[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Back in Karachi I was and there was no other place I would rather be when sick. I had diarrhoea and a pain in my leg. I had no explanation why I had either of them but I was not going to let them get in the way of fun. Karachi was a good place to be when needing to go to the toilet so regularly. There were plenty of public toilets here in restaurants and cafes. I had no timetable as such other than meeting friends and exploring the chic urban side of upmarket Karachi.[/FONT][/SIZE]...

The next morning I woke up quite early and realised I had a bad stomach. Not what I needed as I wanted to go back to Karachi by road and a bad stomach was going to be a complete hindrance. I had to book a flight back in the afternoon. It allowed me to spend some more time searching around Gwadar. What had caused my stomach upset – was it the food last night or the fact that I drank water from the taps which could have had elements of seawater in it.
The flight back was another eye opener....

I left Turbat the next morning and headed back to Gwadar. The location of Gwadar was considered to be of great importance as it connected heavily populated South Asia, oil-rich Middle East and resource-laden Central Asia as well as giving China an overland and much quicker link via a friendly Pakistan with the Middle Eastern market. If the area stabilises politically then goods would pass from Central Asia through Afghanistan and then through the Balochistan province of Pakistan into Gwadar. ...

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]It was time to meet another friend who I had got to know online through a Baloch forum, Rizwan. We were sat with a group of Saeed’s friends drinking tea when Rizwan arrived. Rizwan shook hands with those present and sat down. What surprised me was when Rizwan looked to his right and greeted each individual present asking how they were etc. I had not seen this in the other ethnic groups in Pakistan. I wonder if this same manner would be used if there were more than...

We arrived at 1.15am and it was very dark. I had not heard from my contact and I felt a bit vulnerable. I stood by the bus waiting as all the passengers descended. Two men approached me and said something inaudible. I asked them to repeat and he said you are to come with us. I was shocked as they looked like they were on drugs. Their eyes were red and their teeth brown. Their clothes were far from clean. I asked who sent you but I got no name. They were not aggressive but not the sort...

There were a number of changes at the airport I had noticed. Firstly smoking had been banned in the main lounge and a new non-smoking section was set up. Strange thing was everyone was obeying it. Another change I noticed was that in the toilets air dryers were installed for the hands and glass sinks in the shape of a salad bowl.
Flying to Karachi was exciting as below we could see the vast Punjab plains and then the rugged hills of Sindh before descending on Karachi. From above Karachi...

www.sarhay2.wordpress.com

I can’t believe I was finally in Pakistan again after a two month delay and a nightmare plane journey. It was warm and sunny and as loud as it always is with vehicles aggressively sounding the horn. It was a bit of a shock as it always is but still the start of a long holiday with many places to explore.
My trip had been delayed because of the political unrest following Ms Benazir Bhutto’s death and the growing numbers of Pakistanis who wanted the...

[FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]I woke up and thought what shall I do today? I felt I must go somewhere. I had no idea where to start. I decided it must be the Kaghan Valley. The Kaghan Valley started at Balakot, a town demolished by the recent earthquake at an altitude of about 800m. That was higher than most places in England. The highest point in the Kaghan Valley was the Malika Parbat which rose to 5200m and was visible at the Lake Saiful Mulk in the north....

Once again I was off to Pakistan.
Nothing is ever ready on time. We were still packing minutes before I left the house.
As I made my way to my seat I realised a middle aged Pakistani woman was sat there and I politely pointed out that I was given this seat. I called the air stewardess who told the lady to move quite firmly but still she would not budge. The air stewardess explained that we must sit in the seats we were given and not just anywhere regardless of where our family...