Another solo trip - a tribute to KKH

[Wanderlust]

At 3:30pm, I was close to Gilgit....

[Wanderlust]

I entered Gilgit after 15 years with the intention to cross it and hop on Chitral road for night stay at Gahkuch. I had plan to stay at Gligit while returning back home.....to refresh the memories from late 1990s. But right now, I just have to refill the fuel tank.

Gilgit has grown to a big city and it took me 30 minutes to cross it, though I should have used the bypass road along Gilgit river.

Technology has reshaped this remote place..... a mochhi sitting on the footpath was enjoying music on his cellphone while repairing shoes. He could not hear me inquiring about Chitral road....when I pushed horn of my car, only then he noticed someone is looking for him and took out earphones from his ears and guided me to the road I was looking for.

[Wanderlust]

When I was out of city, I asked another guy to ensure that I am on the right path. The guy was also doing something on his mobile. He said he don't know if the road we were standing on is Gilgit Chitral road. Then he asked someone and came back to me happily saying " yayhee Chitral road hae na". He may be googling Hollywood or chatting with someone thousands of miles away from "Chitral road" but does not know who is living next door. Election campaign is going on in full swing in Gilgit Baltistan and he is not interested to know the integrity of candidates and the contesting parties. He will cast the vote to the one who is from his buraadri, or to the one who will repair the gundi naali outside his house or someone who will offer a plate of buriyani on the day of elections. Then he and I and you will pay for the next five years and this vicious circle will go on and on and on.

Ohhh I have to drive on Chitral road!

Chitral road is beautiful and I was on this side for the first time...so excitement was at peak and I also wanted to reach Gahkuch or Gopis before sunsets. Time was 4pm.

[Wanderlust]

Road to Gahkoch and Gupis is good with the exception of few landslide areas and there was traffic as well till Gahkock, after that traffic load decreased.

[Wanderlust]

wow what a journey MashaAllah! hats off to you sir

I am thankful to Allah, my trip was event less and was completed the way I had desired.

[Wanderlust]

I reached Gahkoch at 5:40 and PTDC Gupis at 6:45pm...just in time......About 13 hours since I had left Patan in the morning.

[Wanderlust]

I parked the car and while I was picking up my day pack, a vitz also stopped next to me. There were three girls on a trip some where from Gilgit or around. These remote areas are now similar to rest of Pakistan where there are very poor as well as wealthy people. I believe Gilgit now has more cars in terms of area compared to Lahore. 99% non custom paid and as you go further, you will also spot Mehrans stolen from other provinces.

During my entire trip, I did not see an outside tourist, maybe May is too early and starting June some like minded folks will visit these areas....very few compared to Murree, Naran and Kalam....but I am glad about this situation. At random locations, I did see tourists from Gilgit and Hunza.....first time a positive sign that people from here also have disposable income.

[Wanderlust]

While manager was recording my particulars in the guest register, those girls stepped in and started talking to waiter in native language. Just one sentence in Urdu "chai zura strong bunaana".

[Wanderlust]

I liked this PTDC motel.... Nice location and it was full moon that night. After dark, surroundings looked magical. I retired to bed soon after dinner.

[Wanderlust]

This ends day 2 of traveling and now be ready to explore!

[Wanderlust]

Day 3 started with relaxed mood in the tastefully designed room of PTDC. I had hot water shower and was back in groove like when I started from Lahore two days ago.

[Wanderlust]

Today, all I have to do was to drive to Phunder valley so no hurry. I prepared my own tea..... desi dudh putti....neither strong nor civilized separate chai!

[Wanderlust]

Enjoying the surroundings

[Mohd.Waqas]

love your cooking setup please also put light on it expense, list of things, from where to buy etc.

bhai sb. hatts off to you for this trip you are inspiration - mera dill ker raha hai sub chor ke buss niqal jaoon

[Nabeel_Ali]

stunning brother. loved the way you narrated!!
i went to fairy meadows on the last week of April. The khokha on raikot birdge was closed and so we struggled a lot for the refreshments. And the Shangrila hotel is hell expensive even a cup of tea their costs 60 rupees.
InshAllah next time will go beyond the raikot bridge to enjoy he awesome gilgit baltistan!

[ifoo_786]

if I can switch to gear 5, I will stick to gear 4 to keep the car under control.....who knows there comes a sharp turn where I may find it hard to control and the choice is either mountain or the river. I do not expect compliments "wow you did it very fast". I expect to come back to the mountains again, I expect to go back to my loved ones.

When I am sitting in my car I recite safar ke dua....I recite it again when I sit in my car after a brief stopover at a check post and after sipping a cola at a khokha. I recite a dua when I engage reverse gear and my car is moving out of the car porch of my home.

I wish every one follow this
Lovely trip. Lovely pics. Lovely narration waiting for more pics

[Wanderlust]

love your cooking setup please also put light on it expense, list of things, from where to buy etc.

bhai sb. hatts off to you for this trip you are inspiration - mera dill ker raha hai sub chor ke buss niqal jaoon

Thanks brother. This is Brunton stove that I had bought from US in 2010. It is still a workhorse. Fuel cartridge is Coleman having 230gm gas that was available at a store locally for Rs. 800 a piece. It can prepare breakfast, tea, coffee, noodles and for meals I use for heating the precooked saalan.

[Wanderlust]

stunning brother. loved the way you narrated!!
i went to fairy meadows on the last week of April. The khokha on raikot birdge was closed and so we struggled a lot for the refreshments. And the Shangrila hotel is hell expensive even a cup of tea their costs 60 rupees.
InshAllah next time will go beyond the raikot bridge to enjoy he awesome gilgit baltistan!

Indeed brother, there is a whole world beyond lower Himalayas!

[Wanderlust]

I wish every one follow this
Lovely trip. Lovely pics. Lovely narration waiting for more pics

Thanks bhai

[Wanderlust]

At 9:30, breakfast was served. Price of food in insane in PTDC motels