At 8:00 am we load the 10 suitcases on top of the van and head south to the Cholistan Desert. The camp party had left the day earlier to setup and we were destined to arrive at sunset of that evening. Our driver, Maneer did an excellent job at dodging the procession of trucks on route. En route we stopped in Multan so Aisha could see if she could find the famous blue and white Multan
tiles. We stopped near a downtown market and further into a tomb like store from which we could purchase the wares of Multan. Unfortunately we could on by pots and cups - the tiles seemed to be reserved only for the walls of the nearby buildings. After a haggle with a gem seller over some unpolished rubies and emeralds we boarded the van further south. We headed further south and then east 40km into the Cholistan Desert. The desert in this area is not Sahara like but scruby with some 30' dunes. As we neared the camp we say in the distance the Derawar Fort and 400 year old structure of the Abasssi family. Near the fort are some beautiful tombs
and and the local village. Of course every pocket of the country has a 10x10 village store with pop, snacks and cigs.Our camp was already setup - Cooking/sleeping tent for the crew. Small tent for the guide. Eating tent and three sleeping tents. We stowed the carrying-on luggage and were shortly served an excellent dinner of soup, roti, meat, desert - excellent cook - very Raj style
- it made us feel rather British!!. As our dinner came to an end a camp fire was built and a local trio of villagers with drum and 2 stringed instrument began to sing and dance local Choli and Punjabi song. The boys and I joined in the dance - quite the cultural meld. The desert , the song, the wind. - we will get to the wind later!! The boys in one tent and the girls in another we crashed to sleep. In the morning breakfast was served - Raj style again. In the morning the wind had picked up and , at times, great clouds of sand and dust would fill our teeth with grit. After lunch they had brought 3 fully 
dressed camels for a desert safari. Aisha did not think she and the camel would do well so she took the picture and passed on the ride. Amir and myself, Khalil and Hanna and our guide Ahmed mounted the 3 camels 
and headed away from camp towards the dunes. We spend about 3 hours with the camels, first traveling away from camp then continuing in a circle again over the dunes. A got to 'steer' the camels but when we were 'driving' they seemed to take the opportunity to eat the brushes rather then get on with the moving. My butt was sore so I walked ahead back to the camp. Me and the desert looming Derawar Fort coming closer back into view. Sweet!!! After lunch we played cricket with the local Choli. After a rest we took the walk to the tombs and Derawar Fort itself for a history lesson and a drink and a wash on the sand at the Mosque's open well.As evening appoached the wind had returned and and as we were eating dinner a lite rain fell. Our eating tent was slapping well in the gale and Khalil was concerned that it might blow over - 'It's OK Khalil - this is a strong tent' I said, calming him that all was well. Mean while I went to check the tents. The third tent that I had emptied, with the busted zipper had caught the wind and had started to pull from the ground. I shouted back (in the dark) to the crew - who rushed to help be grab the tent as it moved by. We had finished tearing down that tent when a blue flashing light came from the other tent - It was also coming undone. In the meantime the kids had retreated to the van and were witnessing the destruction by wind and man of our camp. After the second sleeping tent had come down the eating tent was at it's last peg. This was hard to dismantle as the gale++ wind and sand pushed west. With all our stuff back in the van and half the camp flattened I had to say that Khalil was correct about the wind. One of the sleeping tents was still standing and suggestions were made about the 6 of us sleep therein. I new that Hanna would have nothing to do with this so we needed a plan B. A local villager would had helped us at camp, Mugkthar, offered that we could sleep at his house. We loader the sleeping pads and bags over top of the distressed children and drove to the village, 2min, His room was a stone floor and walls beautifully decoracted with metal pots and chine teacups. Warm, dry and sprawled with cots for our pleasure. Within 20min all were cozy and warm in bed away from the storm. Breakfast would be served at 4:00 am for our long drive further south tommorrow. Certainly a full featured desert experience!!After we left in the morning we debated the stop in Moenjo Daro. We figured that we were dirty enough and tired enough that we could bypass the ruins - it had also started light rain and we didn't need any more mud. The Pakistani mud and rain had turned the van black with a creasy mud. We determined we would drive straight through to Karachi. 16 hours later and 1 oil change we arrived in Karachi. We brought our dirty faces and bodies into the warmth of our familes home in Karachi. Kids shortly to bed and I and Aisha with hot showers to sooth us t o bed. We will spend the next 2 weeks in Karachi - laying low - going to markets - minor adventured only. We shall see.
Our new guide Ahmed arrives at 8:30 and we are off for a tour of Lahore, at site seeing tour showcasing all the beautiful sites of this city. First stop Lahore Museum – it has some of the oldest artifacts of the Asian subcontinent. Our tour was brief but interesting, of course with the requisite stop at the gift shop for some prints and souvenirs. The Lahore Fort was next, an imposing structure in the center of the city, adjacent to the old walls of the city. A 1600 century Mogul structure for kings and queens with plenty of room to lounge about and be served.
We also stopped at two mosques – beautiful – by chance it was time for prayer and I took the opportunity to do so in a great historic structure. Upon prayer completion the Imam did as our guide about the Islamic-ness of this visitors – But he assured them that we were Muslim and that all was OK. I was dressed in Shalwar Kamees but the boys, in their Gap, looked questionable.
After the last mosque- in the old city – zipped across for fresh Keema Naan fresh from the tandor in the open market – 7 Naan and sodas 250ruppees 5$ - Fresh tasty deal. The days journey allowed us to see many of the British influences building and styles of the city. Before going back out for dinner that evening and on the way home from the Lahore visit we asked the driver to stop and get some kites so we could fly them in Bassant – The famous Lahore Kite festival. After we arrived home we could already see that 100’s of kites already aloft. Actually official Bassant was moved to next week due to GW bush again, but 100’s, maybe 1000’s were already flying. The fun of the Bassant is to try to cut down others kites as the kite string is coated with a fine glass. The practice is somewhat dangerous as you can imagine several 1000 kites and line cris-cros-ing the sky. By the time we had arrived home we already had 3 stray kites on the roof. Rather then take our new ones we laced up the victums – added some tape and put them aloft again. In a few minutes we were aloft and within several more our neighbors had cut us down from their adjacent roof. Cheers from the 10 adults and children on the adjacent roofs. We strung up another stray and were a loft again – this time we were able to cut down a victum. The third kite we flew achieved great height but again able local flyers were able to cut our line and our kite flew to another far away roof top to be flown again. The time ticked closer to dinner and we left for ‘The Village’ a fine local restaurant style after a market. Buffet style service with all the Pakistani specialties that you can eat all prepared fresh in a hot self serve market. Extreme service by the dozens of waiters and supervisors and managers - especially to the white guy. Full from the meal we did however visit ‘Food Street’ – for a look – each night the street is cordoned off and dozens of food vendors ply their wares including street smart restaurant staff you entice you with their menu as they walk by. Too full to eat – of course – we may try this option tomorrow. We head home – tired again for the night.
Our first planned stop is at the Salt Mines - a 2000 year old complex, now with tourist facility. 
Amazing caves of natural salt water and crystal salt. Lick the walls of the slat mines and make a wish. Nice spot. A snack brought from home was enjoyed and we are back on the road.
More ruins to explore than time allowed.
Hike in Lower Himalayas (Mar 3)
We arrive at the gates to old Lahore. Our driver lets us out and we know must program ourselves as the ‘pedestrian’. I tell the boys, who are still basically asleep, ‘Walking in the Lahore markets is like playing a video game – concentration on sights and sounds – wait for the honk – move to the right – move to the left – give way – take way – no stopping – always forward.
My camera is in hand – I want to snap 100 pictures – I see a 1000 images I have never seen before – each shop front, 12’ wide each with a whole set of sub images and stories – vendors of everthing, foods, shoes, pots, pans, haircuts, spices, sweets, meat, fish, poultry, … Each vision lasting only 3 seconds as you walk past the stores. If you could be invisible you could snap the 100 pictures that would really describe the sight but as a tourist – in this place – you can only look and remember. I could walk these streets and alleys dozens of times and still find 100’s of images on each walk. The pictures I did take were posed and deliberate and unless you can walk these streets yourself and see and smell the experience it just doesn’t cut it. Maybe during Wed’s official tour I can get some more pictures.
Our family spot was excellent – meeting some long lost cousins, 2nd cousins and spouses. Their apartment/house is 3 stories in central old Lahore, 3 crook leg narrow alleys behind spot X. My mother in law, Nanny Ji, knows the way. Multi-family unit – 500+ years old, I guess, No luxuries but excellent family, food and hospitality. After lunch we take a later afternoon walk back into the market and climb the turret steps of a famous restaurant ‘Coco’ which appears pricey. We summit the turret to the roof to patio which over look the Mosque in the old City. (Name escape me – My mind is still back at the walk through the market. Some night pictures are taken and we return back to cousins house.
Foolishly I am expecting to leave with less gifts than we have brought, but they have prepared and we leave with many hugs and 2-3 more lbs for the carry on – at this point we are + on the luggage retuning home scale.
Almost back to the gate we meet our driver/van whom we have since called , parked mid market. We board and conduct a blind 7 point turn – by blind meaning just put it in reverse, make the beepy-beepy noise and hope people get out of your way. After several honks and many looks we are back into the motiorized stream back to our hosts home. Blog-ready, I rest until the morning. (gadgets plugged in……)
Of course leaving early for the airport is always useful especially in a snow storm, however we find ourselves with 3 hours of 'leisure' time. Harvey's was good but alas Tim Hortons is out of Timbits - We can await the fine fare of the onboard dining. Luggage - 6 persons - 10 pieces of LUG-gage. Some people - Nanny - (1 person) 3 1/2 pieces. Oh well 500 lbs later we wait for the 9:45 flight Al kids are cranking through their books and will probably be done by the time the flight starts.
