Kimberley Clark and Pakistan

Pakistan is a unique tourist attraction in the world. Ask anyone in the world, "Do you want to travel to Pakistan?" and many would have their fingers crossed to answer yes. But those who come to Pakistan, instantly fall in love with Pakistan, its people, its landscape and above all the warm hospitality they receive wherever they go, that they don't want to leave Pakistan. ANd even when they are back in their homes, their heart stays back in Pakistan.

Out last post "10 things that will make you fall in love with Pakistan" was also from one such traveler, Drew Binsky, who came to Pakistan ad had so much fun loitering around in the streets, eating in small road side eateries and travelling all around without any fear and made friends while never wanting to leave Pakistan.

Same was true for the recently outgone German ambassador to Pakistan, Martin Kobler, who too was often seen riding a bicycle or driving an old volkswagen and mixing with ordinary people, the real people of Pakistan. I would write a separate post on him shortly.

But today, we are with Kimberley Clark who too "Came (to Pakistan), Saw and Fell in Love" with Pakistan.  When she disclosed her plan to visiting Pakistan, everyone was skeptical and asked her if she really wanted to go to Pakistan for Pakistan has always been projected negatively in the world media. And Kimberley Clark would reply, "That is why I am going there to find out."

And when she came here, went around and met people, she was amazed to know how fascinating this country has been. She was overawed and deeply inspired by Pakistan's culture, rich heritage, historical and naturally gifted place and treasures. She watched the colours, majestic landscapes and smiles on its people and their unmatched hospitality wherever she went, weather in cities, villages, secluded places in the mountains. She met hospitable people with open hearts offering her free housing, food and even many gifts of the area.

She even dared to cross the Hussaini Wala Suspension Bridge, near Hunza, considered to be one of the most dangerous suspension bridge as can be seen in the photo below:

Watch the video below Kimberley Clark had made and listen to her sharing her experiences of love and eternal friendship - certainly one of the most genuinely comprehensive and illustrated Tours Promotion documentary on Pakistan:

She is gone back, but the nostalgia will always occupy a special portion of her memories for there is not country like Pakistan, there are no people like Pakistanis who leave a lifelong loving impression whosoever comes here and spends some time among its indigenous people. Thank you Miss Clark, your appreciation,insights and thoughtfulness about Pakistan and of gesture of your goodwill shall be always be remembered.

Whe are you coming to Pakistan?

Photos: All photos are screen shots from the video shared above 

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10 things that will make you fall in love with Pakistan

Pakistan is an awesome travel destination for foreigners. Anyone who discloses to one's associates, friends or family that he is planning to embark upon a journey to Pakistan. the instant reply is "Don't ever think of going to Pakistan." The reason for such notion is very simple: The world media has over the past many years has portrayed Pakistan is a country where people carry guns and kill foreigners on sight or foreigners are abducted and bla bla bla.

But the amazing thing about Pakistan is that those who finally decide to come to Pakistan and spend sometime here do not want to go back for its landscape, its people and their hospitality are simply mesmerising. Sighting a foreigner, people of Pakistan are overwhelmed and in many cases, shopkeepers or taxi drivers refuse to take money in return of services rendered. In most cases, all food is free and so are most rides. And when you start eating Pakistani food, you will simply love it right in the first instant, though chilies will make you grab a glass of water immediately. As for sweets, Jemima Goldsmith once tweeted: I miss jalebis and gulab jaman of Pakistan.

Today, I am going to share experience on such traveler who came to Pakistan and fell in love with it. Drew Binsky is one such traveler who is otherwise famous for his travel blogs and videos with captivating details about the country he visits. He like all other travelers came to Pakistan scared, nervous and intimidated by what he had heard on the media but when he left he left with the biggest smile on his face, knowing that this might be the most special country in the world.

In Pakistan, Binsky intermingled with people from every segment of the society, from rich to poor, walked in bazaars and streets, rode in rickshaws and ate street food and enjoyed many traditional dishes and cuisines, while enjoying the hospitality of people of Pakistan.

Summing up his stay in Pakistan, he feels a bit nostalgic: "My time in Pakistan has sadly come to an end, and words cannot describe how incredible the last 2 weeks of my life have been." 

I wont describe how he felt, just watch his video below and see how a perception of a person scared to enter Pakistan changes when one is received with warm open arms and willing hearts of a country that is known as Pakistan!!

Binsky leaves a message for all those who shirk to make plans to visit Pakistan: "I hope you enjoyed watching my content here, and if any of you have had your perspectives changed about Pakistan (even a little bit), please share because I’d love to hear your feedback!" You may got to the video at YouTube and share your views to reach Binsky or even share your view in my comment box below.

Tell me when you are visiting Pakistan?
Photo [Click of Qazi/Facebook]

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Pakistan: Your Travel Destination 2019 - Come and Listen to the Rich Folk Music of Pakistan

Pakistan is not only rich in its natural trove, but has an equally rich culture and folk music that mystifies the listeners and spellbound them for as long as there is music in the air. We have indigenous music instruments like dhol ( a two sided elongated drum) which have rich sound not only to move the folk artists and the audience, but also make the horses and camels dance with its heavy beat. 

The folklore are artistically converted into music which are often sung in villages when the sun has set and moonlight adds mystery to the music being played and the voices of folk singers adding to the mysticism. Each place and province has its own music, its own heroes to eulogize and love stories retold. Some of the famous folk songs include "Abeeti" (a love song sung by young women), "Allah Hoo" (a Muslim lullaby) and "Ashoor Jan" (a patriotic love song). Badala (or Sandara) is a historically significant form of Pashto folk music that focuses on local romance, epics, folktales, fables, local heroes and historical events. Badala also includes Pashto translations of epics and romance from Arabic and Persian. There are many talented names who are living this music genre.

Besides, Jugni, Sammi, Luddi are some of the tunes which make people move and dance on the rhythmic tunes. In fact it is the rhythm of music which unifies Pakistan and music spills away from the bounds of one province or a place to the other and everyone seems to be singing and laughing together.

Sometimes back, a beautiful musical composition was composed that very comprehensively combines music of all provinces of Pakistan - a composition which has since been my favourite. But this is just the bird's eye view of the otherwise very rich folk music of Pakistan, which must be listened live. Even if one doesn't understand the lyrics, the rich music played on indigenous instruments mesmerizes the listener. 

Watch the video below which is blend of rich drumbeat enriched by the musical instruments that compels the dancers to dance and dance on the rhythm of folk tunes - that is why this is my favourites!!

Do come to Pakistan and be part of our rich cultural heritage and folk music fro as long as you are with us. But once you go back, you will carry the nostalgia. Try it !!

Photo | References | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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Pakistan: Your Travel destination in 2019 - Part XI: Borith Lake and Ghulkin Glacier (Gilgit Baltistan)

Many years ago I watched the film Beyond the Last Mountain for the mere name fascinated me. But those who dare and go on adventure tour to the northern areas of Pakistan and wander between the mountains valleys, they often find a fascinating world hidden beyond these mountains. And the the mountains are never ending, for when one thinks that this is the last mountain, there is yet another mountain behind ever mountain and yet another wonderland awaiting to be explored and loved forever.

However, the journey in quest to see what lies beyond the last mountain is not easy.  The moment one leaves the spectacular Karakoram Highway, there commences a nerve breaking endless journey on narrow mountains tracks studded with rocky stones, the shock of which can be felt no matter which vehicle you are sitting in. And that is where sturdy 4x4 age tested Jeeps come handy. In fact tourists, trekkers and adventurists hire these Jeeps right at the Road Head from where the mountain tracks branch off from the last metaled road. The drivers of these Jeeps are locals who can handle the toughness of the stony tracks and negotiate hair raising turns and bends.

I am always for look out for place unheard so that my readers get to see these beautiful otherwise hidden places to show to the world the beauty that awaits them to explore. And the video that I have shared below is one such effort to show to my readers the less heard Borith Lake and Passu Glacier.

Borith Lake, located approximately 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) above sea level,  is a lake in Gulmit, Hunza Valley in Gilgit–Baltistan, northwest of Husseini, a village near Gulmit, Gojal, in the upper Hunza. The crystal clear water of the lake is so far unpolluted and clean as it is watched by its snow covered protectors from behind the rocky ridges.

In order to reach the lake, one has to leave the Karakoram Highway at village Husseini and then has to travel on an unpaved jeep track for about 2 kilometers over watched by rugged stony mountains. The Lake is a sanctuary for migrating birds and is often visited by bird-watchers and nature lovers. From March to June, the lake is home to ducks of many species who rest here on their way northwards to the cooler waters of central Asia. The birds revisit from September–November with the onset of winter towards the north.

Before reaching the Borith Lake, one skirts the Ghulkin Glacier which feeds the Borith Lake. A longer walk to Passu Gar Glacier is another attraction, crossing both Ghulkin Glacier and Borith Lake. Having crossed Ghulkin Glacier by the same route, hikers can continue on the southern side of Borith Lake past the settlement of Borith Bala and the now deserted settlement of Shahabad. 

Passu Glacier as seen from KKH [Photo: Waqas Salim Jami/Facebook]

Watch the video below by a group of adventures who dared to tap the unbeaten tracks and reach beyond the mountains:

After watching the video, you too would realize that Pakistan is a sure destination to visit to cherish its memories forever !!
Photo | References | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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Pakistan: Your Travel Destination 2019 - Part VII - Pir Ghaib (Bolan), Balochistan

Balochistan province, that is the largest province of Pakistan as far land mass is concerned, is mostly an arid desert and mountainous. There are large tracts of treeless in most of the province due to lack of rainfall. But wherever there is water available we see lush green orchards, apple gardens and water falls. 

Pir Ghaib is one such place which located amid barren rocky mountains is a cool refreshing place with a waterfall and blue green water pond, surrounded by tall palm trees and lush green bushes. This serves an attractive tourist resort, specially in summers, when the area around is baked by strong sun rays. Pir Ghaib waterfalls is in fact a beautiful cascade located some 70 kilometers away from the province's capital Quetta.

Pir Ghaib literary means a pious man who disappeared or an invisible saint. No one is really sure why the place is so called but folklore legends relate that a saint and his sister had come to the area to convince the locals who worshiped fire to convert to the true faith of Islam. When the local king came to know of the presence of these two "dis-tractors" he dispatched a contingent to catch or kill the duo. When being persuaded in a gorge, the two decided to split lest being caught together.

[Photo: Facebook/Hunza]

While the sister followed the gorge, the saint fled into this arid landscape with the army in hot pursuit. And found his way up the Bolan mountain but reached a dead end. It is said that he started clawing at the mountain and when soldier almost reached him, the saint vanished inside the rock. And from that point a stream sprang in a form of waterfall that cascaded down into the area and filled it up and formed a pond. Due to presence of water, vegetation started to grow and soon became an oasis. Since that day, this oasis is called Pir Ghaib - the Invisible Saint.

And the amazing part of the folklore is that till date no one has been able to locate the source of water that oozed out of the rocks !!

There is a grave downstream the gorge there is a grave which is said to be the that of invisible Saint’s sister, known as Bibi Nani, located under a bridge by the rocky bank of a seasonal stream.

There are no details available as to how and when did Bibi Nani die or how was she buried at this place. Although not a saint herself, her grave is revered as such. In mid October, 1986, a huge flood struck the area and destroyed much of the habitats, roads and bridges not even spared. But astonishingly the grave of Bibi Nani was spared. Due to this fact, the grave of the Bibi assumes much reverence by the people of the area.

Many tourists from adjoining areas and as far away as Quetta visit this place, specially in summers to enjoy the cold water of the oasis, take a dip or just walk around or sit under the shade of the palm trees. Unfortunately there are no facilities available except for a small shop selling eatables and chips. Tourists normally carry their meals or cook here in the absence of an eatery.

You may like to watch this informative video below which describes the history and tourist facilities available around the place and how to get to this oasis from Quetta:

If you happen to be in Quetta, do take a time out and visit Pir Ghaib - it is something that you will really love it. 
Photo: Pir Ghaib (Screenshot) - Photo Grave Bibi Nani | References |  1 |  2 | 3 | 4 | 

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Fascinating Pakistan - Passu Cones

Karakorum Mountain Range which dominates the other two mountain ranges of the Himalayas and the the Hindu Kush in the northern areas of the Pakistan not only has four of the fourteen eight thousanders of the world, including the seconder highest mountain peak of K2, it also has a large number of seven thousanders and awesomely beautiful mountain peaks. While I have been talking of other eight thousanders of Pakistan, let me digress from these and talk about one of the most photographed mountain shapes and tops - the Passu Cones.

These number of conical projections get their names from the village Passu located along the Karakorum Highway besides the Hunza River and the fact that these are located near the tongue of the Passu Glacier, and just south of the tongue of the Batura Glacier - the 56 km long glacier which is the seventh longest non-polar glacier in the world. The Batura Glacier also reaches very near to the highway. 

The Passu Cones are in fact part of the 6,106 metres (20,033 ft) high Tupopdan Mountain, spread over some 20 kilometers, and are also called the "Passu Cathedral" for its massivity and vast frontal shape. 

A rather full view of the Tupopdan Mountain and its famous Passu Cathedral

The Tupopdan mountain is located to the north of the Passu village, part of the Upper Hunza Valley of Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan.

Passu Cathedral is also called the "Sun Drenched Mountain" or "Mouthful of Sun Mountain" as its pyramidal cones shine as the sun rays fall on to these. One onlooker has described the sun rays falling on to the cones in awesomely captivating words: "The first light over Passu cathedrals makes a setting for a beautiful and colorful show, with sun's rays hitting the ridge at an angle resulting in a panoramic dance of light and shadows observed on the mountain ranges."

I once ventured to go to the Khunjrab Top at the Pakistan-China border, at the end of perhaps the highest metaled road - the Karakorum Highway (KKH). Ahead of Hunza, we stopped at the Rakaposhi view point, about which I have already written and the hearty breakfast we had before moving on to Khunjrab. However, en route we were told that the road near the village of Sust, a border/custom  check post, was closed and that we should not venture forward. 

A spectacular view of the Passu Cones or the Passu Cathedral while driving on the KKH

However, our journey gave us a good chance to see the Passu Cones and I still remember its massivity, grandeur and typical coned shape peaks. In fact, the Passu Cones are the most prominent and eye-catching objects as one reaches the Passu village. In those we did not have digital cameras and the photographs which I took got misplaced over the years except the only photo of I and may family posing in front of the rising slopes of Rakaposhi.

Road travel from Gilgit to Gulmit - Passu village and Tupopdan Mountain - Google Map

There are two suspension bridges over River Hunza for trekkers to further their adventures on foot to explore the mountains and glaciers ahead. These two bridges are known as the Hussaini Bridge (photo above) and the Passu Bridge. It really requires guts to walk across these bridge as these are not in a very good state of maintenance.

Words and photos alone perhaps cannot explain the grandeur of the Pass Cathedral unless one sees its from one's eyes either on the site itself or through a video. I am sharing one of the many videos on Passu Cones and I am sure this will not only leave a meaningful impression on my readers but will also compel them to plan a trip to see this beautiful mountain and its conical peaks. This video has been shot by a para glider that starts from the Ata Abad Lake and shows the massive Tupopdan Mountain and its cones beside the Ghulkin, Gulmit, Passu and Batura glaciers - an awesome video worthy of the beautiful scenery below:

If you are planning a visit to Passu Cones, you will have to drive some 150 kilometers on the KKH ahead of the city of Gilgit, the China Town of Pakistan, and some 14 kilometers ahead of the small town of Gulmit.
Photos: Northern Areas of Pakistan 

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Fascinating Pakistan: Skardu - the Cold Desert

 

One hears of cold arctic desert covered with thick layers of ice or the Gobi Desert of Mongolia - the hottest desert of the world. But you may be surprised to know that there is one 'cold' desert located almost at the height of 8,000 feet, above mean sea level, surrounded by snow clad mountains in Pakistan near the city of Skardu - the road way to world’s highest mountains that includes K2, K3, and Gasherbrum. 

Since the temperature falls below freezing point in winters, the desert is rightly called the cold desert - or may I say the coldest highest desert in the world - or better name it a desert above the clouds!!

The beautiful sand dunes of Katpana Desert at Skardu, the main city of the Gilgit-Baltistan province of Pakistan, are one the favourite tourist destinations. Owing to its location at this high altitude, it is rightly known as the cold desert. 

A spectacular view of the sand dunes

A rare phenomenon: desert at foothills of snow clad mountains

These vast stretches of sand dune exits along the course of mighty River Indus, which start from the Khaplu Valley to Nubra Ladakh and Shigar Skardu valley. However its largest area can be seen in the Skardu and Shigar valley.

I first saw this beautiful natural phenomenon when I visited Skardu many years ago. I could see these sand dunes from the airplane window as these are very close to the Skardu airport. I took a few shots, but lost these over a period of time. Strong winds shift the dunes as quickly as nomads. At this high altitude and cold region, this desert holds strange a attraction. 

An awesome view of Skardu desert near Shiger

Now watch a beautiful drone video capturing the vast stretches of cold desert in Skardu Valley:

(The second part of the video shows the beautiful road to the Shigar valley of mighty K2. An amazing road looks very beautiful through the lens of this drone.)

There are many other spectacular sightseeing places in and around Skardu. Some of these are:

• World’s second highest plains, Deosai
• Sadpara Lake - one a monumental lake now being consumed by making of  a dam (photo below)
• The 600 years old Kharpocho Fort - built by Balti ruler Ali Sher Khan Anchan.
• Shangrila Resorts built on cold icy waters of Skardu Lake. There is no better place in Skardu than to lodge at the Shangrila Resorts to enjoy the pure natural beauty of Skardu.

If you wish to visit Skardu and its sand dunes, beside its many other attractions, do plan a visit in summers as the winters are very severe. You may take a flight from Islamabad to Skardu. But due to weather turbulences, the flights are often disrupted. One can also opt to take the land route on the Karakorum Highway, the KKH. After Jaglot on the Karakorum Highway, an almost seven hours narrow road leads towards Skardu. So do keep Skardu as of your travel destination next time you plan to visit an adventurous journey to Fascinating Pakistan.

Photos: Northern Areas of Pakistan
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Lake Saif ul Muluk – a Heavenly Lake on Earth

Lake Saif ul Muluk is one of the dream tourist resorts of Pakistan. Located in the Khyber Pakhtunkwa province at the northern end of picturesque Kaghan Valley at a height of 10.578 feet in the foothills of famous Malka Parbat (the Queen Mountain), the spectacular lake with its deep blue waters is a sight one comes across once in one’s lifetime. The reflection of Malka Parbat into its still blue waters add awe to the spectacular landscape.

Recently I came across a video on Saif ul Muluk that triggered memories of more than two decades when I visited the lake for the first time – and perhaps the only time of my life. While the video took me back into my memory lane, I was amazed find that the dirt track leading to the lake from the Naran town is still the same and to approach the lake one has to hire sturdy and robust Jeeps to reach the lake. One wonders why after so many years the dirt track has not been paved. But then one wonders if the dirt track is metaled, what the locals would do as it would rob them of the only livelihood available to them for carrying tourists up and down. So while visitors and tourist, both local and foreign, throng the Naran town in summers, the hotel and Jeep business flourishes – perhaps the only means to earn bread and butter of Naran town.

I visited Naran and the lake back in 1996 with a group of friends and family. Although it was July, the lake was still half frozen which is fed by the Kunhar River. The lake with a surface area of 2.75 square kilometers and with a maximum depth of 15 meters or 50 feet is famous for its brown trout with an average weight of seven kilograms. 

We lodged in an army run rest house ahead of Naran town and due to a glacier intervening the guest house, we had to park our vehicles well away and short of the glacier and walk on slippery glacial snow to reach the guest house – and this became our daily routine to pass over the glacier to go to Naran town and the lake.

Unlike hiring normal tourists who hire jeeps, we added a tinge of adventure by hiring horses from the base to the lake. Adding yet more adventure, I along with two other relatives decided to go up through a narrow track made in between a fallen glacier. While others reached safely, I had a fall and slipped down the frozen snow and had a free fall towards the gushing stream of water from the lake. And at that time I almost felt as if my time on earth was over as I could not find anything to hold on. But then Nature wanted me to live to narrate this incident and just feet away from the icy blue stream of water, a stone came in between I and the stream, stopping from sliding further.

Now I could not move as any move would have been fatal. Seeing my plight, a local lad, expert on such glaciers came down making holes in the ice and then rescued me and we both slowly moved up and back to track. The thought of the incident still shudders my body and I thank God for saving me from drowning and sending me an angel for my rescue. Thereafter we still followed the same track and suddenly there it was the almost frozen Lake Saif ul Muluk - a sight of lifetime for me.

Much relaxed I posing with my wife after the close to a deathly fall

That day was one of the days when the lake was almost frozen with its blue waters barely visible from under the frozen snow. We spent almost the entire day at the lake though a freezing cold wind was passing through our bodies. We had lunch and came back by evening fall. This time I did not opt for the track between the glacier and came down safely.

My family - less me (the photographer is generally missed out)

The lake remains frozen in winters and the best time to visit the lake is from June to early October. But sometimes the lake remains frozen in case the weather turn colder. When the snow has completely melted away, the lake looks like a heavenly place on earth. The snow clad Malika Parbat and its sister tops add more to the beauty of the lake. It looks as if these  snow clad mountain tops are fairies guarding the blue waters of the lake.

While people do boat in the lake, the real adventure is camping by the lake side, specially if it is a full moon and fantasying the tales of fairies and that of the famous Saif ul Muluk, a poetic work written by famous poet Muhammad Bakhsh, who in his own words has described the folklore of an Egyptian prince Saif ul Muluk who fell in love with a fairy princess Badi ual Jamal.

Now watch the video about Lake Saif ul Muluk which shows the rugged stony track leading from Naran to the lake which only sturdy Jeeps could endure.

Recently, the gush of tourists to Naran and Lake Saif ul Muluk has increased manifold. This while is a good healthy sigh of flourishing tourism industry, beneficial for the locals as well, it has added crowd, litter and garbage to the lake side. While the local administrations earns from tourists, it should also make sure that there are adequate arrangements for garbage disposal and cleanliness of area to preserve the natural beauty of the place and to ensure a healthy environment - lest the fairies run away....

Photo at the top: My sons Wahaab Jalal (left) and Waqaace Jalal (right) posing by the lake - 1996
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Butt - What ??

While I was coming home today, a wagon suddenly overtook me with big word BUTT written on its rear screen. Although the word has a wide range of meaning like the end or extremity of anything, especially the thicker, larger, or blunt end considered as a bottom, base, support, or handle, as of a log, fishing rod, or pistol as defined by the Dictionary.com, it has some other foul meaning too.

And I just wondered that what if some English speaking tourist reads this and may find it rather offensive for its relation with the human back and may wonder why someone chose to write this at the back of his vehicle. And I thought to clarify for those English speaking tourists who may read this before coming to Pakistan

OK let me break the secret out: Like many castes in the world, BUTT is also a caste in Pakistan. This caste originates from the Kashmir where it belongs to the Muslim natives of Kashmir Opposite to it is Bhatt, which is a caste of Hindu Kashmiris. 

So next time you visit Pakistan and someone displaying Butt on one's car or home or even visiting card, he is not really offending anyone but displaying one's caste.

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Top Ten Smallest Countries of the World

When we were kids, one of the most asked question was: Which is the smallest country of the world? And the answer was unanimous: Vatican City. Well, Vatican City continues to be the smallest country of the world with an area of just.44 square kilometres, perched in the Italian capital city of Rome.

Leaving aside Vatican City, which is a symbolic sovereign country, you will amazed to find nine other beautiful countries that despite being very small  in mass are considered most thriving economies of the world and favourite tourist destinations.

The video below is a run down of these top ten smallest countries of the world and one is amazed to see the sate of their development and economy, which makes some of these as the preferred tourist destinations of many.

Watch the video below:

10 Smallest Countries In The World
10 Smallest Countries In The World
Posted by Wonderful Engineering on Sunday, November 22, 2015

Which country fascinated you? Have you ever visited one of these? Well I skirted Liechtenstein in October 2014 on my way to Lichtensteig, near Zurich Switzerland. I wish I had time to have passed through it.

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Ticket to Ride - in the bus lane in Italy!!

The caption of this post should have read: Ticket to drive in the bus lane. But I kept it unaltered for it is the title of the once famous Beatles song: Ticket to ride!! For ticket here is not the bus ticket, but the traffic violation ticket by the police.

I have in one of my earlier posts 'Caught on camera' talked of my traffic violation in Germany, for which I was fined € 20. And that was almost a year ago when I visited Germany in 2014. 

But just today, almost fourteen months after my visit to Germany and some of the Schengen countries including Italy, the travelogue of which I was about to share, I received news from the company from which I had hired a BMW to travel to Switzerland and Italy that I have been fined € 20 - wow, yet again.

Previously my 'crime' was travelling at 60 kmph while the speed limit was 50 - and this time my violation reported is: Driving in the bus lane despite the display of cautionary sign at the start of the the bus lane. So this is yet another 'ticket' to ride - this time from Italy. And the interesting part is that I did the violation on 7th October 2014 in Milan - Italy, but the ticket has arrived me through the car company I hired dated 15 December 2015.

 Violation in circle: Driving in the bus lane

Thus, this goes without saying that if you happen to be travelling in Europe and driving, be mindful of all traffic signs and parking instructions as no one is spared over there even if the violation is of a very minor nature. One of the many hazards that one faces is the language - almost all signs and warnings are in local language and one cannot decipher these unless caught and translates the ticket into English. So be mindful of the rules before driving in European countries.

We in Pakistan ride for free and make many violations and get away with it. And even if we are caught, I have seen people fighting and arguing with the traffic wardens and trying to justify our violation. No one dares arguing with a police officer in other parts of the world for you can be booked by the officer fro obstructing the law.

Now just for the lighter part, listen to the song by the same name as of the title of my post sung by The Beatles in the 60s: Ticket to Ride!!

Next time if I visit Germany and other countries and travel by a hired car, I think I will take a snail with me and drive after him so that the snail imposes a caution on me and doesn't let me overspeed.

Photo: The Telegraph

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Two days and two nights in Lichtensteig, Switzerland

From Frankfurt to Switzerland, our next destination was Lichtensteig - a countryside small town some 57 kilometres east of Zurich. It was here that we had booked a motel for our two days and two nights stay in Switzerland.

Why Lichtensteig and why not Zurich - some may ask as there are very fine hotels in ZUrich and instead of travelling for one hour each day from this small countryside town to Zurich was just wastage of time?

Well my son had a answer for this: When looking for hotels before we left Kiel, Germany, he was mindful of his father's dream of visiting Switzerland and a place which was quiet, refreshing and pure. Naturally such place was not possible in Zurich - a big city with all its noise and crowd. So he looked for motels in the countryside around Zurich and that is when he found one motel in Lichtensteig.

And when we were heading towards Liechtensteig, I was rather getting jittery on the distance of the place from Zurich as it took almost one hour from the Zurich turning to the Lichtensteig. But when we reached the motel, the freshness of the air with a strange pleasing aroma took away all my tension and reservations - and believe me I felt rejuvenated. 

The motel we stayed in has a picturesque view of the countryside and whichever window we looked from, it was pleasing to see lush green hills covered with thick carpet of grass and vegetation, guarded by tall forest trees.

 Street of Lichtensteig - good to find old pal Morris Minor 1000

 

 My son standing in the balcony  - the place I sat and enjoyed my morning coffee

The motel was one of two best abodes we had in our entire tour of France, Switzerland, Italy and Holland. The second best was in Milan, Italy - I will talk about it when we reach Milan!!

The motel with its slanting wood roof was complete in all respect. It had a small kitchenette with all necessary utensils and cutlery, that came handy for my wife to fix us a dinner on the very first night and later for making sandwiches fro carrying along for our day spending in Zurich and then for the road while going to Italy. The bathroom wa simply superb with extraordinary fittings and facilities including the jacuzzi.

The motel also provided a large screen TV and a powerful music system - something my sons enjoyed to their full. And before I forget, there was a coffee maker with dozens of flavoured coffee sachets and we made sure we taste each one of it and of these a few I tasted when I sat in the balcony and sipped it sip by sip amid the cool and sweet smelling breeze of Switzerland. I will talk about in one of my next posts.

Evangelische Kirche - The new city church

 We posing with the tremendously rich and lush green background

And as I said, it was from here that we went out to Zurich to spend the entire day and while we were here, we enjoyed the Swiss mornings and nights to our fullest. If you happen to be visiting Switzerland and want to really enjoy your stay in a true countryside, mark Lichtensteig as one of the best place you would ever come across in Switzerland.

My account of Switzerland continues.....

My earlier post on Switzerland:

To Switzerland - my childhood dream comes true

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