Pakistan; wow!
Pakistani people; words cannot describe their genuine friendliness, hospitality and desire to share their country and time with foreigners. I’m actually kinda speechless in regards to the warm welcome we have received here but I’ll try.
I had anticipated waiting till the end of my journey to write about Pakistan so as to have an overall picture of the country and I will have more to say about individual places and the country in general but when things are this good it would be unfair not to share as soon as possible.
I was excited but also nervous before coming to Pakistan; images I had seen of the country’s landscape and reports I had read from fellow travellers with experience of the place gave me a lot to be excited about – images and reports I had read in the media and by politicians gave me reason to be nervous. Would I be safe there? Would the ugly and unhuman face of terrorism show itself? Would I be able to cope with my surrounds being legally blind? Thankfully I had no reason to be nervous and every reason to be excited.
Pakistan is a country that is blessed with amazing natural beauty of all kinds. Scorching hot deserts to the south, snow covered mountain peaks, lush valleys, glaciers and more to the north. The mountainous regions of the north, which take in the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan Ranges are known around the world for their unique beauty and I hope to showcase this area better in the future once more exploring is done.
It is also a place of immense historical activity and significance. Cities like Peshawar are amongst the oldest on the subcontinent and the nearby Khyber Pass has been a major corridor linking Asia with Europe and the Middle East, for millennia. Thoughts and philosophies such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and of course Islam have called Pakistan home, spreading to and from its neighbours. Alexander the Great came through here and many of his men refused to leave places like the Kalash Valleys. Numerous other armies and empires, including the British, have done their best to claim the country and other empires like the Moguls have left their mark with immense yet delicately beautiful buildings, shrines and architecture. Sadly, groups like the Taliban have also tried to conquer Pakistan in recent times. Its history is deep and continuing.
What is most important though is what is happening here now. It is the general public of Pakistan who are creating their own destiny and future history and if the future is left to the average Pakistani on the street then the future is bright!
You will be hard pressed to find more friendly and hospitable people anywhere in the world. If you do know of any please let me know! Since arriving we have been treated with the utmost respect by the people we have met. Gifts of clothing, food, drink and more have been offered without hesitation everywhere we go.
Everybody is quick to offer their services in any way possible, whether it be showing us around the immediate surroundings or further afield. Food and drink are lavished upon us and whilst accomodation can at times be hard to find when looking at the usual online sources and indeed when walking the streets, people will always do their best to help you find a place that suits you. Information is shared freely and if somebody doesn’t know the answers to our questions they are quick to try and find out or find someone who can help. We have copious phone numbers and new Facebook friends who are happy to offer their services, whatever we may need, at any time of the day or night.
What is most amazing and humbling is that these offers are one hundred per cent genuine. Services and promises are not offered in the hope of receiving money for their efforts, they are offered because the people are extremely eager to help and ensure we are happy and safe. Even when we try to pay for servicces or shared green tea, mango shakes and meals we find it impossible to do so. Most seem almost offended that we would try and pay as they are adamant that we are the guests and must be treated with the utmost hospitality. Despite them feeling that they are required to offer such hospitality it never seems that it is a chore, quite the opposite, it is fulfilling for them and humbling for us.
There have been many media reports for far too long inferring and stating that the Pakistani people and Muslim’s in general hate the west and despise foreigners. This is a terrible lie. Everyone has been overjoyed to see foreigners in their home. They look back on the days when many tourists visited Pakistan with great relish and are saddened that they haven’t been able to welcome visitors as often as they like in recent times. It is entrenched in the culture to welcome and help visitors in their land and has been for eons.
I really cannot descrice just how excited the average Pakistani is to meet and welcome visitors. As an example; in the hill station of Madyan in the Swat Valley word got around very quickly that there were a pair of Australians in town and many people have been waiting for an opportunity to meet and help. Last night when returning to our hotel after dinner there were two gentlemen waiting to meet us. They had been to our hotel a few times before but either we weren’t there or they thought it was too late and didn’t want to disturb us. As we spoke their exuberance was over flowing, eyes almost popping out of their heads. This wasn’t because they were naive to foreigners or uneducated about the world – quite the opposite. One was a doctor who works with Medicine Sans Frontier as an ER supervisor on the Afghan/Pakistan border and the other is completing a Masters Degree in zoology. They were eager to meet and talk, to offer us food and drinks and would not take no for an answer. One of them risks his life to help people while the other aims to help the animal kingdom, yet it was us they were calling noble for visiting their country. They made it clear they were honoured to meet us but really the honour of meeting such people is all ours.
Age places no limits on this welcoming behaviour either, teenagers through to the elderly will go out of their way to make sure you feel welcome and ask if there is anything they can do. Respect is an ageless and timeless thing.
Similarly occupation makes no difference to the people’s attitude towards us. As well as our doctor and student friends we have been warmly welcomed by shepherds, leaders of mule convoys, shop owners, food preparers, those in the tourism sector, the retired and the unemployed. All walks of life want to share their lives with us and be part of ours.
Language is also no major problems. Many people speak English and are happy to converse and those that don’t can still be communicated with via hand signals, gestures and smiles. Admittedly, seeing and understanding these gestures can be hard due to my limited visual acuity but it is not unsurmountable.
Sadly, Pakistan has seen more than its fair share of problems at the hands of extremist groups like the Taliban, local and international militaries and international governments, media and rumour peddlers. Actions including murders and the restriction of education and freedom by groups like the Taliban and others of their ilk are abhorrent wherever and whenever they occur but it is particularly heartbreaking when people as genuine and peaceful as those we have met are targeted. At times I’ve had to fight back tears while thinking of what these people have endured but ultimately I am made to smile by the fact that they have endured.
Think of the absolute worst of the extremist groups, let your mind explore the stereotype that all people in this area of the world are extremists or their supporters; do your worst. Now think of the polar opposite. Think of open minded, resilient, genuine, hospitable, respectful, peaceful people. This is closer to the true spirit of the Pakistani people. It is closer but no matter how good your thoughts are the Pakistani people will still astound you further when you travel to their home and speak with them.
As for my nervousness about travelling here whilst being legally blind, a nervousness that can be found wherever I roam, be it in far flung places or the neighbourhood I call home, that has been nothing to be too worried about. Yes the traffic can be insane, yes infrastructure is underdeveloped in many places meaning there are many pot holes, uneven surfaces, large drops and all sorts of obstacles to contend with but when travelling with my brother I am gifted with a huge amount of help and reassurance. I am blessed to have a family member and trusted friend to travel with and help me.
The biggest frustration is not being able to recognise people I have previously met or take in all the smiles, waves and handshakes that are offered. I have trouble even recognising my own family when at home so this is not something particular to this area. Sure I miss a lot of the detail of the historical and general sites/sights and the daily action occuring on the street but ultimately I can still talk with and learn from the many people we encounter – this is indeed a blessing.
I am extremely fortunate that I still have a month or so to further explore Pakistan and its people and will no doubt have much more to share.
If you have thought about visiting Pakistan but are unsure for any reason, dispell all fears. If you haven’t considered such a trip I urge you to do so. I am positive that you will be as enchanted and amazed by this place and its people as I have been and you will be doing a great honour to the people you meet here.
The world needs to know the reality of Pakistan and its amazing people – you will only truly know the reality if you go.
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