PAKGHAN SERIES, DAY 1 – 4
DUBLIN – KARACHI
I took my dad on a beach holiday to Pakistan. Pakistan is a region I have been excited about travelling for years.
WELCOME TO COUNTRY 172
It’s unique, chaotic and most importantly I have heard from most people who have visited, the friendliest place in the world.
AVARI TOWER
It’s was 4am by the time we arrived at the hotel so it was fair to say we were in need of a few hours kip.
I wasn’t sure about the quality of hotels here but it was fantastic. Generally the quality isn’t important for me but I was keen to make sure my dad who’s 70 has at least a little comfort during his time here.
I took my dad on a beach holiday to Pakistan
SHALWAR KAMEEZ
After getting a nice burn from the room kettle we made it out to the city of Karachi to get suited and booted for the rest of the trip. I think dad was initially a little shocked but after a few compliments by some of the locals he was soon persuaded.
I took my dad on a beach holiday to Pakistan
FLAG….
- GREEN FIELD – The green color represents Islam, which is the religion of the majority of Pakistan’s population. It symbolizes prosperity, growth, and the dedication of the nation to Islamic principles.
- WHITE STRIPE – The vertical white stripe on the left side of the flag represents the religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly non-Muslims. It emphasizes the importance of equality and protection for all citizens, regardless of their faith, under the country’s constitution.
- CRESCENT – The crescent in the center of the green portion of the flag symbolizes progress and development. It reflects the aspiration of Pakistan to move forward as a modern, progressive state.
- STAR – The five-pointed star next to the crescent represents light and knowledge. It is a symbol of the guidance provided by the principles of Islam and the pursuit of knowledge to illuminate the future of the nation.
CLIFTON BEACH
After visiting the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan we then took to the chaos of Clifton Beach and oh my god. This place had everything from camels to dune buggy’s and for the amount of people that were here the smell left a lot to be desired for. But again people were incredible, a few pushy vendors.
I took my dad on a beach holiday to Pakistan
DAY 3, GADDANI
The plan for today was the head into the region of Baluchistan, just outside of Karachi. It’s completely off limits for tourists but we felt we would be ok. That would have been the case had there not been a security issue in Gaddani a few days ago, so we were swiftly lead away by two undercover policemen who mentioned that if we get our permit we can return. Permits take 7days to approve!!
RELATED READ: THE BEST BEACH IN THE WORLD ALL TO MYSELF
LANDFILL
Believe it or not I wanted to visit a landfill here in Karachi just to see some of the more dangerous jobs but all we could find were lorry’s dumping their waste into the local river, heartbreaking.
ABOUT PAKISTAN:
- LANGUAGE – Urdu (national language), English (official language)
- HELLO – “Salam”
- HOW TO CHEERS – “Mubarak ho”
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE – Chai (Tea)
- POPULAR SPORT – Cricket
- STAPLE DIET – Roti (Flatbread)
BIRYANI
Pakistan’s most famous dish is Biryani and there is one restaurant you must visit here. I actually can’t figure out the name but here is a photo of the shop front. The place is incredible, staff hilarious and food unreal. For sure the best biryani I’ve had!
The staff couldn’t do enough for us and the owner sat down with us during the meal. Even once dad had a bite he couldn’t stop eating!
BEVERAGE
As you might know Pakistan adheres strictly to Islam and that means no alcohol but when you have my dad who needs his 5 a day there is always a way. On the 10th floor of our hotel there happened to be a business suite. There is no signage of this room and no alcohol on show so it was a little sus to say the least.
Anyway we got our tipple, but I couldn’t help but feel I was having my first ever drink again and trying to hide it from my parents.
DAY 4
KARACHI’S LANDFILL pt2
Life far many in Pakistan is hard and that’s exactly what we learned when we visited Karachi’s landfill site. We immediately got talking to 6 boys (they were only 17) who talk us through their job.
They had been here for 4 years ever since they fled Afghanistan as the Taliban took over. We in the west don’t realise the knock on effects of what this does to people, and these 6 kids shifting through rubbish in the crippling heat is a perfect example.
WHERE IS ORANGI TOWN?
Orangi Town
ORANGI TOWN
Orangi was formed as a result of the British India getting split into two states, Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. Due to the post partition violence many came over from India which took a toll on the infrastructure across the country. So the government created an urban area so people knew they had a place to live.
Since then the town has grown and is now has its own ecosystem of shops, restaurants and schools. Although the conditions aren’t great, it might be a little unfair to call it a slum.
SHIP BUILDING
Next we headed to the coast and to what appeared to be another slum, called Korangi. No idea if there is another meaning to this word but it was super interesting. We got talking to a few of the ship builders who were happy to show us their boats and take us through their process. It seems that no matter how hard people have it or how busy they are they are always happy to make time for tourists, it’s incredible.
The area however (Ibrahim Hyderi) leaves alot to be desired for, as it’s dirty and has this stale smell going through the air. Everytime I visit a place like this it’s a reminder of how different some of us live. Many of these people do nothing but work and for very little return. Although when talking to them they seem as happy as can be.
BURNS ROAD
One of the biggest challenges on this trip was undoubtedly going to be the food. Burns Road is famous food street known right across South Asia and offers everything from Paan to Pakistan’s biggest Kebab. Luckily we were with a guide who know the places to visit and the places to avoid.
After having some random dish and then some chicken we made out to Spicy Khan, to try the famous kebab. The service and staff in this place was an entirely new level as we were given a walk around of their famous restaurant. What I didn’t expect though was for their big kebab to be as nice as it was, it was unreal and wasn’t a hope in hell offer people finishing it. It was also free!! Shout out to the Spicy Khan boys!
TODAY’S YOUTUBE VIDEOS
If you want to see today from a different perspective, and catch a few different stories from the front row, then check out today’s YouTube videos below.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I have been told about the hospitality of the Pakistani people countless times but even my highest expectations would have been blown out of the water. It is a reason for visiting Pakistan on its own!
NEXT UP
17 hour overnight train up to Multan!! Click to read.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
172/229
This is episode 1 of The Pakghan Series, for the entire series click here.
To see more photos or videos of my trip head to my social channels; YouTube, Instagram & TikTok.
Question Time
- Would you like to visit Pakistan?
- Do you think you would enjoy Pakistani street food?
Let me know in the comments below . . .
