Blogs from Pakistan, Asia - page 8

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Asia » Pakistan » Islamabad September 30th 2015

Geo: 33.7076, 73.0479Well we made it to Islamabad. We were told in the morning at our hotel in Besham that we would need to be escorted for the next 50 kms. Fair enough if that is what is required then bring it on. The police waited patiently outside our hotel for us to finish breakfast and after that it was on for the next seven hours. Our escort vehicle changed every few districts, on some occasions we had an escort vehicles both infront and behind our vehicle. Great for getting through the heavy traffic. Sirens and flashing lights but they overtake trucks madly on blind mountain corners and expect us to stick close to them. They clearly got very uncomfortable if another vehicle got in the middle of our convoy. Darren had never driven so fast ... read more
This guy was a bit serious
There is a theme to our view of Pakistan
Restaurant lunch stop

Asia » Pakistan » Khyber Pakhtunkhwa September 29th 2015

Geo: 34.93, 72.8791Next morning we were up with the call to prayer (5 am for those who are not up with the Muslim traditions) and packed up pretty quickly before too many locals worked out we were camped on the edge of their village. Chilas has the reputation for being the last fairly safe area before the troublesome area inhabited by Taliban further south. Chilas was about 109 kms from where we were camped and the road was fairly slow. Although a main road it was not well maintained due to the unrest in the area. Anyway about 70 kms into the journey we catch up to two ute loads of military guys heavily armed. At one stage there was a traffic jam on the road ahead and all of the guys bail out and surround ... read more
Police Guards
Army Doods

Asia » Pakistan September 28th 2015

Geo: 35.4117, 74.1035Next morning we were up with the call to prayer (5 am for those who are not up with the Muslim traditions) and packed up pretty quickly before too many locals worked out we were camped on the edge of their village. Chilas has the reputation for being the last fairly safe area before the troublesome area inhabited by Taliban further south. Chilas was about 109 kms from where we were camped and the road was fairly slow. Although a main road it was not well maintained due to the unrest in the area. Anyway about 70 kms into the journey we catch up to two ute loads of military guys heavily armed. At one stage there was a traffic jam on the road ahead and all of the guys bail out and surround ... read more
Goats  Lots of Them

Asia » Pakistan September 27th 2015

Geo: 35.2341, 75.1836So after a brief breakfast we get ready to check out of our Government Hotel and meet a few Chinese tourists in the foyer. They heard we were heading up to Desaoi NP and decide to share their photos. Snow… hmm, the hotel manager points out that if no one has headed through the park it will be impossible to determine where the road is given 3 feet of snow had fallen a few days ago. Surely it could not be that bad. Anyway not put off we head into Skardu to get some cash and buy groceries. We were running pretty low on just about everything and this was the largest town we had seen for some time. So fully stocked we head up the small winding road to Desaoi. I have images ... read more
Snow Line approach
Snow Lepoard prints
Switchbacks with undefined edges and drop offs

Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Skardu September 26th 2015

Geo: 36.4743, 75.3552We had a lot of fun with the Germans but sadly the day our paths diverged arrived and we bid them a sad farewell. They were going to hike across Glaciers, no doubt the scenery would be fantastic but Darren's theory ...that if it cant be seen through the windscreen then it is just not worth the effort... and hiking clash. point of clarification on why this theory came about... a multi day trek strikes fear into my buggered knees.Anyway Lisa was keen to go Bear spotting in Densaoi National Park so we headed Southeast to Skardu. Pakistan is a complicated country. The Northern region around the Hunza valley is safe and peaceful, theoretically the East is okay as well. The Taliban come across into Pakistan in a place south west of here and ... read more
Old Silk Road inffo sign
Car Wash
Rock overhang

Asia » Pakistan September 25th 2015

Geo: 36.319, 74.6643Spent the first couple of days in Northern Pakistan hunkered down camped at the back of a village on the edge of a Glacier. Glaciers are everywhere around here, the mountains are massive, the peaks snow covered and the rain set in. So for those of you who are not sure the wind blowing across a frozen river, blowing down a valley through our camp combined with rain makes for very cold. So whilst waiting for the weather to lift we hiked to the Glacier for a closer look. We Gate Crashed a Pakistani wedding, that was interestingly held in a field in the village we were camped on the edge of. On the final day of bad weather we hiked to a suspension bridge. Somewhat famous in these parts not necessarily for its ... read more
Pondering
Pasu Camp View
Pasu Camp View

Asia » Pakistan » Quetta September 30th 2014

Stayed in Quetta 4 nights, one with Assistant police commissioner, nice but bit tricky to get out with no WiFi. Serena hotel is best hotel in area, ideal for diplomats & ministers of state, top knotch security and price to go with it, did give me a 20% discount. But it was a lock in!, steel doors U can't see out of, steel raised ramps, Xray luggage, security team, very friendly staff and a pool. A run out to shops required van & 3 man police escort - well what did I require? Just nuts & ice cream was a poor answer. Quetta is more of a tourist area, onwardvtravel only possible with NOC document apply at home-office, but shut on weekends. So Monday morning could go for my NOC travel document, issued to travel next ... read more
Security
Salena BBQ
Bloom Star Hotel

Asia » Pakistan » Balochistan September 25th 2014

So I normally tried to do what l'm told, could be debate there, but anyway this time I did go he wrong way, to tribal areas, specifically excluded on UK foreign office web site, and did rely on Pakistan security for probably a 600km escort, for which I am very greatful. The western areas have a lots too offer, mountains, friendly people, much more scenic and cooler route than west from Lahore through Multan, in theory obtaining a NOC document from Rawalpindi would be the way to go, but for for foreign tourist this would be very hard to obtain. See web https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan So from Rawalpindi I traveled west, following advice from the tyre shop, only when I stopped at a check point 40km from Kohat did I realise th error of my ways, alternative now ... read more
Huts
Sheep on move.
Police compound Kohat

Asia » Pakistan » Lahore September 23rd 2014

One of big tourist interest is the border with India near Lahore, where the flag ceromony is a good spectator event, how these two super powers treat their neighbour. From 'Pindi to Lahore is a 300km run on GNR (great north road) or N5 dual carriageway, bikes banned from motorways in Pakistan. Was quite hot during day so could be an idea to travel in cooler evening. No police escorts required, 300km do in 4hrs, 4..8pm. Think Road Safety is a bit risky on this dual carriageway, numerous central crossings & few central barriers, with many unlit vehicles from small bikes with no lights, farm vehicles, & dogs move any way they like, finally black bison would be hard to see. Lower speed limit 90..100kph is sensible. But front tyre had a slow puncture, much more ... read more
Rashid and Joe in local outfit.
Rashid's family.
view from roof terrace.

Asia » Pakistan » Islamabad September 21st 2014

Leaving Deosai high plane, I had been advised not to travel through Chilas at night - risk of banditory. Kind hard when bridge 50km from Chilas was closed for emergency repairs till 9pm, but helpfully was reunited with Dmitry also waiting in quew, the mood was good, watched locals lift 6m 9" girders by hand was inspiring. From Chilas we wanted to go directly south over the Balakot pass 4200m, but this road not open to foreigners. So followed KKH to east though Besham & Abbottobad was the only alternative, we had on/off police escort to Abbottobad, a hot spot for terrosum in area, would seam the police escorts were often used for on this tourist route, was hyper efficient at times with escort changing on move every 30km, but also occasionally a 90min wait too. ... read more
A security check point
Security escort change over.
can U see the goat?




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