Leaving the camp/hotel at 0715 hours we went to the last police post before the Iranian border and then past a long line of trucks to the immigration post at Taften, where there was a mosque inside the sealed area. While waiting for our passports to be stamped we were asked to sit and treated in a very friendly manner. A sign in the post indicate ‘Dear Passenger Wishing You A Pleasant Journey’. When the passports were given back the immigration officer called us by our Christian names. It took 35 minutes for us to clear the Iranian immigration before seeing the sign ‘Welcome to Pakistan’. Just over an hour later we were ready to leave and enter Pakistan when our driver, Adam, fell and hurt his foot resulting with him having to be taken to hospital for a it to be checked. We all had to stay in the truck under the hot sun as Adam is the only driver and no-one could move the truck anywhere else. Just after midday he returned and was able to drive when we headed for Dalbandin.
In Iran we travelled on the right hand side of the road but on entering Pakistan we returned to the left hand side, the first time since crossing the English Channel.
The clocks went forward 30 minutes on entering Pakistan.
We had armed police guards with us all the time to Dalbandin, sometimes in the cab with the driver and sometimes in a separate vehicle. Some of the police posts on the road were built of a mud/brick construction, even what looked to be old forts were the same. When we passed the Army base for the Karen Rifles it was noticeable that the officers did not have to suffer the heat too much as their mess was a lovely looking building with full air-conditioning.
It was here that the trucks came into their own with some fantastic decorations.
We stayed in the Al Dawood Hotel, London Road, Dalbandin, just turn left outside the front door and keep going for London! There was no power when we arrived with the power supply being a problem throughout Pakistan as there are not enough generating sets to supply the power with the excessive heat and the resultant use of air conditioning units further exacerbates the problem.
The guards stayed round the hotel all night and when I went to go to the shop a few doors away I had one of them go with me. It was suggested that I did not go down the main street at all. This was surprising really as people were very friendly and appeared to be happy to see us around. Certainly the police and guards did mention that certain places were not very safe to go but there was no problem up to now. The one thing of note was that I did not see any women on the streets.
In Iran we travelled on the right hand side of the road but on entering Pakistan we returned to the left hand side, the first time since crossing the English Channel.
The clocks went forward 30 minutes on entering Pakistan.
We had armed police guards with us all the time to Dalbandin, sometimes in the cab with the driver and sometimes in a separate vehicle. Some of the police posts on the road were built of a mud/brick construction, even what looked to be old forts were the same. When we passed the Army base for the Karen Rifles it was noticeable that the officers did not have to suffer the heat too much as their mess was a lovely looking building with full air-conditioning.
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| Black market fuel |
It was here that the trucks came into their own with some fantastic decorations.
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| The Pakistan border railway station |
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| A mosque in passing |
We stayed in the Al Dawood Hotel, London Road, Dalbandin, just turn left outside the front door and keep going for London! There was no power when we arrived with the power supply being a problem throughout Pakistan as there are not enough generating sets to supply the power with the excessive heat and the resultant use of air conditioning units further exacerbates the problem.
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| The Al Dawood Hotel |
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| Rack of mutton |
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| Breakfast with friends |
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| Mosque |
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| A government building |
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| High Street Mirjevah |
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| Ice being delivered |
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| Our guards |
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