Pakistan Zindabad!: Photos 21 to 40

Pakistan Zindabad (Long live Pakistan) we all chanted as the Pakistani border guards marched back and forth swinging their feet up to touch their hats and then stamping them down with a loud slap on the pavement, all the while glaring at their Indian counterparts on the other side of the border gate. These guys are picked for their height and strength and look very intimidating marching around purposefully with AK's slung over their shoulders. After watching the "show" from both sides of the border I have to say that I felt prouder to cheer from the Pakistani side!

The atmosphere surrounding the ceremony made me think of sporting events in Australia with rival fans cheering as they made their way to the stadium. Arriving at the border in our mini van we piled out to be swept up in the flood of humanity filing through the border gates. There was loud music booming from car sized speakers and vendors selling flags, cold drinks and popcorn, except the popcorn was cooked in hot sand in large bins and then seived out and the music was Banghrah Knights style.

After much parading around and showmanship a guard from each side

Full Text Entry: Pakistan Zindabad!

Joel, what an amazing blog about an amazing country! Nice to read about your adventures after you have safely left! It sounds like you continue to meet some great people along the way. Looking forward now to hearing of Iran!

Joel you look Amish! And Amish people are well known for smoking pot...

... i'm speechless joel, this blog was truly amazing! can't help looking back at the dates you were in pakistan, wondering if i could have somehow joined you there - what unbelievable experiences & people & landscapes!... can't wait to read about iran soon! stay safe champ.

Mate that was awesome, best blog you've written. It sounds like you really got off the tourist trail and did some proper exploring! Pakistan is now high on my list of places I want to visit. Also loving the beard, it shows true dedication to the vagabond spirit :)

Hey Joel, I'm glad you didn't share the joke made in the car coming back from Smugglers' Bazaar with me at the time. In retrospect was just fine!! I am so thankful to all the people who offered you such wonderful hospitality along the way. Great to get a different perspective on Pakistan. May you be kept safe and well in Iran. From one of your 'conservative readers'!

is there a reason you look like you're just about to head off for a suicide mission in every photo joel? indiana jones bridge looks insane, i can't believe you stopped to take photos in the middle of it :P!

It was a pretty nice blog or for that matter a Travelogue that I came across after sometime. Joel, man you've got some writing skills and I am getting impatient in knowing about your experiences in Iran. Pakistan certainly offers extraordinary places when it comes to the topography. Not many countries on the world map can be found with one of the highest mountain ranges, lush green meadows, the longest glaciers and snow walks, stunnigly beautiful valleys, rivers, at the same time deserts, beaches, fields, historical landmarks, Indus Valley - remains of one of the oldest human societies, Gandhara civilization and above all the best possible hosts and friendly people ( as you have already mentioned in your blog). Overall Pakistan is one of the best possible tourist destination. Unfortunately, so called WAR AGAINST TERROR has jolted Pakistan but international media has exagerated it to the maximum, potraying Pakistan as a death valley to the people outside like you've given the reference of Times of India in your blog. Foriegner's kidnapping/ harassment is confined to the tribal bordering areas of the country only, while all other areas (which is more than 99.5% of the total area) offers the best to the tourists/ travelers that you must've felt during your stay. Looking fwd to your Iran Travelogue.

I think the blue eyes give you away! fascinating tales as ever!

Man! Congratulations on your travel blogs. You are on the way of making a book (which I'd read) at the end of your travel days, (which I hope are miles and miles away). Keep the good stuff coming and thanks for letting us know the world from a rich perspective. Kudos!

I love it! The pictures are great, and you ARE a good writer, you were just making excuses here in Lahore!:P Great work though; it was very enjoyable, and I can see your blog is convincing more people to visit, which is superb:) p.s. in the photograph titled 'Doing my best to blend in', I couldnt tell you apart from a Peshawari. Stunning job.

awesome blog joelo...pretty sacry...even to only read all that..beauftiful fotos and you do blend in!!! dont change your style before coming to europe...;)

Hey Joel, I dont know if you remember me, but i am a friend of your Mum's. It was so great to read your blog on Pakistan. I lived there for five years growing up, and have subsequently gone back four times in the past 10 years to climb in the Karakorams. So it certainly feels like a second home to me and your commentarty certainly made me home sick. One of the greatest frustrations i have is convincing people who have never been to Pakistan that i actually feel safer there than i do in Pristine Perth. And i might add find the Pakistanis far more welcoming and less rascist than our own culture. It was cool to see what an awesome time you had there. Thanks for a great blog Michael Dunjey

joelo your crazy mate! nice beard though cya soon ;)

Joel, that was absolutely phenomenal. Words cannot describe how I wish i was there, this thought made all the more desirable and unbearable by the fact that im at currently work wasting the day away. In a time when the quality of front page travelblogs is at a saturated low, this is EXACTLY what is needed. Seriously, that was the most captivating blog you've ever written and if you can top that you're a genius.

could it be we met in Pakistan on the NATCO bus?

Are you claiming to not even be like pres Clinton who said he smoked pot never inhaled? I like your blog site - did you visit TANK or Gilgat Hospital? Bless ya real good.... Nick

Excellent travel blog- thoroughly enjoyed it!

Awesome to read about your experience in my country Joel, and having just come back from a bit of a trek myself, I found your views refreshingly honest. Rock on, you just won another Pakistani heart! :)

Joel. You have written a fantastic blog. And thanks to you for writing good about my country and in fact thanks to those people who made you write this kind of nice blog for Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad.

Joel, what an amazing blog about an amazing country! Nice to read about your adventures after you have safely left! It sounds like you continue to meet some great people along the way. Looking forward now to hearing of Iran!

Joel you look Amish! And Amish people are well known for smoking pot...

... i'm speechless joel, this blog was truly amazing! can't help looking back at the dates you were in pakistan, wondering if i could have somehow joined you there - what unbelievable experiences & people & landscapes!... can't wait to read about iran soon! stay safe champ.

Mate that was awesome, best blog you've written. It sounds like you really got off the tourist trail and did some proper exploring! Pakistan is now high on my list of places I want to visit. Also loving the beard, it shows true dedication to the vagabond spirit :)

Hey Joel, I'm glad you didn't share the joke made in the car coming back from Smugglers' Bazaar with me at the time. In retrospect was just fine!! I am so thankful to all the people who offered you such wonderful hospitality along the way. Great to get a different perspective on Pakistan. May you be kept safe and well in Iran. From one of your 'conservative readers'!

is there a reason you look like you're just about to head off for a suicide mission in every photo joel? indiana jones bridge looks insane, i can't believe you stopped to take photos in the middle of it :P!

It was a pretty nice blog or for that matter a Travelogue that I came across after sometime. Joel, man you've got some writing skills and I am getting impatient in knowing about your experiences in Iran. Pakistan certainly offers extraordinary places when it comes to the topography. Not many countries on the world map can be found with one of the highest mountain ranges, lush green meadows, the longest glaciers and snow walks, stunnigly beautiful valleys, rivers, at the same time deserts, beaches, fields, historical landmarks, Indus Valley - remains of one of the oldest human societies, Gandhara civilization and above all the best possible hosts and friendly people ( as you have already mentioned in your blog). Overall Pakistan is one of the best possible tourist destination. Unfortunately, so called WAR AGAINST TERROR has jolted Pakistan but international media has exagerated it to the maximum, potraying Pakistan as a death valley to the people outside like you've given the reference of Times of India in your blog. Foriegner's kidnapping/ harassment is confined to the tribal bordering areas of the country only, while all other areas (which is more than 99.5% of the total area) offers the best to the tourists/ travelers that you must've felt during your stay. Looking fwd to your Iran Travelogue.

I think the blue eyes give you away! fascinating tales as ever!

Man! Congratulations on your travel blogs. You are on the way of making a book (which I'd read) at the end of your travel days, (which I hope are miles and miles away). Keep the good stuff coming and thanks for letting us know the world from a rich perspective. Kudos!

I love it! The pictures are great, and you ARE a good writer, you were just making excuses here in Lahore!:P Great work though; it was very enjoyable, and I can see your blog is convincing more people to visit, which is superb:) p.s. in the photograph titled 'Doing my best to blend in', I couldnt tell you apart from a Peshawari. Stunning job.

awesome blog joelo...pretty sacry...even to only read all that..beauftiful fotos and you do blend in!!! dont change your style before coming to europe...;)

Hey Joel, I dont know if you remember me, but i am a friend of your Mum's. It was so great to read your blog on Pakistan. I lived there for five years growing up, and have subsequently gone back four times in the past 10 years to climb in the Karakorams. So it certainly feels like a second home to me and your commentarty certainly made me home sick. One of the greatest frustrations i have is convincing people who have never been to Pakistan that i actually feel safer there than i do in Pristine Perth. And i might add find the Pakistanis far more welcoming and less rascist than our own culture. It was cool to see what an awesome time you had there. Thanks for a great blog Michael Dunjey

joelo your crazy mate! nice beard though cya soon ;)

Joel, that was absolutely phenomenal. Words cannot describe how I wish i was there, this thought made all the more desirable and unbearable by the fact that im at currently work wasting the day away. In a time when the quality of front page travelblogs is at a saturated low, this is EXACTLY what is needed. Seriously, that was the most captivating blog you've ever written and if you can top that you're a genius.

could it be we met in Pakistan on the NATCO bus?

Are you claiming to not even be like pres Clinton who said he smoked pot never inhaled? I like your blog site - did you visit TANK or Gilgat Hospital? Bless ya real good.... Nick

Excellent travel blog- thoroughly enjoyed it!

Awesome to read about your experience in my country Joel, and having just come back from a bit of a trek myself, I found your views refreshingly honest. Rock on, you just won another Pakistani heart! :)

Joel. You have written a fantastic blog. And thanks to you for writing good about my country and in fact thanks to those people who made you write this kind of nice blog for Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad.