One of the perks of photographing weddings in different cities is the fact that I get to stay at different hotels. You never know what to expect so the anticipation is always there. I was in Toronto a few weeks back and stayed at the Sheraton in downtown. I chose this hotel simply becuase it has an indoor garden…yep..that was enough to convince me….the garden was just spectacular..at daytime and night..just lovely!!  Oh and as I was checking in I even got to see a bride and groom who were going to be staying in the hotel arrive after their wedding reception…exciting stuff!! I grabbed a few shots of the lobby one evening as I returned from the wedding.

Hi Guys!!

How is everyone doing? Enjoying the warm weather? I’m sure you are.

I’m writing to you today on a more serious note. Most of you are aware of the situation in Swat…it’s just heartbreaking to see this adversity. Most of us want to do something but don’t know how or what to do…here’s your chance to make a difference.

Two really close friends of mine are collecting money to buy food to take to the Internally Displaced Persons [IDP's] of Swat and deliver it themselves. They need as much as possible. I think this is such a fantastic thing that they are doing and I would like to give them as much support as possible.

So I am proposing the following:

For the month of June….I will donate the full sittig fee [$120] for portraits towards this cause. So if you’ve been thinking of getting portraits done but haven’t really decided…this is your golden opportunity. You get your portraits and you get to make a difference. (You can also pay for your portraits now and get them taken at a later date, if that suits you better).

You can also make donations without getting your portraits, any amount is welcome, whether its $5 or $500.

Please, please, please, I urge you to get involved and make a difference. Every little bit counts. I hope that we can do our part and help.

For more information on the IDP’s of Swat and the Swat Crisis. Visit:
http://teeth.com.pk/blog/2009/05/11/swat-crisis-support-the-internally-displaced-persons-idps-in-pakistan#comment-235985
 
Best,
Amna

Credit - Chowrangi

There is a very serious military offensive in the northern areas of Pakistan [Swat, Dir, Buner and adjacent locations] the offensive is to uproot the terrorists from the region but innocent Pakistani are suffering and are actually being displaced out fo that region migrating to safer regions like Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar. They are fellow Pakistanis and they need our help

With an expected 500,000 people to be displaced from their residence, Swat Crisis is being termed as largest humanitarian and displacement crisis in recent times. Whether we support the military operation or not, these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) need our help.

There could be other ways how we all can help make thier suffering a little less - share you ideas but at the same time this is an appeal to all individuals, organizations, charities and NGOs in general and nationals of Pakistan in particular, whether resident or expat, to come forward and help by extending financial, technical and moral support to hundreds of thousands, feared to be displaced in Swat Crisis. If nothing else, please spread the word.

How you can help:

Besides sending cash through below mentioned charity organizations, you can support by providing following commodities. Please do not donate old/expired stuff. Make sure edible items are hygienic and properly packed.

• Clothing: Clothes of various sizes, Beddings, Shoes
• Utensils: Jerricans (large plastic cans that hold 20 liters of water or other liquids), Crockery, Buckets
• Toiletries: Tissues, Soaps, Dettol (antibacterial cleaners), Towels
• Food: Rice, Sugar, Flour (Atta), Onions, Potatoes, Cooking oil, Tea, Milk (tetra packs or powder), Safe drinking water, Cooked Food

Medicines:

1. Water purification tablets.
2. Life saving drugs.
3. Vaccines for malaria, cholera, typhoid, influenza.
4. Pain killers including strong ones like morphine derivatives, tremadol, pethadine, kinz .
5. Antibiotics e.g. tetnus, amoxil, gentamycin.
6. IV cannulas
7. IV Drip sets
8. IV drips: normal saline, ringerlactate
9. Local anesthetics (injections)
10. Cotton bandages, cotton.
11. Surgical instruments: e.g needle holders, forceps, tweezers.
12. Suturing materials, Skin staples.

Charity Organizations in Pakistan:

• Al-Khidmat Foundation: Donate here.
• Edhi Foundation: Donate here.
• SUNGI: Who to contact [link], where to donate [link].

International Charity Organizations:

• Oxfam - GB
• Plan International
• International Medical Corps
• The International Rescue Committee (IRC)
• Church World Service

More Resources:

FaceBook: IDPs from NWFP need us

Credit- Chowrangi | Facebook | PkPolitics

A few weeks ago my sisters got Bonsai Miniature Trees for each one of us - They are just so pretty. Mine is a Jasmine Tree.  Rabia’s is a Plum Tree and Ayesha’s is a Bouganvillea Tree.  

They are so pretty that I couldn’t resist taking their pictures. 

My cousin Saeeda was visiting us from New Jersey a few weeks back and my sisters and I decided to have some girly fun. We had to get the right look since we were going for a more oriental theme and Of course I had to pull out my camera and get some shots of us being fab! Girl time is just so much fun!