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Have fun while you learn…….. Page 1

http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2011/01/05/the-aleph/comment-page-10/#comment-776944

Intro:

I am being invited to a ‘Leadership Management Program’ every year by the

Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the last four years at the HEC Khanaspur

retreat, Ayubia, KPK and I must tell you that it is indeed a privilege which only a

few of us at the top are granted year after year. Learning with the top 20 officers

of HEC is a fun deal. HEC usually does this in July every year and for the last four

years I have been privileged by the HRM Division to invite the guest speakers.

With these privileges granted, I can comfortably claim that I have been my

organizations best corrective measures. Laughter

The first time around, I invited Mr. Suleman Ahmer, who is the CEO of

Timelenders, Karachi; in 2009. Suleman, I have followed from the US days; is a

passionate and inspirational speaker who among other corporate endeavors

has worked in Bosnia to help the Muslims during the Bosnian war. He is a very

religious person and through his management training programs tries and brings

you to the ‘Sirat-e-Mustaqeem’ (The path to salvation) and does this beautifully.

He is also the celebrated writer of the book titled ‘Embattled Innocence’ which is

based on his Muslim relief work in Bosnia. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering

from University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA and is a much sought out speaker

locally and in the Middle East.

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 2

This is what his website says about him: “He has trained thousands of individuals

from over 50 nationalities in Strategic Visions, Strategic Time Management and

Strategic Negotiations Skills. The vision of Timelenders, which he founded, is to

help individuals and organizations develop worthy visions”.

In 2010, I introduced Sohail Zindani to HEC and he won the contract to come

train us on Leadership and Management. Sohail is known to me from Karachi

and is called the ‘Little Master’ in his circles and is an exuberant personality.

Young, bubbly and lively and while hailing from Karachi, he runs around the

room with enthusiasm and looks you in the eye which does not leave you

enough room to catch a little nap during his trainings. Laughter! He has an MBA

from Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi.

This is what his URL says about him: “Few people have impacted the day-to-day

execution of learning in Pakistan’s corporate arena more than Sohail Zindani. A

gregarious, sought-after speaker, author and organizational development

consultant, Sohail is characterized by friends, colleagues, competitors and

clients as one of the most insightful, humorous, compassionate and professional

individuals in training industry”.

On the last day of this workshop, Hassan Nasir Zaidi and I went to successfully

scale the Mushkpuri peak; the 2nd highest peak in the Galliyat which stands at

an elevation of some 9,470 feet. It is another story that we got 2 hour late to

class and bore the brunt of getting the participation certificate about three

month late since we had set a bad precedence for the rest of the officers. No

regrets!

In 2011, HEC again contacted Suleman Ahmer to come speak to us. After this

workshop, four of us hikers wanted to scale the Miranjani peak on the following

Sunday but the two of us had serious stomach infections and the plan was

shelved.

Come July 2012, and I was asked again to find a new face for the HEC

Leadership Management Program. This time around I was finally able to catch

Ms. Maryam Chaudhry who is also a good friend and is the CEO of Corporate

Communications. Maryam hails from Lahore and her style says that.

As usual; Hassan and my family planned to travel together to Khanaspur, like

always. We met at the Malpur bus stop on the Murree Road around 5:00 p.m.

and from there proceeded in our two cars i.e. his Jeep Cherokee and my Club

Santro. We took the old Murree road and on the way to Murree, we stopped at

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 3

our favorite ‘Chai-Pakora’ stop somewhere between ‘Charra Pani’ and

‘Company Bagh’.

Our favorite Chai-Pakora stop enroute to Murree

Further enroute to Murree, Hassan’s jeep broke down and was having heating

problems but with the help of his mobile phone and a friend in Lahore, we were

guided to have the necessary stops, cool down the jeep and thus finally

reached Khanaspur albeit late. As expected, I decided to stay with him all

along since we are both hikers and hikers always stick together in times of need.

What are friends for, huh!

Hassan’s jeep is being cooled off

This is what Maryam’s website says about her: “Ms. Marryam Chaudhry is the

Managing Director of Corporate Communications, Lahore. She is a professional

corporate trainer and her company facilitates the business sector by providing

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 4

practical, interactive and fun filled activity based trainings to the corporate

sector through workshops and seminars. She has conducted numerous trainings,

and has 10+ years of experience. She is a former Banker and a Gold Medalist

MBA, and has lived most of her life in the United States”.

This time around a few of us wanted to hike the Miranjani peak on Sunday; right

after the training but yet again failed miserably since it started raining cats and

dogs on the previous Saturday evening. While everybody else rejoiced, some of

us were caught with long faces. Man proposes and God disposes. Huh!

(Some of the 1st ladies enjoying the Galliyat)

One of the best parts of these workshops is that it gives a chance to some 18-20

senior officers to mingle together with families outside the work environment in

the beautiful setting of Khanaspur, Ayubia which is at a height of some 8,000

feet or so.

(The up and down trips in the Galliyat)

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 5

While the officers attend 2-3 days of intensive 9 – 5 classes, the spouses and the

children enjoy the environs of the hill resort.

(Ladies and girls are all smiles while their husbands & fathers are in class)

Amazing friendships are developed, minds open, and we all get a chance to

think outside the box. Unfortunately, a very few of us still refuse to come outside

their boxes and they continue to remain clerks. LOL Public servants in this era

often do their best when they stop caring about whether they will get fired.

Since there is not enough space in our guest house thus many officers are made

to stay at different hotels which include the Montana Hotel, the Willow Grove,

Punjab university guest house and the PTDC guesthouses.

(Hassan’s, Anees’ and my family outside our hotel after a long day)

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 6

The workshop usually culminates with a ‘Bara Khana’ (Last supper!) which is

followed by song and dance.

(The cooks, drivers, assistants are dancing the night away)

Since we could not scale the Miranjani peak thus we had the entire Sunday 15th

July 2012 to ourselves. Suddenly, in the morning three of us colleagues decided

to walk the pipeline track and off we went at 9:00 a.m. for this 2-3 kms walk.

(From L-R: Anees, I and Awais at the start of the Dungagali pipeline walk)

It is always an exhilarating experience to take this walk which is also known as

the Dungagali trek. This is what the Virtual Tourist site says about this trek:

“Dungagali is situated on slopes of Mukhspuri peak, 3 km from Nathiagali on

main Murree road. By road it’s a 5 minute drive from Nathiagali. You can go for

walk on famous pipe line track at an altitude of 8,200 feet (2,499 m). On your

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 7

way enjoy views of Mukhspuri, river Jhelum and Ayubia national park.

Pipe line track also serves as an entry point of Ayubia National Park, which is

spread over an area of 3,312 hectares and is the natural habitat of numerous

species of wild animals. You can witness rare varieties of birds, animals and trees.

An entry fee of Rs. 5 per person is charged by forest department to enter Ayubia

National Park.

Walk on this 4 km long track is an experience of a life time. In 45-50 minutes you

would be in Ayubia where you can spend some time and then come back

following the same track.” 1

(The caption of the picture says it all)

After a lavish brunch and while we were planning to return, Farman Ullah

Anjum’s (DG-Services @ HEC) kids made a plan with my wife to go to the resort

close to the Kohala Bridge. Always waiting for an opportunity to visit new places,

we immediately decided to join the bandwagon.

Since the drivers and the caretaker @ Khanaspur advised us not to take the

longer route due to the hordes of people returning to Islamabad via the run-of-

the-mill road, we took a short cut instead which routed us behind the Governor’s

house in Nathiagali.

1 http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Pakistan/North_West_Frontier_Province/Nathia_Gali-

1307715/Things_To_Do-Nathia_Gali-Dunga_Gali_Pine_Line_Track-BR-1.html

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 8

(One of the most amazing landscapes in the Galliyat of Murree in the backdrop)

Although, we took this road but did not discern that it had three seriously broken

patches and was extremely steep. While Farman and his family were riding in

the official Land Cruiser, I was driving my ‘Baleela’ aka Club Santro 1.0.

(Camaraderie at play while my car cools off)

My car brakes almost failed twice on the way to the resort but we saw the most

amazing landscapes on this route which are closed to public eyes since the

road is a shambles and is not a beaten path.

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 9

(Have you ever seen someone drinking Coke in a French Fries Bag?)

The views were simply breathtaking and the horror ridden ride was worth at least

once in life especially in my little vehicle. We stopped almost after every half

hour since my car was a street car and the road was only meant for a 4wd.

(Both the families are enjoying another breath taking view)

Once we reached the Kohala hideout, it was verminous with the well-known

species called homosapiens. My God, the place was infested with Darwinian

monkeys jumping around all over the place, on the roads, in the water, up the

hill, trying to swim, dancing in the rain, peeing in the open. Organized chaos, I

would rather call it!

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 10

(The population explosion following us around)

It was like 14th August in Murree. Well, this is the type of cheap entertainment the

nation gives us and the haves and mostly the have-nots enjoy to the hilt.

We somehow managed to grab a few chairs and although wanted to have tea

and Pakoras there, ended up having a late lunch of Chicken Karahi and Pateer

(Bread). The children enjoyed the water under their feet although we wanted to

get out fast due to the huge and mostly uncouth and uncultured rush around

us. After living in ‘Islamabad the slow’ for over a decade now, one thing that we

try to avoid is; public places full of people.

(At the Kohala resort somewhere next to the Neelum-Jhelum river)

We left the place quickly after lunch and while taking the Murree Expressway,

stopped by at a road side restaurant for tea. This was a rather cleaner place

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 11

with a good ambience and better views of the Murree hills. The children also

enjoyed their short stay here.

(Tea break at the road side Café on the Murree Expressway)

We stayed here for a good half hour and enjoyed our tea. While the ladies

enjoyed their usual chit chat, Farman and myself reflected on new strategies

that we learnt during the workshop and the good times spent together during

the last three days.

(Mr. and Mrs. Shaikh, the two love birds!)

All good things must come to an end and thus we had to leave for home. On

the way back, we were caught in a huge traffic jam which started after the

‘Satra Meel’ (17 mile stop) on the Murree road. It almost took us 2 or more hours

to reach the Shell Petrol pump off Murree Road from ‘Satra Meel’ stop.

Have fun while you learn…….. Page 12

Post Script:

Hope dies last and hope is but all I have. When the world works, and it often has

over the recent centuries, it’s because everyone moves forward, in a kind of

modest unison. With my escapades I have learnt that I am, in short, a traveler at

birth; for whom even a visit to the candy store was a trip through a foreign world

where no one I saw quite matched my parents' inheritance, or my own and the

most distant shores, I am constantly reminded, lie within the person asleep at our

side depending on which ever side of the bed we get up on.

As you can tell, I'm a firm believer that the human spirit is capable of great

things and able to solve any problem. The world is moving fast and it's only

getting faster. So much technology, so much information, so much to

understand; to think about, to react to! So we try to speed up to match the

pace of the action around us. We stay up until 3 am trying to answer all our

emails. We Twitter, we Facebook, and we Link-in. We scan news websites

wanting to make sure we stay up to date on the latest updates. And we salivate

each time we hear the beep or vibration of a new text message.

We somehow need to slow down and appreciate the beauty around us before

we are no more. Why bother speeding and trying to achieve all that we need to

achieve. We just need to decide on our needs and wants and take it from

there!

A study of car accidents by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, USA put

cameras in cars to see what happens right before an accident. They found that

in 80% of crashes the driver was distracted during the three seconds preceding

the incident. In other words, they lost focus — dialed their cell phones, changed

the station on the radio, took a bite of a sandwich, maybe checked a text —

and didn't notice that something changed in the world around them. Then they

crashed.

For God sake don’t text or listen to the Cell phone while you drive. Have a safe

journey. The world is indeed yours. Go out and explore!

Shaikh Muhammed Ali ‘The Wandering Dervish’

E-mail: dushkashaikh@gmail.com

Cell: +00-92-321-5072996

22nd September, 2012, 20:15 (PST)