Last chance to Ride Pakistan in 2017

[khan]

EDIT: In the pictures below you see Honda 125s.. For 2017 you guys will be riding the brand new Honda CB150s that just got launched in Pakistan less than a month ago!

BARFistan 2017


The September 9th to 22nd tour is an all women tour - 12 women will be on their way to Pakistan real soon. I was hoping a couple BARF women could come too on this tour but i just couldnt get you guys onboard this time around.

Well the last tour of 2017 is right after the all women tour. Starts September 26th - Im still flexible on making it a 2 week tour or a 3 week tour.

I have one guy on board as of now hes a barfer and hes cool!

1. SD Hornet

This is your chance to ride the three biggest mountain ranges in the world, the Himalayas, The karakoram and the HinduKush Range! I promise you that this tour will blow your mind away!

If you have any question please shoot them over, reply below or PM me!

Visit www.RideTheKKH.com for more details.. I've put some right here for you too!



The $1250 per week covers: Food/Meals - Motorcycle rental - Fuel for the entire journey - Motorcycle maintenance during the journey (oil changes/filters/fluids/plugs) - Support vehicle (you won't have to carry luggage on the bike with you) - Hotels (shared room) - Camping equipment - All toll and ferry charges - 2 helpers who will help you with everything from riding your motorcycle when you're tired to giving you a massage on top of the Himalayas. *All rooms are on shared basis unless specified before hand.

Not included: - Your airfare (ranges from $800-$1200)- Visa fees (approx.. $120 for an American citizen) - Insurance costs (optional) - Bottled water (cheap!). The bike is about $1500 brand new so if you throw the bike off the mountain or total it, that’ll be the extent of your liability. Any other personal expenses you choose to incur (shopping, alcohol etc)

Need more convincing??? Check out these videos
1. Barfers explore Pakistan
2. 70 year old Aussie explores Pakistan

 

[khan]

Raider who was over in Pakistan last year answered some questions in another thread, i thought ill steal it and post it here too

Since I got some questions on PM... here are some basic answers

Riding difficulty:
A little bit of everything, some dirt/off-road/unpaved, some smooth, some rain, some light snow, some water crossing, some lane splitting. If you're comfortable in most conditions you'll be okay. If you're not too comfortable in wet/off-road conditions, I'd recommend the Rich Oliver 2 day Fun Camp. I did that the summer before Pakistan as a refresher... I felt comfortable at all times, never worried about anything. the bikes are slow. In a full tuck, down hill, with a tail wind, you might hit 60 mph. Also, you'll be riding on the left side of the road. Just need to keep that in mind.

Gear
So Moin says you're allowed 1 bag as all the stuff is carried in the Jeep (you see the gray jeep in the video and photos, all your stuff goes there).

What I did (since I stopped in Dubai on the way for a few days):
1 carry on sized suit case: which I checked regardless. This had all my clothes and toiletries
1 soft duffle bag: also checked. This had my motorcycle gear and a small sleeping bag
And I carried my helmet on the plane, and inside the helmet I put my GoPro and camera gear.

Clothes
Jeans and layers. I went first week of September and we had rain, sun, heat, and cold, so plan on layering. Also since I was in Dubai, I had to plan for 116ºF weather all the way down to low 30ºF in Pakistan.

Motorcycle Gear
- Helmet (I recommend a modular flip up full face helmet with a flip down sun visor, for all the stops you'll be making for photos or snacks or drinks where you don't want to take it off and on all the time)
- Gloves (and silk liners in case it got cold)
- Adventure pants
- Multi-Season Jacket (it had a removable down liner and a removable rain liner, and you can mix and match)
- Boots

Misc
- I went to the doctor and got the shots that are recommended for Middle East/Southern Asia travel
- I bought this sleeping bag which I put in the duffle bag (I get cold at night, and as a just in case in case the beds are iffy) (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
- I bought the body wash/shampoo combo liquid stuff for when I took showers

Everything else is provided, didn't feel like I needed anything more or I brought too much, I brought literally just enough for what I needed.

Other than that, it's an experience of a life time.

 

[Lunch Box]

If anyone has any questions about what to expect or what to bring, shoot me a message and I would be happy to chat with you about my experience.

For those on the fence, I would say this: Sure, there are lots of amazing places to ride motorcycles. The thing with this trip is that it isn't one that you could easily do on your own. Moin has knowledge and connections that make the trip smooth, easy, and tons of fun. My trip was truly one of the best experiences of my life.

 

[khan]

Rebekahlynn did a little ride report!! here it is! Thanks B :thumbup

So if I were to write everything I thought and felt about my six weeks (3 weeks/two years in a row) in Pakistan, I would be writing for a really long time - this post took long enough and is as succinct as I can be- if anyone would like to talk more in depth over pm, the phone, or in person, feel free to pm me.

I feel like it's really important for the barfers that have gone to speak up and share their experience with you, riders who want to go, but may feel intimidated by the political climate or put off by basic (mis)conceptions about a country such as Pakistan.

Everyone at work asked me why I would go to such a place and wasn't I scared, didn't I want to come back with my nose (yeah wtf). My boyfriend didn't want me to go and ended up going with me on the first tour because "I couldn't let you go alone" but by the end of the three weeks he felt 100% differently about Pakistan and Muslims in general; I'll let him chime in on his experience if he ever gets his butt on barf. Bottom line is there was a LOT of discouragement and I only had the "yeah do it" of two guys on barf I didn't know, to go on. In the end I trusted that Moin would not host us in his country if he felt there were any threat; I was right to trust him, as you would be too.

Aaron (Lunchbox) made a really excellent statement- you can go to Pakistan by yourself, with friends, with another tour leader- but going with Moin will allow you access you won't have with anyone else. Let's leave it at, he has friends in high places and that never hurts when you're dealing with a grumpy checkpoint officer.

In 2014 I was one of two American women that went. Natalie garnered a lot of attention being Caucasian and blond with blue eyes; I got enough too just cus I'm a girl. But when I say attention I don't mean like creepy guys on bart on intentionally rub too close to you during the commute hour. Everyone stares in Pakistan, be prepared, but it's because we/you are foreigners and they're curious. And lets face it, since 9/11 the tourist population in countries in that part of the world has sharply declined. Smile and they smile shyly back - the girls/women especially are so sweet.

In 2015 I decided I hadn't had enough and went back. I was the only girl this time and found out what ALL the attention meant and to be honest I got tired of it. Posing for pictures (1 turns into 35) got tiring but man what a first-world-in-a-third-world problem to have, lol. Otherwise my being a female wasn't an issue- I never felt in danger while in Pakistan. I've felt more anxious walking to my car in the evening at West O bart.

A few notable memories:
2014: Riding up (and down) Lowari pass (touted as one of the top 20 "most dangerous roads by National Geographic). Glacial water crossings and switchbacks for days - epic







2014: Visiting the girls school Moin founded. Education is Pakistan is ridiculously expensive considering an average monthly wage and chances are if a family does scrape school money together, they're sending only one kid and it's going to be a boy. Moin supports 70 girls from the local ghettos solely from donations and his own money. The school provides uniforms, books and materials, and snacks for the girls. These girls were darling and I love that Moin is giving them a chance to succeed in life. If you want to donate his paypal is [COLOR="Red"]moin86@gmail.com[/COLOR]







2015: Going to see a bride in the middle of her pre-wedding festivities. There were a room full of women (women only since it's custom not to see any males the night before the wedding) and I had a young lady translate while I talked to them. An older woman said that I was a VIP because I came from so far away and they are so happy I came to Pakistan; that their smiles were their way of welcoming me :cry While I was in there talking to this room full of women a little hand with a cell phone snakes down from a hole in the ceiling to take a picture :laughing the women noticed, yelled, and it disappeared very fast



Translator, me, bride-to-be



2014: "Stuck" at a guard shack for a cumulative 5+ hours. 2 hours by myself because I'd ridden ahead of the group and they stopped for a leisurely breakfast. 3 hours with the group because issues prevented American-passport holders from being able to go to the China border. Issues that were not issues in 2015, since we did get to go then. But back to the shack: two guards lived there for approx. 15 days on, 3 days off, so what they had there is what they needed for those two weeks. It had been raining lightly so they welcomed me into the shack and built a fire. They fed the fire as they talked to me in their broken English. They asked if Barack Obama was a Muslim, if I was married, what I did for work, that sort of thing. When the group finally pulled up we took off but shortly down the road got turned around and realized we'd be at the shack for a couple hours while the non-Americans in the group went to the border. You see, we had some local PK guys along with us as assistants and this was their first time getting out of the city because they were too poor to travel for leisure. So naturally Moin wanted to take them and one of our group (a Malaysian rider) to the border. The guards welcomed us back, fed that fire for another 3 hours (meaning they went and gathered branches from the ground outside) and then offered us chai and rice. There were about 6 of us - and remember what I said about them being on limited supplies? They literally poured out the last of their milk to make us sweet chai. They fed all of us, and looked happy to do so. The rice was amazing btw. This was just one example of Pakistani hospitality we experienced.

Inside the shack


2014: Camping at 12,500ft at the MOST GORGEOUS place on earth- Shandur. This stars photo was captured by the photographer we had along with us on the first tour. Did you know there was a DOCUMENTARY made from our 2014 trip?!










2015: Filling up an a roadside shack with fuel because the area was remote and there weren't gas stations. It's the local hub as well so everyone came to gather while we fueled up, including the kids. There were about 7 of them, mostly little girls. They were all hanging out on the wall so I climbed up there with them. One of the little girls spoke really excellent English and was asking me questions. When I said I was from California she was so excited and talked about how beautiful CA is. While I agreed with her I tried to get her to understand how beautiful Pakistan is too. She also asked me if I was married, and when I said no, asked why not :rofl how do I explain?! I gave some answer about needing to travel and ride motorcycles instead. These kids were so cute and curious- and I love that they got to see a group of Americans come to their home, to show them we're all the same at the core. And selfishly I am glad they got to see a female rider because I want them to know it can be done and isn't wrong. Moin has helped local women learn to ride and I think the all-women tour in September will include a few locals- which I think is awesome.






[/QUOTE]

 

[khan]

2015: Heading down from the mountains back into the city. We're all hauling ass, riding like we own the roads. We pass a truck full of cops, they gesture at us, but we keep going. Faster, faster, lol. About 10 minutes later we stop and this truck full of cops comes speeding up - they are not happy. Apparently they felt like they had to chase us since we didn't pull over in the mountains. But hey, we are foreigners, how are we supposed to know a wave meant pull over :laughing at least that was the line of reasoning Moin took with them. Anyways, my favorite part was when one of these stone face cops notice I'm a girl and gives me a face splitting smile and a discreet thumbs up when he's facing away from the rest of the cops. That was pretty cool

2015: Flying along the Indus river for hours underneath the overhang of the mountain.



2015: Riding the highest plateau in the world: Deosai Plains







Both years: Crossing Lake Abbottabad









Both years: The beauty of Pasu after the lake crossing

the view from outside our motel's front door




Some of the cool places we stayed:





And other pictures I thought you should see









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[khan]

Finally I want to mention the friendships that came from these trips. Experiencing Pakistan was [every positive adjective you can think of]. The group lunches/dinners/pitstops were so much fun. Though none of us knew each other when we began the trip, we ended the trip as friends, and over the past few years some of us have developed close bonds that will last a lifetime :love











[/QUOTE]

This will be my closing picture. This is Pakistan: raw, unfiltered, gorgeous. If there is any way you can take one of these tours, please do, make it happen.

 

[Butch]

Such awesomeness, such a unique opportunity.

 

[UDRider]

Holy crap I look young in those photos. :laughing
Brighto paint, the best paint in Pakistan!

Thanks for organizing Moin. Doesn't look like I will be able to make it this year.

 

[planegray]

You rock Moin !

My best wishes to everyone who gets to go :hail

 

[khan]

Such awesomeness, such a unique opportunity.

One day ill get you to cross the pond. You, budman and flyinghun! One day! :teeth

Holy crap I look young in those photos. :laughing
Brighto paint, the best paint in Pakistan!

Thanks for organizing Moin. Doesn't look like I will be able to make it this year.

You do look super young in the pictures! brighto paints hahaha :rofl

You rock Moin !

My best wishes to everyone who gets to go :hail

Thanks Planegray! :ride:ride

 

[khan]

If anyone has any questions about what to expect or what to bring, shoot me a message and I would be happy to chat with you about my experience.

For those on the fence, I would say this: Sure, there are lots of amazing places to ride motorcycles. The thing with this trip is that it isn't one that you could easily do on your own. Moin has knowledge and connections that make the trip smooth, easy, and tons of fun. My trip was truly one of the best experiences of my life.

:ride:thumbup

 

[khan]

Sending in the Permit Paperwork in about 2 weeks so really its your last chance to jump on this tour!!! lets gooo!!!