Another solo trip - a tribute to KKH

[Wanderlust]

Very well bro.

True Travel

Thanks

[Wanderlust]

After Hunder valley, my host took me to his home where my stay was scheduled. After days I enjoyed home cooked lunch.......chicken qorma, rice and poodina leaves as salad.....many thanks to Allah. Salad must be a surprise for all of us but this poodina was grown at his home. House was self sufficient in vegetables and fruits.

After a couple of hours rest, I was back on road and we were exploring Yasin valley now.

[Wanderlust]

Like Hunza valley, there is remains of a fort here as well, just a room left and "khunderaat".

[Abdullahnoor007]

Hey boy, how are you doing? Long time...... You must be focusing well on your profession and this is the way....rest comes automatically.

Re DSLR, please let me know three best reasons to buy a DSLR for a person like me who has no interest in bulky things when hitting the outdoors.

I am super good Alhamdulillah, thanks. Yes, too busy at work, not been able to feed my wander bug

For a DSLR i agree with you about the formula of "travelling as light as possible". But then, thora X-Factor bhi to hona chahiye

[aarish]

Good going... Beautiful pics and excellent narration.

[Abdullahnoor007]

Gilgit to Phander 4 to 5 hours. Phander to Yasin 2 to 3 hours. Phander to Shandur depends on where you want to go in Shandur.

Thanks for the info sir. Is it possible to reach Shandur Lake from Gilgit in one day and return back the next day? I mean I dont think there is any facility to stay in Shandur area, the nearest one being PTDC Phandar. How much time from PTDC Phandar to Shandur Lake? And as per your provided details, its not recommended to take the car from Phandar to Shandur, right?

[asifcae]

Asif, the place is Hunder valley about 30 minutes further drive from Yasin valley.

hundar valley... hmm ok.. i have missed the sub vallies of ghizer on my tour.... chalo next time in may koi trk marun ga insha allah... they r butiful valleis

[Wanderlust]

Thanks for the info sir. Is it possible to reach Shandur Lake from Gilgit in one day and return back the next day? I mean I dont think there is any facility to stay in Shandur area, the nearest one being PTDC Phandar. How much time from PTDC Phandar to Shandur Lake? And as per your provided details, its not recommended to take the car from Phandar to Shandur, right?

Shandur lake to Gilgit can be done in one. I think PTDC Phander can be done in 3-4 hours. Asif advised me not to take car to Shandur and another bud had the same opinion and both were right. My car has given me 5 years of thrill in difficult terrain and inshAllah , I expect her to be the same for at least another 3 years.

[Wanderlust]

Some more shots of the ruins

[farhannk]

which route did u opt for Gilgit???

was it from naran - kaghan.. or via bhisham / dasu??

[Wanderlust]

Village

[Wanderlust]

My host's house was a dream home. He then escorted me to his cousin's house. Wow....another dream home.......about 6 kanals inside a boundary wall and about 10 Marla's single story construction in the middle. Rest was all cultivation for year round family needs surrounded by fruit trees of many kind....first time in my life I saw baadaam tree.

What a worry free life.....but can we.......

[Wanderlust]

which route did u opt for Gilgit???

was it from naran - kaghan.. or via bhisham / dasu??

Hardcore KKH.....as this was my intention for the year to drive the entire length of KKH. Babusar....my only interest on this side would be time saving.

[Wanderlust]

My host's house was a dream home. He then escorted me to his cousin's house. Wow....another dream home.......about 6 kanals inside a boundary wall and about 10 Marla's single story construction in the middle. Rest was all cultivation for year round family needs surrounded by fruit trees of many kind....first time in my life I saw baadaam tree.

What a worry free life.....but can we.......

A traveler not only wishes to see new places but would love to chat with locals to get an idea of their culture, how they spend their days.........and when back on road.......the cuisine

I sit down with the elder of the house in his spacious drawing room. We were discussing the life in the valley. He pointed out about how poor the people are. Then he referred to how quickly climate is changing....in 1985, the place where we were sitting used to have 3 feet of snow. In 2015.....few inches. He also said it's quiet often we hear that a flash flood has swept away a small village here and there. Ohhhh! he is right....last year an old man in Tirshing pointed his finger to naked mountains saying these were full of trees when he was young.

[Wanderlust]

A traveler not only wishes to see new places but would love to chat with locals to get an idea of their culture, how they spend their days.........and when back on road.......the cuisine

I sit down with the elder of the house in his spacious drawing room. We were discussing the life in the valley. He pointed out about how poor the people are. Then he referred to how quickly climate is changing....in 1985, the place where we were sitting used to have 3 feet of snow. In 2015.....few inches. He also said it's quiet often we hear that a flash flood has swept away a small village here and there. Ohhhh! he is right....last year an old man in Tirshing pointed his finger to naked mountains saying these were full of trees when he was young.

But we see obvious reasons....we sold our rivers..... we cut trees ruthlessly....we don't replant.....water level under Lahore is dropping 3 feet a year and remaining water is not refreshing because Ravi is dead. Mohammed SAW said "you have a plant in your hand.....suddenly you see world is coming to an end......you should still plant the tree". (Allah forgive me if my wording is not proper) This is the importance of trees.

[Wanderlust]

But we see obvious reasons....we sold our rivers..... we cut trees ruthlessly....we don't replant.....water level under Lahore is dropping 3 feet a year and remaining water is not refreshing because Ravi is dead. Mohammed SAW said "you have a plant in your hand.....suddenly you see world is coming to an end......you should still plant the tree". (Allah forgive me if my wording is not proper) This is the importance of trees.

Why are we doing all of this while knowing that we are exposing our coming generations to earthquakes, typhoons and floods. We are not changing ourselves but expecting the change....we should have the best people as our leaders but we are electing the worst among us. These earthquakes and floods are warnings from Allah to come back to the right path.....we are not listening and HE is making us kill ourselves with our own hands.

[Wanderlust]

Time to go back to my home for tonight.

[farhannk]

Which route is more effective .. in terms of time saving and pave road.??? just heard that route via naran kaghan is still closed and wud be open end of june,

[Wanderlust]

Dinner was yummy....chicken kofta, daal, rice and something like paalak. It was not paalak and I could not recall the name but it was tasty.

Post dinner discussion was interesting as well. All the religious affiliates are living in harmony...and they have committee for the well being. This committee strictly enforces the regulations. "Juhayez" is considered a laanat. Rich and poor both give few necessities to their daughters on marriage.....no body is allowed to show off.

I was informed that there were just 36 cases filed in the police station last year.

[Wanderlust]

For tomorrow, they informed me that they will take me close to Wakhan corridor.

Time to sleep.

End of day 4.