great to be in Pakistan! (English)

Dear family and friends,

Just a short message to let everybody know that we've reached Islamabad, Pakistan!

As explained in the last message, we didn't succeed to enter Pakistan from Kashgar via the Karakoram Highway and had to go back to Urumqi. In Urumqi we were happy to be able to catch a plane to Islamabad, Pakistan.
So, on Sunday we've arrived in a warm (a little bit chaotic) and pleasant Islamabad.

On Monday we've payed a visit to the Iranian Embassy and now we have to wait for a week to find out if it is possible to obtain the visa to enter Iran. (hopefully the Dutch Embassy is able to help us to speed up the time, so we can go to our motorbikes in Karachi) In the meanwhile we've met very friendly and hospitable Pakistanis, who took us on a round tour through Islamabad.
It's wonderful for us to be able to experience a totally different view from Pakistan than is sketched in the media. A lot of women are wearing beautiful and colorful dresses, completed with the same colorful scarves. And so, coming out of the airplane, Lisanne started to cover her head as well.
Although people assure you that it is not necessary for women in Islamabad to cover their heads, we find that it's certainly appreciated if you do so.

Today we've moved out of the hotel and found a place to stay on the foreigner's campsite in Aabpara. It's great to meet other foreigners and to share stories with them. There are not many though (one Dutch guy, a Swiss couple and an Italian/Spanish couple and us), while all Embassies do not encourage you to visit Pakistan at this moment. It's very weird to be here and to be surrounded by police protection everywhere. Everybody is so very friendly and wants to help you out, it's almost unbelievable!

This is it for now, the pictures will follow later...

love to you all,
Lisanne & Mike