Khunjerab Pass
Trip Start
Jun 11, 2005
1
17
114
Trip End
Dec 22, 2005
Sust,
Pakistan
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Pakistan is an amazing country, a challenge to travel around (especially the northern areas), so we were glad to have decided to use a tour company Vertical Explorers and have Shigri guide us, smoothing our passage and treating us as guests. The infrstructure is poor and the weather proved unpredicatable but we have some fantastic memories to look back on. As a woman Maggi was apprehensive about coming to Pakistan, however our fears proved unfounded.
It's said that there are 3 types of Pakistani: ignore you completely, treat you like royalty or kill you. Luckily everyone we met was extremely friendly and we never felt threatened
Khunjerab Pass
. We were often the focus of much interest and staring - Punjabi tourists always wanted a photo with us. We didn't have to cover up except when visiting mosques. The food was a disappointment compared to India and very bland and samey. The scenery was truly awesome. So goodbye Pakistan hello China!The bus over the border, from Sust in Pakistan to Tashkurgan in China, is one of the great journeys of the world, passing over the Khunjerab Pass at 4900m. The journey up was dramatic as the bus painfully climbed the valley. At the top the meadows were awash with wild flowers and we saw loads of golden marmots (an otter like animal that lives in burrows).
On the chinese side the scenery changed significantly as the valley became much wider. The road was poor and we had many near misses on the 12 hour journey but it will never be forgotten for the scenery.
We finally arrived in China tired and celebrated with our 1st beer for a month and some delicious veg noodle soup, which Maggi successfully pointed to in the kitchen.
China is already a big culture shock after Pakistan and very strange not being able to communicate or ready any signs. After a short night's sleep we took another uncomfortable bus (only 8 hrs this time) to Kashgar. China here we come.
Comments
You've been a long way already !
Hi there
I am writing a quick word between two meetings (remember that word ?), and after 2 long days of UAT for.... SPREE (remember that one as well ?)
Yes, life goes on, and you probably heard that London had been badly hurt by terrorist attacks. No one was hurt in the office, although Hema was on one of the trains that exploded. She wasn't injured and seem to be ok now.
How are you doing ? Your trip seems to be meeting your expectations. Do enjoy it, I am very jealous and will look at the photos on a regular basis ;)
Have fun !
Stephane
Absolutely fab
Really great adventure story you seem to be having an amazing time. I didn't know you could book so much variety through Galileo and the booking be there when you got there...even more amazing. I'll log on more often now and keep uptodate with your magical journey. More trouble in London again to day but this time fortunatley only one injury but not sure at this stage if its an innocent bystander or one of the attackers. Looking forward to the reports from China. David