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

[Xoofi]

It is really fun to cross these suspension bridges.
Said Nala is very beautiful and its water was clean and clear whenever I visit this area(recently 11-08-2013 & 03-05-2014)
I think there were heavy rains on hills when you was there therefore water seems muddy.

You're right brother. It was raining continuously in whole Swat since last 3 days. With rain, comes the mud which change the color of these streams for a while and after some time, they are back to their original state Same scenario was observed by a fellow Pakwheeler at Neela Wahn, I think it was @talhabinomar who found muddy water at Neela Wahn.

[Xoofi]

Thank brother for your words willing to have DSLR soon In Sha Allah buss bhaion ki duwaien chahien - Anxiously waiting for your posts

Sure brother, Best of luck

Lucky man for heaving such wonderful weather, for me it was hot and did not find clouds in mountains i am feeling jealous

Its luck brother. Weather plays a key role. I would like to mention one incident. I went to Lake Saif ul Malook with my cousins in 2012, it was mine 5th trip to the lake while my cousins were visiting it for the first time. I had been to lucky to observe all type of weathers at Kaghan valley. That particular day was too hot. One of the cousins, exclaimed.. Yaar tu lahore ki garmi se ziada garam jaga per le aya hai.. But then the night fall and we were camping there and now the cousins were almost freezing with their teeth playing piano

And last but not least.. thanks for removing the photos from quotes, as you must have realized that these quoted photos disturb the thread sequence I appreciate that.

[Xoofi]

Oh my God, just came to know about your post last night at the Tea Get Together when we met and I began reading it in detail. Its an excellent post with great narration and exceptional photography making me feel as if I aml experiencing the journey first hand.

Just Love reading every detail and viewing the pics. Splendid Effort.

Thank you so much Sulaiman bhai. After all I'm greatly inspired by your writing skills and thats the main motivation behind my detailed threads

Breath Taking Views ...... Superb Photography

I am no expert and I can safely say that most of us on PW are not DSLR experts, but these pics are just splendid. I think you did a Gr8 Job. Excellent Work !!!

Thank you so much for appreciating. You made my day!

[Xoofi]

Nice views and gr8 pics , Very interesting Thread with lot of information , Good going Sufian Bhai.

Thanks Shahid bhai.. More coming soon

[Sulaiman75]

As we were exploring this trout farm right beside the Swat River, the rain finally subsided. This was the perfect time for me to try the 50mm lens which I borrowed from my cousin. So took a few shots with 50mm lens.

Apricot tree leaves

Our host in Bahrain and Madyan. He also works in Karachi and was on vacations to his hometown.

Beautiful sitting arrangement in farm.

La Jawab Pics

[Sulaiman75]

After capturing so many pictures (especially the portraits on request), we ate the boiled eggs which we brought from hotel. These were desi eggs and provided a great taste with a pinch of salt. I ate 3 of them.. :-#

Now that would fill your appetite and also bring heat to your body. A wonderful snack on the run. Excellent narration and photos. Love reading every bit of it.

[Sulaiman75]

After relaxing a bit at Tarsakoon cafe, we left Malam Jabba at around 12 PM. When we were leaving, some tourist came and were dancing after playing songs in their car which broke the calmness of the valley for a while.

In Swat, I really liked Malam Jabba and I will definitely return to this place InshaALLAH and that too in winter season

A last pic before leaving Malam Jabba. Out next destination was to go as far as we could go on the way to Chitral.

Love the rolling hills with Clouds forming in the distant tree line. Beautifully captioned. Great work Sufian ... All my thumbs and toes UP ...

[Sulaiman75]

Thank you so much Sulaiman bhai. After all I'm greatly inspired by your writing skills and thats the main motivation behind my detailed threads

Thank you so much for appreciating. You made my day!

Sufian, I know its painstaking writing in such detail but to be honest I know first hand just how much enjoyment and fulfillment you must be having writing it not to mention the enjoyment and thrill we all getting reading your mouth watering narration. I wish more people can post their travel stories in the manner you have presented so we can all feel as we are on the journey along with you. And you know the best part ? Hamara koi kharcha bhi ni hua is journey par ..... LOL

Keep it up, will try to catch up on the reading as time permits. But so far so GREAT !!!!

[khanzzz]

Excellent photography Xoofi and i really like the style of your detailed descriptive narration of travelogue keep it up brother...!!!

[Mohd.Waqas]

Sure brother, Best of luck

Its luck brother. Weather plays a key role. I would like to mention one incident. I went to Lake Saif ul Malook with my cousins in 2012, it was mine 5th trip to the lake while my cousins were visiting it for the first time. I had been to lucky to observe all type of weathers at Kaghan valley. That particular day was too hot. One of the cousins, exclaimed.. Yaar tu lahore ki garmi se ziada garam jaga per le aya hai.. But then the night fall and we were camping there and now the cousins were almost freezing with their teeth playing piano

And last but not least.. thanks for removing the photos from quotes, as you must have realized that these quoted photos disturb the thread sequence I appreciate that.

2000% Agree with weather's role weather can change the mood of whole trip this time weather was not in my favour

yeh i also don't like photos to keep in quotes unless if want to say something to specific picture

[aks_e_ahmed]

Thanks Aks.. Tu narrations to parhta nahi.. pics hee dekh lena.. wese agar time milay to zaroor read karna narrations. I'm writing these with a lot of "mehnat"

Nahi Yar Ab Aysa bhi nahi hy k bilkul nahi parhta thora thora read zaror karta hon but aaj pora thread start se details k saath read kia hy and this is realy nice in description keep it up

[usmanshafqat]

Don't know why but "Aanday do" in your comment reminded me of Virat Kohli ad.. aa raha hai Pakistan.. aanay do.. and some Pakistani extended that ad to crying sound.. ai ai ai when Kohli was hurt in real match..

Aa rahi hain janab aur tasaveer

bilkul sahi pohanchay.... mera ishara usi taraf tha
aanay do

[usmanshafqat]

bohat next level thread jaa raha hai
welldone

[Wanderlust]

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.

One should buy just to extend helping hand. This will maintain their dignity. I never pay to kids begging in the mountains.

[Xoofi]

La Jawab Pics

Thanks Sir

Now that would fill your appetite and also bring heat to your body. A wonderful snack on the run. Excellent narration and photos. Love reading every bit of it.

Yup the eggs were really good but the aftermath is not desirable sometimes

Sufian, I know its painstaking writing in such detail but to be honest I know first hand just how much enjoyment and fulfillment you must be having writing it not to mention the enjoyment and thrill we all getting reading your mouth watering narration. I wish more people can post their travel stories in the manner you have presented so we can all feel as we are on the journey along with you. And you know the best part ? Hamara koi kharcha bhi ni hua is journey par ..... LOL

Keep it up, will try to catch up on the reading as time permits. But so far so GREAT !!!!

Thank you so much.. Whatever you said is 100% right. A well narrated travelogue is a full journey So trying my level best to be as descriptive as possible keeping in mind that it doesn't get boring

[Wanderlust]

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..

Greenery vanished 

[Wanderlust]

Thanks Sir

And regarding the suit on travels, this reminded me a story In 2011, we cousins went to Rohtas Fort from Lahore. One of the cousin was wearing suit. We still tease him to date

2nd from left

Such pictures are treasures. You may gift him on his wedding day

[Xoofi]

bohat next level thread jaa raha hai
welldone

Thank u Nawazish

Nahi Yar Ab Aysa bhi nahi hy k bilkul nahi parhta thora thora read zaror karta hon but aaj pora thread start se details k saath read kia hy and this is realy nice in description keep it up

Thanks yaar.. Tu cheeta hai

2000% Agree with weather's role weather can change the mood of whole trip this time weather was not in my favour

yeh i also don't like photos to keep in quotes unless if want to say something to specific picture

There is always a next time so brother plan another one

Excellent photography Xoofi and i really like the style of your detailed descriptive narration of travelogue keep it up brother...!!!

Thanks Naveed Bhai. Aap ke encouragement har waqt sath rahi hai puray thread main

[farooq05]

Soooper job Sufi, just zabardast

Sent from my SCH-I535 using PW Forums mobile app

[Xoofi]

We left Malam Jabba at 12 PM. Soon we were back to Bahrain Road and started journey back till Chakdara where we had to branch to Dir and Chitral road. As we were bypassing Mingora, there were many roadside fruit vendors selling different fruit. We stopped car and bought some strawberries and cherries (I had no idea that cherries also grow in Swat valley). No pictures of the event because I didn't leave the car (only because I didn't want to give up the front seat for a while ).

The strawberries were sour. Not as good as Mardan strawberries. Anyway, we ate some and kept the remaining. We reached Chakdara at around 2:30 PM. When we got onto Dir-Chitral road, the first thing to notice was so many fish restaurants. As it was lunch time, we stopped there for lunch.

Ordered some fish, but when he was cooking it, I happened to see his "Karhai and Oil". The oil was blacker than burnt automobile oil which reminded me a bad experience I had last year at Head Panjanad (near Uch Sharif, South Punjab) where I got sick after eating similar fish. Everyone ate the fish while I just limited myself to Red Grape Juice.