The Runaway Souls!!

Last year, I and my 2 girlfriends decided to sneak off to the mountains on a long weekend. Now I must inform you that for 3 young women, travelling “alone” (read: unaccompanied by a man) is nothing short of ‘scandalous’ (or so I thought) in the Northern areas of Pakistan. Once there, in Nathiagali, we wandered aimlessly when 3 horse owners/tour guides made us quite curious about the horseback ride through Nathiagali jungle, an underrated tourist spot, saying “if you don’t enjoy it, you don’t have to pay a single rupee!” As with all free things, we got hooked to the idea of having a “free ride”, though skeptical of the seemingly beautiful yet mysterious riding track. So, in the sunny afternoon of November, we went on to see what lies ahead when it suddenly started to drizzle. Considering it a good omen, we moved deeper into the jungle taking in the sweet and earthy aroma of tall oaks and pine trees, occasionally reaching up for a leaf or branch to lightly touch and feel ticklish. After a sharp turn, our horses stood still as we sat breathless to see such a magically picturesque valley in the cradle of the mountain range. So engrossed were we in the spectacular view of the valley and mountains that all our fears seemed to have ripped off by the piercing sunlight. What could go wrong when you are with such beautiful surroundings – and people?
Yeah! I noticed on our way back that a few indigenous men passed us by saying greetings to us, not in the least bit disapproving about the “unaccompanied” women – boy, what a pleasant surprise! It made me realize that since these tourist spots have lost a major share of tourists due to these misconceptions about security and unwelcoming culture, the local community as a whole is putting in its honest efforts into the revival of tourism industry without any help from government. The community bonding is such that everyone knows eachother and makes sure all tourists are welcomed warmly and openheartedly.
Oh, and we did pay them!