Pakistan is a country that get a lot of bad press in the news. However it is a country like any other countries in the world. It has its fair share of problems, but also its natural beauty and extremely friendly people. The city that I am living in Karachi is in the very south part of the country in the state of Sindh.

Karachi has its fair share of problems (like any large city in the world) as in petty crime and poverty, but that does not stop it from being a very interesting city to photograph as the streets are always bustling with things going on.

For more on the Great North and the beauty, please click here- The Great North

A good break from the hustle and bustle of the city is always going to the beach. The beaches are located approximately an hour away from the city and offer some sandy parts as well as very rocky parts. A lot of people have houses there that we are invited to and spending a day there is always well advised for a little rest and relaxation. Where else can you have BBQ, ride camels, and watch a snake charmer with a Cobra?

During October break of 2021, the plan was to go up to the beautiful valley of Hunza.

Those plans however got derailed as the plane flights were not operating the day we were in Islamabad due to severe weather conditions. Fortunately we were able to get a plan scrapped together with the help of our guides to go around Islamabad, the mountains around Islamabad in Nathia Gali, and Lahore.

Stepping off in Islamabad we directly went to Taxila, which was an important city in ancient times in Ancient India. It had elements of Greek as well as Indian history which made it magnificent for me to walk around and look at.

The ride up to the mountains near Islamabad for me was the highlight of the trip. It instantly took me back to the roads in Nepal with its rough and ragged edges and the people were extremely friendly. We got to spend a couple of days up there exploring everything the area had to offer (although there was much more).

The rides down from the mountain to Islamabad also had so many interesting facets of life as it is always interesting how people in different environments live…

Islamabad has so many interesting facets to it that I would have like to explore it more, however we simply did not have the time. We did get to see the Faisal Mosque which is the sixth biggest in the world along with a very small village that had lovely sites (along with monkeys).

Finally we made our last stop in Lahore which is known for its forts and extremely old sites and architecture. This would probably be my favorite city thus far in Pakistan as there is so much to do. It has a feeling of being like Karachi but a bit more organized and the people here are extremely friendly. The Lahore fort is now a historical site but was once used during the Mughal Times.

The people and sites of Lahore were amazing. With driving and walking everywhere, it was great seeing how people live their everyday lives, especially in the old city.