I didn’t have internet for a couple of days.  Here’s a journal entry transferred from my cell phone…

Tuesday, July 27.

We travelled to Mangla late at night to shoot a battle reenactment scene.  I was really scared last night.  Sleeping in a military compound isn’t the most comforting, but today is a better day.  I slept well and had a yummy breakfast.  I actually ate the omelet.  I’ve been scared to eat anything.  I just want us to get through this shoot today - safely and successfully - and then go back to Islamabad.  Luke has a lot weighing on him - he’s DPing with the RED and two other guys are shooting as well.  

Last night we met two Pakistani soldiers who fought and killed around 150 terrorists in 2009.  Even though, it was just them two, they beat the other side.  They received the highest honor in their rank.  And by looking at them you wouldn’t think they did that because they have such a warm, honest persona.  Very humble.  Here’s a photo with them.

Side thought: maybe I should be a journalist or reporter?  

Pakistan has so many legendary stories.  The industrial and economical facets of society here are at least 100 years behind the U.S. There are donkeys pulling carts, rubble sitting along the barely paved roads, and men constantly roaming around the florescent lit shops.  

The expressway is the most “controlled chaos” I’ve ever seen.  I think I wrote about this before, but last night we drove about two hours to Mangla.  There really aren’t any lanes at all.  The somewhat fast lane is the far right lane.  But, you can drive on the shoulders, too!  It’s crazy!!!  I miss the roads in the U.S.! 

Servants are everywhere.  You don’t have to lift a finger.  Your breakfast is served, tea is poured, laundry is done.  It feels weird not having to make my own food.  

Today, we’ve been all over Pak Army Headquarters.  It’s basically a huge playground for soldiers.  Luke says it’s his disneyland.  There’s an area for grenade throwing, shooting ranges, obstacle courses, etc.  And there are concrete buildings with pretty much no windows that military families stay in.  There are a few tiny general stores to buy drinks and food and miscellaneous items.  Everyone stares at me - some of the children smiled.  We saw soldiers moving dirt from one area to another by scooping dirt onto a cloth or bag, then by holding the cloth at each corner, carry it over to its destination.  Of course a wheelbarrow or machine would be much faster, but they didn’t have those things.  And some soldiers were putting up a tent by hammering metal rods in the ground with a big rock.  They swept the dust off the tent with a bundle of leaves they just tore from a tree.  

We met the Army General, too. 

Luke got stung by a bee and shot a gun in the long range shooting range.  

We are up close and personal with the army.  There’s no filter - it’s raw.  I’ve been sitting here for the last hour and a half while the crew hiked up a mountain.  I didn’t go since no hiking shoes and I’m not ADing today, just observing and talking with a Major from ISPR, which oversees the media relations for the Pak Army. 

Well, it’s 11:50P now and we’re wrapped.  Now we’re waiting back at the Army “hotel” for dinner to arrive.  ”Just the bread, please.” 

b.e.d.