We definitely agreed that PIA stands for 'Perhaps It Arrives', not Pakistani International Airlines, as we waited at Skardu airport for hours for our plane, then had to get on a bus and endure another two days bumping down the KKH. I finally left Islamabad for Lahore - on a PIA flight that did run! In Lahore I experienced true Pakistani hospitality as I was looked after splendidly by the brother (Sohail) of a Pakistani guy, Usman, who I'd met on the trek. What luxury - I was picked up at the airport by Sohail's driver Hafiz, and ferried around in [View Full Entry]

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Well I think I'll run out of superlatives trying to describe the mountains I've just seen in the Karakoram range. They are just breathtaking. I had stunning views of K2 from its Base camp, similarly of Broad Peak which we passed enroute. Although we had quite a few days with cloud, we got to see most of the big peaks as we travelled up the Baltoro galcier - I think it could be a long slide show! The Pakistani people who were with us on the trek were great and very friendly - some of the cooks could speak a bit [View Full Entry]

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This is very different to my previous travels as I was met at the airport and ferried by taxi to the very posh hotel in Islamambad where I'm staying, which thankfully has air conditioning as it's scorching outside. There was a wedding reception on last night, so I thought the pops and bangs as I went to sleep were their fireworks. However, when I could still hear them this morning I realised that they were in fact gun fire from the adjacent area where the red mosque seige is taking place! I think I'll avoid sightseeing around that area... Instead I've [View Full Entry]

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Well, only 3 days left before I go - yippee!! Just sending you this pre-trip Blog so I can check it works. If you haven't received this or can't open the links, let me know. If you don't want to receive these updates, then let me know in the next 3 days and I'll take you off the list, otherwise I think you can remove yourself on line. If you want to read about where I'm going, the links are: Pakistan - Karakoram Trek India - Ladakh Bhutan - [ [View Full Entry]

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