going to pakistan

thetourist

am planning a 2 week trip in april and hoping to include pakistan - anyone any ideas, comments, warnings etc ?

delop

Did you go on that trip in the end?
I might have to go on a business trip there, and would be very happy if you have any useful feedback to offer

thetourist

yes we did - had the most amazing time ever (in spite of the current situation ) - at the time we went it was just after the "prophet cartoons" situation and so there were a few things like shop street in lahore was shut down in protest which was a bit of a bummer but the taxi driver took us to a different resturaunt - they were all so eager to help us and were delighted to see tourists........ however the situation now is a lot different ...... the country was always living a bit close to the surface but as i understand it now from someone who lives there the extremists are trying to take advantage of weak leadership and some people are worried about what the reaction of the us will be. so all i've heard lately is negative ---- however like i said we went right after a time of unrest and right up to the week before we left it was all up in the air and there were concerns but actually when we got there it was all great .. be careful and keep up to date ... it could be fine today and a war zone next week

we went to peshawar and lahore ....

advice .... buy a shalmar kamise (sic) ( pants and shirt) for walking around if you want to blend in .... dont eat in the markets --- dont drive under any circumstances ... pretty dangerous afaik .... ( rent a car means a kind of taxi ) .. or a rickshaw for short journeys .. if you're going to lahore i know a good guide and i think i still have his number
... we stayed in the holiday inn in lahore ( excellent ) .... if you want alcohol you might want to get it early --- i think the hotels alchohol service stops at 8 or something ...... power sockets - you might need a selection of adapters

delop

cheers very good advice, thanks....

Ill get back to you and tell you how it went if i end up going...

getz

pakistan is ok but everyone think you may know there family in the uk--my biggest suprise was a visit to bangladesh very friendly people - warning only drink bottled water -make sure you have all the injections