After leaving that delightful hotel, we headed , under armed escort of course, to the provincial capital of Baluchistan, Quetta. Before we had even arrived, everyone knew what was coming. Quetta is a city that is controlled by tribes and houses many Taliban leaders. Although there is a heavy presence from the army, there are regular bombings, assassinations and kidnappings. In fact, in the previous week, there had been 3 bombs killing over 50 people in total.
With this is mind, we were hoping to be as subtle as possible but delays from checkpoints, and because the police lead us the wrong way to the hotel and then promptly abandoned us in the suburbs, we arrived at nightfall. As we tried to get into the centre of town, the police stopped us on a main roundabout and refused to let us through claiming that any foreign vehicle is a potential terrorist target. So we stayed there. On that roundabout, our large orange truck containing 25 targets remained causing mayhem for about 90 minutes while our leaders negotiated with the police.
Subtle.
In the end, the only hotel we could get into that was secure enough was a 5* posh place. And so there we stayed. For 4 nights we were there - living the dream. Except for the fact that we were still held under armed guard and not allowed to leave the hotel. During the time we were there, there was a bombing killing 2 motorcyclists, a couple of petrol bombs and Pakistan's national independence day, that involved lots of driving fast up and down the road whilst shouting at the top of your voice and waving the Pakistani flag as frantically as you can! Interesting to see from our roof top vantage point safely inside the hotel walls.
It turns out that not being allowed to go to our original hotel and not being able to get the road permit to go beyond Quetta was quite a nice blessing really. The hotel was fitted out with queen size beds, satellite TV with lots of films, a swimming pool, gym, squash courts and the most amazing food! Unfortunately for Gill, the pool, gym and other facilities had a women's only time which was 9-12 (or lie in and then late breakfast o'clock if you prefer) and then the men get it for the rest of the day. Brilliant!
So that is what our days were made up of while we relaxed in our luxury! But on the 5th day,we had our permit and had to leave. So it was goodbye lie-ins and comfort and hello again to long dive days on the truck and early mornings.
With this is mind, we were hoping to be as subtle as possible but delays from checkpoints, and because the police lead us the wrong way to the hotel and then promptly abandoned us in the suburbs, we arrived at nightfall. As we tried to get into the centre of town, the police stopped us on a main roundabout and refused to let us through claiming that any foreign vehicle is a potential terrorist target. So we stayed there. On that roundabout, our large orange truck containing 25 targets remained causing mayhem for about 90 minutes while our leaders negotiated with the police.
Subtle.
In the end, the only hotel we could get into that was secure enough was a 5* posh place. And so there we stayed. For 4 nights we were there - living the dream. Except for the fact that we were still held under armed guard and not allowed to leave the hotel. During the time we were there, there was a bombing killing 2 motorcyclists, a couple of petrol bombs and Pakistan's national independence day, that involved lots of driving fast up and down the road whilst shouting at the top of your voice and waving the Pakistani flag as frantically as you can! Interesting to see from our roof top vantage point safely inside the hotel walls.
It turns out that not being allowed to go to our original hotel and not being able to get the road permit to go beyond Quetta was quite a nice blessing really. The hotel was fitted out with queen size beds, satellite TV with lots of films, a swimming pool, gym, squash courts and the most amazing food! Unfortunately for Gill, the pool, gym and other facilities had a women's only time which was 9-12 (or lie in and then late breakfast o'clock if you prefer) and then the men get it for the rest of the day. Brilliant!
So that is what our days were made up of while we relaxed in our luxury! But on the 5th day,we had our permit and had to leave. So it was goodbye lie-ins and comfort and hello again to long dive days on the truck and early mornings.
No comments:
Post a Comment