I was first introduced to the idea of visiting Pakistan five years ago while I was in Delhi in India. During a requisite visit to the Red Fort, I passed through a majestic entryway called Lahore Gate – named as such as because it led to the city of Lahore which is located in present-day Pakistan. A few nights of research later, I learned more about Lahore and what I found intrigued me. As a cultural center, the city stands out like one of the great capitals – Delhi, Beijing and Moscow – with gigantic monuments, wondrous heritage and a name that conjure the silk road and the age of exploration. I also read about Pakistan’s mindblowing Himalayan far-north – supposedly the inspiration for the mythical Shangri-la in James Hilton’s novel, “Lost Horizon.”
That being said, I never really took the idea of visiting Pakistan seriously due to the things I had seen in the news. It was only after an opportunity came about to visit Amritsar in India (where Pakistan is just across the border) that I seriously considered going. Even then, I almost came to the point of canceling my trip as the country faced its deadliest month in years with multiple suicide bombings in various cities the week prior to my visit, including two in Lahore where I was supposed to spend most of my time.
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