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Meet the hiking duo that took a chance on Pakistan

Meet the hiking duo that took a chance on Pakistan

Alex and Sebastiaan thought Iran was a swell country. Then, they came to Pakistan
Updated 22 Jul, 2016

This couple is living our travel dreams, and last month, they wandered into Pakistan.

Alex and Sebastiaan describe themselves as "20-something blogging backpackers" who quit their desk jobs to travel the world some.

From Netherlands where they lived, they've travelled eastwards, making stops in Armenia and Georgia before entering Asia and camping out in Iran, Pakistan and now China.

Through beautiful photographs and heartwarming stories, they documented their stay in Pakistan thus:

When they first decided to cross over into Pakistan from Iran, Alex and Sebastiaan weren't sure what to think.

"Everything we found on the internet made Pakistan seem like the most dangerous destination ever, but we tend not to believe everything we read," says Alex in a conversation with Images. "Our biggest concern was Ramadan, actually – we thought we were either going to be arrested for drinking water during the day, or die from heat stroke on the streets of Karachi!"

Luckily, this wasn't the case. Not only did Alex and Sebastiaan find themselves well-supplied with food and drink, but many people they met treated them like their personal guest.

"[The most surprising part of our trip was] the hospitality of the people we met. After traveling in Iran, we thought it would be impossible to find more hospitable people … but we were wrong! Pakistani people completely blew us out of the water," Alex shares.

Still, their journey didn't come without challenges:

"Our biggest challenge once in Pakistan was figuring out where we could and couldn't go. We were told more than once that we could only stay at expensive hotels because of “security reasons”, or we couldn't enter sights because we didn’t have permission. But nobody could tell us where to get permission!

"The best tip we can give for first-time travelers is to expect the unexpected, and just go with the flow. Pakistan has a way of surprising you at every twist and turn."

Speaking of twists and turns, Alex and Sebastiaan didn't have a pre-planned route through Pakistan.

"We had no idea where to go or what to see upon entering Pakistan–the only information we could find beforehand were travel warnings! In Karachi we bought a paper map–yes, those still exist–and used a combination of map and recommendations from people we met."

They visited Karachi, Thatta, Sehwan Sharif, Lahore, Islamabad, Naran, Kaghan, Hunza, Gilgit - and a few places in between. As they met more and more people, their understanding of Pakistan and Islam also deepened:

"Many of the places we visited deserved much more love than they were getting. Georgia and Armenia don’t see many western tourists, and Iran and Pakistan both have (unfair) reputations as being filled to the brim with terrorists.

"We hope to entice more tourists to these places by sharing our stories and our experiences, by showing what it’s really like to travel in these places. You shouldn’t believe everything the media tells you!"

So, do they recommend the journey to other people?

"When you’re on your deathbed, wherever and whenever that may be, it’s not going to be the thousands of hours you spent at work that makes you smile. It will be all of the other experiences in life–those with family, with friends, while traveling or pursuing your dream–that will make you feel like you’ve truly lived your life. So why would you resign yourself to spending at least 66% of your waking hours in an office?

Comments

Zak Jul 22, 2016 01:02pm
Awesome, beautiful people saw the beauty of pakistan. Thank you.
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Thoroughthinker Jul 22, 2016 01:08pm
Fortunate for their unharmed exit!
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Mehreen Jul 22, 2016 01:21pm
Love the pictures, so colorful and vibrant, just how our dear country is :) Thanks for the share! Stay blessed everyone
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Lost With Purpose Jul 22, 2016 01:26pm
Thank you for featuring us. It was our pleasure and privilege to visit Pakistan.
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Nargis Jul 22, 2016 01:29pm
Beautiful :) Would love to see this in a Western publication :)
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Harmony-1© Jul 22, 2016 01:30pm
Lovely read! Hospitality in Pakistan is unmatched!
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Jaffar Jul 22, 2016 01:34pm
Good photographs.
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Dr. K B Huzen Jul 22, 2016 01:49pm
Wonderful, I know the great hospitality of Pakistan people.
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saquib mumtaz Jul 22, 2016 01:56pm
Thank u so much for visiting our misunderstood country.
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Loyal citizen Jul 22, 2016 02:11pm
Thanks for visiting and showing the truth. I have visited many places, my country, Pakistan, is very beautiful and people are the most nice I have met.
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Maxx Jul 22, 2016 02:44pm
@Thoroughthinker There are hundreds of stories of foreigners being molested, robbed and killed in many incidences in India, there is a huge drop in female tourists visiting India, its all over the internet and the media. India is not a safe place for female traveling alone. No one can match the respect and hospitality we gave to visitors and tourists...this is unmatched in the world as the writer/traveler has correctly described.
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Ajmair shah Jul 22, 2016 03:13pm
Alex and Sebastian you are always welcome in Pakistan. And be half of people of Pakistan I am very thankful to you for your kind words for our country. And just imagine you visited here in Holy month of Ramdan you enjoyed a lot and when u will come again in normal days then how much will enjoy .stay blessed all muslims and Pakistani people are peaceful and love peace. Thanks and plz come again .
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Herman S. Jul 22, 2016 03:40pm
i have visit many countries in the world and Pakistan and there people was most best for me. I will visit back with my family and friends, specially the North. Most beautiful. I know what these travels are saying and feel.
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V.Bhatia Jul 22, 2016 04:07pm
@Lost With Purpose Alex and Sebastian, glad you enjoyed your tour through Pakistan and the Pakistani people were so hospitable. Really touched by the story of the guy who went home from the railway station and brought you back plenty of water and a home cooked meal by his mother during Ramadan. You went from Pakistan to China without visiting India at all? Frankly I do not know if you would've encountered the same kind of hospitality in India, but then one never knows. Good Luck and Bon Voyage.
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Qasim Jul 22, 2016 04:14pm
Thanx for your words about Pakistan. You are always welcome....We take pride in our hospitality.
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mahboob Jul 22, 2016 04:24pm
Great. I also saw many foreigners coming Pakistan during 90s my college time in Lahore. Today they are vanished just because of media. Our media is play negative role to portray our country. It has some many brighter sides. We need to train and educate media people to show the brighter side of country. Every country has problems, but they do not highlight and focus too much on these points. Hope our people will understand.
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Liberal_Mind Jul 22, 2016 04:32pm
@Lost With Purpose Thank you for visiting us!
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Sachin Venugopal Jul 22, 2016 04:38pm
@saquib mumtaz Indeed a misunderstood country! I am an Indian and I blame the politics of fear and hate for all this.
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probono publico Jul 22, 2016 04:46pm
Bless you. Could you post the picture of Lake again without the sandle shoes? I'll be grateful.
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GA Jul 22, 2016 04:52pm
Hats off to people who can backpack through remote, alien lands. Foreign visitors have one common remark about Pakistan - Hospitality!
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Goga Nalaik Jul 22, 2016 05:10pm
Lovely article
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Plenty_Sauce_Pete Jul 22, 2016 05:21pm
@Thoroughthinker Wow that's some really thourough thinking, thanks so much for that in depth analysis. You are clearly a scholar.
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dawn Jul 22, 2016 05:43pm
Pakistan IS hospitality. Beauty brings one back.
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Maxx Jul 22, 2016 06:09pm
They took a chance and that change their perception. Pakistan can now be described as 'best kept secret' thanks to negative and distorted media projection. But that is changing with the internet and social media.
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Maxx Jul 22, 2016 06:30pm
Here is a Facebook page/blog maintained by a foreigner Zsuzsanna Fajcsak, who lives in Pakistan about different aspects and about foreigners visiting Pakistan and what was their experience here. https://www.facebook.com/VoicePakistan/
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Raj Jul 22, 2016 06:46pm
Beautiful images and words, Pakistan govt. and private sector should actively put effort to promote tourism in global stage. Given the abundance geographic beauty, cultural history and tourism opportunities exists, many will love to visit. Hope someday us Indians and Pakistani people can visit each other without any difficulty or concerns.. :)
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Zak Jul 22, 2016 07:30pm
@Sachin Venugopal one intelligent voice.
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Faisal Jul 22, 2016 07:31pm
Hats off to you for not believing in the media and put your thoughts into action!
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sana-1 Jul 22, 2016 08:05pm
Glad that you enjoyed your visit here......Pakistan's security situation is just hyped. Sometimes you can only laugh after hearing different stories, like you just told ' may be someone can arrest you for eating in Ramadan' haha.... i mean seriously, there are a hell lot of people in Pakistan that dont fast in Ramadan, including kids, old age people, people who are ill, pregnant women, minorities, and labor... yes even people who are fit and are Muslims many of them dont fast, no body goes around catching them... Pakistan is a moderate Muslim country, in fact we do have those people who are more westerners then the westerners themselves..... The propaganda against Pakistan fulfills the need of some countries...you'll know if you have any interest in politics...
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Khilari Jul 22, 2016 08:21pm
Yes, that's my country Pakistan - a package of nice surprise. We are not what we are portrait as. Thank you for writing this article and aprising the world about us.
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Zack Khan-usa Jul 22, 2016 08:39pm
@mahboob Don't blame media all the time...I as a Pakistani am afraid of coming to Pakistan! Do you need the reason? These people are extremely lucky!
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Syed Moinuddin, Canada Jul 22, 2016 09:14pm
It is very commendable that many young people today are going places in spite of security concerns. This young couple's experience and very positive attitude towards the people and Pakistan is the real image of the country. Whoever will visit Pakistan, this is the true image they will carry with them.
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Maxx Jul 22, 2016 09:24pm
@Zack Khan-usa Every year about 10 lacs, that is one million overseas Pakistanis visit Pakistan, visiting their kith and kin, relatives and friends. You live in delusion or in Alaska. Check the internet reports.
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Zak Jul 23, 2016 12:02am
@Zack Khan-usa you must be the only one who knows the reason, pray tell. I have visited pakistan umpteen times and it has its issues like other countries no more, no less, however the media has quadrupled it. Research foreign female tourists plight in neighbouring country,mthat you will know how safe everyone is. Luck has nothing to do with it.
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Uma Jul 23, 2016 01:02am
@Harmony-1© I hope I can come one day too (originall from India) - forget our differences - and enjoy Pakistan - I would also love to visit the temples and also visit Aasamai temple in Afghanistan
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Lafanga Jul 23, 2016 01:26am
Awesome. Its the media that portrays false images of a country for their own nefarious purposes. Once you cut thru all that nonsense, Pakistan is one of the most beautiful country to visit. Natural raw beauty is everywhere. Pakistani hospitality is the best even to the visiting Indians.
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Sachin Jul 23, 2016 02:35am
Beautiful Pakistan and the people. .. love from India.
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Waleed Ashraf Jul 23, 2016 05:26am
@Zack Khan-usa oh nice so when was the last time u visited??
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wasim Jul 23, 2016 06:03am
Thanks for sharing your experience...wonderful pictures
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AYZA Jul 23, 2016 07:00am
Thank you dear friends for your exquisite pictures and lovely reflections of our most beloved Pakistan : )) Some of your pics and are beautifully depicted - like paintings of our beautiful Pakistan where the locals are warm and open-hearted - especially to guests from abroad. Keep up the blogging and pictures - we are enjoying them immensely! BTW, Makli is a truly fascinating ancient historical site with a surreal beauty.
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Fawad Ali Jul 23, 2016 07:05am
Comment By: lostwithpurpose @utmanzval whoa! we just looked up those ruins, and they seem super cool. adding those to our Pakistan itinerary, thanks for putting us on to them!
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Well meaning Jul 23, 2016 07:48am
lovely images those , but coming to pakistan these days the guys are really brave . Pakistanis are trying to run to west they should learn something
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sri1 Jul 23, 2016 09:30am
@Zack Khan-usa "I as a Pakistani am afraid of coming to Pakistan!" Beautiful snaps, nation and people a lot of times. Hopefully the few tragic incidents reduce in number to nothing. RIP to the unlucky ones like Nanga Parbat mountaineers, Daniel Pearl, so many minorities, reporters and multitudes of locals. One needs to take one glance of western travel advisories online and crosscheck.
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lmk Jul 23, 2016 09:58am
It is such stories that make one long for Pakistan from afar.... and the pics too... hope they return. Alex and Sebastian will always carry the beauty of Pakistan in their hearts and minds, having touched many in Pakistan too for sure..
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Chris Griffith Jul 23, 2016 10:10am
After reading this piece surely would love to visit Pakistan as well
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Imran AB Jul 23, 2016 11:40am
Great tourists ....... Nice to hear good about one's own country from travellers crossing it ........ Thank you for your frank and candid assessment of Pakistani people and its culture and the portrayal of its beautiful terrain. I guess when one sets out to find the good in people and places, they will find it !!!!
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ak Jul 23, 2016 12:04pm
Thankyou for your kind words about our country. And for the people commenting, yaar let me just get it out... why do make everything about Pakistan is better than India or the other way round. Why cant you just appreciate the beauty of shutting the hell up and listen to the good things people are saying about both countries. I am a Pakistani and a herpetology enthusiast and but that does not in any way mean that I dont appreciate the bio-diversity in India.(Bengal Tigers.....UHHHH LOVE). See these rival comments will spoil the image of both countries even more.
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ak Jul 23, 2016 12:09pm
@V.Bhatia Hey I went to India once, despite of me being a Pakistani, people were real nice. Actually they were nicer when they found out that I was a Pakistani as they wanted to project that image. And frankly, unlike the west, India is no diffrent than home. All the dishes, the people, the language, the customs.... we both countries have alot in common. So it ceases to astound me how we think ill of each other. Politicians I tell you. And the media ofcourse. Media of both countries never let go an opportunity to make the other look like the bad guy. I think its about time we began to think a little more rationally and less crappily.
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Ali Vazir Jul 23, 2016 06:33pm
Sooper! I am so thrilled to read this article. We all need to do a lot to make things happen. How long will we wait for the lethargic, corrupt, nepotist govt and law enforcement agencies to bring change, they defy so much? Take your future in your hand.
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IRFAN Mahmood Jul 23, 2016 10:27pm
I did not come people like you. You are really amazing. I wish I could meet you while traveling to North. Anyhow good luck in your future adventure
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Harmony-1© Jul 24, 2016 02:38pm
@Uma - That would be really nice when you can visit us and enjoy our hospitality first hand. "Our differences" are as a result of politicians’ intransigencies.
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Adil Jadoon Jul 26, 2016 05:44am
@mahboob why dontvwe try and address our problems rather then blaming others?
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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi Jul 26, 2016 11:33am
Which country on the face of earth is crime free? Which country has no security concerns? Pakistan is a beautiful country and its people are the most hospitable. When I was in Pakistan I have read that Swiss is the best scenic place which is true but not the best as I visited the country after having visited our Swat Valley and I found Swat as scenic as Zurich valley. Just out if curiosity, I experimented and asked few Swiss citizens to visit their house just to see how they live etc though I was staying in a hotel and unbelievably one couple took me to their house and I spent 2 hours with them and they very kindly dropped me at my hotel. We Pakistanis are known guest-lovers. I am proud that the foreign tourists felt at home when they were in Pakistan and I wish they come back with their many friends for yet another life remembering journey. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait
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