Pakistan Photos: The Pamirs

Postmarked Saturday, September 9th, 2006
Topic: The Great Outdoors; Travel (154 words, 26 images, 4 comments)

So, it's 9:35pm on a Saturday night and I should be working on my final film essay for my MA. However, I just spent the past 23 minutes watching my friend Sean's final film project for our course (entitled "Kaf'kan'estan" and absolutely brilliant, as always) so I figured I could procrastinate for another 10 minutes or so and post the rest of the Pakistan pictures.

It feels like ages since I was trekking in the mountains, wondering why scree was so tricky to walk on. In fact, it was a mere 2 weeks ago. In that time, I have found a new place to live (at least until Sep. 30), made half of a film (on our visit to Shimshal Valley in Pakistan) and am aiming to find a job and new apartment in the next few weeks. So, if I have been slightly tardy in replying to emails, please forgive me.

It's been a little busy...

xx

Our guide Mohammad Ali takes a quick break at the top of the mountain. Leaning against a rock wall in the middle of the sky, essentially. Inayet about to enter a new world! One of the huts we stayed in overnight.
Jamie filling the water bottle (which we then added iodine tablets to for safe drinking). Self portrait in the morning. Where's the beach?? One of the lovely surprises to step over when walking out of the hut. Discussing important matters with the guides (like "When do we arrive?").
Entering the pamirs, or high altitude pasturelands. Yay! I made it this far! So did Jamie! This view was breathtaking.
Here is our happy pot! We made lots of yummy food like instant noodles and tea. Can you believe this exists at an altitude similar to Mont Blanc? I heart yaks! I think he's related to Yashmak and Yasmin, the most famous yak couple of all time. Jamie inside one of the shepherd's huts, about to dig in... sadly I had a stomach bug and had to pass on this meal.
Can you believe the streams of natural light pouring into this hut? A woman tending to her drying yak products. Just a stroll through the neighborhood. Later, on the trek back, we stop under some trees for some water and a well-deserved rest!
Can you see my farmer's tan? Look at the size of this glacier! I had become very attached to the local guides, especially Inayet, who made sure I didn't fall of the mountain countless times... Let's play "Spot the Path". Seriously, there is one in there (somewhere!) and we climbed it.
I want to fly like a bird! Inayet and the horns.    

Reader Comments

1.

Comment from Sarbaz Karim (http://www.zorpia.com/viola4you)

HIIII i just search at internet and i got you web site there .and also see your beautiful pics too ..it is really wonderful.and likeable too..im Sarbaz karim 24/m from shimshal velley ..i hope you will contacet with me ::: yeah i really love to traving and mountaineering tooo...

mail me at shimshali@yahoo.com

2.

Comment from Omair (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=omairways)

hello, please can you take down all pictures of women on this website. i object to you exposing such precious pearls, beauties of the muslim world, like yourself, and the other iranian and shimshali women, it is against our honour... for indeed the temptations of women are truly the weakness of man.

to see ethnographic films with no women in them(no people actually) go to my you tube channel! please! go on please... http://youtube.com/profile?user=omairways

3.

Response from Marjan (http://www.marmerm.com)

It's true, it's true! We should all go check out Omair's FANTASTIC film "Do Buy" [about Dubai] as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!!!! His eye and attention to detail are unbeatable.

His YouTube name is Omairways...

xx

4.

Comment from shoaib khan

hey Marjan,

Its really nice work!

I am from Hunza Valley (Shimshal is a part of this valley) so it fantastic to see our own valleys from a "Professional's Eyeview".

Keep it up! Ur doing a great job!

shoaib

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