Hunza Tour, Pakistan

(27th May 2006 - 7th June 2006)
Photos by Jamie and Yazmi

Day 1 (KL - Bangkok - Islamabad)

Arrived at Islamabad airport. Greeted by Karim (our tour guide) and his brother.
Took photos and video clips courtesy of our handy camcorder.

Day 2 (Morning-Islamabad, Afternoon-Gilgit)

Islamabad airport. Unloading our luggage from the van, with Yazmi in the foreground.

Karim our Tour Guide.
On board the small focker plane from Islamabad to Gilgit.

View from the plane.

View from the plane.

This is how the plane looks. I vomited during the flight. Probably ate too much breakfast.

Gilgit Riveria Hotel. Nice Gardan.

Having our lunch in the garden.

The river in front of the hotel.

Going for a short hike in Gilgit.

You can see a Buddha carving on the rock.

Nice river with clear waters.

Filling up our water bottle with the water from the river. The water is clean and we can drink it. Good for your health... hahah.

Me sitting by the river.

Group photo.

Nice view

Bridge in Gilgit Town.

Cars on the bridge.

Traders.

Me in Gilgit.

Friendly soldiers in Gilgit. Look, a gun!

The locals love to take photos and will approach us to have their photos taken, then they will say thank you!

Butcher.

Some kind of food.

Day 3 (Karakorum Highway, Karimabad)

Leaving Gilgit and going to Karimabad via the Karakoram highway.
Nice view.

We stop occasionally during our journey to take photos, or toilet stop!

Me again. Oooh .. I look fat ...

Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!

Looking for garnet stones.

Nice landscape.

We arrive at Rakaposhi Peak viewpoint, where we can sit down and have tea while looking at the mountain.

Rakaposhi Peak, 7788m.

We arrive at Karimabad, Hill Top Hotel.

700 year old Baltit Fort in Karimabad.

Traditional house in Baltit Fort.

Baltit Fort Guard.

Photo shoot on top of Baltit fort.

Wow ... the fantastic view from the roof of Baltit Fort.

The mountains behind Baltit Fort (so no one can attack from behind the fort).
Ultar 1 and Ultar 2 (7388m) 'Japanese Killer Mountain'. First conquered by Japanese climbers (both whom died on their decent).

Baltit Fort group photo. Together with
Pakistani couple from Lahore on the right (Ali & Kashifa).

Colourful garments in Karimabad.

On the way back to the hotel.

Day 4 (Karimabad)

We woke up early to catch the sunrise at Duiker Viewpoint (3 am - 4 am) because since its summer in Pakistan the sun rises very early. This is a fantastic view of the sun rays shining on Rakaposhi Peak.

Wow, we are surrounded by snow capped moutains. The view at Duiker Viewpoint.

Jeep.... On the way to Hoper Glacier.

Hoper Valley .. fertile valley..

Hoper Glacier. Black (Male) Glacier. We had to hike down ...

Malaysia Boleh! Standing on the glacier.

Glacier Ice

Another group photo. From top left - Gan, Najib, Chia.
Middle Row - Chin, Adeline, Chris, Ch'ng, Jamie.
Bottom Row - Shirley, Karim.

Hiking back up ... 2 hrs! Nearly got heart attack. Walk up too fast (the boy help me walk up). Must be the high altitude and thinner air.

Lunch Time ! (Yazmi's treat) Special Tomato egg soup with traditional spoon, with chicken/mutton pie (something like Murtabak here in Malaysia). And of course Tomolo Tea ...

Shirley passing me some food ...

Nightime - Traditional Hunza Music at the Hill Top Hotel. The people here love to dance, even the young boys.

Long time never go Disco.

Party time.
Wow, what a day. Like I said, really value for money. Today we went Sunrise, Hoper Glacier, Special Lunch and Hunza Music dancing !
Great workout.

Day 5 (Ghulkin Village)

Carved roak at Hunza.
On the way to Gulmit via Karakorum highway.

Glacier blocking the road near Gulmit.

Giant glacier snow ball.
Hmm... is this considered snow ? I think its the first time I've seen and touch snow... :P

We visited a local school. They were having Parent's Day Programme.

Kungfu club performance.

The two teachers, Shirley and Chin, were invited to give away prizes.

More singing and dancing by Karim and Chris.

The waterfall near Najib and Karim's hometown, Ghulkin Village.
Me wearing Karim's hat and the jacket I bought from Karimabad for 250 Pakistan Rupees ... around RM25 ..

On the way to Hussaini Bridge

Captain(Chia) taking photo with the local kids ...

Hussaini suspension bridge. The bridge on the right has been battered by the strong winds. The bridge we are walking on was built by the locals. The gaps are wider so it won't get blown away.

Woah ..

We are now in Karim's home and we get to meet his wife and kids, and his sister.

Going for a walk around the village. They are growing potatos ...

On top of a hill near the village.

One big happy family.

We are now having dinner at Karim's home. His wife and sister preparing a meal for us. Chia trying out how to cook.

Day 6

Group photo outside Karim's house.

Pasu.

Pasu Glacier

'Furry Cows' in Khungerab National Park. On the way to the border.

Yay ... Pakistan-China border.

One foot in China, one foot in Pakistan.

4733m, the world's highest paved boarder crossing.

We were lucky enough to see a herd of Ibex.

Cherry Trees in front of the hotel 'Gulmit Lodge'

My bed ...

The magnificient view in front of the Hotel.

Ali throwing a supprise birthday party for his wife.

Eating birthday cake.

More dancing ...

Day 7

Visiting the school again.

Having a meal at Najib's house. Special kind of pancake with appricot oil and mulberry sauce. All home made.

In front of Najib's house with his family.
Najib(centre) wearing blue jeans jacket.

A romantic moment by the lake...

Sitting on a boat at Borith Lake

Nice view.

Day 8

Plucking mulberries.

Small carpet making factory in the village.

The women at the carpet making factory.

Heh heh ...

Goodbye Gulmit ...

Back at the glacier again.

Bus station.

Day 9, Bus to Islamabad

We bid farewell to our driver Najib before we board the bus to Gilgit.
Can't take the focker plane because the weather is bad.

On the bus ...

Day10, Khewra Salt Mine

Faisal Mosque in Islamabad

Yazmi ...

Stop by the roadside to buy some fruits.

Khewre Salt Mine, Lahore. 2nd largest salt mine in the world.

Underground in the Khewre salt mine where the have a mini mosque made out of salt.

The cave walls.

Salt crystals.

A small stage in the salt mine. They put earth on the ground so that its not slippery.

Day 11, Lahore

Donkey cart in Lahore.

Lahore Fort

Royal Mosque in Lahore.

Royal Mosque.

Photo with a guard.

Its really hot now ... borrowed Yazmi's hat.

Buying drinks.

The famous statue of the fasting Buddha at Lahore museum.

On the way to the Pakistan-India Border.

Changing of the guards at the pakistan-india border.

Marching back and forth ..

Ok, last day. Time to pack.

Dinner at a fancy restaurant, buffet style.

Ice Cream ...

THE END

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