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.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
To Wakhan : Day 3 / Trek from Mithramdan to Chota Yasin
Trek from Mithramdan onwards is beautiful. In fact, it should be counted as a first rate place and no wonder so many foreigners have enjoyed these treks in previous years. This place is one of the safest in the whole region and yet I was told that this year foreigners did not arrive for this trek, though they made other treks around this region. I am not sure why.
This is Adeel, my friend who've just returned from USA after completing his Masters in Abstract Algebra (first from Utah and then continued at Chicago University). This trek was at time dangerous for most of us but we were very enthusiastic about it and no one really cared a bit. We just moved on. Our spirits were high and weather was just about fantastic. As good as it could get.
This is Adeel, my friend who've just returned from USA after completing his Masters in Abstract Algebra (first from Utah and then continued at Chicago University). This trek was at time dangerous for most of us but we were very enthusiastic about it and no one really cared a bit. We just moved on. Our spirits were high and weather was just about fantastic. As good as it could get.
To Wakhan : Day 3 / Group prayers
Our group for the trek consisted of 12 people some of whom are visible in this frame. From R to L: Zain (only hands), Asad, Zahid bhai, Talat, Saeed and Adeel Ather. My friend, Muhammad Adeel was behind me and so were Danial and Faheem. We prayed, as is the custom in Pakistan before leaving for any trek, and then off we marched.
To Wakhan : Day 3 / Mithramdan school
You may call it Mathramdan or Mithramdan but it is a place to reckon with. It is a small Ismaili village from where the famous Wakhan trek begins officially. I mean all trekkers intend to begin their trek from here. And this was the school where we had slept the night before, instead of putting up our tents.
The teacher writing on the blackboard is Mr. Bul Bul Khan and he was from a nearby village. By religion he was also a Ismaili but ethnically he wasn't Wakhi. All his students are Wakhi so the students and teachers conversed in Urdu, which none understands any better. Though the teacher knew it pretty much better than even our so-called educated trekkers.
These girls were blonde, which surprised me a lot. But if you look closely they all have very European features - light coloured eyes, fair skin and so on.
The teacher writing on the blackboard is Mr. Bul Bul Khan and he was from a nearby village. By religion he was also a Ismaili but ethnically he wasn't Wakhi. All his students are Wakhi so the students and teachers conversed in Urdu, which none understands any better. Though the teacher knew it pretty much better than even our so-called educated trekkers.
These girls were blonde, which surprised me a lot. But if you look closely they all have very European features - light coloured eyes, fair skin and so on.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
To Wakhan : Day 2 / Landscape
Two Jeeps ahead and we in tow. We knew from this instance what kind of landscape awaited us. It was chillingly cold here and it got colder as we proceeded.
To Wakhan : Day 2 / Going Immit
This was the 2nd day of our trip towards Wakhan. I have missed out on the photograph of the breakfast, which we had at Gilgit, because I was very hungry and unable to do anything except eat!
This was our Jeep ride from Immit to Mathramdan (also pronounced as Mithramdan by some locals). This cost us around Rs.4,500. We reached Mathramdan at maghrib time.
This was our Jeep ride from Immit to Mathramdan (also pronounced as Mithramdan by some locals). This cost us around Rs.4,500. We reached Mathramdan at maghrib time.
To Wakhan : Day 1 / Purchasing Walnuts
I purchased walnuts for myself and my friends from this young boy. He sold them fresh @100. They were good to eat and I am told that eating walnuts reduces the chances of heart attack.
I like the framing as well but some people ask me why the head is not shown. I think I wanted to show the walnuts and how they were being sold.
I like the framing as well but some people ask me why the head is not shown. I think I wanted to show the walnuts and how they were being sold.
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