“A short trip with a long drive". Trip to Cholistan, Derawar fort, Bahawalpur and around

[ali.sprite1]

As Salam o Alaikum friends, M. Ali @sprite here, an old pakwheeler, back on this forum after a gap of almost 4,5 years. Old members are familiar with me and my team. We have dozens of travelogues at Pakwheels. I think last one of the group was “A Chill trip".

A chill trip

It was the old trio with a Twister trip this time. Although it was a short trip but had the life time experience. It sounds crazy to travel 3300. kms to enjoy three days only but that's what madness is all about.:o It was one Hell of an enjoyment in a Bone Chilling weather. Besides some trakking, getting stuck in a Snow storm, Skiing was an experience that will be remembered for long. Pics. will tell the rest of the story ; [image] [image] [image] [image]

1st of all, apologies for a long gap. Actually my old Pakwheels ID of @sprite was stuck and I was having problem with logging in. I contacted a number of times to Pakwheels customer service/ support team but unfortunately received a very uncooperative response from their side. Even they were not bothered to listen to my issue and simply refused that they can't do anything.

During all this period, I was following travels and tours section silently because I was unable to post or comment, but I was dying to jump in. So eventually I had no other option except to create a new ID. And here it is.
Our absence from the forum doesn't mean that me and my team haven't done any trip during this time. We had 7,8 different trips. I will try to share as much as I can.
Some teasers of the trip.

[ali.sprite1]

So here's our latest trip to “Cholistan, Derawar fort, Bahawalpur and surrounding”.

It was the old trio, as always, as most of you are already familiar with ;
• 1) Farhan @mountainier (official driver and Ustaad jee of the trip).
• 2) Me: M.Ali @sprite (official accountant of the trip, as usual).
• 3) Asim bhai (our baba jee) official buzurg of the trip. جن کو هم برکت کے لیے ساتھ لے جاتے هیں ۔

[ali.sprite1]

The story starts with the frustration of Pandemic. Not much activity this year. So we badly needed a break. 12 Rabbiul Awal was approaching with a long weekend, means we had 3 days in our pocket.
Had a pre trip meeting to decide the destination. Different options were considered, which could be done within 3 days from Karachi.
• Option 1 : was Quetta, Ziarat.
• Option 2 : Thar desert.
• Option 3 : Coastal highway, Kund Malir, Gwadar.
• Option 4: Any other destination within Sindh or Balochistan.
• Option 5: Bahawalpur, Cholistan desert and surrounding.

Although, we were dying to drive to Nathia gali and back and Farhan was seriously considering about getting sick from office on Monday but Asim bhai had some office commitments on Monday, so we had to reach back by Sunday.

[sajid65]

Wel come Back.
Nice Trip..waiting for more exciting story and pics...

[msohail]

Following

[ali.sprite1]

Thanks, bhaiyon.
Story and pics, on the way

[ali.sprite1]

Time was running short and destination was not finalized as yet. It was Thursday afternoon and we were planning to leave the same night, in order to save time.
Team was sitting in their offices and conferencing with each other.
Conclusion:-
• Option 1: Quetta, Ziarat; declined.
Reason (1) that we had this trip in 2018
(2) it was end of September. Dry weather and no snow so not an ideal time to go there.
• Option 2: Thar desert ; declined. Reason that it was hot and dry in Sindh. Not a suitable time to go there. And we also visited there 2 years back, so not much interested.
• Option 3: Coastal highway, Gwadar; declined.
Again because it was also visited last year and weather was also hot and dry there.
• Option 4: Anywhere in Sindh; declined. Because almost all places in Sindh were at a few hours stretch and no such attraction to spend 3 days.

Asim bhai was arranging a 4 wheel drive for a trip to Khirthar national park but again, it was a single day activity.
Eventually, Bahawalpur, Cholistan was the most suitable option as per our requirement.

[ali.sprite1]

So the decision was made on Thursday evening that we are leaving tonight and Farhan announced that I am coming to pick you guys in a couple of hours. I packed my bag in a hurry and couldn't even got the time for shopping of ‘Zad e rah’ (food items etc.)
Vehicle for the trip was Farhan's Corolla. It was around 9.30 when Farhan picked me from Millinium (Gulistan e Johar) and we picked Asim bhai from Malir halt. And at 10 pm we struck the highway.

As most of our trips are executed at 11th hour, so ‘Humain khud bhi us waqt tak yaqeen nahi aata, jab tak hum toll plaza cross na kar lain’.
And finally we crossed Karachi toll plaza. We were maintaining a good speed but as it was a 3 days holiday ahead, so the highways were full of loaded trucks.

[ali.sprite1]

Had a fuelling and dinner break after Nooriabad and wasted almost an hour there.
Reached Jamshoro around 12 and turned left on N.55 to avoid heavy traffic on N-5. It was quite peaceful, as there was very less traffic on this route.
Drove continuously till Aamri and took a right turn from there, towards N.5

[ali.sprite1]

We are not much fond of music, so nothing much to do while driving.

At such a time you need to start any pointless discussion in order to kill the time. Regardless of topic. Politics, Current affairs, science, history, religion, whatever.

And in order to keep the flame burning, difference of opinion is must. Controversy is the key to discussion. Otherwise, if everyone is agreed at a point, it's end of discussion. Argument dies the very moment.

Keeping in view the significance of controversial discussion, me and Asim bhai have mastered this art, by the passage of time.

As Farhan is usually driving most of the time, so he can't afford to be a participant. That's why he usually plays a judge or sometimes “refree”.

[mountainier]

wah ji wah maza aa giya bhai jee

man its great to be back on the pw forum after long long long time

[mountainier]

yeah as always i am the working horse of the trip and bhaijee and babajee are co-conspirators and official ayaish of the trip

[ali.sprite1]

Thanks Ustaad jee.
But tell me one thing ? I had an issue with my Pw.ID and was unable to connect. Where were you in a couple of years??
Why you haven't posted any trip for years ?? Although , our group has done many trips in last couple of years.

[ali.sprite1]

Anyway, let's move the story forward.

Around 2 AM, we stopped at Moro for a much-needed tea break. Again hit the road after 20 minutes. As you are aware of the pathetic condition of N.5 specially between Moro and Sukkur. Most of the travelling time on this route is killed between Hyderabad and Sukkur. Heavy traffic on N.5 was a nightmare.
Meanwhile Farhan was driving, me and Asim bhai were indulged in a debate, which kept us awake.

[ali.sprite1]

We reached Sukkur at 5 AM. Took a namaz and tea break at Baidal pump, just at the starting point of M.5 (Sukkur - multan motorway).
Weather was a bit chilly here. We climbed up the motorway around 6 am and took a sigh of relief.

You all must be getting bored of only story but no pics so far. But let me clear that all the travelling till Sukkur was during night, so no pics till this point.
Aap ki shikayat aagy door ho jay gi

[ali.sprite1]

Witnessed the beautiful dawn at motorway.

[ali.sprite1]

[ali.sprite1]

Now we were flying on the brand new motorway. It was a beautiful morning and you know, it's the most beautiful time of the day.

[ali.sprite1]

Sun coming out and little fog between the trees. Different orchards on both sides of the road.

Took a couple of shots from the moving car.

[ali.sprite1]

Entered Punjab in half an hour and took a short break at a newly opened service area.