5 Friends, a Car and a thousand Selfies: Story of An Epic Road Trip

[usmanshafqat]

A few view from the lake-side
ASC_6532 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

ASC_6533 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

ASC_6554 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

After spending some time at the lake we took off towards our pajero, which was parked near the 2nd lake. there is also a 4th lake in naltar which we couldn't see because the sun was going down an we has to reach the hotel before dark.
a few closing shots from the third lake
ASC_6556 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

ASC_6563 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

crossed the second lake, which was once again looking un-real
ASC_6584 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

ASC_6587 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

Our ride
ASC_6599 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

Driving back towards Naltar Bala
ASC_6602 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

ASC_6605 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

We reached our hotel before sunset. saw the pictures we had taken today, just to confirm that those beautiful lakes did exist and it wasn't a dream
Had dinner and tea after which the rest of the boys went to sleep. i was busy enjoying yet another star filled night while khurram attended to some important issues
Milky way was once again clearly visible. this time i tried a different shot with the milky way. which was an epic fail
Paish kartay hain, star trails out of a milky way
ASC_6621 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

the traditional milky way shot
ASC_6623 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

By the time khurram got free from attending those certain issues, ashiq bhai had started a choti si bonfire. on the cold naltar night it was a blessing. we sat there for more than an hour and had a very nice gupshup with ashiq bhai.
ASC_6629 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

After this i went to sleep and khurram got back to work
It had been yet another awesome day and we were now looking forward to visit rama the next morning, something we had missed the last time we visited astore.
ASC_6631 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[nagar1]

boss ab kahan karib abto hm bhi rozgar k chakar men lahori hogae hain

[usmanshafqat]

So, the next morning, me and fahad woke up early to explore the other side of naltar bala. the side where the heli crashed and where the chair lifts have been installed
ASC_6650 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

ASC_6644 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

Chair lifts going up the mountain.
these chair lifts have been waiting to be inaugurated for quite some time now. i think p.m nawaz was coming to inaugurate the lifts when the heli crash took place, and thus it had to be delayed. locals told us that on 14th sept when attabad tunnel was inaugurated, the p.m had also planned to visit naltar but then cancelled it. thus the chair lifts still stand there, waiting
ASC_6674 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

Army Public School Naltar, the building on which the helicopter crashed
ASC_6654 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

ASC_6655 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

and just a few yards away from the school, there is the helipad where it was meant to land
ASC_6660 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

the KG Slope and it's KG lift
it's a ski slope for beginners and has a smaller chair lift on it.
did not take a picture of the pro ski slope where an annual ski competition is held every february
ASC_6667 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

The rising sun showering it's beauty
ASC_6700 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

and then we headed back towards our hotel to wake our other team members
ASC_6707 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

had breakfast in the garden
ASC_6720 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr

[usmanshafqat]

and then, before leaving, a trade mark timer group photo shoot
ASC_6727 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr
ASC_6728 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr
ASC_6729 by Usman Shafqat, on Flickr