I’m back from the war zone
Hello! I’m back from my back-packing around South Asia – which involved flying into Delhi, catching trains and buses to Kathmandu, Nepal, then back to Amritsar, Punjab, via more train and bus journeys. In the final leg of my trip I crossed the Wagah border from Amritsar and caught the bus to Lahore. Stayed there for 2 nights and then caught a train to Karachi, where I stayed for another 3 nights.
I really enjoyed visiting both Nepal and Pakistan for the first time. Obviously I was a bit apprehensive about going into Pakistan but mostly it felt like travelling around India and I was perfectly at ease. I was even open about being Indian and Sikh, and people were even more welcoming. Mostly they said they were anxious Pakistan was only seen through western media eyes as being full of poverty and mad mullahs. I wanted to write more about Lahore’s history and culture (there is tons) but nearly every day I was in Pakistan, a suicide bomber went off. My first morning in Karachi started with a massive explosion at the anti-terrorist squad’s offices (yes, the Taliban are that daring) in Islamabad and ended with two more terrorist attacks around the country. The place is turning into a war zone. So I’m going to have to write about that.
I’ve already written two pieces for CIF – one on Nepal and another one on India.
Will write more about my trip soon, though right now I’m trying to write some articles on Pakistan first.
Welcome back!
well rounded trip!
i went to pakistan last year during the emergency. at that time west punjab was pretty safe but peshawar region was off limits for tourists. unfortunately it now seems like the security situation has deteriorated throughout the country.
did you find any difficulty in getting a pak visa and/or crossing over wagah border?
“Daring”
Are suicide bombers ever daring? I would have said “desperate”.
the first implies getting away with something that people won’t believe can be done. the latter is the last option
Pakistan is really dangerous right now. I told you to go to Azad Kashmir, safest place to be as long as you don’t buy bargain priced burgers.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C10%5C06%5Cstory_6-10-2008_pg7_25
Welcome back!
Glad yer back safe and sound. Take it you *didn’t* try to bring the large, shiny (and sharp) souvenir with you?
Welcome Back.
Good, good. I had concerns about you turning into a wandering sadhu or something.
Looking forward to hearing more of your experiences.
Welcome back.
It’s all been fairly quiet on the western front.
Welcome back Mr Hundal. Glad you managed to return to Ingerlaanda safe and sound.
Did anyone else manage to spot Sunny amongst those dreadlocked bhang-smoking sadhus on Paul Merton’s show last week ?
Likewise.
Well, apart from The Collapse of Western Civilisation As We Know It. Curious how Sunny mysteriously legged it over to the subcontinent just before the financial markets went even further into freefall, innit. Coincidence ? Hmmm…..
Jai – sssshhhh!