Pakistan's Hunza Valley

Pakistan was a place I never thought I would visit. Initially, I told two or three people about my trip, but I soon realized it was exhausting to explain the difference between Pakistan and Palestine. So, in the end, I just said I was going to South Asia (which led to a three-second silence, possibly because they thought it was silly to ask where South Asia is, as I would say it's in the southern part of the Asian continent). Interestingly, my Korean friends were clear about the difference, probably because the Korean words for Pakistan (파키스탄) and Palestine (팔레스타인) are quite different, so there's no confusion. Before going, I had many stereotypes from the news media about this place. As Murad said, most people have negative impressions of Pakistan due to the media, but after visiting, I discovered many charming aspects of the country. Upon returning, I told my friends and family that Pakistan was different from what I had imagined; it was truly a surprising place. However, the north and south are very different (luckily, I figured this out before leaving). I loved their simple and genuine nature. It felt like they were doing their best to provide us with the best things within their existing resources and environment. Unfortunately, it seemed they lacked strategic planners. Not to brag, but I genuinely felt that my intelligence could get me into Harvard in the northern part of the country. Besides the unexpectedly beautiful scenery, I loved the local children. They were adorable when they were young, but as they grew older, they became less so. I'm not sure if it's because they rarely see foreigners or if we were just that charming, but we felt like celebrities there. Even when my sister was buying her favorite car, people would come over to ask for photos. It's a great place for introverts to visit, as you'll feel like a Pakistani BLACKPINK and become an extrovert. Sometimes, they would ask us to take their photos, but they never asked for the pictures afterward. It seemed they enjoyed the idea of their image being on your phone, or maybe they enjoyed feeling like Pakistani BLACKPINK. Overall, most of the children were adorable, except for the last day at the mosque when I didn't like how some kids asked for money by pulling on my jacket sleeve instead of asking verbally. I found my sleeve very dirty afterward. Other than that, it was mostly happy memories. Regarding the food, many people asked if I could get used to it. Since I never bring Taiwanese instant noodles or snacks when I travel, I found it okay (I think Naan is delicious, better than Chapati). This trip also confirmed that my stomach is quite strong, thanks to LACOFIT probiotics. I must recommend the local snacks; they are incredibly cheap. I bought a whole box as souvenirs without feeling guilty. We bought a large bag for just a few Taiwanese dollars, which wouldn't even buy a single oyster omelet in Taiwan. I recommend buying RIO; the internet's suggestion that it's a must-buy in Pakistan is trustworthy. Slowly uploading my travel records...