I think Spock is an Islamabadian(if thats a word)
Do ask them to keep it hush hush about why they are there etc. You never know who is listening. This friends father in law that Im talking about was there for the visa and he is such you know senior decent uncle, and someone over heard him talking on the phone of why he was there and when he came back to where he was staying for the night, they were robbed. The freakiest thing is they beat him up pretty bad. I mean he is an old person and why would they do that..anyway I dont mean to freak you out...
oh no worries my folks are extremely cautious about stuff like that ..forget talking in front of ppl, they hardly bring it up even when i call them.
We're from I/83 sector...and when we call back home everyone seems to be ok down their and safe..i dunno how far it is from the G sector but i guess not too far either.
Even if the condition was not as bas as it is now, I would suggest going with option 2. I would feel more comfortable knowing that they are with someone who knows the city well and can escort them all the way where they have to go.
I am not sure of the area, its supposed to be walking distance from the convention center. its for a visa interview at the US embassy for my folks who are not familiar with the area.
among the options are a relative picking them up, and dropping them at the resthouse, and they walk to convention center, or take a cab etc and then go get their interviews done.
My other option is to have them stay at the home of a fairly senior military officer, I wm not sure which area he is in.
I have recommended that they pursue option #2 but needed tog ive them an honsest assessment of the area and why option 2 is better. They usually dont like accepting favours from others, and in this case I am asking them to make an exception for the sake of their own safety.
There are a few weeks until they get have to go so we still have time to plan.
If they would feel more comfortable on their own, then I would suggest staying at the Serena--that is the hotel that a lot of diplomats use and it is very close to the convention center from where your parents will have to take a bus into the diplomatic enclave as you can't drive up to the embassies anymore. I think the Serena hotel can arrange for a van or pick/drop service for your parents. The other safe option would be staying at the Islamabad Club. It is a little bit further away from the convention center.
Tell them to take a phone card (Telecard preferably) with them (I think you can get one for 200 Rs.) as cell phones even car key fobs aren't allowed (my experience at the US embassy in the Summer of 2005) and the guy selling phonecards outside the embassy is a thief.
As for the safety bit, Islamabad is fairly safe but one has to keep in mind that if one appears to be "Pardesi" or scared or overtly concerned about safety in public, one will be taken advantage off even robbed because of the type of the people milling around in public places. The appearance of confidence/aggressiveness does seem to help in public places. Hope that helps.
Thansk bro, i think we are doign a combo fo staying at the military dudes house first and then serana the night before.
Not too concerned about them not being able to take care fo themselves, as they have lioved and travelled all over the world, but just want to make sure that the lodging situation is the best one.
dad was not too aware of the street level ghunda gardee in Pakistan until early 90's, when he yeleld at my bro about not goign to college, drove him there and was writing their exam schedule which was posted on some bulletin board when firing started and he had no idea what was going on until my bro told im it as rival political parties going at it, and they had to crawl to the chem lab and hide there as beakers and all exploded with gunfire on counter tops.
ever since then he is very cautious about Pakistan and safety :)
Aray bhai itni si baat keh liay itna prehaan hona, hum khud abhi islamabad main nahi hain warna hum sara kar dayte. khair phir bhi hum dhondte hain koi bacha log isloo main phir aap se baat karte hain. aap ke log kab honge isloo main?
azad no yaar I appreciate the offer but we are okay we were just evaluating options. thank u so much, please dont bother anyone yet, if we do need some help I will send u a pm. but your kind gesture is really apprciated
X2 tikka yahan milta hy qisam ki add bhi ho gi ab GS per
