Taming the North

While my Australian friends have been too chicken, last month my parents embraced their "crazy" side and flew half-way across the world to spend a meagre two weeks with me. A gesture for which I am infinitely grateful!

Despite late planning on my behalf, we managed to cobble together a whirlwind trip to Lahore, Islamabad and the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA) of Pakistan, accompanied by our driver, Najam, and guide, Aslam. With the intense memories and smells of the trip starting to fade, I felt now was as good a time as any to jot down some thoughts on our experiences up north.

One part of Pakistani culture that I love is the sheer warmth and hospitality of the people. From the day my parents arrived in Lahore, we were welcomed like family by an AIESEC member, Rida, and her mother. An off-hand comment at breakfast about wanting to visit a village resulted in a day-long trip around the Sheikhupura district (outside of Lahore) by a local landlord (the husband of a family friend's daughter, if I'm not mistaken – it always works like this here), visiting farms, villages and local communities.

Eventually, we were greeted by such incredible sights as this, taken at the Gilgit Serena Hotel:

As we made our way up the Karokaram Highway, we approached the snow-capped mountains, until we were surrounded by them in the Hunza Valley, a place I like to call paradise:

Remarkably, there was full mobile reception in all the towns we visited, which shows you how deep mobile coverage is in Pakistan.

Wandering through the towns of the Hunza Valley, we visited Altit Fort, currently being restored:

… meandered through the lanes of the adjacent old settlement:

… climbed up to "Eagle's Nest" and beheld one of the most breathtaking views I've seen:

… and met some of the locals:

What struck me was the slow pace of life, the fresh air and the serenity in the area – a world away from my life in Karachi and I'm certain from the image my parents had of Pakistan before coming.

Some of my other favourite photos:

Shangrila Resort, Skardu

Visiting a village in Skardu

From the Shigar Fort Residence, Shigar

Kids who couldn't help be curious about the gore (foreigners) walking around

I have few words to sum up the trip, but I hope that now, when my parents hear "Pakistan", they think of the warm people they met, the incredible views and natural beauty, that these memories balance what they see in the news, to show that there is another side to Pakistan.
I only wish more people had the chance to see this country!