The Hashoo Group was kind enough to invite me along with other bloggers and tourism companies to be part of their first travel group to the port city of Gwadar, located on the southwestern coast of Balochistan. Now, before you tell me, I know that there have been many security concerns over the years regarding this quaint city, primarily because of the massive development and tourism potential it holds. With the year 2020 being the year of a global viral pandemic and all travel opportunities effectively shut down, the travel bug really dug its claws into my skin like it had many others who chose to visit the beautiful northern areas of Pakistan. I however, had no companions to tag along for such a trip.
So when I received a call from a representative of the Hashoo Group to be part of a weekend trip to PC Hotel, Gwadar, I jumped at it faster than a toddler jumps for candy. Beaches, fresh seafood and luxury hotel? Yes, ma'am thank you very much! I was asked to get in touch with Mr. Tariq Bin Yousuf from Destinations of the World-Pakistan who provided a comprehensive and detailed itinerary outlining my action-packed weekend. From sunsets at the beach to visiting a mud volcano, the next two days of my weekend promised excitement and fun. I was also informed that my travel companions and I would be traveling on a chartered jet flown by expert pilots at ASSL Air.
If there's one thing I'm good at it when it comes to travelling, it is my minimalistic packing style. With a backpack and a small hand carry bag in tow, I arrived to a small little waiting room at the old airport. After a while, the rest of the group assembled and we passed through security to the beautifully decorated Hadid lounge where all of us were introduced to ASSL Air's CEO, Mr. Akbar R. Jaffer and our fellow companions for the weekend. True to their reputation, the flight leaving and arriving in Karachi was expertly handled and quite smooth, to the point that I and my fellow passengers clapped for the pilot for his excellent touchdown in Karachi on Sunday evening. But I'm going ahead of myself. Back to Friday and my flight to Gwadar. Upon landing at Gwadar International Airport, a new adventure awaited us; a walk from the tarmac to the airport carrying our own luggage! Having never done this before, and honestly grateful for my small hand carry, I made my way along with the others to a thankfully air conditioned airport. After a few minutes, we all loaded into two buses and with police protocol leading the way, and started our scenic 20-minute journey to PC Hotel, Gwadar which is located high on a mountaintop.
We were graciously offered a refreshing glass of juice upon our arrival, and welcomed with face masks and a hand sanitizer according to the SOPs for staying safe against the Corona virus, after which we retired to our luxurious rooms to freshen up and regroup in the hotel lobby for tea and coffee with a scenic sunset view at the beach. And scenic it was indeed. Even though I was feeling a little tired from the trip (My sedentary city girl mind had NO idea this was just the start), the view and the coffee was enough to perk me right back up. After night fell, we safely made our way back to the hotel, and after an hour's rest, reconvened outside in the garden to enjoy a brightly lit view of the city along with our dinner. What stood out for me the entire trip was the fine quality fish, coated with a delicious spice rub and then grilled to perfection! The mixed vegetables, a traditional Pakistani household dish was also quite tasty, as was the grilled seekh kebab. After a cup of green tea, fabulous conversation, and a mini photography session with friends I had made before even taking off, we retired for the evening.
Day two of the Gwadar trip dawned bright and early at 8 a.m. with breakfast at the Tai Pan restaurant. A variety of breakfast items including cereal assortments, channa, paratha and a live omelet station filled up my tummy quite nicely, along with a strong cup of black coffee. Then we were off for a Saturday full of fun, a complete city tour of Gwadar along with our tour guide, Mr. Kamran who has been residing in Gwadar for 14 years and is an expert on the land. Our first stop was the Gwadar Fish Harbor, which was immaculately clean, as was the fishery which had vendors selling both fresh and smoked fish. After a few adventurous souls took a tour of the local fishing boats, we made our way to the next stop on the list, the beach where the very same boats anchored at the wharf are made. Along with the seasoned boat makers were a handful of local children, fascinated with all the tourists walking along their beach, and an unconcerned little goat, lingering close to the shade provided by the underbelly of a completed boat. I couldn't decide what was more charming. The clear waters of the sea, the curious children, the unconcerned goat, or the quaint seaside village setting in its totality. After learning about the boats, how they are constructed and which materials are used to maintain them, we were off to Chandragup, an active mud volcano which also holds religious importance for Hindus and Buddhists. Please note that the mud surrounding the lip of the volcano is very slippery, and must be avoided before it clumps on your shoes and becomes almost impossible to shake off until it has completely dried. While I didn't slip, I did need to enlist the aid of the helpful PC Hotel staff to remove the cakey mud from my sneakers upon our return to the hotel.
After a hearty lunch consisting of a perfect mix of traditional desi food and Chinese cuisine, we set off once more, this time to the local bazar, which was a very well-equipped general store, with everything from toiletries to snacks and drinks, and even electronics and grocery items. There were some chocolates that I did not recognize, and I did see some fellow tourists pick up a few boxes, probably to take them as gifts back to Karachi. After that, it was yet another beautiful sunset on a cliff which had at one point been submerged under water, probably centuries ago and now had sea shells embedded in its rock formation. After darkness started falling, we made our way to the scenic marine walk, where vendors were selling roasted peanuts and dry fruit. Most of my companions decided to head down to the beach to dip their feet in the water, but the volcano mud had served me enough sand in my shoes for the day. A few of our older group members decided a brisk walk along the drive would do them good, so we followed along and caught up with them further ahead in the buses. Before we ended the night, Mr. Kamran had one more surprise in store for us; a pitstop at a beautifully built ground where there was ice cream available! Many locals were present, enjoying the cool sea breeze with their families and friends. Thus our day ended, and we went back to a sumptuous last dinner, where the tastiest fried fish awaited us, along with other yummy delights, such as prawn chow mein and seafood soup. After such a rigorous day, a nice soak in the bathtub was just what the doctor ordered, and then I met for a little after hour fun with the friends I had made on the trip for a walk to the stunning pool that has a view right out to the deep blue sea, dotted with small and large fishing boats.
The third and last day in Gwadar was spent packing for the trip back home, spending quality time with my new friends, and indulging in a delicious cheese and mushroom omelet along with a crisp paratha and savory aloo channa. With such a heavy breakfast, it was impossible to indulge in the lunch buffet, but I can't say I wasn't tempted! Even though just one restaurant may be operating at PC Hotel, Gwadar for now, there is certainly no lack of variety! The return home was smooth, with our flight taking off and landing on time, and after saying goodbye to my friends multiple times, I went back home with dreams of Gwadar in my mind.
Comments
Post a Comment