185114@N00/sets/72157622593274097/show/
|
 Back to top |
 Quote
 Report
|
|
Roy
Member
Posts: 928
|
Re: Pakistan, henna and more
Posted on: 11/06/2009 09:39 AM
Welcome back. Nice pictures.
My current favorites are the hennaed beards.
R.
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report
|
|
riffat
Member
Posts: 521
From: Near London / U.K
|
Re: Pakistan, henna and more
Posted on: 11/06/2009 10:54 AM
Thanks Roy, they are my favorites too, some of them were so bright that you needed sunglasses just to see them lol!
After seeing your links to pictures from around the world over the years and enjoying them so much I thought I'd share my travel pictures with everyone here.
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report
|
|
LadyTetsu
Member
Posts: 864
From: SE OH, USA
|
Re: Pakistan, henna and more
Posted on: 11/06/2009 12:45 PM
Like I said on your flickr, this is a gorgeous little series - I loved the shot of the bed (and went and bounced hard on mine twice!) and that one woman walking along with the bundled leaves. :) Soooo much fun to see!
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report
|
|
LisaLopez
Member
Posts: 226
|
Re: Pakistan, henna and more
Posted on: 11/06/2009 12:49 PM
Thank you for sharing your journey.That is to me what is so special about the art of henna, it encourages sharing and joy.
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report
|
|
Maggie (not signed in) (GUEST)
|
Re: Pakistan, henna and more
Posted on: 11/07/2009 02:23 AM
Welcome back Riffat! Such wonderful pictures, I haven't looked at all of them as I am supposed to be in bed now but I'll look at the rest later. Thank you so much for posting them, they're lovely and the boiled down henna leaves is extremely interesting wish I could go and experience it too!!
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report
|
|
Reply
|
|