“Pakistan 🇵🇰 ~First Day in Lahore”

• November 1, 2020
• By Pen
• 4 Comments

Random, sleep-deprived thoughts 

Our friend, Zaje picked us up from the airport, at dawn this morning. It was so nice to see him! He is very kind, giving, and so accommodating. We are honored to be called his friends. We are lucky to know him, because what’s lacking in infrastructure for visitors, he has made up for in every way. After we leave Lahore, we will have our wits about us for figuring the rest out; from learning in Lahore with Zaje. We are so grateful for these important lessons. 

Just like in India, our US banking system does not work well, with the Pakistan banking system. This is problematic to deal with. Cash and carry countries are not the issue, as we can deal with that, but it takes ATM’s to make this do-able. We did find one bank where we were allowed a limited withdrawal of only 2000 rupees at a time. ($12.52) and it took 15 individual withdrawals to get a decent amount, to start. It is a drag at a $3.31 fee, per withdrawal. I would go so far as to say this feels criminal. Somebody at the bank is making bank, right?

We will try a money exchange next, but we only have a fair amount American dollars which we we have on-hand to pay for “Visa Upon Entry” countries or like Pakistan, where we paid for Visa, before we arrived.

The hotel cost is reasonable. Transportation is too. Food we do not know about as yet. We will not be renting a car in Pakistan, because the price is NOT reasonable. The high accident rate makes this so. Insurance is very expensive. Driving here is on the left side (like in England) but I report this fact lightly, as they pretty much drive anywhere they want.

Uber is available here, and I’ve had to resurrect my Uber account and app, dust it off and get it going. We will see how that option goes. There are also Tuk Tuks, buses and trains. We will have no problems getting around, though language barrier with drivers is challenging.

Do not even think about using tap water to make coffee with. Showering with the water is fine, though.

We feel perfectly safe, though when sitting in the car, while idling, it is important to lock the doors, because there are beggars and they will try to open the door. I have witnessed this. Very sad.

The food is spicy, though to a Pakistani, it’s not spicy at all.

There is a helmet law in Pakistan, with a fine attached for no -use, but most motorcycles go without helmets.

Masks wearing is voluntary, except inside businesses.

The language is Urdu and the writing is beautiful.

Though we have only been  here on this first day, we already have to begin planning our next country visit, due to timeframe on getting Visas. It’s the last thing I want to deal with so soon, but it’s a necessary evil to get to visit the harder to visit countries! 

Afghanistan is looking good as our next country for entry. No PCR testing or quarantine required. It’s 4.5 hour flight from Pakistan. (We like Turkish Airline and they are Star Alliance members, so we get our United Miles when we fly with them). We can apply for Afghanistan Visa online, but it too expensive at $90 pp plus Visa cost of $90 pp, so we will apply in person, when we reach Islamabad; where the Afghanistan Embassy is located. If we make it to Afghanistan, we will complete all seven “Stan” country visits: Turkmenistan 🇹🇲, Tajikistan 🇹🇯, Kazakhstan 🇰🇿, Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿, Pakistan 🇵🇰 and Afghanistan 🇦🇫 …….Wish us luck 

I picked out and purchased a local costume to wear when touring Pakistan, and it will also see me through other predominate conservative Muslim countries. Pakistan is not India, but we do note some similarities. Mostly there are differences. For me, I note that India has a vibrant mix of religious cultures, whereas Pakistan is primarily Muslim. Two very different vibes. 

Getting a SIM card today was interesting. Normally we do this at the airport, after we arrive, but were warned the Kiosks are a scam operation. We waited to go to an area in Lahore, where it is legit. Daryl is the one that goes in the stores and kiosks to do this, but here it was necessary for me to go, because of the typical and normal segregated lines for men and woman. (Like India) There were 15 men in line and only one woman in line. I took both our phones and stepped in line. The security guard waved me inside a small tent, where a woman inspected the contents of my bag, but she did not pat me down for … well explosives I guess (they do the pat downs in India in these same tents, just to enter hotels) Anyhoo, the young man at the SIM place spoke good English. The Urdu accent makes English words tricky to understand, though.

Here in Pakistan, just like in Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, and other countries in Africa, and Asia for that matter, armed guards are everywhere. We are very use to this, so it does not alarm.

The weather is hot during the day and cool at night. It gets dark early and light later. The rainy season has passed, by November.

The roads in town are decent. The wiring from pole to pole for power, internet and phone, remind us of India and Kathmandu, but not as bad as Kathmandu. What a cluster!

It is hard to know if the tourism trade is affected by COVID19, or if the infrastructure for it is lacking. Perhaps a little of both?

Like in Egypt, we notice an effort by many to sweep up litter on the streets, or have some form of an organized garbage pile, but the effort is futile, when goats and other animals plow through the organization and the mess starts again. The lack of a garbage pickup service is evident. With this, there is an aroma in the air that is not always pleasant. It does come and go.

We have a room in a guesthouse situation. It is clean and there is hot water, WiFi, A/C and breakfast included. We were asked if we were married, since we wanted one bed together. $28/ night. WiFi is slow and it’s 3G. We will do the best we can with what we have to work with, as always.

No sooner had we arranged and paid for a tour to Wagha border of India/Pakistan to watch the “closing ceremony” of said border. It’s an impressive parade, (done 7 days a week) that we want to see.  BUT, a few hours later, the tour bus was canceled. Reason; COVID19. We also have another tour lined up for Monday; same company, but that one is on? We shall see. To salvage the visit, to the see the Wagha Parade, thanks to Zaje, we have a car picking us up in the afternoon, tomorrow to take us back and forth so we can watch this display. We will have photos to share after this first self-tour! OOPS, made the trip and got by turned away at the gate! That was an expensive afternoon! No parade, as it was cancelled.

So, that’s just our first day! We are feeling affects of jet lag, but it’s not from jet lag. We lost only two hours, but we only slept about an hour on the plane during the night flight. We are just tired from lack of sleep. Tomorrow we will feel rebooted after a good nights sleep!

Pakistani is very interesting! Day two we get out of town and go on an adventure! We are so glad to be here!