KKH Part 2

About halfway to Gilgit, we came to a landslide that completely blocked the road. The driver stayed with the vehicle and the rest of us climbed over the landslide and got a ride to the closest town, Besham, which was about an hour away. Half of the team got a ride in a taxi, but Aaron, Jenni, Alisha, Bari, and I got a ride in the back of a Suzuki truck...something that women over there do not have the opportunity to do! I enjoyed that ride to its fullest!!!

Watch out for falling rocks...

The landslide

Climbing over the rocks

Riding in the back of a Suzuki truck

Alisha and Jenni

Bari

Aaron and I enjoying the ride...

The driver stopped to pick up a few other passengers, and Bari made the women get in the back with us instead of sitting in the front with the driver. So, the ladies husband sat in the front and the two women and their children sat in the back with us. Bari was looking out for us girls by not having the man in the back. We sure gave those women something to talk about...the way the stared at us with their mouths agape was highly amusing! Of course I was quite verbal about the waterfalls, trucks, and anything else that was foreign to us!

A mile -- I mean kilometer marker -- along the road.

Flooded fields...the irrigation system is highly efficient here!

'Everybody needs a water buffalo...'

Jenni and I in the restroom getting cleaned up.

We made it to the hotel in Besham and ate lunch. We all took a walk down to the Indus River and waited around for another 4 hours until the driver made it past the road block and picked us up.

Enjoying a cold Pepsi -- in a bottle!

The Indus River was pretty cold.

One of the many waterfalls we saw during our 25.5 hour drive.

...and more scenery.

Exhausted!!

I totally look dead in this picture -- dead tired, I guess! This picture was taking on the way back the KKH to Islamabad at the end of my trip there...but, since it is part of the KKH, thought I would add it in here. The trip back to Islamabad only took us 19 hours and I slept and read a lot of the way, however on the first trip, I only slept about an hour of the 25 1/2 hour trip!

The time I DID fall asleep we had some excitement. When I woke up, Aaron quickly informed me that we had an armed policeman inside the vehicle with us! Each person was very quiet and the tension was so thick you could cut the air with a knife! It was late at night, and due to the unrest in this one area the police had to escort us through. We ended up having the police in our vehicle as well as an heavily armed police escort behind us! We didn't come upon any trouble, but if we had, we would have been WELL protected!

Sights along the KKH -- Part 1

At 0330 we left Islamabad for the 25 hour trip to Gilgit! It was one of the most amazing road trips I have ever been on. It reminded me of Rivendale in Lord of the Rings in so many places-- LOTS of greenery and waterfalls!!


Loading the last pieces of luggage onto the roof of our vehicle before our 25 hour journey to Gilgit.
I only slept for 2 hours of the 25! I couldn't take my eyes away from the scenery!


Our first introduction to the 'squatty potty'. We learned to keep hand sanitizer and toilet paper along with us at all times. There is no toilet paper or soap at any toilet...oh ya, the barf bags from the airlines worked great for our used tissue paper! Thanks Delta! We stopped to use the toilets and to eat breakfast. It was my first time eating fried eggs over easy without utensils and of course no use of my left hand!! I believe it was one of the most memorable breakfasts of my life! The eggs were probably laid that morning by the chicken, and just the newness of the area and culture made it a very memorable moment.

Me and Jenni coming back from using the 'squatty' for the first time...I think I found humor in it...check out my face!

The farmland was absolutely beautiful! Everything was green and there was terrace upon terrace of wheat fields with stone walls separating them. Their irrigation system is very efficient and everything is beautiful.


There were homes that blended into the mountainside and were almost completely hidden. Almost everything is built out of river rock!

Washing their cars and crossing the water along the KKH

Some children going to school

Watching his goat herd.

Some more little shepherds

Market

A common bed. You see these beds everywhere...the men sleep outside on them at night, or just lounge on them during the day. They are made out of thatched wicker.

Halfway up the KKH we came upon a rock slide which detained us for about 4-5 hours...

Trip to Islamabad

We--Ian, Craig, Aaron, Jenni, Korine, Sophie, and myself-- left Denver, CO for Pakistan on April 7th. After about 32 hours of traveling, we finally landed in Islamabad. All our personal bags except for 2 action packers (which arrived about a month later) were on the luggage belt waiting for us to get through customs--which we did without any problems. We stayed at the Regal hotel for a day before leaving for the Northern Areas. We were also able to see a few sights while in Islamabad. This was a great surprise since I was told we wouldn't be able to go see the Faisal Mosque due to the unrest in the area. The sightseeing would have been a bit more enjoyable if I hadn't been so tired from jet lag. We had to stay awake all day no matter how tired we were in hopes that we could get accustomed to Pakistani time.

I was in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, north of Islamabad

On the plane...it was still early in the trip.

Qatar Airlines had the BEST airplane food I've tasted...wonderful chicken curry!

Welcome to Pakistan!!! We finally made it to Islamabad after 32 hours...I'm giving the thumbs up after finally getting settled into the 'Regal' hotel.

View from my hotel window

Sophie, Korine, Me, and Jenni wearing our borrowed shalwar kameez...it was strange wearing the traditional outfit for the first time! However, by the time we left, we felt strange wearing our 'western' clothes again!

There was so much traffic in Islamabad, with cars driving anywhere and everywhere they pleased. I was SO glad I wasn't driving in it...it was VERY stressful. I thought for sure that we were going to be in an accident numerous times within the first minute, BUT we weren't! Jenni and I grabbed hands and held on for dear life...after 10 minutes of riding we relaxed and enjoyed the sights around us. We had an amazing, very experienced driver who was quite used to the way they drive over there...we trusted him with our lives...literally!!

Jenni and I scared half to death by the way the people were driving...

Faisal Mosque...the second largest mosque in the world.

Me, Sophie, Jenni, Korine, and Aaron standing in front of the Faisal Mosque

Police

The National Monument of Pakistan

Gardens at the National Monument

Beautiful stonework was displayed on each wall.

Sophie, Jenni, Me, and Korine at the National Monument with the city of Islamabad behind us.

Sunset

After spending a day in Islamabad we headed up the Karakoram Highway (KKH), also known as the Old Silk Route, to Gilgit in the Northern Areas of Pakistan...one of the most beautiful and amazing drives of my life...

Home again!!!

I am back in the states once again! Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. I loved my time in Pakistan and I hope to put some pictures and stories of my trip on here for you to see...

The time has come...

I leave for outreach tomorrow so will not be able to update this blogspot until I come back June 27th, however my sister may update it for me while I am gone. It will not be completely personal and no pictures, but at least you can know what is happening with me and my team.

Please keep me in your prayers as it will be a very challenging time for me. Pray for our safety as well. There is a lot of unrest over there, and safety could be an issue especially during our 20hour drive from the airport to the city where we will be based out of. I know that God will be with us, and His perfect plan will be worked out in my life during this time. Much love to you all! God bless...