I was in Pakistan in August 2007. It is a great country and I regret that I passed through it so quickly. I was sick from food poisoning in India when I entered and I just wanted to get back to China where I knew the culture and could rest. The people in Pakistan were very friendly. Lahore is where I spent most of my time and for South Asia it is modern, clean and friendly. Pakistan feels more developed than India and if it weren't for the status of women I would probably feel even more comfortable. Most of the Muslim countries I have been to are very nice culturally, but I never feel comfortable with the sexual roles and separation. I naturally socialize more with women and in these countries there is always more of a barrier. Kashmir felt a bit like a magical fantasy land. It was beautiful, but there was more to it. I was undeveloped...somehow just the way plants were coaxed out of the mountain rock. The little oasises that felt they had been there for thousands of years with little change. Perhaps my being close to delirium with weakness added to it. It is another place I'd like to get back to.

Map of Pakistan

Lahore city bus at the Indian border. With a metal partition inside to seperate men and women. August 2007.

Lahore train station. August 2007.

Lahore's old fort. August 2007.

Outside Lahore's beautiful mosque. August 2007.

Near the old fort in Lahore. August 2007.

Beautiful mosque in Lahore. August 2007.

Lahore. August 2007.

Bus I took from Lahore to Abbotabad. August 2007.

In the north of Pakistan. August 2007.

Me in Gilgit. I don't look so well. I was still exhausted from my time in India. August 2007.

A river near Gilgit. August 2007.

North of Gilgit. August 2007.

In Kashmir. August 2007.

The mountains near the border with China are quite grand. August 2007.

Bus I took from Gilgit to Kashgar. August 2007.

Lahore, Punjab, August 2007.

Lahore, Punjab, August 2007.

Gilgit, Kashmir, August 2007.

Passport Stamps

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