Swat Valley & Kalash Valley (Chilam Joshi festival) trip - May 2014

[versitian]

It was still raining (drizzling), so I was really careful to use my camera. The trout farm was beautifully made, it was kind of a resort. It even had rooms if someone wanted to stay. There were many pools in the farm and every pool had entry point for fresh water and exit point also. Each pool had different size of fish.

Some more pics of the farm and park..

nice place....

[versitian]

As we were having a conversation, I saw this remarkably cute and beautiful baby (MashaALLAH) playing in the farm. She was apparently the daughter of the owner or someone who worked in the farm. I couldn't resist taking several pictures of her. She was indeed the highlight of this whole trip..

So cuteeee baby MashAllah..

[mubeenshahid]

Nice pics
That girl pic in opening post is very nice

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[aks_e_ahmed]

BOhot ala Bhai Maza A Gaya Ab Tak Ki Tamam Pics Dekh Ker Some Shots Are Really Very Excellent and framing is perfect and i am sure you will be a good photographer in future keep it up and keep pics rolling on the thread (y)

[COOLTAHIR]

Nice thread keep it watching from the yesterday very nice and detailed stories.

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[umair_waqar]

Very well narrated tour

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[deadman78]

Excellent details of the trip in most gripping way that we have to read it all bravo bro for taking that much time for writing it down, and pictures are very kool indeed with rich colors keep them coming bro in greater numbers.

[ism1]

ab aagey bhi chal babloo, sab ko chaska laga kar khamoshi se beth jata hy

[Wanderlust]

Your thread is progressing very well.

And I like your wearing unironed clothes while on the road But you will also see one time travelers wearing suits in the remote areas.

[CityLover]

XLI all the way to chitral. baki sab to theak ha lakin Lowari !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. zulam ha bhai XLI per.
i closed my service from chitral to Peshawer just bcoz of worse road condition on lowari...

[dil.khush]

excellent thread and beautiful captures.....ap ka thread tasalli se baqi saray kamo se farigh ho k parha and really, maza aa gaya..

[Xoofi]

As we started our journey from Madyan towards Malam Jabba. We had to come back till Manglor from where a road leads to Malam Jabba. We were on Malam Jabba Road by 3:30 PM. As soon as we got onto Malam Jabba road, we noticed one thing and that was very tight security. There were number of check posts on the way which checked our luggage very detailed and did entry of each individual. Also asked us to get the entry cancelled while returning.

I think it was due to the bomb blast on this road a week ago. Anyway.. after getting the clearance, we started to move ahead..

Most shops in whole Swat are painted like this after they have been claimed back by Pak Army.

[Xoofi]

There was this suspension bridge on a "naala (btw I love the difference between city naala and the naala in mountains". We stopped there for a few minutes. Crossed it just for fun. Although it was not as terrifying as Hussaini bridge in Hunza but still it was somewhat fun to cross. Especially my friends loved the experience.

As we moved ahead, we continued to gain height every second. And it also was getting colder and colder. I noticed some thing really shiny on some distance. Got curious.. and when that thing came near, it was a very clever marketing tactic by hotel/shop owner to attract people. They had used the empty wrappers of chips and other snacks, put them in a thread or a rope and made many rows just above the road. They wrappers would shine and any on coming person would notice the shine from a distance. It was the best use of trash. Unfortunately there is no picture because it turned out really blurr (almost invisible)

[Xoofi]

On the way we encountered these flower selling kids. They came right in front of our car. These kids gather wild flowers from mountains and sell these to tourists in order to gain some pocket money. Although some do it just for fun, while some do it for a living.

[Xoofi]

The road was great and from time to time we would stop in try to capture the views. Soon we reached Malam Jabba with many hotels but all of the town seemed deserted of tourists. There was calmness in whole valley.

We didn't book our hotel yet, and moved to the top where we could see the ruins of PTDC hotel. It was a heart breaking scene to watch this beautiful asset gone to waste. The rain and cold winds were catching us up again so we came back down town in search of a hotel..

[Xoofi]

As we were going up, the hotel guys must have seen us so when we were coming back, there were 2-3 guys stopped our vehicle and were trying to persuade us to take their hotel.

Since it was getting darker and colder, we decided to get whatever was available. We stopped at last hotel on MJ Road (first if coming from top) and done it. The rent was nominal 500 per room. We took 2 rooms with a double bed each. The best thing about this hotel was ample charging points available. In Bahrain, there was only charging point in whole room and it was almost race while capturing it. So we got time to charge each and every gadget we had.

After getting comfortable, it was almost dark. We ate some fried and salted cashews.. Couldn't get any better than that in cold

[Xoofi]

Around 8 PM we called the guy to order dinner. Asked him the menu and got the expected reply.. Sir Maash ki daal aur Karhai.. Although out experience of Karhai was not very good so far but we decided to risk it once again and ordered Karhai.

It came in about an hour and we all sat on the carpeted floor to eat it in the Karhai. As we started eating it, everyone started to praise it. It was the most tasty thing we ate since we were on the trip. I thought that it is tasty because it was made in the hotel owner's home (as hotel kitchen was closed).

After this tasty dinner, we had a brief cards session and then called it a night around 11 PM.

That's End of DAY 4

[Xoofi]

nice........ keep it up with same pace

and u shouldn't worry much abt ur cam, its result is still awsome

Thanks Imran bhai.. Camera ki tension nahi hai ab.. us waqt thi kion ke pics leni theen warna cheezain to kharab hone ke lye hee hoti hain just ye koshish hoti hai ke time pe dhoka na dain

[Xoofi]

nice place....

So cuteeee baby MashAllah..

Thanks Mansoor bhai Glad you're enjoying the travelogue..

[Xoofi]

Nice pics
That girl pic in opening post is very nice

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Thanks bro.. More coming soon

BOhot ala Bhai Maza A Gaya Ab Tak Ki Tamam Pics Dekh Ker Some Shots Are Really Very Excellent and framing is perfect and i am sure you will be a good photographer in future keep it up and keep pics rolling on the thread (y)

Thanks brother.. You're the guru, jo bhi thori bohat pics hain, ye aap ki teaching ka hee kamaal hai Thanks once again for kind words. More pics coming

Nice thread keep it watching from the yesterday very nice and detailed stories.

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Thanks Tahir Bhai

Very well narrated tour

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Thanks Umair Brother

Excellent details of the trip in most gripping way that we have to read it all bravo bro for taking that much time for writing it down, and pictures are very kool indeed with rich colors keep them coming bro in greater numbers.

Thanks a lot bro for such a nice comment. I really appreciate the way you appreciated my efforts. More coming soon

ab aagey bhi chal babloo, sab ko chaska laga kar khamoshi se beth jata hy

Khud GTG per bula lete ho phir kehte ho thread kion nahi aagay barh raha