The venture of my life (Part 1) : Astore and Tarshing

June 15, 2019 0 By Hamid Latif

I was planning the venture of my life. There are places in Pakistan where flowers from heaven bloom, butterflies play hide and seek in the grassy fields, rivers are so transparent that one can see through to the bottom, where sky is so full of glittering stars at night that one can even see our galaxy, where brown bears wonder in the heavenly planes on roof of the world. Where the mountains are so beautiful that not even the greatest artists can capture them as their icy peaks tower to the sky looking more majestic than anywhere in the world.

I was thinking to take a 5 years and a 10 years old lady to those places where few of grownups can go. Some would say it was impossible some would say it was stupidity and some would say simply Waww!!!

Let me first introduce you the charming and dashing lady Isra. She is just five years old but she is our dadi amma (grandmother).

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Isra smiling at Sheoser Lake, Deosai.

Now I am going to introduce to you a lady with great determination, brave heart and amazing sense of adventure. She is my 10 years old daughter Fizba.

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Fizba enjoying the fresh water stream on the way to Minimurg

Lahore to Astore:

The trip was planned and we were fifteen people including my family. We reaching Islamabad by bus from Lahore and took NATCO vane from there. After some small hiccups we were travelling on Naran road to Astore. It was early morning when we reaching Lulusar lake on Naran to Chillas road, though everyone was lazy and tired after a long journey but we stopped there and took some pictures as many of us including my family were there for the first time.

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This is me sitting at the edge at Lulusar lake

After a short stay at lake everyone was awake and enjoying the beauty around the Naran to Chilas road. I must say this road offers amazing scenery, after Keran to Taobat road in Kashmir this road is my favorite. Although, in term of beauty the scenery around this road come 2^nd in my list but it is safer than Keran to Taobat road.

Our next stop was at Babusar Top, again we stayed there for few pictures and believe you me it was dead cold at the top. Fizba did not leave the vane, me, my wife and Isra were courageous enough to have one picture together, view from the top was breath taking. It is more then 4 km high from sea level (half of the height of Mount Everest). After the top there was a down the hill journey which includes amazing turns and twists in the road.

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Me, my wife and Isra at Babusar Top

After a long delay at Karakaram highway because of a big land sliding we reached Astore at afternoon. There, two land cruisers were ready to take us to Tarshing. So without wasting any time we started our next part of journey but while we were passing through Astore we saw lots of people gathering at a place.

“Why are there so many people?” I asked my driver.

“There is a Polo match at a nearby ground, do you want to see?” he replied.

“Yes, of course, but shall we reach to Tarshing in time?” I replied to the driver.

“Yes, don’t worry”, he said.

So I decided to stop at the Polo ground for the match and it was the right decision.

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Fizba and Isra standing with beautiful little girls of Astore to watch Polo match, you can see Pakistani flag painted on face of a little girl.

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An exciting Polo match at Astore.

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People have gathered in the ground and on the roofs of their houses to watch Polo match

The locals gave us lots of respect they offered us a sitting place with their guest of honor (Assistant Commissioner Asotre) but we wanted to mingle with local people so we chose to stay among them. This was the first time I was watching a live Polo match and the atmosphere was incredible. During the match an unfortunate incident happened, a roof, where many people were standing to watch the match fell down. Thankfully an ambulance was ready for any kind of emergency. Those people who had injuries were quickly taken to the hospital.

The driver suggested me that we should leave for Tarshing as it was getting late so we were on our way to Tarshing.

Tarshing:

It was almost evening when we reached Tarshing. It is a small village from where one can see the highest wall of the world. Yes! I mean Nangaparbat. We stayed at a small guest house. It was my 2^nd time there and it was a peaceful place with majestic view of Nangaparbat.

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A beautiful view of the lawn of the guest house we stayed with shining Nangaparbat behind

It was getting dark and we were tired but all of us did not want to go to our rooms. We all stayed at the roof of our guest house looking at the world’s deadliest yet most beautiful mountain. Soon moon appeared on the top of Nangaparbat giving it this monster a romantic look.

I was very happy that Fizba and Isra were at this beautiful village and enjoying the magical view.

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