Via Flickr:
I just wanted to share this photograph of a forest floor at Chota Yasin, a wonderful place where we camped for a memorable night and a memorable morning awaited us all. This photograph is also important in a sense that it was published by Express Tribune magazine in its Travel feature on 11th December, 2011. I hope wide angle has allowed me to capture enough of floor as well as the trees which contribute to its beauty.
Showing posts with label northern pakistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label northern pakistan. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Places in Pakistan: Ayun valley, Chitral dist.
Via Flickr:
September 23, 2011 at 12.42pm PKT
We were already late because I and Adeel had been roaming around the fort and then talking with the manager of the lodge. All that time, three others had been waiting impatiently near our hired car. According to them, when finally we reached them, we had wasted a lot of time and that we must be responsible, if we cannot make across the curfew. The curfew, as I was to know later, is in place every evening at Lowari tunnel due to Taliban. And I knew that we would be racing against time and military wallahs. I also knew that there would be no photography at or around Lowari tunnel, a project imitated by General Musharraf to ease the traffic flow in that strategically important area. Hence, we moved away and reached this beautiful place. Everyone, including Zahid bhai, who'd be dripping with anger, jumped out of the station wagon to shoot this stunning landscape.
One of the most beautiful valleys of Pakistan, Ayun valley is the gateway to the famous Kalash Kafir villages. I was lucky to have shaded clouds, which provided me with a classic landscape shot.
September 23, 2011 at 12.42pm PKT
We were already late because I and Adeel had been roaming around the fort and then talking with the manager of the lodge. All that time, three others had been waiting impatiently near our hired car. According to them, when finally we reached them, we had wasted a lot of time and that we must be responsible, if we cannot make across the curfew. The curfew, as I was to know later, is in place every evening at Lowari tunnel due to Taliban. And I knew that we would be racing against time and military wallahs. I also knew that there would be no photography at or around Lowari tunnel, a project imitated by General Musharraf to ease the traffic flow in that strategically important area. Hence, we moved away and reached this beautiful place. Everyone, including Zahid bhai, who'd be dripping with anger, jumped out of the station wagon to shoot this stunning landscape.
One of the most beautiful valleys of Pakistan, Ayun valley is the gateway to the famous Kalash Kafir villages. I was lucky to have shaded clouds, which provided me with a classic landscape shot.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Places in Pakistan: Chitral district, Pakistan
September 23, 2011 at 7.25am PKT
Most of the photographs were taken while on the run. We were suddenly short of time. Zahid bhai wanted to rejoin his office; Danial wanted to reach Karachi on time so that he may get his onward flight to Mauritius - after two days. Adeel Ather wanted to join his children as soon as possible. We two were in no hurry. But majority wins. The exception to the rule was this landscape which everyone wanted to shoot. So we jumped out and got the frame. But the large shadow over the river partly ruins the very charm of the place. Nevertheless, the place was breathtaking.
Most of the photographs were taken while on the run. We were suddenly short of time. Zahid bhai wanted to rejoin his office; Danial wanted to reach Karachi on time so that he may get his onward flight to Mauritius - after two days. Adeel Ather wanted to join his children as soon as possible. We two were in no hurry. But majority wins. The exception to the rule was this landscape which everyone wanted to shoot. So we jumped out and got the frame. But the large shadow over the river partly ruins the very charm of the place. Nevertheless, the place was breathtaking.
Places in Pakistan: En-route to Mastuj, Pakistan
Date: 21 Sep, 2011.
Time: 5.13pm PKT
You can imagine our condition while looking at this photograph of my sleepy, tired friend, Adeel. We both were more tired than the other three for we had walked over 5 Km earlier in the day. Other three had spent most of their time in or around their room, fretting about the NATCO bus. And they had missed truly wonderful photographs. They would regret it when I showed them the day's results.
I cannot remember the name of this place but the name of the restaurant was Shandur and it was our pit stop on our way to Mastuj, now very near. At dusk we reached Mastuj and it was dark and cold. And there was a cheap hotel to stay at. But one kind stranger offered us his home and food for a night.
I always wonder about the incredible hospitality of Pakistanis of rural areas. We urbanites may never imagine such levels of kindness extended to complete strangers. But here we were in his house, munching away at brilliant pears and apples and gulping down kehwa.
Time: 5.13pm PKT
You can imagine our condition while looking at this photograph of my sleepy, tired friend, Adeel. We both were more tired than the other three for we had walked over 5 Km earlier in the day. Other three had spent most of their time in or around their room, fretting about the NATCO bus. And they had missed truly wonderful photographs. They would regret it when I showed them the day's results.
I cannot remember the name of this place but the name of the restaurant was Shandur and it was our pit stop on our way to Mastuj, now very near. At dusk we reached Mastuj and it was dark and cold. And there was a cheap hotel to stay at. But one kind stranger offered us his home and food for a night.
I always wonder about the incredible hospitality of Pakistanis of rural areas. We urbanites may never imagine such levels of kindness extended to complete strangers. But here we were in his house, munching away at brilliant pears and apples and gulping down kehwa.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Places in Pakistan: Phander pedestrian bridge
Walking ahead, after shooting madrassah girls in their madrassah, I found this exceedingly beautifully placed suspended, wooden bridge over Shandur river. I immediately took the photograph. I must remind my readers that it is a relatively new bridge and not an old one. The clouds give an additional colour to the frame.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Places in Pakistan: Gupis valley, Ghizar dist.
Date: 21st Sep, 2011
Time: 12:19 PM
After bathing, eating, shaving, buying a pair of shoes, and more tea, hugging, good-byes, and scrambling for the best seat on PTDC run bus to Phander, we were on our way to further glory and exploration. Danial looked bored because he had been to all these places. But he still took some shots. Zahid bhai looked more eager to capture as many as possible. He is, after all, a publisher and he can earn lot of money using these shots in his own printed diaries and calenders. Both Adeels were also quite eager. And I was too happy to shoot from the window, although it wasn't the best of the buses and the route is winding, beautiful and classy. The added charm of this place, atleast for the males of our country and abroad, is that most people don't have purdah here. As you move forward purdah comes into play. Ismailis, a deviant sect of Shia Islam, have no purdah for women. Therefore, fair number of fair women may be seeing strolling around villages, working, tending to kids, milking cows, etc. Zahid bhai was too eager to shoot them; I was not.
Gupis is enroute to Phander lake when you travel from Gakuch. It is a lovely little valley with Sunnis and Ismailis living in harmony. And to be sure, it is a perfect tourist spot with all the usual trappings of the modern world: Electricity, water, hotels, chai khannas, green fields, security and lots of fish in the river. I loved it and anyone passing by will love it too.
Time: 12:19 PM
After bathing, eating, shaving, buying a pair of shoes, and more tea, hugging, good-byes, and scrambling for the best seat on PTDC run bus to Phander, we were on our way to further glory and exploration. Danial looked bored because he had been to all these places. But he still took some shots. Zahid bhai looked more eager to capture as many as possible. He is, after all, a publisher and he can earn lot of money using these shots in his own printed diaries and calenders. Both Adeels were also quite eager. And I was too happy to shoot from the window, although it wasn't the best of the buses and the route is winding, beautiful and classy. The added charm of this place, atleast for the males of our country and abroad, is that most people don't have purdah here. As you move forward purdah comes into play. Ismailis, a deviant sect of Shia Islam, have no purdah for women. Therefore, fair number of fair women may be seeing strolling around villages, working, tending to kids, milking cows, etc. Zahid bhai was too eager to shoot them; I was not.
Gupis is enroute to Phander lake when you travel from Gakuch. It is a lovely little valley with Sunnis and Ismailis living in harmony. And to be sure, it is a perfect tourist spot with all the usual trappings of the modern world: Electricity, water, hotels, chai khannas, green fields, security and lots of fish in the river. I loved it and anyone passing by will love it too.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Places in Pakistan: School boy, Gakuch
Date: 21st Sep, 2011
Time: 7:25 AM
Location: 36°10′N, 73°45′E.
This is the sort of frame I had always wished to make: A lone school boy or a girl walking towards school with mountains in the background; the town clearly identified; a frame which is clean and usable. I got this opportunity soon when I saw him coming.
Time: 7:25 AM
Location: 36°10′N, 73°45′E.
This is the sort of frame I had always wished to make: A lone school boy or a girl walking towards school with mountains in the background; the town clearly identified; a frame which is clean and usable. I got this opportunity soon when I saw him coming.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Back trek to Mithramdan : Day 8 / Zain with Ibex horns, Wargoth
Before we left our friend and group member, Mr. Zain, found, much to his amazement, a pair of old ibex horns. They were partly damaged but were still stately. And very heavy indeed. So the problem arose about their safe passage back to Faisalabad, where Zain resides. That was solved by one of our porters. And to commemorate this most auspicious find I asked Zain to place the horns over his head and hold them till I may shoot. It was difficult for him, although he is a strong man, but he managed it in the end.
We were now happy. Pakistan remains an unexpected country and nowhere in the world are you likely to find such precious horns lying in the forest for 12 years! That can only happen in Pakistan and that's one good reason why Pakistan remains such an attractive destination for foreigners despite so many bombs going off.
We were now happy. Pakistan remains an unexpected country and nowhere in the world are you likely to find such precious horns lying in the forest for 12 years! That can only happen in Pakistan and that's one good reason why Pakistan remains such an attractive destination for foreigners despite so many bombs going off.
Back trek to Mithramdan : Day 8 / Wargoth camp site
That's me on the right with Adeel in our yellow, leaking camp. The time is 7:57 AM and we were almost freezing without a proper cup of tea. And we were of course very sad that we were returning. In fact, I was the saddest. Some others looked jolly. You cannot control your destiny sometimes; you have to go with the group, with the tide. And you need to be optimistic. As a traveller that is doubly important. In fact, must I say that being optimistic and 'open' are the virtues of a good traveller.
We soon packed up and left this most wonderful place. I hope to return to this very camp site with my family and friends. INSHALLAH.
We soon packed up and left this most wonderful place. I hope to return to this very camp site with my family and friends. INSHALLAH.
Friday, October 21, 2011
To Wakhan : Day 6 / To Chitti Boi glacier and back
The rains finally subsided today but after a long spell. So finally our lethargic group leader, Tanweer, decided to start the trek today (16th Sep, 2011). It wasn't a very good start. There was no breakfast except for a kheer (which is a rice mix) with chai, hardly a substance for trekkers on North Pakistan. Yet, surprisingly, no one really objected except for Zahid bhai. The trek began at 12 noon. So off course there was no chance of reaching our destination.
We walked and walked and rains again started. Tanweer bhai created a drama and sat down (he is the founder of a fraud group...http://www.thetrekkerz.com/forum.php) and then Talat Saeed also sat down. That meant demise of our trekking. I felt the rat alongwith our trekking partners, Adeel Ather, Adeel, Danial and Zahid bhai. But we could do nothing so we had to call our forward going porters back from Chitti Boi. The cheaters group, as we named them that day (although they like to call themselves as Trekkerz), returned happily. There was general disagreement over the course of action but Tanweer seemed extremely fit to me and yet he was claiming his illness. An ill person cannot trek so fast (he reached destination very fast).
This is the group shot of (from L) Adeel, a local Gujjar, Zahid bhai and Zain.
We walked and walked and rains again started. Tanweer bhai created a drama and sat down (he is the founder of a fraud group...http://www.thetrekkerz.com/forum.php) and then Talat Saeed also sat down. That meant demise of our trekking. I felt the rat alongwith our trekking partners, Adeel Ather, Adeel, Danial and Zahid bhai. But we could do nothing so we had to call our forward going porters back from Chitti Boi. The cheaters group, as we named them that day (although they like to call themselves as Trekkerz), returned happily. There was general disagreement over the course of action but Tanweer seemed extremely fit to me and yet he was claiming his illness. An ill person cannot trek so fast (he reached destination very fast).
This is the group shot of (from L) Adeel, a local Gujjar, Zahid bhai and Zain.
Monday, October 10, 2011
To Wakhan : Day 4 / Trek to Wargoth
Via Flickr:
Trekker crosses the treacherous Wargoth (also pronounced as Virgoth) glacier on his way to Wargoth camp site. This trek leads to Sokhtarabad and onwards to Chitti Boi glacier and then 1 day further trek leads to Karomber lake, arguably the most beautiful of Pakistan.
Trekker crosses the treacherous Wargoth (also pronounced as Virgoth) glacier on his way to Wargoth camp site. This trek leads to Sokhtarabad and onwards to Chitti Boi glacier and then 1 day further trek leads to Karomber lake, arguably the most beautiful of Pakistan.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
To Wakhan : Day 3 / Trek from Mithramdan to Chota Yasin
This place is near a small village known as Pyakhin (and you can pronounce it as you wish). I found it exceedingly beautiful with small stream of cold water flowing, trees hanging around and stones scattered all over the place. No one from our group remained unmoved by the beauty of it all.
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