Friday, September 25, 2009

Karakoram Hiway - Day2

After breakfast we pass the immigration process to leave for China. As we will be in China for only 3 days, we leave our big luggage/backpacks at the hotel. Without any x-ray system, our bags are opened to be checked manually. We rent the NATCO land cruiser for today since only Natco car company can cross the border.

Hotel dinning room


Or if one would rather have breakfast on the rooftop with the mountain.


Cyclists are ready for today trip.


A huge maintainace of the road.


We are sharing the road with others.




The tree starts changing its color at the entrance of Khunjirab National Park.


On the way of the Karakoram Hiway to Khunjirab Pass (4,700 m height).




At the highest point. Today I get some headache along the road either with the altitude sickness or the chain-smoking driver.


The road on the China side, very well maintain, is so much different from the Pakistan side.

However, at the border my bags have never been to any thoroughly checked as today before in my many previous trips. Every pictures in the camera and in any memory cards must be reviewed one by one. But if you have an X-drive then it would be checked at the city (Tushkurgan, Xinjiang Province) office where the computer is located. Medicine without proper seal is cut in half to be checked.(taste?)

And all cars must be lined up after check up to proceed to the city office together in caravan style. But that is not all, our belongings need to go through x-ray scan again. A temperature check up is required on us too.

We thought that after all these process we now can go and have a rest at the hotel, turn out that our guide, Altaf, is not permitted to stay in China and he has to go back together with other Pakistani to Pakistan tomorrow without any explanation. The officer only tells us that we can proceed our journey but not our guide.

What a long long day!!!. Stay overnight at Traffic Hotel in stead of Karakul Yurt as planned.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Karakoram Hiway - Day1

We fly to Islamabad and stay overnight before flying again to Gilgit in the northern part of Pakistan. It takes about an hour from ISB to Gilgit. We all pray that the weather would be good today since the flight to Gilgit is up to the weather. Otherwise we need to drive up there which shall take about 18 hours.


View from the sky.



Our breakfast at the hotel across from Altaf's office in Gilgit.

After having breakfast, we then start the trip to Sust, the border town between Pakistan and China.
We choose the jeep for the trip and think that it would be easier for us to take pictures without windows rolling up and down along the way. But the jeep is too small for 4 people, 1 guide and 1 driver; not to mention heavy dust from the in-process maintenance of Karakoram Hiway.


On the road


Rakaposhi Peak veiw from the restaurant where we stop for lunch.

Rakaposhi (Räkapoşi) is a mountain in the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan. It is situated in the Nagar Valley approximately 100 km north of the city of Gilgit. Rakaposhi means "shining wall" in the local language. Rakaposhi is also known as Dumani ("Mother of Mist"). It is ranked 27th highest in the world and 12th highest in Pakistan, but it is more popular for its beauty than its rank might suggest.

Welcome to Pasu


Cathedral Peak

Stay at PTDC hotel in Sust.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Synopsis of my wonderful Karakoram Trip

It was one of the most wonderful trips in my life - Karakoram Hiway Trip in Pakistan and China.


Karakul Lake in China


Livestock Market at Kashgar

Pasu Valley


Pasu Glacier


Borith Lake


Husaini Bridge


Bualtar Glacier


Fairy Meadow


Sunrise at Fairy Meadow


Satpara Lake


Rama Lake


Deosai National Park


Shangri La Lake


Babusar Pass


Saiful-Maluk Lake


A Sweet Little Pakistani Girl

After seeing many beautiful Pakistan pictures, I asked to join Nong Nat and Nath group. The trip starts from September 24 - October 7, 2009, comprising of 4 members. Nat has contacted Altaf, an agent recommended by Pe Aoy. We chose the Grade-C-price tour: the different is in food and an accommodation, but turned out that Altaf upgraded us to the Grade-A one without paying an extra.

Though deciding to join the trip several months ago, I am quite nervous at first because this one is the real adventurous trip: Am I going to survive a lot of walking/trekking - being a city girl all my life without any exercise? How about the altitude sickness that I hear so often from my friend? (eventhough my friends try to calm me down by telling me that we just sit in a car and pass the hightes point. That's all!!) How about food? I don't like spicy and curry Indian food? Would Pakistani be like Indian food in Bangkok? Evenmore, one insurance company denied the trip insurance since Pakistan is not covered!!! And that's not included all my friends' warning and precautions given to me before the trip.

However, it turns out to be one of the most enjoyable trip that I shall go back and visit Pakistan again sometime in the future.!!!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Basilico no.3 at Soi Aree







To host lunch for Tum who comes to visit her parents. Tum is now living in Dallas, Texas.
This placeis the third branch of this restaurant in Bangkok.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

SHI CU - K1 get together


A dinner for Orn and his wife who spend their vacation in Thailand this year. They usually comes to visit their family once every other year. Orn has stayed in Georgia since when he went to study his master degree 24 years ago.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

K. Tik's first pocketbook



Khun Tik launches her first pocket book. The book is the Thai version translated from French novel, Gay Vinci Code. The party is held at Patio, Silom Soi 2.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Thump Trigger


I have a small operation for my right thump trigger after my second steroid injection was no longer effective. The incision is about 3 cm. (the bandage makes it look like I would have had a very big operation.)

Monday, July 27, 2009

My niece : Neen


My niece, Neen, is going to school in the morning.
Ranked number 4 as her as “school driver” whose school is not far from my office, I give her a ride to school when the other three are out of town for this week.

Neen is a bit hyper child, she never sits still for longer moment. There are many stories about her hyper moment. One of them is that on her first day to school she was the only student who was walking around in the class while others sat still at their desks.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Jae Dham



Dr. Sumet and his family host the big lunch for Khun Sivaporn's speedy recovery. A very delicious grill prawn shophouse restaurant at Klong 10. It is my second time to visit this restaurant.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Tapas Cafe


Congratulations to Grand pa and Grand ma, Khun Sivaporn and Khun Rojchana, for a new grand daughter. Nong Pat's new baby is born on Saturday morning.



Thank you for this Spanish dinner ka.
Tapas Cafe at Sukhumvit Soi 11
www.tapascafebangkok.com

Fabio Italian Steak House



Fabio Italian Steak House at Prachanivet Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok.

Monday, July 06, 2009

Floral Merit – Making Festival in Saraburi

In my mind, long weekend holidays are very scarce; therefore I usually reserve them for traveling. But for this year, I can’t even believe it myself that I have no trip for this long weekend. So on the last minute this morning, I called my friends and though there are only two of us available, a trip to Saraburi for “Tak Bat Dok Mai Festival” (ตักบาตรดอกไม้) sounds good to us.

Our first stop is to have lunch at “Khao Kang Ban Suan” eateries (ร้านข้าวแกงบ้านสวน).


Next is Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi Province.



The parade are prepared for this occasion.


Too bad that it rains so heavy that I can’t take as many pictures as I want.



“Dok Khao Pansa” (Globba winiti)

From the buddhistchannel website:

The temple is located in Tumbon Khun Khlon, Saraburi - 108 kilometres north of Bangkok, famous for its limestone cliffs and mountains.

As Phra Phutthabat is also famous for the footprint of Lord Buddha, local residents see the flowers as a perfect offering when paying homage to the sacred footprint and mark the beginning of annual monk retreat (lent season). The practice has kept an old tradition alive.

In the afternoon, Buddhists bring hong hern and other flowers for another round of merit-making. Villagers stand in long lines on both sides of the path leading the stairs of Wat Phra Phutthabat temple which houses the sacred footprint.

More than 100 monks and novices then walk in line to receive the flowers in their alm bowls and walk up the stairs to pay homage to the footprint.
 
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