I spent a lot of time being bored in Pakistan. Consequently, we spent a lot of time shopping, which meant we spent a lot of time haggling. One fine day, the victoria driver took us to the wood carving street in town. I can't remember if he suggested it or we asked for it. Anyway, we're walking down the street with all the shops selling woodcarving -- hand carved furniture, hand carved jewelry boxes, you name it, they hand carved it -- when I noticed wood flakes softly falling like snow. Looking up, there were the artisans up on the roofs, carving away. I was tempted to buy this one particular coffee table -- some other traveler had provided the pattern and the carver made two and no Pakistani would buy it because it wasn't a traditional design -- but wound up only getting a couple of jewelry boxes, one of which is now my wife's.

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