July 30th, 2006
Note: I’m slowly getting my Blog up to date. I’m post dating the entries, but so as not to confuse you: I’m not actually in Pakistan anymore, but I’ve still got heaps to write about!
For Jo’s last week in Pakistan, we decided to explore the Hunza Valley in the north of Pakistan.
July 22nd, 2006
Just out of Islamabad is the archeological site of Taxila, dating from the 6th century BC to the 5th century AD. It is a reminder of Pakistan’s Buddhist history and geographical position as a cross roads between cultures. Alexander the Great passed through here in 326 BC, on his way to India.
July 15th, 2006
While I was staying in Peshawar I had a pleasant visit from a friend of mine from New Zealand, Andrew (aka Corb) and his girlfriend Kelly. They’ve been traveling overland from Bangkok, and were passing through Pakistan en route to Iran. So I insisted that they stay with me, as much as to help keep me sane out here, as out of hospitality. After 3 months on the road, I think it was quite nice for them to have a house to stay in, complete with cable TV, AC and cleaner, not to mention the visits to the American Club for western food (and drinks!), buffet dinners and the Red Cross Pilots Bar (Toga Party – enough said). It was interesting to have their reflections on the NGO lifestyle, and made me realize that we do actually have it pretty good here.
Making the most of their visit, we planned a day trip the Khyber Pass. No, not the road in Newmarket, but the historic route connecting Pakistan with Afghanistan. So a van, was hired, the troops were rallied (including a few extras), and we began our assault on the Khyber.
July 13th, 2006
Maybe I shouldn’t be putting this on my blog, there are much more interesting things I haven’t had the chance to write about yet, but I think that this is pretty interesting. I really don’t want to worry anyone, but I think that it adds a bit of insight into some opinions here.
Below is a translation from a local newspaper, which is fairly opposed to international NGOs. Before launching into it I would like to say a couple of things:
I hope that I don’t get in trouble for posting this. At the end of the day I think that security is tied very closely to information. The more information I have, the more secure I am. I think that this applies on a global, as well as a personal scale. I’m not talking about the CIA bugging your phone to catch terrorists, but I’m talking about people getting to know and understand people from all over the world. An ignorant person is a dangerous person. Although I was a little apprehensive about coming here, after meeting the people here, I feel safe.
Anyway … On with the show:
July 8th, 2006
One of my favourite things about Pakistan is the trucks, which are decorated to such fantastic detail. From my western perspective it doesn’t make any sense. So much cost and effort goes into decorating them, with bright colours, jingling chains, colourful hubcaps, windmills, streamers and other paraphernalia. And all these accessories must slow the trucks down, and make them rather hazardous. I’ve been told that the tradition dates back to the carts in villages, and it has developed from that. However, all I have to do is watch (and hear) one drive by and no further justification is required. They are so different, so diverse, such an expression on wheels. Truly beautiful.
So one day, Jo and I went off to investigate one of the workshops where all of this work was done.
July 1st, 2006
A pleasant change from my isolation in Mansehra is the time which I get to spend in Peshawar. My organization has an office here and I have spent some time training the staff here.
