Let's go on an adVANture
It’s March 2021 when we close the doors of our apartment and open the ones of our van. We start the motor wave our friends & family goodbye and head towards the unknown. It’s time to hit the dusty ways, the tiny paths, the silk roads. With liters of oil, a lot of enthousiasm and not nearly enough knowledge of our engine we start the trip of a lifetime. The trip we dreamed of for so many years. We are driving the ancient Silk Road, following the footsteps of many merchants.
Our adventures in blog form are found below.
On our way to Kalash Valley
Wherever we go I always try to document a local tribe, nomads or people who hold on to their traditions and culture while the world is changing. Pakistan has both.
Visiting the Switzerland of Pakistan: Swat
Everyone told us that Swat valley is a must visit when in Pakistan, and when locals tell you something, you listen. Right? Well, sometimes you shouldn’t.
Peshawar, buddha and ditching the police
I’m sitting in the forest with a view on the mountains while in the distance I hear drums. For the first time in a very long time Yuri put on his sweater and I wear my hair loose without feeling too hot.
The Pakistani escort service
You would think by now we would have gotten rid of the Pakistani escort service. Well … read about it here.
Escort Quetta – Peshawar
From Quetta to Peshawar and still with our beautiful escort but without freedom.
Police operation Quetta
Finally we arrived in Quetta, but the police operation didn’t stop. Getting money from the ATM, getting a SIMcard, even doing groceries we do accompanied by the police.
The escort from Taftan to Quetta, Pakistan.
Blogs say it would take two or three days. Our levies had another plan. 635km’s in escorte, welcome to Pakistan.
Adobe cities
Villages, castles, hotels made of mud. Plenty of them can be found in Iran where Adobe buildings are still used in cities like Yazd. But most are turned into museums like the castle of Rayen and the famous citadel of BAM.
An oasis in the desert
We went, voluntarily, to the hottest place ever recorded on earth. And after a night in this extraordinary landscape we moved our asses to an oasis where palmtree gave us shade and water cooled us down. But it didn’t all go as planned.
Arabian Nights in Persia
Exploring the true meaning of a tale from Arabian Nights or ancient times at a caravanserai in the desert. Far away from anything modern and the closest thing to the freedom we crave for right now.
The mother of caravanserais
999 Caravanserai were built in Iran. These roadside inns were used by travellers, merchants and even kings. We visited the mother of Caravanserai.
Our first days in Iran
From ancient sites to previous capitals and from meeting new friends to exploring the largest bazar in the world. Read here about our first days in Iran.
The border crossing into Iran
Every good thing comes to an end. It’s time to say goodbye to shorts, lose hair and t-shirts. Today we cross the border into Iran. In this blog you’ll read how that went.
A last goodbye
After weeks of exploring the beautiful Christian country of Armenia it is time to head south and get ready for a new adventure and some more Silk Road explorings.
Ready for part two
We are finally back at exploring and take that seriously, with visiting an abandoned textile factory and hiking 15km’s in the mountains in one day!