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NorthonTwoWheels

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Area:

NorthernPakistan‐Islamabad,Peshawar,Kohat,Dir,Kelash,Chitral,GaramChashma,Teru,Shandur,Yaseen,Gilgit,Hunza

TravelMonth:

July1992

Country:

Pakistan

TotalDays:

13days

Attractions:

Mountains,Biking,Camping,HighAltitudeDrivingona100ccmotorbike,Trekking/Hiking

TotalDistanceCovered:

3000Kilometersincluding500kilometersjeepabletrack

Travelogue:

DAY1

Thistripwasalongawaitedoneandasachildhooddreamcometrue.I'vedrivenintothewildandfarawayplaceswithlargerandsmallergroupsbutalwayshaveenjoyedmoreontripswhenthegroupwassmallerorIwasbymyself.Thiswasitwithonlyonefriendwithme,weventuredoutonalonghauljourneyintothemountainsofupperNorthernAreasofPakistan.MyselfandShaukatmyoldtestedfriend.Ihavealotofrespectforthisguyforhispatience,teamworkandbravery.UsuallyforourtripsweleaveintheeveningsandstayatoneofouroldfriendsWaseeminGujratjusttwohoursdrivefromLahore.WaseemishappilylivingwithhisfamilyinMiltonKeynes‐UKthesedays.Soforthistripwestartedoffinthesamemanner.BeforesettingoffitwillnotbejustifiedifI'llnotmentionthepreparationsforthetrip.ForourridewepreparedShaukat'sYamaha100ccmotorbikeforthistripandcollectedasmanytoolsandsparesaswecouldfitonitincludingusandouronebag.Ourkitwithspareswasabout25kgandourbagcarryingacoupleofTsandoneextratrouser,ajacketandaraincoatforeachoneofus.Thebagwasseparatedfromthemiddleandwebothusedourowncompartmentstoputourstuff.Asanagreementweneverkeptanydirtyclothingincludingsocks,underwearetc.inthebagatanytime.Andasarulewealwayswashedourdirtystuffbeforesleepingeachnight.Mapsanddistanceswerecalculatedtomakeourmilestones,butwewantedtokeepourtripfexibleenoughtoaccomdateanyruntimechangesintotrip.Theopinionofotherswasthatthisisacrazytripandoneshouldntattemptitjustononebike.IntheplainswetookturnsfordrivingbutinthemountainsalwaysIdroveasinallothertripswehadandShaukatsatbehindme.Thissetupworkedforyearsandwedidsomeamazingtripstogetherincludinghiking,biking,off‐roadingandwhatnot.EachtripisimprintedinmymemoryandthatisthereasonI'mabletopullthedetailsouttowritethisblogtosharetheexperiencesthatwehad,sothatotherpeoplewillbeencouragedtodosuchtrips..Wesetoffintheeveningdespitebadweatherandweremetbyourfirstshowersjustafter30minutesintothedrive.Itwassummersoweenjoyedtherainandforgottheriskofdrivinginslipperyconditions.WekeptgoingcrossingthroughMureedkay,Kamonkee,AimanAbad,Gujranwala,WazirAbadandfinallyreachedGujrataftertwoandahalfhoursofdriving.Thiswasourfirststop.Waseem'smotherasusualhadcookedsomegreatfoodforusandweateitlikeanything.Thisisfromwherewehadsetoffformanyofourprevioustripsandweleftforthenextlegat5amnextmorning.DAY2ItisanicedrivethroughPothoharandyougothroughmanysmallandmediumsizedtownsbeforereachingthecapitalofPakistan‐Islamabad.Herewehada

shortstopoveratoneofmyfriendsAnwarandthencontinuedourjourneytowardsPeshawarthecapitaloftheNWFP.PeshawarisaculturalhubofNWFPandaveryhistoricalcity.ItisdiscussedinmemoirsoffamousemperorsincludingMughalEmpirefounderNaseerUddinBaber.Duetoitsstrategicallocationitcarriesimportantvaluefrommilitarystandpoint.ItisattheedgeoffamousKhyberPassthemainrouteintoAfghanistanandCentralAsia.MainpopulationinthiscityisPukhtoonandareknownfortheirhospitalityandenmityatthesametime.ThesepeoplehavebeenlivingindependentforcenturiesandtherearemanyareasinNWFPnotgovernedbypoliceorcivilgovernmentratherbythetribesofthearea.TheyhavetheirownJirga(court)systemtoresolveissues.PeshawarisintheproximityofsuchareaswherethereisonlypoliticalagentsassignedbytheFederalGovt.ofPakistan.YoucouldfindallsortsofsmuggledgoodsinthiscityfrompinstoRussianA/Cs,from.22gunstoRocketLaunchers.DerraAdamKhelistheclosestmarketwheretheysellArmsofallsortsandcoulddelivertoyourhomeanywhereinPakistanbypayingsomeextramoney.Verytrickyplaceandonehastoknowwhathe/sheisgettinginto.Myunclewhowasanaircraftengineerhadapostingheresoweplannedtostaywithhim.Thiswasourfirstexcursionstop.WereachedPeshawarairportsafeandsoundtofindouruncle.Hedroveustohisapartmentforsomerest.AndthenwestartedexploringthecityincludingKissaKhawaniBazarandsomeotheroldbazars.IalwayseatboiledcornwhenIvisitPeshawarsowedideatthatthistimeaswell.Thenweboughtdinnerincludingfamouschappalkababsandcamebacktocallitaday.Ittakesabout3hoursfromGujrattoIslamabadandfromIslamabadtoPeshawaritanother2.5hours.I'mmentioningthedistanceinhourstermasthekilometerscannotbetranslatedproperlyintotimeduetotheconditionsoftheroads,trafficetc..Thereforewithbreaksonthewayittookusabout7‐8hoursfromGujrattoPeshawar.Shaukatrevealedthathedidn'tknowhowtowashclothssoIhadtotakeonthistaskandIdidithappilywhileprovidingtrainingtohim.HonestlyIlearnedthetradewhileteachingit.Andfromnextdayhewasamasterinthistrade.HewouldwashclothsonthestreamandI'llrinsethembeforehangingthemfordrying.Thenightapproachedandtheseconddaypassedwithoutanyincidentandwestillgottosleepincomfortableandluxurousbeds.DAY3

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Blog Gilgit

Travel Information about Northern Pakistan. This travel information is about Chitral and Gilgit Valleys. The traveler managed to cross Shandur Pass in 1992 on a small motor bike... (More)

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Category:	Books - Non-fiction > Health & Lifestyle
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Upload Date:	01/14/2009
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Tags:	Travel Pakistan Gilgit Shandur chitral Travel Pakistan Gilgit Shandur chitral (fewer)