If you
decided that your vacation spot this year will be the metropolitan hub of
Pakistan, then you’re in for a holiday experience like no other, giving you
anecdotes for dinner conversations for years to come. However, there are some
tips you should keep in mind if you want to return to your country to tell the
tale.
The
greatest problem of foreign visitors, namely those in North America, is the
crippling jetlag. As you will quickly learn about Karachiites, is that they are
creatures of the night as soon as the holidays begin. It’s probably a built in
system that coincides with the fact that places open by noon and stay open till
the early hours of morning. It’s a vicious cycle, but for you, a temporary
visitor, it makes settling into a different time zone and settling back much
easier.
If you’re visiting from a country
where the tap water is so clean that you can drink it, then you’re better off
drinking mineral water from sealed bottles. Even if you’re staying with a
friend, the cooler water will have you spending your trip on the toilet. For
the sake of your health, just avoid the temptation to swallow your bathwater.
To get
around the city, it is advisable to avoid the buses. Admire the beautiful
truck-art that adorns the exterior, but unless you want to regale the ones back
home with a heroic tale of your expedition on a public bus, the mode of
transportation is rickshaws. Very South-Asian and also decorated in truck-art,
the rickshaws don’t have people hanging off their very edge. Better yet, if
you’re staying with someone, a car is the best mode of transportation,
especially in the midst of a scorching summer.
And that
brings us to the fourth piece of advice. If your city experiences snow, it
would probably be a better idea to visit in the winter. Karachiites huddle
under shawls, fifteen degrees is considered a good summer day up north, and the
pleasant mornings make for refreshing treks along the coast.
Do you know
how to bike? Have you ever heard of Critical Mass? It’s a cycling organization
that spreads from the West all the way to this bustling coastal city, and what
better way to see a city than biking? Search online, borrow a bike, and get
rolling through the housing areas all the way up to the far out beaches and the
famous lighthouse of Karachi’s port. The group is an amalgamation of classes of
society, both Urdu and English medium city dwellers, letting you experience the
broadest range of Karachiites you can imagine.
I could advise you not to eat from
roadside restaurants like Biryani of the Seas and Chhatkaray, for even the
locals have fallen sick on occasion. What the afflicted will tell you, however,
is that it is absolutely worth it. So, if you think you’re brave enough to
handle the spice, get ready to experience food that makes your mouth water as
soon as the plate is set in front of you.
Now, a
must-visit place is the beach. However, several precautions should be taken.
Firstly, rent a beach hut. Secondly, check the tide and the strength of the
currents. Should you be in the city during the monsoon season, staying out of
the water would be the best option. Even the Karachi-born-and-raised have
fallen against the mighty waves.
Karachi is
a tricky city to navigate. Danger lurks in broad daylight, so you have to be
vigilant at every turn, but if you keep these tips in mind, you will be
prepared for an unforgettably colourful trip.
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