To be here is, honestly, just a slightly out of body experience. Like Tokyo, it’s an absolutely bustling city, but in a far different way. I often feel surround by this swelling of people through the cities, and most seem to want something from me. Even so, I simply pick my way from place to place, feeling relatively alone as a foreigner. It seems most don’t pick Islamabad as their tourist destination.
I can see why. Despite many pleasant interactions with local workers throughout the city, and even though I’ve been trying to stay among the most nature-filled destinations, it certainly still feels like a very industrial city. Everything moves so quickly, and the world beneath can get left behind. I’ve also been trying to stay out of the more 1st-world areas, because they represent a fairly small minority of the populous.
Islamabad is located on a convergent collision fault line, which has had a significant effect in recent years (2005 – 7.6 earthquake on the Richter scale). This collision of plates has also forced the land upwards slightly, as Islamabad is part of the same ridge/plateau as the Himalayas, albeit not as high.
In a typical day, I would walk through the city streets, attempt to find food light enough for my weak American stomach, and, most importantly, document natural scenes such as these. In this developing city, little attention is often paid to environmental concerns, and it shows in these photos. Tragic, but true.
No comments:
Post a Comment