Travellin' man.

Yes boys and girls, the time has indeed arrived for me to fly once more. This time I hope to conquer the city of my birth, Karachi. People tell me I shall be in shock when I get there. I don't doubt them one bit because I was in shock when I got to Doha. Time might fly, but lots of stuff happens, goes wrong and improves in nine years. And yes, it has been nine years. Nine years since I saw my grandmas. Nine years since I played chess with my dad's youngest brother. Nine years since I played cricket with my cousins. Nine years since I last walked on to the streets of Karachi and breathed in the smog filled air.

Its been a long time. It feels like an eternity. Barring any last minute complications, I shall be in Karachi at 9:25 pm on Wednesday. It could possibly be the best day ever. Or, it could be just another day in Karachi, the hustle bustle of daily activities, the call of azan, the old decorated buses honking away at each other, the cows and chickens crossing the roads just like people and the street vendors calling out to customers in buildings and streets- trumpeting their wares, everything from roasted nuts to knife sharpners.

This is Karachi. It is fruitless for me to try and put down into words the complexity of this city which inhabits three times the population of Toronto. It is useless for me to explain how beautiful the coastline looks no matter what the weather. I do not have enough talents as a writer to explain how amazing pistachio ice cream tastes when there have been a horde of flies circling it for a few hours. Nor can I write to you how unbelievable the shopping prospects are in this city where everything can be bargained for and bought cheaper at the next store. This is the land of shouting, the land of children playing cricket and football on the streets but not moving for cars, who cares? Our Street. And if you choose to argue about it, then you better sleep in your car cuz you tires will be slashed tonight.

Home. Its funny how your perception of home changes, I wrote that a few years ago when I realised how much I loved Canada. I still do love it, but there is a different sense of home here. Here, I shall not be a brown guy. I shall not be a muslim. I shall not be standing out in a crowd, I will just be me.

The sweetness of Karachi calls my name, it has captured my imagination for the past few days, I dream of gorgeous women, amazing food, great clothes and of course, family. Yes indeed, the time is here. And not a moment too soon.

Cue up the Mos def track... I'm a travellin' man once again.