Rawalpindi vs. Islamabad: My Brain's Exploding After a Week (Seriously)

okay, so like, i’m pretty sure i haven’t slept more than four hours straight in a week. i’m fueled by chai and the sheer terror of not knowing what’s around the corner. i just got back from rawalpindi, and honestly? it’s… a thing. i was supposed to be comparing it to islamabad, you know, the ‘proper’ capital, but i think i just ended up wrestling with my own sanity.

first off, the weather. it’s… humid. like, aggressively humid. think walking into a sauna that’s been left open for three days. it’s not rainy, exactly, more like a constant, sticky threat. it’s kinda like the air is actively trying to steal your moisture. and the dust? don’t even get me started. it’s a fine, gritty film that coats everything. i swear i’m 70% dust at this point. it’s a short drive to murree, though, which is like, a completely different vibe - crisp mountain air, actual trees. you can almost feel the altitude.

so, rawalpindi. it’s… intense. it’s not pretty in the way islamabad is. it’s not all manicured lawns and gleaming government buildings. it’s a sprawl. a chaotic, buzzing, slightly terrifying sprawl. i’m talking about a population density that would make a sardine jealous. i spent a day just wandering around Raja Bazaar, and i genuinely felt like i was being watched. not in a threatening way, necessarily, but like… everyone’s just observing.

*Cost of Living (Rough Estimates - as told by a perpetually broke touring drummer):

Overheard Gossip #1 (from a guy selling chai near Liaquat Bagh): “Beta, Islamabad is for the rich. Rawalpindi is where the real Pakistan is. You see everything here. The good, the bad, the… well, you get it.” He winked. I think he was right.

Overheard Gossip #2 (from a taxi driver, after I asked about safety): “Sir, don’t worry. Rawalpindi is safe. Just… don’t flash your money. And don’t go wandering alone at night. Seriously. It’s like, a hundred things could happen.” He charged me an extra 50 rupees for the warning. Worth it, probably.


Job Market (according to a Reddit thread I dug up - r/Pakistan): Apparently, there’s a decent amount of work in IT and engineering, but competition is fierce. Lots of opportunities for freelance gigs, too, if you’re good at what you do. I’m a drummer, so… not much luck there.


Things a Local Warned Me About: Don’t drink the water. Seriously. Just… don’t. Stick to bottled water. And be prepared to haggle. Like, really haggle. It’s expected. It’s part of the culture. It’s exhausting, but it’s also kind of fun.


I spent a day checking out the Ayub National Park - it’s surprisingly decent, a little oasis of green in the middle of all the concrete. And the food? Don’t even get me started. The nihari is legendary. I ate it three times. I regret nothing. (Okay, maybe a little. My stomach is currently staging a minor rebellion.)


Honestly, rawalpindi isn’t for everyone. it’s gritty, it’s loud, it’s overwhelming. but there’s a raw energy there, a sense of authenticity that i haven’t found anywhere else. it’s like… it’s not trying to be anything it’s not. it just is.


Pro-Tip (from a perpetually exhausted street artist): Bring a face mask. Seriously. And comfortable shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking. And maybe a therapist on speed dial. Just saying.


Resources:
TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g304739-Rawalpindi_Punjab
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/directory/Rawalpindi-Pakistan
Reddit (r/Pakistan): https://www.reddit.com/r/Pakistan/


okay, i’m going to go lie down now. and maybe drink some more chai. and possibly question all my life choices. goodnight.

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