Going to Pakistan with American Wife: Ongoing Updates

[WebMaster]

Ignore these people who are saying avoid Karachi. You will love Karachi, just stay in posh areas. Defence, Gulshan, Bahudurabad, etc. Food in Karachi is excellent, and you can't find it anywhere in the world. You can use Karachi time to meet family, eat out. Just drink from sealed water bottles (preferably from good shops, not side of the road ones). Once you are done with all that, you can go to the north (follow the advice above).

Regarding phone, i have used T-Mobile international plan (unlimited calls, text, 6 GB data per month) for 50$. Had not issues with it.

 

[Meengla]

Ignore these people who are saying avoid Karachi. You will love Karachi, just stay in posh areas. Defence, Gulshan, Bahudurabad, etc. Food in Karachi is excellent, and you can't find it anywhere in the world. You can use Karachi time to meet family, eat out. Just drink from sealed water bottles (preferably from good shops, not side of the road ones). Once you are done with all that, you can go to the north (follow the advice above).

Regarding phone, i have used T-Mobile international plan (unlimited calls, text, 6 GB data per month) for 50$. Had not issues with it.

Thank you sir!
For the very first, I'm booking an ocean side hotel in Karachi for at least first 2-3 days.. the family home is there in North Nazimabad but wife and I have decided to get over the jet lag and enjoy some couples time.. it's not an easy decision.. you Know.. family home is family home.. we may go to the family home after the initial days..

 

[baqai]

Oh, got to take her into the Quaid Mazar! Many years ago we made it there but were not allowed inside the dome because of some ceremony or rehearsal happening that time.
Thank you for guidance help! May drop you a PM while there.

Oh, a very silly video as the latest. Fresh off the oven fresh!

Half Woman, Half Fox Person in a Pakistani Zoo!

If you are hell bent upon going to Mazar e Quaid than go on weekdays and go in morning time, I live in DHA literally 10 minutes away from beach and on weekends (fri-sun) seaview and adjacent areas are freaking 'no fly zone' with shit loads of bikes riding dangerously with their silencers out .... so again seaview has to be a week day activity

Port Grand, Bahria Town, Du Darya, Dolmen Mall, Ocean Tower are few of the places you can take her, if she is into heritage than you can show her Quaid's house opposite Avari Towers.

You are welcome to send me a PM

 

[Meengla]

You will love Karachi, just stay in posh areas. Defence, Gulshan, Bahudurabad, etc. Food in Karachi is excellent, and you can't find it anywhere in the world.

Thank you. I have a love-hate feelings for Karachi. Though it is the city of my birth and formative years, it is just too large and noisy for me. But it does have a vibrancy and choices for food and modern places which are unparalleled in other Pakistani cities. Anyway, while early to say, I am thinking of extending my own stay in Pakistan into January while the wife flies back. I am thinking of going to Gilgit and/or other northern areas and just chilling out. I am not into camping or tough hiking etc.

Port Grand, Bahria Town, Du Darya, Dolmen Mall, Ocean Tower are few of the places you can take her, if she is into heritage than you can show her Quaid's house opposite Avari Towers.

Good ideas. Thank you. As I said, our guides (a couple) are planning to accompany us on a Super Sawari trip--which is not cheap, BTW-- and maybe we get to go to the Quaid Mazaar then.

 

[Clearly]

Thank you sir!
For the very first, I'm booking an ocean side hotel in Karachi for at least first 2-3 days.. the family home is there in North Nazimabad but wife and I have decided to get over the jet lag and enjoy some couples time.. it's not an easy decision.. you Know.. family home is family home.. we may go to the family home after the initial days..

Hello Meengla, would your wife document her journey in Pak, as in make vlogs? If so it would be interesting to watch.

Secondly, many vloggers are now visiting Pak, but I have not seen many exploring Karachi except for Eva (Polish vlogger).

 

[Meengla]

Hello Meengla, would your wife document her journey in Pak, as in make vlogs? If so it would be interesting to watch.

Secondly, many vloggers are now visiting Pak, but I have not seen many exploring Karachi except for Eva (Polish vlogger).

Yes, she is going to make some videos in Karachi using her cell phone, but she's not very successful so far. Lack of time, skills, equipment. She wants to promote Pakistan and its bloggers and already has several of her American friends and relatives following her; this can't be bad PR for Pakistan.

I think her coverage of Karachi is going to be pretty basic. Amateurish. But many Pakistani bloggers want to meet her and they are more skilled on You Tube than her; I wish somehow the content could be shared in each others' blog in mutually beneficial ways. I have no idea as to how, as I am not actively guiding her and I am myself not very versed about You Tube...

Here is she:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCrNrvQwykGYpy0fSxwmJ1Q

 

[YeBeWarned]

Ignore these people who are saying avoid Karachi. You will love Karachi, just stay in posh areas. Defence, Gulshan, Bahudurabad, etc. Food in Karachi is excellent, and you can't find it anywhere in the world. You can use Karachi time to meet family, eat out. Just drink from sealed water bottles (preferably from good shops, not side of the road ones). Once you are done with all that, you can go to the north (follow the advice above).

Regarding phone, i have used T-Mobile international plan (unlimited calls, text, 6 GB data per month) for 50$. Had not issues with it.

Wah Wah Aaj tu Zahe Naseeb Webby Bhai khud Karachi walon ke Defense mai aa Gaye ...

 

[Meengla]

Wah Wah Aaj tu Zahe Naseeb Webby Bhai khud Karachi walon ke Defense mai aa Gaye ...

Why? Is Webby not a fan of Karachi usually?!!
PS. With all due apologies, I consider Hyderabad to be the worst major city in Pakistan.

 

[YeBeWarned]

Why? Is Webby not a fan of Karachi usually?!!
PS. With all due apologies, I consider Hyderabad to be the worst major city in Pakistan.

No no this is not what i mean, Webby usually don't take parts in such discussions , so thats why i said that
Karachi is part of Pakistan, so anyone who is Pakistan should care and worry about the city, either its the biggest revenue generator or the least ..

can't say about Hydrabad bro, never been stayed there for long, only a passing by visit ..
Some people say some parts Hydrabad are better than KHI but i don't know for sure .

 

[Meengla]

It's am interesting home coming after a long time.. wife is shocked to see the dirt the potholes and the traffic..
Though we're enjoying the trip okay.. Great good everywhere so far.. Google FI is slower than expected but more than adequate.. free texting to Even America! No SIM required.. we're thinking of moving to the family home from the hotel in a couple days then a quick getaway to ISB if possible..
Pic of Kolachi restaurant in Do Darya Karachi from last night.. Uber of 25 mins only cost barely $4 in Uber GO ..the superior Air conditioning Uber..

Just now in the hotel lobby.. wife's first taste of Green tea in Pakistan.. she couldn't resist saying.. The Tea is Fantastic!
Haha!

 

[Meengla]

Morning here in Karachi.. and a noisy one too.. this new hotel is right at a very busy road.. the pics are not coming in chronological order..

Had this meal delivered to the room from a nearby hotel around 2 am.. two most delicious and spicy chicken Tikka, two parathas, a can of Pepsi.. chutneys, onions and cucumbers,lemon.. Grand total Rs 600.. about only $4. Delivered!! We were literally licking our fingers after the food!

Everywhere we go.. there's humility and warmth!

 

[baqai]

welcome to khi .... pass me your digits and meet up for coffee or something

 

[Meengla]

On way to Islamabad.. train food. Half chicken karahi RS 600. 3 Nan's at RS 20 each..

Impressed with Google FI ..

Overall what a great trip we're having!! Five days flown by in a flash!!

 

[FuturePAF]

Thanks to you and your wife for Blogging your trip here on PDF. I see that your taking the train to Islamabad.

Considering Pakistan is looking to revamp Main-Line 1 over the next 16 years, what do you think really makes you and your wife’s trip enjoyable, what makes it bearable, and what are somethings you want the railway to address ASAP so that it really make the next tourists traveling on Pakistan rail actually enjoy their trip to the utmost?

I think people can put up with a long train journey if it’s predictable and well organized. Uncertainty can exacerbate anxiety, and that spoils any journey, especially one that should be a relaxing way to see the country.

Hope you and your wife have a pleasant rest of your trip.

Thanks in Advance

 

[Meengla]

Thanks to you and your wife for Blogging your trip here on PDF. I see that your taking the train to Islamabad.

Considering Pakistan is looking to revamp Main-Line 1 over the next 16 years, what do you think really makes you and your wife’s trip enjoyable, what makes it bearable, and what are somethings you want the railway to address ASAP so that it really make the next tourists traveling on Pakistan rail actually enjoy their trip to the utmost?

I think people can put up with a long train journey if it’s predictable and well organized. Uncertainty can exacerbate anxiety, and that spoils any journey, especially one that should be a relaxing way to see the country.

Hope you and your wife have a pleasant rest of your trip.

Thanks in Advance

Thx. Will post details later.. but wife I were just talking about that 12+ hours of the train trip feels so good already compared with the 15 hour flight segment out of USA to Pakistan! Train travel is the way! PS. The waiter is going y give us a personal tour of the kitchen around Fausalabad...