Images - Pakistan

The Khunjerab Pass, the highest road border in the world The Khunjerab Pass, the highest road border in the world Lucky we're taking our time to Islamabad Lucky we're taking our time to Islamabad The Khunjerab Gorge (you can just see the road) The Khunjerab Gorge (you can just see the road) Evidently rockfalls are regular Evidently rockfalls are regular Sost, the border town Sost, the border town These walls surely won't hold those rocks in? These walls surely won't hold those rocks in? This is why the Hunza River is grey... This is why the Hunza River is grey... Roadside view, Gulmit, Hunza Valley Roadside view, Gulmit, Hunza Valley Hmmm... Hmmm... View from our first hotel in Pakistan View from our first hotel in Pakistan Our first nights lodgings Our first nights lodgings The 'old road' carved into the cliff above the Hunza River The 'old road' carved into the cliff above the Hunza River Ancient Buddhist rock carvings betray some forgotten history here Ancient Buddhist rock carvings betray some forgotten history here View from Baltit Fort in Karimabad, over the Hunza Valley View from Baltit Fort in Karimabad, over the Hunza Valley Baltit Fort Baltit Fort Apricots, one of Hunza's staple products, drying in the sun Apricots, one of Hunza's staple products, drying in the sun Hunza gentleman Hunza gentleman Rakaposhi by night Rakaposhi by night Baltit Fort, Ultar Peak in the background Baltit Fort, Ultar Peak in the background Typical terracing Typical terracing Laying the road, Pakistan style (we drove over it minutes later) Laying the road, Pakistan style (we drove over it minutes later) We think our car's gone native... We think our car's gone native... Opium poppies, used for medicine up here apparently... Opium poppies, used for medicine up here apparently... Looking down on to Altit Fort (further up the valley from Baltit) Looking down on to Altit Fort (further up the valley from Baltit) Sunset over Karimabad Sunset over Karimabad The 'Golden Peak' The 'Golden Peak' Golden Peak at sunset Golden Peak at sunset Ultar Peak, to the left the yet unclimbed Lady Finger Peak (6,300m) by moonlight Ultar Peak, to the left the yet unclimbed Lady Finger Peak (6,300m) by moonlight This car park was empty when we went to bed! This car park was empty when we went to bed! Possibly our best hotel room view yet - Rakaposhi from the Eagles Nest Hotel Possibly our best hotel room view yet - Rakaposhi from the Eagles Nest Hotel Local Hunza girls, amazed that Nina (as a girl) was driving Local Hunza girls, amazed that Nina (as a girl) was driving A precarious place to live, we think? A precarious place to live, we think? Local Hunza band Local Hunza band A relatively new suspension bridge across the Hunza... A relatively new suspension bridge across the Hunza... ...really! ...really! Beautifully irrigated villages Beautifully irrigated villages An 1,800 year old Buddha carved into a cliff near Gilgit An 1,800 year old Buddha carved into a cliff near Gilgit Independence Day - the audience gathers... Independence Day - the audience gathers... Pleeaase can we sit here, sir? Pleeaase can we sit here, sir? The Gilgit Scouts, immaculate, about to go on parade The Gilgit Scouts, immaculate, about to go on parade Hopeless drill, as displayed by the police band Hopeless drill, as displayed by the police band The local band were somewhat smarter The local band were somewhat smarter Commander-in-Chief (Northern Areas) and local dignitaries Commander-in-Chief (Northern Areas) and local dignitaries Presenting arms Presenting arms The memorial ceremony The memorial ceremony That's the formalities finished! That's the formalities finished! Gilgit on Independence Day - pretty quiet away from the celebrations Gilgit on Independence Day - pretty quiet away from the celebrations Oops... Ayub disentangles our flag from the Chief Commissioner's bunting Oops... Ayub disentangles our flag from the Chief Commissioner's bunting Murad and Ayub bartering with some pretty hard nosed young fruit sellers Murad and Ayub bartering with some pretty hard nosed young fruit sellers Enchanting girl from the Ishkoman Valley Enchanting girl from the Ishkoman Valley Colours of Ishkoman Colours of Ishkoman What a spot for a fishing trip What a spot for a fishing trip Water's cold, though Water's cold, though The principle reason we don't catch anything (we do take a handful of theirs for breakfast though) The principle reason we don't catch anything (we do take a handful of theirs for breakfast though) The road to our fishing spot - our narrowest and most treacherous yet The road to our fishing spot - our narrowest and most treacherous yet Nina, Ayub, Murad and family Nina, Ayub, Murad and family Pretty dramatic gorge for a stream! Pretty dramatic gorge for a stream! Where the Indus and Gilgit Rivers meet, and where the Himalayas, Karakorams and Hindu Kush collide Where the Indus and Gilgit Rivers meet, and where the Himalayas, Karakorams and Hindu Kush collide Semi nomadic settlement high in the Kaghan Valley, just past the Babusar Pass Semi nomadic settlement high in the Kaghan Valley, just past the Babusar Pass The road through the upper Kaghan Valley, bit of work to do yet... The road through the upper Kaghan Valley, bit of work to do yet... ...bridge is sound, though ...bridge is sound, though Typical decorations on a Pakistani lorry Typical decorations on a Pakistani lorry Colours in the Kaghan Valley - unlike anything we've seen yet Colours in the Kaghan Valley - unlike anything we've seen yet Village in Kaghan Village in Kaghan Decent crop of turnips Decent crop of turnips Ready to head south? Ready to head south? Catching a lift to Islamabad Catching a lift to Islamabad Through the Kaghan Valley, landslide central... Through the Kaghan Valley, landslide central... ...though stunning ...though stunning This area of Pakistani Kashmir was the epicentre of the 2005 earthquake... This area of Pakistani Kashmir was the epicentre of the 2005 earthquake... ...which claimed 73,000 lives in Pakistan... ...which claimed 73,000 lives in Pakistan... ...mostly in villages like this, Balakot, now rebuilt and hopefully earthquake proof ...mostly in villages like this, Balakot, now rebuilt and hopefully earthquake proof Leaving the Kaghan, the mountains soften Leaving the Kaghan, the mountains soften Follow that rickshaw! (Murad is inside, leading us to our hotel) Follow that rickshaw! (Murad is inside, leading us to our hotel) Fairly typical snapshot on the move Fairly typical snapshot on the move Entrance to the Shali Fort, Lahore Entrance to the Shali Fort, Lahore Inside the Shali Fort (built 1566 by Akbar the Great) Inside the Shali Fort (built 1566 by Akbar the Great) Badshani Mosque, Lahore - the 2nd largest in Pakistan Badshani Mosque, Lahore - the 2nd largest in Pakistan Lahore's old bazaar Lahore's old bazaar Bit of bling anyone? Bit of bling anyone? No need to get to the Indo-Pak border early, then... No need to get to the Indo-Pak border early, then... The ceremonial gates to India The ceremonial gates to India

Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 February 2010 11:06