Trip dedicated to my friends in Gilgit-Baltistan

Road Trips / Vacations / Hiking / Trekking

Tags: #<Tag:0x000000078eadf8>

asadiso9002 (asadiso9002) 2014-09-05 03:12:15 +0500 #61

Your threads are very informative .....I always enjoy your travelogue...nice brother stay blessed

smileb4u (smileb4u) 2014-09-05 05:39:44 +0500 #62

Excellent going.... abhi ap keh rahay thy koi khas trip nahi hai... You can find a vacation travelogue easily but this type of a travelogues are not common. Really loving it. Thank you once again. BTW no PM reply received.

smileb4u (smileb4u) 2014-09-05 05:47:05 +0500 #63

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 05:56:54 +0500 #64

Haan to ab khayein bhee nahi

Thanks bhai

Thanks bhai..

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 06:00:14 +0500 #65

Thanks a lot Sir But I started my trip from Lahore and it also ended at Lahore.. What's next? No idea when I pack my bag and hit the roads

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 06:02:40 +0500 #66

Thanks a lot bro. You are on the thread like always

Thanks bro for kind words

Thanks Ali bhai

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 06:04:27 +0500 #67

Haha nice title Thanks bro

Thanks for stopping by once again

Thanks a lot janab.. aap ne aisay socha (like @asifcae bhai said, different perspective).. Janab barish ruk jaye phir InshaALLAH karte hain kuch

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 06:32:48 +0500 #68

In the evening, Tanveer told me that Khalid bhai (our class fellow from different shift who also attended wedding) will come and then we three go to Dinner. Meanwhile, I also got a phone call from Asghar (the jeep driver) with whom we went on a trip last year and after that trip I recommended his services to 3-4 friends including @versitian, @jauharabad and couple of NPW friends. He also told me that he is returning from Naltar and would meet me at dinner. I told him that I'm going for dinner with university friends but he wasn't listening anything and said, "main sarhay 8 bajay puhanch jaon ga.. aap ne khana mere sath khana hai" and cut the phone

Now I was in difficulty.. soon Khalid bhai came.. we saw yesterday's pictures on camera and then proceeded for dinner.. As soon as we were leaving hotel, Asghar came with his jeep and asked where are you going.. I told him that I'm going with friends to drink tea but will be back soon. Asghar said, "choro yaar aaj khana mere sath khao, ap ko pehle hee bol dia tha"... It was a deadlock situation (similar to what was happening in ISB with govt and opposition).. Anyway, I excused Asghar to give me half hour and I will be back and then proceed for dinner.

Then we left the hotel on Khalid bhai's land cruiser and went to "The Taste Point" named restaurant run by Balti people. Had chinese (fried rice with shashlik) and chicken biryani there.. ate very little because had to keep space for 2nd dinner too. In about 45 minutes we were back to hotel.. Khalid bhai went to his home, while Tanveer stayed in hotel (as his town is a bit far from Gilgit city).. I now excused Tanveer telling him that I am going to drink tea with Asghar and sat on his jeep.

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 06:50:23 +0500 #69

Then had general discussion with Asghar while driving towards hotel. He asked, "kia khana hai"... I said, "yaar chaye pee lete hain". He, "Sufian bhai mai ne subah ka nashta kia hua hai, mujhay bhook lag rahi hai".. So I had no option and told him to take Ramzan Hotel which is in Kashrote (just in front of Park Hotel).

We reached there and he was ordering 1 kg chicken Karhai.. I humbly asked him to order just a half kg.. Soon Karhai came and we ate.. I was eating slowly as I had little space in my tummy but he kept putting chicken in my plate.. He then started to tell stories.... yaar aap ke jo dost aaye thay shakeel bhai wo bohat achay log thay yaar .. and then told about @versitian & @jauharabad 's trip.. how their jeep got stuck in Deosai etc and how his relative (Ameer Hamza's brother, Ameer Hamza was @jauharabad 's driver in their trip) lost his life in Babusar incident.

For readers interest, here are the links to @versitian and @jauharabad threads:

Versitian's thread
Jauharabad's trip

It was a nice sitting with him. Then we decided to move, and asked for bill.. I tried to give the bill but I knew this isn't going to happen. Asghar paid the bill. I told him that bhai aap ye mat samjho ke main ne logo ko aap ke pas bheja hai is lye mujhe kuch return mai chaiye... He said, nahi sufian bhai aisi baat nahi hai, aap ne hamain yaad kia bus yehi kafi hai.. aap bhai ho mere..

Then he insisted me to stay few more days and visit his village in Chalt, Nagar but I excused him saying that I will return in winters then will visit his place.

NO PICTURES AS LEFT CAMERA IN HOTEL.

khurramsalam80 (khurramsalam80) 2014-09-05 08:05:16 +0500 #70

very nice trip bro, lagta hai akele ghomne ke shoqeen ho?

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 09:56:43 +0500 #71

Thanks bro.. Bus akele ghomnay ka bhi apna hi maza hai.. but is trip per akele hotay huay bhee akela nahi tha.. mere dost har waqt mere sath the.. thats why this trip is dedicated to friends..

khurramsalam80 (khurramsalam80) 2014-09-05 10:05:41 +0500 #72

"Ye Dosti hum nahi Toregai.......,Toregain Dum mag Tera Sath na Choregain.....Good Luck

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 10:17:24 +0500 #73

Now as we left Ramzan Hotel, I asked Asghar to stop at Shaheen Hotel which is located in same locality of Kashrote in order to meet two more friends (Naveed and Toqeer Bhai). Now a little intro of these friends...

Naveed was my travel companion last year in Gilgit-Baltistan trip, he had completed Karomber Lake + Darkoot Pass trek this year already (His fellow in this trip @gemini85 has made the thread on PW named Qarambara Lake And Darkot Pass). Just after a week of completing Karomber + Darkoot trek, he was back again in Gilgit-Baltistan with his office colleagues.. what a travel addict he is...

Toqir Bhai was the one who organized and accompanied our Gilgit-Baltistan trip last year by providing 5 Jeeps, 2 cooks. He also run 2D car service between Rawalpindi & Gilgit. We also remain in touch on Facebook.

When me and Asghar reached Shaheen hotel, we got to know that they haven't reached hotel yet (they were returning from Hunza). So phoned them and they informed that they are at Danyore and will be in hotel in 15 mins.. so we both waited and their jeep came in 15 mins. Then we had a little reunion there.. Naveed bhai also recognized Asghar, we drank Chamoos (dried apricot shake, a local delicacy) from nearby shop and discussed about miscellaneous things.. Now Asghar left because he had to go to other side of city but promised to come in the morning again. We then took a few snaps from Naveed's camera and then Toqir bhai dropped me back to hotel at around 12:30 AM

Was tired so slept early..

Toqir Bhai, Naveed Bhai and me

Toqir bhai & Me

Naveed & Me

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 10:57:03 +0500 #74

In the morning I woke up at 8. Tanveer went to his office at 8:30, meanwhile I got a call from Naib bhai.. Naib bhai was our cook in last year's Gilgit-Baltistan trip, he is from Hussainabad, Hunza. After that trip, he came to Karachi, then I met him in Karachi.. so he was also in contact with me. But I didn't tell him purposely because I didn't want to give him any trouble for a small meetup. But he told me that Shabbir bhai (Our last year's group leader) told him that Sufian is visiting Gilgit. Now he was coming to meet me in Gilgit..

Soon, he came to the hotel at 9 AM.. he was kind enough to bring me dried apricots and hunza apples. Then had chit chat with him, heard story of Karombar + Darkoot trek from him (he was also part of Karomber trip I was talking in earlier post), meanwhile Asghar also came. We then had some chit chat and then I told them that I am going to Chilas today. Asghar was of opinion that we should have some breakfast but I refused due to fear of vomiting in van while travelling to Chilas.. Asghar was kind enough to drop me from hotel to Jutial adda, Naib also accompanied to adda.. There I got the ticket in Chilas van. Till the van was getting full, had chit chat with Asghar & Naib bhai.. soon the van got full and I left Gilgit at 11 AM saying goodbye to both and promise to return in winters..

Asghar & Naib bhai came early to meet me..

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 11:42:17 +0500 #75

I was moving to Chilas in order to meet another friend. His name is Mujeeb and he is a journalist & head reporter in Aaj TV (Diamer region). He is quite active on Facebook so he knew through my status that I was coming to Gilgit-Baltistan.. so it was his order to meet him and I had to comply..

Soon the van reached Juglot where they stopped for about 15 minutes. Some ate lunch, while some sat in the van. I came out to adjust my breath. Soon we moved from Juglot.. as Chilas was getting nearer, it was getting more and more hot. I reached Chilas at around 1:30 PM, and informed Mujeeb bhai that I have reached Chilas.. he asked me to come to adda inside city. Local people of Chilas don't even consider the Karakoram Highway as Chilas city.. they simply call it KKH and the real Chilas is upwards and yes its a big city..

Soon the van stopped at adda which was in heart of Chilas city. This was the first time I came inside Chilas city. Many people consider Chilas as a dangerous city but in reality it is not. Its just like any other city with busy daily life. My friend was waiting for me there.. soon we reached his home which was near to adda. His house was mashaALLAH very beautiful, soon we were in their guest room.

I was using internet at his home after almost 5 days checked mails and yes facebook. Then he brought a lavish lunch with so many dishes and fruits. I complained that you have done too much "takalluf" but he said ye kuch bhi nahi hai Sufian bhai... His cousin Shahid was also there, had some chit chat with friend and his cousin.. took some rest and told him that I want to leave Chilas in evening... but my friend was of opinion to spend 2-3 days in Chilas and visit Fairy Meadows. After lots of negotiation, it was decided that I will stay for a night and will leave tomorrow morning. Although he didn't look happy on this decision

Soon, he said that lets go fishing in Batugah Nalah (coming from Kaghan valley) or Khiner Nala.. I immediately said yes, soon his more friends and cousins came and one of them brought a fish net. But as we were leaving the house, it was already evening.. so I told Mujeeb bhai that its already late for fishing, lets do it sometime else. He agreed but made another plan of eating fish from Thor Nala, KKH.

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 15:51:27 +0500 #76

Soon his cousin, Altaf brought his car and we 6 people headed towards Thor to eat fish. The journey was really pleasant because the heat was subsiding and the weather got pleasant. Also we continued to have fun. Like in every group, they also had one "bakra" aur sab mil ker uski bajatay hain

Anyway, after about 30 minutes we reached the point which was couple kilometers before Thor Nala. At this place, river indus widens.. one side is KKH and other side is a long vertical drop to River Indus.

River Indus before (or after if coming from Besham) Thor Nala

My friend and me..

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 16:03:21 +0500 #77

The fish point was a roadside one right besides KKH. I have travelled through KKH numerous times but never noticed this point but today we were here. It was never in my wildest dreams before trip that I'd be eating fish from here but here we were.. waiting for fish.. Allah is definitely the best planner.

We seated on this large platform on a plastic carpet (Chatai) and shot few pictures until the fish was ready. It was dead silence at this place except every few minutes when a truck or bus passed..

Waiting for fish

Hotel owner preparing fish..

I inquired him about the fish name and he just answered me with "desi fish".

A K-2 tours bus passing by..

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 16:10:55 +0500 #78

Soon the fish came and we did total justice with the fish. It was delicious. It was cooked very well. There was no additional spice (masala), no additional sauce (chatni) but it still it was delicious. We ate 6 or 7 of these fish, each fish was about a foot long of size.

Delicious desi fish...

Doing justice with the fish..

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 16:24:47 +0500 #79

While we were eating, a truck stopped here (in the pic) and the driver and its cleaner came to eat the fish. The driver was pathan. While he was eating fish, he started to narrate a story to the dhaba owner, "Aisi machli mai ne Naukot mai khai thi.. Naukot hai na Sindh mai wahan milti hai udhar Hindu log hotay hain saray".. Surprisingly I had been to Naukot only a month ago with KTG (Our thread).. I thought.. the world is so small..

Anyway, soon we were done with fish so decided to move back...

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2014-09-05 16:33:27 +0500 #80

While returning, at one point we stopped the car to capture the sunset. It was so beautiful and a slightly cooler breeze was making a really good atmosphere. Soon we reached back to Chilas in half hour. Everyone went to their places while me and my friend came back to his house.

Although I was not feeling hungry after eating the desi fish but still he brought dinner which we both ate. Asked my friend to check for the possibility of 2D seat. He said that we will check about it in morning. I told him that tomorrow morning I do have to leave so please don't force me to stop. He understood and didn't force to extend the trip.. I also told him that I won't be doing breakfast in morning due to the fear of vomiting.. Soon went to sleep...