Malam Jabba Travelogue...

Society Travel & Tourism
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DAY 2

The day started really early, i got up really late and decided to ski early in the morning but i sprained my ankle really bad after i fell awkwardly and the rest of the trip was spent limping here and there. And no more skiing was possible after that. I rested in my room for couple of hours and after lunch, i decided to reach the top peak ; first halfway through chair lifts and then trekking. No one from my group was willing to accompany me and they advised me not to go there with a twisted ankle but i was like, whats the big deal, thats the spirit of adventure. And decided to go there alone. Along the way i found two guys from murree. They decided to accompany me.

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Chairlifts took us to the third top and there were further 5 tops on the left to reach the top most peak.. we decided to give it a go. But my ankle got really bad when we reached the third top, so we stopped. Though there was a small way down to a small village, we went there but no one would understand there so it was of no use and whats more disappointing that i could not take pictures just because they got scared.
Anyways then on our way back, one of these two guys took my picture on a small mile stone near the first top.

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The view from the top was amazing, too bad picture didnt come out clear enough

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(Dont mind the picture date, camera clock was running twelve hours behind)

On my way back i saw this guy skiing who is a master in skiing and have skiied in all skiing tracks in pakistan except for two.

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In the evening i went to the back of our motel and tried to capture some breathtaking scenery.

*This is a view of the curved roads that reach malam jabba *
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Another one
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** whats wrong in some fun **
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*oops.. i fell tumbling down *

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Sun was about to set
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** A Handcraft shop in the hotel lobby **
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After dinner, we all played cards inside motel and then watched 'The ring' .. again!!! and a a comparatively-less-eventful-day ended.

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One great thing about Swat, and in fact NWFP as a whole that I always look forward to when I go, is the local (Pashtun) hospitality. They make superb guides, ensuring you see all the great sights in detail, especially as they are experts in the area, and locals to the area. :k:

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^^ That thing i totally agree with. Even though we were on a university trip, there were plenty of tour guides available and i asked one of them to tell me about the village and people around in a quick round up.

World Citizen-- Pictures are good but your antarctica pictures beat thm fair and sqaure :D, appreciated though...

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Wonderful pics Saby. I went to the same place many years ago, it has obviously developed nicely since then.

Looks like you really enjoyed yourself. Great job and pics. Keep it up man. :)

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Saby once again,, the pics are really nice. We can see you ahd a wonderfull time..
Could you please tell me something...
1. How to get to that place. I mean the complete itenary.
2. Are roads safer to travel.
3. what about lodges.
4. peak n low season?
5. is it a good honey moon spot.
6. expected expenses.

I would appreciate, feel free to pm, email or chat :)...

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wowwwwwwwwwww nice pics....
this is as close as im gonna get to swat...

ohh n the ship looks liek it got some good stuff in itt

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*DAY 3 *

Wonderful weather was was waiting for us when we got up and snowfall was in sight. I hurriedly ran out after the breakfast and the scenery outside was amazing. Cloud cover and slight drizzle in the air completed a breath-takign spectacle. I wandered around and took quite a few pictures.

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And in no time, it started snowing, it was an awesome awesome sight.

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As it was the last day of skiing, everyone wanted to get a hold of skiing equipment and skiing slope was full of people.

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Soon the snowing was over and there was bright sunshine.

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Mujhay tu sprained ankle mai bhi chain nai thaa tu i decided to slid from all the way up.

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our last sunset at Malm jabba for this year most probably.

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PTDC Motel Rooms Lobby

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The Bonfire

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THe next morning we were about to leave and all were sad because its such a wonderful place but sighs the worldly tensions !!

Lugggage being loaded on buses
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The famous grassy steps of malam jabba, too bad picture didnt come out clear taken from our bus..
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This long road is all covered with trees and in spring it must have been a wonderful sight, it was still a specacular site nonetheless..
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Finally some greenery along the way
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So that was it, i know you ppl enjoyed the pictures, i certainly enjoyed taking them, and it was surely a memorable trip. Next time our university is gonna arrange a trip for nanga Parbat, hopefully i iwll be able to go there as well ....

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Ehsan bhai-- thanks a lot, yes this place has surely developed in last few years and it surely is a tourist's delight. And i enjoyed it to its fullest. Thanks :)

Deviliciuos-- which ship are you talking about?? and dont keep such low hopes, Allah ki marzi huee tu you will get an oppurtunity!!

Cool breeze-- I will answer your questions here for all intersted people. Thanks for the praise though!!

First of all, Malam Jabba is situated at a much higher level than other parts of swat valley such as Bahreen, Kalaam, Mangora etc. Its isolated and way above from the rest. Its almost at the same level as Kaghan, Naraan and Shogran etc.

How to get that place

Well there is no airport apart from saidu shareef i beleive and still Malam jabba is way up from saidi shareef so everyoen is better off travelling by road. Yes there are sharp curves and dangerous roads but these driversare professional and ppl generally enjoy it to the most when they are travelling by road.

Are roads safer to travel.

Answered above.

what about lodges.

There was previuosly no lodge there but in 1994 , i think, Austrian Govt gifted this Modern Motel to Pakistani Govt and the level of facilities provided there are just great. Food is mostly pakistani with some chinese touches here and there according to the season. There are three ranges for room. First range starts from 1200 onwards, second range starts from 200o onwards and third starts from 3000 onwards. Skiing equipment is really expensive but if you rent it even for one day, you will feel its worth it.

peak n low season?

There is no peak or low season as such for Malam jabba. Snowy season startes from novemeber and lasts till april, but when there is no snow, this place has the most beautiful greenery in the world. Although, According to one tour guide there, the most hectic season is this one, from march to jun-july.

** is it a good honey moon spot.**

You bet it is!! Plus you can also look for Naraan and Kaghan.

** expected expenses**

That we can discuss it in private, though i have told you the rough rates but as we were on a trip, we got lots of discounts on every facitlity and i beleive PTDC gives special rates for honey moon couples :)

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Wowwwwwwwwwwwww! That is absolutely beautiful.Thats it -next time I come to Pakistan, Im going on a ski trip.Wow - thanks for sharing.

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Thanks bro for sharing the pictures and all the information, its means a lot to us who are away from their country to know about places, what we never knew even existed !

You seem like a nice person and have a good sense humour, especially I liked your way of describing your days there and your adverturerous sixth sense. Bravo!

:)

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MQ -- Thanks a lot!! and make sure that you get a good instructor when you get there, coz there are kids who know zilch themselves and start teaching you!!

SaadiaB-- Thanks for the appreciation. I feel i could have done better with the description but then again i m too lazy + busy to do that but still somethings is better than nothing. And yes Malam Jabba has develeoped into one of the best place for tourists.

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very very beautiful saby and thanks for sharing :D

and you know you promised me to accompany me when i will be in Pak Insha Allah :D

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oooh WOWIE
ish boootiful! :love:
so how much did u bribe da kid for?:hoonh: