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Hey folks
Just a quick entry (honest!) whilst I shelter from the 50 degree heat outside (yes TP shelter, even you would struggle!) we're curently in Islamabad and they are xperiencing a heatwave unlike the ones we have in June this is quite frankly ridiculous! I've had four showers today already and I know I'll get at least two more in before I retire...
So the capital of Pakistan and it's too darn hot to do anything your clothes are saturated in minutes and as we're still in an Islamic state I'm not allowed to walk around in my bikini top however I've just taken my tent down and had to strip off ( just to my bikini I still have a little bit of dignity Nicole) to do so, within minutes two cars stopped and several men got out and were peering (and they weren't being shy about it!) through the hedge my friend John strolled over and had a few stern words with them...I'm no oil painting don't get me wrong but it's rare even to see females in the street here..
Right I last wrote to you from Karimambad where I was recvoering from an early Delhi belly/truck bug well my recovery was a touch optimistic and I'm still in a hurry to use the facilities shall we say! Anyway you don't need to know that but my Mum does I may also edit some parts before this goes to the printers and gets made into a book (that's right Nicole all this will be published and I'll even sign your copy!)
I've had trouble downloading my pictures so I shall try again in Lahore which will be our last stop before we enter India on Friday. From now on in we've been told we shall be staying in far more hotels than camping which is a complete relief as I'm nursing over 25 bites from last night! We should be camping tonight but Polly and I have invited ourselves to stay with another friend up the road in an air con room. The curent campsite is basic to say the least and I was awake all night slapping bugs I was even up for the prayer call at 5am (a basic chant that goes on for several minutes several times a day very loud through speakers all over Turkey, Iran and Pakistan)
So after we left the mountains of the Karokoram range in Karimabad we drove back down the Karakoram highway (still amazing) we had a near miss on a bling bend several hundred metres up I was nearly half way out of the window ready to jump but thankfully Kirsty controlled the truck well enough for the other car to come off worse! We arrived in Islamabad to the dry heat and haven't stopped drinking water since, our only full day was today and instead of seeing the few sights that are here a small group of us decided to find a swimming pool instead.... 4 hours later I may add and at least a stone lighter we found one and my bites were soothed! Unfortunately I went with another girl and 3 lads and at 3pm it was women only (males and females are not allowed to mix) so we had to leave needless to say after a long search from expensive hotels to a gun club we found one and it was so worth it! Having spent so long searching we also managed to see much of the city by taxi so not all was lost...
I'm on cook duty tonight and as it's too hot to cook Kirsty (the cook) I've said that far too many times in one line! has ordered 30 take outs costing a whole five pounds and seventy pence in total! It's curry so I'm staying clear for now I forgot to mention a couple of interesting dishes that Lloyd at least may find interesting that I've eaten thus far... in Yazd in Iran we had Camel curry very nice and in Peshawar in Pakistan we had brain masala not so nice infact not recommended even for you Lloyd.
Well I have to go I will try and upload photos from Lahore but I'm not too hopeful! I'll be in India for a week or so before the small group of us leave the truck for a mini 20 days break in Nepal to trek to Everest Base Camp Mum/Dad I will keep you posted with exact details, my friends mobile will work again in India so you can call me on that and it will cost the same as to a mobile in the UK I will text you the number soon...
Missing you all, keep in touch
Rach xx
P.S The photos from Iran/Pakistan thus far album were an error and a new album will be created soon...
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